hi, Belgium!

I neeeeeed to go to sleep, but I feel like I need to type everything out before I forget all the great little details! At this point, I've been "awake" for almost 36 hours? I think? I slept for an hour or two on the plane and kind of went in and out of sleep this past afternoon.. but I count those as little naps. I haven't REALLY slept in 36 hours. Wonderful.

9.10.2012

So I flew out of Indianapolis at about 2 o'clock on Monday and my Mom dropped me off... that was weird. Her dropping me off wasn't weird, it's just the fact that I haven't quite perfected the art of how to say goodbye. So that was kind of hard, actually. But that was it! I turned and walked toward security like it was no big deal - even though it was HUGE for me. After a couple of delays, I made it from Indy to JFK in New York City where I had a three hour layover. After a quick dinner, I was on my way to Brussels!! I think the craziest thing about it was that all the flights and everything seemed so anticlimactic. Not that I expected fireworks to go off when I boarded the plane, but I thought I would feel something special & different as I was leaving the US of A. No such thing.

Flying, flying, flying.... I took sleeping pills, and I still only got two hours of sleep. Don't you love when that happens?!

9.11.2012

Flying into Brussels - really cool moment, for me at least. I was awoken by the coffee/tea cart coming down the aisle and I learned that we had an hour or so left in our flight. We were set to get in at around seven in the morning, so this puts us at 6am. I opened up the shutter on my window and just saw the most beautiful view. 

One of my good friends once told me that I have GOT to see a sunrise. That it's just super awesome. (Shoutout to Evan - hi) Well, I think that flying into Brussels is about the closest I've gotten to seeing a sunrise. First thing I saw looking out the window was a bright, lit-up view of some city. Then my vision strayed to the right where you could see the perfect progression from dark blue night sky toward the light blues, yellows, oranges, and pinks. I couldn't actually see the sun (it was still pretty dark), but the gradient of colors was beautiful. Then I looked up and could see the big dipper, bright and shining, right above the extended wing of our plane. It was a WONDERFUL moment. Stars are probably one of my favorite things in nature, and in the company of the beautiful sky and lights, it was just gorgeous. I tried, but could not capture it in a picture. I APOLOGIZE, for this random moment of a ramble about nature, but our world is so beautiful and God is so good. And it's moments like this that never let me forget it. 

Then I officially got to the Brussels airport, met up with a student escort, went by train to Leuven, met up with my "buddy," Evelyn, and finally made my way to my home for the next four months - an international residence through the university that I'll refer to as Vives. Evelyn, my "buddy," serves as someone to help guide me through my transition to Leuven and into Belgian culture. She has been an absolute blessing thus far. 

Here's a couple views from my room in Vives... ahhh!

Too bad it was raining most of the afternoon.. not a very happy welcome. But it was a whirlwind of various registrations, meeting people, lunch, and walking back to Vives. I tried to take a quick nap but found that I had trouble sleeping due to an upset stomach, so that was frustrating. But once I finished the attempted nap, the sun was shining! And then I got internet access! So it was a happier moment, most definitely. I went grocery shopping for the first time with two other girls, and had to limit my purchases based on what I could carry back to Vives. 

On the way to & from the grocery store, we wandered and explored and took pictures of our new hometown!

 Crazy water fountain..

 Saint Ignatius - Soldier of Prayer, shoutout to CYO Camp!

Today was really hard. Lots of ups and downs. I'll admit it.. I'm stressing out a little. Okay, more than a little. It's just such a huge change from home and Hanover and everything in the United States.
I'm jetlagged and tired and nervous and anxious. And I need to relax. But if you're reading this, I ask for your prayers because I know that these next couple weeks of adjustment are going to be tough! Thanks in advance :) Talk to you sooooooon