I don't think I have ever shopped as much as I have done in the last 5 days.
I bought clothes, decoration, food, more clothes, and even more clothes.
I have now a big rolling suitcase filled till the top, a big bag that is full and a rolling carry-on luggage.
I' m afraid that I won't get all of this from the car rental to the airport, but hopefully there is a helpful person out there (at 6AM).
Besides the shopping I have been:
- hanging out at Jan's and Estela's
- meeting with Cisco colleagues/friends
- visited Clarinda, Tony, Maisey and her new baby sister Abigail
- visited Becky and the kids
- visited the Monticello school
- drank Starbucks drinks and Jamba Juice's
It was a very hectic visit, but it was great to see everyone again.
Missing you all already...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Mayonnaise in a suitcase
Luc and Nivea asked me to pick up some things at a friend's place so I can bring it with me to Belgium.
No problem, I call this friend and ask about the CD's and such.
She then says also to take the "mayo".
???
I'm like - what?? Why would I need to take mayonnaise in my suitcase.
I ask her about it - "Did they actually ask about giving along the mayo?".
She said, "well - it's here..."
I don't know what to say...
So I said I wasn't very comfortable with that, it could break in my suitcase and then everything is full of mayo.
Well, she said, it's not very likely that "MAIL" is going to break...
CRACKING UP YET ??
(I was when I told Estela)
No problem, I call this friend and ask about the CD's and such.
She then says also to take the "mayo".
???
I'm like - what?? Why would I need to take mayonnaise in my suitcase.
I ask her about it - "Did they actually ask about giving along the mayo?".
She said, "well - it's here..."
I don't know what to say...
So I said I wasn't very comfortable with that, it could break in my suitcase and then everything is full of mayo.
Well, she said, it's not very likely that "MAIL" is going to break...
CRACKING UP YET ??
(I was when I told Estela)
Monday, August 27, 2007
Close to be an American now...
I passed my citizenship interview!
YEAH!!
I will get a letter in a few weeks that will tell me when/where the oath ceremony is.
I might actually be the first Belgian/American girl :-)
YEAH!!
I will get a letter in a few weeks that will tell me when/where the oath ceremony is.
I might actually be the first Belgian/American girl :-)
Citizenship interview 2 hours from now
Yes, today is the big day.
I went to Jan and Estela's yesterday, had a fun afternoon catching up on all the latest, and had a very nice cappuccino.
WOOOWWW.. that one was strong - I was getting dizzy just drinking it (my regular reaction to caffeine). But hey - it was only 4pm or so - no big deal.
Or so I thought.
I went to bed at 10pm - tired but my head is racing with thoughts. Not about the interview, but just stuff that I did that day, what I bought, what I still need to buy, etc...
I can relax till about 2am (not sleep but rest) but then I got restless. So I'm turning and turning till about 5am, thinking, I have to fall asleep any minute now (I have experience with these sleepless caffeine nights), but nope... 7am, I get up and jump in the shower.
Great start to go to the interview :-)
Oh well, I know my questions, even the first 13 states!!
Cross your fingers and I will post later today about how I did.
I went to Jan and Estela's yesterday, had a fun afternoon catching up on all the latest, and had a very nice cappuccino.
WOOOWWW.. that one was strong - I was getting dizzy just drinking it (my regular reaction to caffeine). But hey - it was only 4pm or so - no big deal.
Or so I thought.
I went to bed at 10pm - tired but my head is racing with thoughts. Not about the interview, but just stuff that I did that day, what I bought, what I still need to buy, etc...
I can relax till about 2am (not sleep but rest) but then I got restless. So I'm turning and turning till about 5am, thinking, I have to fall asleep any minute now (I have experience with these sleepless caffeine nights), but nope... 7am, I get up and jump in the shower.
Great start to go to the interview :-)
Oh well, I know my questions, even the first 13 states!!
Cross your fingers and I will post later today about how I did.
Restart of blog
Ouch - I was asked about my blog yesterday - since I wasn't writing anymore.
Seems like people actually read it !
ok, this gives me inspiration to write again (thanks Jan and Estela)..
Seems like people actually read it !
ok, this gives me inspiration to write again (thanks Jan and Estela)..
Saturday, July 7, 2007
It´s getting serieus (buying/registering/...)
It´s Saturday and there is a street party in my parent´s street.
It means that the neighbors get together and they have a jumping house for the kids.
You can buy ice cream and pie for 1 Euro each and they have a tap with beer and probably some sodas too.
They promise nice weather for the afternoon, let´see if it´s true - we can surely use some nice weather...
But what else did I do all week?
Tuesday
I bought a bedroom set for both Elias and Mendel.
Mendel has a pretty white bedroom, which comes with a bed, bed drawer for extra mattres, night stand, bench with two pink drawers, book case with 3 pink drawers, closet with 3 doors and a little desk. It´s totally adorable and totally Mendel!Elias has about the same setup, but instead of the bench, he has a toy chest. His bookcase is smaller so he also has an extra cabinet with 3 drawers.
And I also bought sofa´s: off-white leather natuzzi sofa´s, very pretty but we should be glad if we get them beginning of November!!
Wednesday
We finalized on the kitchen design and went to IKEA to check out furniture since our new furniture will take months to deliver.
I also checke dout the store where they make teak furniture and found a bed I liked (besides the kitchen table and cabinet I already liked). I am going to wait till Wim gets back and then we can decide together what to order exactly. This is their website: http://www.patoantiques.be/
Thursday
I applied for registration in the town of Balen. Now we need to wait till a cop comes by and verifies that we actually live here. Only then, will the application be progressed and will I be registered. It took a while before I convinced the employees that my children are indeed Belgians, and not just Americans. Guess they don´t see a lot of immigrants from the U.S.A.
Then I went to the mutuality for health insurance, but they couldn´t do much untill I am registered in Balen.
Friday
I registered myself as being unemployed. Not exactly correct since I haven´t resigned yet in the States, but this way I can get in the system and do I learn what all I need to get from previous employers. It feels weird to be "unemployed" - my first time ever since I worked for 11 years. I already feel like a bum ;-)
It means that the neighbors get together and they have a jumping house for the kids.
You can buy ice cream and pie for 1 Euro each and they have a tap with beer and probably some sodas too.
They promise nice weather for the afternoon, let´see if it´s true - we can surely use some nice weather...
But what else did I do all week?
Tuesday
I bought a bedroom set for both Elias and Mendel.
Mendel has a pretty white bedroom, which comes with a bed, bed drawer for extra mattres, night stand, bench with two pink drawers, book case with 3 pink drawers, closet with 3 doors and a little desk. It´s totally adorable and totally Mendel!Elias has about the same setup, but instead of the bench, he has a toy chest. His bookcase is smaller so he also has an extra cabinet with 3 drawers.
And I also bought sofa´s: off-white leather natuzzi sofa´s, very pretty but we should be glad if we get them beginning of November!!
Wednesday
We finalized on the kitchen design and went to IKEA to check out furniture since our new furniture will take months to deliver.
I also checke dout the store where they make teak furniture and found a bed I liked (besides the kitchen table and cabinet I already liked). I am going to wait till Wim gets back and then we can decide together what to order exactly. This is their website: http://www.patoantiques.be/
Thursday
I applied for registration in the town of Balen. Now we need to wait till a cop comes by and verifies that we actually live here. Only then, will the application be progressed and will I be registered. It took a while before I convinced the employees that my children are indeed Belgians, and not just Americans. Guess they don´t see a lot of immigrants from the U.S.A.
Then I went to the mutuality for health insurance, but they couldn´t do much untill I am registered in Balen.
Friday
I registered myself as being unemployed. Not exactly correct since I haven´t resigned yet in the States, but this way I can get in the system and do I learn what all I need to get from previous employers. It feels weird to be "unemployed" - my first time ever since I worked for 11 years. I already feel like a bum ;-)
Monday, July 2, 2007
Shrek the Third
Another rainy day in Belgium, so I checked out the local theater and they are playing "Shrek The Third". They played both the original English version and the dubbed Dutch version. We chose the English version.
The kids loved the movie.
Something about the movie theater in Lommel (http://www.utopolis.be/top.aspx?cid=60):
- In the middle of the movie there is a 10 minute break (perfect for potty time with kids)
- It was pitch dark when they were playing the previews (we got in late), so it was pretty tough to maneuver in between seats with popcorn, drinks and two small ones (one of which was afraid of the dark)
The kids loved the movie.
Something about the movie theater in Lommel (http://www.utopolis.be/top.aspx?cid=60):
- In the middle of the movie there is a 10 minute break (perfect for potty time with kids)
- It was pitch dark when they were playing the previews (we got in late), so it was pretty tough to maneuver in between seats with popcorn, drinks and two small ones (one of which was afraid of the dark)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
