Boo

Although it's been a couple of years since Jim and I were on Wedgewood at Halloween, I still miss it. We would always run out of candy despite buying for over 500. I always looked forward to it.

We didn't have one trick-or-treater in Jefferson last year and I am certain we won't have one in Hasselt this year. Mostly because we have a locked security fence and gate so no one could possibly get to our door. I've seen a few decorations around town, but haven't noticed any costumes. Perhaps we can get out and walk around the neighborhood and see just what Halloween is all about here, if anything.

I hope Ross has lots of candy and is at home to answer the door so there will be no disappointment! And I hope you have lots of trick-or-treaters too!

Holidays

It occurred to me that the holidays observed in Belgium would surely be different than those in the States and I was right, but surprised at the same time.

New Year's Day

Easter

Labor Day

National (BE) / Independence Day (US)

Armistice (BE) / Memorial Day (US)

Christmas

are celebrated in BOTH countries, but that's pretty much where the similarity ends.

In addition to those noted above, the U.S. observes the following Federal holidays:

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Washington's Birthday

Columbus Day

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving Day

And in Belgium, in addition to those noted above, these are the National holidays:

Easter Monday

Whit Sunday (Pentecost)

Whit Monday

Ascension of Jesus

Ascension of Mary

All Saint's Day

Notice anything in particular? Just thought that was interesting.

Is this what Louis Pasteur really had in mind?

I've been fascinated by the fact that dairy products aren't refrigerated here. This photo shows milk and eggs on a regular shelf at the grocery. I took this photo in mid-October and this milk expires on Jan 14, 2010. It's good for 3 months! We could still be drinking this same stuff next year.

Turns out it's the ultra high temperature (UHT) pasteurization process used so it doesn't need refrigeration. We put ours in the 'frig once home, but I'm not sure if it has to be or not. This is apparently popular in European countries, but according to the internet, Americans haven't been accepting of milk that's not refrigerated so the high temperature/short time (HTST) method is still used and milk is still transported in refrigerated trucks.

It tastes just the same as milk in the States and it really does last 3 months. When I got to Belgium, Jim had some milk he'd bought in July and it was still good up to the expiration date in October.

Pasteur actually conceived this process not for milk, but for beer and wine. Thanks, Louis.

It wasn't even perfect, but

. . . it was the only house we've really considered.

The hunt for the perfect house/apartment has been challenging and frustrating. If the house is worth having, it's already had. If it's not worth having, we don't want it either.

Our only real option turned out to be the one that was more expensive than we really wanted to pay, but we also figured that's why it was still available. We feared entering into a lease agreement we didn't fully understand, but apparently another couple didn't find it so difficult, signed the lease, and are moving into our house this weekend. : /

Back to sq 1.

Celebration at the wassalon!

Yep, we've been invited to celebrate at the wassalon . . . and I'm going. I mean this is my twice-a-week hangout so I'm not missing this social event. The invitation was posted right there beside the coin changer. I noticed it right away because it was a new sign I couldn't read. So I took a foto (photo) of it to translate when I got thuis (home). Here's the foto

and here's how it literally reads:

On 11 November are

we 5 YEAR

open. To our

customers, in the

flowers to

put keep we

OPENDAYS on

11-12-13

NOVEMBER.

All our customers

get then FREE

washingpowder, and

soda

and a little attention!!!

Greetings Anita and John

You might get an idea of why Flemish has been a challenge for us. The words aren't difficult, it's the arrangement of them!

I actually think this is really sweet and I'm looking forward to it. I mean that.

Ijs

Yesterday, as we were walking around downtown Hasselt, we noticed some ijs (ice) sculptures celebrating 70 years for fashion designer Stijn Helson. He's sort of a local celebrity, I guess you'd say. He was the designer for Hollywood movies like Spiderman and Pirates of the Caribbean. There are three Helson stores in Hasselt - Women's, Men's and a Concept Store.

The nicest thing happened one time when I was looking around in the Men's store. I didn't buy anything, but as I was about to leave, one of the men working in the store practically broke his neck to get to the door and open it for me as I left. He said something nice is Flemish that sounded like "thank you, come again, and have a good day". How many stores have you shopped in where the clerk does that?

Women's Store

Concept Store

Men's Store

(that's a garment bag, ribbon, etc. in the ice)

http://www.stijnhelsen.be/

Cityfied

I know he'll come around, but Winslow is struggling a bit with "city life". The sidewalks, people, bikes, bike lanes, traffic, and crosswalks are presenting quite a challenge. He is definitely a suburban dog who is not yet "street smart". I'm working with him, but have to keep my eye on him and keep him on a "short leash", literally.

The stairs in our apartment. And I use that term stairs loosely because they are just short of a ladder. You may remember them from a previous post. Here's a picture in case you missed it.

These are not a challenge because he simply can't go up nor down them. We have to carry him because they are too steep. I said our house hunt would "come down to the stairs" and I am even more convinced of that now.

Our apartment is so small so there's really nowhere to go in it. When he moves from the kitchen to the living room, he's gone 3 steps. And once he's downstairs he's in the bedroom, period.

Dogs are welcome at many of the restaurants and particularly if they have outdoor seating. I took him with me for coffee and he just stood beside my chair. Wouldn't sit or lay down. I guess if I stay long enough and he gets tired enough, he'll sit down.

He gets excited every once in a while and acts like his old self, but it's going to take some time. I think he misses MM&P.

De identiteitskaart

Turns out since we're already living in Belgium we don't actually need a residency visa. Or so we've been told by the local City Hall. Still waiting for advocaat verification on that. All we need is an identity card. And I now have one. Pictured below. Notice in the lower left hand corner that I signed Karen Leigh Gleason. Not like I haven't been married for almost 30 years! The lady (at City Hall) said it was okay so we left it like that. : /

It's good for 9 months, but I was told (at City Hall) that I can come the day before it expires and get it renewed. Don't have to bring anything with me either. Just show up with my card and they'll stamp a new date on it. Can it really be that easy?

Of course it wasn't as easy as that. You may remember the blog post on the paperwork we did before and after arriving here. Well, we still needed all that for the identity card too. Since Jim has the work permit and he's the primary resident here (me being just the cohabitant), he gets a slick wallet-sized identity card like a credit card. And his is good for one year. I guess they figure if he doesn't renew his, I should already be gone!

His hasn't arrived from Brussels yet (where we were told they make slick wallet-sized identity cards), but I'll keep you posted.

Home, sweet, home

I think I said something ridiculous like "home is where your stuff is" upon our return from Scotland because we were both pretty worn out. And glad to be somewhere familiar. And you do have to have a place to keep your stuff, right? But . . .

Correction. Home is where your heart is.

I am reminded of a post Ross had on his blog upon returning to the States after his brief visit with us in Belgium. He noted "home" is where somebody loves you and that can be anywhere. I concur.

The $

This is not my first mention of the $ and probably won't be my last. I continue to be amazed at the value of the U.S. $ . . . well, what I mean is the LACK of it. For every Euro spent, it's the equivalent of spending about $1.50. Of course it changes daily, but not significantly so far.

Now that may not sound like much, but that's for EVERY Euro. Like recently I took $200 cash out of the ATM here, our bank statement read $292. It's like that $92 didn't exist. Gone.

We decided if the current exchange rate continues (and we wouldn't wish that) until after we return to Verenigde Staten, we'll think we're rijk!

PS Luggage arrived

Dinner out, the moon and the stars

We had dinner with a couple recently (not Belgian, American, nor do they live here) and the woman commented she would be so glad when her daughter left home. Apparently their relationship wasn't as she expected it to be (wonder why!). This was so foreign (no pun intended) to me and I couldn't imagine anyone saying something like that.

I told her that we'd be perfectly happy if our children still lived at home. She thought I was crazy and then went on to tell about leaving Saturday to go to Egypt, or somewhere.

Too bad the daughter of our dinner partners didn't have a mother like mine. My mother adored me. She thought I hung the moon and the stars, but of course, I couldn't have . . .

because MY children did.

A hondje in België

Finally. He's here.

The details . . .

Jim's trip from Jefferson to Shreveport to Atlanta to Brussels to Hasselt is finally over. Thankfully without incident - or much.

About 45 minutes from takeoff from Atlanta, I hadn't heard from him so...

I text "Everything okay?"

He texts "Probably, I'll let you know in a minute."

Naturally, my mind starts conjuring up all the things that could have possibly gone wrong. Turns out it was the weather in Brussels! The Delta rep checked weather.com and it had Brussels temperature at 41 degrees F and they weren't going to let Winslow fly! Not because the temperature was too HOT as we were so worried about before, but because it was too COLD! Must be 45 F or above.

Anyway, several Delta reps assisted in the decision-making and finally one said she had 2 minutes to make a decision. At that point, the supervisor said "go ahead and let him go". Whew! So Jim sprints to Concourse E which, at the Atlanta airport, is as far away from Delta check-in as you can get and still be in the airport.

now

As he is sprinting to the gate, the guy with Winslow's crate yells at him across the way - keep in mind this is at the ATLANTA airport and this guy spotting Jim is a miracle in itself - he tells Jim he's got to take Winslow through security first. Soooooo, he does that and just gets to the gate.

Now this whole time, I don't know where either of them are or even what "Probably, I'll let you know in a minute." means.

5:15 pm He texts

"I'm on the plane, but have no confirmation that Winslow is, but has no reason to think he's not."

I text

"Could one of the attendants check?!"

He texts

"I will ask."

THAT IS THE LAST TEXT I GOT AT MIDNIGHT! I check the Delta website and they are in flight. Naturally, I'm thinking Winslow is still in Security in Atlanta and Jim's on his way to Brussels. Long, sleepless night for all us.

7:45 am He texts

"Made it to Brussels. Thousands of people going through passport check."

8:50 (an hour later!) He texts

"Luggage lost".

THAT'S IT! Luggage - meaning your luggage or Winslow luggage or both?!! I still don't know if Winslow is in Atlanta.

8:51 I text

"And Winslow?"

8:53 He texts

"He's here and fine. Needs to get out." Been in the crate what now, 12 hours?

10:15 They arrive here! No luggage, but both here.

Did I mention thanks to Jim really isn't enough?

One down . . .

. . . and one to go! Jim and Winslow made it to Atlanta and to the hotel unscathed and all in one, well two pieces. I am so grateful.

The long journey . . .

. . . will begin today about Noon when they leave Jefferson headed to the airport. Thanks to Jim for taking this on really just isn't enough. And after a week of reunion and near impossible goodbyes.

Jim will check Winslow right along with his luggage. I wish I knew exactly what that means for a dog. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all that paperwork I got on animal export is sufficient.

At 15:00 (3:00 pm) will depart Shreveport bound for Atlanta. So maybe only 3 - 4 hours in the crate and his first take off and landing. Then shuttle to the hotel for the night in preparation for the really long flight tomorrow.

Which will begin at check-out. Hopefully they honored that "late checkout request" since the flight departs at 17:40 (5:40 pm)! A shuttle back to the airport then hoisted onto the belt as checked baggage again "at least 2 hours early for international flights". Fortunately the flight from Atlanta to Brussels is only 8 hours as opposed to the flight from Brussels to Atlanta which is usually 10 or 11. Something about the tailwind.

So, what are we up to now, 10 - 11 hours in the crate upon arrival in Brussels? And his second take off and landing? Then hopefully a potty break somewhere. I don't recall seeing a grassy knoll at the Brussels airport : /

And the one hour drive to Hasselt. At last, home. Boy, will I be glad to see them both. Did I say thanks to Jim really isn't enough?

A new look

For my few readers, you may have noticed a new look to my blog. Well, a couple of new looks. The black background made it difficult to read so I went back to the standard white.

Anyway, the foto is of the town of Hasselt where we live. I took this from our hotel when we visited in May. Ironically, it is also in the direction we now live. The closest steeple is very near the town center and the other one to the left is only a couple of blocks from our apartment. So we live between those two steeples, just closer to the one on the left. Just thought you might like to know that.

Driving on the wrong side of the road and fishing

When we were in Scotland, I tried to capture on video the amazing feat of driving on the opposite side of the road AND having the driver's seat on the "wrong" side as well. I still think you have to see it in real life, but here's a couple of videos I took.

Plus, most of these cars are standard shift. Imagine shifting with your left hand?! I am forever grateful that we didn't move to a country that drives on the "wrong" side of the road. I would go head-on first thing. It is just inconceivable how that works. It's really hard to appreciate it.

I also saw this older man fishing and it sorta looked picturesque with him in his fishing attire. You can't really tell, but he's got on fishing boots with his pants tucked in and his jacket has lots of pockets - just like you'd expect. I asked if he'd caught anything and he said no.

Oh, and that silver car in that video that all the traffic is going around . . . that's his car. I saw him get out of it. Apparently he just stopped on this busy road, got out, and started fishing.

My favorite singer is . . .

You may remember that soon after I left for Belgium, the internet at our house in Jefferson decided to crap out. So on Labor Day weekend Ross was at the house in Jefferson trying to get the internet to work. I chatted with at&t for about and hour and was unable to answer one #$@*)%^! security question so they would NOT help me.

I swore I had never answered the question "Who's your favorite singer?" in the first place. I was certain not only did I not have a favorite singer, but I would have remembered answering that question. So that was that. They would NOT help me. No internet.

Well, now Jim is in Jefferson and he and Ross were AGAIN trying to get the internet to work and I AGAIN chatted with at&t for about 4 hours! Yes, 4 hours! I was determined they were going to help me regardless of whether I could answer that #$@*)%^! question. I even started guessing at what I might have said (assuming I actually answered it). Of course, I was wrong every time. Well, you guessed it, they would NOT help me. AGAIN.

So I gave up.

So then I decided I'd just order NEW service and cancel my old service (with the #$@*)%^! question I can't answer). Amazingly I could order NEW service without answering ANY questions, but you guessed it. . . could NOT cancel my old service online. Requires a phone call at $1.00 per second from over here.

So I gave up.

Well, after another 6 hr phone call from the U.S. (do the math on that in Euros had I made the call), I don't know how he did it, but Jim somehow got the answer to the elusive #$@*)%^! question.

And turns out my favorite singer is . . .

James Taylor.

I think I'll write that down this time.

The Paci

The pacifier was quite popular at our house for a few years. Randi was very attached and I wish I had one of the many pictures we have with it in her mouth so I could post it. She kept it until she started preschool and even then it was hard to let it go.

Well, we've got nothing on the Belgians. Pacifiers are quite popular and there's apparently no problem with keeping them until way past preschool. Jim took this picture through an apotheek window and there's a similar display at every apotheek you encounter. I know how important it is to have a few extras and apparently the apotheek does too!

Oh, and I think all parking lots should be like these, don't you?

BTW, that says "Reserved for mama and her baby".

Home alone

Despite not feeling up to par, Jim left early this morning for another looooong day of travel. He will arrive in Atlanta around 10 PM our time and in Shreveport around 3 AM our time. I sure hope he gets a nap in there.

And I'm home alone for what is sure to be a looooong 8 days.

Although our trip to Scotland was wonderful, it was surprisingly nice to return to our little apartment. Weird how "home sweet home" is basically wherever your stuff is.

Plus, strangely enough, I actually missed hearing people speak Flemish. So this has inspired me to work a little harder to make time to study and not just wait for the weekly Flemish lessons. I was initially overwhelmed and thought "we'll be back in the States before we get it". But, I'm feeling better about it and I am convinced we CAN learn this language! So I've been busy making flash cards and practice sheets all day!

Yesterday, I decided to buy some coffee at a little store in downtown Hasselt. The clerk and I were the only ones in the store and she said she spoke "a little English". Well, I've learned when someone here says they speak "a little English", it really means they speak at least as well as I do. I told her we'd recently moved here and I wasn't sure if I'd ever learn to speak Flemish. She offered me a cup of coffee and we chatted for a minute (in English, of course). I said that everyone, including her, is always willing to speak English, so I do too. Therefore I really never get to practice outside of our lessons. This prompted her to say she would speak in Flemish! I said "Oh no, don't do that, I wouldn't have any idea what you are saying." She said she was sure we would learn Flemish, but she advised we must begin speaking only Flemish at home.

I thought about that and I guess this may have been the beginning of my inspiration to work a little harder at speaking Flemish and to be one American who speaks more than one language! We will see.

I know it's Friday, but it feels like a Monday

We got home late from our trip and were pretty pooped. A very loooong day of travel. Jim had only one day at work (today) for this week and next and he showed up here a little while ago (~ 16:00 or 4:00pm our time) with fever and has gone to bed. I am hopeful when he awakes he will feel better and not feel like he needs to postpone his trip home another day.

I am anxious about his trip because I know how nice it will be to see everyone, but how very difficult it will be to once again say goodbye. I am also very anxious about Winslow's trip back. I am hopeful everything will be okay and very grateful to Jim for making the trip.

Nessie, as the locals like to say

The 3 and 1/2 hour train ride from Edinburgh to Inverness was really quite lovely and didn't seem long at all. My attempt at getting pictures and video while in motion was a bit of a challenge.

Here's a picture of sheep and it's hard to tell, but there were a lot of them - miles and miles of sheep! Shepherds should have no worries finding work here; there are a lot of sheep.

A snow-covered mountain in Aviemore.

A snapshot of the town of Inverness and the view from our hotel. The temperature range this week is a low of 3C (37F) and a high of 11C (51F). Chilly.

Glad we didn't add one more country to our itinerary.

Appetizer Jim ordered at the hotel restaurant. He said he was doing the world a favor and no, it didn't taste like chicken.

Inverness lies on the River Ness. From what I've read, it's one of the most productive salmon rivers in the north of Scotland. Here's a photo and a video of how swiftly the water is moving.

Now, here's the best part. Did you notice I said the River Ness? Yep, that's right - as in Loch Ness. The River Ness flows into Loch Ness only a few miles away. Who KNOWS what I might see in that water and you can be sure I will get a grainy, blurry picture to prove it!

Chias!

Everything is lovely

One of Jim's new favorite drinks is apple cider. He ordered this one at the hotel in Edinburgh. It's really refreshing, but it is alcoholic.

So check out this label.

And now, changing the subject . . .

. . ."lovely", "cheers", and "no worries" in a high-pitched Queen-like voice, of course. Just a few of the words and phrases I've heard in the past 24 hours.

Me: May I see a menu?

Waiter: No worries.

Waiter: Are you here on holiday?

Me: Yes, we are here from Belgium, but are originally from Louisiana.

Waiter: Lovely

Waiter: Are you ready to order?

Me: Yes.

Waiter: Lovely

Waiter (bringing meal): Here you go.

Me: Thank you

Waiter: Cheers (pronounced "chias"), you're welcome.

Of course, the Scottish speak English, but sometimes the accent is so heavy they might as well be speaking a different language. Here's a YouTube video that, while a bit extreme, illustrates it much better than I can!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v1jmVvF4gM

Cashmere, Kilts, and Scotch

There's no shortage of any of these. I'm talking about Edinburgh. On the Firth of Forth leading to the North Sea, it's a very beautiful, old city and maybe the steepest hills I've ever climbed. And of course, this is where time begins. I mean Greenwich Meantime. My videos and pictures cannot do it justice.

We saw kilts aplenty and this fine collection of Scotch Whiskey,

then we did a little shopping.

From the top of the Edinburgh Castle. . .

And I leave you with a taste of Scotland. . .

Hondje prep

Around town there are these big signs with a picture of a cute little dog on them. They have doggy bags in the sign to be used for cleaning up after your dog in the event he poops. Some read:

Geen poep op de stroep! No poop on the sidewalk!

Elk kakje een in zakje! All you poop in a bag!

Here's a picture of the one down the street from us.

Geen stront op de grond!

No shit on the ground! ( I am not making this stuff up)

We've heard that you can be fined for not picking up after your dog so when I was at the City Hall recently, I picked up a brochure so I'd be sure to know the rules.

Using Google Translate can be amusing. Here are just a few of the brochure highlights. Definitely "read" the Dutch first :)

Beste hondenliefhebber,

Dear dog lovers,

Een leuke hond heeft heel veel voordelen.

A very nice dog has many benefits.

Maar helaas kunnen er ook nadelen zijn.

But unfortunately there are also drawbacks.

Het meest ergerlijke is de hondenpoop.

The most annoying is the dog poop.

Hondendrollen stinken, zijn een haard van viezigheid en verspreiden parasieten.

Dog turds stink, are a hotbed of dirt and spread parasites.

In haast alle Belgische steden is het verplicht om de hondendrol van je hond op straat op te ruimen.

In almost all Belgian cities it is obligatory for the dog turd of your dog on the street to clean.

De regels staan netjes opgeschreven in onze politiecodex.

The lines are neatly written in our police code.

Als je met je hond op straat wandelt, moet je een zakje bijhebben om de drol te verwijderen.

If your dog walks on the street, you have a bag to remove the turd.

Je moet trouwens genoeg zakjes bijhebben zodat je op ieder moment kan bewijzen dat je er eentje hebt!

You must also have enough bags at any time so you can prove you have one!

Als je betrapt wordt op het onverschillig achterlaten van een drol van je viervoeter of als je weigert een zakje mee te nemen om op te ruimen, krijg je een proces verbaal en een administratieve geldboete van 60 euro.

If you are caught on the indifferent leaving a turd on your pet or if you refuse to take a bag to clean up, get a police and an administrative fine of 60 euros.

Wij vragen iedereen met een hond, zowel groot als klein, om het reglement te respecteren en geen vieze drollen achter te laten op de stoep.

We ask everyone with a dog, large or small, to respect the rules and not leave dirty turds on the sidewalk.

En zo werkt u mee aan een proper Hasselt. Overtreders mag je gerust terecht wijzen.

And so do you contribute to a clean Hasselt. Violators may you feel condemned.

Who ya gonna call?

As I was once again making my weekly trip to the City Hall to inquire on the status of our residency visa, I encounter this.

Yes, that truck says "Gum Busters". These 4 men and another van were here in this same spot one hour later. I must say that section of that street looked great.

Should I pack my kilt?

I wasn't sure if I'd get to go to Scotland. The last trip Jim made there for a meeting was while I was still in the States. Turns out he's going again and I'm going to get to go too!

The destination is Inverness which is north in the Highlands. Hence the reference to taking my kilt. I really don't have a kilt, but those of you who know me well know how good I am on the bagpipes. I should blend in well.

We will fly into Edinburgh and spend one night then take a train to Inverness. This should prove to be the ultimate Dramamine test (another trip to the apotheek) since the distance is a 2 to 3 hour trip through the Scottish countryside. I really hope I can make it as it would be such a shame to spend the entire drive laying down on the seat :/

I (or Jim in the case the Dramamine fails me) will take lots of postcard-worthy snaps.