an american in belgië

25 April 2010

Incomprehensible

UNCONDITIONAL . . .

assured

certain

definite

genuine

no strings

unequivocal

unlimited

unmitigated

unquestionable

LOVE . . .

adore

admire

adulate

appreciate

cherish

dote on

hold dear

think the world of

treasure

venerate

I've had someone on my mind for several days now who I am certain does not enjoy those two words. It's one of those things that's hard to get off your mind. You move on, but you know it's there.

You didn't cause it and you can't fix it, but it makes you sick just the same.

I've always said I'm glad I have two kidneys in the event both my children need one!

There was nothing I could ever do, be, or say that would have caused my parents to have anything but unconditional love for me. There was never a doubt in my mind. None.

There is nothing my children could ever do, be, or say that would cause me to have anything but unconditional love for them. There is no doubt in their minds. None.

For all you parents who can't identify with that . . . there's a special place in Hell for you.

Or there should be.

24 April 2010

Tiptoe thru the . . .

I don't know if we'll see anything like these pictures I found on the internet . . .

but we are headed to Holland . . .

and I'm going to do my best to see a field of tulips with my own eyes.

I cannot imagine anything like it so . . .

wish me luck!

23 April 2010

. . . is a young man from Bulgaria. He turned twenty-one in March. Just like Ross. He's in our Flemish class. I wouldn't say he's passionate about learning Flemish, but he attends class most of the time.

He's nice looking and very quick to learn. He told us he's been in Belgium for one year and in that time has learned to speak English - from other people, not school. He is very proud of his English and he should be. It's nearly perfect.

I told him I don't even know where Bulgaria is and he said it's between Turkey and Greece. He also said it was not such a good place to live. He didn't elaborate so I don't know exactly why he thinks this, but he does and that's all that matters.

I asked him if his parents were still in Bulgaria. His answer was "I think my mother may still be there. I'm not sure." He didn't mention a father. And I didn't ask.

He said he has a girlfriend in Antwerp and he paints and hangs sheetrock to earn a living. He said he thinks people in Hasselt judge others by the clothes they wear and the car they drive. I have to say, as I have before, that people here do dress nice. I don't know about the judgmental part, but if that's how he feels then that's how he feels.

He has no TV, no computer, no car, and no bike. He does have a cell phone. He's even got a pretty good attitude. He makes me think he would like nothing better than to go to the United States which is why I think he enjoys talking to us. He asked us if it's true that all Americans believe in God. We answered that for the most part, yes. He seemed surprised, but also pleased.

I asked if he thought he'd ever go to America and his answer surprised and enlightened me. He said as a Bulgarian he's not allowed to go to the U.S. Really? I can find no evidence on the internet that he or any other Bulgarian is excluded from entering the States, but it is interesting that he thinks it's off-limits for him.

I asked him why he can't go to the U.S. He believes it's because - and these are his words - that Bulgarians have been known to steal identities over the internet, therefore not welcome in the U.S. Again, I don't know if this is true. And could probably be said for many nationalities - including Americans!

What I do know is that he's smart and seems like a nice guy. I hope Ivaylo has the same chance at making his dreams come true as my Ross does. Doesn't everyone deserve that?

22 April 2010

Sundry

This car is parked beside our house.

I pass it every day. I like that sticker.

I don't know the age or history of our house.

I'm thinking there may have been a doctor's office here at one time?

Our collection thus far.

Found these in our kelder (basement/cellar).

Tried them in every lock - nothing.

This is a tulip tree!

I found all the ingredients.

Not bad, huh?

Oh, and Sonic, I have an idea.

On a street near our house.

Several years ago, for two whole years, I was a vegetarian. Although some people are able to do this for a lifetime and I seriously admire them, two years was too long for me. I still try not to think about it too much for fear I will regress. You know, those sad cow eyes and all.

So, after two years of veggin' it, one day I decided enough is enough and I got my favorite sandwich from Subway - meatball marinara - and I never looked back. I guess I just snapped.

There is a Subway in downtown Hasselt. I know . . . fast food, but other than McDonald's which is on the outskirts of town, this is it. On this day, I happened by, read the sign outside, the meatball marinara was the "Sub van de Dag" and what can I say, I snapped.

When our children were little, we would visit Jim's grandmother as often as we could. She always had a jar of Juicy Fruit gum and a small box of toys. My kids loved to get that box out of the closet and play with the things inside. It was just a random mix of crayons, books, puzzles . . .

I wonder what happened to all those things in that box.

We came to Belgium with only the essentials. We have no extras here. No toys, crayons, or books.

The house we live in was previously occupied for almost 10 years by a family with three young boys. Occasionally I find a toy under the cabinet or in the yard. And I add to the collection from time to time. There's a 5 pound note inadvertently brought back from the UK, some legos, a couple of Smurf figurines I got in chocolate Easter eggs, a snail shell I found, 2 U.S. dimes, a spoon Ross found at Lake Lausanne, Switzerland, a mussel shell, a Bertolli soccer ball I found in the shrubs . . .

I wash everything really good and put it away in a coffee can. I'm not even sure what some of it is, but I bet a little boy or girl could make good use of all this stuff :)