Happy 55th Mark Henry!
A late Thursday night transitioned into a rough Friday morning, but we made it to Brussels airport safe and sound and ready to go to Rome! Once we landed we tried finding our hostel, Pink Floyd Hostel, which we walked by two times before we actually noticed it. It was pretty funny. Didn't waste much time after we got in. We walked around town, got our bearings and all that jazz. Grabbed a quick bite to eat, which was actually disappointing by all means. Pizza tasted cheap and my pasta wasn't...good? for the lack of a better term. Based on our first meal we were all a little skeptic about what Rome was really like.
Even though we were down about the food, we decided we would give Rome another shot, since it has a couple other things to offer besides the pizza & pasta. First we went to the Coliseum and Roman Ruins. We took a lengthy and detailed tour inside both areas. It was simply amazing actually setting foot inside that place. There were about ten or fifteen men dressed up in Gladiator attire and had characters they played. Summer had to stand up in front of everyone and play along with our tour guide. The ruins were pretty insane. It took about 10 minutes to walk across what used to be the royal rooms. There were trees in the middle of the house too. Saw old royal thrones, places where Mussolini & Hitler met, and streets that Napoleon Bonaparte destroyed/replaced! One of the more fascinating things was just how damn big all of their buildings were as well as how much detail they put into every little piece of work. It all made for a very full and lengthy day.
Friday night we went out for drinks and pizza and just enjoyed some night life of Rome. It was a little different with all four of us being the tourist and no one really speaking the language at all. But, we survived.
Saturday we made our way through the down pouring rain over to the Sistine Chapel and Roman History Museum. It was ridiculous how many Indian people there were trying to sell us umbrellas along the way. They were quite annoying and at first I resisted but by about 3 p.m. I gave in and finally bought one for a couple Euro...then I lost it about 10 hours later...
Well, after another fun night in Rome where we had amazing pizza in a little alley, we found a little place that sold Duff beer!(from The Simpsons) Naturally, we American's had to have it and Ruben being Ruben had no problem stopping for a few more drinks! It was a nice night, actually met some people from California & Georgia who both lived in Rome. One of them decided she needed to "reset" so she picked up and moved to Rome a few months back, thought that was pretty bold and cool on her part.
Then came Sunday morning. Our flight was at 8:55 and we needed to be there about 7:15 or so with a 30-45 minute trip to make it. Our intentions were to get up and checked out of Pink Floyd by about 6:30 or so...but being the young crazies we are, we didn't wake up until 7 am! Made it to the bus a.s.a.p. and found out that we couldn't take that bus because it was a different company?!? WHAT...quickly we unloaded our bags and flagged down a Taxi who took us all the way to the Airport. Strangely, the cab ended up costing less then it would have for us all four to get tickets for the bus. "Fate".
SO! Those are the cliff notes of my trip to Rome! It was quite the experience. Didn't get to do everything I wanted to do in Italy, but, I don't think I really have any complaints! I'm sure there are some things I wanted to say but I forgot...oh well!
Ciao,
P.J.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
...i said tuesday, january 20, 2009
So today is Obama’s inauguration and I’m in Belgium? “What a bummer” you’re sayin…
As Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend!” Summer, Jamie, and I were interviewed bya local t.v. station about what Obama’s election means to us as Americans. It was a pretty cool experience!
Got to go do laundry, 4:32 pm…be back later to finish…
…5:03 pm back…first attempt at using the buses failed! We missed the one bus we needed by about 1 minute and waited about 25 but then decided to come back!
Even though I thought today was going to be a bummer, because our snowboarding got postponed, it turned out to be pretty cool cause I was on TV.
As Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend!” Summer, Jamie, and I were interviewed bya local t.v. station about what Obama’s election means to us as Americans. It was a pretty cool experience!
Got to go do laundry, 4:32 pm…be back later to finish…
…5:03 pm back…first attempt at using the buses failed! We missed the one bus we needed by about 1 minute and waited about 25 but then decided to come back!
Even though I thought today was going to be a bummer, because our snowboarding got postponed, it turned out to be pretty cool cause I was on TV.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
NFL Playoffs..!
It's been another week in Hasselt now. Sometimes it seems like I've been here forever and then two seconds later it feels like I just got here. The more things change the more they're the same. Classes are getting a little more involved but they're isn't anything real bad yet. I'm translating a couple groups work into more correct English language so that it is presentable information.
Went to a couple new bars and a couple new restaruants this week. Have consumed alot of pasta, it's the only thing that I am for sure about on the menus, but even the pasta is very different from American style. The Lasgne at De Orangie was scrumptous!
Worst part of last week was going to the Irish Pub in town and trying to keep pace with Ruben, I've never hated a beer more than I now hate Guiness. However drinking Guiness appearently gives you and your friends the ability to do karioke. Rumor has it there are pictures of a couple of us singing Destiny Child-Bootylicous. Not my proudest moment!
Got to talk to Danny & Jake on Skype this week. Was really fun to get to see some people from back home. If anyone has a Skype account, give me a call on it sometime, love getting to talk to people back home.
I found a little park right next to the dorms that has a little trial. With some encouragement from a friend I think I've been convinced to run another marathon this Summer so I've started doing some running. Definately been a while since I've used the legs, but it feels really good. Plus it's cool to say you "ran in Europe" , still pretty far-fetched.
Traveling is yet to intiate so to speak. I think I'm going snowboarding up North in The Netherlands on Tuesday this week and then going to Rome next Friday-Sunday to do some sight seeing! I'm pretty excited to get some pictures and stories to tell!
I've recently found a radio podcast on iTunes from ESPN...basically I found a link back to US sports, and it is awesome! Haven't been caught up on it in weeks and I turned it on today to find out the NFL Conference Championship games were on today back home! My excitement prompted the title for this blogging.
We'll hopefully this entertains you guys for a while! Hope all is well, love ya, take care!
Ciao, PJ!
Went to a couple new bars and a couple new restaruants this week. Have consumed alot of pasta, it's the only thing that I am for sure about on the menus, but even the pasta is very different from American style. The Lasgne at De Orangie was scrumptous!
Worst part of last week was going to the Irish Pub in town and trying to keep pace with Ruben, I've never hated a beer more than I now hate Guiness. However drinking Guiness appearently gives you and your friends the ability to do karioke. Rumor has it there are pictures of a couple of us singing Destiny Child-Bootylicous. Not my proudest moment!
Got to talk to Danny & Jake on Skype this week. Was really fun to get to see some people from back home. If anyone has a Skype account, give me a call on it sometime, love getting to talk to people back home.
I found a little park right next to the dorms that has a little trial. With some encouragement from a friend I think I've been convinced to run another marathon this Summer so I've started doing some running. Definately been a while since I've used the legs, but it feels really good. Plus it's cool to say you "ran in Europe" , still pretty far-fetched.
Traveling is yet to intiate so to speak. I think I'm going snowboarding up North in The Netherlands on Tuesday this week and then going to Rome next Friday-Sunday to do some sight seeing! I'm pretty excited to get some pictures and stories to tell!
I've recently found a radio podcast on iTunes from ESPN...basically I found a link back to US sports, and it is awesome! Haven't been caught up on it in weeks and I turned it on today to find out the NFL Conference Championship games were on today back home! My excitement prompted the title for this blogging.
We'll hopefully this entertains you guys for a while! Hope all is well, love ya, take care!
Ciao, PJ!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Week Numero Uno: My First Waffle
Well, I made it through the first week alive & well!! It was real different being that new kid but think I'm going to really enjoy my time here. The rest of my classes went pretty well later in the week too.
Logistics seems pretty laid back. We're going to do a "mock" business and learn how to use a couple logistics software programs that are modernly used.
European Studies was a little slow but interesting to me. There are about 20 people in that class, only 2 Americans, and 1 male...myself. It's more a historic overview of the European Union and that sort of stuff. Our teacher could probably get through the material in an hour but naturally, just as my regular teachers do, he drags it out for the full period.
Managment game was just that. We are playing a hypothetical game to see which team, each team is a company, can produce the most profit with a business plan they create. Everyone has the same guidelines for the GPS Producing company but the operations and decisions rest upon the actual companies themselves. I'm working with a French student but cannot remember her name at the moment.
Survival Dutch was interesting. Wasn't real sure what it even meant based on the title but it is just learning essential Dutch language. Stinks that it is on Friday from 2:30-4:30 but the teacher said if all 11 students can find another time that works for everyone we can move it. They're real laid back like that. According to Reuben, a Belgium native friend of mine, we absolutely butcher the language. But I think it's alot of fun to learn. J=y, there are double-value rules, etc, etc. but at least its interesting.
It felt like to me that they are very into the hypothetical situations; all my classes we are "playing a game", using company software, or creating a business plan (Marketing Project). Alot different then typical lecture-note Amerikkan classes...
I bet it sounds like it has been all work an no play with as much writing about school as I am doing, but no.
Thursday night we went to a local club called Versuz, insane. Don't know how many hunderds of people were in there just dancing like there was no tomorrow. I like my music loud but I have never had anything compare to about 4 and half hours of straight dance (techno)/rap music. It was insane. Even if I spoke fluent Dutch it would be hard to hold a conversation with someone. We were out until about 5 or 6 in the morning because when they go out here, they don't go out until about midnight or 1. It was an experience and I'm sure I'll be back. They're party nights on Thursday, Saturday, & Monday. Weird?.. The worst part about the whole thing was trying to wake up and go to class to learn a new language after I long beir-filled night!!
Lastnight, Vrijdag, Summer, Jamie, Reuben, & I went and got a Bicky Burger in town for dinner after Dutch class. It's basically a burger with a special Belgian invented sauce, and they put onion-crisp on it too. They're good and filling! We walked through the town, looked at shops and kind of learned where more things were. I stopped and had my first Belgian waffle. To be honest it will probably be my only one. They're extremely sweet, too sweet, for me. But can't disagree, they do taste good. Then we went to a couple bars, Export, walked around town, went to a fry shop, Fritz & Co. and just kind of laid low. Wasn't a whole lot of energy flowing after Thursday night. Haven't really had whole lot of Belgian food its all kind of international stuff that is just adopted and changed to fit Belgian style.
Well it's Saturday morning and I think we're going to go to town and maybe even do some sight seeing today. That will be cool. I know that I am going the European Union Parliment and on a couple different field trips coming up. Yeah I'm getting credits for taking field trips and then writing about them...European school rocks! haha I heard about the BCS games, haven't seen anything in sports since I've been here until lastnight; I heard LSN is gaining some creditablity thanks to some classy individuals and their fire arms. It's hard to find out what's going on back home so if you got any big news, fill me in. Until next time.
Ik ben Patrick. Ik woon uit Lee's Summit maar ik ben geboren in Kansas City. Ik been 20 jaar student. Dank u voor het lezen mijn blog.
Logistics seems pretty laid back. We're going to do a "mock" business and learn how to use a couple logistics software programs that are modernly used.
European Studies was a little slow but interesting to me. There are about 20 people in that class, only 2 Americans, and 1 male...myself. It's more a historic overview of the European Union and that sort of stuff. Our teacher could probably get through the material in an hour but naturally, just as my regular teachers do, he drags it out for the full period.
Managment game was just that. We are playing a hypothetical game to see which team, each team is a company, can produce the most profit with a business plan they create. Everyone has the same guidelines for the GPS Producing company but the operations and decisions rest upon the actual companies themselves. I'm working with a French student but cannot remember her name at the moment.
Survival Dutch was interesting. Wasn't real sure what it even meant based on the title but it is just learning essential Dutch language. Stinks that it is on Friday from 2:30-4:30 but the teacher said if all 11 students can find another time that works for everyone we can move it. They're real laid back like that. According to Reuben, a Belgium native friend of mine, we absolutely butcher the language. But I think it's alot of fun to learn. J=y, there are double-value rules, etc, etc. but at least its interesting.
It felt like to me that they are very into the hypothetical situations; all my classes we are "playing a game", using company software, or creating a business plan (Marketing Project). Alot different then typical lecture-note Amerikkan classes...
I bet it sounds like it has been all work an no play with as much writing about school as I am doing, but no.
Thursday night we went to a local club called Versuz, insane. Don't know how many hunderds of people were in there just dancing like there was no tomorrow. I like my music loud but I have never had anything compare to about 4 and half hours of straight dance (techno)/rap music. It was insane. Even if I spoke fluent Dutch it would be hard to hold a conversation with someone. We were out until about 5 or 6 in the morning because when they go out here, they don't go out until about midnight or 1. It was an experience and I'm sure I'll be back. They're party nights on Thursday, Saturday, & Monday. Weird?.. The worst part about the whole thing was trying to wake up and go to class to learn a new language after I long beir-filled night!!
Lastnight, Vrijdag, Summer, Jamie, Reuben, & I went and got a Bicky Burger in town for dinner after Dutch class. It's basically a burger with a special Belgian invented sauce, and they put onion-crisp on it too. They're good and filling! We walked through the town, looked at shops and kind of learned where more things were. I stopped and had my first Belgian waffle. To be honest it will probably be my only one. They're extremely sweet, too sweet, for me. But can't disagree, they do taste good. Then we went to a couple bars, Export, walked around town, went to a fry shop, Fritz & Co. and just kind of laid low. Wasn't a whole lot of energy flowing after Thursday night. Haven't really had whole lot of Belgian food its all kind of international stuff that is just adopted and changed to fit Belgian style.
Well it's Saturday morning and I think we're going to go to town and maybe even do some sight seeing today. That will be cool. I know that I am going the European Union Parliment and on a couple different field trips coming up. Yeah I'm getting credits for taking field trips and then writing about them...European school rocks! haha I heard about the BCS games, haven't seen anything in sports since I've been here until lastnight; I heard LSN is gaining some creditablity thanks to some classy individuals and their fire arms. It's hard to find out what's going on back home so if you got any big news, fill me in. Until next time.
Ik ben Patrick. Ik woon uit Lee's Summit maar ik ben geboren in Kansas City. Ik been 20 jaar student. Dank u voor het lezen mijn blog.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Classes..
Had my first day of class today. Alot different then anything I've been doing in school. It's almost like I'm back in high school again. They have bells at the end of periods, uniformed lunches, breaks during the classes, pretty different.
In my Integrated Marketing Project I have to do research for our topic and later give a speech over stuff as it relates to the United States market, shouldn't be too bad. I thought it was a lot of work kind of...however, the rest of my group, Jimmy, Shana, and another Belgian student have to do the same thing only present it in German, French, Deutsch, and one other language...I can't believe how fluent & bilangual these people are while the average American can speak one shanty version of English haha, kind of makes us look lazy!
It's different being the "foriegn student", its like I'm Fez from That 70's Show haha...they'll be times when we just randomly break into conversation and do a culture comparison during class and its interesting to learn what they know and what we do not know. For instance I couldn't tell them one famous Belgian off the top of my head today! (Jean Claude van Damm ?) Also today we got into discussion of music, they thought I looked like a rock star since I was rockin' the beard! I found that commical. They really like old time music a.k.a Presidents of USA-Peaches; they'd never heard of Incubus or Jack Johnson; we did however share a common interest in The Beatles music.
Speakin go of television shows, we talked about their favorites a.ka. early 1990's shows like Full House, Step-by-Step, Family Matters, FRIENDS, etc. They would break out into theme songs of them all, you ever need a smile, just ask someone to sing one of those theme songs-classic!
Have yet to get to the traveling, however, either this weekend or the next I may go with Jamie and Belgian friend, Reuben, to either Paris or over to Germany. He's got a car and said he'd be willing to drive us anywhere within a couple hours of Hasselt, but also I have the train option.
Still a little rocky on the navigation part of things, still having to adjust to the new sleep scheduale..it's no fun having class when you're body thinks it is 1-4 am...all and all definately enjoying the time I've had!
Ciao.
In my Integrated Marketing Project I have to do research for our topic and later give a speech over stuff as it relates to the United States market, shouldn't be too bad. I thought it was a lot of work kind of...however, the rest of my group, Jimmy, Shana, and another Belgian student have to do the same thing only present it in German, French, Deutsch, and one other language...I can't believe how fluent & bilangual these people are while the average American can speak one shanty version of English haha, kind of makes us look lazy!
It's different being the "foriegn student", its like I'm Fez from That 70's Show haha...they'll be times when we just randomly break into conversation and do a culture comparison during class and its interesting to learn what they know and what we do not know. For instance I couldn't tell them one famous Belgian off the top of my head today! (Jean Claude van Damm ?) Also today we got into discussion of music, they thought I looked like a rock star since I was rockin' the beard! I found that commical. They really like old time music a.k.a Presidents of USA-Peaches; they'd never heard of Incubus or Jack Johnson; we did however share a common interest in The Beatles music.
Speakin go of television shows, we talked about their favorites a.ka. early 1990's shows like Full House, Step-by-Step, Family Matters, FRIENDS, etc. They would break out into theme songs of them all, you ever need a smile, just ask someone to sing one of those theme songs-classic!
Have yet to get to the traveling, however, either this weekend or the next I may go with Jamie and Belgian friend, Reuben, to either Paris or over to Germany. He's got a car and said he'd be willing to drive us anywhere within a couple hours of Hasselt, but also I have the train option.
Still a little rocky on the navigation part of things, still having to adjust to the new sleep scheduale..it's no fun having class when you're body thinks it is 1-4 am...all and all definately enjoying the time I've had!
Ciao.
Monday, January 5, 2009
First few days..
So, I made it here, safe & sound! ...sigh...
My arrival wasn't was a little bumpy at times once I finally got to Belgium (after a ridiculous 5 hours in Amsterdam)..
First, it took forever to find luggage, but I got everything a okay.
Then, the trains! There was a wreck on one I needed, so I had to change my route "on the go" which..stunk. Instead of taking 2 and arriving in Hasselt at about 8 pm I had to take 3 three different ones and didn't arrive here untill 10 pm. The trains were nutso...if wasn't for the extremely fluent english speaking Belgians I had come across I don't think I would of made it.
When I finally got to the Hasselt station, I couldn't not get ahold of my ride--her cell phone was dead! So after I made small talk with a station operator, he let me use the phone which was no use because I couldn't get through to anyone using what numbers I had, thus panic set in. I had to sit around Hasselt station for about 45 mins before I a) declinded the operator's offer to sleep in the station and b) decided I would walk to a hotel in the town center...luckily as I began walking I came across Steffi and two others who thankfully were my ride!
I got to the campus, which is relatively small and very "colorful" for a lack of a better term. Yet more problems came up. My dorm room key didn't work and it took about 15 mins to finally get in; however, my key didn't not work to lock my door; so I had to get a new one...just seemed like things weren't working out for me. All and all the first couple days were crazy/hectic as far as the traveling goes.
Arrival:
My first night, after I got settled at an early 11:30 pm I met a couple of Turkish students who go to PHL, Tuba & "E" (couldn't pronounce his name so I used "E"). They took me to Cafe Latio for a few drinks. It was both cool & crazy, completely different then anything I'd been too. People were just dancing their little hearts out. We had a few beers there and then moved to Club Universal a few blocks away--this was about 3 am, we're talking a solid 24+ hours of little to no sleep. That was an experience too. I learned the proper hand gestures to order "a bier" which involes a pinky...I also found out that you tip both a) toliet workers & b) door man when you exit both the toliet (bathroom) and bar/pub/club...what a job huh? Get paid to stand at a door!
Day 2- A couple of students, Frank & Wes, took myself and another student, Jamie from Arkansas State out for lunch and a brief tour of the town center. Then we went to a pub and sat and just got to talking for about 4 hours! It's so cool how relaxed everyone is here in comparison with the hectic "go go go" of the States (yeah, I use the term "the states" a lot now). It was a fun day, Jamie and I got lost on the way back but I like to say we were merely exploring. Had one of the best "Dubble Amerikkan" (double cheeseburgers) ever from a corner vendor on the way back.
Classes:
After a night of hardly any sleep, my internal clock is still set on State mode, I got up at 5, had what we thought was orientation at 8:15 which turned out to be a intense morning of classes. After about 5 hours of one class....we broke for lunch and then went and got registered for classes. And finally we got our computers to work!
I think I'm going to go try and get a pre-paid phone so I got to run now but it's nice to finally get intouch with you guys!
-P.J.
My arrival wasn't was a little bumpy at times once I finally got to Belgium (after a ridiculous 5 hours in Amsterdam)..
First, it took forever to find luggage, but I got everything a okay.
Then, the trains! There was a wreck on one I needed, so I had to change my route "on the go" which..stunk. Instead of taking 2 and arriving in Hasselt at about 8 pm I had to take 3 three different ones and didn't arrive here untill 10 pm. The trains were nutso...if wasn't for the extremely fluent english speaking Belgians I had come across I don't think I would of made it.
When I finally got to the Hasselt station, I couldn't not get ahold of my ride--her cell phone was dead! So after I made small talk with a station operator, he let me use the phone which was no use because I couldn't get through to anyone using what numbers I had, thus panic set in. I had to sit around Hasselt station for about 45 mins before I a) declinded the operator's offer to sleep in the station and b) decided I would walk to a hotel in the town center...luckily as I began walking I came across Steffi and two others who thankfully were my ride!
I got to the campus, which is relatively small and very "colorful" for a lack of a better term. Yet more problems came up. My dorm room key didn't work and it took about 15 mins to finally get in; however, my key didn't not work to lock my door; so I had to get a new one...just seemed like things weren't working out for me. All and all the first couple days were crazy/hectic as far as the traveling goes.
Arrival:
My first night, after I got settled at an early 11:30 pm I met a couple of Turkish students who go to PHL, Tuba & "E" (couldn't pronounce his name so I used "E"). They took me to Cafe Latio for a few drinks. It was both cool & crazy, completely different then anything I'd been too. People were just dancing their little hearts out. We had a few beers there and then moved to Club Universal a few blocks away--this was about 3 am, we're talking a solid 24+ hours of little to no sleep. That was an experience too. I learned the proper hand gestures to order "a bier" which involes a pinky...I also found out that you tip both a) toliet workers & b) door man when you exit both the toliet (bathroom) and bar/pub/club...what a job huh? Get paid to stand at a door!
Day 2- A couple of students, Frank & Wes, took myself and another student, Jamie from Arkansas State out for lunch and a brief tour of the town center. Then we went to a pub and sat and just got to talking for about 4 hours! It's so cool how relaxed everyone is here in comparison with the hectic "go go go" of the States (yeah, I use the term "the states" a lot now). It was a fun day, Jamie and I got lost on the way back but I like to say we were merely exploring. Had one of the best "Dubble Amerikkan" (double cheeseburgers) ever from a corner vendor on the way back.
Classes:
After a night of hardly any sleep, my internal clock is still set on State mode, I got up at 5, had what we thought was orientation at 8:15 which turned out to be a intense morning of classes. After about 5 hours of one class....we broke for lunch and then went and got registered for classes. And finally we got our computers to work!
I think I'm going to go try and get a pre-paid phone so I got to run now but it's nice to finally get intouch with you guys!
-P.J.
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