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.