tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17836507819244033532024-03-21T06:20:38.977-07:00So Long America...Bonjour Bruxelles!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-40536123157628747542014-02-03T08:24:00.000-08:002014-02-03T08:27:40.010-08:00Patience...Patience...Patience...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The moving madness, the reason I started this whole blog a year ago, has begun! I really took for granted how much Tonico did for us during the last move! Naturally, since I am not working, he asked me if I could take charge of the move back to the states, and I happily accepted the challenge...and challenge it is! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We started with a 14 page, front and back, packet detailing our relocation allowances from the company. From there, we have been in contact with the moving companies who will be handling our moves from both Brussels as well as MN (where my wonderful in-laws have been storing all of our major home furnishings). There is an overall moving company we are working with who organizes other companies to do the physical moving of the items. Confused? I had to draw a map...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and since I took this picture, I have added more people with more functions...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today we had a nice Belgian man come to survey our home goods to make sure we are within our weight allotment - and it seems we have some major organizing to do! We are a little scattered at the moment as I am trying to sell all of the items we have accumulated while we were here. **I apologize profusely for the inundation of FB updates about all the things I am selling - how obnoxious! I promise, I have tried EVERYTHING to hide it from y'all but it seems it's impossible....it will be over shortly, I swear!** </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On top of this crazy moving madness, my Dad is coming to visit!!!! He'll be here late on Friday night and I'm just praying I haven't sold the couch/bed he'll be sleeping on! He will be here for 10 days and I am so excited to show him our home and our little country! We will be doing some WWII sights as his uncle was/is a veteran and spent a lot of time in this area. Who knows what other fun excursions we will find ourselves on while he's here. My Dad just loves this area of the world - takes him back to his younger years when he was in the National Guard and spent time over here. He gets so giddy when he talks about all the good times he had back then and I am excited to spend some time with him in his element! :o)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This blog post should give you an indication of what is going on in my brain as of yet...I'm working hard to stay organized and on top of things but it's a bit nutty here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are we in NC yet!?!?!?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*Side note* My dear, talented friend Jenna has launched an Etsy page full of awesome travel related goodies! Check her shop out - <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LakesideDaydreams" target="_blank">Lakeside Daydreams</a> - you won't regret it!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-38740946381954977692014-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:002014-01-20T12:14:37.430-08:00Time Flies!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It seems so cliché to say but this past year sure has flown by! This time last year, Tonico was in Belgium interviewing for the job he currently holds. Now, a year later, we are preparing to leave Belgium behind and head back to CHARLOTTE! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingersoll Rand has gone through some major restructuring and with that, a position in Davidson, NC opened up that we could not pass up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now we are back to the lists upon lists of To-Do's before we make the move back (tentatively scheduled for March). Thankfully this move will be much easier as we know the culture we are coming back to! There will be no need for FBI background checks, residency requirements, apostilized documents, etc, etc. Instead it's car shopping, apartment/house hunting, job searching for me and making plans to bring our puppy back home to us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While this time in Belgium has been tough, it has been a great year for Tonico and I to learn about a whole new culture first hand! As we begin the countdown to Charlotte, it seems only fitting that we think and reflect on the things we are going to miss once we are gone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If I had to make a list right now, it would be:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. The beer - sure you can buy most in the US but it's just not the same!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. The architecture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. The ease of travel to so many beautiful and historic locations</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">..ok so I am struggling to make this list - I know there are many more things - I just cannot stop thinking about all of the things I am looking forward to back in the US. Here are just a few:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Seeing Tonico and Chucho reunite for the first time in a year</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Eating Mexican food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Celebrating being home with our dear friends in Charlotte!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. Getting to know my sweet Aliyah (my friend Jen's baby girl)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5. WORKING</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6. Speaking English</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">7. Customer service</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">8. Friendly strangers who say please, thank you, excuse me, I'm sorry, etc</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">9. MEXICAN FOOD</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">10. Being only an hour ahead of my family instead of 7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">11. Jessica & Matt's wedding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">12. Brian & Andrea's wedding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">13. Ryan & Katie's wedding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">14. Mexican, everything from Chipotle to Cantina 1511</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">15. Being with family and friends for so many of the above items!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just wanted to keep everyone updated! We have so appreciated all the thoughts, well wishes, mail and Skype dates we have had with everyone while we have been gone. We certainly did not think this move would be happening so quickly but we are so excited!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope everyone is doing well and sticking to their New Years Resolutions! 2014 is going to be an amazing year!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-80926138170508288192014-01-08T04:50:00.003-08:002014-01-08T04:52:57.344-08:00Christmas in Florence!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I forgot to post this before, but Tonico and I are FINALLY residents of Belgium! Tonico finished his process in September and I finished mine the day after I arrived back in Belgium. After 3+ hours I received my "orange card" or temporary residence card. Unfortunately, upon receipt of this document, I am not aloud to leave the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area" target="_blank">Schengen Area</a> (the countries in Europe that have gotten rid of passport control). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because of this, and the fact that we had just spent </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">almost three months apart - including our second anniversary - Tonico and I decided to take a nice long vacation for the Christmas holiday. We settled on Florence, Italy and it was the best decision we could have made! We spent a whole week enjoying the sights, sounds, shopping and food of this amazing city!</span><br />
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This is by far, the most beautiful church I have seen in all of our European explorations. This is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore - also known as Il Duomo. The colors to me are so stunning and timeless. I could have sat outside this building all day and just stared/took pictures of it!</div>
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We attended (partially) a mid-night Christmas Eve mass there - we had read we needed to arrive by 10:30 if we wanted a seat, so we did just that. At 11 they began a pre-mass that we stayed for, but after a long day of walking, eating and a good bit of wine, we realized making it until mid-night or later was not going to happen! It was beautiful none the less!</div>
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The church itself is one of the most empty I have ever seen. There were some beautiful artwork but that's about it. To me - that is what made it even more beautiful. This picture is what is painted inside the "duomo" or dome. </div>
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My best friend Jessica studied abroad in Rome, Italy so before we left, we asked here if there were any "must eat/drink" suggestions. Cappuccino was #1 on her list. Jessica knows I am NOT a lover of coffee in any form, but she said I HAD to get it, so I did! And then I got it again, every morning we were there! Maybe it's just because we were in Italy but I really enjoyed it!</div>
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Tonico and I did a lot of walking while we were in Florence. I was surprised at how hilly the city actually is. One day we went to visit the Riccardi Medici Palace. The grounds were quite extensive with some of there best views atop some of the steepest hills I've climbed in a while! This picture of Tonico is actually only about halfway up the hill. </div>
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This is the Palace from inside the grounds. The palace also housed several different museums - we visited the costume museum which showcased several influential women in the fashion world. While their style was definitely eclectic, the pieces were beautifully made. It was very surreal to see so many original Gucci, Chanel, Prada, etc. pieces.</div>
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This was by far our favorite things while we were in Italy. Panna cotta and Limoncello :o)</div>
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Another view of the Duomo just because it is THAT beautiful!</div>
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Just like this picture :o)</div>
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This was our Christmas morning/afternoon feast! We had mimosas too which is a Marin family Christmas tradition. </div>
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This is the bell tower for the Duomo. We walked up all 414 very steep, very narrow steps. The views were <i>breathtaking</i> and no amount of pictures could do it justice...</div>
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...but here's one anyway!</div>
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Did I mention we did a lot of walking in Florence? On our last day in Florence we walked to Piazzale Michelangelo, which again was up a very steep hill but boasted some of the best views of the city. And they were not lying! The weather was a bit overcast and it actually started raining while we were up there, but it didn't stop us from snapping some pictures and taking in all the views. </div>
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We did go to see the real David statue, but you are not allowed to take pictures of it, so this is a replica that is in the Piazzale Michelangelo. </div>
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Did I mention we enjoyed limoncello? This was at a restaurant Tonico found on TripAdvisor. We ordered pizza from them the first night we were there but took it to go. We decided to go back later that week for a sit down meal and it was awesome! The waiter was so nice, read the whole menu to us in English and then treated us to these after dinner drinks! We went back again the next night and they treated us like they'd known us for years! (they even gave us one of the glasses to keep!)</div>
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Tonico and I flew to Italy via our first RyanAir flight. RyanAir is a no-frills airline that has some awesome travel deals due to the 'no frills' concept. It's a free-for-all at the airport, but you can't beat the prices. Also, the flights generally do not fly out of main airports. We flew from an airport just south of Brussels, in to Pisa - then took a train to Florence. This gave us a great opportunity to see the infamous leaning tower! </div>
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Obligatory tourist trying to hold up the tower...</div>
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...trying to be unique with my tourist picture...didn't really work! We really wish we would have just sat back and took pictures of the ALL the tourists doing this pictures! It was hilarious!</div>
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So that was our Christmas vacation in a nutshell! It did not feel like Christmas though, as this was our first time spending the holiday away from family. Nothing can replace family...but Florence was a good attempt!</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-37409391514787110592013-12-20T06:27:00.000-08:002013-12-20T06:27:46.260-08:00Made Especially for You by Gramma Schroeder<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dear sweet Gramma passed away on Monday. It was a blessing in disguise. She is no longer hurting and finally reunited with my Grandpa. I got to spend so much time with her while I was home. I was able to accept the inevitable and soak up her love. But no matter how prepared you are for something like this, it's still a difficult feeling. Adding in the thousands of miles between home and where I am, and the pain is a little worse. So naturally, I've spent the last few days looking at pictures, reflecting on good memories of her with Tonico, and wrapping myself in her handiwork.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One year for Christmas, many many years ago, all the Schroeder Grandchildren gathered around the Christmas tree at "Big Schroeder Christmas" in the Wilton Legion Hall. Grandpa played Santa and passed out to each one of us a box. In side that box was a blanket, each one just a little bit different, but that blanket was "made especially for me by Gramma Schroeder". I certainly cannot speak for everyone, but my 'Gramma blanket' as it soon became referred to, was carried around like another piece of clothing. (Though never as much as my sweet cousin Hanna - her 'snuggie' was GLUED to her!) Sometime in high school, I had the sad realization that my Gramma blanket was not going to last forever. Holes were beginning to form simply from natural wear and the pattern was almost completely faded out. Sadly, one day, I folded it up, placed it in a bag and put it in the trunk below my window seat. Having to be without that blanket was tough, but somehow I moved on :o) College graduation day arrived, along with another special moment. Gramma had made me another blanket! I could not have been more surprised or thankful for such a thoughtful gift! I have tried to be much more careful with this blanket, but it's almost impossible not to wrap myself in it every time Tonico and I sit down to watch a movie or read a book. This week was absolutely no exception. This blanket means more to me than almost any other possession - now more than ever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To all of you who have sent love, support, kind words, prayers and thoughts my way - I cannot thank you enough! You are the reason I have been able to move past the sadness and in to acceptance. May you find peace and comfort this holiday season as you spend time with your loved ones!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tonico and I wish you all the best this holiday season! We are jetting to Florence, Italy next week to spend our first Christmas, just the two of us! After this emotional year, it is sure to be just what we need to recharge our batteries for 2014! </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-92041674507955976882013-12-10T04:34:00.002-08:002013-12-10T08:19:11.400-08:00So, it's been a while!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For those few of you that have been waiting patiently for my next blog...I apologize for the 3+ month delay! It's been an absolutely crazy last three months, and while I will spare you a ten page blog, I will try to be brief!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First and foremost, I have to make sure to acknowledge the visit Tonico and I got from my very best friend Jessica and her fiance Matt! They visited at the end of August and it was a blast! J&M (that's what I'm going to call you!) started their vacation in London and then made their way across the ocean to Bruges where I met them. We toured around the city and I took them to Tonico & my favorite bar spot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately this is the best and only picture I got while in Bruges. Props to the photo bomb in the back ground...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a nice long day in Bruges, we all hopped on the train back to Brussels to meet up with Tonico. The night was spent toasting J&M's engagement and catching up on life. And if I'm being honest...that's about ALL we did! :o) We spent most mornings sleeping in, due to staying up too late drinking too much wine the night before. Then we would venture out into the city to take in some sights. And if I'm being honest again, the below pictures pretty much sum up how we spent our days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(At the Georgette, one of our favorite Friteries/Restaurants)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Frites and Beer...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and more beer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had so much fun trying out new foods, beers, walking around the city and hanging out on our deck talking about any and everything. We were in great company that week! On one of our last nights together, Tonico and I took J&M to the European Union area - just a short walk from our place - to enjoy what the Belgians call a "party". Every Thursday night during the summer, all of the bars and restaurants in the area (Place Lux), have drink specials. Because most people who work at the EU are from around Europe, they usually work M-TH and travel home on Friday, making Thursday night is the night to celebrate the end of the week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And after this trip, we all came to a very valuable yet sad realization....we are not 18 anymore! But we would not do anything different with our visit! We absolutely LOVED seeing them and showing them around our home :o) And now, on to their big day! June cannot get here soon enough! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After J&M left, it was difficult for me to get back to 'normal'. Tonico was back to work and I was back to the relentless job search and my housewife duties. There were things going on at home too that were making me long to be there. My absolutely wonderful and supportive husband encouraged me to make a visit home - and for that, I will be eternally grateful. While home I got to do all this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meet Aliyah Louise - Jen why didn't we get pictures together!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Celebrate this beautiful woman's wedding to Reed, the perfect match for sure! It was a beautiful day and I was so glad to be able to share it with you two!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reconnect with these blonde beauties,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Witness the absolutely personal & unique wedding of my dear friend Maida to David, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cuddle with my boo boo, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Travel across the country with my Dad, in a pickup truck, to bring my brother home from San Francisco,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Drink Tea Garden with my Hermana-in-law,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Goof around with my littles,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(A journal my sweet friend Jenna sent me upon my arrival to the US and the blanket I wrapped myself with while sitting next to Gramma's bed made out of Grampa Schroeder's old corduroy shirts)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But most importantly, I got to spend days, hours and many minutes with my Gramma Schroeder. Her battle with cancer took a turn for the worst just days after I arrived in the US. While it may appear in the above pictures that I was just home for fun, know that every minute in between these pictures was spent with her - holding her hand, talking about Grampa, listening to stories from when she lived on the ridge, and enjoying the company of family who has been surrounding her these last few months. While I absolutely hate that she has to go through this, I am forever grateful for that time with her. She and I shared so many beautiful moments that could never be written about and are memories I will hold for a lifetime. She's a strong woman and will fight this as long as she can. If you believe in prayer, this is one woman who could use an extra prayer or two for peace and comfort. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Holiday's!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-50820708108332834562013-08-27T04:57:00.002-07:002013-08-27T04:59:54.961-07:00In Dublin's Fair City<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wow! It's been a whole month since I have written a blog post! I guess we have been quite busy with travels and visitors :o) I cannot complain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In reference to the previous blog post...we are still waiting for the next move...again, it's been a month!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just two weeks ago Tonico and I made the maiden voyage to Ireland for a little work and vacation! Tonico has one person that directly reports to him, and she is located in their Dublin office. In an effort to be a good boss, and get to know more of the people he works with on a daily basis, he was able to plan a quick trip to their office, and I got to tag along :o) Hang on...I really loved this city so I have LOTS to share!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wednesday morning we arrived in Malahide - just north of Dublin, right on the water. Tonico went straight to work and I went straight to the pub :o) Fish and chips with some of the most amazing cider I have ever had! They had free wi-fi too so I jumped on to let the family know I had arrived safe and sound and of course, share some pictures!</span><br />
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I've never been a big cider fan, but when the Irish bartender suggested it, I couldn't say no. It is like drinking a Jolly Rancher, but ten times better! Later, when I told Tonico's co-worker that I had tried it, I believe she said "Oh, that stuff will make your head explode!" Good thing I only had one!</div>
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Of course, my brother's comment to this picture was "looks the same as the KC fish fries"...but to me, there's something magical about eating 'fish n' chips' in Ireland </div>
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Wednesday night we had dinner with Caroline, Tonico's direct report, and Mary another of this coworkers. They were so nice and SO much fun to talk with! Caroline was born and raised in Dublin. I just loved listening to her accent and hearing all the funny Irish sayings! Tonico and I, I am sure, missed a lot of the punch lines!</div>
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Thursday I took a DART into the city. Once I got there, I was a little bit overwhelmed! So, since there is SO much to do and I had not done any of it, I decided to make like a tourist and jump on the "Dublin City Tour" bus. It started out as a beautiful day so I went to the top level and got my camera ready. It is so nice to have someone drive you around and point out all of the important points of interest and share different cultural stories. Dublin has such a unique character, both the city and the people, so it was very interesting and entertaining. You can jump off the bus at several different points along the tour and then once you have finished visiting the sites, within minutes another one will come along that you can jump back on to. I chose to just stay on all the way through, which ended up being about a 2 hour tour of the city! </div>
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Just a shot of the famous "Dublin Doors"</div>
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A little Irish humor</div>
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One of the most photographed "Dublin Doors"</div>
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St. Patrick's Church<br />
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Just one shot of the many Guinness buildings...they own 64 hectares (158 acres) of land</div>
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The building with the green at the top...that's Bono's (U2) penthouse!</div>
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The Ha'Penny bridge - The first bridge built to cross the River Liffey which of course cost you a half penny to cross back in the day. Another note of the Irish humor, they have nicknames the River Liffey the "Floozy in the Jacuzzi" or the "Bride in the Tide"...who the heck knows why!?</div>
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Friday I spent the day at the beach...because this was the view from outside our hotel window!</div>
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It wasn't a particularly nice day to be able to lay out, but I have really missed being around the ocean!</div>
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And this just brought a smile to my face :o)</div>
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Tonico and I went in to Dublin Friday night to see a play called "Major Barbara" by Bernard Shaw. It was shown at the Abbey Theater which is quite historic in Dublin. It has been a while since we had gone to the theater so it was a nice treat. While I did enjoy it, I had a hard time understanding some of the British politics and humor, but Tonico really loved it. He's still talking about it!</div>
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Saturday morning Caroline took us to see the Newgrange Passage Tomb just north of the city. This site was built more than 5000 years ago! That's before the pyramids in Egypt! I call it a 'site' because no one really knows what it is. When it was excavated, they found human bones which would leave them to believe it was a tomb of some kind. It is also very interested because the way it is situated, during the summer and winter solstices, the sun aligns directly inside of the opening passage. It is very clear that this was done on purpose. We were able to go inside, though it is quite a small and narrow passage. There is a beauty about this place and not knowing what exactly it is, because you get to make up your own story. Definitely worth while and something we probably wouldn't have know about if she would not have suggested it!</div>
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That afternoon we had the fortunate luck of meeting up with a good family friend that Tonico has not seen in years. Miles and his girlfriend Aoife (Pronounced Eefa, the Irish version of Eva) are both PhD students at Trinity College, the major university in Dublin. They gave us an insiders look at the campus and got us in to see the <a href="http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/" target="_blank">Book of Kells</a> in the main library. Apparently as students we could have jumped the line, but decided it was a nice day and we had lots of catching up to do! The building itself was so gorgeous! We couldn't take pictures of the Book of Kells but the upstairs library was almost more impressive!</div>
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Then of course we had Miles and Aoife take us around to some of their favorite pubs to do some much needed tasting :o) And before we left, of course we needed a group shot!</div>
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Sunday was our last day in Dublin so we headed out early the next morning and straight for the Guinness factory! Let me tell you, if you are ever in Dublin, it is 100% worth your while and your money! We were there all morning and even ended up having lunch there because there was so much to see and do! </div>
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I like how he blends in :o)</div>
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This might have been one of the most interesting parts. They have video's showing how they used to make the old oak barrels. They only employed the most skilled at making the casks. It was so competitive that once you were hired, you went through an initiation...one of them being they would put you in a barrel and roll you around town!</div>
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I did not realize how cool the marketing for Guinness was. They had a whole floor dedicated to it!</div>
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And I tried my best to get this just right! Uhg, I have a ways to go!</div>
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In the tasting room, where you learn the proper way to taste a Guinness. I have only had one other Guinness in my life, when we were in Chicago for St. Patty's, and I remember I hated it. This, I'm happy to say, was not so bad!</div>
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Tonico went through the Guinness Academy to learn how to pour the perfect pint!</div>
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And passed!</div>
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And here we are enjoying our Guinness from the 360 degree gravity bar at the top! The views were amazing and the day was so clear!</div>
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After lunch we headed back into the city to the Gaiety Theater for a Riverdance performance. I definitely enjoyed the performance but was a bit bummed that it was such a small scale performance. When you see it on TV there are so many dancers and the stage is huge! This was only about 20 dancers and sometimes it looked almost like they all did not fit on the stage at the same time! It was so cool though and the music was fabulous! Tonico struggled to stay awake after his Guinness and some of mine, so I don't think he cared for it as much as I did!</div>
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All in all, it was a great trip! We have already said though, there is so much more we want to see and do, so another trip will definitely need to be planned! Until then, I leave you with an Irish folk song that I just cannot get out of my head!</div>
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Tonico and the infamous Molly Malone<br />
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<i>In Dublin's fair city, </i><br />
<i>Where the girls are so pretty,</i><br />
<i>I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone.</i><br />
<i>As she wheeled her wheel-barrow, </i><br />
<i>Through streets broad and narrow, </i><br />
<i>Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-54863819599718428332013-07-23T05:37:00.001-07:002013-07-23T05:43:57.186-07:00The Town Hall Saga Continues<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm realizing I'm not as good at this blogging thing as I had hoped! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Things have begun to progress with our registration process. The police came to our apartment, as expected, but since we were not home they left a notice saying that we need to visit their station. (Now, explain this to me - the police make a visit to our apartment to make sure we are indeed living where we said we were and that we are not housing 20 illegal immigrants. But, if I am not home, rather than the police coming back to the apartment, we just have to go to the station. So my husband and I can go to the station and leave the other 20 individuals back at the apartment!?... I digress...) Upon arrival, we found out the town hall had only sent a form for Tonico's residency and not mine...so there may be another police visit coming in the near future! This was a pretty painless 30 minute venture and the man was strangely friendly! A positive note on this long journey!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Previously we made our second trip to the town hall. We live in the most disorganized section of Brussels! It's crazy because it is the capital of Belgium and they just cannot seem to get themselves together. There are security guards at the doors because things tend to get heated very often. We got to witness it first hand! Basically, when you visit the town hall you either have an appointment (by calling them and calling them for days or weeks!) or you can show up and take a number. Thankfully we had an appointment time, but the line for people just taking a number was super long! Well, we learned very quickly that just because you have an appointment for 11:30 am does not mean you will be seen at 11:30. We waited until about 12:30 before we were seen (to me, after seeing the number of people in that building, one hour was pretty good!). It was verrrry interesting though because as the clock inched closer to noon, one by one you could hear the individual windows slam shut. Once the first one closed the volume in the building soared! People were so upset and shouting at the woman behind the window who, in turn, shouted back! (we've really got to learn French!) All those people that were in line, who took numbers, were told they needed to leave because they were done seeing people for the day. They were going to lunch and would be back only to work on paper work and not to see any more people. Come back tomorrow! Things really started to heat up, lots of shouting and anger all around. Thankfully our person said she would stay until all of us with appointments were seen! VERY thankfully because Tonico's passport expired that day! You are only allowed to be in the country for 90 days before you need to leave. He had actually been in Belgium for 91 days. THANKFULLY they said they would backlog it seeing as the day before, they were on strike, so we wouldn't have even been able to visit the hall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SO, after that meeting, we've been running around getting copies of this and that and making sure all our ducks are in a row before our next visit. Our next visit, as I've been told, is when we will actually register and apply for our residency cards. This cannot happen until the police documents have been sent back to the town hall. So we are hopeful this process is nearing the end. We should have one final visit to the town hall then and that will simply be to pick up our residency cards. It seems to me, that if you go through all the trouble of sending the police to my apartment to make sure I live there, couldn't you just mail me the residency card!? :o) alas...there are many things here that just do not seem too logical...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a lighter note, we have been rain-free for almost 3 weeks! However now it's getting dreadfully hot! Just like in the midwest, not many people have air conditioning because it is only hot a few days of each year. Well, living in basically the attic of this old building is getting a bit unbearable! But we are loving the freedom to go outside and enjoy the sights rather than being cooped up inside because of the constant rain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are counting down the days until our next visitors! My best friend Jessica and her fiancee Matt will be joining us at the end of August! Hard to believe that's only about a month away! Tonico and I have been endlessly saying, "Oh we need to take Jessica & Matt here", "I think Jessica would love to do this", "Oh yea, Matt would love that"! So get ready you two because we are going to keep you busy the whole time you are here!!! We cannot wait to see you!!! (and Jessica I swear, we are taking a MILLION pictures together when you are here considering the last one we have is from my wedding almost 2 years ago!!!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The beautiful couple! So excited to spend some much needed time together before you two make the leap to say "I do" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And last but not least, I must wish a slightly early birthday to my big sister Betsy! She's going to be the big 3-0 this year! I had this wonderful plan to send her a big box of Belgian chocolates, shipped directly from here to her front door. The chocolate shop proceeded to crush my dreams by saying I was crazy for wanting to send chocolate in the middle of summer. So I thought, I will call her house and talk to her husband and see if he had any suggestions. Instead I spoke to her 10 year old...which is never a boring conversation! Aydin said he'd probably just give his mom a big hug. Since I can't do that, he said "I don't know, maybe some wine?" He knows his mother too well :o) I'm still stumped, and only have a day to figure it out! In the mean time, I just wanted to let her know how much I love and miss her! We have had our ups and downs throughout life (what 2 sisters haven't!?) but these past few years, we have gotten older and realized the importance of having each other in our lives. Being so far away now has made it even more clear. So, happy birthday big sister! To 30+ more years! And I can only hope I look as good at 30 as you! Are you sure you're not turning 20!? Love you!!!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-30339145009766621042013-07-10T07:12:00.000-07:002013-07-10T07:25:41.168-07:00Our First Visitors!!!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past weekend, Tonico and I were SO happy to be able to meet up with my Aunt Linda (my Dad's sister) and Uncle Bill. About a year or so ago, they planned a month long cruise up the Danube and Rhine/Rhone rivers throughout Europe. At the end of the trip, they elected to spend a few extra days in Brugge and Brussels - again, LONG before we knew we were moving here. Once we announced we were moving, they immediately insisted we join them while they were "in town"! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Friday morning Tonico and I took the train to Brugge, Belgium. This is our first time taking the train outside of Brussels so we were excited to learn about a new mode of transportation! It was so easy! For 27 euro, you get a round trip ticket to Brugge, which is almost exactly 1 hour from Brussels. It was a smooth ride and quite comfortable, aside from the family with 5 small children next to us who did not seem to care about their children running up and down the isles and being quite loud. Oh well, we were on our way to see family! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We met up with Linda & Bill for lunch and gosh, I cannot even begin to explain how wonderful it was to see them! For them as well, after being away from family for 30 days, they said it was equally refreshing! The weather was ABSOLUTELY gorgeous on Friday so we found a restaurant with outside seating and settled in to do some much needed catching up! They had so much to share with us about their travels and the trip sounded just amazing! Unfortunately, because of the bad rains that Europe has been getting, more specifically in Germany and below, they had to get off of the water and take the rest of the trip by motor coach. As you can imagine, some people were very unhappy about not being on the water anymore, but we just really admired their positive outlook on the situation!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After lunch we walked around Brugge taking in all of it's beauty. The entire city center of Brugge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to Wikipedia, A UNESCO World Heritage site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. It is just breath-taking at every turn! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We visited the Church of Our Lady which is currently under heavy construction. Even through all the dust, we were able to catch a glimpse of the "Madonna and Child", which I believe it one of the only Michelangelo statues outside of Italy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This picture is so far away and blurry and does not due the statue justice, it was beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We stopped before dinner at a great little bar that showcases hundreds of Belgian beers with their corresponding glass on their "Beer Wall". We grabbed some drinks and found a table overlooking one of the canals. Bill was sporting his Wisconsin Badger's polo and of course, we met some people from Wisconsin! So, we all bonded over, naturally, beer and cheese!</span></div>
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At the bar that looks out on to the canal</div>
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Bill showcasing his favorite beer, Zot! (we're still deciding how to pronounce it!)</div>
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We took a carriage ride around Brugge, but forgot to get a picture inside the carriage, so we got this one, post carriage ride. Right in the center of Brugge. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">On Saturday morning, we made our way to Brussels! Tonico and I were so excited to share our city with Linda & Bill - show them our apartment, our favorite restaurants and all the sites in between. This would be our last full day with them, and we would head back to Brugge with them Saturday night. They would leave early Sunday morning for the airport and we would spend Sunday touring around Brugge some more. Unfortunately, Tonico and I were so excited about the day, we forgot our apartment keys back at the hotel in Brugge! We were so bummed that we were not able to show them our new home, but I guess that's life! We continued to show them around our neighborhood and then took them down to the main city center of Brussels where all of the historical and beautiful buildings are. We went to the Chocolate Museum, showed them the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis" target="_blank">Manneken Pis</a>, and walked around to several different churches. It seems Tonico and I did not take any pictures of our day in Brussels, but I know Linda has some!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Two days just with them was just not enough! We could have spent 10 more days with them catching up, learning about their travels, and just bonding. Coming from large families, Tonico and I really miss sharing strong connections with our Aunt's and Uncle's. It was so nice to learn so much about Linda and Bill - their adventurous and positive spirits have really inspired us and we are hopeful that when we return to the US, we can join them on some of their wonderful trips! Thanks for a great visit, we miss you already! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.1875px;">Now we look forward to a visit from my very best friend and her </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">fiancée</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"> in August!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-5314449777723222922013-06-18T07:52:00.000-07:002013-06-18T07:52:03.412-07:00The Madness!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess it's been quite a while since I last posted but it seems that life in Brussels ends up just as mundane as life anywhere else in the world. The newness starts to wear off, things become familiar and your routine is set. And just when it seems that life is starting to mellow out, life throws another curve ball your way. My curve ball comes in the form of the commune/town hall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday I got an email from our relocation agent saying she had finally gotten an 'invitation' from the commune for us to visit....uh, tomorrow (as in TODAY). Could we be there at 11:30!? Well of course we could any other week, but Tonico is in France for work until Thursday night. So, I ask if it's possible for just me to attend. She was unsure but said it was better than nothing to just arrive at the time, meet another of the relocation agents, Elfie, at the commune and hope for the best! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The meeting was so stressful and I am not really even sure what happened! Elfie asked if it was possible that I begin the registration process given that my husband is out of town. He says no, then later maybe, then no and by the time we left he said he would work with his boss to get Tonico's paperwork moving as he only has a week and a half left before his passport runs out. (You are only allowed to be in Brussels for 3 months without being registered. If he does not get registered in 3 months he will have to go back to the US and then return). Elfie assured me that as long as the paperwork gets started before the three month mark, we would be fine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So now Tonico and I both need to go back to the commune on Monday. They gave me another list of documents I need to provide them with and Tonico has a few things to sign. I need to go to another office this week to get our lease 'registered'....they sure like having you 'register/apostille/verify' every document you've ever been given! Now, this may not seem like that stressful of a situation, but when everyone is speaking French, and you are just being told bits and pieces, it's stressful! And our Monday appointment, at this point, is not guaranteed. Hopefully Monday will prove to be just a 'successful' (again, Elfie's words) as today was!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's a little glimpse at the amount of paperwork involved</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In other news:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been taking French classes every Monday/Wednesday evening for 2 hours. I only have 3 classes left and feel like I have SO far to go! The language is tough! I cannot decide if knowing Spanish is helping or hurting my progress in the class. A lot of words are spelt the same or are similar but are pronounced COMPLETELY different! I find myself speaking Franish (French/Spanish) often in class! But, for starting at zero, I am starting to recognize a lot of phrases and words when I hear people talking around me, and that is a success in my book!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tonico and I had the luck of being able to do some traveling last weekend to the Alsace wine region of France. It was about a 4 hour drive from Brussels and truthfully, for all my NC peeps, it felt like driving up I-77 with rolling hills and lush, beautiful foliage all around us. It was a very nostalgic drive for us and really made me miss our other home! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We decided to stay in Strasbourg, France and then do day trips up and down the "Rue du Vin" or "Wine Route". But sometimes the best laid plans....you know...do not always go as planned! Friday night we checked in to our 'no frills hostel' (as we were trying to do our trip on a budget). The place was a mess! I am not one that needs to stay in a 5 star hotel but when you walk in to a building that smells and a room that makes you start to itch uncontrollably as soon as you walk in, you know it won't be good! We somehow toughed it out Friday night, but decided to cut our losses and change to another hotel for Saturday night. Also, Friday night we went to a restaurant and wouldn't you know, our waitress was from Minnesota! She said she studied abroad in Strausbourg in college and loved it so much she came back to stay! Well, Tonico and I are not sure what she loved so much, it's just a sleepy little town, but it sure was nice to share something in common! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saturday we hit the road to find some wine! We drove to the end of the "Rue du Vin" to a little village called Colmar. We parked and walked in to what I can only describe as a little dream village. All the houses and buildings were the same style and it just seemed like something out of a movie, not a real life place where people lived and worked! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was an absolutely beautiful day (which does not happen EVER in Brussels) so we took advantage by pulling up a chair outside at the local restaurant, got a couple glasses of wine, and just enjoyed our surroundings!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Well, I thought we were getting glasses, until Tonico said he ordered half liters instead!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just a picture in front of a canal in Colmar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After Colmar, we drove to a cute little town called Riquewihr. This town was even more picturesque with beautiful flowers everywhere! Even the drive to the town was beautiful with vineyards all around!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tonico got a lot of good pictures on our big camera, but I haven't downloaded those yet! Here we stopped in to several different shops that offer wine tastings from their local vineyards. This wine region is known for their white grapes that make Riesling, Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris. The first place we went to was <a href="http://www.hugel.com/" target="_blank">Hugel & Fils</a>. We got to taste as much as we wanted and even got to taste some verrry expensive bottles! It's amazing the difference in taste! I certainly would not say that the more expensive the bottle, the better the wine, but there is just a very different taste after the grapes have aged. After the first tasting they all started to blend together...so we had to buy some bottles so we could really remember and enjoy!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-26550183365657917052013-05-27T08:20:00.002-07:002013-05-27T08:20:40.137-07:00Memorial Day TributeIt's crazy how we can get caught up in the shuffle of daily life and just like that, the years have flown by. This afternoon, as I read the Facebook and Twitter updates of people thanking their troops, I couldn't help but think of my own family and friends who have fought for our freedom.<br />
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It has been almost 3 1/2 years since the day my brother returned from his 12 month tour in Iraq. The longest 12 months I can ever remember. I think about how fortunate we were to be able to communicate, almost daily, thanks to the wonderful world wide web. I often stop and think about how families did it during times of war before the internet...I always say I could never do it, it would be too hard not knowing if they are safe...alive...I just cannot imagine. The strength you must need to trust that everything will be ok is something I cannot fathom.<br />
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I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was riding my bike to school one morning, my head in a cloud because my Aunt Sue - my other mother - was admitted into the hospital the night before for some pretty serious health issues. All I wanted was to be home with her, not in La Crosse finishing up with finals and my undergraduate career. All I could think about was her, hoping she would get better soon and that her daughter, my best friend and cousin's wedding was only about a week and a half away.<br />
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My phone was in my front pocket that morning, because it was easy to reach while pedaling, just in case there was more news about Sue. My phone rang, but it wasn't Sue, it was Brian. He only had just a minute, but just wanted to say he was officially leaving (he had been in Texas as the first part of his tour). I will never fully be able to describe that feeling - I just sat at the stop sign wondering what to do next. The world seemed to continue on while I couldn't seem to move. Somehow I made it to campus that day but not for very long...my heart and my head needed to be at home - or the hospital rather - with family.<br />
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The days, weeks and months that B was gone were hard. Many a night my sister and I would call each other when the tears just wouldn't go away - somehow we were always able to calm the other down, pretty much laughing at each other by the end.<br />
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The last weeks before he came home were the WORST! He was somewhere in Kuwait, just waiting....he said he would watch other groups come in and leave, while his group still sat and waited. We finally got word that his plane would be coming in to Volk Field - I think it was supposed to be Saturday...then it was Sunday...and finally, the official Monday, January 18th 2010 - MLK Day, at around 5am. The night before, a much healthier version of my Aunt Sue (yay!) and cousin Hanna, stayed up making, in our opinion, the BEST signs. Laughing and sharing memories of B and talking about how much we just couldn't wait to see him!<br />
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I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep a wink that night. We left the house at about 3am to make sure we were there when the plane landed - apparently for security reasons they really can't say exactly when they would arrive. It was a cold, January morning, but the best January morning! When we saw that plane in the distance, the screams and cheers from family and friends was deafening and yet, extremely calming. He was finally home!<br />
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Hanna showcasing one of the signs</div>
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Aunt Sue Sue</div>
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So proud of my little brother - who teaches me every day to not take life too seriously</div>
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Not the greatest family photo - but we were happy all the same :o)</div>
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So happy Memorial Day to all those who serve and have served our country - and to the families who love and support their soldiers!!! Especially to you, B. I am so proud of the person you are today - a loving brother, son, uncle, boyfriend and now Daddy. :o)</div>
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Now I'm off to my first French class of the summer! I'm nervous and excited all at the same time! </div>
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Ciao!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-60615095841156731662013-05-17T08:36:00.002-07:002013-05-17T08:36:48.845-07:00And the Process has Begun!In order to live and work in Brussels, we must become residents of the city. To do that, we must register ourselves with the town hall. Brussels is a very large city, so there are several different postal codes that section off the city. We were warned from the beginning to stay away from code 1000 - just do it they said. Well wouldn't ya know, here we are in postal code 1000 because we found such a great place!<br />
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Map Relocations, the company we have been working with on all things related to - imagine this - our relocation has finally begun helping us get this process started. Yesterday I had to venture outside of the city to meet the agent, Cindy, at her office. I followed the directions given to me by Google Maps as far as utilizing public transportation, thought I was going to lose it when I couldn't find the correct place to get on the bus, but I made it!<br />
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The first step in the process is to get all of our documents "apostilled". I am really not sure what this exactly means, but basically they need to have the Belgian consulate in the US verify that the documents we provide them are certified from the US government. Both our marriage certificate and our FBI background checks (it was awesome, we got fingerprinted down at the police station in Charlotte one morning) need to have this certification. Because our relocation happened so quickly, we were unaware of these things and thus were not able to have them "apostilled" before we left the US. Thankfully the woman I met with yesterday at Map is going to send them back to the US for us!<br />
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She said she will send copies, for now, to the town hall so that they know we have begun the process. Technically you are supposed to be fully registered with the town hall within 3 months of your arrival. Well Tonico is coming up on that date, so it's time to get things going!<br />
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Tonico is finishing up a week of work in Italy, so this afternoon we had a 3 way conversation with Cindy about what the next steps are. She sent over the documents to the Town Hall. Now, we wait for them to email her back with an appointment date. This will be our first visit, they call it "declaration of arrival" and should only take about 30 minutes or less. Then, in the next week or two, the police will make a stop at our apartment to ensure that we indeed live where we said we did and that we are not living with 20 other people - seems absurd but apparently that happens more than you'd think in Belgium!<br />
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Once the police have verified our living situation, they relay that message back to the town hall. Then we will wait for our second "invitation" from the hall to visit and do the actual registration which can take up to an hour and a half. Thankfully, Cindy or another representative will accompany us on our visits to the town hall to help with translation and such!<br />
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Now, this all seems relatively simple, but Cindy reiterated with us several times that at 1000 Brussels, you never know! They apparently have security all over the town hall because things can get very heated. They change their policies, or have little things they require from us that they didn't from someone else, etc (another reason the agent will come with us). She also said it is likely this process can take at least a month but more than likely about 3 months! So we are in for a long one!<br />
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Keep your fingers crossed that things go as smoothly as possible!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-64422742716429373142013-05-14T04:04:00.002-07:002013-05-14T04:04:31.813-07:00Frequently Asked Questions<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This post is dedicated to my Favorite Aunt Pat (and to all the aunt's saying "What!?" I say, you are my Favorite Aunt <i><u>fill in your name here</u>)</i> and loving god-mother :o) She had suggested I do a blog post of the most frequently asked questions since I have been here and gave me a few to start out!</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. How are you liking it in Brussels?</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brussels has been pretty great so far! I am not going to lie, I was and am still very homesick for family and friends - but I cannot waste my time being sad and lonely or this whole experience is going to be ruined! Tonico and I have spent a little bit of time exploring the different areas of Brussels but we still have so much to see and do! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second week I was here, there was a national holiday on a Wednesday so Tonico did not have to work. His boss had lent us his company car while he was away on vacation, so we decided on a whim to leave town and head to Amsterdam. Tonico had been a few times before so it would be a great place for him to show me around. They also just welcomed a new King so the whole city was decked out in Orange - their national color - and people were everywhere!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were only there for the day but we were able to walk around much of the city and take in the uniqueness of it all. I am not sure how many of you have been to Amsterdam but it is a very interesting city - they love their pot and their sex! Tonico and I have started a tradition of buying magnets from all the different cities we visit and it was quite the culture shock to walk in to the tourist shops to see most magnets covered in XXX, topless women, joints or a combination of the three! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While their culture is much different than anything I have ever been exposed to, the city is absolutely beautiful and one I would definitely like to visit again! (Mainly b/c they have my favorite restaurant from Charlotte, it's called <a href="http://vapiano.com/" target="_blank">Vapiano</a> and it's amazing!!!!)</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. How easy is it to get around in Europe?</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our trip to Amsterdam took us about 2 hours by car - probably only 1 hour by train but since we had the car, and the gas was paid for by the company, we took advantage!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Belgium, I have heard said, is only about the size of Maryland. With it being located between Germany, France and the Netherlands, it's only about an hour to each of the boarders if not less. The public transportation system makes it super easy to hop on a train to most any destination. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We ventured to Germany last weekend stopping in Liege, Belgium for breakfast and a walk around the city square, then Aachen, Germany for an early afternoon beer. Here's a fast fact that I love: Every beer here in Belgium/Germany has their own special glass - always. Not like in the US where you get your first Stella in a challis and each subsequent one in a plain pint glass!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tonico does a great job of showcasing the glass for the <a href="http://www.franziskaner.com/" target="_blank">Franzikaner</a> beer - my favorite so far</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After our beers in Aachen, we headed to Cologne to see the Cathedral - we decided not to do a guided tour of the cathedral but you can go inside and walk around the main floors. I read online you can walk up to the top of the steeple, 509 steps, but I guess we were not up for it after our beers!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are really bad at getting pictures while we are out and about! The top picture was taken from a little cafe that had some of the best desserts - which of course I had to eat before I even thought to take a picture!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWUhZY4CDZ_jpUxghOnHqQS_vMaPqxnMowKILJxfi0NaiweEpbIGtWHXUJesMg0EyYpMedl_6_yjw6L__R5WsOd__MgffHWvFQtVL3ZM_78hOfzEh2mPyyKIsnkCgkVLuDbZC8cW__nag/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWUhZY4CDZ_jpUxghOnHqQS_vMaPqxnMowKILJxfi0NaiweEpbIGtWHXUJesMg0EyYpMedl_6_yjw6L__R5WsOd__MgffHWvFQtVL3ZM_78hOfzEh2mPyyKIsnkCgkVLuDbZC8cW__nag/s1600/image_2.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> We ended the night in Dusseldorf - thanks to Tonico's frequent stays at the Marriott, we were able to book a hotel for free for the night. We walked around Dusseldorf that evening with our jaws dropped probably 95% of the time. Having done little to no research on Dusseldorf before arriving, we were stunned as we walked up and down <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nigsallee" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: underline;" title="Königsallee">Königsallee</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> which means "Kings Avenue". We saw countless Astin Martin's, Rolex, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, etc. Another culture shock but very cool to people watch in such a busy and affluent place!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>3. What is the weather like there?</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">To preface this question, I have to say that Tonico warned "It's just like Seattle" - rain, rain, rain. Normally I hate rain, but if that's what it is going to be like all the time, I better make the most of it = new rain coat and rain boots!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Once I got here, and for many days after, the weather was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! Sunny skies, warmish temperatures, not a drop of rain in sight! But the landlord warned, you never want to leave the apartment with the windows open because in one day, there could be 4 seasons. I just could not believe it!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">And then....last Wednesday evening that all changed! Since then, it has rained at least 4 times a day - sometimes a soft, light rain and then later in the day a thunderstorm. The temperatures have dropped to the 40's and it's been super windy. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here's the future cast for the rest of the week....and if you were able to keep scrolling, that keeps going until at least next Monday!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMT9KgiqmoLkeuYOX1KFxNjJfT67U61Tvrp7L_k6LAmluJxG5IK0Zha_qdAgqnqElwj5J5bN4wRfI4QtJRlc2ZzvmwaGPvytAjU5JSQCpB65Fl1Ft8mrn0HFbGhXg8vVKqZiuoMw1ET-QI/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMT9KgiqmoLkeuYOX1KFxNjJfT67U61Tvrp7L_k6LAmluJxG5IK0Zha_qdAgqnqElwj5J5bN4wRfI4QtJRlc2ZzvmwaGPvytAjU5JSQCpB65Fl1Ft8mrn0HFbGhXg8vVKqZiuoMw1ET-QI/s1600/photo.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>4. What was your first impression of your new home?</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I still do not believe that I live here. This city is so beautiful but European life is so different. I feel like I am on an extended vacation while my husband works his butt off! He has been so wonderful in helping get me acclimated to this new life - though there is still a long way to go. I certainly could not have made this move without his constant encouragement and support that indeed I can make a new life in Brussels!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">And now, the job search begins....stay tuned!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-68596872149181372132013-05-13T06:26:00.002-07:002013-05-13T06:26:33.458-07:00Welcome to Our Home <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And, we are back! After getting my phone up and running...followed by using up all the data for one month in about one week (thanks Facetime/Skype), we are now</span> connected to the internet in our apartment and all is well in the world once again!<br />
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It's been a busy last couple of weeks in the Marin casa. Countless trips to IKEA and Cora (similar to a Walmart/Target) our apartment finally feels like home! Here's a quick preview:<br />
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The only downfall to this apartment is that the bathroom is inconveniently located outside of our apartment! It has a lock and all, but it sure isn't fun in the middle of the night! If you see where the boxes are in the right hand corner, that's where the next set of steps heading down to the bottom of the building.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUldqkg_sxTBIzQiqOmWs1J_XuKIdOGd0sAIdnYgsy2nsnYh7dWFIctyjaDWYCtN6ZVt89DZvVxhXmfkxE_F77q8Cbwcr1OCk3guIHc4QWy8_jZTzGfLu1ffLTIsJ4g1a-EHQb6EIqgSI/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUldqkg_sxTBIzQiqOmWs1J_XuKIdOGd0sAIdnYgsy2nsnYh7dWFIctyjaDWYCtN6ZVt89DZvVxhXmfkxE_F77q8Cbwcr1OCk3guIHc4QWy8_jZTzGfLu1ffLTIsJ4g1a-EHQb6EIqgSI/s1600/photo-1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After several apartment searches online, I felt doomed that our bathroom would be disgusting and that I would just have to make due, but that's just not the case! There's tons of storage and everything is brand new! Parallel to the counter is the shower which is huge!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunpeLMxrMjf_2J6fpRoRrwWntDsV40rONreFHggmZl8fCL6ywxZ7lkGEQAOkoPuf8tNfvJzvoBbQJ3OU7CkyrzuM7Q5uct3XrpYQ7W2jKQTvgVi3JFyT8E30PZlxE8A-GuP7tloLfCsV2/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunpeLMxrMjf_2J6fpRoRrwWntDsV40rONreFHggmZl8fCL6ywxZ7lkGEQAOkoPuf8tNfvJzvoBbQJ3OU7CkyrzuM7Q5uct3XrpYQ7W2jKQTvgVi3JFyT8E30PZlxE8A-GuP7tloLfCsV2/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This view is coming in from the front door with our coatrack we looked high and low for!</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LdHn27vpBTSeTleaW85L25NbKkokkd9fpB-ktoh8zzd49aIHOorDQI8i4xpEDa_TRY6m0ERaJNwUgOt3jf1oBtPKly1GlViqqpB7yPMSoNEf5k7w43hnK3M2lmVkOo9uZFwRlus1zaKf/s1600/image_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LdHn27vpBTSeTleaW85L25NbKkokkd9fpB-ktoh8zzd49aIHOorDQI8i4xpEDa_TRY6m0ERaJNwUgOt3jf1oBtPKly1GlViqqpB7yPMSoNEf5k7w43hnK3M2lmVkOo9uZFwRlus1zaKf/s1600/image_1.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the kitchen! The tall 'cupboard' on the left is actually the refrigerator - short and narrow = Lauren goes to the grocery store at least once a day! </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoC48BtzJt9GYB_7B84DjIJ9Hd9OqFSOPIJQDkG2T_4QwwjoCWBxA99N3RvO4gkiVm6kaiFZbeN9GIqHqR4AO-oZH2YnbSuI8sL1UULRzyWOofhTGdmiIdawcnuL6JgresojAH5T-3b-F/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoC48BtzJt9GYB_7B84DjIJ9Hd9OqFSOPIJQDkG2T_4QwwjoCWBxA99N3RvO4gkiVm6kaiFZbeN9GIqHqR4AO-oZH2YnbSuI8sL1UULRzyWOofhTGdmiIdawcnuL6JgresojAH5T-3b-F/s1600/image_2.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Because we are on the top floor, we get the luxury of 'sky lighting' - though the landlord really doesn't like us to have the shades open in the day time because the sun is so strong it drains the color out of the wood floors - but sometimes, I just can't help it! Underneath the island is our washer/dryer unit and it is amazing! I was a bit skeptical at first but I have never had such clean clothes in my life! Maybe the detergent has something to do with it too, I don't know, but I'll take it!</div>
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The water pressure here is also very strong, which I guess then means there is a lot of calcium in the water. You can see it on things like the sink because the water spots just never go away. There is special soap you have to put in the washing machine along with your detergent and fabric softener. Then you also need to clean the stainless steel stuff every couple of weeks with some simple white vinegar. Man, do I sound like a housewife or what!?</div>
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Not much to say about this picture except to ignore my finger in the top left hand corner! The steps on the right lead upstairs to the bedroom.</div>
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Here's a better shot with the lovely picture collage my dear sweet husband put up for me :o)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypPhOJdC-_TRLwiFgr-bHvPDTjVeH3i3vZWJfZwpP7iTVpnRPKUN-EJYZ9lw4dVZnuhxw8N-9Kpi4mRQDt-4v4xsqS296MnNOQ5tf87t1f0UsJXvYg8oXF3paHw7zk9Ry3O8qIYu6U5SQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypPhOJdC-_TRLwiFgr-bHvPDTjVeH3i3vZWJfZwpP7iTVpnRPKUN-EJYZ9lw4dVZnuhxw8N-9Kpi4mRQDt-4v4xsqS296MnNOQ5tf87t1f0UsJXvYg8oXF3paHw7zk9Ry3O8qIYu6U5SQ/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here's the bedroom! We are at the very top of the building and as you can see, the ceiling is slanted. I'm not sure I have been up there one time where I haven't smacked my head! You can't see it very well (because I'm a horrible picture taker) but on each side of the bed there are built-in shelves with doors covering them up. Very nice for clothes, shoes and storage of extra things we didn't end up needing or wanting! This bed, from IKEA, is so unbelievably comfortable I find it hard to get up every morning! Sure beats the old bed Tonico used to have (right Shawn!?)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMBpYLW-vsdT-Y-I2AlzVeG0W-YSW4xCDRJkmTr3al_eHlNPuc0_-ttlBIJeqfK-8XY2pTOw1MWuHINAv4qAtApM_H4UDz4NuK2eqRzJVDS37Zco3QyMqUN_oei3jzSiS8inP5YPeR43v/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMBpYLW-vsdT-Y-I2AlzVeG0W-YSW4xCDRJkmTr3al_eHlNPuc0_-ttlBIJeqfK-8XY2pTOw1MWuHINAv4qAtApM_H4UDz4NuK2eqRzJVDS37Zco3QyMqUN_oei3jzSiS8inP5YPeR43v/s1600/photo-2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here is our living room! Europe is known for having little to no closet space, our's having none, so we had to purchase a wardrobe. Who knew there were so many options?! We spent at least three hours in the wardrobe section of IKEA. They even have this cool thing where you can sit down at a computer and design your own! We are pretty happy with what we got!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrNKZZNRtCxdD8n-AR9u0U66WCMwO0_Yhg2TiXzxE0r71VLV-Kxy3BwLeXHhYHs2Wy4l4SK8JGe5fQT-jOSPiifXqpYR7Y_iso6DekX4q2OvzXcDVl8Q3jx09yiz9_5-_wT02O51yKieN/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrNKZZNRtCxdD8n-AR9u0U66WCMwO0_Yhg2TiXzxE0r71VLV-Kxy3BwLeXHhYHs2Wy4l4SK8JGe5fQT-jOSPiifXqpYR7Y_iso6DekX4q2OvzXcDVl8Q3jx09yiz9_5-_wT02O51yKieN/s1600/image.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this my friends, is my favorite part of the house - the patio! One of the perks to the apartment - I can deal with a bathroom outside the apartment if I can have this huge space outside! The little pots are my first attempt at tulips (just for Jenna) and some herbs for cooking! We just love it out here and can't wait to get our grill set up and running for the summer!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw6oFTa97L7MtzdAXmFFsPyzjUIf1wDI7qQHhEFSvaH_IkUh3VTrVvNWDKoVFYjRfMe1roUg-_Qwto2nx_veqLJ_DUnOdM5eNZoIB2vGLJuwnacMv-1VJHuePzXih6_VnKxxIqHJJkbiI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw6oFTa97L7MtzdAXmFFsPyzjUIf1wDI7qQHhEFSvaH_IkUh3VTrVvNWDKoVFYjRfMe1roUg-_Qwto2nx_veqLJ_DUnOdM5eNZoIB2vGLJuwnacMv-1VJHuePzXih6_VnKxxIqHJJkbiI/s1600/photo.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, I leave you with this shot I took while waiting for Tonico to pick me up one afternoon. This is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinquantenaire" target="_blank">Parc du Cinquantenaire</a> and it is just about 2 blocks from our apartment. There are lots of different museums on each side of the park and lots of people out and about all day long. There are lots of parks like this in the city and it's so nice to have one so close! It's finally starting to feel like home :o)</span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-9579757873098992212013-04-25T03:01:00.002-07:002013-04-25T03:01:50.397-07:00Everything Happens for a Reason<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What a whirlwind these last couple weeks have been! I had hoped to keep up with the blogging but it turns out me and the iPad do not get along too well! And to be honest, there was no time to blog because I was too busy staring at this beautiful girl!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And cuddling with my puppy</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And having sleepovers with my boys</span></div>
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And spending quality time with my siblings</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Time has absolutely flown by! And speaking of flying....let me share with you the experience I had getting myself to Brussels! Friday afternoon my dear friend and colleague Maureen dropped me off at the airport in Charlotte. The plan was to leave CLT at 2:35pm, land in Philadelphia at 5:30pm, then leave Philly at 6:15pm for an arrival in Brussels of 7:55am Saturday. We boarded the plane and were taxiing away from the gate when the pilot came on to tell us there was some bad weather in Philadelphia and there was a temporary "ground stop" - meaning no planes were going in to or coming out of Philly. Then 20 minutes later we were pulling back up to the gate as the ground stop had changed from 10 minutes to an hour. OH, and our toilets were not working so we all needed to get off the plane so they could fix the toilets. And as the minutes ticked by, I had a sinking feeling I was not going to be making it to Brussels by the morning. We didn't even end up leaving Charlotte until almost 5:30pm. By the time I landed in Philadelphia, the Brussels flight had left and the gate agents had graciously rebooked me for the exact same flight 24 hours later. They had suggested I also go visit the Special Services line as they may be able to book me on a flight to Manchester which had a connection to Brussels coming in earlier than I would be the following day. When I got to the line, there were only about 15-20 people in front of me - so I got in line and began my wait....my very long wait. While in line I heard the "final boarding call for flight *** to Manchester" and I knew I wasn't making it to that flight either. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While I was in Charlotte, I had asked the gate agent what I would have to do if I missed my flight. She kindly informed me that because there were maintenance issues, I should be put up in a hotel free of charge. When I got off my flight in Philly, I was given a slip of paper basically saying "call this number and we will help you find a cheap hotel (that you will pay for)". Rather than take that pink slip, I decided to wait in line and see if I could talk my way in to a free night at a hotel. After 2+ hours in line, I walked up to the service person, and just smiled and said "I don't know how you do this all day long!" to which she replied "neither do I!". So we chatted a bit while she tried to see if she could find another connection for me. When that failed, she said, "I see there were mechanical issues on your flight. Even though the delay was due to weather, I'm going to give you a hotel voucher. I will probably get in trouble, but I don't care!" I thanked her a million times and headed outside to meet the shuttle to the Hilton, right next to the airport.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once I got to the hotel, I hopped on Facebook - that's the logical next step right!? After posting a status about my troubles, I was working on a text message to send to my friend Jen Radwanski. Jen was my supervisor back in the summer of 2010 when I was a NODA (national orientation directors association) intern at Stockton College in Pomona, NJ. Jen and her husband Steve - and now baby Avery - live just about an hour from Philadelphia. As I was beginning my message to her, I saw that she had commented on my FB status! It was meant to be! Next thing you know, we have planned for them to come and pick me up from the hotel, take me to lunch and then back to the airport! Since my flight didn't leave until 6:10pm, we had plenty of time! I haven't seen Jen or Steve since I left NJ so I was beyond excited to see them! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Right away, we picked up exactly where we left off! Lauren and Jen, talking away, while Steve drove us around and worked to get in a few words where he could :o) They took me to my - and their- absolute favorite place in Philly: <a href="http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/" target="_blank">Reading Terminal Market</a>!!! They have food from EVERYWHERE and it is all delicious! It was just so so so great to see them and catch up! I'm still kicking myself that we didn't get a picture together!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So Jen and Steve took me back to the airport, only to be greeted by another familiar face! Miss Melina and her mom Nancy drove up from their home NJ - again, about an hour away -just to see me for a few short moments! Melina was one of the students I worked with every day while I was in NJ. She was so welcoming from day 1 and we have kept in contact ever since. She is graduating in May with a degree in Education and it is very obvious she loves what she does! I wish her nothing but the best in finding a full time job and continuing to be a role model for young men and women!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What an absolutely wonderful way to leave the country! The lady sitting next to me on my flight from Charlotte to Philadelphia kept saying over and over "Everything happens for a reason". I truly believe my reason was so that I could see my long lost friends and have a beautiful last memory in the US!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love this girl!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't mind me...just wearing the same clothes from the previous day and exhausted - though I did get to shower!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally, I was on my way to Brussels! Aside from my headphones not working (and I was not about to pay $5 for a pair on the plane) and a minor medical emergency for the lady sitting behind me who was passed out, the trip was quick and successful! As I handed my passport to the man in the customs line, it all became real. He asked me how long I would be in Brussels and my response was "This is my new home". </span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-10925031440393370172013-04-05T06:12:00.001-07:002013-04-05T06:12:26.597-07:00Goodbye is Never Easy<div style="text-align: center;">
Meet Annie, Kurt and Oscar:</div>
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These two are the best! Annie is one of the sweetest, kindest, most positive peopel I have had the pleasure to meet. She is always ready for anything whether it's dinner and a movie, pedicures or just staying in drinking Kurt's margaritas! Being "ADP Wives" isn't always easy, but having someone to relate to while our husbands were away for weeks at a time sure was a blessing. And then there's Kurt. Kurt. Is. Funny. We joke we would like to start a book filled with "Kurtisms"...and while I won't embarrass him by sharing any, I sure do hope that Annie and Jen keep me posted! And because of Kurt, I will always make sure Tonico has a place to get his haircut! I always had a great time with these two - and heck, even Oscar won me over! These last two weeks, he has been such a cuddler - he even gifted me with my very first doggie kiss!</div>
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Last night, we said "seeya later". We know we will meet again. We know the friendship will last. But it doesn't make things any easier.......except maybe this sweet goodie bag they sent me away with :o)</div>
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Until we meet again.....</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-3574886291623525522013-04-04T06:45:00.001-07:002013-04-04T06:45:17.885-07:00Almost Home!Tonight is going to be tough. T-O-U-G-H. Tonight I say "seeya later" to friends. Some of the best friends. I have tears in my eyes as I type - every word another word closer to realizing what is about to happen. I am going to leave it at that...I do not want tonight to get here....today can take as long as it needs to...<br />
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I'm going to try to focus on the positive and what is coming up in my very near future:<br />
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This week has been FLYING by and for that I am thankful....I have family and friends I am absolutely dying to see!!!<br />
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Saturday morning the trek begins. I have some Starburst<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">™</span> jellybeans, a couple mixed CD's, and some Dr. Pepper to keep me occupied on what will hopefully be about a 13 1/2 hour drive to the Milwaukee area.<br />
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First stop: The Paquin residence<br />
My dear friend and college roommate Dani and her husband Peyton have generously allowed me to stop at their place for the night! I have been waiting very patiently to see these two again. The last time I saw them, Tonico and I met up with them while they were in Charleston, SC visiting Peyton's brother. We had lunch together and something was just a little bit different. I had made a comment to Dani and Peyton about having babies and <i>instantly</i> they both turned beet red. In my head I was screaming OMG SHE'S PREGNANT! But, I didn't want to steal their thunder if the pregnancy was very new, so I changed the subject. About a month later, I got a call from Dani confirming my suspicions!<br />
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On February 1st, Mr. Mason John Paquin entered the world and he is <i>soooo handsome!</i> He is such a perfect blend of Dani and Peyton. These two are some of the best friends I could ever ask for in life and this little man is so unbelievably lucky to be born into such a loving family. I absolutely cannot wait to visit and see how life has changed in the Paquin household!<br />
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The beautiful Paquin family :o)</div>
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Sunday morning I will pack up early and head H-O-M-E! I can't wait to see my big sister and her 3 handsome boys. I can't wait to see Chucho and how excited he will (hopefully) be to see me. I can't wait to hang out with the boys and learn all about how school is going. I can't wait to talk to them about Brussels. I can't wait to pull into my parent's driveway and be greeted by my Dad with that proud smile that he always has when his children come to visit. I can't wait to unpack my things and feel grounded, if only for a few days. I can't wait to see that beautiful little Adelaide - to smell her baby soft skin and just soak in everything about her. I can't wait to see my baby brother as a proud new Dad. I can't wait to give Andrea a BIG hug and tell her how much I admire her strength. </div>
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I. Just. Can't. Wait.</div>
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Oh, and for all of you who have been asking me about what is still left in my apartment after Tonico moved out:</div>
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Again, a big shout out to Matt & Jen for allowing me to stay at their place where it's a bit more homey!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-82958748939196952212013-03-26T12:22:00.000-07:002013-03-26T12:22:00.155-07:00Reality is Setting InIt's hard to believe that since my last post, Tonico has been back to Minnesota and is already in Brussels! Sounds like he had a really good time seeing friends and family while he was home (I'm going to have to get him on here so he can share some of his thoughts - for now, I'll just relay what I've heard). There is never enough time to see everyone and do everything you want before you leave - but I know it meant a lot to see lots of people there to send their love and support! :o)<br />
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It was a quick turn around for him - the day after the party he headed to the airport! He arrived Monday morning with enough time to drop his stuff off at our temporary apartment, take a shower and head right on in to work. Now that is dedication! The office was doing some team building on Monday and thought Tonico could really benefit from that - getting to know his coworkers and learning how they work as a team will be essential to his success with this new position. Sounds like he got lots of sleep last night and is ready to tackle another day!<br />
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Meanwhile, back in North Carolina, things are starting to get real. I had to say my first goodbye to a dear friend of mine from Wingate University. Jessica Hylton is the Director of Counseling at Wingate and it wasn't until the end of my year there that we really began to bond. She had found the love of her life and was getting ready to say "I do". As she began to plan her wedding, we ended up sharing thoughts and emotions over what roles our friends and family would/did play in the big day. Jessica opened her door to me and from then on, we had this special connection - we just understood where the other was coming from. I was so honored that she invited me to spend the day with her and her (now) husband Derek. It was BEAUTIFUL! The day began very gloomy, rainy, and c-o-l-d. As I began driving toward Asheville, in the mountains, I thought for sure it was just going to get colder. But, as I looked down at the dashboard, I watched as the temperature continued to climb. By the time the wedding started, the clouds had opened up and the sun was shining just like I imagined it would! It was such a picturesque ceremony, so intimate and personal. It was very hard to say goodbye but I know our friendship will remain - and Jess, you know it's a great vacation location!!!<br />
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The once Bride-to-Be at her beautiful shower (wish I would have gotten a good one at the wedding!)</div>
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As I drove home that night from the wedding, I realized how quickly this is happening. While it may not have completely hit me yet, the realization that I have to leave my friends is quickly sinking in as I make plans for 'one last dinner together'. Who could have known how quickly such strong friendships could develop? I am forever thankful for them.<br />
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Tonight I head up to Huntersville for the 3rd night in a row to stay with our good friends Jen & Matt DeGrave. From the day I met them, I knew we would be good friends. After knowing them for less than a month, they graciously opened their home to Chucho while Tonico and I spent 2 weeks getting married and honeymooning! Now they have opened their home to me - donating their spare bedroom to my back which just could not spend another night on the air mattress!<br />
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My Aunt Pat (who I know will be reading this) gives me a hard time (in a loving way!) about the fact that we moved all the way to Charlotte and are "only friends with people from WI". While we certainly did not plan it that way, it is true that many (not all) of our friends are from the Midwest! I guess that is part of why we connected so well. We will miss everyone in North Carolina so much - but it is also very comforting to know that we will likely meet again :o)<br />
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Hiking trip to Stone Mountain with Dogs and Friends!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-78177567811921249082013-03-20T18:58:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:08:14.403-07:00The First of Many GoodbyesWell tonight has been much more difficult than I had previously imagined. Tonico and I have done this before, we have been apart, at most, a month so I was not worried. What's one more month? And truthfully, it really was easy. There's something extremely exciting about knowing the next time I see my husband I will be getting off a plane and starting my life in Brussels with my best friend!<br />
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No friends, saying goodbye to my husband was not too difficult. What was really hard -brace yourselves- was saying good bye to my 'boo boo'. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I'm not much of an animal person, <i>especially </i>not dogs! But, Tonico had a dog, and if I wanted to marry him, and live with my husband, I would have to just suck it up. And it was not easy! It's very hard to get used to a dog that chews up your shoes, that needs to go outside no matter what the weather and that is at your feet <i>constantly</i>! Then Tonico started traveling for work and it was all up to me to take care of Chucho. And after about 2 months he became my new best friend! Don't get me wrong, he still drove me crazy, but there is something about his fun loving personality that got me hooked! Tonight, as we packed the last few things into the moving van, it hit me that this was it. This was something I would have thought I'd be excited about - no more dog! But as I walked up the stairs to our apartment, it really sunk in. As I opened the door to my essentially empty apartment, I realized how much I really did enjoy his company! I know he is going to have a great time living out in the country with my sister and her very excited three boys. I know I'll get to see him when I am home in a few short weeks, but it's definitely going to be a strange transition!<br />
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So now you can all laugh and say 'I told you so', but this girl misses her boo boo! <br />
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Like these little faces</div>
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Ashton, 4</div>
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Owen, 5</div>
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Aydin, 10</div>
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These three little boys have been my world for the last 10 years! I've watched them grow from tiny little babies to the unique, goofy, sweet individuals they are today. They have been the thing I've missed the most over these past two years in North Carolina. Every time I see them it is like they are new people -talking more and continuing to amaze me with how smart they are! Thinking about how much more we will miss while in Belgium makes my heart hurt! To top it all off, I talked to my mom one day who told me Ashton wants to know if he's "ever going to see Lauren again?" Thanks Mom!!!</div>
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And just when I thought my heart could not possible love any more, my brother and his girlfriend brought this beautiful little girl into our lives. I'm counting down the days until I am home to snuggle her for days!</div>
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Adelaide, 4 days old</div>
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Thank goodness for technology! We have been able to get our parents set up with Skype so that Tonico and I can watch all of the littles grow up and keep in touch! The boys and I tried it out a few weekends ago - what a hoot! They spent most of the time checking themselves out in the little window and asking lots of questions about what they could see in the background. </div>
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Next, of course, comes our amazing parents and siblings. They have been so supportive of us and our decision to move abroad. It's not easy for any of us but we are so unbelievably thankful for all of their support! Tonico's parents are generously donating their basement to essentially all of our furniture and personal belongings for the next 2+ years! Sounds like they are already planning their visits and for that, we couldn't be more thankful!</div>
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Tonico's sister Carla is turning 18 this year and graduating in June! She will be attending Iowa State in the Fall and we are so proud of her! She's going to have such a great time and even though we will miss out on the celebrations, we know we will be seeing her soon!</div>
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Here she is loving on her nephew dog Chucho!</div>
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Tonico asked me the other day what I will miss most about the United States (besides friends and family) and I did not know what to say. Maybe I am going to miss everything...but maybe nothing! I am not going to miss the politics - but then again, the EU (European Union) is located in Brussels, so I guess we will get our fair share of politics. I am not going to miss the packaged, preservative filled foods our country relies so heavily on. I have been told the food is much fresher. But I will not be eating at IKEA for fear of horse meat in my "Swedish Meatballs"! Having only spent a total of 6 days in Europe, none of them being in Belgium, it is hard to say what I will miss but I feel pretty confident I will find out verrry quickly!</div>
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Tonight is another night of packing...sigh...but the light at the end of the tunnel is that we HAVE to be done by Saturday so we can enjoy a day of St. Patty's celebrations! We will be joining a group of friends downtown Charlotte to catch the St. Patty's day parade, followed by a farewell dinner at our favorite restaurant Cabo Fish Taco (it's just fun to say!), followed by an infamous night out at our favorite local bar, Saeeds! This weekend will certainly be bittersweet as we begin to say "See ya later" to some of the greatest friends we have ever known (thankfully most of them are from the Midwest so we know we will meet again!).</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-49518693448754892202013-03-07T12:14:00.002-08:002013-03-07T12:16:18.309-08:00Overwhelmed!Since starting the blog yesterday it seems a lot has happened! First of all, HELLO to all of you who have started following the blog! I was so surprised to see how many views I've gotten and especially all of the comments! This is such an exciting time in our lives and I'm so thankful we can share it with you all!<br />
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We started officially packing when we got home from work last night and WOW, is it time consuming! We have decided we have 4 categories we need to consider: going to Belgium, going to Minnesota, going on the plane with Tonico and finally, going on the plane with Lauren. We live in a moderately small 2 bedroom apartment, so it seems we couldn't have <i>that much</i> stuff, but it is very clear that we have learned how to be master organizers of the little space we have. In 2 hours, we successfully packed away 3/4 of the spare bedroom! Only have 7/8 of the apartment to finish off! I know what I'm doing tonight!<br />
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This afternoon Tonico sent me a bunch of emails with information about the move. We will be working with a company called <a href="http://map-relocations.com/" target="_blank">MAP Relocations</a>. They help us literally <i>map</i> out what this relocation will look like. This is <b>incredibly</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>helpful but also extremely overwhelming! Reading through the 44 page "Welcome to Belgium Handbook", I'm already making notes on top of notes about things we haven't considered. They will be most instrumental in helping us find a place to live. They are liaisons between the landlord and the tenant and thankfully not real estate agents in that they do not have connections with the landlords. They simply want to help us find the best location that meets our individual needs. They also help us decipher the lease agreement so that we are aware of all that is involved and are not getting ripped off. What a wonderful service!!! Thankfully Ingersoll Rand is putting us up in a furnished apartment for the first month while we (and by we, I mean Tonico since I won't get over there until well after he does) work on finding our permanent home. It feels so amazing to be able to think about having our own space in Belgium! I should successfully arrive in Brussels just in time to help Tonico move our stuff into the new place!<br />
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Tonight will be another jam packed night of packing and running through our thousands of "To-Do" lists.<br />
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Here's my question for the night: Is there a stronger word for overwhelmed?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1783650781924403353.post-28918417968440911882013-03-06T09:29:00.000-08:002013-03-06T09:29:45.766-08:00Welcome to Our Blog!Where do I begin!? It feels like Tonico and I are finally getting comfortable with our lifestyle here in Charlotte. We have made such great friends since moving here. But as it goes, all good things must come to an end! And in our case, this good thing is ending but another GREAT thing is coming our way!<br />
<br />Tonico has always expressed his desires to move abroad to live, work and raise a family. If you would have asked <i>me </i>5 years ago, I would have called you crazy for thinking I'd <i>ever</i> move to Charlotte, NC let alone abroad! After meeting Tonico and seeing his passion for learning different cultures and traditions, my curiosity began to grow! We finally came to the conclusion that we would <i>love</i> to move abroad if the right opportunity came our way. (In the back of my mind I thought "well, what are the odds of that?") And now here we are!<br />
<br />Tonico was offered, and accepted a position with Ingersoll Rand, the company he has been faithfully employed with for the last 5 years. We will be relocating to Brussels, Belgium in just a few short weeks! Tonico will leave Charlotte on March 20th to take a Uhaul full of our home goods back to his parent's house in Minnesota. He will be home for a few days, see as many friends and family as he can, and then he's on a plane to Brussles! And, after a whole year of him being in audit I hope this is the LAST time I have to say it, but this will be our FINAL month apart!<br />
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I will continue to work at UNCC through the madness of registration. My dad will be driving down to Charlotte to collect me and any final home essentials. I will get about a week and a half filled with friends, family and brand new baby goodness! Unfortunately, I have to be present on my last day of work, so I will fly back to Charlotte, work for a day and a half, and then April 19th, I will be hopping on a plane across the ocean.<br />
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As the details of the relocation come flooding in, we are realizing all that is involved with making a move abroad. It is all that is on our minds from the minute we wake up in the morning until we go to bed at night. And I don't know about Tonico, but even when I'm sleeping, I'm thinking about this move!<br />
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We are so beyond exciting to start this amazing new chapter in our lives! To be given this opportunity is like nothing we could have ever dreamed! Though we will miss so much from back home (which is now Charlotte AND Wisconsin/Minnesota) we know how extremely lucky we are for this journey we are about to impart on!<br />
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We have no idea if anyone will read this blog, but are hopeful it will help our friends and family keep up with us and what is going on from across the sea! More details to come and thanks for joining this journey with us!<br /><br />-L & TAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17854519357940393965noreply@blogger.com8