Memorial Day Tribute

It'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Hanna showcasing one of the signs

Aunt Sue Sue

So proud of my little brother - who teaches me every day to not take life too seriously

 Not the greatest family photo - but we were happy all the same :o)

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)

Now I'm off to my first French class of the summer! I'm nervous and excited all at the same time! 

Ciao!

And 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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Keep your fingers crossed that things go as smoothly as possible!

Frequently Asked Questions

This post is dedicated to my Favorite Aunt Pat (and to all the aunt's saying "What!?" I say, you are my Favorite Aunt fill in your name here) 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!

1. How are you liking it in Brussels?
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! 

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!

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! 

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 Vapiano and it's amazing!!!!)

2. How easy is it to get around in Europe?
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!

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. 

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!

Tonico does a great job of showcasing the glass for the Franzikaner beer - my favorite so far

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!

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!

 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 Königsallee 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!

3. What is the weather like there?
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!

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!

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. 

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!

4. What was your first impression of your new home?
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!

And now, the job search begins....stay tuned!

Welcome to Our Home

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 connected to the internet in our apartment and all is well in the world once again!

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:

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.

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!

This view is coming in from the front door with our coatrack we looked high and low for!

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! 

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!

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!?

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.

Here's a better shot with the lovely picture collage my dear sweet husband put up for me :o)

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!?)

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!

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!

Finally, I leave you with this shot I took while waiting for Tonico to pick me up one afternoon. This is Parc du Cinquantenaire 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)

Everything Happens for a Reason

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!

And cuddling with my puppy

And having sleepovers with my boys

And spending quality time with my siblings

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. 

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.

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! 

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: Reading Terminal Market!!! 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!!!

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!!!

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!

Love this girl!

Don't mind me...just wearing the same clothes from the previous day and exhausted - though I did get to shower!

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". 

Goodbye is Never Easy

Meet Annie, Kurt and Oscar:

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!

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)

Until we meet again.....

Almost 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...

I'm going to try to focus on the positive and what is coming up in my very near future:

This week has been FLYING by and for that I am thankful....I have family and friends I am absolutely dying to see!!!

Saturday morning the trek begins. I have some Starburst™ 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.

First stop: The Paquin residence
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 instantly 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!

On February 1st, Mr. Mason John Paquin entered the world and he is soooo handsome! 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!

The beautiful Paquin family :o)

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. 

I. Just. Can't. Wait.

Oh, and for all of you who have been asking me about what is still left in my apartment after Tonico moved out:

Again, a big shout out to Matt & Jen for allowing me to stay at their place where it's a bit more homey!