Parlez-vous le français?

Culture shock is beginning to set in - AHHHH! but first an update.....

Went out with the gang on Friday night to the infamous O'Reilly's in downtown Brussels. Who would figure that we would come to Brussels and primarily hang out at an Irish Pub where most people are from some English speaking country and they play American music!? lol - Good times! Myself and 2 other troopers were the last ones of our group at the bar when we left at 5:30 AM! Gotta love the nightlife in Brussels. If we had only toughed it out for another 30 mins or so we would've closed the bar and been up to catch the opening of the metro.

With only 4 hours of sleep under my belt Saturday was my tourist day. We went to the Palace and the most wonderful chocolate shop in the world!!! Mary's Chocolate! The Royal Family shops there and even our own Mr. President. I can see why - heavenly chocolate (I'll be sure to bring some back for all of you chocolate lovers as long as I don't accidentally eat it all ;-) ). We also saw the Belgian tomb of the unknown soldier, and then traveled out to see the Atomium. A good day all in all which we wrapped up with a marching band festival in the Grand Place, a visit to Mannequin Pis and of course a Belgian waffle! I love being a tourist.

Our group traveled to Brugge on this past Sunday. Its a very quaint city (a.k.a. not my type of place) but it was beautiful. Lots of expensive museums, churches and pretty old buildings. Yadda yadda lol.

And now for the culture shock!!! Monday, as we all know, was Sept. 11th which is a particularly hard day for me every year (which I'm sure contributed to starting my culture shock); additionally, my grandma went in for a mjor surgery. And, to top the day off, I had my first French lesson. AHHHHHHHHH!

Having never learned any romance language (I only speak the ugly languages - english and german), French and I are not getting along. I feel sooooooo lost! I have never spent an extended period of time in a country where I did not speak the language. Although many people speak English here, I feel rude not knowing any French. I sure hope I pick up this whole French thing fast.

To wrap up my fun and exciting past few days, I have been interviewing for my internship here in Belgium. Keep your fingers crossed that I'll get the internship I want.

Now its time to pack for my weekend trip to Paris!! I'm sooooo excited, I've never been to Paris before. I fully intend on being the perfect tourist and seeing everything as well as getting a taste of Parisian cultue (a.k.a. the nightlife :-D ).

Au revoir