Every time you say you don't believe in fairies, a fairy dies.

Damage update, since it wasn't clear from my last post, the injuries from the escalator are minimal. Just some bruises and scrapes, but nothing to get excited about. I have, however, been enjoying Mary's skype status which went from "wear a helmet when you are on the escalator" to "things not to throw down an escalator" coupled with a photo of me. Aww mommy, you're so funny.

Oh my gods, back to important things, amazing day in Brussels. Nina and I slept in, managed to finagle our way into another night at the same hostel, I picked up Eva at the airport and we did the mandatory tourist stuff (like visiting the rather unimpressive Manneken Pis [who was dressed like a Cypriot for reasons unknown] and the park off the royal palace), and headed off to EP-Land (a Ninaism referring to the area of Brussels used by the European Union Parliament that inspired the Barry-like blag-post-title).

Two quick things about the park: it's probably my favorite part of Brussels, there is a small resto inside that sells hot wine and hors d'oeuvres alongside a stand that sells waffles. Nina came to the conclusion early on that Brussels is all about the food (i.e. Moules frites, waffles, fries[or chips, whatever] and mayo, BEER...) and I must concur. The waffle that we had in the park was a three syllable a-ma-zing. The Belgians sure know how to make a waffle, and they melt sugar inside them. (Sara, I think they basically put half the batter on the waffle iron, sprinkle some sugar in the middle and then put the other half of the batter so that the sugar is sandwiched in the center) It ends up having this caramel-taste/flavor and does not require any toppings or syrup. De-lish-yus.

Exploring EP-Land was actually a bit of an accident. We were failing pretty fantastically at being tour guides for Eva, who was having her first day in Brussels, so we just decided to head over to the bars in that area after having some lovely hot wine and waffle in the park. What we didn't know is that they were having a FREE European-Food-Fest in front of the parliamentary building. This just goes to show that you can't plan free dinner and drinks, but you can certainly take advantage of an opportunity when it pops up.

I think we really have Poland to thank for most of our food. The Poland stand had a wide assortment of food, including a meat dish (which we thing was onions caramelized and spiced and then meat (perhaps cow? I have issues identifying meat) added and cooked slowly until it was falling apart and then a bit of vinegar), several cheeses, bread, beer and some honey vodka. The honey vodka was delicious. Maggie, you lived in Poland, why didn't you tell me about the honey vodka? I complained about your lack of data-sharing to the ladies at the stand and their response (read: excuse for you) was "well there are so many kind of vodka in Poland, perhaps she never tasted this one." I'm not buying it. Explain yourself please. (Just kidding, I adore you. But if you could explain why this topic never came up that would be awesome...)

The other tables were great as well, there was lots and lots of wine in France (we helped ourselves liberally), liqueur from Estonia made with herbs that reminded me a bit of Chartreuse except for the fact that it was red not green, strange fig-chocolate-cake and amazing caraway seed/sea-salt bread-sticks from the Czech Republic, some more wine from Austria, wine and lamb and salad from Greece. I know what you're thinking now. We were a bit too stuck on the French tent so we missed the food at Italy. Also apparently the UK wasn't making an appearance, I was rather hoping to get a taste of pub lunch.

At any rate, Eva went to bed after our adventures and Nina and I closed down the night at a little restaurant down the street that we may turn into "our" place this Brussels trip. It's good to have a place. I also posit that the uncertainty (since, you know, we didn't plan accommodation this trip. whoops. don't freak out parental units! it's gone swimmingly since the escalator incident.) and incredible amount of fun we're having in Brussels is great preparation for the uncertainty and incredible fun that will be happening in Cameroon in two days. Super. Pumped.

Seeing as it's 6:19 in the morning, I may try to go back to sleep.

xxM

Lost a Battle with an Escalator

Made it to Brussels, am super exhausted and fell head-first down escalators in the gare du midi. Apparently the synapses didn't connect today. For future reference: if your really really really heavy suitcase starts to fall on the escalator just let it go, don't try to hold onto it. Bad things will happen.

On the bright side! COFFEE AND COOKIES. Oh, and Nina at 5:30.

Superstition

Greetings & Salutations

I thought we would start out today with a countdown (for those of you who don't know, the proper way to do this is start counting at tomorrow because today is pretty much over):
12 days until I leave Nebraska
26 days until I leave the Estadios Unidos
31 days until I arrive in Cameroon!

I learn a little bit more every day about where I'm going, but not really anything about what I will be doing (and that, my friends, will be the adventure portion of our program!). I'm going to be an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Bertoua, Cameroon, at the Université Internationale de Bertoua, fondly known as the UIB. Bertoua is the capital of the East Province of Cameroon. It is a Catholic University with three different faculties (religion, education and management/business) and approximately 300 students. I'll get to be their first Fulbright ETA!

Holy Goddesses.

Speaking of Goddesses that is exactly one of the things that I was given at my going away party: a protective goddess pendant and a bunch of sacred sage.

Yeah, she's totally sunbathing on my manila envelope from the IIE. Not set up at all.

With the exception of this photoshoot and the occasional shower, my goddess has been hanging out around my neck. She makes me feel very loved and cared for, since I know some people I love charged her full of positive thoughts. The sacred sage (from the beautiful Tataya), which I will be burning all over my new home in Bertoua,, is intended to remove the bad spirits and negative auras that sometimes exist in houses (so I hear, I've never experienced any negative energy in any of my houses....wow, that sage is good!).

Mr. Paul was telling me a story yesterday, he has two routines when moving in and out of houses. The first item in and the last item out of every house he moves into is a talisman that his mother gave him. The second ritual is cleansing the house with sacred sage. The only time he ever, EVER, failed to follow these two routines his house was broken into (yeah, the same day he moved in). He told me in certain terms that it is something you just have to do, dude. I think I'll give it a whirl, Mr. Paul tends to give good advice like "save your histrionics for the stage."

I've been thinking a lot about traditions, superstitions and the things you do when you're moving. Every time my Ajji (and often Vas and Mary) move we always conduct a Ganesha Pooja to acknowledge and welcome the new beginnings. I'm pretty open to trying new ceremonies, but I'm starting to think that when I get older I'll be such a mish-mash of superstitions I won't know where any of them came from. ("Oh well this was a really wonderful tradition and I started using and mixing it with this other lovely tradition from this completely different......"). It's fine though, burning sage and chanting Sanskrit is totally going to happen.

The process of moving is going peacefully, there is a lot of pausing and playing with dogs. Because they're adorable. New superstition: petting puppies can reduce stress and make you happier no matter what else is going on in your life. SO TRUE!

Isn't that the face Snoopy makes when he's dancing?

To be brutally honest, the white dog with the black eye is my personal favorite. The other one's a puggle and all trouble. Case and point:

Oh Moocifer.

That is all she wrote today folks, it's time to go outside and get some vitamin D.

King Tut's papyrus!!!

The purple plant in the background is so cool and, apparently, edible. Nom nom.

xxM


*Ammendment to the previous post (with gratitude to Michelle):

additional rule/general suggestion:
7. Comment when and where you will. All comments are subject to the previous six rules.