FALL BREAK
It’s starting. Tomorrow, I’ll be in Paris! A few days later, Barcelona! A couple days after that, Madrid! I booked my flights nearly two months ago, and I can’t believe fall break is actually here. Spain has seemed like a lifetime away. And once I get back from Spain, my first semester in Brussels will … Read more
Waffling around
I’ve been writing a weekly column for my university newspaper, The California Aggie, on life as a study abroad student. Here’s a bulk from my most recent column, which I felt could benefit from illustrations. Without further ado: ———- A friend e-mailed me last week and complimented my column. Sort of. He said my environmental … Read more
Feasting in Berlin
Take note: two nights in Berlin is not enough. My friend Grace and I flew in last Saturday afternoon and left Monday evening. While we managed to see all the main sites, we quickly realized that we could spend weeks and weeks in this city without feeling fully satisfied. We stayed at The Circus, a … Read more
Highlight of the week: eating, of course
Midterm week is almost over, and to celebrate, a friend and I went out for lunch. We stepped away from the normal sandwicherie or durum action and splurged. We sat down. We ordered wine. For two hours, we were happy and stress-free. Reservations were made a week prior at Millesime as part of the RestoDays … Read more
Normalcy
I now know that it has taken seven weeks for me to feel very, very comfortable with my life in Brussels. The tip off? I have finally watched TV. At home, my daily routine includes hours of television. When I get home from work, I plop down and watch an episode of, say, 30 Rock, … Read more
Legal matters, movie nights, couchsurfers and jazz
With a week full of midterms nearing, my social life has taken a serious hit this week. That doesn’t mean I’ve had much time to study though. Tuesday and Thursday mornings were both spent at the Schaerbeek commune, where I’ve wrestled with Belgian bureaucracy. Or more like, my ISA resident director Sabine has been wrestling, … Read more
Daytrips: Antwerp, Ostend
Saturday was another excursion with my art history class. Destination: Antwerp. If you thought the Antwerp train station was baroque, I can now tell you that you’re wrong. It’s eclectic, silly. Students I meet in Brussels really like Antwerp, and I understand why. It’s the second biggest city in Belgium, making it more accessible than … Read more
Nuit Blanche et un voleur
I took a nap Saturday night at 9 p.m., and then I had a Red Bull. The night demanded it. Nuit Blanche took over several major European cities the first evening of October, with Brussels being one of them. Ultra contemporary art instillations sprung up downtown, indoors and outdoors. Public transportation was free and extended so … Read more
