Safely in Paris! It's been incredible. Tomorrow I'm off to Barcelona. Just posting quick to say... hi!
-Lo
Tuesday, March 25
Thursday, March 20
Ketchup Round 1. Ready, set, go!
Hello my darlings. Gather 'round, for it is long-overdue-story-time. Do you have your floor mat? Would you like a snack? Get comfortable, cause this is a big one.
Firstly, I miss you all so much and I am sorry that I have been, er, you know, not in contact. It's been an eventful three weeks to say the very least. Shall we start at the beginning? I've often found that's a popular place. Except in Quentin Tarantino films.
So! Had my VeCo midterms the second week of March. I only got one grade back so far... dun dun dun... Statistics. Gross. But, surprise! I got an A-! Wait, what? Isn't that the exam you began studying for the morning of? Why yes, yes it is. Yes ma'am, I mastered variances and standard deviations and histogram distributions and empirical rules and all that jazz in under twenty-four hours. Impressed? Now we're learning all about probability functions. I'm starting to wonder what the probability is that I'll pull the same stunt for the final. I'm going to go out on a limb and say: Incredible Likely. Check back for a numerical measure at a later date.
All things considered, Statistics is turning out to be my favourite class. My professor is a funny guy who digs good music, and who doesn't have a problem completely correcting my homework before I turn it in so I can fix all of my mistakes and submit a perfect copy. I mean, I'll take it.
Moving right along, Saturday after exams I had a very special visitor... visit. Man, the redundancy in verbs and nouns... I tell you.
My darling friend Jane came to visit on Sunday, and what an interestingly wonderful time we had. Honestly, we slept more than anything else, but they were fantastic slumbers my body was desperately in need of. We did fun touristy things, like go to the giginormous flea market at Midi and walk around the upper side of the city. We also engaged in the act of kleptomania and ninja-ed about 6 or 7 beer glasses from various bars. At one point I felt badly, but now I have sweet Delirium Tremens glasses all of my own. It's all about the circle of life. I'm sure someone will steal glasses from my bar when I own one. If I own one. Hmm...
Anyway, cue up the chaos- Jane and I both slept through my alarm which may or may not have been properly activated, and she completely missed her flight on Wednesday. After a mild freak out, we successfully got her on a flight home today. We were so scared to oversleep again we essentially pulled an all-nighter, popped to the Night Shop at 3:30 am for some snacks, watched some cartoons, then headed off to the train station/airport by 5 am. I decided it would be a good idea not to go back to sleep but instead to write to you. You better appreciate it. Or else! Just kidding. I love you. Yeah, and I'll be sure to post some photos after she emails them to me. We went a little photo happy. But photos make me happy so I figure that's solid justification right there.
Ah yes, and I finally got off my lazy butt and bought batteries for my camera, which is back in working condition. So that's one thing crossed off of my mile-long to-do list. Too many hyphens...
So now for the grand finale: future plans. Spring break starts on Saturday and you know what that means, kids. European Excursion Bonanza Extravaganza! I totally just made up that name now but I think it's pretty impressive. E.E.B.E. 2008! I'm going to have t-shirts made up and I'll mail you one. What's your size again?
Here's what's on the agenda: Paris from March 22nd - March 26th, Barcelona from March 26th - March 31st, Prague from April 1st - April 2nd, Vienna from April 2nd - April 4th, back to Prague for two days, then back to Brussels. Exhausted yet? I hate to namedrop cities like that but... when in Rome. Dang, I did it again.
I'll be without direct access to a computer during those weeks but I'll be sure to ninja the benefits of hostel computers and wi-fi internet cafes to keep you guys as posted as possible.
Sidenote: I've noticed lately that when I walk around these city streets, streets that have become familiar to me, I walk with my head down. That is a pity because I miss interesting, awkward, beautiful, surreal, strange, breathtaking things that way. But at the same time, I've discovered the art of sidewalk charms- and I'm becoming an expert collector. If I see something that catches my eye in between the cobblestones, I have to pocket it, because I know it will tell stories just as beautiful and strange as the skyscrapers.
I miss you, dear reader, and I hope this long blah blah blog hasn't lulled you to sleep. I'm off to do laundry and shower because, let's face it, I stink. I was developing a scratch-and-sniff feature for my posts but I figure I'll spare you and your nose. Don't say I never did nothing for ya.
Lastly, for those of you who celebrate Easter, have a happy happy hip happity hippity hoppity one.
With love,
Lauren E. Litwinka
Firstly, I miss you all so much and I am sorry that I have been, er, you know, not in contact. It's been an eventful three weeks to say the very least. Shall we start at the beginning? I've often found that's a popular place. Except in Quentin Tarantino films.
So! Had my VeCo midterms the second week of March. I only got one grade back so far... dun dun dun... Statistics. Gross. But, surprise! I got an A-! Wait, what? Isn't that the exam you began studying for the morning of? Why yes, yes it is. Yes ma'am, I mastered variances and standard deviations and histogram distributions and empirical rules and all that jazz in under twenty-four hours. Impressed? Now we're learning all about probability functions. I'm starting to wonder what the probability is that I'll pull the same stunt for the final. I'm going to go out on a limb and say: Incredible Likely. Check back for a numerical measure at a later date.
All things considered, Statistics is turning out to be my favourite class. My professor is a funny guy who digs good music, and who doesn't have a problem completely correcting my homework before I turn it in so I can fix all of my mistakes and submit a perfect copy. I mean, I'll take it.
Moving right along, Saturday after exams I had a very special visitor... visit. Man, the redundancy in verbs and nouns... I tell you.
My darling friend Jane came to visit on Sunday, and what an interestingly wonderful time we had. Honestly, we slept more than anything else, but they were fantastic slumbers my body was desperately in need of. We did fun touristy things, like go to the giginormous flea market at Midi and walk around the upper side of the city. We also engaged in the act of kleptomania and ninja-ed about 6 or 7 beer glasses from various bars. At one point I felt badly, but now I have sweet Delirium Tremens glasses all of my own. It's all about the circle of life. I'm sure someone will steal glasses from my bar when I own one. If I own one. Hmm...
Anyway, cue up the chaos- Jane and I both slept through my alarm which may or may not have been properly activated, and she completely missed her flight on Wednesday. After a mild freak out, we successfully got her on a flight home today. We were so scared to oversleep again we essentially pulled an all-nighter, popped to the Night Shop at 3:30 am for some snacks, watched some cartoons, then headed off to the train station/airport by 5 am. I decided it would be a good idea not to go back to sleep but instead to write to you. You better appreciate it. Or else! Just kidding. I love you. Yeah, and I'll be sure to post some photos after she emails them to me. We went a little photo happy. But photos make me happy so I figure that's solid justification right there.
Ah yes, and I finally got off my lazy butt and bought batteries for my camera, which is back in working condition. So that's one thing crossed off of my mile-long to-do list. Too many hyphens...
So now for the grand finale: future plans. Spring break starts on Saturday and you know what that means, kids. European Excursion Bonanza Extravaganza! I totally just made up that name now but I think it's pretty impressive. E.E.B.E. 2008! I'm going to have t-shirts made up and I'll mail you one. What's your size again?
Here's what's on the agenda: Paris from March 22nd - March 26th, Barcelona from March 26th - March 31st, Prague from April 1st - April 2nd, Vienna from April 2nd - April 4th, back to Prague for two days, then back to Brussels. Exhausted yet? I hate to namedrop cities like that but... when in Rome. Dang, I did it again.
I'll be without direct access to a computer during those weeks but I'll be sure to ninja the benefits of hostel computers and wi-fi internet cafes to keep you guys as posted as possible.
Sidenote: I've noticed lately that when I walk around these city streets, streets that have become familiar to me, I walk with my head down. That is a pity because I miss interesting, awkward, beautiful, surreal, strange, breathtaking things that way. But at the same time, I've discovered the art of sidewalk charms- and I'm becoming an expert collector. If I see something that catches my eye in between the cobblestones, I have to pocket it, because I know it will tell stories just as beautiful and strange as the skyscrapers.
I miss you, dear reader, and I hope this long blah blah blog hasn't lulled you to sleep. I'm off to do laundry and shower because, let's face it, I stink. I was developing a scratch-and-sniff feature for my posts but I figure I'll spare you and your nose. Don't say I never did nothing for ya.
Lastly, for those of you who celebrate Easter, have a happy happy hip happity hippity hoppity one.
With love,
Lauren E. Litwinka
Wednesday, March 5
One of the best things about Brussels...
... is the way it surprises you every day. You'll spend an afternoon walking around the quaint garden of hedge mazes next to the Royal Library. You'll go back the next day and there's a hole 30 ft wide cut straight from the garden's stomach.
The spiked punk teenagers - instead of loitering around the mall after school - infest the external stairwells outside the Museum of Fine Arts, leaving their fluorescent graffiti insignia on the grey stone slab walls.
The skies are hung with yellow cranes. The construction kind; not the birds. Their colossal limbs are as much of a "YOU ARE HERE" thumbtack in the city as the Gothic tower of the town hall in Grand Place. Neither move. They just peer down at the people like omniscient guardians.
You'll walk across a makeshift wood plank bridge - over a pool of rainwater from yesterday's sun showers and hail storms collected in the rectangular dirt ditch- and for some reason or other the water is a vibrant magenta colour. It's rippling wildly in the wind beneath the feet of yet another Moroccan mother shaking a cardboard cup of coins as furiously as she's shaking her baby bundled in her arm.
When you have access to one English-speaking television channel (CNN), you need to find different ways to unwind after a long day of exams and school work.
I've found solace in vegetarian cooking workshops and free art museum passes. Today I milled around the Museum of Fine Arts and gawked at an incredible exhibition by a man named Alechinsky.
It was a pleasant way to spend this bitterly cold Wednesday afternoon.
One of the worst things about Brussels... is the way it surprises you every day. But more on that when I'm feeling less optimistic.
The spiked punk teenagers - instead of loitering around the mall after school - infest the external stairwells outside the Museum of Fine Arts, leaving their fluorescent graffiti insignia on the grey stone slab walls.
The skies are hung with yellow cranes. The construction kind; not the birds. Their colossal limbs are as much of a "YOU ARE HERE" thumbtack in the city as the Gothic tower of the town hall in Grand Place. Neither move. They just peer down at the people like omniscient guardians.
You'll walk across a makeshift wood plank bridge - over a pool of rainwater from yesterday's sun showers and hail storms collected in the rectangular dirt ditch- and for some reason or other the water is a vibrant magenta colour. It's rippling wildly in the wind beneath the feet of yet another Moroccan mother shaking a cardboard cup of coins as furiously as she's shaking her baby bundled in her arm.
When you have access to one English-speaking television channel (CNN), you need to find different ways to unwind after a long day of exams and school work.
I've found solace in vegetarian cooking workshops and free art museum passes. Today I milled around the Museum of Fine Arts and gawked at an incredible exhibition by a man named Alechinsky.
It was a pleasant way to spend this bitterly cold Wednesday afternoon.
One of the worst things about Brussels... is the way it surprises you every day. But more on that when I'm feeling less optimistic.
Smakelijk!
Well, fancy meeting you here, darling reader!
I'm saddened by the fact that I haven't posted lately. I bet you are too. Well, I hope you are too. Wait, no. I don't hope that you're sad. That's awful. I... er... hope that you know that I am sad that I haven't posted lately because it means I haven't been in contact with you lately... and that makes me sad... yeah, that's it. I chose a rather indirect route to that conclusion, but my brain is utterly fried from two intense exams.
(See previous post for an in-depth explication of those experiences as well as emotional responses.)
So, Monday was my Statistics exam (can you hear me whimpering still?) and I just finished up with my European Studies exam. In an hour, I have my Lyric Poetry exam, then a break, then an International Relations Theory exam on Friday. Woo...hoo.
Have I mentioned how much I dislike classes here? I find that they lack structure and efficiency. Then again, so do a lot of things in Belgium. In everyday life, it's fine. It's exciting and mentally-stimulating to be kept on one's toes by neat-o surprises. But in the academic atmosphere, it's frustrating as all hell. I miss Montclair and it's normalities. More on that in a later post.
This post is about my super cool Dutch vegetarian cuisine Monday-night experience!
Kathleen (host mum), considerate as always, signed the two of us up for a promising Veggie Cooking Workshop at VUB (VeCo's Dutch-speaking "parent" University just across the road). After a long day of studying and classes, it was a lovely way to unwind.
Everything was in Dutch- the speeches, the recipes, the menu, the food labels, etc. When we got to the workshop, we were debriefed on the cultural awareness group which was hosting the event. Kathleen brilliantly translated everything for me as people spoke. She's got an incredible talent with language. We went around and said a bit about ourselves. When it came to be my turn, I said, "Hi, I'm Lauren, I speak English, I'm a vegetarian from New Jersey." Classy.
So what was on the menu? A fantastic combination of vegetarian dishes from soup to Chinese cabbage salad, a delicious tofu-esque/lentil medley, turnip crisps, and cauliflower in a light cheese sauce. Wow! Oh yeah and some weird tofu waffle. Mine was burnt. I did not enjoy that.
We split up into small groups and assigned a specific dish to prepare. Kathleen and I worked on the tofu-esque/lentil dish. I was the only American there, but everyone was so friendly and willing to converse with me in English. I spoke with one Belgian girl who is traveling to America for the first time over Spring break; she's going to Naples and Philadelphia, so I spoke to her about my times visiting my sister and my aunt and how lovely those cities are.
I also spoke to a fellow vegetarian; we both agreed on how obnoxious is it to be a vegetarian living on a college campus-- selections can be very limited at times (hence, at M.S.U., my diet consisted of cereal and salad...).
We all sat down to eat at a long banquet table. Smakelijk! (Smakelijk is like the Dutch equivalent to "bon appetite!"... it's one of the only Dutch phrases I know so I say it all the time... even when it's far from applicable.)
Soup was first. It was absolutely delicious. A very sweet broth that tasted a little like honey, and chunks of fresh carrots, celery, zucchini, and onions. Fantastic! Next was a huge plate with a generous sample of each dish we prepared. (Enter stage right: my awkward burnt waffle. It's the only thing I didn't enjoy. Oh well.)
Of course, at the dinner table, all 30-something of the workshop attendants spoke in Dutch. I just sat back and chowed down and listened to them joking and laughing and discussing things in a foreign language. It felt so nice to absorb the authenticity of the culture and the experience but really have no idea what was going on.
Okay, all of this talk has made my stomach grumble... for some pictures! (?)
Laziness has not waned whatsoever, so I still am without working batteries/camera/photos to share. But here are some I stole from my friends. They're a bit old, but they'll suffice for now.
Me, hanging out in the playground. This was one of the warmer days from a few weeks ago. (Yesterday the weather was so wacky... it poured, then the skies were blue, then it hailed, then the skies were blue... lather rinse repeat...)
Lastly, the first Wednesday of every month, some museums in Brussels are free. As soon as I'm out of class today I'm heading up to the Museum of Fine Arts to wander around. I wish you could come with me. My treat! (Because it's free... get it? Ha...ha...)
But for now I'm off to review some notes for EXAM FEST 2008 ROUND 3! Trust me, it's not as exciting as the caps lock suggests.
I hope all is well with you, reader!
Love,
Lauren
I'm saddened by the fact that I haven't posted lately. I bet you are too. Well, I hope you are too. Wait, no. I don't hope that you're sad. That's awful. I... er... hope that you know that I am sad that I haven't posted lately because it means I haven't been in contact with you lately... and that makes me sad... yeah, that's it. I chose a rather indirect route to that conclusion, but my brain is utterly fried from two intense exams.
(See previous post for an in-depth explication of those experiences as well as emotional responses.)
So, Monday was my Statistics exam (can you hear me whimpering still?) and I just finished up with my European Studies exam. In an hour, I have my Lyric Poetry exam, then a break, then an International Relations Theory exam on Friday. Woo...hoo.
Have I mentioned how much I dislike classes here? I find that they lack structure and efficiency. Then again, so do a lot of things in Belgium. In everyday life, it's fine. It's exciting and mentally-stimulating to be kept on one's toes by neat-o surprises. But in the academic atmosphere, it's frustrating as all hell. I miss Montclair and it's normalities. More on that in a later post.
This post is about my super cool Dutch vegetarian cuisine Monday-night experience!
Kathleen (host mum), considerate as always, signed the two of us up for a promising Veggie Cooking Workshop at VUB (VeCo's Dutch-speaking "parent" University just across the road). After a long day of studying and classes, it was a lovely way to unwind.
Everything was in Dutch- the speeches, the recipes, the menu, the food labels, etc. When we got to the workshop, we were debriefed on the cultural awareness group which was hosting the event. Kathleen brilliantly translated everything for me as people spoke. She's got an incredible talent with language. We went around and said a bit about ourselves. When it came to be my turn, I said, "Hi, I'm Lauren, I speak English, I'm a vegetarian from New Jersey." Classy.
So what was on the menu? A fantastic combination of vegetarian dishes from soup to Chinese cabbage salad, a delicious tofu-esque/lentil medley, turnip crisps, and cauliflower in a light cheese sauce. Wow! Oh yeah and some weird tofu waffle. Mine was burnt. I did not enjoy that.
We split up into small groups and assigned a specific dish to prepare. Kathleen and I worked on the tofu-esque/lentil dish. I was the only American there, but everyone was so friendly and willing to converse with me in English. I spoke with one Belgian girl who is traveling to America for the first time over Spring break; she's going to Naples and Philadelphia, so I spoke to her about my times visiting my sister and my aunt and how lovely those cities are.
I also spoke to a fellow vegetarian; we both agreed on how obnoxious is it to be a vegetarian living on a college campus-- selections can be very limited at times (hence, at M.S.U., my diet consisted of cereal and salad...).
We all sat down to eat at a long banquet table. Smakelijk! (Smakelijk is like the Dutch equivalent to "bon appetite!"... it's one of the only Dutch phrases I know so I say it all the time... even when it's far from applicable.)
Soup was first. It was absolutely delicious. A very sweet broth that tasted a little like honey, and chunks of fresh carrots, celery, zucchini, and onions. Fantastic! Next was a huge plate with a generous sample of each dish we prepared. (Enter stage right: my awkward burnt waffle. It's the only thing I didn't enjoy. Oh well.)
Of course, at the dinner table, all 30-something of the workshop attendants spoke in Dutch. I just sat back and chowed down and listened to them joking and laughing and discussing things in a foreign language. It felt so nice to absorb the authenticity of the culture and the experience but really have no idea what was going on.
Okay, all of this talk has made my stomach grumble... for some pictures! (?)
Laziness has not waned whatsoever, so I still am without working batteries/camera/photos to share. But here are some I stole from my friends. They're a bit old, but they'll suffice for now.
Me, hanging out in the playground. This was one of the warmer days from a few weeks ago. (Yesterday the weather was so wacky... it poured, then the skies were blue, then it hailed, then the skies were blue... lather rinse repeat...)
Tom and I on a canal tour in Amsterdam. I know. The word you're looking for to describe our facial expressions is : ENTHRALLED. (Note: I'm drawing in my notebook, not sleeping with my mouth open.)
When the host family is away the children will play... dress up!
Ashley, Myself, Morgan, and Priya. The word you're searching for to describe our behavior is : MATURE.
When the host family is away the children will play... dress up!
Ashley, Myself, Morgan, and Priya. The word you're searching for to describe our behavior is : MATURE.Lastly, the first Wednesday of every month, some museums in Brussels are free. As soon as I'm out of class today I'm heading up to the Museum of Fine Arts to wander around. I wish you could come with me. My treat! (Because it's free... get it? Ha...ha...)
But for now I'm off to review some notes for EXAM FEST 2008 ROUND 3! Trust me, it's not as exciting as the caps lock suggests.
I hope all is well with you, reader!
Love,
Lauren
Tuesday, March 4
Today's Theme: Things I Hate
- EXAMS
- VeCo
- VeCo EXAMS
I thought I had a longer list. I'll try to play ketchup catch up soon. For now, know I'm thinking of you. It's a great way to procrastinate.
Saturday, March 1
So I have this idea....
Quick! Let's paten this together and reap the glorious monetary benefits!
Oatmeal Raisin Batter Spread!
Essentially, it's a pasteurized version of oatmeal raisin cookie dough for consumers to spread on toast or sweet sammiches. Ya dig? They'll love it. I mean, I just know. Who wouldn't? It came to me yesterday morning. Brilliance. Sheer brilliance.
So if you want in on this project, let me know. We'll be millionaires. Wee!
So if you want in on this project, let me know. We'll be millionaires. Wee!
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