I arrived in Brussels jet lagged and confused. During the six hour flight I managed to loose the ability to walk, talk, and think cohesively. Nothing felt real. I blame that on the plane; there's something disorienting about being in that cabin, cramped in, knowing your ground speed is approximately 6 times speedier than anything Dale Earnhardt Jr. ever sees on his dashboard, and flying to a different time zone and losing time. Thats something I've always wondered about...consider this. When you fly to Tokyo, you basically lose a day, but then on your return trip you get it back. What if you move there? I mean, do you lose a day of your life? Do you just have a stockpile of days?
Anyway, so I was supremely jet lagged. The house is pretty incredible, and everything about Leuven is simply... cooler. The architecture is gorgeous, there are gardens everywhere, and every local seems infinitely more sophisticated and talented than I am. Speaking of talent, I saw a woman wearing a backpack on the front of her body, a guitar on her back, and she was carrying a cat in a pet-carrier. Oh, and on a bike.
Thats another thing entirely. Bikes. I rented a bike for the year the first day we got here. My bike is my life. Its the transportation of choice around here and I love it. It's like being twelve again, but instead of biking to your friends house or to, say, Turkey Hill for a delicious green tea, you're biking around doing grown up things, like going to the grocery store. And the grocery store? I was fascinated. Perhaps its my easy amusement, but there's a machine to slice the loaf of bread you buy. I could do that all day long! Outrageously nifty.
My bike is named "Panda," and my bell (yes, I have a bell! and a kick stand!) sounds exactly like a bull frog croaking. I used it today in a practical situation. I felt like that was a big step, because I croaked and people scooted out of my way. There have already been a few bike issues, running into walls, moving vehicles, et cetera, but surprisingly enough I am thus far, safe.
Fun Fact: The beer is stronger here. Much stronger. And cheaper. Hoo boy. First night out was...well my friends, it was. Story for a rainy day.
I'm still in a daze about everything. This is the first time I've actually sat down for any period of time and written, or really even considered what's going on in my life. This town that feels like a vacation spot? This is where I'm going to call home for a year. The buildings that I want to constantly photograph? They'll be the scenery I pass every day on my bike on the way to class. The outdoor cafes and pubs? I'll meet up with friends there, or sit there and do work like I would at Prince Street cafe in downtown Lancaster. The Belgian brews? I'll be able to drop a few names to the beer experts at home. The bread slicer? The bread slicer... that won't loose its edge.
Life is good.
