This weekend began with the fancy Braine l'Alleud Rotary Club 30th Anniversary dinner. It was very fancy, everyone was dressed up and the food was tiny (but there was a lot of tiny food so it was OK, and absolutely delicious!!!). It was great meeting and talking to more people from the nearby Rotary clubs, events like this are so fun!
Yesterday I went to an exposition in Brussels on American history and how Europe has influenced it. It was really interesting to see the U.S. through European eyes, here are some things that I realized:
-America can be a radical place. Things are usually done how we want them to be done, there is a huge underlying mentality of freedom to do what we want that isn't as prominent in European society.
-The American Revolution really inspired the French Revolution.
-The U.S. is a young and optimistic country, and our way of life and government often shows that.
-The United States is the land of media. I never really realized it until I came here, but some of the biggest ideas that people have about The States come from movies, TV shows, and music, not the news.
-If it weren't for the United States, the decades of the 20th century wouldn't be nearly as defined. We have specific images that our mind goes to when we think of the 50s, or the 80s, almost all of those images, whether it's housewives in high heels or leotards and leg warmers, came from the U.S.
-The U.S. introduced Tupperware to Europe
Today I woke up late and ended up going to a castle with Michelle and her host parents in a town called La Hulpe, which is about 15 minutes from Braine-l'Alleud. It was honestly one of the nicest afternoons I've spent here. The fields and forests around the castle were beautiful, the weather was crisp, fresh, and very fall like, and it was so much fun walking around hearing French, Dutch, and German! After the walk we stopped in the little tavern and we had a crêpe, and some of the best hot chocolate I have ever had. The café was so cozy and full of people, and just as our food came out it started to rain! It was wonderful.
Needless to say, I'm still loving Belgique!
Yesterday I went to an exposition in Brussels on American history and how Europe has influenced it. It was really interesting to see the U.S. through European eyes, here are some things that I realized:
-America can be a radical place. Things are usually done how we want them to be done, there is a huge underlying mentality of freedom to do what we want that isn't as prominent in European society.
-The American Revolution really inspired the French Revolution.
-The U.S. is a young and optimistic country, and our way of life and government often shows that.
-The United States is the land of media. I never really realized it until I came here, but some of the biggest ideas that people have about The States come from movies, TV shows, and music, not the news.
-If it weren't for the United States, the decades of the 20th century wouldn't be nearly as defined. We have specific images that our mind goes to when we think of the 50s, or the 80s, almost all of those images, whether it's housewives in high heels or leotards and leg warmers, came from the U.S.
-The U.S. introduced Tupperware to Europe
Today I woke up late and ended up going to a castle with Michelle and her host parents in a town called La Hulpe, which is about 15 minutes from Braine-l'Alleud. It was honestly one of the nicest afternoons I've spent here. The fields and forests around the castle were beautiful, the weather was crisp, fresh, and very fall like, and it was so much fun walking around hearing French, Dutch, and German! After the walk we stopped in the little tavern and we had a crêpe, and some of the best hot chocolate I have ever had. The café was so cozy and full of people, and just as our food came out it started to rain! It was wonderful.
Needless to say, I'm still loving Belgique!
Before the Rotary dinner :)
Michelle, Jordann, and I
Michelle, Jordann, and I
With Michelle and Chantal (her host mom)
Le Château Solvay
Gardens
No editing-it's rainbow wood! :)
Crêpe Mikado
Cozy Café!