Leuven, Belgium
December 16th- December 18th
Leonie (Belgium)
12-16-18 Sunday
We spent the night at Kyra's house in Amsterdam Saturday night after our flight from Paris. Then we woke up early to tour the city of Breda!! Her family drove an hour and a half to take me to this gorgeous European Christmas Market. They bought me a cappuccino, apple pie, gluhwein, and bitterballen. I got the full dutch experience. Then we went shopping for a little while in the markets. After a full day of Christmas spirit and fun, they dropped me off at the Breda train station. I had to take an hour and a half train ride with one transition in the middle. I was so nervous about switching trains because I had to do it in 10 minutes without any navigation from my phone. They printed out directions on paper, but when I had to make the transitions the information was wrong. The train that I was supposed to get on broke down. I completely had a panic attack and cried in the middle of the station. I had no wifi, no information about the next train, and no communication with anyone. I asked a random lady and she helped me out. I made it onto the right train within seconds of the door closing. As I sat down on the train, I was shaking and crying. Then I just laughed at myself, but I have never been more scared in my entire life. PHEW! I finally made it to Belgium, and then Leonie picked me up at the station. I got to see Angelis, Ivy, LaRyssa, Yaz, Joaquim, and Kayla. They all came down the stairs and gave me a big hug when I arrived. After dinner, we decided to go out. There was a Christmas Market where we met up with many more Uppies! We saw Leah, Mattias, Aurlie, Katelyn, Santa, Liam, Juliette, and Anne-Marie! All of my favorite people were all in one place. All of the train drama was so worth it when I got to see everyone again. We were acting like alumni already. The big group of us went to a restaurant and ordered the notorious Belgian Beers!! It was an amazing first day in Belgium:))
12-17-18 Monday
The crew at Leonie's house slept in pretty late and had a great breakfast together. Then we walked to a famous castle in Leuven, Belgium. After that, we had lunch in the center of downtown. We shopped for a long time, bought souvenirs, and enjoyed being with each other. We bought Belgian Waffels and ice cream before we went back to her house. Then we played games with each other all night.
12-18-18 Tuesday
Today we all woke up early to say goodbye to Angelis. When he left, everyone broke down in tears and realized that we all will not be together like this in a very long time. It changed the mood of the day pretty quick. Later on, we went for a walk through the forest and shared memories about our previous fights, frustrations, irritations with each other. It was funny to laugh about all the things that we did to make each other mad throughout the semester. Then we went grocery shopping to make macaroni and cheese. I had to leave back to The Netherlands before dinner. I said goodbye to everyone for the last time, and then headed for the train station. I had a three hour ride back with three different transitions. After my first experience to Belgium, I was absolutely terrified to ride back. Leonie dropped me off at the station, and then Kyra met me half way in Maastricht. I successfully made on transition, but I was so anxious about it. I was shaking the whole time. As I stepped off the train, I saw her standing there and I was SOOO relieved. We rode the rest of the way back and everything was perfect. I don't know what I would have done without her helping me!!! Then her dad picked us up at the station, and we crashed into bed.
We spent the night at Kyra's house in Amsterdam Saturday night after our flight from Paris. Then we woke up early to tour the city of Breda!! Her family drove an hour and a half to take me to this gorgeous European Christmas Market. They bought me a cappuccino, apple pie, gluhwein, and bitterballen. I got the full dutch experience. Then we went shopping for a little while in the markets. After a full day of Christmas spirit and fun, they dropped me off at the Breda train station. I had to take an hour and a half train ride with one transition in the middle. I was so nervous about switching trains because I had to do it in 10 minutes without any navigation from my phone. They printed out directions on paper, but when I had to make the transitions the information was wrong. The train that I was supposed to get on broke down. I completely had a panic attack and cried in the middle of the station. I had no wifi, no information about the next train, and no communication with anyone. I asked a random lady and she helped me out. I made it onto the right train within seconds of the door closing. As I sat down on the train, I was shaking and crying. Then I just laughed at myself, but I have never been more scared in my entire life. PHEW! I finally made it to Belgium, and then Leonie picked me up at the station. I got to see Angelis, Ivy, LaRyssa, Yaz, Joaquim, and Kayla. They all came down the stairs and gave me a big hug when I arrived. After dinner, we decided to go out. There was a Christmas Market where we met up with many more Uppies! We saw Leah, Mattias, Aurlie, Katelyn, Santa, Liam, Juliette, and Anne-Marie! All of my favorite people were all in one place. All of the train drama was so worth it when I got to see everyone again. We were acting like alumni already. The big group of us went to a restaurant and ordered the notorious Belgian Beers!! It was an amazing first day in Belgium:))
12-17-18 Monday
The crew at Leonie's house slept in pretty late and had a great breakfast together. Then we walked to a famous castle in Leuven, Belgium. After that, we had lunch in the center of downtown. We shopped for a long time, bought souvenirs, and enjoyed being with each other. We bought Belgian Waffels and ice cream before we went back to her house. Then we played games with each other all night.
12-18-18 Tuesday
Today we all woke up early to say goodbye to Angelis. When he left, everyone broke down in tears and realized that we all will not be together like this in a very long time. It changed the mood of the day pretty quick. Later on, we went for a walk through the forest and shared memories about our previous fights, frustrations, irritations with each other. It was funny to laugh about all the things that we did to make each other mad throughout the semester. Then we went grocery shopping to make macaroni and cheese. I had to leave back to The Netherlands before dinner. I said goodbye to everyone for the last time, and then headed for the train station. I had a three hour ride back with three different transitions. After my first experience to Belgium, I was absolutely terrified to ride back. Leonie dropped me off at the station, and then Kyra met me half way in Maastricht. I successfully made on transition, but I was so anxious about it. I was shaking the whole time. As I stepped off the train, I saw her standing there and I was SOOO relieved. We rode the rest of the way back and everything was perfect. I don't know what I would have done without her helping me!!! Then her dad picked us up at the station, and we crashed into bed.
Off to The Netherlands
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