My second week of school has gone very well. I still make new friends, and now there are nice classmates that help me and let me get notes I miss. Wednesday and Thursday were both half-days, which I spent taking siestas, bike-riding, spending time with friends after school, and doing some straightening of my room. The days have been passing by much quicker, I have been quite busy with school work and things.
This week I was the recipient of my first two very nice letters, and I thank Allison and Emily for thinking of me. They were enjoyable and made me happy.
This weekend, Andrea came home Friday, and after dinner and him recounting his first week of college at Gembloux, we went into the city for the night, and I saw lots of friends. It was fun.
Saturday morning we went to les Grands Prés, Mons' mall, where I bought my first pair of Euroshoes, and in red. We did other college-shopping for Andrea's dorm. In the afternoon I went on a bike ride, and began my soon-to-come animals of St. Denis photo album. Later on I went with Andrea for his plant study and entomology classes to catch insects and collect plant samples in the garden and vineyard.
Today, Sunday, I went to a château in the morning in Maisières, and then to pâtisserie with a nice man who I met with Bruno and who fought in WWII. This afternoon we went to Nelda's (a pharmacy friend of Spiri) house for a delicious lunch, with all sorts of scrumptious appetizers, chicons with goat cheese and apples, baked rabbit with truffle potage, and a special Belgian pie for dessert. I went for another bike ride during the evening to Casteau and by the Seven Lakes between Casteau and St. Denis.
At the end of this week I am going to Dordrecht, in the Netherlands for the weekend. I will take the train via Brussels, and roll midday into the city. I am going on chiefly change ringing business, and I suppose I will practice the Dutch I'm learning and hit up locals to test my skills with. We'll see how it goes. Having come here two years ago this summer, I look forward to the green and cherry-red of trees and brick buildings by the Maas river.
There will be good pictures to come.