We’ve been talking about having a rave party for the past three months and finally we just decided to take our own requests seriously and go for it. At 11:00 we all went to the class room and moved the tables. Many of us dressed in togas, some put on random layers of clothing, and some just came as is.

We hope to show the video to perspective Belgium go-ers so I will not spoil it… but it was a wonderful 20 minutes. If you go to Belgium you should rave.

This is a picture we’re using for our poster. Every year the group makes a poster for their group and this year we are using a series of pictures. This is the one of all of the adults and miss Cora Sharp.

It’s really awesome that I’m going to be done with classes for the rest of the semester by tomorrow at 2:00. What’s really not awesome is that this is officially the beginning of the end. Today we had our last chapel here in Belgium. Technically we come back to the States in three weeks, but we are on free travel next week and then we will be in Greece after only a three day stop back here in Verviers. Today when we stated out load that it was our last time worshipping together in (literally) the upper room it really hit me that I’m going to miss this group of people so much.

This trip has honestly been exhausting and has caused me to change so much about myself. Everything I have learned about myself, the people I’m with and the world in general has been so rewarding. A week ago I was SO READY to just get on a plane and go back to America where I wouldn’t have to sleep in train stations, and pay for water. Today though… I’m not ready. I’m going to miss these people so much and I’m going to miss living in Verviers. There are places that I always go to sit and think or that I always walk when I really need some time by myself. It makes me sad that I will probably never be in those places again.

I will be happy to arrive home, but I have a home here too now… and I’m going to miss it.

I left with a group of eight other students and we headed to Rome. We spent the entire first week in Italy hitting up Rome, Venice, Pisa, Florence and Cinque Terre. The entire week went without a single hitch. Everyone was in a wonderful mood, all of our hostels were accommodating and nice, everyone was getting to see the sites they wanted to see… the first week was perfect. I continually thought “this is my favorite place” and then upon arrival at the next place would change my mind. I definitely know that the week I spent in Italy was the best week of my life so far. I have never enjoyed myself more. I loved seeing historically significant things like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and I had to take the typical picture with the leaning tower of Pisa. I also hiked 9k through Cinque Terre and swam in the Mediterranean, which was really awesome.

Then came Sunday. It started our second week of free travel and it started off rocky, but we figured “no big deal”. False. The entire week was nothing but one big missed train. One group of people has never missed more consecutive trains. Ever. We have set a recored. I have also now heard the phrase “it’s impossible” with a French and Spanish accent. Typically in response to my question, “How can I get to Verviers, Belgium by 11pm tomorrow?”

“It’s impossible”

I spent the majority of my nights this week without a bed, and lived on a diet of nothing but bread and jelly. I may have also set a record for the longest time gone without brushing my teeth. We’ve had more things lost than things found, and yet somehow we found our way back to Verviers on time.

Lesson 1: if it can go wrong, it will. and probably all at once.

Lesson 2: have fun even what it’s all going wrong.

But instead I’ll do this.

I didn’t get to say much about Paris, so here’s a few more little tidbits about my trip.
-I ate the most wonderful food ever. Crepes. oh, crepes.
-I bought an oil painting and a watercolor and I’m pretty excited to get them home and hang them.
-I went to the Opera National where the Phantom of the Opera took place. That was really awesome.
-We all played with pigeons and likely caught avian flu.

BUT to make it all feel more like real life… I have a head cold. I’m snotty as can be sitting here in my Parisian hotel watching it rain. Hope all is well at home.

Pictures later.

There’s far too much to say about this week so I shall list some delightful things I did.

1. Tried veel for the first time and liked it.
2. Went to the top of the Alps and witnessed the beauty of God.
3. Eaten my 20324023048th ham and cheese sandwich
4. Partaken in the most delightful hot chocolate on earth.
5. Slept on the floor of a train station in the Czech Republic.
6. Sang in a Catholic church with a lovely German girl.
7. Shot photographs at a fashion show in Prague. (That’s for real… that happened)
8. Slid into the depths of a salt mine.
9.  Watched the sun rise over Prague.
10. Watched the sun set over Salzburg from a castle at the top of a mountain.
11. Drank the most rank water that can possibly pass as potable.

But seeing as I’m doing nothing exciting except taking tests and studying for quizzes… there are no recent pictures. I’ll give you something old though.

Anyway, tomorrow to Brussels for church.

The day started with a ridiculous train ride. At first it was just us but then 40 Belgians joined us on the train, then 30 more, and then 50 more and then 80 more.  You’re thinking that many people can’t fit on one train.  You’re correct. We didn’t actually fit. 

We arrived in Bruges and went to the Church of Our Lady which holds the Madonna met Kind, the only Michaelangelo sculpture to be removed from Italy during his lifetime. It remains one of the few outside the borders of Italy.  The sculpture alone blew me away with it’s detail and emotion… but then there was the rest of the church. More on that later. 

After lunch my group climbed the 366 stairs to the top of the Belfry.  The stairs were spiral all the way to the top and got continually narrower towards the top until I could barely fit through without turning sideways.  I was pretty sure I was going to die on that staircase, but the top was worth it.  We happened to arrive as the bells were playing at the half hour and we all looked out over the entirety of the city and took pictures. It was beautiful. 

We then proceeded to the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which has the relic of what is said to be some of Jesus Christ’s blood which was brought back from the Crusades.  It is, of course, not Christ’s actual blood. It was incredible though to see the devotion displayed by the people who had traveled either across the city or in some cases across the world to come see what they believed to be Christ’s blood.  As these people approached the altar they would kiss the relic and pray, always maintaining reverence for their Lord while they believed to be in the presence of his sacrifice.  As members of the church we are blessed to be in the presence of Christ’s blood every single week, and we to not revere this time the way we should.  Today, in front of a false relic of what is rumored to be something it is not, I saw bowing, kneeling, kissing, weeping, praying and absolute respect.  Why do we not take the Lord’s Supper this seriously?  Just something to ponder… 

This church, like the one seen earlier in the day was absolutely beautiful. Behind the altar was a mural of Heaven, Jesus on the Cross with his blood running into a fountain of water at which sheep were gathering to drink.  It was so beautiful tears actually ran down my face.  I saw BEAUTIFUL things today.  I pray that you can see such beautiful things in your lifetime.  Go to Bruges. 

Bruges is famous for chocolate and lace. Every other shop is chocolate or lace and not just the regular kind… the really, really awesome kind. Most of the day was spent shopping, which was actually well worth it in a place like Bruges. 

Go to Bruges. 

Anyway we arrived in Aachen and proceeded to the Aachen Cathedral.  It was absolutely beautiful.  The ceiling had this incredible mosaic made of the tiniest ceramic pieces.  It was primarily dark blue and gold and was so incredibly intricate.  The entire ceiling was covered with something.  The octagonal point at the very top of the church had a depiction of the four beasts and the twenty four elders with an amazing candle lit chandelier hanging down.  It was incredible.  There were marble floors and stain glass windows.  This cathedral was just… more than I was used to seeing. 

After leaving the cathedral we had around 4 hours to kill and spent the rest of the time touring the city.  Below is a picture of our “triangles of trust” as Neil calls them.