Paris, Birthdays and Speculoos!

A week before I arrived to Belgium, I never expected to spend my first weekend in Paris. It's funny how things work because that is exactly what I did :)
My host family asked my roommates and I if we would like to join them in Paris for the weekend. They had a yoga conference to attend and needed someone to watch the three kids for a couple hours a day. One of my roommates (Julia) and I agreed to go. I would ride in the car with the family and Julia would meet us later after taking the train. So off I went; three children and my host parents, a car full of stuff and no idea what I was going to do. Within an hour of arriving at the apartment we were staying at Marc and Barbara (my host parents) were off to their yoga meeting. I had to take the children to dinner. I stood there wondering how this happened. I never babysit back in the states, I don't speak French (at all...though I am learning!), and I have never been to Paris. This was going to be an adventure. So...we walked down the street and found a McDonalds (very french, I know). We ordered and ate...everything went smoothly. Except Kiki (the three year old) had to go to the bathroom and wouldn't hold it for me so I had to take her to the bathroom. If anyone knows me, they know I HATE bathrooms. She did everything while I tried my best not to touch anything or breath. We survived. Afterward we walked back to the apartment and on the way two of the kids started acting up (they are great kids, but kids will be kids) so we stood there for fifteen minutes while every french person looked at the screaming kids and wondered what this american was doing with children that were speaking french. We finally made it back and the oldest son and I played Monopoly till their parents returned. As I sat there I realized that I was in Paris, a place I never planned on going to, playing monopoly with an eight year old. I had to laugh. I was enjoying myself and I enjoyed the realization that only God's plans really ever work.

Julia arrived around ten and we immediately left for the Eiffel Tower. It was beautiful. Stunning, actually. We sat in the lawn near it and listened to our theme song this semester; "I'm having the time of my life". The weather was perfect and it was just a magical evening.

Saturday morning we hung out in the apartment (a very small apartment filled with stuff from India because the man who let us use it is very into yoga) and then all of us set out for a picnic in Paris! On our drive to the park, Marc hit a motorcyclist. It was the motorcyclist's fault but they still had to fill out the insurance papers. The man landed on his feet, just like a cat. I was impressed with his agility. The motorcycle was brand new though (it didn't even have a kilometer on it) so that kind of stunk but no was hurt.

After the picnic Julia and I were dropped off with the children at the Louvre. Everything was going well; we were taking our pictures and then something happened (I don't know what) and one of the children started screaming and running through the courtyard. I looked up and watched Julia chase the child back and forth as I stayed with the other two. Julia finally caught the child and held him while he screamed. Everyone stared as and even one of the sellers came up and gave us miniature Eiffel Towers. It was awful. But then things settled down and we made a goal to see the real Eiffel Tower! Everyone was excited to see the real thing so we set off on a walk from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower. We walked through parks, had good ice cream and got stuck in the rain more than once. But we arrived! Relieved, we walked underneath it....but Kiki had to go to the bathroom so I had to take her. She had to go so badly that five people let us cut them or else we would have had an accident. The bathroom was gross so I had to hold her but we both survived. We all took our pictures in front of the Tower and waited till Marc and Barbara arrived (Julia snapped a picture of me sitting in the stroller because I was so exhausted). It was a beautiful place to be.

Julia and I decided to celebrate my 21st birthday in Paris! So we dressed up and left for the Arc de Triomphe ! We climbed that and saw the sunset over Paris. Again, stunning. We then headed to the Eiffel Tower. On our way we decided that we needed dinner so we stopped at this place and looked at a sign and as were doing so this Australian came up and said to us "They say this is the city of romance, but I have found nothing but puddles of urine and gypsies that want to rob me." I couldn't help but laugh. Is that supposed to be a pick up line?! We talked a little but Julia and I decided to leave so I told him it was nice talking to him but we were leaving. He responded that it wasn't nice talking to him or else we would have stayed. It was quite funny.

We finally found crepes and sat in view of the Tower. Music was playing and everyone was out, seeing the beauty of the Eiffel Tower at night. We decided we would make our way to the top! But when we got there the line was too long so we went to the shorter and cheaper line that had you climb the first two levels. Against our wills (because we had walked and climbed stairs all day long) we set out to the top! The security guard stopped me to check my bad and said "You look like barbie, have a nice time barbie." I was not sure what he meant by that. I, for one, do not look like barbie. I am proportional. As we were climbing it, the tower started flashing (at every hour it lights up and is even brighter). The top was magnificent, we could see the entire city and I really enjoyed just being on top of one of the world's most famous structures.

On Sunday Julia and I toured the city! We wanted to see where the Bastille was (because every history class talks about the French Revolution) so we walked to where we thought it was but we couldn't find it. So we asked a tour booth and they said it was destroyed two hundred years ago. Well, that didn't make me feel stupid or anything. They then asked where we were from. I'm sure the thought "stupid americans" went through their heads more than once. So, after feeling ridiculous, we walked along the Seine to the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I posed as a hunchback in front of it. I couldn't resist. It was a beautiful building but one thing I always struggle with is why there are such huge churches. Shouldn't we be using the money to help the poor and be Jesus to the world? It's something that I really struggle with when I see such magnificent buildings. Also, the fact that it is 850 years old just baffles me. How many millions of people have walked through there and touched the walls? Or prayed? Or offered alms. It is a surreal feeling.

The day was lovely, the food delicious and I was beyond happy to be spending my birthday weekend in Paris with my wonderful roommate. Sure, we got lost and ended up in some sketchy neighborhoods and had some interesting encounters, but I wouldn't trade my trip to Paris anything.

For my birthday my roommates (Julia and Erica) and I went out and got Belgium waffles for lunch. They had class so I went out exploring and came upon the cutest park where I journaled and read my bible. It will definitely  be my quiet place. I was able to skype with my parents and open my present that is a french/english bible with my name engraved on it. It is the perfect gift for me here. Julia and I grabbed a sandwich and headed out to meet two of my friends but somehow we couldn't meet up (I still don't have a cell phone) so Julia and I went downtown and she bought me Speculoos ice cream. It is amazing. It tastes like ginger cookies but better. We ran into some americans and they wished me a happy birthday but reminded me that no one in Europe cares about the 21st birthday. We can home and had some soup with Erica, Marc and Barbara and they gave me a jar of Speculoos for my birthday (the kitchen was decorated too). It is my favorite spread. I snuck it up to my attic to each with my croissant for lunch.

I then ended the day by skyping two of my best friends from home; Amy and Meghan. And my sister and I got to skype! It was a wonderful day. The weekend was amazing, my birthday was amazing and I was just reminded all day (in person and via computer) how blessed I am to know such wonderful people. I have a journal that my mom put together that has a letter from someone for each day that I'm here. It is such a blessing to me. I had plenty of birthday wishes written down in the journal. I'm so loved :)

I love birthdays because it is like New Years; a fresh start. Who knows what can happen in the next year. When I turn 22, what will I say of the last year? It gives me chills to think of who I will meet, what I will do and how I will serve God. I know he has big plans for me, I just can't to see what they are!

Do you not see it?!

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?"
Isaiah 43:19




So it is 11:50pm in Brussels, Belgium and I sit here in my attic extremely happy. The last couple of days have been filled with exhaustion and uneasiness. I knew the transition to a new country wouldn't be easy so I had braced myself for it; however, that does not exactly make it any easier. The last couple of days have been good, just rough. So last night ,after crying, I made up my mind that things were going to be different. I was going to suck it up and make things better today.


Well, God is good. Today could not have been any better. I started off the day going downtown with my roommate to buy my metro ticket. She was off to an interview so when I made it to the clerk's station, I was left alone with a french phrase and a pep talk. I walked in, worked my magic (if you can call screwing up "good morning sir", magic). But it all went well! So, feeling like I could conquer the world because I had just purchased a metro ticket, I rode the metro home. Jubilation. I unlocked the door, ran upstairs and celebrated with owl city and gummy worms.


I had my internship interview with ECRAAL; an organization that works with non-European actors and incorporates them into the European sector. I was excited to not only have an interview but to get there on my own (something that has eluded me the last couple of days). However, when I arrived, the entire building was under construction and I had to go through the car garage to get to the eighth floor. A business man was sitting in the middle of the garage with his desk and computer. We both just looked at each other as I wondered what in the world he was doing. In the end he pointed me up a shifty staircase. Long story short, I found the right place (miraculously), talked with this amazing organization and they told me they wanted me.


It is simply amazing because I was praying so hard for this internship. I'll be studying Africa, attending conferences and helping this small organization tell the EU what it needs to change. I'm beyond excited and beyond grateful to God for this opportunity!


I ate dinner with my host family and went downtown with my roommate to celebrate both of us having internships (!!!!). It is so beautiful downtown Brussels. I really can't describe it. The most beautiful part of the evening was at the top of a car garage, overlooking the city. Stunning.


I'm so blessed. I can't believe I have this opportunity to live here and get to know not only the city but the people in it. The verse I began this post with is just something that has been on my heart and on my mind. As I flew on the airplane, as I arrived at my new house, as I went to orientation a small it was just a small reminder. "Don't you see what I'm about to do?! Don't you see how I'll use something new?! It has already begun!" I pray that God uses this time, this semester, to make his master plan perfect.