July 13th, 2014

Well, I've been home a few weeks now and I'm finally starting to settle back into my routine. I had an incredible semester plus I got to travel and I passed all my classes!! I'll update what I've been doing the last month or so when I get the chance but right now I'm relaxing and trying to get back into some sort of schedule. Have a wonderful summer everyone!

June 5th, 2014

So my mom and my younger sister came to visit me here in Liege for the past 10 days. I was so much fun having them here!! We traveled to Luxembourg, Brugge, and Maastricht. On June 1st they went to Paris and Brussels for a few days so I could study for my exams. I loved having them here and I can't wait to return home to see them!

May 22nd, 2014

So I have FINALLY been to Germany!

Today Camille and I went to Cologne, Germany for the day. It was kinda an early start as we took the 8:14 am train. This train was different from the others I have taken as we had assigned seats and assigned trains (whereas all the others you could take any train you wanted really, at an time).

It was a gorgeous day in Cologne. Mom told me that I had to see the Cathedral as St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Stony Plain is modeled somewhat after it. Well as soon as you get out of the train station it is literally right in front of you. You couldn't miss it if you tried, it also helps that its the tallest building in Europe. And I can definitely see the resemblance to St. Matthew's.

Once we arrived in Cologne, we toured the Cathedral and it was gorgeous! Absolutely spectacular, from the stained glass windows to the sheer size of the Cathedral. If you ever have the option to go, definitely see the Cologne Cathedral! Plus there was a choir touring it as well and they sang a few songs, The acoustics were spectacular!

After the Cathedral we walked across the square and got a map from the Visitor Information Centre. When we walked out there was this little green train nearby. It was a tour of the city going to the Chocolate factory and back for 6 euros.

So off to the Chocolate Factory we went! That was incredible too! So much chocolate! Mmmm and I bought lots of Lindt Chocolate to try, like cookies and cream, strawberry cheesecake, and cherry ice cream! Mmmmm!

For lunch we went to a small Italian bistro off the main area (all traditional German food such as bratwurst was WAY too expensive). Camille had pizza and I had spaghetti.

After that we just meandered our way around the city, finding cool shops, handmade candy stores and churches. We even found our way into a circus if you can believe it! It wasn't open but all the tents were set up.

At one point we found our way into a park by the river and it started to rain a little bit so we took shelter under a building overhang... Boy that was a mistake! This group of guys, probably our age, takes shelter there too and they start hitting on us, asking where we were from, if we were single, etc. THEN they started selling/exchanging drugs! It was so scary! This one guy wouldn't leave Camille alone! The instant the rain let up Camille and I got out of there!

Aside from that, the day was a lot of fun. I had Subway for supper, and about two hours before our scheduled departing train, it starts pouring! It gets grey and extremely windy (this coming from someone who lives in Lethbridge) and it rains cats and dogs! So we run into the train station and sit on the platform until our train.

Getting back to Liege was uneventful, but I arrived, put my stuff down, and Franny texts me asking if I want to go out. So instead of studying like I should be, I go out for drinks with her and some other friends until 11:30. Full, fun eventful day. And like I said, Cologne is BEAUTIFUL! and if you ever get the chance to visit, don't pass it up!

May 17th, 2014

So today I had to say my first goodbye of the semester. My friend Emil from Sweden had to return home today after his first semester here in Liege. So last night, Camille, Franny and I went out and celebrated with him his last night here.

We had no-bake chocolate coconut cookies (a Swedish recipe), they tasted almost like mom's Haystacks. Then it was off to the city centre to Le Carre for some bar and club time. We met up with some of Emil's friends and all decided to go on Jams which is a dance club on a boat. No word of a lie! This is a dance club:

It was so much fun, I had this fruit punch stuff (it was a lot stronger than I thought), and we all danced the night away. After the boat, we went back to Le Carre to L'Orange Givree, had some more drinks, then to Bar Carlsberg for more drinks and dancing. By then it was two thirty in the morning so I gave Emil a big hug, told him to let me know when his train was in the morning, and I went back to my apartment.

Today I met up with Emil and Camille at the train station. When we got here, we were all given these red tote bags that say "Mon Erasmus a Liege" (My Erasmus in Liege) so I decided that I want all my new friends so sign it, so I made sure I got Emil to before he left. It was very emotional and tear-filled. It's always hard saying goodbye, especially when you know its the first of many. Before he left, Emil gave me one of his Swedish coins, 5 crowns, for my coin collection, and made me promise to visit him in Stockholm. After Emil's train left, Camille and I went back to the centre to get ice cream before I returned home to finish my paper. Overall, a very sad day.

May 15th, 2014

Hey all, sorry for no blog posts recently, I've basically been doing nothing but studying the past couple of weeks getting ready for exams. I'll post when something happens, other than studying that is!

April 26th, 2014

Happy King’s day everyone! Today some friends and I took the train to Amsterdam to celebrate King’s Day. We took the 9 am train, transferring in Maastricht and Utrecht Centraal, before arriving in Amsterdam. In Maastricht, I bought an orange t-shirt with a crown on it, a headband with a crown on it, and a ribbon to wear in honour of King’s Day (all in orange of course as that’s the colour everyone wears today). 

We basically enjoyed the day, taking part in all the festivities we could. We went on one of the fair rides (a giant swing with an amazing view of the city) and just walked around and took in all the sights, including the “Iamsterdam” sign. 

My favorite part was when we stopped to use the washroom, I went into an “American foods” store and what did I find? Sour Patch Kids, Hamburger Helper, and Kraft Mac’n Cheese! Three of my biggest cravings since coming to Belgium! So of course I bought a package of all of them! I also got a Henna tattoo on my arm.

King’s Day was such a cool experience and they had events and activities for people of all ages. 

April 22nd, 2014

Today was my friend Elena’s birthday. I also received an Easter card from Mom & Dad today with 10 euros to spend on an Easter treat for me. With the money I went and bought myself a bouquet of carnations and I bought Elena a bouquet of roses for her birthday. I caught the bus the Sart Tilman where we drank and ate crepes and had tons of fun before catching the last bus back to the Centre where we went to Le Carré for an hour or so before I went home. Lots of fun