Hey Everyone,
The last few weeks have raced by and I am presently writing from an apartment in Paris that my family has rented for the week.
I am done with Liege! Cue sad music!
Moving out of my kot really made it strike home that my exchange is done and it is back to real life and my real degree.
Unfortunately, that's all for now. I apologize for such a short teaser end post but I am running on 3 hours of sleep and would like to give this one more thought. Gotta be thorough!
Love to you all and stay tuned for the biggie end post,
Jacqueline
Friday 23 December 2011
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Liège Grenade & Gunfire Attacks
Hey Guys,
As most of you have probably heard by now, today Liège experienced a pretty devastating attack that left 4 dead and 75 injured. Although the details seem to keep changing ever few minutes and there is no consensus between news sources, the CBC story is the most accurate as far as details I have learned. Read the story and see the pictures for yourself.
CBC - Belgian Grenade Attack
As far as I know, everyone I know is safe and sound. A friend of mine was working out in a gym that is located just 50m away from where the attack occurred but otherwise it appears most people were still at the university or safely at their homes.
My apartment is just far enough away and on a loud enough street that I didn't hear the grenades or the gunfire. Kiersten could hear the gunfire though and we all bore witness to the dozens and dozens of emergency vehicles. My street got overwhelmed with rerouted vehicles as the Liège police shut down the city center.
I think about all the times I've walked through that area and just feel a chill run down my spine. In fact, I was there yesterday at the exact time the attacks happened today. Oi.
Yesterday Max and I had made plans to short cut across Place Saint Lambert today to go do interval training on the Montagne de Bueren. He got delayed this morning and our time got pushed back to 1:30 pm as a result. Our original running time would have put us within the same hour as the attacks. I reiterate - Oi.
Enough close calls really makes you wonder when your time is coming.
Here is my relative location to everything that happened today:
The worst part was just hearing all the rumors. At one point people were saying there were three gun men roaming around as close as Point B.
Love to each and every one of you,
Jacqueline
As most of you have probably heard by now, today Liège experienced a pretty devastating attack that left 4 dead and 75 injured. Although the details seem to keep changing ever few minutes and there is no consensus between news sources, the CBC story is the most accurate as far as details I have learned. Read the story and see the pictures for yourself.
CBC - Belgian Grenade Attack
As far as I know, everyone I know is safe and sound. A friend of mine was working out in a gym that is located just 50m away from where the attack occurred but otherwise it appears most people were still at the university or safely at their homes.
My apartment is just far enough away and on a loud enough street that I didn't hear the grenades or the gunfire. Kiersten could hear the gunfire though and we all bore witness to the dozens and dozens of emergency vehicles. My street got overwhelmed with rerouted vehicles as the Liège police shut down the city center.
I think about all the times I've walked through that area and just feel a chill run down my spine. In fact, I was there yesterday at the exact time the attacks happened today. Oi.
Yesterday Max and I had made plans to short cut across Place Saint Lambert today to go do interval training on the Montagne de Bueren. He got delayed this morning and our time got pushed back to 1:30 pm as a result. Our original running time would have put us within the same hour as the attacks. I reiterate - Oi.
Enough close calls really makes you wonder when your time is coming.
Here is my relative location to everything that happened today:
- The grenade attacks happened at Point C - Place Saint Lambert which is 1.3 km (10 minute walk) away.
- Rumors said that gunfire occurred at Point B - Place Saint Paul which is 600 m (4 minute walk) away.
 |
| Note the scale and how zoomed in we are... |
Love to each and every one of you,
Jacqueline
Thursday 8 December 2011
My Love Affair with Germany (December 2-3, 2011)
Hello Friends and Family,
I have a confession. I'm cheating on all of you. With Germany.
It started off as a mild interest in the people of the nation and has now bloomed into a full emotional affair complete with weekend flings in foreign cities.
It breaks down into two features:
- I am head over heels with the German people on exchange with me
- I am head over heels with the German language
Strange I know. People always comment on the harsh nature of the German language but believe me when I say it is absolutely beautiful and misunderstood. In fact, I am presently learning as much as possible in my spare time. In regards to the people, out of all the nationalities I have met it is the Germans who mirror Canadians the most in values and world view. Maybe it is just the ones I have had exposure to but I am convinced that Canada was secretly founded by Germany and not France or England (who are both so silly).
Back to the point.
Tina, my favorite German and frequent running partner, needed to go to Frankfurt to check out an apartment for her upcoming 6 month internship. I wanted to officially spend time in Germany (having only passed through its airport and trains) and make a pit stop at the Baha'i House of Worship. Et voila. Two weeks later I found myself in Germany.
I have a confession. I'm cheating on all of you. With Germany.
It started off as a mild interest in the people of the nation and has now bloomed into a full emotional affair complete with weekend flings in foreign cities.
It breaks down into two features:
- I am head over heels with the German people on exchange with me
- I am head over heels with the German language
Strange I know. People always comment on the harsh nature of the German language but believe me when I say it is absolutely beautiful and misunderstood. In fact, I am presently learning as much as possible in my spare time. In regards to the people, out of all the nationalities I have met it is the Germans who mirror Canadians the most in values and world view. Maybe it is just the ones I have had exposure to but I am convinced that Canada was secretly founded by Germany and not France or England (who are both so silly).
Back to the point.
Tina, my favorite German and frequent running partner, needed to go to Frankfurt to check out an apartment for her upcoming 6 month internship. I wanted to officially spend time in Germany (having only passed through its airport and trains) and make a pit stop at the Baha'i House of Worship. Et voila. Two weeks later I found myself in Germany.
Monday 5 December 2011
Sushi, Crepes, Village du Noel, Fernando's 22nd, Camillo's 25th, & Saint Nicholas ESN
Hello One and All!
As can be expected, now that we are nearing the end of exchange and have managed to actually solidify some friendships, the invitations for dinner parties and birthdays keep rolling in. In the last week and a half I have attended a homemade sushi night (hosted by an Italian and a German) that was followed by wandering the Christmas Market, a Spanish birthday party (where the host insisted on cooking everything himself), a homemade crepe night (where the French host made crepes for 40 people and hosted us all in his bedroom), a Brazilian birthday party (hosted for a friend by two Polish) and a secret Santa-esque/Saint Nicholas night.
It has just been so phenomenal getting to know all the different cultural traditions and trying all the different dishes. What I would give to get this kind of experience back home on a regular basis!
As can be expected, now that we are nearing the end of exchange and have managed to actually solidify some friendships, the invitations for dinner parties and birthdays keep rolling in. In the last week and a half I have attended a homemade sushi night (hosted by an Italian and a German) that was followed by wandering the Christmas Market, a Spanish birthday party (where the host insisted on cooking everything himself), a homemade crepe night (where the French host made crepes for 40 people and hosted us all in his bedroom), a Brazilian birthday party (hosted for a friend by two Polish) and a secret Santa-esque/Saint Nicholas night.
It has just been so phenomenal getting to know all the different cultural traditions and trying all the different dishes. What I would give to get this kind of experience back home on a regular basis!
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| Sushi at Martina & Marco's :) |
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