The Organized Chaos Begins

Hello all! 

Sorry it has been so long, I should really work on writing everyday or else it all jumbles together.

As you may have seen from my 300+ photos I have been traveling quite a bit! Two weeks ago we had our first trip out of Belgium with the program where we travelled to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, then to Trier, Germany, then to Maastricht, Netherlands, and Bastogne+other Belgian cities in between.

In Luxembourg we had the immense pleasure of visiting the Court of Justice of the European Union, it was incredibly interesting visit in a beautiful building. Afterwards we attended an event with some Fulbright scholars who had converged in Luxembourg from all over Europe.

After COJ we did a lot of walking too around Luxembourg, truly beautiful city. Here is one of my favorite shots from a top of a citadel. 

In Trier I could barely pay attention to all of the history because I was SO excited to see my family that evening but it was an incredible day tour. We went all around town, had a brat and sauerkraut (of course), and traveled to a roman amphitheater & roman baths -- I took a lot of pictures but here are a few of my favorites. 

That evening in Trier I got to be with my Valentine early! Mr. Van (my beloved godson) and his most amazing parents, my godfather Carey and the wonderful Coco (who by the way is pregnant and looks hott)  took me out to dinner and spoiled me with valentines presents and just their love. I honestly couldn't have been happier to see them, before I even had the chance to get homesick ;). 

Being with them reminded me so much of how amazing of an adventure I am and also just reminded me how happy life is, seriously these three are some of the happiest people in the entire world and I'm so so so excited to see them loving it here! My trip to Frankfurt at the end of my program to see them is sure to be great--and who knows! Maybe I'll be there to witness the fab three turn into a fab four! 

We travelled next through Bastogne and sites memorializing WW2 specifically the battle of the bulge. I think my photos speak volumes more than I can about how it felt to be there and honor my grandfather who was part of the 101st airborne. 

And if you thought I was getting de-sensitized to how incredible all these places are you're so wrong because I'm absolutely in love with the next place we went. Maastricht, Netherlands. Not only is it an incredible city with beautiful sights, there are caves (yes they were awesome and had bats). I made a few friends there and had an incredible time exploring the city. Hopefully I will go back soon! 

After this trip we spent the day traveling back to Brussels and stopping at a few places along the way I will never forget. Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium as well as the remember museum. I have yet to put these photos up on facebook so here's some teasers. 

This concluded our trip and upon returning to Brussels I slept very very much.

Aside from this classes have been great, we've had two tests so far and I'm doing well (knock-on wood), really enjoying all of my studies and becoming even more interested in European political dynamics. My internship in incredible as well, although I was sick last week I'm bouncing back and loving doing photography/writing/everything in between for them, also the cafe in our building is excellent. Here's a link to one of the pieces I wrote up/the photo I took. Click here!

This weekend I left the schengen area! Don't get me wrong I loved the benelux trip but it was great to travel to the land of english (english english), fish & chips, pints, and incredible history. Not to mention where a few of my great friends are studying & my godmother lived. I had the most incredible time and it was freakishly sunny so THANK YOU London and especially Alex Citron for taking me to the most INCREDIBLE lunch on the 32nd floor and Kim Vidal for hosting me & cuddling & showing me everywhere. 

Oh and, I'm still so incredibly happy. I miss my family so much, and my friends, and I feel it. But I love it here, love love love it. I wish I could share moments with you all, but I wouldn't trade this for the world. Thank you again to everyone who got me here--seriously, so blessed and I don't let a day go by without reminding myself of this. 

Looking forward: spending the weekend in Brussels! Hopefully will get to do a bit more of sightseeing and pretending I actually live in the city I do instead of traveling constantly and will finally get to do some running. Then next week we will be traveling to the Hauge/Amsterdam. Hope all of you reading this are just as happy as I am, and if you aren't message me and I will cheer you up because I likely love you more than you could possibly know :) Have a great week -- until next time. 

I don't know where this journey will end, but I know where it starts.

Brussels, I love you.

It happened so fast, at first lust, infatuation, and desire: being here has lived up to every expectation. Every little corned, street, area I explore, I'm absolutely fascinated and adore every second I am here. I already know I'll be heartbroken to leave.

What is most surprising to me is how happy I am. So happy. I can't emphasize this enough. You know when you start feeling like you're just trudging through life, watching yourself from a birds-eye view, going through the motions? Yea, that.... but the exact opposite. It was like as soon as I got here everything just warped into this entirely illuminated and spectacular world. Yes I know what you're thinking--this is because you're visiting, your traveling, it's your first time there it's different. It's temporary. You are so very correct. But who cares? I am enjoying my time so much, and I think that's how it should be right? You should just say yes, and feel awkward and uncomfortable and most importantly oblivious, that's all part of the adventure.

I say this now, because I'm not quite sure where I'll be the next time I write, but the next few months are going to be insane. If I'm bad at communicating--this is your warning. It's going to go by so fast so I'm trying by best to take a deep breath and enjoy while I can.

In case your wondering what the next months will hold here's a rough draft (my personal travel plans pending).

In this order Leuven, Antwerp, Ghent, Maastricht,Trier, Luxembourg, London, Paris, The Haage [Netherlands], Amsterdam, Berlin, The Balkans [really, I don't even know exactly where], Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Munich, Frankfurt.

So the middle of all that is a bit muddled and deeply optimistic... I should probably try to figure out how to work Dublin in there. Or Paris twice. I also probably missed a few, so don't think I'm a liar when I start blogging from somewhere in Poland or something. But like the title says, I'm not quite sure where this journey will end but I know where it will start (here in Brussels). I guess I lied again though because my flight is out of Frankfurt to go back to the states, so I do know where it ends... literally. I guess what I'm saying I don't know where I will be mentally/emotionally by the end of all of this. I really just wish it didn't have to end. Although I miss so much from home. I have a strange feeling this is just the beginning of something.

Any issues with the next many years of my life consisting of spontaneous travel and an AWOL Victoria please defer to my mom because she started it. Who knows maybe I can join her on her next adventure.

Back to the point. My friends here are brilliant. Truly, each and every person on the program is so unique and intellectual, interesting, and dynamic in their own way. They all have such passion and personalities, it's so nice to be able to have people here who understand exactly what you are feeling. Shout out to the little blonde you've likely been seeing in my pictures, Bethany, who's not only stunning but so incredibly kind, she is definitely my partner in crime, also we're dating. Yes I know it's less of an "immersion" but it's perfect. And, I'm learning so much, our classes are going full speed ahead (AKA two hour econ lectures that I'm having to re-read over and over) and I truly did not expect to be this invested and interested in the political workings of the EU... Council, Commission, Parliament, and wait for it LAW. That was for you Alex, incase you couldn't tell. <3

Food update, I love beer. But really it's great. I'm teasing. Am I? My host family cooks the most incredible food for me I don't even know how to describe it--it's just the best food always. I have been so welcomed here and am so happy to be here.

So, thank you for taking the time to read me rant, if you've gotten this far you likely love me and are a wonderful individual and I'm likely missing you right now. I will try to post again soon. So much love from Brussels.

I leave you off with a photo of the quite and delightful commune (that really just means area) I like in called Wezembeek. It's quite charming. Bisous