House Hunter's International - Part 1

A couple of weeks ago, Chris and I finally made our way back to Serbia! After a year abroad, Subotica, Serbia had become our first European "home," and the sleepy city had found a way into the repertoire of our story. Our time in Serbia changed us so much that it is hard to put the lessons into meaningful words and sentences. I know that we will always remember our time in Serbia with fondness and deep gratitude. Over one too many cups of coffee, our group of friends said goodbye to us by focusing on the memories we had created in Subotica. The year had been full of picnics on Lake Palic, themed dinner parties, football and Frisbee games, sunny bike rides, family Slavas, and cultural home-cooked dinners. When Chris and I moved to Belgium in September of 2012, we promised our Serbian family that we would come back to visit as often as work and money allowed.

The truth is, the first six months in Belgium passed quickly. Transitioning into life in Belgium took longer than I had initially expected, and Chris' job proved very busy. I still feel like I am in a state of transition here, but I'm slowly finding my place and purpose in this new world. Getting back to Serbia was like a breath of fresh air - it felt like I was going home and waiting anxiously at familiar coffee shops for friendly arms to wrap me in a warm embrace. I remembered first stepping foot on the Korzo (main walking street) in Subotica, every face was the face of a stranger and every coffee shop was unfamiliar and new. What a difference one year in a new world can make, and how easily we can adapt if we allow ourselves to live openly and transparently. 

So, for a few short days, we were back in Serbia, and it felt so good! We initially planned the trip for work, but after the trip was planned, we had a second reason for returning to our first European "home." I had received an email asking if we were interested in being on an episode of the American hit TV show: House Hunter's International. Initially I thought the email was a scam, but I replied anyway out of curiosity. Long story short, it was not a scam at all! An assistant producer for the TV show found our blog and liked our little story about transition from America to Serbia and then again to Belgium. They wanted to join us in Serbia to film the back story of what our life had been like there for the first year. For an entire day, Chris and I were followed around by a film crew of three. It was so fun because we were able to include our friends in the filming shenanigans. We all felt like movie stars for a day! We drank coffee at our favorite cafes, took casual walks up and down the Korzo and at the end of the day, we all enjoyed a traditional Serbian meal at Dibonis Winery; and the whole while we were being filmed. 

We still have to film our main story for the show in Belgium, but our first day of filming in Serbia seemed to go well. Chris and I slowly got over the nervous jitters of being in front of the camera, and we settled into simply enjoying our dear friends from Serbia. My deepest desire is that the American audience will see the beauty of Serbia, the hospitality of her people, and the resilience of the human spirit rather than the broken sidewalks and the crumbling buildings. We truly treasured our time in Serbia, and I hope that the House Hunter's International episode about us highlights those special moments in our Serbian chapter. 

Thanks for reading and keeping in touch! Once all of the filming is done, and we know when our episode will be in TV, we will post the details on the blog. 

Most of the pictures below are of our filmed dinner at Dibonis Winery in Subotica, Serbia. 

Remembrance Day in Roeselare, Belgium

As May 4th approached, the city of Roeselare started preparing for an event. The center of the city (de Grote Markt - or Large Market) was emptied of cars, and food carts, bistro tables and stadium seating filled the vacated spots. I asked the owner of Cafe Mustache (our favorite little bar here) about the upcoming event, and he mentioned that May 4 was a day of remembrance. He also casually stated that bands from all over this region would play during the event. 

Silly me! I had such a blond moment! I heard "bands" and instantly thought drums, guitars, and catchy beats. Naturally, I passed the misunderstanding onto my dear Hubby. Chris and I walked into the Grote Markt with absolutely no idea what day was being "remembered" and expecting to hear local rock "bands" from around the region. The "bands" were not there for entertainment, but rather they were marching bands playing tributes to the memory of fallen soldiers. 

We were a bit confused about May 4th considering Remembrance Day or Memorial Day is celebrated in November in several countries including Belgium and America. I decided to ask a man wearing paratropper fatigues and standing next to a large US army vehicle. Turns out he wasn't American but rather a Belgian army-vehicle-enthusiast/mechanic who had purchased the American war truck and restored it. He informed us that May 4th is a day to remember the soldiers who were lost in World War II, and that similar events were taking place all over the Netherlands and Belgium.

We watched some of the memorial proceedings from a nearby terrace, and as we walked home, we were stopped by a tall man in an ink covered lab coat. He gripped a bright yellow watering pail in one hand as he hurriedly asked me a question in Dutch. Chris and I are now pros at saying (in Dutch), "I am so sorry, we are learning Dutch so can you repeat that slowly?" Without missing a beat, the tall man repeated his question, this time, in English. We learned that it was his bachelor party, and today was the day that his friends did everything possible to humiliate him. His mates had filled the yellow watering can with beer, and he was instructed to get as many signatures as possible on his white lab coat. Chris and I agreed to sign our names on the coat until the bachelor mentioned that a kiss must accompany every signature. Chris was instantly uninterested, so I kissed the bachelor twice, made it into several pictures, and signed both "Lana" and "Chris" on his silly get-up. 

All in all, it was a day of new discoveries in Roeselare, Belgium. We now know that May 4th is a significant day of remembrance, and Bachelor parties are quite embarrassing in Belgium. I know that it is not called a "bachelor party" here, but I cannot remember the correct word in Dutch for the day before your wedding. Can anyone remind me? Maybe leave a comment for us! Thanks!

 

 Pics 1 - 3 the memorial marching bands //  pics 4 - 7 the Belgian mechanic who had fixed up a US army truck // pic 8 - spectators and a model of Roeselare // pic 9 - the lucky bachelor.

Back at It!

Well, hello there friends and family!

I almost forgot how to post on my own blog! I've been away a little too long! Oops-y-daisy! My mother phoned up the other day and said, "Honey, is everything okay? I have been checking your blog every single morning, and you've been slacking. Are you certain that everything's peachy-keen over there?" 

{Mom's are just the best aren't they?!}

Mom's comment got me thinking - is everything indeed "fine" in our expat-adventure? Contrary to what our mothers may think, we have not been away on an exotic month-long holiday, we're not pulling our hair out because of another sudden move, and fortunately we aren't rotting away in a foreign prison. We're still living in the quaint Belgian city of Roeselare, and we're enjoying the sweet (and slow) transition of winter turning into spring. Life is starting to feel a little more normal these days, and maybe that's partly why I haven't posted a whole lot recently. While there are still a million things to explore in our new world, I have been doing my very best to soak up the moments and enjoy BEING where I am. 

I am also being forced to learn a bit more about patience. Hard, but perhaps necessary, lessons. 

The past several months have been a whirlwind of emotions for me. In short, after living in Belgium for only two weeks, I was offered a part-time job at an adorable coffee shop! I was over the moon excited about the opportunity! The owner wanted to introduce me to her friends, help me integrate into life in belgium, and aid me in learning Dutch. It seemed the perfect fit - until I remembered that I am not an EU citizen. Just a small detail. I had no idea how taxing the whole waiting-for-a-visa-process would be. 

To be fair, since Chris has a work visa though his company, I was able to quickly receive my residency visa based on his status. It still took five months, which to me was not "quick" at all. I think this is where the lessons in patience started to kick in. Needless to say, things had to fall through with the coffee shop - the owner just couldn't wait those five months for me to get legal. She's still my dearest friend in Belgium, and while I'm not working with her, I still spend a lot of time using the WiFi and drinking coffee at her cafe. 

So when that fell through, I started focusing on tutoring and volunteering. I currently have three students that I give English lessons to, and I absolutely love seeing them every week! I volunteer on my schedule and that has been a great fit! At the end of January, Chris and I started language lessons, and that has also brought some sort of structure and purpose to my week. In fact, we are almost through our first year of Dutch lessons! How is it already May, 2013?! Naturally, Chris is the teachers pet - mainly because he comes up with clever answers to each of her questions, and he gets a 100% on every single test (without studying), and he's just freaking handsome! The (female) teacher can't help but adore him! Should I be concerned here?

We also joined the local gym in town. Now that the weather is getting better and we can use the running trail right outside our front door, I wonder if we're wasting our money with a gym membership. At least we both know that we have the gym as an option as well as the running trail when weather permits. 

So, how are we, really? Are we "fine"? To answer that question, I have to say that we couldn't be better. I know that Chris and I are exactly where we need to be. That being said, it has been challenging trying to work in a country that is not my own. Thankfully Chris has a good job, and I'm not forced to work in order to have food in the house. I am just personally ready to begin working and putting my Dutch lessons to good use. At this very moment, I have another job offer that would be a wonderful fit, but again, I'm waiting for permission to work in Belgium. It has been a lengthy, legal process that I am ready to see come to an end. So, even when things don't seem to go my way, I am choosing joy. I am trying to be patient. I am learning to just BE.

"When you love what you have, you have everything you need." 

{- I love this quote, but I'm not sure who it's from!}

Ohhhh, yeah - we also just finished filming for House Hunters International! I guess that has taken up a lot of our time as well! Stay tuned for more stories about that whole process! What an experience!

Below are just a few pics that were taken over the past two months. I took a day-trip to Paris with four friends, we had two visitors come in for a visit over the Easter weekend and we toured Ghent with them, and we were invited to experience The Tour of Flanders with a group of friends from Roeselare. 

As always, thanks for reading and I hope that you have chosen to live in joy today.  

Pic 1 - spending a rainy day in Paris with some wonderful friends // pic 2 & 3 - in Ghent Belgium with our out of town friends // pic 4 - Chris with the Flanders flag at the beginning of the Tour of Flanders bike race // pic 5 - carting the adult beverages around for the Tour of Flanders viewing // pic 6 - people just open their garages, show the race and sell beer and food. Not sure this could every fly in America, but we loved it! // pic 7 - me and the ladies waiting for the bike riders to pass by // pic 8 - the leaders at the halfway mark. The race was 280 km! // pic 9 - the rest of the riders. 

Our First Serbian Visitors!

Marko and Lela on the shopping street in Roeselare, Belgium. 

Remember Marko and Lela from Subotica, Serbia? They were our first friends in Serbia and they sort of adopted us into their big group of friends. Looking back on our year in Serbia, I don't remember feeling seriously homesick (except for when my first little nephew was born), and I know that Marko, Lela, and the community that they invited us into, were the reason we so easily adapted to our first home abroad. Chris and I truly feel that we have a grasp on the history and culture of Serbia because we were treated almost as locals for an entire year. Six months ago, we left Serbia, and through tear-filled goodbyes, Marko and Lela promised that they would come visit once we settled into our new home in Belgium . . . 

Well, they came through on their promise! We had Marko and Lela to ourselves for a whole five days! Chris and I were so excited to simply just be with them again and to share bits and pieces of our new adventure with them. Of course we made them sample all sorts of chocolates, cakes, waffles, frites (fries), and specialty Belgian beers. We took them to our favorite restaurants and cafes in Roeselare, and I will include those pictures in the next blog. 

Thank you Marko and Lela for making the trip to come and visit! In two short weeks, we will be back in Serbia for a quick work trip and a few days spent with you and the rest of the crew from Subotica! 

Pic #1 - Marko and Lela on the shopping street in Roeselare / #2 - Chris and Marko and Chris' favorite beer Westmalle / #3 - Me and Lela at Creme de la Crema in Roeselare / #4-5 - Marko loved the chocolate and cake shops in Belgium . . . can you tell Easter is coming? / #6 - 8 - spending time in Bruges / #9 - the friets are the best in Bruges Grote Markt / #10 - goodnight Bruges

Salzburg, Austria {Gondola Ride}

All the boys crammed into the Gondola in Salzburg, Austria. 

This post is a continuation of that one time I crashed "guy's weekend." 

{and . . . It may not be the last time because I had a blast}

After we broke the rules at Neuschwanstein Castle, our big group piled into the borrowed "mom-van" and headed for Salzburg. Now, that is one stunning city! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't exactly cooperating on our first morning in town, so Reece decided we should try to get above the clouds by visiting Untersberg, the highest mountain next to the city. 

About 15 minutes after leaving Salzburg, we pulled into the Untersberg gondola parking lot. The Alps loomed all around us, but heavy clouds interrupted our upward views. We paid 20 Euros per person, pushed ourselves onto a crowded gondola, and silently prayed that the angry clouds would disappear once we reached the summit. A dense white fog obstructed our view for most of the 10-minute gondola ride, but just as we summited, the sun appeared and the sky was the most magnificent shade of blue! Suddenly we felt a burst of energy and a lightness of spirit. It's amazing what a little sunshine can do for  you, eh?!

We spent a good three hours on top of the world (well, at least it felt that way). Of course I took a million pictures, we dodged skiers, Chris rolled around in the snow getting some awesome GoPro footage, we ran up and down steep mountains of snow and enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine. Oh, and there was even a shirtless male photo shoot going on up there! Obviously, I got in on that action Just kidding (sort of), it was just our friend, Stu. He got hot after an uphill hike, so it seemed a good remedy to remove his jacket and sweater. I mean, makes sense, right? We all had a good laugh as he started posing so that I could snap a few pics for his girlfriend back in Kentucky. Needless to say, she had never been more proud to claim Stu as her man!

Enjoy a few pictures and I hope it's finally warming up wherever you are! Today it snowed again in Roeselare, Belgium! I thought Spring was almost here?! Hurry up SPRING!