Our son began Belgian Kindgarten on Monday, it's their equivalent of pre-school. He was ready to go to school in the morning, he let me wash his face and brush his teeth without all the theatrics that usually go along with those tasks. He even let me spike his hair! No problems going into class, he was ready to play and meet new friends.
When I went to pick him up, he was playing just fine. We got his lunchbox and backpack and left for the day. I asked him how his day was. He told me, "It was bad. The teacher messed up my hair." OK, I'll ask something else. "How was everything else? Did you get to play outside?" "No, I didn't." "Tell me something good about school today." "The teacher messed up my hair and I don't speak French." Well, gee, that is a problem, I thought. I figured that school would finally be the time and place that he realized that no everyone spoke the same language as he does, as we do. Both my husband and I have talked to him about this. When we're in the store, or on the train and he starts talking to random people and kids, and they just look at him and us. They're not understanding. He hasn't picked up on that, until school.
Today was the second day of school, and it went better. He told me that he doesn't speak French, but that's ok for now. He also had gymnastics today. That was a big hit. Now, if only the teacher could stay on her schedule and get them outside for recess, he might be a happier boy.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Giants of Ath
Today we went to the parade in Ath for their Festival of Giants. http://www.shape2day.com/giants.aspx The region of Belgium that we live in has some great Giant folklore, and their multi-day festival celebrates it. We went for the parade today, that is more secular. There is also a religious one in the afternoon and there was the fight of David and Goliath yesterday.
Ath is very close to us, and we figured that this would be a family friendly environment compared to some other festivals that are more popular with the high school/college/young soldier crowd. It was just spectacular. It "started" about 15 minutes late, and took quite a long time. There were about 8 giants in the parade, each had a float accompanying it and its own band. Not a huge parade by any stretch, but not in a hurry either. We were there for almost 2.5 hours and walked to the end of the parade route so we could see the end of it. The last giant was a horse, probably 15 feet at its back, and 4 young kids, kindergarten age, were riding atop of it, as it spun around and danced. So awesome. That was the best part of the parade, that and all the cute elderly people in the bands.
I was amazed at the bands, ages ranging from 5-85 and many marching in wooden shoes. One band was made up entirely of people over 65 at the youngest. They were great. They played many songs that the crowd knew, and one that we did, Roll Out the Barrel. Everyone was having a great time listening to them, and even though the parade route was slow, they looked like they were enjoying themselves as well. A few of the bands had young kids playing, it had to be a very long day for them, carrying around their instruments. They looked much more exhausted than their 80 year old counterparts.
After we walked to the end to see the last of the parade, we went in search of where the fabulous smells were coming from. For an hour or so, we were smelling grilled sausages or onions or something wonderful. My fear, since we've been here, is eating horse. That was in my mind as we went looking for the smells, "Please don't let it be cheval." Nope, plain old sausage, with grilled onions and sauerkraut. The meat is good, but then they serve it in these great buns, almost like a baguette. The ketchup is also spectacular, like real squeezed tomatoes. None of the artificial taste like ours. Of course, what would any gather of Belgians be without beer? Actually, I will probably fall down in amazement if we ever go to any Belgian anything without beer. It's the beverage you have with lunch and dinner, of course you have to have it at a parade at 10:00am on a Sunday.
The Festival of Giants d'Ath was amazing. I will gladly go again next year, unless it interferes with the other huge festival in the area, Tanks in Town. THAT will be a MUST next year. Dad and Son want to ride on the tanks!
Ath is very close to us, and we figured that this would be a family friendly environment compared to some other festivals that are more popular with the high school/college/young soldier crowd. It was just spectacular. It "started" about 15 minutes late, and took quite a long time. There were about 8 giants in the parade, each had a float accompanying it and its own band. Not a huge parade by any stretch, but not in a hurry either. We were there for almost 2.5 hours and walked to the end of the parade route so we could see the end of it. The last giant was a horse, probably 15 feet at its back, and 4 young kids, kindergarten age, were riding atop of it, as it spun around and danced. So awesome. That was the best part of the parade, that and all the cute elderly people in the bands.
I was amazed at the bands, ages ranging from 5-85 and many marching in wooden shoes. One band was made up entirely of people over 65 at the youngest. They were great. They played many songs that the crowd knew, and one that we did, Roll Out the Barrel. Everyone was having a great time listening to them, and even though the parade route was slow, they looked like they were enjoying themselves as well. A few of the bands had young kids playing, it had to be a very long day for them, carrying around their instruments. They looked much more exhausted than their 80 year old counterparts.
After we walked to the end to see the last of the parade, we went in search of where the fabulous smells were coming from. For an hour or so, we were smelling grilled sausages or onions or something wonderful. My fear, since we've been here, is eating horse. That was in my mind as we went looking for the smells, "Please don't let it be cheval." Nope, plain old sausage, with grilled onions and sauerkraut. The meat is good, but then they serve it in these great buns, almost like a baguette. The ketchup is also spectacular, like real squeezed tomatoes. None of the artificial taste like ours. Of course, what would any gather of Belgians be without beer? Actually, I will probably fall down in amazement if we ever go to any Belgian anything without beer. It's the beverage you have with lunch and dinner, of course you have to have it at a parade at 10:00am on a Sunday.
The Festival of Giants d'Ath was amazing. I will gladly go again next year, unless it interferes with the other huge festival in the area, Tanks in Town. THAT will be a MUST next year. Dad and Son want to ride on the tanks!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
School Begins Monday
My son, who turned 3 in March, begins Belgian Kindergarten (their pre-school and kindergarten are all under the same title) on Monday. He has been out of a routine and structured learning environment since December 17th and he is a kid that thrives on structure. We went this past Friday to meet his teacher, Madame Sonia, who speaks just a little English. He'll be in a mixed language classroom, as far as his peers go, and the teacher will speak French. I have no qualms putting him into a foreign language classroom. One, its my only choice besides homeschooling, which will never happen. And two, at his age, he will soak up the language like a sponge. After three years in school here, he'll be as fluent as a French speaking student of similar age. Also, European teachers in general, are stricter than their American counterparts. School can be fun, but they are there to learn first. They have rules and are expected to follow them. Teachers aren't nervous to hold students accountable for their actions here, because the culture isn't sue happy or enabling of children. If all goes well, he'll do his two years of pre-k here, then kindergarten also. I can send him to American Kindergarten when he turns 5, but if he's doing well in the system, I see no use to switch him over. Those decisions will come in time, but for now, we are very ready for him to start his new adventure in Belgian Kindergarten.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Being a Part of Something
Tonight was my second night of SHAPE International Choir practice. We are currently practicing a few songs that we will sing at SHAPEfest for the 9-11 and Battle of Britain memorial service. Last week, several of us were new and relations were hesitant, halting. Tonight was great. People were mingling and talking between songs and break, it was so nice. The cute old British man even gave my shoulders a squeeze. We even were giving the director a hard time over his choices for music. All religious and really, really difficult.
There are a few British singers, a Canadian pianist and the rest of us are Americans. We are 17 strong so far, but our fearless leader says that there are 34 people that have signed to be a part of the group. Maybe once Christmas rolls around, the carolers will want to join too.
I was really looking forward to tonight because it's something I can belong to, be a part of. I haven't been in a choir for 18 years, and neither have slot of the other singers. Some of us can read music, some of us just hold it to look at the lyrics. Either way, we are all a part of something and enjoying it.
There are a few British singers, a Canadian pianist and the rest of us are Americans. We are 17 strong so far, but our fearless leader says that there are 34 people that have signed to be a part of the group. Maybe once Christmas rolls around, the carolers will want to join too.
I was really looking forward to tonight because it's something I can belong to, be a part of. I haven't been in a choir for 18 years, and neither have slot of the other singers. Some of us can read music, some of us just hold it to look at the lyrics. Either way, we are all a part of something and enjoying it.
Monday, August 22, 2011
WHOA! Now, that's a storm!
While it is rare to have a thunderstorm in Belgium, we had one last night. It made the little cloud burst last week look like a sprinkle.
It rained almost all day yesterday, which, sadly, isn't rare. It cleared off pretty well for my son and I to take a stroller jog up to the closest park. We both needed outside and I needed the exercise. We get all the way to the park, a little over a mile, and turned the stroller around to get in the entrance. I don't know how I didn't notice the darkness when we left the house, but I did. Even my son noticed how dark is was and told me it was going to rain. His stroller has a rain guard on it, so he was going to be fine, I'd be the one getting drenched. I told him that we'd play for a little bit, then we'd have to go. HE cut the playtime short, getting back into his stroller and told me it was time to get going home. We got home just in time for it to start dumping rain. But we were home and it was only rain, no thunder, no wind.
It continued to rain into the night and even started to thunder and lightning a bit around 2300. Just a little thunder shower. THEN, at about 0300 the storm blew in. We both woke up hearing the wind pick up and the rain start blasting our huge windows. There was a strike of lightning that was so close, I was afraid it hit my beloved neighbor cow, Marie, or one of our trees. It was that close. YIKES! Woke my son up, which is saying something. Then the rain came harder, it sounded like hail on our ceiling window. It let up after an hour or so, but it was strong! I was able to transplant our son back into his bed after that hour and he slept for a short time longer.
The rain and thunder continue this morning, though it looks like it is going to break up for awhile. We have play plans at the indoor playground at the zoo, so we won't be stuck inside today. The rain has left me with greener, longer grass and a bunch of sticks to pick up of the cursed pear tree. But, since those storms are so rare, we might not see another boomer like that for awhile. (which is good, because I hate my sleep being interrupted for any reason)
It rained almost all day yesterday, which, sadly, isn't rare. It cleared off pretty well for my son and I to take a stroller jog up to the closest park. We both needed outside and I needed the exercise. We get all the way to the park, a little over a mile, and turned the stroller around to get in the entrance. I don't know how I didn't notice the darkness when we left the house, but I did. Even my son noticed how dark is was and told me it was going to rain. His stroller has a rain guard on it, so he was going to be fine, I'd be the one getting drenched. I told him that we'd play for a little bit, then we'd have to go. HE cut the playtime short, getting back into his stroller and told me it was time to get going home. We got home just in time for it to start dumping rain. But we were home and it was only rain, no thunder, no wind.
It continued to rain into the night and even started to thunder and lightning a bit around 2300. Just a little thunder shower. THEN, at about 0300 the storm blew in. We both woke up hearing the wind pick up and the rain start blasting our huge windows. There was a strike of lightning that was so close, I was afraid it hit my beloved neighbor cow, Marie, or one of our trees. It was that close. YIKES! Woke my son up, which is saying something. Then the rain came harder, it sounded like hail on our ceiling window. It let up after an hour or so, but it was strong! I was able to transplant our son back into his bed after that hour and he slept for a short time longer.
The rain and thunder continue this morning, though it looks like it is going to break up for awhile. We have play plans at the indoor playground at the zoo, so we won't be stuck inside today. The rain has left me with greener, longer grass and a bunch of sticks to pick up of the cursed pear tree. But, since those storms are so rare, we might not see another boomer like that for awhile. (which is good, because I hate my sleep being interrupted for any reason)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Electric Poop
We've smelled some horrible, strong smells since here in Belgium. The landscape is very similar to Nebraska/Iowa, so we knew the smell, at first. It was farm smells, manure to be exact. And my son was more than quick to point it out at every chance he got. "I mell tumting. I mell cow poop." It was funny at first, then got to be old, the 100th time we left the confines of the lodge or our house.
Since we've moved to our house and are surrounded by fields of potatoes and sugar beets, we've noticed that every once in awhile, the smell is VERY strong and VERY close. Then we hear the tractor, or tune in to the tractor sounds behind the house instead of rumbling down our poorly paved country road in front of the house. Those tractors are often spraying the fields with what we've come to call "electric poop." I don't know if they mix it with something before hand, let it ferment in a dung heap until it liquefies, or what the process is, but the result is the most noisome stench that I've encountered since the hog confinements in Atkinson, NE. Awful. Eye-watering. Really, really bad "mell."
The good thing about this is, that as soon as the farmer is done watering his fields with the liquid poo, the smell dissipates. Thank God! We've been lucky too, that most of the time the wind is in our favor. I can't imagine the little particles of encapsulated stink blowing into my unscreened windows. I pray it never happens!
Since we've moved to our house and are surrounded by fields of potatoes and sugar beets, we've noticed that every once in awhile, the smell is VERY strong and VERY close. Then we hear the tractor, or tune in to the tractor sounds behind the house instead of rumbling down our poorly paved country road in front of the house. Those tractors are often spraying the fields with what we've come to call "electric poop." I don't know if they mix it with something before hand, let it ferment in a dung heap until it liquefies, or what the process is, but the result is the most noisome stench that I've encountered since the hog confinements in Atkinson, NE. Awful. Eye-watering. Really, really bad "mell."
The good thing about this is, that as soon as the farmer is done watering his fields with the liquid poo, the smell dissipates. Thank God! We've been lucky too, that most of the time the wind is in our favor. I can't imagine the little particles of encapsulated stink blowing into my unscreened windows. I pray it never happens!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
There might be a "thunderstorm" STOP EVERYTHING
It rains here in Belgium, but rarely storms. Today, it did. It was on the AFN radio station, "Wind, Hail, Heavy Rains. Get home and put your car in the garage if you have one!" That would be just another summer day in Nebraska/Texas/Georgia. Not here. Big Deal!
Now, it did rain, quite a gully washer. There is rain in the street and some leaves in the road. No hail, some good winds and heavy rain. If this is as bad as summer weather gets here, I'll be fine.
Winter, however, might be a different story, since I've been lucky enough to not have to endure snow and ice for some time now.....
Now, it did rain, quite a gully washer. There is rain in the street and some leaves in the road. No hail, some good winds and heavy rain. If this is as bad as summer weather gets here, I'll be fine.
Winter, however, might be a different story, since I've been lucky enough to not have to endure snow and ice for some time now.....
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