Cabin Fever!

By Amanda

Yesterday was my 31st birthday and my 10th day in bed recovering from a severe allergic reaction. Alex and I had grand plans to ring in my birthday at a romantic bed & breakfast out in the country, but had to cancel them when it became clear that I was in no shape to travel. Though it was disappointing, Alex managed to make my birthday special and even surprised me with a lovely necklace (after convincing me that my only presents were dry non-fiction books). Here's a look back at the day:

{It began with breakfast in bed}

{Followed by present opening, supervised by Harry, of course}

{We had my favorite meal, eggplant parm, for dinner}

{And Alex made my grandmother's wacky cake for dessert. I'm a lucky girl!}

It was a really nice birthday, but after 10 days in bed, I'm starting to get restless. Yesterday, Alex and I were thinking back on our hibernation (he stayed home from work to take care of me) and were realizing that we've racked up some impressive stats.

Amanda and Alex's 10-day sick-cation, by the numbers:

• 4 doctors' appointments
• 3 different doctors
• 8 different medications (not all at the same time)
• 3 bottles of ginger ale to relieve the nausea (for Amanda)
• 1 bottle of gin to relieve the sound of Amanda's whining (for Alex)
• Countless quesadillas (the only thing I'll eat when I'm nauseous)
• Countless frozen pizzas (the only thing Alex had time to make for himself)
• 3 completed TV series: The Tudors, Felicity, United States of Tara
• 2 ongoing TV series: Downton Abbey, Breaking Bad, Top Chef

It was quite a week. I'm starting to feel better, but don't expect I'll be hitting the town anytime soon. Baby steps...

Personal Assistant Extraordinaire

By Harry

Since we've lived in Brussels, I've been working as my mom's assistant. It's a bit of a career change for me (I used to be a professional napper), but I'm really enjoying my new position, and frankly, I don't know what she'd do without me. Each morning, I wake up around 6 a.m. and scream at her door until she gets up (usually around 8 a.m.--she's so lazy!). Then, we sit in our office, and I assist with her articles and blog entries by sitting on her books and walking on her computer. Occasionally, I swat at her pens as she writes and give cries of encouragement as I walk back and forth under her chair. I'm really incredibly helpful. At night, we make dinner together and usually, if I pester her enough, I get a little sample of the dish. (Last night she gave me a whole anchovy while making Pasta Puttanesca--it was delicious!) The arrangement is working out quite well for both of us--she'd be lost without me!

{Supervising the preparation of a job application}

{We just finished a travel article on Paris}

{Sometimes I proofread from her lap}

{Taking a little nap after a long, productive day}

I know, she's lucky to have me!

Scrapbook: London

We just returned from an amazing weekend in London! We were hoping to take advantage of the long weekend (American holidays in Belgium are great since you get the day off without the holiday weekend rush), the after-Christmas sales, and the ability to relax and speak English for 72 blissful hours. We did plenty of shopping and talking and also got our cultural fix through a performance of Billy Elliot, a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, and a changing the guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Here are a few of our favorite shots from the trip:

{Goofing around in our lovely room at the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair}

{Grosvenor Square, steps from our hotel. If you look closely, you can see the US Embassy directly behind me}

{Window shopping the chic stores of New Bond St.}

{Doing some actual shopping at the slightly more reasonable stores near Oxford St.}

{Green Park en route to Buckingham Palace}

{Fighting the crowds at the changing the guards ceremony}

{Chinatown at night}

{Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre--one of the best musicals I've ever seen!}

{Alex looking forward to a proper English breakfast}

{He was not disappointed!}

{High tea, including scones, clotted cream and jam, at Richoux}

{Pub grub: delicious fish and chips!}

{Cheers! How do you not love that slogan?}

IF YOU GO...

In case you're planning to visit London, here are some tips from our trip:

STAY

Millennium Hotel London Mayfair:

http://www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/millenniummayfair/index.html

EAT

The Only Running Footman (Pub): http://therunningfootmanmayfair.com/

Benares (Indian): http://www.benaresrestaurant.com/

Richoux (Tearoom): http://www.richoux.co.uk/

Allans (Cafe): http://allanspatisserie.com/

DO

Billy Elliot: www.victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk

National Portrait Gallery: http://www.npg.org.uk/

Changing the Guards at Buckingham Palace:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/royaleventsandceremonies/changingtheguard/overview.aspx

Instructions for Life

As we work on fine-tuning our New Year's resolutions (I know, we're a little behind schedule...), Alex and I came across this very inspiring piece by The Dalai Lama. We liked it so much, we thought we'd share. Happy 2012!

Instructions for Life

by The Dalai Lama

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s:
   - Respect for self,
   - Respect for others and
   - Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
    think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
20. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Le Français et Moi

By Amanda

It's clear to me now that at some point in this life or a previous one I did something horrible to offend the French language Gods. I can't exactly point to the transgression (I'm hardly the "freedom fries" type), but it doesn't look like I'll be forgiven anytime soon.

My difficult relationship with French began in high school when the class brought down my GPA semester after semester. I didn't love math or science either, but if I applied myself, even calculus was doable. French always felt impossible, like something I was just not wired to speak. To this day, when I have school-related anxiety dreams (forgetting a big test, coming to school in pajamas, etc.), the backdrop is always French class.

After high school, I swore I was done with French and for 12 years I succeeded in avoiding the language, except for the occasional trip to Paris during which I alternated between butchering the language and leading with "parlez-vous anglais?" However, when we moved to Brussels, it seemed like I would have to get back in the saddle or spend three years feeling totally isolated from my neighbors.

I signed up for an intensive French class, but on the first day it was clear that I had made a mistake in rekindling this unhealthy relationship. Though I had taken a placement test, it was obvious that I was in the wrong class. I hadn't spoken a full sentence of French in over a decade and was now being asked to give a detailed description of my country's health care system. I sat frozen and terrified and after class asked the teacher if perhaps I could switch to a lower level. "Non," she replied, and I knew I was in for a tough month. To make up for my lack of skills, I studied hard to keep up with the other students and dragged myself to class each day with knots in my stomach. The other students were kind, praising me for even the smallest successes and answering my questions if I looked lost. I became sort of the class mascot, la petite Américaine, who was sweet, even if she was a little slow.

I took one more month of intensive French and decided to give my nerves a rest. In December, Alex and I decided to sign up for the next semester of classes at the embassy. We submitted our forms together, but only Alex was called for an placement interview. "Do you think they lost my form?" I asked. "No," he replied, "but we can ask if you want." Given my French karma, I thought that was a good idea, and sure enough, my form had been misplaced. Since it was a few days before Christmas and there were no additional interview slots remaining, the program suggested that I join Alex for his interview. I should have viewed it as a sign to, once and for all, walk away from French, but I pushed on, a glutton for punishment.

We had our first day of class today, and as you imagine, it didn't go well. Despite both testing at the advanced beginner/low intermediate level, we were placed in an advanced class. As soon as I heard the other students open their mouths, I knew we were in trouble. We've contacted the school to try to sort things out, but I know how this goes...I'm gearing up for another bumpy ride.

A Small Victory

By Amanda

Good news! I am one step closer to obtaining a work permit. This morning, after much harassment from a lovely man at the embassy, officials at the commune of Ixelles finally relented and completed my forms. If all goes well at the regional employment office on Monday, I will be soon be able to legally work in Belgium. (I'm not holding my breath.)

Though today was a good day for me, I couldn't help but overhear another conversation between an American expat and an unsympathetic commune official. It went something like this:

Overwhelmed Expat: Do you speak English? I just moved to Brussels and think I need to register with the commune.

Annoyed Official: Do you have an address?

Expat: Oh, no. I haven't found a place to live yet.

Official: You have eight days.

Expat: I have eight days from the time I arrive in Brussels to find a place and register with you?

Official: Oui.

Expat (starting to look really panicked): What if I can't find a place in that time? I arrived on the second and it's already the sixth.

Official (starting to look really annoyed): Then I can't help you.

Be strong, overwhelmed expat. It gets easier:)

Scrapbook: Sweden

We spent NYE with our dear friend Emily in Stockholm, where she now lives. Emily and I grew up together in Berkeley, and she was my maid of honor, so it's really exciting that we are a short 2+ hour flight from each other living so far away from our hometown. We had an amazing time catching up, exploring the city and ringing in the New Year at her family's country home.

Here's a look back at our trip:

{At the Amsterdam airport enjoying some Heinekens as we wait for our flight to Stockholm}

Stockholm scenery:

We spent NYE at Emily's family's house in Tyresö, right outside of Stockholm:

At midnight, we went outside to drink champagne, roast marshmallows, light sparklers and watch a fireworks show in the freezing, frigid air:

Such a fun trip! Thanks for being a great hostess, Em!