Infamous "work sets you free" slogan at Auschwitz nazi concentration camp in Poland
Zakopane, Poland. 2012
Amalfi Coast, Italy February 2012
Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy. 2012
Pompeii with ominous Mount Vesuvius in the distance
Interesting frescos within the walls of Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii, Italy
Friendly cat in Positano, Italy
Walk of the Gods, in-between Praiano and Positano, Amalfi Coast Italy
Short trips 2011
Street art in Paris. December 2011
Birthday weekend in Amsterdam
Out for a walk covered in leaves, Milan. 2011
Lake Como, Italy
Street art in Brugges
Busy, summery side street near the Grande Place in Brussels
Beautiful parks, outdoor markets, spectacular architecture, decadent chocolate, potent beer, European culture...I have landed in a heavenly place.
May 3, 2013
Spring has sprung, and I am once again smitten with Brussels. It is amazing how fast the days go from complete darkness to long, lengthy, warm (less cold) evenings. I love this time of year, even Belgians have their smiles on. Patrick and I are feeling truly settled here in Belgium, and at our school. This year has been amazing, even though it has been going by at a crazy speed. The next three months will be filled with visitors and good times. It is wonderful to have loved ones visit now that we feel like we really know our fair city.
We recently journeyed to the beautiful islands of Malta and Gozo; majestic architecture, local delicacies, Roman salt pans, amazing coastal views, and plenty of time relaxing by the pool. Our recent trip has left us with a slight addiction - Game of Thrones (season one was filmed on Malta and Gozo). These islands felt like a hidden treasure, a bit of the bitten path and filled with history, art, and culture.
November 4, 2012
The truth is I have been enjoying the visual/photo journal more than the written journal. Life never ceases to amaze and excite me in every possible way. Patrick and I just returned from a fantastic holiday in the Swiss Alps. Mountain air, crisp hikes, quiet leisurely pace....so much different than our busy city lives in Brussels! I do love every exciting minute here in the city, but I have to admit I feel so much more centered and grounded after a respite in the mountains.
The school year is going by at a good clip, and I am loving every minute of teaching art! My classes are going well, I feel so inspired to help them create and reach for their true, original creative expression. I truly love it, and I feel so lucky to have this opportunity.
March 21, 2012
Spring is in the air. The weather has been nothing less than amazingly beautiful. The fresh air is revitalizing my entire being after a long sleepy winter's nap. It has been quite some time since I have truly experienced Spring, Tinian is in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most equiable year round temperature on Earth. The temperature in Tinian varied more from day to night than June to December! Needless to say, I am enjoying the many delights Spring has to offer that much more than I did before living on a tropical island.
Spring brings ENERGY to projects, to the mind. I feel inspired by the lengthy daylight hours to do so many things! I have gotten back in the pattern of experimenting with new recipes, reading for that extra hour instead of indulging in an extra hour of sleep, and, of course, spending time in the studio creating. I am also feeling quite inspired to study French intensively, I have enrolled myself in a course for the first week of April break. My newfound interest in the French language has sprung from the desire to start taking studio classes at the Royal Academy of Beaux Arts. I feel like I am in the right place in life to begin working toward my M.A. or M.F.A., but alas, I will need to take said classes in French!
It is amazing how quickly the school year has been flying by. Basically a little bit more than two months are left in the school year! In some ways it still feels like we just arrived, and in other ways I am feeling somewhat settled. Patrick and I seem to settle into pleasant routines pretty quickly no matter where we are; the farmers' market, 'This American Life' and coffee on Sunday mornings, walks in the forest, visiting 'our favorite' bars and restaurants.
January 2, 2012
I guess sometimes it just takes a while to start writing again. It has been a whirlwind....leaving the beach, moving to Brussels, starting a new job, learning a new language, and touring around Europe. Where do I begin? What can I say? This is quite the task, divulging the last 5 months in a few paragraphs..... I am thoroughly enjoying life in Belgium, as well as my current position at ISB. I feel that I am growing tremendously as an educator and global citizen. I particularly love interacting with people from all over the world on a daily basis. At times the language barrier gets me down, and other times it seems quite trivial.
In the short amount of time we have been living in Europe we seem to have doubled our record for visitors compared to our time in the Mariana Islands! Laurieanne ventured over in August during our first week here. It was comforting to have her here during the transition. We took a trip with ISB to the beautifully preserved city of Brugges. We also visited the Musee de Musique in Brussels, definitely the widest range of instruments I have ever seen. Mom visited in early November, and we took a short respite to Milan. We saw beautiful sites, absorbed a little Italian culture and indulged in delicious Italian specialties. We discovered the delightful town of Lake Como, but we sadly did not run into George Clooney during our stay! Then in December, Patrick's parents traveled across the big pond for a holiday visit. We toured around Paris for a few days and breathed in some Christmas cheer. Paris was lovely. Scoping out hidden treasures, we chanced upon the Musee Marmotten filled with Monet and a post impressionism exhibit featuring one of my favorites: Seurat!
The new year will certainly bring earthly delights, as well as a new job and travel adventures. 2012 is off to a beatific beginning.