Today in Leuven

This is the main reading room of the main library at KU Leuven. There are some amazing volumes on display on the ground floor. The whole edifice puts me in mind of Hogwarts in Harry Potter. It is an amazing place and the documents in the little museum on the first floor are amazing. The newer books come from the 1600s, the oldes I saw was a manuscript from the 8th C. Amazing!!!

These two pictures show my neighborhood as requested by some of ya'll. Mine is the place with the mercedes parked in front. No, the car doesn't come with the apartment. However, I can rent a bicycle for 35 euros a year. I may give it a try. Lots of bikes in Leuven. The second picture is taken looking down the street. The mercedes helps compare with the first pic. The tower at the end of the street is the main library where the photo above is taken.
I started the day at the resale shop south of town. It is great, lots of furniture and even electronics - with outlets there so you can make sure it works. They have all kinds of household goods - probably from former students. I'll be able to get a lot very cheaply there. Also, my friends in town know some people who are moving out and will have things to sell. So I'll move in and get the basics. Then wait for the sales to see what I can get that way. It will be nice to have a place in town. Right now I'm staying a 15 minute bus ride outside of town. So I go in, stay all day and get various things done, then come out in the evening. Places to rest and bathrooms are not easy to find. So I've been relying on friends in town when I need a break.
Anyway, the last two pictures are taken in the botanical gardens which I happened upon when walking from the resale shop back into town. Quite a lovely respite. There isn't much green in the heart of town.
Thanks for all the responses to the blog. It is great to hear from everyone and makes me feel more connected to the world back home. I've also managed to talk to some folks on skype.
Prayer intentions: say a prayer for Elizabeth Bayley that she will find a job here in Leuven. Also say a prayer for Br. Omer who is my host here at the monastery. He isn't sure he'll have enough rooms for all the students coming. Some come unannounces, and some of us have to stay longer to wait for apartments to be come available.
Peace,
Amy

Found a place

Okay, life is grand. I found a great place. It is on willemsstraat 27, there is a postage stamp back yard which is enclosed by brick covered by ivy. It is called a 'tuin' pronounced town in dutch. So it is my own little secret garden, prayer corner. Then coming forward, there is a bedroom, about 8x10, that opens onto the tuin. Just four almost square walls. Then a little hallway that has an entrance into the apartment hallway on one side, and the bathroom on the other. Coming forward is the livingroom/kitchen that is 15x12. There are two large windows, and another door onto the street. It is first floor, which will be AWESOME for moving in and guests and such. Here there isn't really any crime, and it is a quiet residential neighborhood. But just a few blocks from the train station and shops and my schools.

If all goes well, I'll get the keys on Sept 1. They had said Sept 15, and I was trying to figure out how to make that work - then I think they figured that if they coudl rush it, they coudl get another two weeks rent. I'm renting from a Notary - which is a kind of lawyer here - they handle all property matters, and are required to register and 'officialize' the real estate transactions.

Peace, Amy

PS: I thought you might like to see a belgian keyboard. Note that some of the letters are mixed up, e.g. A and Q, W and Z, M and semicolon. This is just enough to make me CRAZY when I try to type

Arrival in Leuven

Friday night, I made it to the monastery where I'm staying around 10:15pm and checked in and got to my room (left) and to bed around 11:00. ZZZzzz... They couldn't be nicer here. Br Omer is the contact person for guests. He said they have about 900 students come through in a year's time from all over the world. There are 30 Chinese students in town for some program. they are staying here. Then next week more students coming to study and look for apartments.


I have checked online and contacted all the people advertising there. Then I'm also walking through neighborhoods and looking for signs like the one here. It says 'te huur' = to rent, and gives details about the apartment and who to contact. So I contact, get more details and see if I can see the place. So far landlords have been nice. Most speak English, but some have to deal with my dutch. I've gotten along so far. Say a prayer for the apartment search, for me and for my fellow students.
Thanks, Amy

The following are movies and photos. The videos are a minute or two, but take a while to download. The Ireland photos are a powerpoint, and come down quicker.

Video Greeting
AerLingus Safety Video
Photos from Ireland Layover

On the Way to Belgium

Greetings

9pm Central Time - Just left Chicago.
Just a few notes from the trip so far. I left St. Louis just fine and arrived Chicago well. I decided to take a picture of the plane before we boarded. So I took my picture, and as I turned back into the lounge, CNN was announcing that a tornado was hitting Chicago. Within minutes, we were in the midst of a downpour. (Photos above were just a few minutes apart) We nevertheless boarded on time. Then we sat on the runway for just over four hours. However, the plane was hearly empty, so I moved from my window seat to the center bank of seats (four across) and stretched out. So I snoozed through the wait on the ground. They said I had to sit up for take off, even though I had fastened my seatbelt around me while lying down.

So I figured since I had been thus awakened, I would go ahead and take dinner. The estimated arrival puts me in 2 hrs late for my connection. So we'll see how that all transpires.


9am - Dublin
I'm currently layed over in Dublin. Delays in Chicago made me miss my flight to Brussels. So I'll 'do lunch' in Dublin and get back for an evening flight to Brussels. I told the guy at passport control that I missed my connecting flight and wasn't sure how long I would be here. He cleared me to stay for a month....

I bought some internet access at the airport so I could let the folks know in Leuven. Skyped their Vonage.... Crazy!