Bicycle Fest

We had a bicycle fest recently. There were bike tours organized around the city. There were kiddie bike tours with police escort. Families were in the group, and one little guy at the end had a little tiny bike and he could hardly keep up with the group. But he was cycling furiously trying to keep up, and the police escort was patiently bringing up the rear.
Then at the square, there were all sorts of exotic bikes with different sized wheels, and one that you propel by pumping the seat, up and down, not by turning the pedals.
There was also a mini city street laid out with traffic signs and even some traffic lights. The town police were running this and kids could ride around in little carts or on bikes.


We also have the feest fiets - party bike. It is a table and at each seat there are pedals to cycle. In the middle there is a bar and bar tender, and there is the steering wheel for the whole affair. Apparently you can rent it out for a party or such. So what do you think - would this go over in the US????

Wow

I've just gotten some information about our next few years here, and it seems next year (2008-2009) will be a lot like this - classes, etc.

But the third year (2009-2010) will have only a few classes, and will focus on the thesis (that one will be 100-150 pages) and some internships. And it seems there may be a possibility of doing that year mainly in the states. WOW that would be really nice, except I'll have to see how that will work with my theology program.

This summer I'll have some legal work , and if I'm back the following year, I can probably continue that on a limited basis while I'm finishing up with Canon Law. That will allow me to ease back into the work scene, and not have to start a practice from the start again.

I still need more information about the internships - what I've heard is that they want you to work with some diocesan tribunal, and then with an administrative part of some diocese. Apparently they are willing to talk about where. But I can imagine having some difficulties working within the hierarchical structure of the church. So that may be problematic. These internships are probably good for most canonists, but it's not the type of work I'm planning on doing.

One thing I was wondering was if there would be any possibility of doing that administrative part with the congregation for religious in Rome. I think that would be super useful for work in the future with religious institutes to know a little of the inner workings. I don't know if it's possible, but I'll see. The other possibility that I may check into is working with some vicar for religious somewhere. I'll have to see if that's a possibility.

Like I said, I just got some initial limited information, hopefully I'll know more soon. But being back in the states more during that third year sounds really good at this point.

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Now on a cultural note, the giant bird cage is part of an arts program, there were artists, musicians, performing artists, etc. all around Leuven on the weekend. This was a part of it. Then this is a picture of some polish girls, some of them in the choir. They are in the oldest church in town for pentecost. The next picture is our reception after Pentecost.

Every Thursday we have a Carillon concert. This Thursday, they had folk dancing to the Carillons. They just announced it and people showed up. Unfortunately, you can't hear the music too well, but the first video below is to the Carillons, the second is to regular music.

Peace,
Amy

RIP

Notice My nephew Graham died this past week. Wow, that has been a lot to handle on so many levels. He was just 23 years old and struggled with cancer for a year. Then just when we were regathering hope again for a new treatment, things went the other way and he died.

I have been again impressed by my family and community and friends as we gather for support and to mourn and pray for Graham and for each of us. I'm trying to call different family members since I can't be there to support in person. There are just not words, but I can imagine that each of my siblings hugged their children extra-tight in these days. Mother's day has taken on a deeper meaning, not without its pain.

It has meant SO much to me to have the CSJ support, prayers and visits to the family that I couldn't make. What a blessing. Again, words fail. But I think this is what community and Gospel living mean. And I am so blessed to be a part of this community.

My friends here in Leuven have also been a blessing - they have been sensitive and supportive. I told one friend about Graham, and she expressed her support and prayers, then I told her I needed a hug and she gladly obliged. It is always good to have friends that are close enough that you can ask for what you need and know that they will gladly provide. Again christian community at work.

On a happier note, we had our Pentecost celebration - all the language communities of the University parish gathered at the oldest church in town (11th century). We had three choirs from the different groups. The celebration was organized in 2 weeks. If we had done this in the states there would have been months of preparation.

When I say organized, I use the term loosely. We were supposed to sing the Alleluia, so I asked who was doing the sequence, so we would know. The director of another choir said he didn't know - we would see what happened. So the moment came, no-one made a move, so he stood up, nodded to the organist (big old pipe organ with a console in the body of the church) and away we went. There was no music for the verses, so after a pause, someone looked around, saw noone else was coming so he got up and read the English, we sang again, and then some other person got up and read the rest of the verses in French. So that was it.

At the offertory, the Cameroonians from our choir said: you come with us - and we became part of their offertory - I'll have to say they danced and sang better than the rest of us - but if it made them happy, we were happy to join.

There were a few other times when there was a pause, a few people would huddle at the side, clearly organizing the next part, then we would take off again. But everyone was pretty good natured about this, even if a few would have organized a little better if they had been at the helm.

At the end, we did If You Believe and I Believe - a favorite of the Hereford Sisters. We did English, Spanish, German, Chinese and Luo - as I understand, that's the language of the area where the CSJs will be in Uganda. One of our choir members is from there.

All in all, a grand celebration of the outpouring of the Spirit, some of us went for lunch at an outdoor cafe - the weather has been GORGEOUS!

Peace,
Amy

Sea Fever

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.


I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.


I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.


--John Masefield

Sunday was a simply lovely day, so I took off for the ocean - about 1 hr 40 minute train ride that brings you out among the boats. There are channels on either side of the train station. Then a few minute walk brought me to the sea side. It was a delightful beach - lots of families, kids, etc. One thing I've noticed here is how many people wear skirts. In fact, once the weather warmed up, I was thinking about shorts but I hadn't brought any. So I got a 'utility' skirt, which is what I wore to the beach, and I was right in sync with the locals.

The poem above was one that I memorized in school, and it always comes to mind when I head to the ocean - aaahhhh..... Beautiful. I really got to love the ocean when I lived in Boston and could go any time.

I had a four day weekend, and really spent most of it catching up. I sorted out my class on marriage law. I felt like I had a lot of information, but no sense of the system. That is partly because the system really doesn't make sense. But also partly because I think the professor assumed we knew the basics, so she has been very abstract. She is a practitioner, so of course it is all second nature to her.

It seems all my friends are looking for new apartments - that is the ones who aren't planning to return home after the break. I am pretty happy where I am, but I'm asking around a bit, just in case the rent goes way up. Otherwise, I like my apartment and neighbors, etc. The only thing is I wouldn't mind being a little closer to school. But that is relative - I would like to be a 5 minute bike ride, rather than a 10 minute ride away. Am I spoiled???

So it's just three more weeks of classes, then two weeks study period and three weeks exam period. I have my thesis in good shape, I'm just getting folks to read it for me to make sure it's ready to turn in. I'm not sure if the professor will want to read it before the final product - I have an email in to him. So we'll see about that. In any case, I'll be home in just two more months!
Peace,
Amy