Is a real, true thing that happens here in Belgium. In fact: it was last Thursday. And, yes, yes we did partake in it.
National Open Sauna Day (here) is organized by the 'Sauna Confederation of Belgium'. It involves getting people interested in and trying out saunas (and hence getting hooked and coming back for more!). This can be done at: a private sauna -- where the participant can have 1 free hour at a private sauna, or a public sauna -- where the entry is FREE for your whole stay.
For those of you who don't know, I really like baths -- really hot baths. When I was doing summer research in Frankfurt several years ago, I discovered that I. Love. Saunas. There really isn't all that much to do in Frankfurt proper, sure there's the natural history museum, but that's not an adventure. There's hiking all around the city, and that's nice. There's the Main river and all the castles on it UPstream, which is also quite nice. But I wanted something to do more local. Checking out the map from Tim (Tim was my PhD-handler. He got worried about me running for hours because I was lost and got me a mini-map. Tim's awesome!), there was a place called 'Bad Homberg'. From German class I knew 'bad' means 'bath'. And the hunt for hot-springs or 'thermal bad' was on. It just so happened that I found one of the thermal bad s in that area, and I brought Philippe with me. It turns out there was way less hot-spring and a whole lot more sauna than I bargained for.
But I learned that saunas are like baths, only with air instead of water.
So, this brings us back to last Tuesday. I was reading the local paper (because it's still a challenge and we need to know when new roads will be blocked off or when/where there will be bike races) and I saw a small clip about 'openbare sauna dag'. I tore it out and said that we needed to check this out. That evening, we got ourselves booked for an absolutely free trip to the sauna.
There were several to choose from, but we chose one that was just over the boarder of the West side of Brussel, and decided to go just after Philippe got off work (he works in Brussel, it makes sense). We met up in Brussel-Nord, got on one of the awesome trains that are everything that one imagines from 1960's European train travel (plus they have baller under-seat-warmers!) heading West. We change trains. We head more West. We get off the train and start walking. Slowly everything turns from city to suburb to fields covered in mist and moonlight (it gets dark early now) and then we start seeing stands of trees just past the quintessential manner house -- and a bunch of steam rising into the clear night. We arrived. I'm sorry I don't have pictures but I figured it'd be a bit suspicious if I showed up at a sauna with a camera, I mean, there's a bunch of naked people there and all.
We check in at the desk and Philippe hands in the email with our free sauna trip codes (we were supposed to be able to get a 'pass' but something went wrong with the website, and we called and it was okay just to bring in a copy of our email. Wheew! Sauna trip saved!). We got lockers and then... it was sauna time. :D
Monday, 24 October 2011
Monday, 10 October 2011
Awkward photos!
About a month ago Philippe and I went to the celebration of the end of the first stage of remodeling for one of Philippe's coworkers. It was somewhere in the outskirts of Antwerpen and involved a train ride and then a ride in a car.
We were supposed to go with Philippe's boss - whom also lives in Leuven - but she got ill and couldn't come. So me, Philippe and the pumpkin bread that was cooling on the trains made the trip on our own. We drew an awesome wrapping-paper for the bottle of pink wine (it goes with everything, everyone will drink it, one simply can't go wrong giving it to someone if you don't know their wine preference. I will stand by this opinion until someone can disavow it!) on the way. We got quite a lot of attention, but that was okay! My pumpkin bread did smell delicious!
So, we arrive at the party after another terrifying car ride. The family had one row house and then, a few years ago, were able to purchase the row house next door. Extensive remodeling later, they have one house with 2 house numbers, 2 stairs, 2 separate cellars, and a pretty awesome place was created.
Tours of the house were conducted. Awe was had. Mimosa recipe was shared. And then almost everyone left, but, being dependent on a ride back to the train station, we were obliged to stay until the end. And it was just 4 couples in the end. Most were native French speakers, but for my sake they all seemed to speak Dutch ( I speak now French). And then there were pictures. They are how the post got it's title.
Check them out:
On the way back to the train station I learned from the French speaking GPS 'go straight'. It's true: immersion is a splendid way to learn a language without trying. :D
We were supposed to go with Philippe's boss - whom also lives in Leuven - but she got ill and couldn't come. So me, Philippe and the pumpkin bread that was cooling on the trains made the trip on our own. We drew an awesome wrapping-paper for the bottle of pink wine (it goes with everything, everyone will drink it, one simply can't go wrong giving it to someone if you don't know their wine preference. I will stand by this opinion until someone can disavow it!) on the way. We got quite a lot of attention, but that was okay! My pumpkin bread did smell delicious!
So, we arrive at the party after another terrifying car ride. The family had one row house and then, a few years ago, were able to purchase the row house next door. Extensive remodeling later, they have one house with 2 house numbers, 2 stairs, 2 separate cellars, and a pretty awesome place was created.
Tours of the house were conducted. Awe was had. Mimosa recipe was shared. And then almost everyone left, but, being dependent on a ride back to the train station, we were obliged to stay until the end. And it was just 4 couples in the end. Most were native French speakers, but for my sake they all seemed to speak Dutch ( I speak now French). And then there were pictures. They are how the post got it's title.
Check them out:
 |
| awkward photos of me |
On the way back to the train station I learned from the French speaking GPS 'go straight'. It's true: immersion is a splendid way to learn a language without trying. :D
Monday, 26 September 2011
ingewikkeled
'Ingewikkeled' means 'complicated': and I'm pretty sure it's the favorite word of any bureaucrat and/or administrator here in Belgium (is there a difference?).
There was a rough and pothole strewn road for applying to university here, however, in hindesight it's looking like freshly paved asphalt in comparison to actually getting registered for and into any classes.
I suppose the problems started with being mis-enrolled: they didn't put me into a sub-category in the Master of Physics. So, my Flemish speaking shield (Philippe) came with me to the registrar's office. Four or so hours later, I'm re-enrolled as part time in my correct subfield. The registrar almost sent me back to the International Office for papers saying that my visa is longer than the time to do a degree on part time, thus I can do part time. But thanks to the power of tears (or near tears) and Philippe fast talking in Dutch, my registrar called my International Office worker and Lenny made things happen. I really like Lenny.
I didn't cry, didn't have to curse afterwards AND everything got fixed. By far, the best registrar's office visit of my entire life. We went and got a drink in the sunshine to celebrate the momentous occasion.
After that I had to wait 48 hours so that the courses in the Masters of Physics open for selection (because you can take some remedial courses, thus, you have to wait for a longer time?). This isn't a 'just me' requirement, it's for all students taking masters programs. WEIRD. Before you can submit your class selections (ISP) you must choose your exam times. This examination selection portion doesn't open until the 4th of October. These things are DUE by the 12th of October. It's... ingewikkeled. I don't understand how every registrar's office can make such a simple thing as choosing classes so complicated. It should be a judged art form.
My selection of classes and examinations have been in since the 6th, but I've no idea how to tell if it's been approved. I'm hoping it'll all work out and I won't have to go through the 'you didn't submit your ISP on time' paperwork. It sounded unpleasant. I'll try and hope harder.
Finding the classes has been relatively easy, except that class that's in the classroom in the middle of 'children's radiology' in the giant hospital just outside the ring of the city. Yeah... that was a doozy to find. My class schedule said 'Audiotorium Baerts (kinderradiologie gasthuisberg)' and the online class directory had no helpful information. So, I figured that the classroom would be with other classrooms in the giant complex that is the Gasthusiberg hospital. WRONG. After searching until my class supposedly started, I got desperate and asked the librarians if they had a map or knew of the location. They looked it up and tried to give me directions to the front desk who could help me actual find it. 20 minutes of following a student that took pity on me I end up at the front desk having passed people with oxygen tanks and gauze over any body part imaginable. It's a real hospital. And the front desk's directions led me to... a real classroom next door to the waiting room for children to get x-rayed. Accepting this as my classroom is okay, but I'm still left with the question: why is it even THERE in the hospital at all? Mystery!
Textbooks are another story, and I'll tell it once I've found the ending.
There was a rough and pothole strewn road for applying to university here, however, in hindesight it's looking like freshly paved asphalt in comparison to actually getting registered for and into any classes.
I suppose the problems started with being mis-enrolled: they didn't put me into a sub-category in the Master of Physics. So, my Flemish speaking shield (Philippe) came with me to the registrar's office. Four or so hours later, I'm re-enrolled as part time in my correct subfield. The registrar almost sent me back to the International Office for papers saying that my visa is longer than the time to do a degree on part time, thus I can do part time. But thanks to the power of tears (or near tears) and Philippe fast talking in Dutch, my registrar called my International Office worker and Lenny made things happen. I really like Lenny.
I didn't cry, didn't have to curse afterwards AND everything got fixed. By far, the best registrar's office visit of my entire life. We went and got a drink in the sunshine to celebrate the momentous occasion.
After that I had to wait 48 hours so that the courses in the Masters of Physics open for selection (because you can take some remedial courses, thus, you have to wait for a longer time?). This isn't a 'just me' requirement, it's for all students taking masters programs. WEIRD. Before you can submit your class selections (ISP) you must choose your exam times. This examination selection portion doesn't open until the 4th of October. These things are DUE by the 12th of October. It's... ingewikkeled. I don't understand how every registrar's office can make such a simple thing as choosing classes so complicated. It should be a judged art form.
My selection of classes and examinations have been in since the 6th, but I've no idea how to tell if it's been approved. I'm hoping it'll all work out and I won't have to go through the 'you didn't submit your ISP on time' paperwork. It sounded unpleasant. I'll try and hope harder.
Finding the classes has been relatively easy, except that class that's in the classroom in the middle of 'children's radiology' in the giant hospital just outside the ring of the city. Yeah... that was a doozy to find. My class schedule said 'Audiotorium Baerts (kinderradiologie gasthuisberg)' and the online class directory had no helpful information. So, I figured that the classroom would be with other classrooms in the giant complex that is the Gasthusiberg hospital. WRONG. After searching until my class supposedly started, I got desperate and asked the librarians if they had a map or knew of the location. They looked it up and tried to give me directions to the front desk who could help me actual find it. 20 minutes of following a student that took pity on me I end up at the front desk having passed people with oxygen tanks and gauze over any body part imaginable. It's a real hospital. And the front desk's directions led me to... a real classroom next door to the waiting room for children to get x-rayed. Accepting this as my classroom is okay, but I'm still left with the question: why is it even THERE in the hospital at all? Mystery!
Textbooks are another story, and I'll tell it once I've found the ending.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Yes, and my cleaning lady cleans with the power of SCIENCE!
In case you didn't know, my search for employment ended about 6 months ago. I now am... a 'poetsvrouw' -- or cleaning lady. Pretty awesome, right? (Thanks, liberal arts degree!). You may think that this is actually kind of terrible. Rest assured, it most definitely is not.
There is very little work to be found in Belgium part time that does not require a level 2 proficiency of Dutch or higher or additional need of knowledge of French. It's also the sorry state of affairs that there are basically no jobs for people that can/do do calculus that come in the part-time variety -- for any level. P has been having a hard time finding any job that is just 80%, not even true part time. Why this is the case, I'm not entirely sure, but it is what it is. Belgians (at least the Flemmish) seem to love having lots of work so they can complain about having too much work.
Additionally, there appears to be a general problem with Belgians not wanting "foreigners" to work in Belgium, regardless of if they are here for seasonal work, or are asylum seekers, or permanent residents. If you don't have a green id-card that has 'BELG' on the top, you can usually count on having your data not entered and being told that you aren't eligible for most jobs that a job-placement office or temp-job office has. Hearsay! you say. But I had this happen: I went to one place to be put onto the temp-jobs waiting list and was 'inscribed' for about 15 minutes. I was supposed to send in a CV, and when I did, they said I didn't have a file and that I needed to register with them. I'm not the only one who has these problems. In the social orientation classes a lot of the other people who were 'successfully' registered at the temp-agencies and job-offices said they've been waiting for contact from upwards of 17 different offices. OUCH! There are also places that will let you come for an interview and then say they'll get back to you in a little bit, and they'll definitely have work for you -- but they don't. And they won't return your calls, or emails (also happened to me!).
To be honest, I actually don't have the credentials to be cleaning houses, which made things even worse (and is the same for all others who are in the same position). I have never taken a course on cleaning and have never had black work cleaning houses, nor have I ever cleaned in professional offices. This was actually a really big deal and I had to explain about how I've done chores and can successfully make things not dirty for years. It was a hard sell on my part, but eventually someone decided to take a chance on me, and poof! JOB!
So, anyway, being a cleaning lady is most definitely not the end of the world, and I'm actually feeling pretty lucky that I found any work in white what-so-ever. White work gets lots of taxes taken out of it, but it also helps when you get pension payouts. Black work is... black work and rather unpredictable and you have absolutely no worker rights. White work cleaning houses means I get: federal holidays (whaaaaat're those? I hadn't seen those since high school...), paid days if I get sick, starting next year paid vacation, insurance in case I break expensive things or myself, and various other awesome things like steal toed safety shoes. Oh, and I also get to talk in Dutch with them. Win!
The only hard part is convincing the people I work for that I have a degree in physics, but have only found employment as a cleaning lady. They seem disturbed and a little affronted that I'm a decently educated individual working for dienstencheques--service checks. That's why I'm hoping the people I clean for say the title of this post as they are having chit-chat with their friends over a cup of coffee -- because it's true: I do acid-base reductions to get ride of those hard water build ups. I just can't get the families to listen to me prattle on about how it works...
There is very little work to be found in Belgium part time that does not require a level 2 proficiency of Dutch or higher or additional need of knowledge of French. It's also the sorry state of affairs that there are basically no jobs for people that can/do do calculus that come in the part-time variety -- for any level. P has been having a hard time finding any job that is just 80%, not even true part time. Why this is the case, I'm not entirely sure, but it is what it is. Belgians (at least the Flemmish) seem to love having lots of work so they can complain about having too much work.
Additionally, there appears to be a general problem with Belgians not wanting "foreigners" to work in Belgium, regardless of if they are here for seasonal work, or are asylum seekers, or permanent residents. If you don't have a green id-card that has 'BELG' on the top, you can usually count on having your data not entered and being told that you aren't eligible for most jobs that a job-placement office or temp-job office has. Hearsay! you say. But I had this happen: I went to one place to be put onto the temp-jobs waiting list and was 'inscribed' for about 15 minutes. I was supposed to send in a CV, and when I did, they said I didn't have a file and that I needed to register with them. I'm not the only one who has these problems. In the social orientation classes a lot of the other people who were 'successfully' registered at the temp-agencies and job-offices said they've been waiting for contact from upwards of 17 different offices. OUCH! There are also places that will let you come for an interview and then say they'll get back to you in a little bit, and they'll definitely have work for you -- but they don't. And they won't return your calls, or emails (also happened to me!).
To be honest, I actually don't have the credentials to be cleaning houses, which made things even worse (and is the same for all others who are in the same position). I have never taken a course on cleaning and have never had black work cleaning houses, nor have I ever cleaned in professional offices. This was actually a really big deal and I had to explain about how I've done chores and can successfully make things not dirty for years. It was a hard sell on my part, but eventually someone decided to take a chance on me, and poof! JOB!
So, anyway, being a cleaning lady is most definitely not the end of the world, and I'm actually feeling pretty lucky that I found any work in white what-so-ever. White work gets lots of taxes taken out of it, but it also helps when you get pension payouts. Black work is... black work and rather unpredictable and you have absolutely no worker rights. White work cleaning houses means I get: federal holidays (whaaaaat're those? I hadn't seen those since high school...), paid days if I get sick, starting next year paid vacation, insurance in case I break expensive things or myself, and various other awesome things like steal toed safety shoes. Oh, and I also get to talk in Dutch with them. Win!
The only hard part is convincing the people I work for that I have a degree in physics, but have only found employment as a cleaning lady. They seem disturbed and a little affronted that I'm a decently educated individual working for dienstencheques--service checks. That's why I'm hoping the people I clean for say the title of this post as they are having chit-chat with their friends over a cup of coffee -- because it's true: I do acid-base reductions to get ride of those hard water build ups. I just can't get the families to listen to me prattle on about how it works...
Bees? Yes, Please!
This past weekend we went to P's parents house by train (because the component that keeps the saddle pole up broke on P's bike, and the bike-parts-stores were all closed). So we spent all weekend in Heist-op-den-Berg. We did the normal lifguard-swimming-training on Saturday evening, but Sunday was the real treat. The neighbors accross the street not only have geese to cut their lawn, but they also have, you guessed it, bees. Two colonies, actually. The bee keeper (imker) father explained he had one, and then it swarmed onto a tree branch nearby and he re-caught them and now has two.
As it so happens, the day in question was 25°C and sunny -- and time for the first check of the bee colonies after winter! Unfortunately, there were only 2 bee suits, and I didn't think to grab my camera in my complete reversion to a 5 year old that gets to play with the bees. I think you can all imagine the moment the father told me I could put on the bee suit, photos probably wouldn't be doing a moment like that justice.
My job as to execute bursts of 'fine rain mist' to make the bees hum go from "HMMMMMMMMMMMMI'MABEEANDYOUOPENDMYNESTBOX!" back to "hmmmmI'mahappybeedoingbeethings" as the father opened the boxes and checked out the colonies.
No one got stung, and there were 2 combs of honey to be taken. We ended the afternoon sitting eating fresh honey and gnawing on fresh wax (it's like chewing gum, except you can't snap it! :D) and listening to stories of the father about the man who taught him about bee-keeping.
Somewhere in the middle of the stories me and P looked at each other and decided we needed to invest in a suit for each of us and look up the nearest local meetings of bee-keepers. I mean, what 60-90 year old man DOESN'T want to spend the afternoon with a 20-something female who isn't scared of bees, right? Right. I'll tackle bee-keeping after tackling becoming a certified 'compost master'. Classes are for 3 weekends in May. Woot! Just in time to figure out what to do with all the greens from the garden we keep needing to cut back!
Oh, and in other news, I think I might be getting even more people to clean for, and Dutch classes are starting up again, so my time for skyping is going to be wonky again. I'll be posting times once I know my schedule.
As it so happens, the day in question was 25°C and sunny -- and time for the first check of the bee colonies after winter! Unfortunately, there were only 2 bee suits, and I didn't think to grab my camera in my complete reversion to a 5 year old that gets to play with the bees. I think you can all imagine the moment the father told me I could put on the bee suit, photos probably wouldn't be doing a moment like that justice.
My job as to execute bursts of 'fine rain mist' to make the bees hum go from "HMMMMMMMMMMMMI'MABEEANDYOUOPENDMYNESTBOX!" back to "hmmmmI'mahappybeedoingbeethings" as the father opened the boxes and checked out the colonies.
No one got stung, and there were 2 combs of honey to be taken. We ended the afternoon sitting eating fresh honey and gnawing on fresh wax (it's like chewing gum, except you can't snap it! :D) and listening to stories of the father about the man who taught him about bee-keeping.
Somewhere in the middle of the stories me and P looked at each other and decided we needed to invest in a suit for each of us and look up the nearest local meetings of bee-keepers. I mean, what 60-90 year old man DOESN'T want to spend the afternoon with a 20-something female who isn't scared of bees, right? Right. I'll tackle bee-keeping after tackling becoming a certified 'compost master'. Classes are for 3 weekends in May. Woot! Just in time to figure out what to do with all the greens from the garden we keep needing to cut back!
Oh, and in other news, I think I might be getting even more people to clean for, and Dutch classes are starting up again, so my time for skyping is going to be wonky again. I'll be posting times once I know my schedule.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
I picked up the GBFK!
Not too much more to say besides the title. We were finishing root-toning the last of the healthy-but-cut-off-anyway branches from the plum trees and I was able to pick up the GBFK and put in on my lap. He was in my lap for about 15 seconds. I think my progress with taming/training the GBFK is going well. I think in a few more days he'll let me cut off some of the large mats he has.
In other news: every month I appear to become a little bit more like Grandma Boo. We were using the rootone that I somehow didn't have to pay for from the yard/garden/feed/baking store. I am now eye-ing up plants that I pass wondering if I have jars or pots the right size to take a 'sample'. Next thing we know, I'll developer a love for milanos and then it'll be orange hair and... then somebody needs to stop me before it's too late. But I guess orange hair is the no-turning-back point.
The microwave has dinged and it's time to check on the accidental cheese that has sprung out of our attempt to heat the 1 month old milk -- direct from the farm -- that decided it wanted to be cheese instead and separated before the milk was hot enough to take the yogurt cultures. And This means another round of saurkraut started from the whey. Mmmmmmmm saurkraut!
In other news: every month I appear to become a little bit more like Grandma Boo. We were using the rootone that I somehow didn't have to pay for from the yard/garden/feed/baking store. I am now eye-ing up plants that I pass wondering if I have jars or pots the right size to take a 'sample'. Next thing we know, I'll developer a love for milanos and then it'll be orange hair and... then somebody needs to stop me before it's too late. But I guess orange hair is the no-turning-back point.
The microwave has dinged and it's time to check on the accidental cheese that has sprung out of our attempt to heat the 1 month old milk -- direct from the farm -- that decided it wanted to be cheese instead and separated before the milk was hot enough to take the yogurt cultures. And This means another round of saurkraut started from the whey. Mmmmmmmm saurkraut!
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Pizza Dough - I
We like to make pizzas. We especially like to make 'thin crust' or crunchy pizzas... This is one variation.
Makes 3(?) 9" pizza crusts (with some leeway on the sides)
15 EetLepels zelfrijzende bloem
1 ei
10 EL water
8 EL olijfolie
Meng bloem en ei. Meng de olie lepel bij lepel. Dan kneed in het water lepel bij lepel.
Makes 3(?) 9" pizza crusts (with some leeway on the sides)
15 EetLepels zelfrijzende bloem
1 ei
10 EL water
8 EL olijfolie
Meng bloem en ei. Meng de olie lepel bij lepel. Dan kneed in het water lepel bij lepel.
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