Beer and Thanksgivng (Belgian Style)

Me at the Hogaarden Brewery with friends and at Thanksgiving with my families.

Thanks to my amazing first three months as an exchange student in Liege, Belgium I have done so many amazing things. I have been to Paris, Disneyland, Athens, and Luxembourg. I have toured a castle, hiked a mountain, gone kayaking, visited the Parthenon, prayed at a monastery, been inside a mine, and navigated through an army fort. I have eaten quail, boar, sheep, snails, squid, and some other things I am not quite sure of. I have also eaten lots of delicious chocolate and been able to taste some of Belgian's finest beers.

My Rotary district recently took all of the exchange students on a tour of one of the most famous brewery's in Belgium, Hoegaarden. This company is most well known for its white beers. They are often flavored with fruits such as raspberry or lemon. At the brewery we got to explore a museum which described in detail exactly how the beer is made. At the end of the tour, we were able to sample some of the world famous beer. Living in Belgium has been a great way for me to try all the different beers; but, if I planned of trying them all I would have to stay here forever. Belgium brews over 8,000 different types in 125 brewries throughout the country. Belgium might be well-known for its beer, chocolate, and waffles, but for good reason.

Thanksgiving tends to be an American tradition involving family, close friends, and great food. Well this year, for one American girl living in a faraway country, things were a bit different. Being an exchange student in Belgium not only means I am learning to speak French and live the European lifestyle, it also means representing America. As an ambassador to the United States, I wanted to show my new Belgian family what Thanksgiving was truly about. I have enjoyed cooking for years and this was my chance to represent myself and one of my favorite American holidays.

As I planned the meal, I quickly realized that I needed to make a few adjustments to my menu. It is impossible to purchase a turkey before Christmas, so my host father prepared pheasant instead. It was surprisingly delightful and paired nicely with the traditional American meal. Along with a few other mishaps, I somehow adjusted the dishes using the available resources and created an edible meal, I hope. I got to spend my Thanksgiving with my current host family, and both my second and third host parents as well. With a total of nine people to please, I was quite nervous; however, I believe the night was a success. It was not your average American holiday, thanks to the normal one course American meal I converted into five courses; but, all in all I think everyone enjoyed themselves. My favorite Thanksgiving recipe is a classic from my mom, and although it needed a few adjustments in Belgium, its pretty tough to mess up. Bon appétit!

Carrot Casserole:

2 lbs carrots
2-3 T sugar
2 T onion, minced
1 cup Old English cheese (2 jars)*
1 cup 1/2 and 1/2 milk (or heavy cream)
2 pkgs. Ritz crackers, crushed
1.5 sticks butter, melted

Cook carrots in sugar water until fork tender. Drain and chop carrots.
Add: onion, cheese, milk or cream, and 1 pkg. Ritz crackers

Put all in greased casserole dish. Mix 2nd pkg. of Ritz crackers and melted butter in separate dish. Use as a topping for casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

*Substitute grated cheese if in Europe and cannot find Old English cheese.

Friends

This past Friday I had such a fun Belgian experience. After school I went with some of my friends from school into town and we just hung out in the square. It was really fun hanging out with Belgian friends and seeing how they act in town. Since normally I just hang out with other exchange students, I welcomed the chance to enjoy an afternoon with them. Later that night we went to a concert that my school was holding. At the concert there were about thirty or so acts all involving people from St. Jacques. Students and teachers participated by singing, playing the piano, and performing covers of famous songs. My best friend at school, Nicola, was joking around earlier that day and told me he was going to dedicate a song to me. I did not believe him. As it turns out, he was telling the truth. He got up on state, and grabbed the microphone from the singer and shouted, "Jamie, this song is for you!" I was so excited and screamed quite loudly. If people at my school didn't know I was American before, they know now. He then played the song, American Idiot, by Green Day. I had so much fun and know that I will always remember that most honorable dedication.

Saturday I went grocery shopping with my whole family. We went shopping for the upcoming week and also for some of the things needed to cook Thanksgiving dinner. We ended up getting so much stuff that our cart was overflowing and our bill for the super market was over 300 euros. My host sister, Virginie, was so embarrassed. Later that day, my host mom, Christine was helping me with my french lessons as usual and Virginie wrote down a sentence for me to ask in french. I then asked our mom if she would give us money to go out later that night. Turns out having a host sister is good for everyone involved because Christine gave us some money later that day. Virginie and some of her girl friends took me out to a fun tropical bar called Tam Tam where we just relaxed and had a girls night.

Sunday I accidentally slept until two in the afternoon. I didn't even know that was possible. But I guess I have to make up for the lack of sleep I get during the week at some point. I made chocolate chip cookies with walnuts for my family and my friend Federica's birthday on Monday. I also watched Jurassic Park and Man vs Wild in french. Actually just as cool in french as it is in English. All in all, this weekend was calm and relaxing, yet really fun. Also, my family celebrated my three month arrival with champagne. Three months! Can you believe it?

Monday I celebrated a birthday with my friend Federica. She is the only other exchange student at my school and i love her. We ate traditional Mexican food and it was DELICIOUS! i love that girl. She really makes my time at school much more fun.

Athens, France, and of course....Belgium!

First Athens-

Since my Rotary Club is amazing, they decided to take the three foreign exchange students to see the likes of Athens for four days. My host parents were planning on coming, but canceled last minute because they were too sick. I missed them. So on the first day of being in Athens, the three of us exchange students headed off to explore the city. Map in hand, we decided that the right direction leading towards town would be a left. Oh were we mistaken. We proceeded to walk in the opposite direction for forty-five minutes. Upon realizing we were in the middle of Athens (in a not so safe area) we decided to turn around and catch a bus back to our hotel. Well we attempted to pay on the bus, but in Athens you have to buy your ticket before hand. So we just rode the bus until we saw our hotel, and the just got off. So we probably could have ended up in a Grecian jail somewhere, but luckily we managed to escape free of charge.

That is just one example of the many interesting things that happened to us while in Athens. The food was incredible, the sea was gorgeous and of course the Acropolis was amazing. Although I happened to be lost and confused, thanks to the french, english, and greek being spoken all the time, I had a fun time and am so glad I got to hang out with my Canadian and Japanese friends.

Second France-

Taize, France is the most amazing place I think I have been thus far in my short three months of living in Belgium. While I was there I not only got a chance to meet my third host sister and all of her Belgian friends; but, I also got the chance to meet people from all over the world. Tiaze is a place for spiritual gatherings through the Catholic church. I went with a group of people from Liege and while I was there I met people from Spain, Finland, Uruguay, Lithuania, England, Sweden, and KANSAS CITY! The only other american there lives ten minutes from my house. How weird is that? So all in all I had an amazing time there and hope to go back before the year is over. I got to go to mass three times a day and really felt myself connected to God in a way that I never had before. I wish that everyone in the world could have an experience like Taize.

And Last but certainly not least, Belgium-

Last night I got to hang out with my third host sister, Margot (I think that is how it is spelled). We went to a dance put on by the Scouts, they are really popular here in Liege. Well at the dance-type get-together all the Belgians were dancing, but very modestly and with a fist pumping the air. And I was dancing like an American. They all thought it was so funny and different. But I think I may have convinced a few that American dancing is more fun. Then I spent the night at my third house, and it is amazing. It looks like a colonial house from New Orleans. And I am going to have three little sisters! It will be so much fun. Plus I went the entire day speaking only French- which was so cool because they don't speak any english. And my littlest sister was really patient with me and helped me to speak correctly. Today I went to the fair and bought Laquement, which is a Liege specialty. It is a really thin waffle compressed into a machine and drenched in syrup. Can't really beat that!

I still LOVE my host family and I am so glad that they are amazing. On Mondays i watch X Factor with with host sister (its the American Idol of French speaking countries).It is really fun and she is the next best thing to having my real sisters here with me. I am going to cook thanksgiving dinner at my house in one week, and I am very nervous. Not only will I be cooking my first thanksgiving dinner alone, but it in in a strane country and for all three of my host parents. I hope I don't end up killing everyone! Then I would be homeless in Belgium.