SNOW...and other winter delights

SNOW SNOW SNOW

so much snowwww... and I love it way too much.
Happy St. Nicholas! December 6th. This is probably bigger than Christmas here - atleast for the kids. St. Nicholas is only celebrated in the Flemish, Northern countries of Europe though - which Belgium, being a bit of every culture, fits into this category. (France doesn't celebrate St. Nicholas) So anyways - the children put out their shoes the night before and St. Nicholas comes and brings them little games or chocolates or Speculoos for
being good all year. It is a big deal. It is also a big deal for the college kids here... as in another reason to throw a huge party. It is a tradition for all the college kids to wear white jackets (like butcher's jackets) and cover them in marker and such. They stand in intersections or really anywhere public collecting money
( pocket change)... for beer. This sounds weird - but it is true. When they don't receive money (as in coins) they throw flour and sometimes eggs - normally kids younger than them. Everybody older though gives them their change because they remember when they were young and did the same thing. So for the past month, these crazy, college kids have been running around collecting money for a huge party where they buy beer with the donated money. It's crazy. Today, my school was swarmed by past students now in college celebrating St. Nick's in their colorful smocks. I was a good girl and gave money to my brother (Francois - who goes to the University of Liege) and his friends celebrating. It was funny because it really isn't for the coins but just the tradition... it sounds weird but everyone (even the kids who get hit with flour) look forward to it. It is especially unique here in Belgium how they celebrate St. Nick's so I was glad I could experience it.
Yesterday, I came home to a nice little gift from my family - I mean St. Nicholas. It was lots of chocolate and even a little pocket money. It was so cute and it made me smile :) I totally forgot and it was an extra special surprise for me.

Saturday, I went to Margaret's house and yesterday I don't think it stopped snowing all day. Hard core snowing - let me clarify. Marge and I just sat there in awe and then decided to go sledding (on a piece of wood and half a shovel). That was an epic fail but it was fun just walking around in the massive snowflakes and talking. We didn't build a snowman though! Missouri has its fair amount of snow but I have never seen anything like this. Everybody here is kind of in shock too... I guess it hasn't snowed like this in 15 years!! Nobody knows what to do with themselves... this is not an over-exaggeration ladies and gentleman. I felt so bad because Larry was supposed to come get me at Marge's at like one in the afternoon and he got stuck in the snow and had to walk home from the highway. So much for a nice, relaxing Sunday for him! I ended getting picked up at 8 - so Marge and I pretty much had a whole other day to hang out. It was so much fun! I know you are all waiting in suspense to know if I actually got to see one of the sixty cows... dramatic pause... yes, my faithful followers I did get to see the cows. AND pet them. AND feed them. AND ride one. For a lack of a better saying, I was all smiles. Marge and I got to feed them the morning meal and then we petted them....for some reason I didn't realize how big the heads actually are on a full grown cow. They are kind of massive. The little babies were so cute!! Then Benoit (Marge's host dad) let me sit on one! I was in shock to actually be sitting on one and it felt so weird... the poor cow. After this little excitement of my life, we went on a tracker ride along with Benoit to help shovel the snow. I even got to drive it - as in sit there and hold the steering wheel as if I really had control.... but still. Kind of epic in my book. Marge and I got in the little shovel thing and Benoit lifted it up so high - like to the second story! It was so cool to see so far while all the snow was falling around us. After this little adventure Marge and I made a cake - without a recipe, which I guess is really hard to do successfully. Everyone loved it and I might have taken a piece home with me and currently be eating it in memory of my great weekend.
Margaret is going to University of Arkansas, like me. It kind of official that we will be rooming together next year. It was so cute because - after we were done baking, playing with the cows, and playing in the snow - Marge decided to be productive and do homework. We were both just chilling in her room listening to music and talking about random things every once in awhile... then it both hit us this is what college is going to be like. Her working on homework- but actually on Facebook- and me not even pretending to be working on homework but on Facebook. :)
Then around 8, Larry was able to defeat the snowy roads and come get me. It was sad leaving since all day Marge and I thought we would be having another sleepover but... Another time :) This next time Mollie will be with us!! We missed her so much :(

Ok - this is really out of order and I kind of did it backwards today but I really don't care. Now my week in a nutshell :)
Tuesday was really nothing special. The only interesting thing that happened was that the teachers went on strike because their salary was cut. All the Belgian teachers salaries have been cut... so they went on strike. A strike like this would never happen in the states. So I guess it was a cultural moment for me... and a free hour to play new card games with friends :) Then after school, I went to my French classes.
Wednesday (My Mommy's Birthdayyy) I went to Aachen, Germany with Rotary. They had this cute little Christmas Market (Marche de Noel) and it was full of all these Christmasy things. I have never been so cold in my entire life though...ugh... like seriously. I was on the brink of crying maybe 5 times. It was painful. Nobody was really well prepared for this little temperature drop since we were all at school, and thus it was worse. I forgot my scarf and mittens and that was the stupidest thing ever. Neither hot chocolate nor hot wine could get me warmed up... we kept stopping in random shops to try to get rid of the numbness - that was a lost cause. Cold here is different than where I am from. It is much more wet than dry and thus bone-chilling. My body is so not used to it - but it has another 3 months to get used to it! I love the winter ... but this is taking some getting used to. Germany looked a lot like the north of Belgium... which I kind of like a lot. Very clean and proper ... but old and yet new at the same time. It was so funny because when my friend was taking a picture of me this random German lady came up to me like she knew me and posed for the picture - it was kind of awesome. Best part of the day.
Thursday was not very exciting either. A lot of my teachers were sick (not sure if this was in relation to the strike earlier in the week) and thus I had like 4 hours free during the middle of the day. I decided to go home and catch up with things then I came back for the last 2 classes. That sounds bad - but that is my attitude during the end of the week. It was relaxing to go home for a few hours then go back to school... then french class.
Friday was again full of free hours since some finals started on this day. Instead of going home during my 4 hours free, I went to the shopping mall with my friends. We went shopping for things to wear for the huge New Year's party. The theme is Black and Gold - thus I had to get some gold accessories. It was fun to hang out with my new friends - are they still considered new? I felt so Belge :) It made me happy. Then after school, I went to the city with my exchange student friends. I didn't stay out late since it was freezing and I wanted to chill with my family since I wouldn't be there Saturday night. Not very exciting - but most of the Belgians are studying on the weekends because finals are coming up. I actually just found out today that I have a French final this Thursday. I should probably be doing that (since that is what I told my family I'm doing right now) but instead I have decided to dedicate this time to updating my faithful followers. I think the word for that is dedication? Yes, yes it is. Or is it procrastination?
Hmmm... I'll ponder on this as I eat my St. Nicholas chocolate. (Don't even ask how my weight loss is coming along.)

Oh and I officially move on the 22nd of December to my new family :)

All for now :)
Stay warm - and if you are in a warm climate this lovely winter... love it for me