One Year Ago

One year ago today we returned to the US from our almost three and a half years in Belgium.

With the passing of this year, we have adjusted to full-time life in the suburbs, although not always easily and not always happily. After the initial feeling of being no longer fully American but not really Belgian either - because although we'd assimilated really well, we are in fact not Belgian - we have settled into our former American-ness but with an appreciation for what we were privileged to experience in Europe.

We miss European cafes and Belgian coffee and Belgian chocolate, but despite Belgium's claim to some of the best beer in the world, we do have good microbrews in the US that satisfy us as well as Belgian beer.

Life was slower in Belgium, but also more frustrating at times as we had to learn to adjust our expectations to meet the reality of life there.

We miss the peacefulness and safety of walking along the canal, but we do not miss those big horseflies that inflicted such nasty bites.

We miss the cool summer weather but revel in being able to wear summer clothes and summer shoes during the summer months.

We miss the long, long summer days but do not miss the long, long winter nights that encroach upon the day in Belgium.

We can no longer say "We just got back from three years in Belgium" because we're no longer just back. So now we look back and smile at the wonderful memories and realize we would not have traded our time there for anything. We are back in the US, but we retain a part of Belgium in what we have lived and who we have become.

Maybe it's time to rename the blog to something like "Life After Belgium".

Blooming in the front yard

In case anyone is curious as to what some of the landscaping looks like up close, here are two of the lily varieties.

One of the hydrangeas is bravely producing pink flowers, despite the hot, dry weather. The other isn't nearly as hearty and threatens every other day to succumb to the elements.

We also have small yellow lilies blooming. But what I can't wait for is the amazing azalea display we're going to have (if they all survive the summer heat and winter cold.)

Sand and Trees

Seen recently in Paris: this sign announcing that the city administration is putting in a temporary garden. Installation was ongoing as of 17 June, and the trees were to be there, in front of the hotel de ville or town hall, or until 17 July.

As part of the tree-planting process, they brought in bales of hay and tons of sand.















This end of the place in front of the town hall was already planted.















I find the planting of a temporary garden - sort of a temporary art exhibit - just a little puzzling in an era of high unemployment and budget problems. But what do I know? I'm just a culture-less American who doesn't appreciate the finer forms of art.

But now it's gone

Well, the whole beard for Belgium thing got kind of old, and I shaved it off Sunday night. But this is what it looked like before I did. Koen Fillet of Radio Één had said that day 365 without a government was long enough. I agree.

At last...

The porch is now finished. My brother and his son came up and worked like Trojans (no offense to Trojan-Americans intended) on the landscaping for 5 days . I don't know how they feel, but I think it was worth it.

Snow and Sea

More on our recent trip to France...

As we drove along the coast, we kept seeing scenery like this: snow-capped mountains in the distance, with the Med in the foreground. Awesome. I can't remember what town this is in the background, but it was where we stopped to get coffee - a real beach town that looked, at first glance, to be completely shuttered up. Then we discovered the harbor area where all the sailboats were waiting patiently for spring and some of the cafes were open.

This is a pretty typical fortress for southern France. This one just happens to be on the edge of the sea. Of course I can't remember the name of this town either (where are the maps when you need them?). I'll do some research and get back to you.

Our City House

Remember I said the road in front of our townhouse in Saint-Chinian was under construction? Like totally torn up.

This is a view of the back of our little house. It wasn't fancy and it wasn't big but like I said, the location was great.