Day 33 -- I Swear I’m Not Actually, In Real Life, This Obsessed with Food.

Sam woke us up once again.  I ushered him out then promptly locked the door.  We finally put that lock to use!  Some while later Abby, Sam’s four year old cousin tried to break into our room by banging on the inaccessible door over and over.  We did not let her in.

I took a shower (There, I noticed the many bruises on my forearms from playing volleyball) after eating the best cereal:  Special K with berries and yogurt bits.  As soon as I dried off, me, Elena, Jacob, Samuel, Andrew, and Michelle took a bike ride out of our resort to a nearby village (in Belgium) to buy some cold medicine.  It was the most beautiful and warm day today!  In a shop, I found some pretty pink nail polish and some chocolate covered stroopwafels!  I bought them, of course.

Elena

Not the best photo of this place...but deal with it.

  

These gorgeous homes line a road going towards the village.  Aren’t they grand?  I took these photos while in motion on my bike…so chill out.  I’m not THAT bad of a photographer.

We got home, had the last pack of raspberries for lunch, and then painted my nails!  Perfect afternoon.

Next activity was the pool; Elena and I laid out and baked while listening to the whole MGMT Oracular Spectacular album on my iPod. 

 I swear this is the most relaxing place on earth!  I’ve never been so oblivious to the time and day in my life.  The only reason why I know what day it is, is because of this blog I write every night.  This means I’m always tired while writing so excuse me for the lack of details and clever word placements.

Best part of the day: Tea.  We ate out at the “Big American” buffet tonight!  I’m not sure what they thought was so American by this restaurant…because they had no hamburgers, chili dogs, or really anything too familiar.  But it was DELICIOUS.  I ate so much.  I’m sure I did a wonderful job by showing everyone how much Americans can truly eat.  I’m pretty sure I ate more than anyone else there…including the dads.  I still don’t even think I hate that much…but whatever.  There was not a lot of food to choose from, compared to Las Vegas style, but everything tasted so incredibly nice.  The Cherry On Top:  Unlimited supply of stroopwafels!  I filled up a huge bowl of them which got transferred into Elena’s purse.  Now that was American style.  Photos provided J (Keep in mind that I ate absolutely everything on each and every plate.  I even ate the orange fruit on top of the chocolate mousse.  I liked it!  Tasted like orange/grapefruit delight!)

Ice Cream for the bike ride home.

Elena and I watched another Harry Potter movie; every night we fall asleep watching one of the movies.  Only this time we didn’t fall asleep.  After it ended, we were way too tired, hot, and sweaty to fall asleep.  Instead, we sat up laughing at bunch of really lame things; for example:  1)  The fact that during this whole trip, I thought that the smoke detector was a broken light because it never turned on when I tried.  2)  Because it was so hot in our room, we attempted to turn on the air conditioning, but instead turned on the back patio light, which woke up Michelle.  We began laughing like hyenas, so Michelle thought that one of us was crying which prompted her to check on us.  I suppose she was right, because we both had tears streaming down our faces from laughing so hard.  None of this is really even that funny.  I am aware of this.

Day 32 -- Volleyball

I woke up to Sam standing over mine and Elena’s beds saying, “The sun is up.  That means its morning!  You need to wake up.  The sun is up!  That means its morning!  Wake up, now!”  And another pan de chocolate.  Elena and I then headed to the volleyball court to practice our skills.  We played for a few hours then Rebekah, Jacob, and Grace joined us…just to get whooped.  By the time lunch rolled around we were starving, so we ate leftover taco stuff then went to the pools.  It was such a wonderful day so Elena and I laid out in the sun and began to caramelize.  We came back home a few hours later and took a little nap before tea, which was wonderful spaghetti!  Dessert was ice cream with bananas, strawberry and caramel sauce, and the best chestnuts I’ve ever had in my life!  They were so crunchy and delicious.  After tea, we had another little nap then rode to the volleyball court once again and had team tournaments.  In the end, Elena and I beat everyone else- five other people all on the other side of the net.  Not bragging or anything.

Jakob tried to make a rude comment about me being American...

A sad thing happened today.  While looking back on the photos of the day with Rebekah, Grace, Elena, and Luke, I commented on how in a picture someone looked so “pissed”.  I heard a united gasp and glanced at Grace’s shocked facial expression.  I quickly remembered that the only word that is worse than that one in England is the “F” word.  I freaked out saying, “sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry.”  Luckily, Luke didn’t hear what I said; at least that is what he told me.  But I really felt so bad for majorly cussing in front of them!  But to me it’s not swearing at all!  Ugh I’m a sinner.

Tonight I learned how to play poker!  I’m awful.  But not to worry, I’m going to practice so that next time I play...I’ll be able to beat everyone.  

Day 31 -- Mama Mia

I love the beds here!  They are so comfortable with the loveliest duvets.  We woke up to Rebekah knocking on our door letting us know that she bought us Pan de Chocolate for breakfast; two bars of chocolate melted inside the most delicious croissant. 

A handful of us went to the shops today to pick up some food items.  It was very interesting…trying to guess what was in each can and bottle.  Michelle told me that I must try a certain type of treat called suikerstroop wafels.  And I did.  And I am now in love.  Deep love.  They are two thin waffles sandwiching a layer of…carmely…sugary something.  Unbelievably tasty.  We then proceeded to the butcher’s shop and the local fruit stand.  I bought two containers of raspberries!

After shops, we all went swimming again!  We played on an oversized tube that fit nearly ten people.  Well maybe it would if we tried.  My favorite game is Queen…or king I suppose…of the Raft.  Just saying.  And water volleyball!

 

For tea, Michelle made Mexican!  Dinner was wonderful, but for dessert she made warmed waffles topped with ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream!  Delicious.

Elena and I decided to go teach Rebekah and her friend Grace how to play volleyball!  The net is placed right next to the lake, so Elena had a blast running into the water wearing jeans to retrieve the balls that Rebekah waywardly hit!  I felt so bad for her, but she was always the closest!  I enjoy beach volleyball an ample amount.  Rebekah and Grace were learning how to control the ball, so Elena pulled this hilarious saying out from who knows where:  “Don’t make the ball go all the way to mama mia!”  I had a kick.

Once we got home …here comes my favorite part… we did laundry in the bathtub!  I’ve never hand washed my clothes before, but I loved it!  Is this strange to love?  I just have a newly developed love for washing clothes.  It was so much fun!  Then we all washed our feet with the most delicious smelling set of foot scrubs of all time.  The perfume of pomegranate chocolate filled the air.  It was honestly the best smelling soap ever.

After pampering our feetsies, we gathered bars of chocolate, crisps (chips), cookies, and nail polish to watch Eat, Pray, Love; a great movie.  This is such a beautiful and feel-good movie!  Liz, the main character, goes to Italy to brighten up her life.  Eating played a huge part in the film.  She ate constantly throughout the film, which strangely encouraged me to eat another cookie.  I also came to the realization that I am going to get fat during my stay here.  This means that I should put aside some money for a new, larger pair of jeans.  I am perfectly okay with this J  Relax; I’m not going to completely let myself go, don’t worry mom.

Also, in the movie, she was deciding what word describes her best.  Only one word.  I’ve decided that I too want a word that describes all of me perfectly…this must be one hale of a word.  I’ll work on this.

I then went to bed.  In my lovely bed.

Day 30 -- France and Belgium

                       Yes, Andrew and Michelle drove all through the night without stopping!  (And guess what dad: neither of them fell asleep at the wheel!!!  I didn’t once fear for my life, as opposed to driving with you, dad, who swerves into the oncoming traffic lanes while just going to the grocery store down the street!  No offense.)  I got a stamp in my passport as we went through passport checks J  It’s not the best-looking stamp, but whatever.  We finally drove onto the ferry at five a.m.!  I found a couch that quickly became my bed as we waited on the ferry to arrive in France.  The ferry waiting area was so nice!  It had a little shop and bar, with an enormous relaxing area for everyone. 

Land 

The roads in the mainland are like American ones; you drive on the right side of the road.  I liked the familiarity.  France was great from what I saw; I slept most of the way through.  I know, my first time in France and I fell asleep.  I suppose it wasn’t so magical to look at.  And before I knew it we got into Belgium!  Then to Center Parks! 

We checked in, and then rented our bikes!  Cars are not allowed to drive on park grounds except for dropping off luggage.  We went to our cabin, and after unpacking, to the pool we all went!  I LOVE this place.  I swear I’ve never seen anything like it before.  The inside pool area is covered by a huge dome, which includes restaurants, shops, and a mini zoo!  Well it’s not an official zoo, but they have a pond which habitats flamingos, fish, turtles, and different types of birds!  While walking by the pink flamingos, I spotted a perfect flamingo feather, lying just inside the pond.  Jacob was kind enough to snatch it for me, and found another for Elena.  I love their feathers.

The pools have water slides, a lazy river, wave pool, and large areas for simply swimming.  We played all day long and I had such a wonderful time!  We went back to the cabin, ate tea, and then Elena and I (who share a room) went straight to sleep!  It was seven here, so that means it was six back in England.  Early night.

Day 29 -- Holiday!

We began our journey to Belgium today!  Oh yeah, the family is going on holiday to Center Parcs in Belgium for about a week.  I’m actually not sure when we’re leaving… 

A long story of packing and getting ready cut short:  We began to drive around eight that night (as planned).  Michelle, Elena, Samuel, nine chickens, Martha May (dog), and myself all rode in mum’s car for the first few hours.  The aroma was rotten.  I sat next to Samuel, who sat by Martha May and her slimy tongue.  We took the animals to Michelle’s mum’s house to be taken care of while we were away.  Once at Grandma’s house, we humans transferred into dad’s car and drove to the ferry in Dover (Yes, I saw the white cliffs of Dover J ); where we arrived at four in the morning the next day…woops.  I guess I have to start writing in day 30.