Mid-Term Exams

I am at school and just finished my first mid-term exam in BAEN 460. I'm not sure how I did yet but I think Dr. Munster is going to give us our graded exams back in about an hour. Tomorrow we have a mid-term exam in Dr. Engler's BAEN 465 class. It is most likely going to be a lot harder and more work out problems. The test today was only 10 multiple choice questions.

I had a pear for breakfast this morning and had a ham and cheese panini with a Cola Light from the sandwich shop at school for lunch today. Dr. Munster also assigned a homework assignment that is due tomorrow, even though we had a test today. Dr. Engler has decided to lecture today during our problem solving session. We only have one homework assignment in his class this week. It is due on Tuesday. Tomorrow, we also have a seminar speaker. So tomorrow evening we have to write another 1-2 page report over the seminar that is due on Thursday. On Thursday we are going on a field trip from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. We are touring a groundwater facility and some caves....? It should be interesting. We have to write another field trip report this weekend. It is a 4-6 page report that is also due on Tuesday. At least I don't have any homework to grade this week. Although I will definitely need to do laundry this week sometime.

Our RA gave Katie and I this little bug zapper to plug into the outlet in our room to keep the bugs from biting us while we sleep. Last night was the first night we used it, and I didn't get any new bug bites. But, we also slept with the windows closed and the door closed because it was really cold. The temperature has really cooled off here. It is cool enough that you need at least a light jacket on while outside. It feels like October or November or even December in Texas. The weather is supposed to be nice on Friday but then rainy on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for our last 4 day weekend here in Europe.

Some things that I have noticed lately is that the hooks in the bathroom stalls in public places for women to hang their purses are on the sides of the stalls, not on the back of the door. Also, it usually costs anywhere from 20 cents to 1 euro to use the restroom in public places in Europe. And, most of the restroom stalls go all the way up to the ceiling and down to the floor. It is basically like a room. And people called it the toilet or WC (water closet). Bathroom refers to the shower and restroom doesn't mean anything really.

Yesterday on our way back to Leuven from Germany, we were on two ICE (high speed German trains). We got free water (not carbonated) and two free orange juice boxes. It was awesome. The German trains are really awesome! I don't know if I said this in my last blog, but I really wish that we would have had just ONE more day in Munich. We wanted to be able to go on the "not-free" walking tour from 11 - 3:30 and also have time to shop while in Germany. I wanted to buy some nice steins, German ornaments, maybe a Cuckoo clock, and Birkenstocks of course! Maybe one day I will be able to make it back to such a beautiful place :)

I am trying to decide what I am going to do this weekend. A group of people are going to Rome but it is going to be like a 12-15 hour travel time. This is enough time to go back to Texas!!! I don't think I can ride the train that long. I want to stay here in the Leuven/Brussels area this weekend. I think it would be fun to go to Oostende to the beach on Friday since the weather is supposed to be clear and 24 degrees C. Then we could come back to Leuven in the evening and be there for the concerts around town. Then on Saturday we could shop in Leuven (I want to go to the I love Leuven shop, find some Birkenstocks, go to the M museum in Leuven, and go to the student bookstore at K.U. Leuven) and then make a day-trip to Brussels. I would like to see some monuments in Brussels and do some souvenir shopping for "Belgium" souvenirs while in Brussels. Then, possibly we could go to Luxembourg on Sunday or Monday for a day-trip since we don't need to be back early to study for exams next week, especially if we get our field trip reports done early. Everything is really up in the air right now but I am leaning towards staying in the area this weekend and touring Belgium. There is also a market in Leuven on Friday morning that is sort of like a trade days or nice flea market. There are lots of little tables and booths set up throughout the square and city hall area. I would love to go to that also. There is also a water park in Brussels that Jacob (the Belgian guy in our classes) told us about. We could also go there if the weather stays nice through the weekend and not rainy. Within the next few days, I guess I will decide for sure my plans for this weekend. I met a family from Amarillo while in Germany and they said that they had toured most of Europe and their favorite place of all was Brussels. So, I think I may just hang around and tour Brussels this weekend. I could save a lot of money by not having to pay for a hostel/hotel this weekend.

A lot of people have been talking about going home lately and being super excited to get back to the U.S....... (Brad!) It is making me really homesick. I miss my parents and Texas soooo much right now. I hope I can focus on studying tonight and get my mind off of Texas. I also miss Texas food. When I get home I want to eat some super good Mexican food - like a giant plate of enchiladas with rice, beans and sweet tea. And maybe a breakfast taco! Also, I would actually like a steak with mashed potatoes and pie or cake of some sort. I noticed that everyone in Germany eats bread with EVERY meal. Most of their diet consists of carbs.... horrible for trying to keep my figure while over here, but delicious of course!

We only have about 16 more days left in Europe. Time is flying by! But, I just want to say, Mom, Dad, Kayla, and everyone else ------ I miss you and will see you soon! And I wish I was going to the Davis wedding with my family this weekend. Love from Belgium, as always!
<3 BRE

Be sure to check out all my photo albums on my Facebook page. I have lots of pictures from all the cool places I have been so far. And wish me luck on my other mid-term exam tomorrow; I will need it!