Week two!

On Monday we didn't have any kids at work, so we got to go home at 1045! A lady we work with drove us to the mall, and we spent some time shopping there. I wanted to look for boots, because I am tired of my feet feeling like they are going to freeze off, and am also of tired of slidding everywhere I walk (it's not as fun as it looks, and is quite a workout on the abs.). I didn't find any though, but Britta found a really cute dress for her birthday. We got home around 5, and then proceded to watch six episodes of 24. It is really addicting, don't judge us.

Tuesday was payback for having such an easy day on Monday. The kids were back, and more energetic than ever. This week we start at 7 and get off at 330, which is really exciting. After work on Tuesday we went downtown to the Christmas market. We walked around and looked at all of the different things being sold. They also had a light show on one of the churches that we watched. We had heard there was an ice rink and ferris wheel, so we just kept walking, and eventually/luckily found it. The rink was really busy and covered in snow, so we didnt ice skate. I didnt really mind. Im always okay not being showed up by little kids who are freakishly good. Instead we rode the HUGE ferris wheel. Metta is a little afraid of heights, so that was fun :) After that we had some frites (fries). It is traditional to eat them with mayonase, which kinda freaks me out, but I figured when in Rome, or Belgian, do as they do. Bad idea. That was a waste of my 60 euro cents. For dessert we tried a Belgian waffle, which was the best 2.80euro I have ever spent. I might have to have another one of those before I leave :)

This morning I found out I will be able to meet the rest of the family in Argentina! I am so excited to be there for Dad! I'm so proud him! He has worked so hard to get to where he is, and I'm looking forward to watching his Hummer cross the finish line!

Talk to you all soon!

Alison

Pictures!

Day 7 and already over the snow :)

On Thursday we finished up all of our training at work. We only had a few children all day, and most of them we children of the employees so it was a very easy day. At about 4pm it started snowing, which wasn’t good because Jimmy and I were supposed to be driving to Stuttgart, Germany that night. By 5pm our last child went home, so we got to leave early. Jimmy picked me up around 630. (He probably would have been here at 6, but apparently I don’t know my own address. It took me about a half an hour to figure it out, yay for google!)

We thought we could make it to Stuttgart Thursday night, but after two hours we were not even past Jimmy’s house yet, so we decided to just go there and head to Stuttgart in the morning. We left at 730 on Friday morning, and for about 6 hours could not go faster than 35 mph. Needless to say, we played a lot of 20 questions! And agreed to disagree a few times too, hahaha. The drive should have only taken four hours, but it took us a little over eight.

When we finally made it to Stuttgart, Jon and baby Gavin were already at Jimmy’s parents’ house. I was so excited to see them! I haven’t seen Jon since my first summer with camp, and I hadn’t gotten to meet Gavin yet. He is such a beautiful baby boy, and is so happy! We had Christmas Eve dinner with Jimmy’s family, and their family friends, Jim and Irina, their five-week-old daughter Megan, and Jim’s daughter Jen and her husband. After dinner Evette got off work and came over too! It was a summer 09 reunion! :)

Later that night we all headed over to Jon and Evette’s to hang out for a little while. It was so nice to be able to catch up with them and play with Gavin. We stayed there for a few hours and then headed back to Jimmy’s house.

On Christmas morning we all opened presents, and Santa found me in Stuttgart!! Mom and Dad mailed over my stocking, and everyone there got me gifts also. It was so kind of them! I had a great Christmas with their family. They are all so fun! It took us a while to open presents. I have never seen so many gifts under a tree! We had breakfast after opening presents, watched tv and just relaxed, just like at home :)

Later that night we had a great Christmas dinner and then we all played Taboo. Jen, her husband Justin, Jimmy and I all went outside after dinner and had a snow ball fight, made snow angels, and just had some good old-fashioned fun in the snow :) It was a great christmas!

On Sunday we went over to Jon and Evette’s to say goodbye, and then left around noon just in case the roads still weren’t good. It stopped snowing on Saturday in Stuttgart, but we didn’t know about the other towns along the way. It took us about five hours to get to Brussels, and the roads were MUCH better. I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! Talk to you soon!

Alison

Winter wonderland!!

On Sunday morning at 4am Dad, Mom and I left for the airport for the second time. My first flight on Saturday morning was cancelled, so I was rescheduled for a new flight. The man  at the ticket counter apparently had god-like abilities, because he booked my flight from Atlanta to Brussels as first class! Needless to say, I was one happy camper!

My flight to Atlanta was amazing. I got a window emergency exit seat, which is the next best thing to first class. I slept until we were almost all of the way through Oklahoma, woke up, read a couple of chapters from my book, and then fell asleep again. I was probably only awake for an hour of the flight.

My next flight was nine hours and went directly to Brussels. It left a little late, but other than that there were no problems. First class was AMAZING! The biggest difference was the food, who would have thought airlines would serve filet mignon?? I watched a few movies, and pretty much didn’t sleep at all since I slept basically my whole first flight, but that was okay because it wasn’t like I was sitting uncomfortable in coach.

We were a little late when we landed, and then we had to walk outside in the snow to a bus to be taken to the terminal. It was cold, but because it wasn’t raining or anything, it wasn’t too unbearable. My main concern was slipping on the ice. (ps. So far its, Alison- 4, Ice- 0 :)) Once we made it through customs, I waited for an hour and a half to get my bags. I always thought Oakland was the slowest airport ever, but after that fiasco I will never complain again.

Once I met up with Tim from the CYS I am working at, we went to our Business Flats, dropped off my bags, and then went to work, totally exhausted. I met all of the kids and the staff we will be working with. Everyone seems really friendly and helpful, so that’s always exciting. Apparently we are on the smallest base in the world. It is only as big as one city block. They say its four buildings, but its really two buildings, but don’t tell them! We spent all say Monday going over training, which was not the best idea when I hadn’t slept a whole night in about two days. I was doing everything I could to keep my eyes open. That night I fought with all my might to make it until 8pm, and did. Since there was a snow delay on Tuesday, I was able to sleep 12 hours! It was amazing!

Tuesday was just more training. Tuesday night after work we went to the grocery store. After basically miming our questions for five minutes to one of the employees there, he told us he spoke English, and that everyone that works there has to speak English, dutch and French. Pretty impressive!

Wednesday we took the bus to work, and made it, so that was a win in itself! There wasn’t a snow delay, but we really didn’t have that many kids. We spent the beginning of the morning training, and then we watched a movie, made candy, made Christmas ornaments, played rock band, and one of my teens painted my nails. Talk about a hard day at work! Tonight we are just hanging out in the apartment and watching some football. I am packing for this weekend too. I will be spending Christmas in Stuttgart and we are leaving right after work tomorrow. Im really excited!! In case I cant post before then, I hope everyone has a merry christmas!! I miss you all!

 Love,

Al