the pursuit of adventure

i'm megan, and this is my travel blog. district 6420 rotary exchange student for 2013-2014!  exchange students

[megansadventures]

Regarding the Italians in Anderlecht: there used to be a shitton of coal mines around that area of Brussels, and when the Belgian mine workers got sick of the labour and went on to get better jobs, the government promoted working in the mines over in Italy, where there was a crises. So a lot of Italians came over to Belgium to work in the mines, and they just stuck around, had kids, became Belgians,... Some history background for you-! And welcome to my country. :D

oh, awesome! hahah thanks! :)

[megansadventures]

i am finally in belgium!! i arrived about 11 am on friday after my flight was delayed due to the weather in chicago. when i got to brussels, it was so sunny!! and my parents kept joking about how i would expect belgium to be like that all the time when its really not haha :)

mom pronounces miami like "me ah me"

there are a crap ton of trees here 

there are so many trees WOW

lots of graffiti??

apparently charleroi, the big city where ill be going to school, is like their chicago. but with less violence obviously.. they mostly think its just really gritty and not nice to look at haha

i watched some tv show called Secret Story and usually i can figure out the plot/point of a show but wow i have no idea what goes on in Secret Story. all i know is Gotye is the cute one

they also had a french version of minute to win it hahah

you know how in tv game shows when theres music playing in the background the audience always tries to clap along with it but they never stay on beat?? yeah belgians are the opposite, they were on beat even AFTER the song stopped playing. i was impressed

this morning my host sister was listening to a french version of Popular from the musical Wicked, but it was more rock than the original hahah

the city of Anderlues is beautiful and i guess a lot of italians live there?? im not sure if the two are related but c'est possible

they have Aldi grocery stores here!!!!

a lot of roundabouts

most of the cars are stick shift

everyone pronounces my name like Mee-gahn or May-gahn

people take their little dogs with them everywhere pretty much

i saw graffiti on a house that just said Ta Mère which made me laugh

they drive very fast, even when it was pouring rain

they eat dinner really late, around 7 or 8 but guests dont usually leave until midnight or eleven

you always bring flowers for the host

you have to kiss everyone at the party on the cheek at least once if not three times. same when you leave, too. its not like in the states where you can just wave and leave haha

anyways i should head to bed, we are waking up early to,orrow to visit what i guess is the smallest town in belgium. i will post pictures soon i hope! au revoir <3

[megansadventures]

tonight was my last day working at the deli, so my coworkers brought me a cake as a farewell!

they're so sweet, and i'll miss all of them for sure <3

[megansadventures]

two weeks left in the states.

belgium, i'm comin for ya

[solehur]

this playlist goes out to all the exchange students out there just like me. hoping these songs will inspire you, make you smile and push through it all, and be the soundtrack of your experience.

(this also works for everyone who’s willing to leave their home, wants to travel, leave everything behind and make the most out of it)

listen on 8tracks | download .zip

[it’d be super cool if you could like this post if you liked/downloaded the playlist]

[ahetherington]

As we look down the 7th fairway on Gullane No.1 I can tell you these local Scottish golfers are made of hard stuff. It’s about to get real nasty out there…

[dreams-of-japan]

[megansadventures]

Late Summer | by onigiri-kun | via dreams-of-japan

[just-wanna-travel]

Rome, Italy

[couloirsvides]

Chocolade Wafels Bier, July 2013.  Ink and pigment on mat paper.

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I dream of streets Which take me to places Far beyond Where I belong I dream of places Far beyond My knowing Where a fresh start is just Within hands reach I dream of a new life A new adventure I dream I dream

[brutalgeneration]

[wvnderlst]

Rockaway Beach, New York

[photomelissa]

Didn’t know this street existed until today. Love when photo shoots take me to fun new spots.

[seashellsandshamrocks-deactivat]

One more sleep until a new King and Queen of the Belgians 

[royalwatcher]

Ladies and Gentlemen, Before resigning, I am glad to speak, for the last time, the Governments of the country and by this means the entire population. I would like to thank you for all the positive that you have realized the benefit of our dear country. During my reign Then, I wanted a special tribute to the Prime Minister. He has the difficult task of forming accepted and completed successfully, and then, with the Deputy Prime Ministers and the whole Government, in difficult circumstances, to take to safeguard the welfare of all Belgians as well as possible the measures a government . Please let me also congratulate the Presidents of the eight parties which, together with the Prime Minister, have agreed to reform. Our federal thoroughly Belgium modernizes itself and I am pleased about that. I also wish to thank him for the considerable work done. Involved the two Secretaries of State Although the operation of our institutions usually brought me during my reign in contact with the head and members of the successive governments, I wish here the essential role of our parliamentary assemblies to recognize, and in particular the role of the opposition without which there is no democracy worthy of the name would be. This applies equally to the press at all costs we must cherish. At Queen Paola who has supported me during this 20-year-resistant wish I simply say thank you. Thank you, also want to say to all my staff who have given me. Valuable advice Finally, as King and as a father, I want to focus to my son, who will follow me now. Philippe, you possess the warm heart and the intellect to serve in your new responsibilities. Our country very well Yourself and your dear wife, Mathilde, have our full confidence. It is the sincere wish of your mother and myself that you are successful may fill you so well prepared the task. In conclusion, I wish all who are present here, to encourage incessantly continue to work for the cohesion of Belgium. Thus you are true peacemakers, will you be able to best defend the good of all, and our country will remain an inspiration for Europe, which seeks unity in diversity. Thank you.

King Albert II in his last speech as the King of the Belgians (via royalwatcher)

[crownprincely-deactivated201409]

[could-start-again-deactivated20]

Happy national day to all the Belgians !