Back to the Real World....

The Canaries were gorgeous; the sun felt amazing, and our trip out of the cold couldn't have gone any better. Its back to business as usual in Belgium with new classes starting this week and snow falling as I type this.

We arrived at Charleroi Sud (our airport) yesterday evening and made our way back through the metro system to our house in Koelelburg, Belgium. Comparative to the Canary's tropical climate, the bitter winter winds of Belgium were hardly welcomed.

As far as all our travels have gone, we did the least in the Canaries, which is exactly what I wanted. I remember being younger and not understanding why parents wanted to just lay on the beach and read or sleep. I always wanted to do something and easily got bored just 'lounging around'. This was different. For once I understood the whole ideal of just laying around. I spent two days sleeping, laying in the sun, and reading books. I did no sight seeing (unless it was in front of my towel on the ocean), I did little exploring (unless it included ritual morning jog down the beach), and I was in no way productive. I loved it and I would go back in a heart beat.

Back in Holland, we met a group of American students who were likewise studying abroad and took a weekend trip to the Netherlands. They were our neighbors in the hostel and we hung out a bit as we meandered around the city. We parted ways at the end of the week and I personally did not give it much more thought. However, on our second day in the Canaries, who came trudging by the pool yard, luggage in tow? Yep, the same American girls from the Netherlands. It was a pretty wild coincident and we again ended up hanging out with some fellow English speaking, American students (which is always a relief from trying to communicate in another language). This was their 'spring break' and they ended up staying a few days after we left but we definitely enjoyed having them around.

I knew I had gotten some sun on the beach but ultimately did not feel like it would amount to much considering how pale I was when I arrived. However, upon entering CUBC today and seeing how pale the rest of my class mates were, we immediately realized we were in fact far better off than previously thought. Our comrades looked on with jealousy because we, unlike them, had color in our skin.

Academically, my semester abroad is divided into quarters. I finished my first set of classes last week and this week I start Finance, Law, and Management. I'm especially looking forward to Law and Finance as I know very little definitive information in either of these areas and am always looking for ways to expand my real life education. I feel confident I will do well them.

We're headed to Dublin following class this Thursday evening to catch the start of the Saint Patrick's festival in Ireland. I'm excited about the trip but more on that later this week once I'm actually there.

Time for a jog...in the snow...not on the beach.

All good; all the time,

Thomas

Gran Canaria

Two full days of sun, fun, and relaxation. That's been our experience thus far in the La Isla de Gran Canarias. With not a cloud in sight, the fun continues!

Our hostel is the remake of an older hotel that was bought out, renovated (somewhat), and then put back on the market as short term apartments or rentable overnight rooms. Its nothing terrible and perfectly suitable for a group of college males on a tight budget. The building is about a five minute walk from the surf and that is by no means a hassle in my book. Just being out side, walking around in the sun and the warm air is a luxury I've hard far too little of recently.

We've spent the majority of the past two days just relaxing in the sand. Its a darker blend of sand than back home but just as fine and just as clean. Off in the distance you can see the volcanic mountains covered in lush tropical vegetation. Although ominous thunderheads linger in the distance, they've yet to interfere with our glorious take of the sun.

I'm sure you've all seen the old Bud Light commercials featuring "True American Heros". It was generally something along the lines of an extremely overweight male with skin so pale it rivaled Carrot Top. This 'American Hero' would be wearing an all too revealing speedo and the narrator would spout something similar to "If you've got it, flaunt it...and you're definitely got it." This mentality is shared and employed by a good portion of the locals as they take to the nudist sections. Trust me on this one, if you ever visit the Canaries...just steer clear of this area. In the interest of you own mental preservation, stay away.

An odd fact about the island dwellers...they do not like sea food. Let me clarify that statement. They live on an island, surrounded by tropical ocean, and choose not to eat sea food. I can't comprehend it, but was truly amazed with how difficult it was to find a sea food restaurant.

I've got to run now, but tomorrow we head back to Brussels. Regardless of our flight in the mid afternoon, I will still get in a few hours of sun light on the beach for one last time.

All good; all the time,

Thomas

Canary Islands; Paradise at Last

Its 4:30am and I hear the buzzer of my alarm ringing as I gradually arise from a sleep induced coma. Despite my general disdain towards being awoken for any reason aside of Christmas morning, I crawled out of bed (literally crawled) and mashed the start button on the coffee maker. While propping myself up against the living room table a sleepy sideways grin slid across my face...because on this morning, we're setting off for the Canary Islands.

Our plane lifted off from Charleroi Sud at 7:40am on a cold crisp morning. After spending four hours in the air listening to screaming infants triangulate my position and a Robert Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond) look alike flight attendant who couldn't speak a word of audible English to save his life, I was happy when the plane touched down in the sunny Canary Islands. A step onto the tarmac was essentially a rebirth from cold dismal Belgian climate. After instantly shedding my jacket, vest, overshirt, undershirt, scarf, and hat we jumped in a cab, and made our way to 'Playa de Palms' beach and hostel.

We checked in, dropped our bags, threw on some swim trunks, and made a mad dash for the beach. The sun was shinning, the air was warm, and it was humid (reminds me of home sweet home in Dixieland). I considered myself to be in paradise at this point. I'd been longing to be someplace remotely warm and sunny for weeks now and the time had finally come. Although you really don't appreciate it on a regular basis, the sun plays a major factor in a person's overall well being (as I've learned).

I crashed on a deserted stretch of sad and ended up sleeping in the sun for a couple hours. A perfect start to a great vacation.

Internet here is a bit dodgy but I'll do my best to update my happenings when I can. Wishing everyone the best!

All good; all the time,

Thomas