TOP TEN

Top Ten Lessons Learned From My European Adventures:

10. Never decide at the last minute to use CHEAP, DISPOSABLE razors..... I have the battle wounds to prove it. Why again did I think my normal razor was so heavy and would add soooo much extra weight to my suitcase?!

9. Though they may look like MONOPOLY money.... Euros are 100% real money and should not be spent as if it is fake..... and watch out for the exchange rates.

8. Always figure out how to use public transportation if you are going to be somewhere for an extended period of time.... whether it be the metro in paris, the tube in london, or a bike from the 70s in Leuven. It makes your life 100X easier.

7. Panos = love. Panos was one of the first restaurants we found in Leuven and it was definitely our subway/jimmy johns replacement. We have frequented many Panos while traveling through Belgium. (It's a nice change from the double fried french fries and everything else fried and covered in thick sauce)

6. Don't forget your passport when trying to go register with the city of Leuven. They don't care if you have your driver's license, a credit card, debit card, a COPY of your passport, and 10 other forms of identification. THEY WANT YOUR PASSPORT.

5. Check your flight status before you leave in the morning --- who knows when some Iceland Volcano will decide to disrupt your travel plans.

4. Leave plenty of time when traveling on the high speed train to London. Unlike when going to Paris, you have to check in, go through security as if you were in an airport, fill out paperwork, and then get harassed for 10 minutes by the border control about your travel plans. (apparently I look suspicious). Oh and you should also check your train tickets when you get them just to make sure the date is correct on them. If you don't you are in for a terrible surprise when the date on the ticket is for YESTERDAY and you then must run through the station and pray that the guy at the ticket counter is nice enough to fix it for you. So save yourself the hassle and just check the date.

3. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, ask old grumpy belgian men if they serve "just" french fries in their 100000 year old restaurant. They will proceed to yell at you for 5 minutes and lecture you about the difference between a restaurant and a "frituur".

2. Learn the first time not to blow up your electrical appliances. After blowing up a converter, blow dryer, and straightener within the first 3 hours of being in Belgium I think I FINALLY learned my lesson. Be careful and aware of the electrical voltage differences!


.....and finally the number 1 thing I learned in Europe.....

1. Everyone knows you are American from a mile away. Whether this be due to how we dress (apparently shorts aren't common in Belgium), how we talk (English isn't the language of the world?! who knew), or the fact that we are obnoxiously LOUD... they always see us coming. Embrace it. But then be prepared for the rude and irritating gestures and remarks as you walk by. European guys think its ok to be creepy and make inappropriate comments every time they see you. We haven't exactly figured out why they think this is actually going to get them anywhere with us.