Gratitude

I just sent my old roommate a facebook message telling her that i missed her, and I saw that I had a previous message, which is weird, because we had never sent facebook messages to each other before. And basically, it was for before we had moved in. And it just was asking us (Julia and I) to switch apartments to across the way. I literally have never seen that message ever. In my life. Like, I didn't see it before I moved in, or after I moved in or ever. I never got the notification. And after talking with Julia, she said the same thing happened to her. She just never saw the message about them asking us to find another apartment so the other roommate could stay. 

So we moved in completely unaware that they had tried to contact us. 

Honestly. I am so glad we didn't. SO freaking glad. I have met my best friends in that apartment. If I hadn't moved there I wouldn't have moved to brownstone. I wouldn't have met Maraika, which means I wouldn't have had the wonderful opportunity to meet Jake. Honestly I look back and think who would I be without my awesome roommates. They probably don't know it, but they are slowly changing me for the good. 

And don't even get me started on our awesome FHE brothers. Those guys are seriously some of the best guys I know. I love all of them. They are some of the most spiritual, uplifting, fun to be around guys. And all I know is, whoever I marry needs to be like them. My standards are so high now we'll be lucky if I ever get married. 

I am so grateful for the Lord in my life. He knows exactly what I need. Whether it's traveling across the globe (I'm supposed to be here. I just don't know why yet.) or having my facebook act funny and not show me a message, he will provide the way that will be most beneficial for me. Even if I don't know he's doing it. 

So. I'll just take this moment to express my appreciation for my God, my roommates (the old and the new), my FHE brothers (the old and the new....Tyler....), and always, my Family.

I can't figure out why that post is weird, why it's all highlighted. I really am having quite a good time. Toady After work I'm going to transfer my money into Euros. Then maybe I'll do some shopping.
It'll be fun. I cannot wait for the weekend. 

Belgium Day Two 19/11/12

The Lord is really on my side because I have no idea how I keep ending up where i am supposed to be. But I do. Like today I got off the wrong metro stop, and I had to ask like 5 people where the library was and none of them knew and most didn't speak english. Finally a man knew sorta where it was.
Then when leaving work, I walked too far and got super lost. But I found a metro station, and got on what I thought was the correct metro, but it was wrong, and it took me farther from where I wanted to go, so then I got on the correct one, and got off on my stop, and had to transfer, so I got on that metro, only to find out that that too was the wrong one and it took me to the wrong place. And you can't just cross the tracks, like, you have to go up and around. So I went up but I couldn't find the other side. But I did find some really cool buildings. FINALLY I got on the right one. And I had to walk to where I am staying by myself. But I found it without a problem. 
Pretty much. But it's gorgeous. It's kind of similar to Egypt, but a little bit nicer. I'm sure I'll like it more soon. Right now it's just kind of stressful and scary.
Work is kind of Hell (pardon my language), but it is. I'm in this make shift room made from black curtains and it seriously barely fits a desk and chair. On the desk is this camera stand thing with two super bright hot lights on it. So the room gets sups hot. Plus I have to wear a smock-y thing and black gloves and a mask. Which makes it like 10 times hotter. Plus i can't even sit. So I am literally standing for about 6 hours in this super hot place taking pictures of hundreds of years old scores. Which are from operas and ballets. And they are scores for everything. The volins, violas, cellos, basses, flutes, oboes... everything and there are more than one score for each part. And David (Boss man) wants them to be perfectly centered and the strip that I put next to them to identify them straight and a certain ways away, and the scores have to be centered with the camera too. Which would be fine, but they are cropping everything out besides the music, so it doesn't even matter. So, they have to be perfect. Plus. Three times today he's been like " Are you going your fastest?" or "You're gonna have to go faster if we're going to make any progress at all." or "And I thought I was gonna have trouble keeping up with you. But I can see that won't be a problem."  But I guess I can understand why he's frustrated. Actually I don't think he is. I think that's just how he is. He's a good guy I know. 
So. It's frustrating.  And I always feel nauseous in there.... Anyway. There ARE good things too. Believe it or not. My Host family is amazing. She has 2 kids still at home. Louisa, she's 18 and Tale... I don't know how to spell it it's pronounced Tall-eh. And they're all super fun to hang out with.
The buildings here are so pretty and old. I'm sure soon I'll find things to love.... But right now it's hard. 
But tomorrow can only get better! 
Also. Junk food here is sooooo much better. Like right now I am eating a frozen pizza. But it is legit. Like, normal pizza sauce and cheese with spirts of mozzarella cheese, spinich, and roasted tomatoes. Yeah. That was a frozen pizza. 

Belgium Day One (18-19/11/12)

It was so foggy when we landed that everyone in the plane were surprised when we landed, I honestly thought we were still in the air. Then the hard part, buying a train ticket, finding which train to get on and figuring out when to get off. Eventually I asked a girl, and we communicated mostly through hand gestures and repeating things a lot.

While I was sitting on the train an older man got on the train and he was legitimately wearing a barrette. It was pretty cool. Eventually I got off and took a taxi to where I was to be working. But, there was a blockade and so he couldn't take me all the way. So I had to walk 2 blocks. Which wasn't bad. Then I worked/slept for a bit. Work will be... interesting. Then I got really sick. Well. Not actually sick. But I felt pretty nauseous. So I called Regina, who I am staying with, and we figured out a way to meet her.
I had to take the metro and then get off and change metro lines. And then get off again.
Guys. He knows what's up. Cause I was totally in the wrong place. But Regina found me!
Now I am showered and fed and feeling great. Except tiredness. But that will pass.
Seriously I think this is the coolest family I have ever met. They moved from Africa 16 years ago. And they all speak English at home. And they don't even have accents, even though the 2 kids at home have lived in France for most of their lives (Africa before then, remember?) Yeah.
This'll be good. 

Flying

So, I won't lie to you. I was (am) terrified of going to a foreign country alone, I have cried so many times the past couple of days. I have never felt such crippling fear. It was frustrating, because I didn't want to be crying. It would just happen.
Anyway. All of the flights went swimmingly (flyingly?). On the way to Denver I sat by a nice man who was in Utah for business, he works for John Deere, he was excited to get back home and see his grandkids and wife.
On the way to Philadelphia I sat by a women going home to New York. She was taking some laser type of course thing... Honestly, I have no idea what it was. But she said laser. I was texting Julia and she asked where I was, I said Illinois. Later she corrected me, Philly is in Pennsylvania, not Illinois, which I should have known.
As I was sitting in the Philly airport I just cried and cried. I was so nervous and worried.
I saw this mom with  a young baby. As we were boarding they called for people with young kids to board, and she didn't go up. They called my section to board, but I didn't go. She was just sitting there rocking her crying baby, all of her (her babies) carry ons at her feet. Finally, I did what I should have at the beginning, I asked her if she wanted help carrying all the stuff. She said yes with such desperation and I wondered how people could walk by her without wanted to help. I should have done it sooner.
The plane ride was fine. My family should know that I ate ALL the food they gave me. ALL OF IT. And I used the airplane bathroom not once, but twice. For those of you who don't know, I never eat the food in the airplane and I never go potty either. Boom. Win.
After we landed I stayed on and went back to the young mother's seat and helped her carry her stuff to customs. She asked for my address, which I gave her. Maybe I shouldn't have.... Oh well.
So yeah. That was my flights. 

Belgium!

I'm here! I made it. I'll post an actual post later on. I'm much too tired and have to start work soon.
I love you all. Thank you for praying for me. I could definitely feel them. And they all were answered. 

What the What?

I found out on Thursday(15, November) that I will be going to Belgium this Sunday (17 November).
I'm pretty shocked too. Honestly, I think I could count the number of people that know I am going on one hand.
It'll be fun for my roommates on the Sundays I'll be gone. People will be like " Where is Josie?" And They'll say "Oh, she's in Belgium.". It will be funny.
I will be gone until 1 December. I know I know. "What about school?" you say? No worries. I just took some tests early. And I am going because I speak Arabic, so, that covers Arabic. The other class is French Choir. Do I even need to explain that one?
So yes. I will post stories, updates and photos here (Hopefully). If I have the time/internet connection/if my computer will work the whole time.
We shall see won't we?