Brussels Belgium

I took the train across the channel to visit the Decock family. Our families met while we were vacationing in Disneyland Florida in 1989 (I believe). We have been friends since and send letters, emails and visit when we can. Sofie and Joke, the two daughters my age showed me around their hometown, introduced me to their boyfriends and we all gossiped a lot. This was my first experience being surrounded by a family that could jump from one language to the next (five altogether) without blinking an eye. Sofie undertook to teach me a little Dutch, my favorite word still is fritches (french fries) only because its fun to say! I went to a concert with Sofie and Luc her boyfriend where there was a pretty good band with a sitar player (I was enthralled).

The most amusing moment from my weekend visit in Belgium was that Rose, Sofie and Joke's mother, undertook to cut my hair. I had been asking about a local barber to get my hair trimmed and they said "but of course our mother could do that!" So I sat patiently in the kitchen with my wet hair (Sofie, Joke, and Luc the father as onlookers) while Rose expertly clipped away.

It was nice to feel known away from home and to be so welcomed as a part of the family.