Belgian chocolate!

The rumors I've have heard about the wonders of Belgian chocate is definitely not exagarrated. They are brilliant! (say it with a British accent for maximum effect!) I tried this one the Belgians call "seduction" - a raspberry creme filled confection with a wafer bottom surrounded by milk chocolate .... Soooo good. I don't think it's helping me with the ladies though haha. (inside joke .. bahaha) I was also able to try Belgian hot chocolate. The extra smooth, and creamy hot chocolTe with a variety of flavours. I tried a equadoruan dark hot chocolate. It definily puts powdered or even. Starbucks hot chocolates to shame!

Our walk though the old city of Brussels also gave me a glimpse of life in a continential European city. It was a different sight to see the many restaurants with tables set right onto public side walks. I have definitely notced the language barrier more and more as we've left London. English is something I take for granted as I've realized how hard it is for us to communicate without. It might be European culture, but going to restaurants here in Belgium feels like going to a Chinese restaurant as someone that isn't Chinese - the poor service definitely is something you don't expect! Thankfully the food was decent enough! 

While traverrsing through Brussels, nwe had the opportunity to check out some of the EU's institutions. Our visit to the EU Concil was a very good experience as we were able to pick the brains of someone who worked within the institutions. We also had the experience of meeting with a Canadian national that was in charge of bridging the gaps between the EU and Canada. As a group it was definitely an experience as we were able to get a glimpse about te complexities and challenges of negotiating a massive trade pact that is second only to NAFTA in size (from a Canadian perspective)!

On the way to Brussels!!

Our final day in London was certainly interesting. We started off with another brilliant breakfast (sometimes I think I would just to scrap the rest of th trip and just stay in London). We then embarked in more tours of London and surrounding areas. Even though we've visited some of the sights many times, it seems like there are always something new and intriguing about them. As we were riding along on the bus today, it meant that we were finially able to rest little after hoofing around yesterday.

We also celebrated a momentous occasion - the naming of our our mascot..... Winston! Yes. After 3 days of deliberation, we finally decided on what we should call this manded mascot of ours! :) 

I've written most if this as we were flying from London to Brussels. The flight itself was smooth and quick. It took us 40 minutes to fly from one place to the other!

Before I go sleep, I am just going to sum up my experience in London. While wasn't too much of a culture shock, there were definitely thngs that I wasn't used to. European pizza, transit system, and even mundane things like tipping at restaurants or crossing the street are just a few that come to mind. 

All in all, I would say London was awesome. The sights, photography opportunities and even our business meetings were interesting and informative. Heck they even have a Tim Hortons, so that automatically makes it that much better :D

Also, one last London obserrvation: it is true that starbucks have taken over the world... They are EVERYWHERE!

First day!!

Wow! What an eventful day! It is still sinking in ... The fact that we are actually in Europe! Landing an hour late due to a snowstorm in Calgary, it was a relief that our flight went smoothly and quickly. In London, we checked into our hotel and ha a dinner of authentic English fish and chips! We then walked around some of the London suburbs, and took lots of amazing photographs. It was really cool to see Buckingham palace at night!

It is time to go to sleep though. I think I've had about 9h in the last 36-48 hours haha. G'nite Calgary!

Safe and sound in London!

Well, just so everyone knows, I'm safe and sound in London! The flight was quick after the snow delay bit yeah, I'm here!!

2 days till departure!

It's been an interesting experience this week with uncertainty of not being able to leave looming over our trip as the result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland. There was an ash cloud that could have prevented us from even leaving Calgary. At times like these its definitely trying as something you can't control can prevent you from leaving on a trip you've looked forward to going on for a couple of months! The only thing I can do is to rely on God's sovereignty and pray that air travel resumes and our flight not canceled!

This also marks the day before my graduation celebrations take place. I am definitely still feeling nostalgic about it all. One things for sure though, these past 7 years in post-secondary were definitely the best years of my life and I won't trade this experience for anything! I guess it is time to close this chapter of my life and move on knowing that God has everything in control!

The end of a chapter.. and onto the unknown.

Well, this is it.. my university career is now over after 7 awesome years! I don't even know what to say right now. I am definitely excited to be done and to move on, yet scared and nervous about the future. I guess having known one way of life for the past 19 years has this effect on you.

One thing I am thankful for is definitely the friendships that I have built over these years. It was great spending some of the best years of my life with these guys and gals (you know who you are) =)

The future is as of now unknown, but I'll be going to Europe for a couple of weeks. When I get back, I have my yearbook to finish up, so I guess it isn't so bad!

Birthday Blog

Hmmm.. I decided to take a break from writing my ethics paper and write a blog on my birthday. Oh yes, I do live an exciting life. Homework on my birthday! woot! Anyways, it has been a good week! We had one extra day of holidays and it's definitely needed to catch up on sleep and get a head-start on writing my final term paper. In the midst of all this business, I also official received my first land title and also got a new knee-brace after I lost my old one (yes stupid me).

Yet, that is probably not the best thing that has happened. My hockey team, the Calgary Flames, have clawed their way back into playoff contention! It has been a gut wrenching couple of weeks as I followed them as they fought through a post Olympic haze and went on a roller coaster ride though wins and losses. Sometimes I want to kick those multimillionaires in the tail end myself to get em going (mostly cuz im just jealous).

Reflecting on this weekend, I should mention that it is honour to share this 25th birthday with Easter falling on the same weekend. There is no other way to make it more memorable than to celebrate this milestone remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made to allow us, as humanity, the chance to embrace the grace and forgiveness of Jesus and be accepted as God's children with the promise of eternal life in heaven! At lasts week's church service at Centre Street Church, we watched a dramatic presentation of God's "Love Story" for us. It served as a very vivid reminder that while we often don't deserve it, God's love for us is unparalleled and we just have to choose to surrender to Him. During this service, a quartet also covered Point of Grace's - "The Great Divide". It's an awesome oldie from the 90s (yes, as I get older I can use the term 'oldie' haha). You should youtube it.

Back to my paper now.. but I have a sudden craving for a birthday Peter's Drive-In Milkshake. It's unfortunate they are closed now >.<