LarkAbroad

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Belgium Day 108: Déjà Vu

In the next 24 hours, a foot of snow is predicted.

Of course, last week it was 50 degrees and sunny.

I fell for it- I had been feeling optimistic.

This year I have a goal to read 100 books. I am rather excited for this goal, as it essentially entails reading two books each week that are not academic or part of assignments for school. FIVE books down, 95 more to go. ;-D

1. Little Princes by Conor Grennan (highly recommend- about Nepal)

2. Passage to Istanbul by Joseph Kanon (meh- slow spy novel, not very much culture, do not recommend)

3. Desert Queen by Janet Wallach (you have to be in the mood)

8. SOLD by Zana Muhsen (highly recommend- about Yemen)

9. My Forbidden Face by Latifa (highly recommend- about Afghanistan)

Currently underway:
4. Tales from the Expat Harem by Anastasia Ashman (highly recommend)
5. Apples are from Kazakhstan by Christopher Robins (recommend- great explanations of Soviet transitions)

Up next:
6. Rebel Land by Christopher de Bellaigue
7. Crescent & Star by Stephen Kinzer

Friday, March 8, 2013

Belgium Day 105: Identity Crisis

After Arabic class this evening, I was walking down the slick cobblestone side walk, lost in my thoughts when three guys walked by having a conversation and I thought to myself, "Wow, that was so easy to understand." Then I laughed out loud because I realized the reason why it was so easy to understand was because the guys were speaking English. My brain has been so absorbed in translating the constant French with bubbles of Turkish with Arabic peppered in, that for an instant I forgot that I actually do speak English.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

100 Books

This year I have a goal to read 100 books. I am rather excited for this goal, as it essentially entails reading two books each week that are not academic or part of assignments for school. FOUR books down, 96 more to go. ;-D

1. Little Princes by Conor Grennan (highly recommend)

2. Passage to Istanbul by Joseph Kanon (meh- slow spy novel, not very much culture, do not recommend)

3. Desert Queen by Janet Wallach (you have to be in the mood)

8. SOLD by Zana Muhsen (highly recommend)

Currently underway:

4. Tales from the Expat Harem by Anastasia Ashman (highly recommend)

Up next:
5. Apples are from Kazakhstan by Christopher Robins
6. Rebel Land by Christopher de Bellaigue
7. Crescent & Star by Stephen Kinzer

Monday, March 4, 2013

100 Books

This year I have a goal to read 100 books. I am rather excited for this goal, as it essentially entails reading two books each week that are not academic or part of assignments for school. TWO books down, 98 more to go. ;-D

1. Little Princes by Conor Grennan (highly recommend)

3. Desert Queen by Janet Wallach (you have to be in the mood)

Currently underway:
2. Passage to Istanbul by Joseph Kanon (meh- slow spy novel, not very much culture)
4. Tales from the Expat Harem by Anastasia Ashman (highly recommend)

Up next:
5. Apples are from Kazakhstan by Christopher Robins
6. Rebel Land by Christopher de Bellaigue
7. Crescent & Star by Stephen Kinzer

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Belgium Day 100: Chocolate Class(Jan 31st)

The teacher/owner told us that when you are around chocolate all the time, you stop needing to eat it all the time. I am not yet convinced of this and believe I should test it out to confirm it!

My friend suggested this was the perfect place for a zombie apocalypse. I think she may be on to something. This room is in a basement, it very clean, is very well stocked in chocolate, and only has one entry point. Add some sleeping bags and water and we are in business.