We all know that time does not stand still and, especially
during my return visits to Belgium, the confrontation with time and change is
immense and sometimes shocking. I, and some of my friends as well, seem to
realize just now that ten years have passed in a jiffy! Teenage and young adult
buddies are all settled in a nice home, with their families, having a good job
and a comfortable life, while I feel like I have remained the same, still
roaming around the globe without securities, plans or material goods. And, each
time I come back “home”, it is still me greeting my parents, family and
friends, but my surroundings have changed.
As always, I am truly enjoying my stay in Belgium – this time for
eight weeks – with all the luxuries (read: comfort), spoils and social
activities it involves. With more time than previous years, having moved off
Irie and not needing to worry about her, I managed to do a few nostalgic things. I went to concerts with friends, rebuilt my “old”
bedroom with my dad, spent time sorting things out on the attic, browsed through decade old photo albums, and went to a flea market to
sell some of my belongings. I also spent days with my “new” nephew Lenn, who can
almost walk. I happened to be around for his baptizing and one year
birthday party!
During the first three weeks of my visit, my mom and I spent
a rainy day in the university city of Leuven, hung out with my friend Rosy and
her daughter Yanou, went for a few walks in nature, and my aunt Marleen paid me
a nice visit. The weather was unusually sunny and warm; I soaked up every ray
of sunshine, finally being able to enjoy sitting outside without suffering from
the heat and high humidity of the tropics. The temperatures were around 30
degrees Celsius: perfect! Mid-August, Mark arrived in Belgium. The pace was
cranked up and our lives turned busier. More about that in my next blog!
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| Lenn, my one year old nephew |
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| Rosy, Yanou, Peter and, more importantly, big milkshakes and farm made rice pudding! :-) |
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| Dad, mom and aunt Marleen |
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| Walking with Lenn in nature |
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| The Collaert family: my brother Robin with Lenn, mom, dad with Lena and me in my parents' yard |
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| Tessa and Lenn at his baptizing ceremony |
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| Lenn's baptizing with a happy Lena |
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| Baptizing ceremony with the proud God parents |
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| Baptizing ceremony Lenn |
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| Lena, Lenn and "oma" Agnes |
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| Birthday party Lenn |
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| Lenn, my dear 95-year old oma and me |
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| Re-constructing my favorite bedroom |
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| Handyman dad at work |
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| These are ALL the clothes and shoes I own! | | |
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| Spoils also come in the diversity of fresh fruit |
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| Pretty city of Leuven |
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| Town Hall of Leuven |
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| A rainy day in the city |
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| Lead singer Tom Barman of the band dEUS |
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| My favorite Belgian band dEUS in concert (Lokeren) |
We all know that time does not stand still and, especially
during my return visits to Belgium, the confrontation with time and change is
immense and sometimes shocking. I, and some of my friends as well, seem to
realize just now that ten years have passed in a jiffy! Teenage and young adult
buddies are all settled in a nice home, with their families, having a good job
and a comfortable life, while I feel like I have remained the same, still
roaming around the globe without securities, plans or material goods. And, each
time I come back “home”, it is still me greeting my parents, family and
friends, but my surroundings have changed.
As always, I am truly enjoying my stay in Belgium – this time for
eight weeks – with all the luxuries (read: comfort), spoils and social
activities it involves. With more time than previous years, having moved off
Irie and not needing to worry about her, I managed to do a few nostalgic things. I went to concerts with friends, rebuilt my “old”
bedroom with my dad, spent time sorting things out on the attic, browsed through decade old photo albums, and went to a flea market to
sell some of my belongings. I also spent days with my “new” nephew Lenn, who can
almost walk. I happened to be around for his baptizing and one year
birthday party!
During the first three weeks of my visit, my mom and I spent
a rainy day in the university city of Leuven, hung out with my friend Rosy and
her daughter Yanou, went for a few walks in nature, and my aunt Marleen paid me
a nice visit. The weather was unusually sunny and warm; I soaked up every ray
of sunshine, finally being able to enjoy sitting outside without suffering from
the heat and high humidity of the tropics. The temperatures were around 30
degrees Celsius: perfect! Mid-August, Mark arrived in Belgium. The pace was
cranked up and our lives turned busier. More about that in my next blog!
Wow, it's really good to see your family again through the photos you've posted. There are many bright and smiling faces to be seen there. I'm happy to see that your visit was enjoyable and productive. You even got to see dEUS. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karl!! It is always good to be back. For a little while... :-)
ReplyDelete