Day Before Brussels

At work, I spent some free time making a map of Brussels on Google Maps.  I marked the things I wanted to visit to get a sense of where everything is in the city.  I even made back up plans in case the weather is too cold or too rainy or in case something just doesn't go right.  Go me!

Later in the afternoon, Marianne sent me to pick up some stuff.  I went to Maplin's (electronics store) and then a graphics design store.  Got lost on the way to the second one because I wasn't familiar at all with the routes in that direction.  Ended up taking the right bus but didn't recognize the right stop.  It was a long walk.  But I still saw a part of the city I didn't see before.  AND I had a MAP ON ME thanks to Marianne so I wasn't too panicky.  But I was impatient because it was starting to get dark and my internal clock still thinks it's five when it starts to get dark out.  I'm not the only one messed with the latitude change.  Molly and the rest of the Americans I know complain about it too.  I didn't complain at first; I just accepted it as the way things are.  Maybe I misjudged some things back home because hey, it was dark by 5pm when I was little.  So it's nothing different than what we're used to.  But we're blaming the change of location anyway.

Back at Blackdog, I printed my map and because it didn't come with the markings, I marked it myself.  Then I wrote down what everything was and the planned itinerary I made up (very rough because I didn't know how long I would spend at each place).  Rushed back to the dorm thinking I would have to make a personal pizza which takes 20 minutes to cook and another 20 to eat.  But as it turns out, I have some rice and some fruit I can eat instead.  I know it's not much, but if I'm still hungry, I'll pick up a kabob or something at Victoria Station.  I still have 5 quid to spend in cash.

So now I'm all prepared.  Got my passport, got my tickets, got some documentation in case they need proof that I am indeed a student in London.  Got my phone (charged), my camera (charged), my wallet, a sweatshirt for a pillow, a jacket, a scarf, hat, gloves, toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, journal, notebook of travel information, etc etc.  Am I missing anything?  Need to remember to buy Belgium chocolates, a Belgium waffle, something sweet for mom and dad, a Belgium patch for me, and postcards.  I do believe that's it for now. 

And now I'm off to dinner.  Wish me luck!!!  Still nervous about border control though I shouldn't be.  Still nervous about wandering a city where the main language isn't English.  (But it shouldn't be much different than London.  Practically no one speaks English here.)