bells!

The carillon was a complete mystery to me before last year. Now it's something I encounter on a regular basis, and hear while walking around town here in Leuven. It's one of my favorite musical phenomena, and one of the more interesting things I learned about last year.. A great friend and fellow Fulbrighter, Kim, taught me a lot about how it all works, and because of her I was able to get up close and see carillons being played in several different places. :) Below is a fun video from UT Austin, where she lives and plays now (as in, plays the carillon.. she also works and studies!).

http://utopia.utexas.edu/features/bells/index.html

If the link doesn't take you directly to the bell video, there should be an easy enough link from the page it does take you to.

Enjoy the bells! :)

two ice creams are better than one 

Welcome to my World

I'm pleased to announce that I have my own little piece of virtual real-estate, where I will post my thoughts and all those who are interested in following my adventures can log in at their convenience and check up on me.
I'll also take this opportunity to inform all that I have a new room, a new home, a new little world that I'm making myself comfortable in.
i've just finished up my exams -- what an experience, the Belgian University EXAMS!! -- and I'm looking forward to a quiet 2 weeks down-time, before starting up again with a highly demanding schedule of classes, where I must attend courses every Tuesday afternoon AND TWICE on Wednesdays. Yes, my hard work in the first semester has paid off, and I have made it through to the other side...
I'm excited about the opportunities that I will have this semester as well. I will be working on my Master's Thesis (which promises to be a great thrill), but I will also participate in an internship with a VERY cool inter-cultural organization in a nearby town (Mechelen -- remind me to tell you later, the story of the Maaneblussers) as part of my learning experience, so I'm very happy about that. I'll be learning all kind of practical things!
I'm also planning to start learning classical guitar - something I've always wanted to do, but just haven't done yet. Hopefully I'll pick it up quickly enough that my housemates won't have time to want to (or elaborate a plan in order to) strangle me! :) My housemates are very nice, by the way!
OK, more detail forthcoming. For now, I think it's time to move from my desk and take advantage of the lovely freezing-cold weather outside!
Take care!