DIScourse

After three months abroad, I'm back in the Portland area for an indefinite amount of time.

I had a great final day in Antwerp. I began the day by getting some of my things together to take to the office so I could mail them back to the states (since my luggage was already full). Of course it grey and raining when I left the apartment, so I put the things in plastic bags and then on the back rack of the bike. Immediately after tying them on and unlocking the bike the whole lot fell off the rack and I thought I was going to be doomed. However, a man walking by helped me get everything back on the rack and then I was able to slowly and carefully ride to work keeping the packages on the rack with one hand.

At work I spent the day getting the package ready, cleaning up my desk, getting the papers I needed, and saying goodbye to the people that were in the office (a lot of people were on vacation). At 12:30 I said my final goodbyes and went to the Demeulemeester shop to try on the suit that was waiting there for me. For some reason the jacket was twice the amount as the jackets I had seen in the same cut on the first day of the fall collection. I suppose it was just the fabric, but it really didn't seem like it was that different, a black wool, linen and cotton blend. After trying on the coat I decided that it really seemed a little too big in the shoulders and chest (it was an XS and I probably really take an XXS in her tops). I really wanted to get something else for fall though so I kept looking around and trying things on. I tried on pants, vests, sweaters, cardigans, coats, hats, etc and finally I saw a double breasted coat (sort of a peacoat) in the women's section that was in a heavy wool/metal fabric. It was the only one available in that fabric and it was a size 38, so I tried it on. It fit perfect and looked great with my new glasses as well as the the shirt, t-shirt and scarf I got earlier. So, after three hours we had a toast at the store, I said my goodbyes to the staff and left with a new winter coat!

Halfway home I realized that I had forgotten about the money that I had put down to hold the pants until the suit jacket came in. I walked home and hung up my coat then walked back to the shop, making a short detour at the Kulminator for a final Belgian ale (actually it was a Dutch trappist triple ale). When I got back to Ann's shop I decided that I wanted another accessory, so after another hour I left with a black flower brooch and scarf.

I walked back home and had some left over curry and rice from the night before and packed most of my things. After packing my small trolley and weekend bags I walked them to the train station and put them in a locker (to save time and pain in the morning). I then went to the ticket office and bought my train ticket for the following morning. I then went back to my apartment and took a short nap before my final meeting with Romy Smits.

What was going to be an early night of meeting a friend (for a single drink) and then packing and getting to bed early so that I'd be prepared for my 7am train ride to Amsterdam, turned out to be a very long night of drinking (beer, wine, whiskey and vodka), eating mussels and frites and talking. I got back to my apartment after 3am and nearly overslept. When I got up I was in a panick since it was 6am and I wasn't completely packed. I quickly got ready and threw what was remaining in my large suit case and back pack then quickly walked to the train station. Luckily it wasn't raining.

By the time I got to the station I was dripping in sweat from wearing my new coat as well as a sweater vest, long sleeve shirt, and boots (stuff that took up too much stuff in my suit case). I got the bags out of the locker and went to the platform where to my surprise I was 9 minutes early. Getting all the bags on the train was a little struggle but I got a seat near the door. The next two hours were uneventful and I was just trying to stay awake so I wouldn't miss my stop.

I arrived at Schiphol in plenty of time and got a luggage cart to push all my things. Checking in was simple enough and I got priority treatment on my luggage which was nice. I then had to take my receipt to the VAT returns office to get stamped. When I arrived at the office there was a huge line of Chinese tourists getting a demonstration of what to do at the VAT office in order to get the refund. I wasn't about to wait my turn behind the group of tourists with all their shopping bags so while their guide was talking to them I walked past them and into the office. The woman in the office looked at my papers and quickly stamped them so the whole thing took less than 5 minutes, which was a relief. All I had left to do was walk to the gate, board the plane and sleep for 10 hours.

Once I was on the plane and we were in the air I had a hard time sleeping and ended up watching movies between meals, dozing off and drinking water. The flight went by pretty fast and without any real complications. After landing in Portland I had to wait for my bags for a few minutes (the were some of the first ones out) then went through immigration and customs which all went fairly quickly. Once I got into the terminal I went outside and immediately saw my mom's car waiting for me.

The next few hours were spent getting an iced americano (thank you Stumptown) and then visiting with my grandmother and her friends in Portland.

I finally got back to my parents house around 3:30 (some 18 hours after getting on the train). The following hours are all just a blur. I talked with my parents, watched television, napped, drank some wine and unpacked some things.

Now I've been here a few days and am trying to decide what my plan is going to be. For right now I have to wait to hear back from Antwerp about the job, so I'm just going to readjust to life in the US while I decide what my options are.