Romaric Came : )

Romaric came to visit me!!!! Cedric and I got up at 4:30 to drive to Brussels and pick him up and it was soooo good to see him! I had a 2 week vacation from school so we had lots of time together! The first weekend we had a party with the entire NG crowd which was really fun and he got to meet all of my new friends. Romaric and Cedric hit it off so Hono and I teased them about being boyfriends. They didn’t stop talking from the time we left the airport!

Hono’s parents were in town too so it was a full house and a lot of fun! Monday and Tuesday all of us went to the Ardennes where Romaric is from to see his Grandparents. Thilay, where they live is a tiny town in the NE of France and it was so beautiful, a nice change from the flatness of NG and Lille. All the leaves were in fall colors too. We went to the restaurant in Belgium where Romaric’s Aunt and cousin work for a 4 hour lunch! I ate some local wild boar and it was delicious. Lunch is the big meal here and it usually lasts a few hours but this was my longest to date. The restaurant is right beside a little stream with swans. We had a huge table with so many family members and it was so much fun!! For dinner later that night (they eat around 8 or 9 here) we had escargot pizza…delicious! Romaric, Hono, Cedric and I stayed up really late playing an UNO tournament where the girls of course won and the boys were caught cheating on more than one occasion! For lunch the next day, Romaric’s grandma roasted a rabbit over a real fire and again….AMAZING! I can’t get over how good the food is here! Romaric’s grandpa ate the rabbit head and then made the skull look like an eagle…see the picture included! We had to leave too soon as with all good family visits but it was a really great trip.

The eagle made out of rabbit skull.

Thilay

My delicious lunch of wild boar!

Cedric and Romaric's Grandfather

We got home from Thilay that night and left for London the next morning. It really is amazing that I can walk out of my apartment and from my door its about 2 hours until I’m in London. We walked to the station, hopped on a train, and got off an hour and a half later in Kings Cross. Our hotel was really cute and right beside the station! The first day Romaric had an appointment with Credit Suisse (his company) to see the office and do some kissing up so he can get transferred there. We decided to walk from Kings Cross to the financial district and it literally took all day to get there! It was really fun and we got to see London on the way and we stopped for a big English breakfast…yum…but we really walked for at least 3 hours straight! After lunch with his colleagues, we needed a nap and took the metro back to the hotel. We made some quality speakers for Romaric’s Zune out of paper cups while we got ready to go out. Then we met up with Morgan, one of Romaric’s friends and went out in London. What a great city! I really, really love it, there is so much to do and so many different people and most importantly everyone is so nice! The next day we went to the British Museum to see some mummies and then we got some starbucks (British people LOVE starbucks). I LOVE LONDON!!
Romaric and Morgan in front of a park
london at night

the full english breakfast!

ghetto speakers we made in the hotel out of paper cups!

I was supposed to work Thursday and Friday but due to a train strike I didn’t have to go to work and we got to hang out in Lille!!! Friday we left for Paris and met up with Romaric’s friend Damien and his girlfriend/our friend Marie. They have the coolest apartment in Montmartre really close to Sacre Couer. I’ve always been to Paris as a tourist but this time was really different. We did Parisian things like sleep in late on the weekend and have a huge brunch on Sunday. Saturday night we went to an ‘ice bar’ in Paris. There are only 20 people allowed in at one time and they give you huge coats and gloves to wear b/c its so cold. Everything is made of ice…the chairs, the cups, the bar, the decorations. It was so cool…literally! You are only allowed in for 30 minutes. They change the colors of the lights and it was so pretty you didn’t mind the cold! I worked Monday and then we had the family over for dinner at the apartment. Romaric made some quiche and then I taught everyone how to play spoons and it was a huge hit! Romaric left Tuesday morning and then I was sad : ( Its better now that I’ve gotten back into the swing of things here but after he left I realized how much I miss everyone from home!!! Just a little longer until I come back for Chrismas!!!

Marie and Damien