Cologne

Cologne is about a 3 hour train ride away from Brussels. Make sure to bring something with you for the train ride...a book or borrow a friends nook (like I did- thanks Nancy!). You may think that you can look out the window and be so enthralled with the European landscape but really you will get tired of looking out of the window after about an hour. Sleeping is also a good option. I absolutely LOVE sleeping on trains. I think the rocking motion just lulls me to sleep like a little baby!

Anyway, Cologne is a great German city with one of the most amazing churches in the world- the Dom. When you arrive at the central train station in Cologne, you will literally walk right out to see the Dom. It is Mammoth and beautiful. There are English tours of the church daily so first thing I would do after arriving is find out when the tour is. I think our tour started at around 11:00 AM. The tour starts right in the church and students get a discount (as is the case at a lot of places in Europe :) The tour guide told us a lot about the history of the church and how it was preserved during WWII despite over 90 percent of Cologne being destroyed in the war. The stories of city's people sacrificing their lives to protect the paintings, relics, and other historical artifacts in the church was inspiring.

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The Cathedral/Dom itself is breathtaking. My favorite part of the church were the stained-glass windows- in my opinion, the best in Europe (that I've seen- even better than the Vatican!). The Dom gained notoriety as the place where the Three Magi (Three Wisemen) have been laid to rest. 

After touring the church, we went and got some German food which I think is a must! I, of course, got bratwurst and they did not disappoint. After eating we decided it was probably best that we worked off some of the food so we climbed to the top of the belfry and the view was great! 

After the eating and climbing the belfry, we headed to the nearby chocolate factory. If you want to eat or get some hot chocolate at the little cafe at the factory, make sure you get there early. They stop seating around a half hour before they actually close. 

Waterloo

Waterloo is a charming little village about a 30 minute train ride away from Brussels. There are a ton of trains leaving daily from Brussels to Waterloo and I think it was less than 10 euro roundtrip. Just go to the Central Train Station in Brussels and buy a return ticket from one of the helpful ticket-guys (I call them geniuses because they speak a million languages and seem to know the schedule for every train coming through the place).

Once you get to Waterloo, walk to to church in the middle of the village and right next to it is visitor information. The lady who was there when we went spoke English and gave us a map and explained how to get to the various locations.

Waterloo was the site of Napoleon's final defeat so for you history buffs it's a great place to visit especially if you find yourself in or around the Brussels area because it's so close and easy to get to. Plus the museums are actually quite well done. Make sure to hit up the Wellington Museum and travel to the Lion Statute marking the site of Napoleon's final defeat.

Best of the best

I've been going through my pictures from Europe (I have around a thousand pictures) and decided that I would share my favorites. I also took several videos that no one has really ever seen so I've decided I should post those as well. I've organized them by city and/or trip. Enjoy! O-)<

Swimming Sam

It's a tough life when you're 9 months old and still haven't quite figured out how to crawl. Exhibit A, my nephew Samuel (also known as Sammy or Sam). He sure looks like he is working hard, but I think work = force x distance. Sorry Sammy, you're not working according to science.

What I would have said...

My university held commencement this morning and later on today my college will hold its commencement exercises. Several months ago I was asked to submit a speech for my university's commencement. Being asked to submit something was flattering, but I was not ultimately selected to speak. The speakers who did speak were fantastic and I am still digesting what they said and future blog posts may come as a result of their remarks. Still, I think what I wrote for the speech I would have given sums up my feelings today so I thought I'd share it with everyone who reads my musings.

As I stand here today, I can’t help but remember the day when everything started for me at the University of Utah. I was a little bit apprehensive as I got off Trax and hurried off to my first college class. It was a 7:30 AM National Government course with Dr. Dan Jones and I had heard he was a pretty tough professor. Neither of my parents graduated from college and I remember my mom saying she was scared of how big the University of Utah was when she thought about attending. My parents are from small towns in Cache Valley, so Salt Lake was a big city to them and the U’s student population was 15 times the size of the towns where they grew up. My mom won’t let me tell you how many years ago that was, but mom, the U’s even bigger now then it was then.

My mom’s fear of the U was in the back of my mind as I made my way to OSH. I arrived at 7:25 AM and was relieved that I had not only found the classroom, but that I had five minutes to spare. I walked in to find an auditorium filled with students and Dr. Jones already lecturing at the front of the class. The only empty seat in sight was, conveniently, right in the middle of a row. As I crawled over other students and their backpacks to get to the empty seat, I kept thinking this is not quite the start I had envisioned. Once I got to my seat, I looked around and realized that the syllabi had already been distributed. Dr. Jones was lecturing so, rather than interrupt, I just hunkered down and started to take notes. After class I sheepishly made my way up to the front to pick up a syllabus from Dr. Jones who proceeded to ask my why I was late and telling me how important it was to be on time. I didn’t mention the fact that I was on time, in fact five minutes early, because, well, I was scared of Dr. Jones.

Little did I know that this class and professor would have such a profound influence on the trajectory of my academic career and ultimately help me find my home at the University of Utah. It was in that Dr. Jones class, where I first heard about some of the opportunities at the U and more particularly the Hinckley Institute of Politics. I still remember Bryson Morgan from the Hinckley doing a classroom announcement at the beginning of class (I was on time—at least 10 minutes early I mean—the rest of the semester for the record so I didn’t miss things likes this). I wanted to be just like Bryson. So I made my way up to the Hinckley and started talking with the Hinckley Folks about internship opportunities, the Hinckley Journal, and scholarships.

It was all so interesting and exciting, but for me, it was even more meaningful because I felt I had found my home on campus. And I am sure those in the Hinckley can attest to that fact, because I was always pestering them with my presence whether they wanted me there or not. My relationship with Dr. Jones grew as well and I think he may have forgotten I was late that first day or at least forgiven me, because he let me be his TA for another one of his classes later on. It could also have been his form of revenge as I had to deal students late to class as well. It was another 7:30 AM class.

My relationship with Dr. Jones, the Hinckley, and many other professors and mentors from the U led to unforgettable experiences like interning in Washington, D.C. with Senator Bennett followed by 3 years on his Salt Lake City staff. I was so excited when I heard the news that he will be joining the University staff. The support, encouragement, and cheer leading from the Hinckley and dedicated professors led me to become a Truman Scholar. Their resources and letters of recommendations allowed me to spend the last several months in Brussels working for NATO while world events and history were made around me. As I look back on all these experiences, I realize that I would not have had them at any other institution besides the University of Utah and for that I will always be grateful.

I think that every student, every person for that matter, is looking to find a place where they belong. “The Road Home,” a song I first heard performed by the University Singers, sums it up nicely saying, “There is no such beauty as where you belong.” College is a time of finding one’s self, one’s passions, and one’s opinions. It’s a time of finding where you belong. Fortunately the University of Utah has amazing programs in wide-ranging fields and covering many interests that I don’t think that my story of finding a home and success on campus is by any means unique. So to the University of Utah—the professors, advisers, and my fellow students here today—thanks for helping me feel like I belong. Go Utes!

Dear Brussels:

Well Brussels, I'm heading out. The game is over. Kaput. Finished. The end. But I have two words before I leave: Thank you.

Okay so maybe I have more than two words, but I really could just leave it at that. Brussels, you see, there's a corny song that says "because I knew you, I have been changed for the better" and I feel like that about you. I'm serious.

I've heard people talk about getting "Brusseled" and would offer a litany of reasons why Brussels wasn't as pretty or exotic or exciting as some other city in the world. They would talk about the times the buses didn't necessarily run on time or at all (to read more about Brussels transportation fun click here) They would mention extreme cases of getting pick-pocketed or taken advantage of in a restaurant and chalk it up to "Getting Brusseled."

Brussels, don't believe a word they say.

You've been good to me. Really good. Yesterday I found a 50 Euro bill sitting on an escalator going down to the metro. Talk about getting "Brussled". I looked around for someone who might have dropped it, but there was no one around. Honest. Brussels, I think you gave me that 50 Euros because you like me too. But even if I hadn't found the money on the ground, I would have felt the same way about you.

You let me live with a Countess and her awesome family; including Titus the dog. To the Van Cutsems (Berenice, I know you're blog-stalking me so feel free to pass this along :) I'll never forget how you welcomed me and immediately made me feel like your house was "home." Brussels, my experience with you would be a bit shallow had I not lived with the Van Cutsems. They made my experience so worth it.

My bags are stuffed full of chocolate, Brussels, and other little trinkets for my family back in Utah. My mind is filled with cherished memories of three months in my life that I'll never forget.

I'll never forget Gran Place and the amazing architecture around the square. I'll always remember the "unavoidable atomium which is to Brussels as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris." (Okay so I stole that from the Atomium brochure because the description was so awesome!) I won't forget the funny shaped trees because someone decided that cutting trees into squares was vogue. I won't forget my time at USNATO, getting up at 5:30 AM to catch a 6:15 AM bus. It was okay getting up that early because I really felt like I was part of a team and was doing something that was valued.

Memories are just rushing through my mind right now.

When I get home tomorrow I probably won't sleep very well and I don't think it will be just jet lag. I'll be thinking of you and when sleep finds me I'll be dreaming of you. When I wake, I may be a bit confused as to where I am, but know, it's just because you've meant so much to me for the last three months.

I don't know when we'll see each other again, but I have a sneaking suspicion that we will.

Until then.

Cody

Talented People You May or May Not Know

One of the great things about websites like YouTube is that they have given people permission to be amateurs. Sometimes this results in hilarious videos of kids coming home from the dentist still recovering from the happy gas and other times it results in awful, but still funny videos, like gymnastics bloopers and young girls singing about Friday. (If you don't know what I am talking about, look up Rebecca Black "Friday" and you will find out!) Okay, fine, I'll make it easy, here's the link, but I'm not embedding the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0- for the record, it's the most "disliked" video on YouTube...ever.

YouTube became popular when I was on my mission. (Side note- Six years ago today I went to the MTC. Hard to believe it's been that long!) When I got back from the mish, I didn't know what "YouTube" was. Fairly soon after I returned, Miss America took a fall at the Miss Universe Pageant and I missed it. I mean, I am an avid fan of the Miss Universe pageant so you can imagine my dismay.

My little brother told me to look it up on YouTube and I had no idea what he was talking about. He explained and I looked up Utube and couldn't find anything. I thought he was full of it. Well, come to find out, he was right and once I found YouTube, I think I spent the next 3 or 4 hours watching every bloopers video on the entire site: I think this was when I "normalized" post-mish.

Besides blooper videos, one of my favorite things about YouTube is that ordinary people with incredible talents can also put videos up. Sometimes they're lesser known bands trying to make it big or just people with a hidden talent or two. I am always amazed at how many good/talented people I find on YouTube. Here are a few I've come across lately. It's too bad, really, that these videos get far less views than the blooper ones I waste time on. Who knows, you may already know some of these people.

Natalie Weiss: Up-and-coming Broadway star from what I gather. She is amazing...A-MA-ZING! Her voice control is incredible. She has runs and trills but they don't seem forced or contrived or show-offy...just natural. I could post a baker's dozen of her videos, but I've narrowed it down to my favorites:

Angela Jeffries: One of Utah's own. A quick google looks like she is/was performing at Hale Theatre in A Tale of Two Cities as Madame Defarge. Just came across this video and the way she tells the story through song really struck me.

Matt Johnson: Matt used to be one of my roommates and is an all-around good guy. I knew him before his video went over 10,000 views. His song is a hilarious Mormon-take on Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song.

Nikki & Rich: I actually first saw this band on the Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno (the clip I've included below) and really liked them. Their music has a throw-back feel to the big-band era mixed with this funky 60/70s vibe with a modern twist if that makes any sense at all.

James Egan: James is one of those guys who you want to hate, but can't find a reason to. He's really smart, funny, and talented (I might have a man-crush on him). We met while attending the University of Utah and I know very few people who are just genuinely "good" like him. I can't find a YouTube video, but, better yet, you can see him performing live this Friday April 8! I am really bummed I can't make it as I'll still be in Brussels. Check out the details and listen to some clips from his CD So Much Still Remains on his website: http://www.jameseganmusic.com. My favorite song is "Rachel, Ms. Operator".

Cody Rogers: Kind of dorky and nerdy. I mean, he forgot to take his name tag off in this video, but give him a break, I know him pretty well.

Whitney Layne: Whitney and I went to high school together. She was known as Whitney Wooley then. We were in Oklahoma! together...she was my "wife" to be exact. She's in Nashville right now working hard and I'm looking forward to saying "I knew her when" when she makes it big.