Small achievements are achievements none the less

Week 3 of 52 living in Belgium has passed. Of all the weeks I have been here, yes all 3, it has probably been the most productive. Kind of. Now would be my chance to hit Backspace and delete those words. Do remember I am unemployed, so 1 simply activity per day makes me feel productive.

The previous week I had a ridiculously annoying cold/flu sickness thing. It managed to knock me around a bit, feeling overly feeble, spaced out and coughing too much for my own comfort. This week I finally managed to get over it. Achievement 1. And the positive out of this sickness - my new french sentence. Je ma sent un peu malade. Thus, reaching Achievement 2.

Also, I finally managed to organise a meeting with a school about some teaching work! It doesn't sound like it will equate to a lot of hours, but at the moment, it is just nice to finally hear back from a school. And have some interest taken in me! I'm not usually one for attention or a need of interest taken in me. But when this interest is going to equate in some money, I like it. Honest money. Not interest taken in me while standing on a street corner kind of money. Although when I went to open my bank account this week, the lady asked if I worked for the sex industry. It was an option (as area of work) for her to chose when setting up my account. She thought it was hilarious. Considering the language barrier we were facing, I thought it was a little awkward. So Achievement 3 and 4. Meeting with a school, and being asked if I'm a prostitute (while opening the account).

Loyal readers may recall how I used to meet a girl in Paris to try and do a language conversation exchange. You create a profile online, and it feels somewhat like a dating service. Someone reads your profile and then they contact you to see if you would like to meet up for a drink and 'exchange languages'. It feels a little strange the whole situation, but I updated my profile to allow me to do it here in Brussels. And this week, I went to meet Yasmine. A 33 year old french speaking Belgian. I was expecting a straight and narrow EU Commission worker, but got an ex-EU Commission worker who is actually a Tattoo Artist and Book Illustrator who has just left the commission to start up her own tattoo business full time. And she's lovely! Achievement 5 - Success with the dating service. Great girl. Excellent english with a want to practice speaking with a different accent and new expressions and an outstanding understanding of her own language. She was able to quickly explain many grammar questions I had about French. I'm really hoping she will be able to help me along a bit with my french.

Some may know that the house I am now living in (I still find myself referring to it as Denis' House. Not yet my own) has a massive backyard. It's awesome, and I love it. Drinking a tea outside with my book is a common pastime for moi pour le moment. The boys have been doing a lot of work trying to create a new vegetable garden. This week I made my contribution and weeded around the small courtyard with the table just outside the backdoor where you can sit in the sun, eat, drink and Be. I weeded for so long that I gained a blister my parents would be proud of. And I planted new flowers that should hopefully flower within the next month. It was surprisingly fun, and has given me a new interest for my daily activities. Talk, sing and watch my flowers. Achievement 6 - gardening and blisters.

6 Achievements, and it's only Sunday afternoon. That's one achievement per day with Sunday's currently in progress. Stewed Rhubarb, although last I looked I maybe had a little too much water in it. Happy days!! Can't wait to eat some with Museli and perhaps a little cream. And so, I complete, Achievement 7 - Stewed Rhubarb.

1 achievement per day, makes one successful week.