Lilac Colored Glasses

This morning the scale read 101.8 kilos (224.4 pounds) which is a loss of 6 pounds from my starting weight.  My goals for this week are to start drinking at least 1 liter of water a day (the daily recommendation is 2 liters but I’m lucky right now if I drink a half a liter a day) and to try to eat enough calories in a healthy way (for example, I’ll try to eat some extra wheat crackers or some cheese as a snack throughout the day rather than come up 400 calories short and have to talk myself out of using it to justify chips or a cocktail…which I haven’t consumed but just reeeaaally wanted).

Besides that not much has happened lately. We went to visit CB’s friends in Zulte and some of his other college friends were there as well.  As always, it was very pleasant company despite the fact that half of the conversation escaped me most of the time. At this point I have almost no problem understanding standard Dutch with subtitles included. I can follow the news about 90% of the time with subtitling and I’d say probably 75% of the time without subtitling or on the radio. I can also follow some television shows in standard or mostly standard Dutch without subtitles fairly well such as one of my current favorites, Komen Eten (Come Eat).

When it comes to conversation, however, it’s a different story. If someone is talking directly to me I can usually figure out what they’re saying if they don’t use much slang or a heavy dialect. I have the easiest time understanding Cabanamom, Cabanasis and CB. One of CB’s friends, let’s call him Tim, also tries to make it a point to speak slowly if he sees I’m trying to follow which I appreciate more than he probably realizes.

As far as the rest of CB’s friends and his dad, I often have difficulties really understanding what’s going on. It’s usually a combination of the pace of the conversation, dialect, prior knowledge that I don’t have (inside jokes, names of other friends or family, etc.) and the fact that 2-3 conversations may be going on at once and none of them are directed at me. So when we’re in a group setting of more than 4 people I really can’t keep up with what’s going on. Despite that though, I had a really nice time like I usually do, and I’m looking forward to the next get together.

Also it seems that at least one couple of CB’s friends are considering coming to the wedding in Pittsburgh and last night there was a mention that another couple may consider it as well. I personally hope that at least one of the 2 couples can make it because I’d really love to see as many of CB’s friends and family there as possible. I felt horrible about the one-sidedness of the Pittsburgh affair only because in the US we tend to do things according to the groom’s family and friends and the bride’s family and friends. And if the groom has no friends and only 2 family member able to attend…well…it’d just be more obvious in an American affair than it would in a Belgian one.  In fact, as we’re learning, there are several differences between weddings here and there and we’ve struggled with some misunderstandings along the way.

I think I can fill you in on that a bit more tomorrow.

Related posts:

1. I Lost My Lucky Ball And Chain
2. Weekly Winners (and a weigh in)
3. The Hardest Part of Being an Expat