Today was a gorgeous day in Antwerp. (if you've visited here on less-than-perfect weather days, then you will probably be suprised.) I have high hopes for summer here. The blue sky turns everyday head-down commuters into people out on sunny-day strolls...even if the stroll happens to be from home to station, or from house to car, or even from front door to the bike which has suddenly been misplaced. (only to find it three blocks away without wheels, without chain, without the bell, without the gears, and without the seat.) "Ah well, at least I got in a nice walk," you hear the proud owner of a bike frame mutter. Something along the lines of, "Amaai, maar ik gehad en goed wandeling" in Flemish.

Today on my walk I took papers to the insurance company to have me covered. Now you'll find me risking my life in everyday situations without batting an eye. Dropped the knife? Oh well. Riding my bike in the rain? It'll be ok. Soccer in the park? I'm all for it. Previously I was dodging anything that looked like a chance. (no one really knew this except for me) Especially the knives. My parents bought us eternally sharp steak knives, and I'm positive that they are going to impale me yet.

The lady at the insurance place was pretty surprised at my being American. "We don't get many American's coming through here," she said, "You're my first one." I'm hoping I made a good impression.

As for the rest of the day, it seemed that today was one of those days where I wish I spoke the language. Everywhere I went it seemed that people wanted to talk to me. Not long conversations about life, but just chit chat. A lady in the vegetable shop about her two bananas, spagetti sauce, and her having to wait in a long line. A man on the street wanting to sign me up for a book and music club. A man in Kruitvat who mistook my glance in his direction as a, "dont' butt in line in front of me, or else" only a nicer version. He ended up being behind me on the escalator which takes you down to the supermarket. There's a mirror where people tend to check themselves out on the way down...and me? I just shot the man behind me a smile. Same guy...same almost-conversation.

Last one, I swear. Finally, I was waiting at the tramstop for the number 8 eating raspberries. When I eat raspberries I always end up having bloodlike raspberry guts somewhere where it shouldn't be. All I wanted was to be able to walk up to someone and say, "hey, do I happen to have raspberries all over my face?" To which they would laugh and say, "well actually, you do right there...at the corner of your mouth."

Instead...I ate my raspberries quickly, and rubbed my face with the back of my hand...twice. And contemplated walking home. After all, it was such a beatiful day.

IN THE NEWS:
A Chinese airliner with 112 people aboard crashed Tuesday night into the water off northeastern China after the captain reported a fire in the cabin. Six bodies were found but officials reported that there was little chance anyone survived.