May 24- A day at Sea!

Today, we had a sport- centric day in the city of Oostend, Belgium, at the coast.

Our day started off waking up super early, getting on the train at about 7:30 in the morning. This was our first early morning for most in Belgium, so for many a lot of rest on the train was needed. For the day, we headed to Oostend, located on the shores of Belgium to hit the water and learn about some surfing and sailing. While the weather was not the best, we definitely made the most of it! 

We began our surfing lessons by learning how to properly move with the board and actually stand up. Many of us had never been sailing prior to this which made it difficult, however we had a lot of fun! Many people tried and failed, but we definitely had some people succeed. Unfortunately, we could not stay in the water forever, so we hopped out and enjoyed some delicious spaghetti and meat sauce, provided to us by our lovely hosts. 

After our meal, we learned about some sailing with an instructor, who gave us knowledge about the different types of sailboats and where they are used (they are also super expensive!) We then got to look at some of these boats, and saw the different types of sailboats used in the harbor where we took the ferry back to the train station. 

Again, our train on the way back was long but needed for rest, as many of us took naps. We then got back to our humble abode, where some of us did laundry and prepared for a beautiful Belgian meal.

We ate at a spot called Domus, which offered some amazing food selections, and had some great appetizers! I had an amazing meal, sitting with a couple of friends whom I have made on this trip. 

Finally, the night ended with a waffle and quick walk around Leuven, and safe to say we are super excited for our free day opportunities tomorrow!

-Matt Flores