Turning Lemons into Lemonade

Jannik, Sandra, Erfana, Rob, and me at the Conrad party.
The ice skating rink. Up and to the right was the outdoor patio (for the summer) and the party, which was also in the hotel's restaurant.
Me ice skating at the party. This is the third year they've made this ice skating rink and the last time because the party needs to become the next posh thing.

My last weekend abroad was supposed to be spent in France ... until the French decided to go on strike.

I spent the day at work, chatting with my officemate, Erfana. I had to run around a get a paper signed to check out so around 3 pm I went up to the IT department and as I'm walking out the elevator I run into someone holding a beer. I was like ... what?? Evidently they start their happy hour a bit early as they were all just sitting around the chips and dip drinking their beers. Only in Europe could Americans do that at work.

Then Erfana and I head down to the first floor (second floor here, people) where they're having a party for two women whose birthdays were that month - Jannik and Sandra. So at 3:30 we have a glass of champagne, eat some nuts, and then I head out for the train station.

Strutting in my heels, suitcase in tow, I get to the train station at the perfect time only to not be able to find my train on the schedule. I CANNOT figure out what platform I'm supposed to be on. I head to the information booth and wait behind this guy who's probably about my age who is showing CLASSIC signs of being in a rush - checking his watch, sighing dramatically, etc. I start a conversation and turns out we're on the same train.

In the end - there were no trains going to Lyon Friday night, Saturday, and probably most of Sunday. Another line was running but it was going to be more expensive, much more difficult, etc.

I finally tracked down a phone area (because I left mine at home, of course) and tried to call Erfana because I was cranky and wanted to do something fun if I was going to stay in Brussels. She didn't answer ... didn't answer. Finally I make plans with Paul to meet him like usual and go home with him.

I take the metro back to the Embassy stop (close to Paul) and decide to just go up to the office and see if Erfana is there - it's about 5:30 by this time. All the lights are off, I have to wait and wait to get the doors unlocked for me, but I finally make it upstairs. No Erfana but her coat, etc. are all there so I called Paul and said - I'm not coming home tonight.

Turns out there were still three people (Jannik, Sandra, and one of my bosses, Rob) down at first floor's happy hour (5 bottles of champagne later). For a HOST of reasons that led to my crabbiness, I went down and joined them for a glass. We chat for awhile and Sandra says that she and Jannik are going to this party at Conrad (a posh hotel that was just bought by Hilton) - would I want to come? YES!

The five of us leave around 7:30 and go to the Conrad. They've turned the inner courtyard into a skating rink. All of the ice skates are brand new, even. There was raclette (which I LOVE) and the BEST waffle I've had thus far during my time here.

Afterwards, Erfana and I went back to her place, talked for awhile, and crashed.