Good News: The day we arrive in Brussels is the last day of the Belgium Beer Festival.
Bad News: The day we arrive in Brussels is the LAST day of the Belgium Beer Festival.
Regardless, we are very excited for our first vacation while living abroad. The plan is as follows -
Days 1, 2, 3 stay in Amsterdam. I should probably say "night 1" in Amsterdam, because day 1 is going to be spent in Brussels absorbing, literally, as much of the beer festival as we can.
Day 4 stay in Bruges, Belgium (Venice of the North)
Day 5, 6 Brussels, Belgium

You may be wondering why we are so excited to make it to Belgium for the beer... or maybe you're not! The truth is beer options in Turkey are slim-pickings. Due to strict import laws on alcohol in Turkey, the average Joe has only a handful of options when purchasing beer: Efes, Efes dark, Tuborg (whatever that is...), and Miller Geniune Draft (this sells for a woping $12/6pck.) I didn't buy Miller for $6 in the US; I am sure not going to spend twice the amount on that crap now. The Efes is pretty good for light beer, but that doesn't mean we're not going to jump at the chance to spend a day soaking up some good old Belgium beer.

Apart from planning our upcoming trip we have both been preparing for the student's arrival and the beginning of the school year. I am especially feeling the pressure because I am teaching Hazirlik Listening and Conversation (8th grade or the Prep. year), 9th grade, 10th grade and 11th grade. That is a lot of planning!!!! Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers as we prepare for even more changes in our lives.