The Belfry & Dutch Lesson

Today, we started off the day bright and early after getting some much-needed sleep, with a tour of the Belfry of Ghent. We got to learn the intriguing history of the bell tower and its purpose for the community and its stability. After grabbing a quick lunch and making a brief pitstop at a store we wanted to go to that was closed yesterday, we walked to a university not too far from the hotel — Ghent University. There, we had a crash course on the Dutch Language, where we learned the different pronunciations, the different sounds of the short and long vowels, how to say consonants, how to spell, as well as common greetings, phrases, and goodbyes. This lesson was a sneak peek into how difficult the Dutch language can be. We barely scratched the surface, and it felt like our brains were going to implode — not because it felt like we were overloaded, but because we realized how truly difficult and intellectual this language is. Simply getting the consonant, short, and long vowel sounds would intimidate anyone on their first try. But we had an amazing teacher, Sarah Depaepe, at Ghent University, who provided clear and precise guidance. With her tips, tricks, and gentle corrections, we were able to pick up some of the basic things to get us through our stay in Belgium and then some. Overall, and needless to say, as we close day 3 in Ghent, we dub these site visits as impactful and a success. We can't wait to share the history of the Belfry of Ghent and show off our Dutch skills! Onto the next day!