Outgoing Journey to Brussels, Belgium
(June 2-8, 2017)
Friendship Force Baton Rouge went on a fabulous Journey from June 2 through June 8, 2017. Twenty ambassadors visited the Friendship Force Club in Brussels, including FFBR members Lin Ashton, Morena Cazedessus, Thornton Cofield, Keith Corkern, Joanne Deibert (from NJ), Gayle and Bob Duncan, Trudy Ivy, Sheila and John Melancon, Karen Pharis, Karen Vingiello, JoAnn Wall, Sue and Ting Wang, and Barbara Wittkopf. They were joined by 4 other FF members: Linda Dean from Tallahassee, Florida; Diane Hooker, from Billings, Montanta; and Francine Pichette and Joceleyn Sevigny from Montreal, Quebec. Barbara and Thornton served as Co-Journey Coordinators. We sent an email booklet of our biographies with pictures, along with some Louisiana information, to the Brussels club members.
In addition to welcome and farewell dinner parties there were day trips to Bruges, Ghent, Ypres (Flanders Fields' Tyne Cot cemetery), Brussels, and Aalst. At the "Last Post" at the Menin Gate commemorating World War I British soldiers: John (U.S. Navy) and Jocelyn (Canadian Air Force) placed a wreath with the Brussels Journey Coordinator, Patricia Wellekens.
We walked on cobble-stone streets, toured museums, visited churches, took a canal boat ride, learned about the history of Belgium, and enjoyed fabulous weather. Some of our hosts lived in small towns from Brussels to Ghent and as far east as Mullen. Thanks to our hosts: Patricia en Peter, Martine DeMoor, Monique en Hedwig, Liliane Raes, Jasmina Buydens, Ignace en Axel, Jean Pierre, Johan, Jos en Lieve, Gerda Roels, and Vera. Most of our trips were in the Dutch area of Brussels, but one group visited a castle that was being restored in Moulbaix, the French area of Belgium.
There was plenty of time to visit with hosts, day hosts, and club members over sumptuous lunches and dinners with wine, local beer, and "bubbly." One of the native dishes was Belgium endive wrapped in ham and cooked in a delicious Hollandaise-type cheese sauce. Local potatoes were served several ways mostly Belgium frittes (fries).
On June 9 the two Canadian ambassadors began a week's stay in Brussels while the other eighteen traveled by first-class rail coach to Amsterdam for five days. Independent small groups visited the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Corrie ten Boom House, Red Light District, hop on / hop off busses and boats, canal cruises, churches, Zuiderzee, Delft, tours of windmills and villages making cheese and wooden shoes.
Ambassadors are submitting half-day diary entries that will be compiled as a memento of their Belgium Journey # 13123.
In addition to welcome and farewell dinner parties there were day trips to Bruges, Ghent, Ypres (Flanders Fields' Tyne Cot cemetery), Brussels, and Aalst. At the "Last Post" at the Menin Gate commemorating World War I British soldiers: John (U.S. Navy) and Jocelyn (Canadian Air Force) placed a wreath with the Brussels Journey Coordinator, Patricia Wellekens.
We walked on cobble-stone streets, toured museums, visited churches, took a canal boat ride, learned about the history of Belgium, and enjoyed fabulous weather. Some of our hosts lived in small towns from Brussels to Ghent and as far east as Mullen. Thanks to our hosts: Patricia en Peter, Martine DeMoor, Monique en Hedwig, Liliane Raes, Jasmina Buydens, Ignace en Axel, Jean Pierre, Johan, Jos en Lieve, Gerda Roels, and Vera. Most of our trips were in the Dutch area of Brussels, but one group visited a castle that was being restored in Moulbaix, the French area of Belgium.
There was plenty of time to visit with hosts, day hosts, and club members over sumptuous lunches and dinners with wine, local beer, and "bubbly." One of the native dishes was Belgium endive wrapped in ham and cooked in a delicious Hollandaise-type cheese sauce. Local potatoes were served several ways mostly Belgium frittes (fries).
On June 9 the two Canadian ambassadors began a week's stay in Brussels while the other eighteen traveled by first-class rail coach to Amsterdam for five days. Independent small groups visited the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Corrie ten Boom House, Red Light District, hop on / hop off busses and boats, canal cruises, churches, Zuiderzee, Delft, tours of windmills and villages making cheese and wooden shoes.
Ambassadors are submitting half-day diary entries that will be compiled as a memento of their Belgium Journey # 13123.
During this journey, ambassadors kept a diary of the activities. If you would like to read a day-by-day account of this fabulous trip, download this PDF file:
| 2017belgiumjourneydiary13123.pdf |
Outgoing Journey to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
April 18-25, 2017
Eight members of FFBR headed out west to Oklahoma City, some driving and some flying. Ambassadors on this journey included John and Sheila Melancon, Karen Vingiello, Mary Doerner, Harriet Bergeron, Corry Marasi, C.J. LeBlanc and Lynn Robbins. After meeting our hosts, we met at Ora Hare’s home for a welcome dinner. We were given a printed copy of our itinerary for the week, and had an opportunity to meet the FFOK members.
We did not all arrive on the same day nor did we all stay for the full Journey due to some unforeseen circumstances. Harriet Bergeron had to leave to be with her son when he became very ill. Everyone, especially Ora Hare of OKC, helped her get to Finland.
Kay Bickham was our Journey Host Coordinator in Oklahoma City and they had planned a varied, interesting, and fun schedule of events. We paddled a Dragon Boat, went to a Cowboy Museum, learned about Oklahoma’s history at the Native Indian Museum, toured the National Weather Center, attended the 89er’s Day Parade in Guthrie, and visited the Oklahoma National Bombing Memorial.
Our farewell barbecue was held at a member’s lakeside home, complete with sunset pontoon boat rides.
This club was so welcoming and friendly and everyone had a wonderful time.
We did not all arrive on the same day nor did we all stay for the full Journey due to some unforeseen circumstances. Harriet Bergeron had to leave to be with her son when he became very ill. Everyone, especially Ora Hare of OKC, helped her get to Finland.
Kay Bickham was our Journey Host Coordinator in Oklahoma City and they had planned a varied, interesting, and fun schedule of events. We paddled a Dragon Boat, went to a Cowboy Museum, learned about Oklahoma’s history at the Native Indian Museum, toured the National Weather Center, attended the 89er’s Day Parade in Guthrie, and visited the Oklahoma National Bombing Memorial.
Our farewell barbecue was held at a member’s lakeside home, complete with sunset pontoon boat rides.
This club was so welcoming and friendly and everyone had a wonderful time.