—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 21,1978
34
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Chester County IFYE tells of life in Belgium
EDITORS NOTE: Suzanne is the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. George Iseminger, Malvern. She was a member of
the Tri-Community 4-H club in northern Chester County,
and was chosen to participate in a four-month cultural
exchange program as an International 4-H Youth Ex
change (IFYE) delegate to Belgium. While in Belgium,
Suzanne will have lived as a family member with several
different host families. The following is her letter.
Greetings!
It’s hard to believe that in one short month I’ll be home
again. The time has just flown by. I’m living with my 3rd
host family now - the Creteurs. They live in Montrevil-au-
Bois, which is north of Tournai. They are a family of four
with two daughters - Marie-Paule, 17, and Dominque, 16.
They haveaSS hectare farm which is about 88 acres. They
raise winter barley, wheat, potatoes, and sugar beets. W«
are going to harvest the potatoes this week, hopefully. I
spent a week with friends of theirs, the Oeven’s, who live
in Comine. Monsieur Deven is a Professor of Economics
at the University of Louvain. Both parents speakfour
languages - French, Flemish, German and English. They
have three children - Patricio, 17, Michelle, 14, and Yvan,
8.
I had a fantastic week traveling all over Northwestern
Flanders. This is the part of Belgium which speaks
Flemish. We spent two days visiting the ancient, medieval
city of Bruges. This is a city that dates, in written record,
back to 892. You experience an overwhelming sense of
awe when you walk its streets. Bruges is called the Venice
of the North because of the canals wmch run through it.
We took a boat ride through the canals and the view of the
houses and shops was magnificent. Dining the 15th
century, Bruges was the center of the famous Flemish
School of Painting. Its founder was the great master,Jan
van Eyck, who is renowned for his realistic portraits. I
had a wonderful view of the town from the belfry tower of
the town hall. We reached the top after climbing 366 steps
but believe me, it was well worth the effort. We stayed
overnight with a friend who has an apartment overlooking
the North Sea in Ostende. One note: Seas don’t smell salty
like oceans! We then visited the fishing port of Zeebruges
before returning to finish our visit of Bruges. Bruges is
also a lace center. It was fascinating to watch the women
who still make the lace by hand. Their fingers flew as they
twisted and crossed the many linen threads.
I also visited the Beguinage of Bruges. The Begumages
are both beautiful and interesting. Beguinages began the
middle of the tenth century. Because of the Crusades and
the many feuds and wars, there'was a surplus of
marriageable girls and widows. It began with these
women meeting regularly to pray and do handiwork. This
evolved into the establishment of communities which
were separated from the town by a wall and gate. The
women lived lives of prayer, very similar to nuns, but not
bound by the same rules as in a convent. Thev lived under
the direction of a superior, called the Headlady, They
wore a black or grey dress and a white veil. They sup
ported themselves by making lace and doing embroidery.
They also taught children and helped the sick and the
poor. When you enter through their gate you immediately
feel the peace and serenity surrounding their little houses.
Following the death of the last Beguine in Bruges, the
Beguinage was taken over and it now is maintained by the
Benedictine Sisters. There are, however, three Beguines
still living at the Beguinagd in Courtrai. These groups
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were founded everywhere in Western Europe but
especially in Belgium. In the Middle Ages there were 94
Beguinages in Belgium. Germany had 54> the Netherlands
38, France 36, Austria-Hungary three, Switzerland and
Italy each two, England arid Poland each one.
The city of leper was also interesting for me, not only
because it is a beautiful city, but also because inygrand
father was stationed here during WW J. They have a
curious custom in leper. Each May it was customary for
the jester of leper to throw two or three living cats from
the Belfry tower. This was begun in 965! by order of
Baldwin HI, Count of Flanders. The city continues this
tradition today bv throwing stuffed cats to the waiting
crowd, below. I also admire the courage of the people of
leper because during WW I their town was completely
destroyed. They have since restored it to its original
beauty, which like Bruges, dates back to the Middle Ages.
I’d like to end this last newsletter with a little poem.
IFYE TO BELGIUM
1978
The greatness of Europe passes before me,
Abundant castles, caves and
Majestic cathedrals beckon me inside;
Art, photography
to be shown
DENVER, Colo. - The
lecturer’s department of the
National Grange sponsors a
program of competition in
art and photography for
members of the Grange.
Thousands of entries go
through local, coupty and
state judging each year. The
first place entries on the
state level are sent to annual
National • Grange con
ventions for judging by
experts in both fields.
All of the entries this year
will be on display at the 112th
annual session of the
National Grange, Nov. 13 to
20 at the Regency Hotel in
Denver, Colorado. National
winners will be announced
on Nov. 14 by Kennit
Richardson, Barre, Vt.,
Lecturer of' the National
Grange. The display will be
open to the public.
Soil Facts
It takes about 500 years
of chemical, physical and
biological processes to make
one inch of soil. Modern ,
farming practices, though,
can destroy this inch in only
a Jew years The healthiest
soils are made of 10 per cent
humus, 40 per cent minerals,
25 per cent water and 25 per
cent air.
lit RED POWER HARVESTING HEADQIMRIERS flft.
NEW 715 COMBINE
READY TO GO
SELECTION OF 844 CORN HEAD OR
13' 810 HEADER THAT’S IDEAL
FOR GRAIN OR SOYBEANS
D COMBINES INCLUDE
IH 815 w/744 CORN HEAD
IH 315 w/227 CORN HEAD & GRAIN HEADER
IH 205 w/227 CORN HEAD
MF 82 w/GRAIN HEADER
WAIVER OF FINANCE OR ALTERNATIVE CASH ALLOWANCES TO 3/1/79 ON NEW
HAY EQUIP., AND TO 6/1/79 ON NEW FORAGE EQUIP. OFFER ENDS 10/31/78.
★ Now is the tithe to Winterize your equip
ment. See our Parts Department for; Anti-
Freeze, Batteries, Tires, Starting Fluid,
Battery Chargers, Welders.
Beautiful old villages lure my steps.
Shadowy remains of abbeys.
Ancient masterpieces by Rubens,
Festivals and processions,
All of these I have seen
And the people I have met,
With their cheery smiles and rosy cheeks;
Always kissing you thrice,
Then spreading a gourmet’s delight before you.
These are just a few of the things,
I’ll remember the rest of my life;
Belguim has changed me in so many ways.
Enriching my mind and coloring my sold.
After I return home in November, I will welcome the
opportunity to give your club or organization a slide
presentation between December and mid-March on my
exchange tour io Belgium. Scheduling arrangements
should be made by contacting the Cooperative Extension
Service office, 235 W. Market St,-West Chester; telephone
(215-696-3500).
Best wishes,
*
NEW 720 AND 830 HARVESTERS
READY TO GO
CORN HEADS AND PICKUP UNITS
ALL ELECTRIC CONTROLS
> HARVESTERS INCLUDE
AC 780
PAPECIBO
NH 717
CHOICE OF HEADS
LIKE NEW-NEW IDEA32S SUPER SHELLER
SWOPE & BASHORE, INC.
mRD 1, Myerstown, Pa.
Located 1 Mile S. of Int. 78 & 6 Miles
N. of Myerstown on Rt. 645 in Frystown
PHONE: 717-933-4138
S.D.I.
9-1-78
FOX 546
IH 50
IH 550