Amstel - like the beer

We went to Amsterdam yesterday on the Amstel river. We left on the 9 am train; quite an early change from our orientation classes, which began at 10:30. Our day in Amsterdam included museums, churches, houses, hidden churches in houses, buildings, art, food, a tromp through the red light district to get to a house... all kinds of things.

Oh. The Red Light District was funny. We went at like 11 am and there were more elderly people than prostitutes, more jumpers than junkies... that's the best I can do at the moment. It was very interesting to see the progression of the city in a size idea and how the people of Amsterdam have created a habitable city that is below sea level. I have a picture to put up... I'll probably not do it now. I'm hungry now and I still need to buy a bike.

As you all lie asleep

Monday morning and quite frankly I'm pissed. American banks are so horrible about doing things quickly. Add that to my GMT -1 and my Pella banks don't open until 2:00 Leiden. Aside.
I met my friend's friend, Holger yesterday while I was walking around trying to find cigarettes. I was told for months about this guy and within the first five days of me wandering a city of 115,000 people...there he is. We hung out, he bought a round of beer, and then showed me his apartment.
Today's picture was taken as I was walking to my house Saturday night. We had gone out for supper and on our way back the sun was beginning to set behind the clouds. This was the first time Saturday that we saw the sun. It was very lovely. We were so lucky to have the windmill just right there to add to the power and intensity of this shot.

Explore!

So here are some images from my time so far. I've been having a great time and I even now have a mobile. This picture is of me having an Amstell here in the Netherlands where it is made. It was so good fresh from the tap. The other picture is of me in the Double AA, a cafe down the road in Centraal Leiden where you can smoke inside. I like the atmosphere of the shop.

This picture below is of a 17th century lion that sat atop the town hall here in Leiden. I recognize it from the Tulip Toren downtown. This version survived a fire in the early 18th century and was recently found at an antique store. It is missing the original keys of Leiden, which I believe the Tulip Toren has... so now I know what the lion on the tulip tower is!


























This picture is of Mark, another person from the program. He resides in New York. He found some Doritos at the supermarket and instead of Cooler Ranch they're called Cool American. So Mark is certainly a cool American, he had to buy the chips.

Here some of are eating pizza outside. We were total losers and desperate to eat. Somebody told us how to get to the pizza place and didn't tell us it was only for pickup/delivery. So we sat on the sidewalk.

I'm Hidin'

I made it. I'm in Leiden. I have some lovely photos to put up from my very first night in town. I also should get a picture of my flatmate, Niels.

Niels is hot.

We took a walking tour of the city this morning and it is so beautiful. I can't wait to begin exploring different cafes. Nothing seems odd or out of place yet, I'm very much in the romantic stage of this supposed culture shock. I think that's all for now... pictures later. Keep those comments coming.

All my *blanks* are *blanked* and I'm *blanked*

My last night has gone like this: I got everything together. Then I decided to have a Mountain Dew in a can since I don't know if I'll get one in the Netherlands. I probably wouldn't even drink soda all year if I were staying in the states, but the simple fact that I'll be gone made me want to indulge in something so uniquely Iowan. I also went out to coffee with Lauren, Justice and Angela. This is a lovely photo of me smoking and my cup of coffee.
I really like this picture that I took of Justice. I turned off the flash to get a more representation view of the beautiful sky, and I was very lucky that he didn't move... rather he had this childish interest in what I was doing with my camera balanced atop my coffee mug.

And finally I got everything into my suitcase. Yes, I am only bringing one. The brown bag will be my carry-on. I don't want to deal with anything too bulky to carry around during my layover in Chicago. Included in the brown bag is a map of O'Hare airport, toothpaste and brush, cigarettes and matches, a book, money, and an umbrella. For some odd reason I couldn't put myself to packing the umbrella in the suitcase. I'm an odd one.
Well, that's all. In about 36 hours CDT I'll be landing in Amsterdam. There's still so much I need to do before I jet. I've gotten my iPod settled to play the music I want/need in Chicago.

Wow. I'm leaving. Odd.

Home-for now.

I just got back from my trip to Wisconsin. Aside for the bombardment of tornados, everything went fine. I leave in four days. I still need a few menial things... mostly to replace what I left. You know, toothbrush... toothpaste... deoderant... I also need some batteries. I can't believe I left such essential items. Whatever. Students move back onto campus tomorrow and I'm excited to see everybody again before I leave.

I said good-bye to my best friend tonight. That was weird.

Wisconsin

I'm in Wisconsin before I leave for Leiden with some great friends. Their house is beautiful and their daughter is amazing. It's really nice having this freedom away from my parents right before I leave. I think that they would be freaking out if I were at home... "Are you packed yet? What time does your plane leave? Have you visited Grandma yet?" ... things like that. Nothing beats chilling on the front porch with a cigarette and the newspaper. I really love Wisconsin. They're all happy-go-lucky people. Oh, and they all drink a lot of beer, smoke cigarettes, and eat cheese. The boys here are amazing. Unlike Iowa where boys have a linebacker quality-full build, muscle, and a tiny element of chub; boys in Wisconsin are leaner than Iowa boys... which I attribute to so much diary. I mean, these boys aren't fat, neither do they have such a largeness that we Iowans have. They're glorious. It makes me just want to drink the dairy that they offer more than the dairy available in Iowa.

Packing Slip

Here it is- my list of items to pack with me. Tell me if anything is missing.
Shirts-
Brown Gap
Purple Gap
Pink Hollister
Green Hollister
Pink Abercrombie
Blue J.Crew

Pants-
Brown Gap
Blue Gap
Express Jeans
Expensive J.Crew

Shoes-
Steve Madden
Birks
Black Casual

Books-
Get Lost Guide to Amsterdam
Pilates Yoga
Journals
Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals
Mini Moleskins
Moleskin Address Book
Moleskin Organizers
GRE Study Guide

Underwear-
Any without holes

Coat-
Peacoat

Belt-
Brown
Black

Sweaters-
Brown Ubiquitous
H-Stripe Gap
Argyle Fossil

Socks-
Brown

Technology-
Ship over.
AA Batteries for Mac.
iPod/Charge/Travel Converters
Transformer
Digi-Cam w/ wires

Misc.-
Year supply of Black Bic Grips.
Passport
Social Security Card
Birth Certificate
Bank Cards
Credit Card
Camera
Wine/Bottle Opener

An-ti-ci-pa-tion

Really. I couldn't be more excited to leave. One of the people I'm leaving with finally opened up to me and mentioned alcohol. There was a woman at work today who was looking at the room her daughter would live in. She used to be a travel agent and told us about her travels in Europe. She told us that we should go to the biggest Catholic church in Amsterdam and behind the church is the Red Light District.
"Have you heard of the Red Light District?" she asked.
Joe and I laughed. Apparently, in the Red Light District, there are people calling from windows and you walk to a store front, go inside, and they close a curtain in the window. How odd.

But that's not why I'm excited to leave.

This morning was my last time at the Admission Office. I'm finally realizing that my summer is nearly over and that it's time to say good-bye.

The book, Sex, Drugs, & Cocoa Puffs always is hidden around this book store. Sorry about that rant, but I'm at work, and for some reason I'm always finding it missing! People, for some reason, hide that book more than any other. I'm also missing Fight Club and I have no idea where it is or what has been done to it. I hope the boss didn't pull it because it hasn't sold in a while. She's been doing that lately with a whole ton of good books in the store. Example... she pulled Junky. How can you pull junky? What will I sell to the isolated 15 year old when they come in and need their world opened for them? I can't sell them Junky because we got rid of it. I'm sad.

Good Riddance!

I woke up this morning to thunderstorms, and as I'm checking through my daily dab of web sites I came across this PSA from Focus on the Family. I should fax one to my mother. Give it a look, or if you don't want to support a christian website, get the gist here.

After a while... yuck. I can't believe people think that. On some good tones... scientists have found TWO NEW species of LEMUR! I have a friend who created hats a few years ago that all said, "SAVE THE LEMURS" and we would wear them around the state. It spawned some very interesting conversations, but made me realize that the lemurs really do need saving. Those poor little things.

I didn't go to work yesterday, rather I stayed here and cleaned the place. I think I'll go to work today. Oh well.

Anxiety

I'm counting down the days at this point until I leave for Leiden. 18 is the magic number of nights I have to sleep off until I wake in the Netherlands.
I'm beginning to get anxious about leaving. I'm worried that I'll miss a flight from Chicago, that I'll never get to Amsterdam, and that I will be totally incoherent by the time I reach Leiden. These things won't happen. I shouldn't be worried.