..before the party...

A few pictures before the party of this weekend begins. The picture below is a view of Leiden. The giant party of Leidse Onzet was getting its final touches Thursday. In between rain and sun, workers completed setting up and testing of all the arcade games and rides. I caught this shot after rounding a corner while taking pictures for my photography class.
I caught the picture below as I was riding my bike back to my dorm. This is a windmill that I see everyday. I was riding back through downpour and suddenly the rain stopped, and I caught this glimpse of sun. I had to stop and take the picture. It's so dark and ominous (oooohhh).
Standing in the exact same spot from the picture above, I took the picture below. I turned around. Can you see the rainbow? My camera barely picked it up, but it was right in view. This was the first time in my life that I saw the entire rainbow. You know how sometimes you can never see all of it... you could standing from this spot yesterday. I love the way that the sun shines down onto the trees here.
After I got home I made myself supper. During supper the sky turned green and we started to get hail. I freaked out from excitement. Does Holland get tornadoes? I have no idea, but if they do... yesterday was certainly the day for them. Have a lovely weekend everybody.

Weekend Ready

This weekend celebrates the liberation of Leiden from Spanish rule in the 16th Century. It's apparently a giant beer-fest. People also eat herring like there's no tomorrow. There's a giant fair, and I need to take some shots for photography, so while there will be no posts this coming weekend, please expect something big for Monday... and if Monday's post sucks, please don't blame me.

Article

This is a very interesting article from BBC. It explains how environmental estrogens have caused a rise in the number of men seeking breast reduction surgery, and how their tissue contains mamogramic membranes.

Interesting Fun

I have quite the photos from this past weekend. At the Kroller-Muller Museum, I saw some great pieces of art. The first picture is of a work that contains a hanging rock. This is a beautiful rock. It's a white metamorphic rock with a beautiful blue veining. I have no idea what kind of rock this is, but I love it.This next piece of art is called "Kijk Uit Attention" and is a 2005 piece by Atelier Van Lieshout. You climb the stairs. That's the art. It's great.Here is our view down from the top. It wasn't an amazing view over the ledge of the stairs, it looked more like an African desert than a Dutch field.
This globe confused me. All of the design of this globe at the Palace Het Loo was accurate to what the world looks like today, until I saw North America. Aparently, noboby told me that California has broken off from the continent. I thought it wouldn't do that because it's a transform fault! Oh, and Alaska is huge on this globe.

The Cannon

Well, I splurged tonight on a 1.80 euro bottle of sweet red wine tonight, in remembrance of those sorority girls living in a house across the way from that elephant of a library in Pella. It was 12 per cent, and I realized that every drop contained 12 per cent (or in Dutch, procent) alcohol. Currently, I've been offered a beer, made by Grolsch, called "Het Kanon", or, in Dutch, The Cannon. It is 11.6 procent alcohol. Het is un goed bier. (that's dutch for 'it is a good beer') Yeah, I've been learning Dutch. Rock me!

Anyway, take a look at their website.What else... Oh, I have some really amazing and different pictures to show all of you, check back on either Monday or Tuesday. We went to the Kroller-Muller Museum and I saw some amazing contemporary art. We also went to the Palace Het Loo, the home of Willam III van Orange. He became the King of England after he married his cousin, Mary Stuart (Queen Mary I).

Wait for these pictures. You all will love them!

Limelight

Congratulations Central College! You have finally received positive feedback from the Des Moines Register! Today you have an uplifting article written by Dan McCool, praising you and your president in an uplifting story about the big guy who takes time to teach people how to kick.

This is, of course, remarkably different from another story that was published by the Register in May of this year. "Racial incident in Pella leads to student withdraws" was a rather difficult story for Central to swallow. The advancement office omitted to display the article in their "Central in the News" bulletin board, and many steps were taken to keep Central looking as positive as possible. The college even gave outdated information claiming that we have a 4 per cent minority rate!

Needless to say, three months after the article was published, Central is without its Director of student life and its Director of Intercultural life. These two important individuals had a remarkable impact on the future of the college, and without positive, full-time leadership, I feel we can not continue to fix the problems of the past.

Tension Photos

I wish that I could get my graphic design lessons online today, but I can't. Today, in class, we talked about tension and balance. We did different exercises to reflect different ways to show tension and balance. It was fun.

I also saw a link to MSNBC called Photos: Fake Sweat Included.
It talks about senior portraits. It centers around Spencer, Iowa. I also did a lot of work and spent a lot of money for my senior photos, but I'm very glad I did. When I took my senior shots I was at a physical peak of my life. I look great in those pictures-and I'm so glad that I took them when I did-during the summer, in the morning, etc. Are senior portraits just something big about the Midwest?

Also: I found out this morning that my blog and another's' was featured in Central's alumni bulletin. ... Well shit... I'm going to have to stop using profanity. No... I want everybody to know that more readership will not change the content of my blog. I feel that, so far, I have behaved surprisingly well. Not only in regards to my blogging, but other aspects as well. I mean, here I am in a country with legalized gay marriage, marijuana possession under five grams, and a legal drinking age of 16 for beer and 18 for spirits. 16 is the age of consent, and smoking cigarettes as well. However, the Dutch government doesn't allow you to drive a car, or legally smoke marijuana until you're 18-so they're down on some things. Anyway-I think people (myself included) expected a different type of behavior. I've spent my whole life in Pella, Iowa, and now I'm out and really not taking advantage of the cultural liberalism that surrounds me. I don't feel a need to, really. I would expect that before I leave there could be a surge-only because I know it will be gone-but right now I'm not taking advantages of the liberal opportunities that are abounding.

Classes

Classes have finally begun-
I was so happy to get homework yesterday and I'm doing some of the research right now. It's basically read thirty pages, learn about a political party and pick a current event. I'm looking at the Groen Links party-an environmental leftist party that has 10/150 seats in Den Hague.

I read all of the reading last night, like from the front to the back. I'm a nerd. I'll go back and review what we'll talk about next week on Sunday. So Leiden University has over 2 million collections in its centre library and other, smaller libraries centered around Leiden, but they don't have a single copy of any Harry Potter book. I'm pissed.

Pass!

I passed Dutch 1. That's a horrah for me. It also means that I'm halfway through my language requirement to graduate. So rock on Dutch, rock on!

Gezelligheidsvereninging

I found out yesterday, for all you Pella people, that there are Dutch Letters in the Netherlands. I had a friend email me suggesting that they're probably just called letters and she was absolutely correct! I've also been eating a lot of speculaas, which are the thin ginger/cinnamon cookies we have in Pella. I have fond memories of eating those when I was younger, and for some odd reason Super Value also comes to mind.
It's a lovely day for a final Nederland exam. It's about 55 degrees F and very windy. The sun keeps coming in and out of light rain. I bought apples today at an organic food store that somebody had shown me in an alleyway. I quite like it.

I've also been planning my future coffee shop. I picked out the name: Gezelligheidsvereninging, which, in Dutch, means a social club. I would hope, then, that people couldn't pronounce the name and begin to call it "The G Spot." People like to nickname their coffee shops in the U.S. Someday... that's what my life calling is... to open a coffee shop in a town like Iowa City. I've jotted down designs of interior setups I've seen around here, as well as jotting down types of food, beer, and deserts I'd like to offer. My friend Angela is all about the idea and has suggested these amazing sounding deserts that she could whip up. I want my coffee shop to be organic, and I think that would be a big selling point for a lot of people, especially in ten years time, when a venture like this could go through for me.

It's a flat

I had my first flat tire this morning. There is construction on the Braestraat, which is the road I take to my dorm. We can't get over to the bike path due to construction, and we're stuck driving on the unpaved road. I think it's due to this road, and the bumps, that I got a flat. Last night I tried pumping my back tire with air, and it kept leaking. After a solid fill, this morning I went out to my bike to realize it was flat as a skunk on the road.

Typically Dutch.

The quote from our Dutch instructor today will be this, "Shit does not start with a 'b'."
We were thinking of dutch words that begin with different letters and somebody muttered shit under their breath. I will never forget that shit does not start with b.

Terra incognita

We went to a bar last night and some of the people helped me out. Monday during happy hour, from 10:30-11:30 beer is twee halen een betalen (get two, pay for one!). I'm pretty pumped for my final on Friday for Dutch, sometimes I am amazed at how much I can already speak, yet I get so frustrated when Dutch people actually speak to me, because I have no idea what they're saying.

I'm finding it really hard to find ways to keep myself occupied in ways that cost no money. I go biking a lot. There's an amazing array of bike paths around the city and the Netherlands in general. I want to explore some of the countryside, but I'll get lost so quickly. I tend to stick to the city of Leiden.

I'm also re-reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It's going by so quickly. I think I'd like to read some of the Harry Potter books in Dutch, that might be fun.

I need to find a way to socialize with more Dutch people. I don't know of any student groups that openly look for individuals to join their groups that aren't specifically designed for University of Leiden graduate students. They get all the fun. I should sit around more and have people talk to me... I'm that cool, right?

Great Star

Last night I met a boy named Geld who is beautiful. He lives in Leiden, squatting an old building. He gave me cigarettes last night...me, a random stranger. We got to talking and he's super cool. Of course his politics are ubiquitously Dutch and so we agreed on everything each other brought up.

I was in a coffee shop last week and I decided that I won't get desperate enough as to pull a roach out of an ashtray in a coffeeshop like a homeless man did one day. I felt really bad and so I lit it for him because he obviously didn't have a lighter. I think he was disappointed that I wasn't smoking any weed, because he asked if he could join me... but he left when he found out that I was only drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes... that brings me to the question of what on EARTH was I doing simply drinking coffee, writing in my journal, and smoking cigarettes in a coffee shop? The boys who were working seemed to look at me funny, also, until one of their coworkers came down from the apartment upstairs and joined me. Then they were fun!

So I totally just copied that paragraph from an email I sent to some people at the school in Pella. I wrote it and decided that it should be in my blog.

We have five more days of Dutch left. Well, four... and on Friday we have our final. I need to get a D- at the worst because I want this Dutch class to count for my language credit. I don't think I'll get a D-.

My computer is in Amsterdam. I feel really bad now that my parents sent my computer and now they need to pay for all my food and such while I'm here. It makes sense to have my computer if I'll be here for nine months, but now I have three months left? I still don't know, I guess... I haven't talked to anybody about securing a different type of loan. A private loan? Who knows!

I'm going to go and look over some Dutch before class begins. We're learning about de markt today.

The news settles

I found out a few days ago that my loan to receive extra spending cash was denied. A big fat red line for that extra money that I would have used to buy food, beer, pot and clothes. I do, though, have just enough money to be enrolled at Central College for this year. They gave me at least that. So I don't have to worry about dropping out just yet. This probably mean that I can't stay here all year. In Pella I get food for free, and I can have a job to buy things like beer and books.

I haven't told my parents yet. My mother is on a cruise in the warm weather tropics, and she is the one who works most with my money issues. I have always tried to ignore money... pretend that it doesn't matter. I hate thinking about money, worrying about money; but now it's come to bite my ass. Basically, I don't know what to do.

There is a 'donate now' button under my picture, and you can give me money through Paypal. I have enough food to last me another week or so, but as for cigarettes. I haven't had one all day. I smoked my last one yesterday after sitting in the grass and getting stoned-for free.

Yesterday was a perfect day. We had class from 9-1 and after that we ate tosties (a grilled cheese sandwich with ham), got a blanket, rolled a spliff, and sat in the sun for a few hours.This is Haley. She mentioned that you know it's got to be a perfect day when there's not a cloud in the sky. She was so right. The day was lovely. We've not had a single rainy day while I've been here, nearly three weeks now. The weather has sat around 75 F every single day.
I love my Birkenstocks. They look so happy sitting in the grass next to that little white flower.

I was looking at concerts that are happening while I'm here in the Netherlands and I have three AMAZING options at my disposal. The first is Sufjan Stevens. He is trying to make an album about every U.S. state. He'll be in Amsterdam on October 27. The price is 13 euro. Next, on October 31... MY 21st BIRTHDAY!... The White Stripes will be in Amsterdam. This is a Monday night so it makes more sense to celebrate my 21st 21 miles away and not 210. The show costs 30 euro.
Finally, on November 26 Rufus Wainwright will be playing in Amsterdam for 22.50 euro. I saw him last October in Iowa City. The tickets were $20 a piece. I loved the show, it was absolutely amazing, and I have to go see him live again.

Another beer - on you!

Last night at the Jantje van Leiden we were bombarded by the waitress. As we each got a little tipsy, she kept putting the drinks in front of us-on her. We were going to leave at like seven. You know how that goes. It turns eight. People start talking to us. We learn exciting words in Dutch. It turns nine-one pack of cigarettes is now gone. I got here at three. I had a tosti at five. Something not good is probably going to happen. It hits 9:30 and the drinks keep coming. Ten and we finally think about leaving. The problem was that we were the only people in the bar and she knew if we left she would be bored and have to clean something. I wouldn't want me to leave either. It was nuts. So we leave. We ride our bikes home. I successfully rode my bike home pretty tipsy two nights running. Netherlands is apparently a drunk-biking friendly city. Saturday I was riding home and there were people who had resorted to just pushing their bikes along the sidewalk. I was glad that I hadn't had been to that point in alcohol here, yet. When I got home I decided I needed to learn how to use the washing machine, so I got out my pad of paper and my translation dictionary. I understood Bonte Was - a color wash, Kreukherstellend-fijn - A fine item or drip dry and Centrifugen - Spin Dry. However, I got quite confused at Behoed Zaam. My dictionary told me that Behoed meant to keep from - keep from what? I flipped to the back of the dictionary. I look up zaam...

SEMEN!

Was there really a mode on the washer that meant to keep my clothes from semen? I was stunned and drunk and I had no idea what was going on. Another look and I realize that the word I am looking for, zaam, is not in my dictionary. I had looked at the word zaad. So, forever I will know that zaad means semen/sperm... And what a reason why.

Maria komt uit Spanje

"It's Wickse Wite... just point to that one!" -How do you place feelings into words and how do you capture words into a photograph? You enter into someone's territory; their sacred ground. You want it to be your place, too. You know it will take time to break these people.

Below is a picture of the Jantje ban Leiden, a cafe that I have fallen in love with. The name of the bar literally means "Talk your way out of." Take whatever you want from that... I will, I'm sure. It's wonderfully small and everybody is always so kind to us. There is a man sitting at the larger table who seems so excited to see us when we walk in. He's a regular. My first Dutch friend is seen below. His name is Jon. I think he's only interested in me because I'm an American and he seems to be the kind of person who goes crazy for international students. We have those at Central College, so I'm alright with being a novelty to him. He's really cool. We met when I was just walking to my door. I couldn't unlock my door and he came down the elevator. I asked where my room was... he laughed and told me it was in the room 85. Then he helped me unlock my door. Last week then, we found each other at the supermarket and asked if I wanted to smoke in the grass after we each ate. There we were.
This is my bike! It rides very smoothly compared to what everybody else got. My light works, I have five gears, and hand brakes. Some of the other bikes have the brakes where you need to turn your feet backward like when we were kids... I wouldn't be able to figure that out. I bought a purple bike so I would recognize it from the ubiquitous black bike. I also have saddlebags for it, they have come to be very handy with my bag, groceries, and whatever else I may need to carry.
I don't know why I have a fascination with pictures of me smoking, but I certainly have one. Makes it seem like I chain smoke constantly. This photo below is from my trip to Amsterdam. It was such a long day of visiting museums, houses, churches, and other elements of 17th century Amsterdam. We finished at the museum and needed a sit break like no other. Here we are at the Esprit bar... yes, like the clothes. They had their shop in the building with the pillars behind me, and so after buying clothes you could have a drink. Interesting.
We have begun our Nederlands lessons and it's a very interesting method that they are teaching. The concept is a listen and repeat method. The idea is to teach us the way young children learn their mother tongue. Unlike children, though, we're going at mach speeds. I think we're already supposed to know nearly 200 words with the capability to use them in sentences and to use them to fully answer questions about ourselves and others. It's not working for me yet. Our first test is today and I have no idea how to study for it since I have no idea what the format will entail. Dag. Mijn naam is Eva Sterk. Dag, Eva. Uit welk land kom jij? Ik ben Amerikaanse.