Venice of Holland

We had a few rare, sunny days here in the Netherlands last week. I'd specify which city I'm talking about, but the country is so small I'm pretty sure the weather is the same throughout. I was in classes on these sunny days last week, sadly, but it sure looked nice out the window! Seriously though, it was a good change of pace from the typical rainy, cloudy, and cold Dutch weather. But now it's back, as am I, after a weekend trip to Giethoorn, a.k.a. the "Venice of Holland." This name seems silly considering almost every place in the Netherlands has a network of canals as it is largely under sea level. The nickname is used, I guess, because many of the homes in Giethoorn are reachable only by boat or bicycle, so the people who live there rely on the canals- like in Venice!

The introduction weekend was organized by the international organization at Leiden University, ISN. There were about 35 students on the trip, and it was a lot of fun! We were split up into teams, and throughout the weekend played games and competed against each other. The ISN board (made up of students in Leiden) worked really hard the whole time and organized everything. We took a boat ride around the town of Giethoorn, had a scavenger hunt, and themed parties both nights.

It was a very fun weekend and a great way to meet a lot of new people. Now I'm back, though, and have to get motivated to do some school work soon. Next weekend is Leids ontzet, or the Relief of Leiden, on October 3rd. It is apparently a very big deal, with the festivities lasting all weekend. Until then, I'm going to try and buckle down on the school work so I don't miss out.. They are keeping me pretty busy, which is really interfering with my study abroad experience!

Where we stayed in Giethoorn- not as nice as it looks

Team Blue

Someone with a clog obsession lives here

First week of school

After my first week of classes, things have picked up a bit over here. Because classes only meet once a week, they assign a lot of homework for the next week; for my class on Tuesday I have to have read an entire book. With four literature classes, I have a feeling this workload will keep me pretty busy... Maybe not, though, as I have yet to start that book.

Because it was the first Friday after school and my friend Stacy's birthday, she cooked us a typical meal from her native country, South Korea. There were five of us, and it was a delicious meal! We were talking about typical Korean food, and they were very impressed that I knew what kimchi was. After that we all went out and met up with some other international students which was fun, but of course I had to catch the train and be home early. Having school helps with living so far away, because we can meet up after or between classes, but it is still a pain having to go home so early, as public transportation stops before midnight most nights.

Today two of my friends from the UK came to the Hague to explore with me. We got lunch and walked around a lot of the important buildings and shopping streets. The Hague is a really interesting area, with all of the government buildings it has a similar feel to Washington DC. Even though I am technically staying in The Hague, it was the first time I'd taken the time to walk around and really see it. It definitely helped that it was finally a sunny, beautiful day! Below are some of the pictures of highlights in the area.

Dutch Parliament building

Inside courtyard of Parliament building

Dutch Royal Palace, The Hague

Peace Palace

Dutch

The other night, Annelies asked me if I'd like to learn Dutch. She had assumed I'd say no, so when I answered with a yes she was thrilled. She asked me very enthusiastically what I'd like to learn first. There are so many important basic words and phrases to learn in every language I didn't know how to respond. Annelies quickly decided that the first word I should know in Dutch was the word for "whore house," as I was headed to Amsterdam the next day. I'm not sure how she decided upon this word, as it's really not very practical, and I can't even use it in a sentence. I don't even know how to say, "Where is the..."

Since then I've had many occasions where it would have been really nice to know a few simple Dutch phrases that come up in everyday life. For example, this morning an elderly woman sat beside me on the bus and scolded me (in Dutch) for not wearing a coat. I got the message, as she pointed to her very large coat while saying it. I smiled politely, getting the message and thinking she'd stop talking after that short and one-sided exchange. The woman did not stop talking, and barely paused during the ten minutes she was on the bus. After the initial interaction I was too embarrassed to stop her and let her know that I really didn't understand anything she was saying.

Perhaps I'll try to learn a few useful phrases this week...

Half of Holland

Well, not much has been happening in the Netherlands since I last posted... After being here for two full weeks now classes have still not begun, so there has been plenty of sitting around watching tv on my computer. I'll spare you the details of those fascinating adventures, and just put up some of my most recent pictures.

This past week I went on a day trip with Annelies to the north of Holland (the one hour journey allowed me to drive though half of the country), during which I saw the Sas campus of the Netherlands. I was truly shocked by how nice the office was, in a totally different way than the Cary campus. To reach the office, you drive down a long straight street bordered by trees, with the big white former farmhouse in the distance.

Sas Nederland

Lawn in front of the Sas office

While I was thoroughly impressed by the facade of the office, the interior was the most amazing part of the tour. The old farmhouse had been filled with modern furniture and was all very well done. Annelies' office was my favorite, in the very top of the building. Because she was technically in the attic, there were small winding staircases leading up, and inside there were large wooden beams running across the room. It was a unique but effective way to house the small Netherlands branch of Sas. They are currently building a "greenhouse" type structure for technical equipment, which will be behind the main building. It was really very impressive, and I now understand why Annelies is willing to drive two hours to work every morning through Amsterdam traffic.

The other big trip this week was a day trip with some other students to Amsterdam. It was my first time actually visiting the city, so it was good to go with a group of students including some Dutch people who could lead me around without me having to try to grasp the complicated layout of winding roads and canals. Below are some of the pictures I took on the trip. I tried to sneak some of the prostitutes, but I didn't want them to steal my camera. I didn't realize they would be so close and right at eye level, so I felt a little too awkward to pull out my camera.. maybe next time.

Amsterdam Centraal Train Station

Very slanted building

Red Light District - Sculpture in the cobblestones

Main area built over the dam, with the royal palace/former city hall completely under renovation

I amsterdam sign with the Rijksmuseum in the background, also being renovated

That's pretty much all I've got for now, classes start on Tuesday and I will (hopefully) have more to say after that!

Bye-bye Bicycle

Since the introduction days, things have calmed down a bit. Because school doesn't start for another week, I am trying to stay busy. The days following orientation were nice because Annelies was off work so we got to spend some time together. We went biking through the dunes by her house and to the fish market, played tennis, and ate dinner with her daughter and others. Her daughter, Damayanti, just came home for a short visit before heading back to school in London. She is very nice and it's been good having someone else around my age at the house.

DJ in a bus on Museum Night

Last Saturday night a few of us went to Museum Night in The Hague, which was good because finally people came to where I am staying rather than me going all the way to Leiden. It takes about 40 minutes on a bus and then train to get there, and they all stop around 12 so it's not very convenient. Museum Night had lots of potential, but unfortunately we picked the one museum that had just been renovated and thus had a two hour wait. They had entertainment out on the street, with a DJ in a bus right by the museum we were waiting to go into. When we finally got to the front of the line, the tour was in Dutch. Of course... So the Dutch students we were with gave loose translations, but got yelled at by the tour guide for talking. Oops! It honestly didn't sound that exciting anyway, so I guess we picked the wrong museum. After waiting for so long we were kind of out of time, and my new friend Kate and I had to catch the public transportation home.

Over the weekend we had dinner at the house with Annelies, her daughter, "second son" Danian and his girlfriend. Danian had a lot of funny questions, like if it's true that Americans always drink out of red cups, and he was yet another person to ask if high school is like American pie.. I try to answer, "yes it's true" whenever possible. All of the stereotypes about the Dutch are also true... except for clogs. I have yet to see clogs on anyone, but they ride bikes like nobody's business and even a policeman told us that we will not be prosecuted for drug use.

Bike storage with Leiden Centraal in the background

Speaking of bicycles, last week there was a used bike sale for all of the international students. They were cheap, and it was the perfect opportunity to do as the Dutch do, so I naturally purchased a bike. We have been told that the average Dutch person goes through six bikes a year, as they are constantly being stolen. Apparently the thieves resell the bikes in the train station at night. Of course, I purchased a lock as well and stored it under the train station in the appropriate place for the weekend while I was away. When I went back to get it yesterday, it was nowhere to be found. Laying on the ground where my bike had been was my lock, sawed in half. I rode my bike for approximately one day before it was stolen, so I think I'll wait a while before investing (or stealing one back, which is a popular option in Leiden) another one.

Other than hanging out with friends around Leiden, I have mostly been trying to get things sorted out for starting classes next week. It's weird that registration is still happening, yet school starts next week. The weather just got much cloudier today, so for now I am happy staying around the house and out of the rain!

New friends Dani, Chiao, Stacey, and Kate

Some church in Leiden

Introduction Days

Rainbow over Leiden

During the "Introduction Days," or orientation to Leiden University, we stayed pretty busy. They separated us into groups based on discipline, in which we were led around by mentors who go to school in Leiden full-time. The days consisted of a lot of walking around Leiden during the day to see where all of the campus buildings are and learning more about the town and university. Apparently 10% of Leiden University is international students. Everybody in my group was really nice, and they kept us really busy. One of my new friends Kate, who is from England, told me that when she thinks of America she thinks of what she sees on TV... like Jersey Shore. Great.

It has been very funny hearing everyone's questions about the US. A lot of the people I've met have never been, and they ask questions like, "Is high school really like what they show in the movies?" There is another girl in my group from the US, but we could not be more different. She is from Wisconsin, and I think we answer questions about our country very differently.

People from home who went abroad to study before me (more specifically, KEVIN) said that people would think my Silly Bandz were lame. I can now officially inform you that they are the newest sensation among my group members, and they loved me so much for sharing.

The university organized a lot of events for the international students during orientation and for the upcoming weeks. It is really strange that students here actively participate in these, but it probably has a lot to do with the fact that the events are things like cocktail parties and pub crawls.

I've included some pictures of where I'm staying and university buildings, and will hopefully have more to share soon.

Annelies' house- where I'm staying

Lipsius, where many of my classes will be held

Oldest building in Leiden, also the former jailhouse

Main shopping street in Leiden

Off to Leiden I go

During my first full day in the Netherlands, my main task was getting to Leiden and attending my registration appointment. Because of my experience thus far with getting around the country, I alloted myself plenty of time- and luckily, I made it!

Leiden really is a beautiful place, and the many waterways running through the city (apparently they have the most of any city in the Netherlands) make it unlike any place I've been. It was good to see the campus buildings and get a sense of where I'll be going to school.

Leiden waterway

Windmill in Leiden

Double-decker bike storage in the city

On my way home from Leiden I took some pictures of where I'm staying. Annelies' house is bordered by dunes on one side, and beach on the other. I haven't walked over to see the dunes yet, but the beach is really nice and a very close walk from the house.

Lighthouse in Kijkduin, The Hague - Near where I'm staying

Kijkduin, The Hage - My backyard

After returning from a day so full of walking I got a blister, it was really nice to sit down... Apparently Americans are as lazy as they say. I was planning to go back over to the beach, but never made it. Annelies' "second son" Danian, as she says, came by to greet me and offer assistance with anything I may need. He was very nice, and said I could call him "at any moment." This phrasing seems extra helpful! Although, he followed immediately by saying that for the next hour he'd be busy- but other than that, at any moment I was free to call!

Overall I think it was a good first day, but tomorrow is the start of the Introduction Program, so we'll see about that!