The Readers' Digest Version
Haven't really felt like updating lately, though I have been reading my Friends page daily. The weather's turned cold, school is a mess (it's two weeks into the semester and they're still coming up with more classes I have to take and rescheduling the ones I'm already following...), and my life is moving ahead in fast-forward mode.
My dad came to Amsterdam for a trade show last week, and will be coming back in another two weeks, this time with my mom and sister in tow. I'm so excited I can barely sit still, but I'm also a bit panicked about how to work sight-seeing around my school schedule.
My classmates are great. There're only about 10-12 of us, so I'm getting to know everyone quite well. Marie, Isabel, and I all sort of gravitate toward each other since we are the only three non-Dutch students (as well as the only three females), but I'm valiantly attempting to engage the Dutch guys in conversation, too.
Teachers are mostly very good. Dr. Hofman scares the crap out of me-- she stares at me and scrunches her eyebrows together like she's trying to assess my character. Several other students have asked me why she's always looking at me like that, so I know I'm not imagining it. Dr. Jansen is very engaging and a great lecturer, and I'm getting some good brownie points in by reading one of his manuscripts and correcting the "Dutchisms". Dr. Adelaar is a space case, mumbling under his breath in a bizarre mixture of Dutch and English. The others fall somewhere in between.
I've been going to "SkiGym" every Wednesday with Rick's mom and Eef, which leaves me hobbling around in pain the rest of the week. All the exercises focus on building up strength in the legs, which I guess will be good for biking into the wind. I've also gone climbing with Rick and his friend Martijn, which is lots of fun, but murder on my arm muscles. I climbed so high yesterday that I got dizzy when I looked down at Martijn... I was frightened, but proud of myself.
Rick, Tim, and I went to Kolhorn with Piet and his kids and grandkids last Saturday. We saw the house where Piet lived for 10 years and where his first 3 kids were born. Had coffee in a cozy little pub/cafe/restaurant, went on a boat down the canal and through a little loch-thing (very cool), had a guided tour of historic buildings in the town (turns out the tour guide was the brother of one of the Journaal presenters... I spent the whole time trying to figure out why he looked familiar), visited some little museums, and had a 4-course meal back at the restaurant before heading home late that night. I love small towns.
Been playing Sims 2 today. I don't enjoy it, but I can't stop playing it. I made two Sims that look like Rick and I, and in a bizarre twist, the Megan-Sim enjoys cleaning and housework, while the Rick-Sim leaves food out on the counter and enjoys spying on the neighbors. Complete role-reversal. :)
And now I have to force myself to go to the grocery store, despite the fact that it's raining. This weather really sucks...
My dad came to Amsterdam for a trade show last week, and will be coming back in another two weeks, this time with my mom and sister in tow. I'm so excited I can barely sit still, but I'm also a bit panicked about how to work sight-seeing around my school schedule.
My classmates are great. There're only about 10-12 of us, so I'm getting to know everyone quite well. Marie, Isabel, and I all sort of gravitate toward each other since we are the only three non-Dutch students (as well as the only three females), but I'm valiantly attempting to engage the Dutch guys in conversation, too.
Teachers are mostly very good. Dr. Hofman scares the crap out of me-- she stares at me and scrunches her eyebrows together like she's trying to assess my character. Several other students have asked me why she's always looking at me like that, so I know I'm not imagining it. Dr. Jansen is very engaging and a great lecturer, and I'm getting some good brownie points in by reading one of his manuscripts and correcting the "Dutchisms". Dr. Adelaar is a space case, mumbling under his breath in a bizarre mixture of Dutch and English. The others fall somewhere in between.
I've been going to "SkiGym" every Wednesday with Rick's mom and Eef, which leaves me hobbling around in pain the rest of the week. All the exercises focus on building up strength in the legs, which I guess will be good for biking into the wind. I've also gone climbing with Rick and his friend Martijn, which is lots of fun, but murder on my arm muscles. I climbed so high yesterday that I got dizzy when I looked down at Martijn... I was frightened, but proud of myself.
Rick, Tim, and I went to Kolhorn with Piet and his kids and grandkids last Saturday. We saw the house where Piet lived for 10 years and where his first 3 kids were born. Had coffee in a cozy little pub/cafe/restaurant, went on a boat down the canal and through a little loch-thing (very cool), had a guided tour of historic buildings in the town (turns out the tour guide was the brother of one of the Journaal presenters... I spent the whole time trying to figure out why he looked familiar), visited some little museums, and had a 4-course meal back at the restaurant before heading home late that night. I love small towns.
Been playing Sims 2 today. I don't enjoy it, but I can't stop playing it. I made two Sims that look like Rick and I, and in a bizarre twist, the Megan-Sim enjoys cleaning and housework, while the Rick-Sim leaves food out on the counter and enjoys spying on the neighbors. Complete role-reversal. :)
And now I have to force myself to go to the grocery store, despite the fact that it's raining. This weather really sucks...