Don't you just love those weekends that are super exceptionally good? This weekend was one of them. I went to Eric's parents lake house with Yolanda to hang out a bit. Saturday we washed a boat and earned enough money each to go to the movies and watch Pirates III. I loved it!
Sunday we went again and met several extended family members of Eric's and Yolanda's high school teacher, who happens to be Eric's sister. They had a three-person ski-doo there. The weather was slightly on the chilly side, but the water was warm, so after being reassured that three-person ski-doo's never flip and don't splash much, we decided to take it for a spin - in our clothing. We went out to the other side of the lake and all was well. Then Yoli said, "Just don't do anything stupid, Eric." Eric said, "what? do something stupid?" and he proceeded to spin the ski-doo in tight circles. We thought we were in for it, but then he stopped and coasted and we were still dry. Yoli (in the back) leaned over to say something witty to Eric. Eric leaned over to hear. I leaned over to get out of the way. And somehow all of us leaning on a stopped three-person ski-doo made the untippable beast tip over! Oh shock and disbelief! But we tipped it back up, got back on, and after realizing the only casualty was Yoli's sunglasses, we had a good laugh and made a cold journey back to the dock. Good times!
Later I went back out for a tube ride on a three person tube (not unflippable) that was slowly losing air and becoming harder and harder to keep upright. Eventually a cousin fell off the right side, so Eric bailed off the back, and I inevitably flipped right over doing weird sideways summersaults over the water. More good times! :)
Monday I ate out at Perkins, had coffee at Starbucks, and played a VERY rushed game of mini-golf before rushing Eric home to "meet his curfew".
Great weekend!

time does not exist

It would seem I have this inability to not finish something I started even if it takes weeks or years... Take the book I just read, for instance. No matter how often I had to stop reading just to scoff at the stupidity of the book with its typical plot line and cheesy writing, I still couldn't bring myself to just stop reading it. But now it's over and I can leave that beastly thing on the desk of my sister (sorry Amanda).
Two more days here before I cross the big blue sea and return "home", leaving one sister 
behind for another (sorry Amanda). Thanks to my thoughtful family, I've got my own 
living quarters in my aunt and uncle's basement ready for me and a job as well! But as for tonight I'll be spending the evening with Amanda and Dane drinking beer and possibly smoking some good ol' hooka. Then tomorrow Amanda has to babysit so we'll stick around here and watch a movie - American Beauty.
I'd love to say more but, apart from having not much more to say, I've left my lovely sister to drink her tea alone (sorry Amanda), so I am going to go spend what little time I have left enjoying her company. 
Toodles.

Goodbye boredom, hello fun! I hope.

I love spur-of-the-moment decisions. Amanda and I just decided to go to Groningen right now. 
Apparently Camiel has no school for the next few days, which means she has no work. So instead of bumming around here, we'll be bumming around Luuk's place until Friday. But at least there it's more fun. Then we'll be stopping by Zwolle to say goodbye to my hosts on our way to Zoetermeer where we'll spend the weekend. I love surprises. :) 
I watched Being John Malcovich last night. Was aweful! I didn't like it at all.

closing time

 Not to defeat the purpose of Amanda's last post, but seriously, every time I come to Amanda's place I am more and more surprised at how she manages to stay so sane while living here! These kids are cute and fun, but take so much energy and time! But what gets me the most is
how since they are not her kids, she can't really discipline them and verbal reprimand only goes so far...
I really have no news. I've been staying with Amanda since Friday. I went first to her future-in-laws place for the weekend. Sunday Fritz decided he needed to take me sight seeing to make sure I didn't leave here without seeing the tulip fields. So we got in his car and drove through Den Haag to the fields... which instead of being full of colorful flowers were just green from stalks of had-beens. I think Fritz was more disappointed than I. He kept commenting on how summer came early this year and we just weren't lucky that day, etc. I just enjoyed the ride so much, I didn't really care.
Now we've been at Amanda's place for only two days and I think I'm going to go mad! I get so bored and restles, now that I have no school and the group I hung out with all semester is gone... Last night we hung out with Dane at their usual pub and drank Casteel or Kasteel? At first I wasn't sure I liked the beer, but after the second one I enjoyed it much more.
This morning I had promised to watch the two youngest kids while Amanda took the oldest to school. She said she'd wake me at 8.15 but I woke up around 7 thinking she would be coming soon so at 7.20 I just got up and went downstairs thinking she maybe forgot to wake me, but of course found out I was an hour early, so I groggily went back upstairs. I am a smart one.

the good times are killing me

I kind of regret changing my blogger url now... I think some of my ol' friends haven't found me back. oops!

NSPICE is now officially over. We had our goodbye party tonight, which was much more fun than I expected, but it made me realize how sad I'm going to be when our group isn't together anymore. But life goes on, and I'll see most everyone at Dordt next fall. :) Tomorrow I am bringing back my books and bike to hopefully get some money back. Friday I leave my host family and am going to spend my last two weeks with Amanda. I went past the calendar in the kitchen and realized just how much they are going to miss me. ;)

the hell with it

I finally got my tax return. All - ready for this? - thirty two dollars of it. I'm a little bummed.

Had my last day of class today. I actually was complimented on my Dutch pronunciation. I'm a little psyched.

Got my first C in a class ever, with no explanation. I'm a little frustrated.

Get to spend the next two weeks with my sister. I'm a little excited.

Going "home" after that. I'm a little torn.

Ik ben naar Italië geweest

Italy's been on my travel hit-list for quite some time now and I've finally been! There's so much to tell, I fear if I try you'll get bored before reading the end of it, so here's my attempt at a brief recap of events.

Tuesday 1 May - Rome

• First lesson learned in Rome - don't ask the cab drivers where to catch a train...
• Managed after some hassle to find the stop for the bus to my campground, where I was to meet 7 girls/travel companions.
• Knew the bus, but had no idea where to get off.
• Overheard some travelers talking about the campsite, told them of my predicament, and they (particularly Craig the amiable traveler) took care to announce our stopping place.
• Couldn't check in because the girls, including the one under who's name we were booked, weren't there yet.
• Thanks to the attentive traveler, I found four other nspicers (3 boys and one's gf). Not the ones I needed, but company which was incredibly welcome.
  
• Waited... went to try one more time for a tent before resorting to making room in one of the other four's tents... found the girls instead. Hooray!

Wednesday 2 May.

• Went to see the sights with the boys and the easy-going traveler.
• Made our way to the State of Vatican City where the experienced traveler parted ways with us for the day. Also here the boys got groped by some frisky Polish ladies and we got rained on - partly from the sky and partly from a man's umbrella, which Marcus proceeded to "accidentally" break. p.s. we also saw Pope Benedict XVI from less than ten feet away.
• With some help from Dane's map (many thanks, man!) we walked from one side of town to the other, seeing on the way the Colosseum, some ruins, the place where Caesar was stabbed, and a couple churches. San Giovanni was our final destination, which we realized only after we got to it that it was not the building with the beautiful fountain on the cover of the map.
• Went to the camp pub after having perhaps a bit too much to drink.
  
• Played some pool (courtesy of the generous traveler) while apparently being extremely loud. My apologies to any witnesses.
  

Thursday 3 May.

• Said goodbye to the adventurous traveler who's last name I don't know.
• Went once again with the boys (and Kelsi) and once again from one side of Rome to the other to see more ruins, San Giovanni again (for Kelsi's sake), outer Vatican City again (for Kelsi's sake), pope tombs, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, Fontana di Trevi (the place with the fountain we tried to see earlier), and the Spagna stairs whose function remains a mystery.

Friday 4 May.

• Rained steadily for the last half of the night and first half of the morning.
  
• When it let up a bit, I went with the 7 girls to book our train to Milan and then to San Giovanni AGAIN!
• Didn't feel too well so while the girls went to the Catacombs, I headed back to camp for a nap on my half soaked mattress. (Felt better afterwards.)
  
• FINALLY finished The Odyssey! Somehow it became especially interesting since being in Rome.
• Went on a pub crawl involving jumping pictures with drunk Italian men, "free" t-shirts, lots of terrible tasting beer and wine, pizza, a drinking game with beer cans and mens jeans (some of which were at the ankles...), "free" shots, lots of dancing, new people to meet, lots of walking and a grumpy guide.
• To bed at 4am?

Saturday 5 May.

• Was left behind at 7.20am by some all-too-eager-to-leave ladies who left ten minutes before we could even buy metro tickets.
• Caught the 247 bus to Cipro, where I caught the metro. And who do you think was on that very same metro, but the all-too-eager-to-leave ladies. Silly meisjes.
• Went to Florence where Hannah, Heidi and I walked around for a few hours through a market and past the Duomo of Florence not knowing what it was but admiring its beauty.
• Went to Milan, met up with the others, had no time to walk around, caught a shuttle to the Linate airport at 21.05 after being well-stocked by the girls with a blanket, alarm clock, and tons of food!
• Spent the night attempting sleep on the airport chairs. Flew out the next morning at 7.25.
  

What a week! Busy but enjoyable. Interestingly though, the highlights where people I met and conversations I had.

Konninginnedag

Just had May break. I got to ride in host papa Arie's truck after all. He gave me a lift to Utrecht, where I spent Queen's day's eve with Amanda, her future husband, friends, and friends of the friends. Got all decked out in my self-moderated orange t-shirt and went to a student union bar to spend the whole night/morning dancing and drinking beer, for which I paid not a single dime (gotta love Dutch boys!)
Queens day (or should I say afternoon) we went downtown and walked through streets full of people sporting orange clothes, hats, and even beards.

Little stands lined the streets where new and used junk was being sold for very cheap. After six sales were forbidden, so many people just abandoned what was left to be ravaged by the crowds.

When we got tired of walking, we sat by the canal drinking cold beer in the warm sun, watching the rise and fall of the canal to allow the passage of boats such as this.


On a nearby bridge a little stage was set up where several live bands played. One guy had the courage or better said the stupidity to wear tight leather pants in the heat.

All the beer made Amanda and I jealous of boys who get to pee in public urinals while we have to wait in line half an hour to pay half a euro to use a toilet for half a minute! Though someone did recently bring to my attention the fact that in the end it evens out because we ladies don't usually have to buy our own beer. :) True that.
Good times!

(this computer sucks, Amanda)

Guess who doesn't have to take HPER 10! ME!! Wuahahahahaaa!!