117,001 Bikes

Today, I decided to purchase a bike to get around. I thought at first walking was great but a bike is so much easier I can ride where ever and whenever. I am able to resell it after I am finished with my abroad term. No I am biking in style.

Odessa's

So a few nights ago I went to a pub with a majority of the Study Abroad Undergraduates and it was ironically called Odessa's. It made me think of home. This pub has two bars inside along with a back room full of tables and in the very back is a bathtub, I am unsure what it is there or used for but many of the more intoxicated of the bunch decided to climb in a take a ton of pictures. Its an interesting hang out for everyone, Many of the students from my school go to this pub. Well I will keep writing, love the responses.

Communication...always have a plan B

It’s no longer in the teens temperature wise any longer. It’s warmed up to around 40-44 degrees in the past couple days, but the rain comes and goes.

Classes have begun at Webster Netherlands and I have yet to attend my first class which will be tomorrow. I ran into some confusion with my schedule as well as communication issues, so one thing I will be taking away from my transition over here socially and academically is that communication will always fail. I am not going to point blame at anyone but I have been misinformed by both sides of this process, either over here and as well as with my university back in the states. Tomorrow will be my first course, Photography. Classes here and at Webster campuses through out the world tend to have longer class sessions but meet less frequent than what you maybe used to in the states. Also, Webster utilizes terms rather than semesters. I will be here for four months which is equal to two terms. For spring I term I am enrolled in a Professional Writing course as well as a Photography class which both meet once a week. My writing course is over both terms but meet two hours once a week. My photography course meets for five hours once a week. I will have more out of class time to travel and study which I am looking forward to. I won’t have as much down time my second term when I am taking nine hours of credit, which is three other courses.

Now, living in Holland…I thought the weather was bad in the states. Yes its cold but this is a wet cold so in the mornings it tends to feel warmer an damp. Then through out the day it gets more brisk and cooler. A scarf, gloves, and a warm all weather coat is necessity. My walk to school or to town is a very easy ten minuet walk. A majority of the streets of Leiden are cobble stone, which gives the city an older feel. I cross many canal bridges on my way to the University and see seagulls and pigeons as well as mallards. So I have a scenic view the whole way to campus. I enjoy walking, I am still thinking over purchasing or renting a bike. It is the best form of transportation in Holland other than the trains. I see more bikes lining the streets of Leiden than I see people on my daily outings in the city.

I haven't tried to much Dutch food but a few things I have had here in Leiden are Kroket, Kebabs, and fried Gouda. A Kroket is a fried roll with meat inside which was pretty tasty after having a few beers at the local pub. I had a kebab on my way home from Amsterdam, and I was told it wasn't "formal" kebab due to the fact that we got it for take away. It was very good, meat generally served with a garlic white dipping sauce and pita break, it’s not a Dutch food but you see them everywhere in Leiden and Amsterdam. Fried Gouda was so yummy! Deep fried, I should stay clear of, so unhealthy. I am craving some Indian food and there are a few local restaurants here I am just trying to get someone to go with me. (Most of the student I am living with tends to cook because cooking is much cheaper than dining out.)

I have also planned some of the places I would like to travel to while I am here. I have found a few web pages that have been very helpful. Skyscanner.com helps find cheap airfare through out the whole month of travel. I am planning to fly to Ireland which if I plan it right my tickets will cost 10 EUROs and then once I book with the airline I will pay landing fees and some taxes but if I book early I could end up only spending less than 30 EUROs to fly to Ireland round trip. Traveling is so easy and can be cheap if you can find the deals. Also word of mouth from many who are here has helped me find the deals on train tickets as well as airfare.

Well I think I have written enough for the evening. I love the e-mails and feel free to share my blog.

Thanks and until then.

'Live and let live' (sort of what the Dutch live by)

Ice Skating on the Canals

I was walking home from trying to find the open Saturday market and the canal bridge I cross to get to Hugo de Grootstraat, which is the street I live off. I saw a man skating on the canals! I mean I read about this and they weren't kidding, they really do this! It was really cool to watch him skate back and forth down the canal. I am hoping to go ice skating in the next few days, just need to find a rink they create on the canals where they provide skates.

Holland is known for its mild winters but this winter imparticularly has been very bitterly cold. Most of the locals have said this is the coldest winter they had experienced. The base temp has been 30 or below the last week I have been here. At night, the warmest it has been is between 19-25 degrees F. So its really really really cold here.

The First Night Out

I went to an Irish pub near my school in Leiden with the only other person here (Dustin) before the other Webster students arrive. We have 2 pints each and sampled a few of the different beers they offerd. I had a cider beer as well as a London brewed beer. The drinking age in the Netherlands begins at 16 but for "harder" drinks it is 18 which means rum and vodka, or harder liquors other than beer. I am having a great time but I need to catch some ZzZzZz. I am missing home but I am thankful and blessed I have this opportunity. Dag...Em

Sick on my First day!

My first day of travel...was tough! It was hard saying good bye to my family and friends but especially to my mom and dad. (MISS YOU!!!) Another downer is that I caught a head cold. It's the worst being sick and trying to sleep on a plane. Well its 10:41 AM here in Leiden, Netherlands and I arrived at 7:15 this morning. I have a nice studio loft dorm room/apartment. I do not have a shower or sink in my room I have to share the facilities with BOTH women and men...yeah co-ed really happens in college just in other countries. I am completely exhausted and I know I shouldnt sleep but I need a slight nap just to get this headache to leave behind my eyes. Its 32 degree F here and it was snowing when I arrived but it has stopped now. On my way in from Amsterdam to Leiden it was pitch black so I didn't see much of the city but I did see many cars (traffic jams almost reminded me of New York City) and bikes...lots and lots of bikes. On a side note when I got into the taxi it was a mercedes benz and also techno music was playing found that pretty interesting. Well I am beat I am going to curl up in my tiny loft and take a nap. Until I write again...Dag! (goodbye in dutch) (I will post photos later in the slid show that plays on my right corner of my page. If you click on it I believe is will become bigger and play like a slide show.)

The Day After Christmas

Its 10 days before I am leaving for the Netherlands and I am testing out this blog thing. I hope that you will all enjoy my posts about anything and everything I write about. Well I hope to say in contact with all of you. Peace and Love, Emilee