2/4/2011
HALLO!!
These past few days have been nothing but packets, packets, and more packets of information. On Thursday morning I went to the mandatory Orientation meeting for the incoming International students. It was pretty basic and probably a waste of everyone's time. Well I lie, I suppose...wait the meeting was a waste, but the booths that they had afterwards were very helpful. I got some stuff on Parnassos, the cultural center (and where Kjell lived while he was here), a free Netherlands SIM card from ESN (stands for Exchange Student Network or something like that, I heard they throw some pretty grand parties and also do travel trips around Europe to make it more convenient for the international students, I like these people already) and I got a fresh Stroppelwafel, with warm caramel in the middle! Such a splendid time!
OH! I did lie about the meeting as well! I met a boy from OSU. I only knew he was from OSU because his luggage got lost and he had been wearing the same clothes for three days...this only matters because he happened to leave the States wearing an OSU Cross Country team fleece! very nice.
After that I left with two girls from Wisconsin to explore downtown Utrecht and get their new cell phones for the Netherlands. It was nice and I found some great tall boots for 60% off, which will come in handy with their weather. I also bought an OV-Chipkaart which will make it easier to travel by public transportation, like a credit card for buses, trams, and trains.
I ate dinner later that night with one of the girls from Wisconsin who also happens to live in my building. It is nice to be around people from the United States but I am weary as she seems to want to hang out with only me and other Americans while I would like to meet others. Dinner was supposed to be in Zeist (the town that I actually live in) city centre but it ended up being in a Chinese restaurant that was nearer to our apartments. The place was called Blue Lotus and the menu was in Chinese with translations in...you guessed it, Dutch haha I looked for something that looked like the word vegetarian and asked the server who spoke Chinese and...you guesssed it again, Dutch! Though his broken English, I was able to find some soup and egg rolls that were vegetarian and hopefully vegan. When the meal arrived, I almost died from laughter. My egg rolls were actually a single egg roll that was the size of a Chipotle burrito. I cut into it and it is straight bean sprouts hahahahaah it was a doozey for sure, so funny. Well I guess not straight, at the end were some scrambled eggs, which I ate(, Mom). The transition is complete. I'll be vegetarian while in the Netherlands! Tipping was a bit confusing but after asking some locals we figured out 5-10% is normal and 10% is what we gave. We walked back to our apartments and went to our respective flats.
Once home, Jackie asked if I would like to go Salsa dancing with her and Marcelo. I agreed and proceeded to get my figurative salsa shoes (courage) on. We took the bus to the city centre with Jonathon, Harmen, Carmelo, Jackie, and Marcelo. Once there we met more of Marcelo's South American friends. They were a bit late (but I've come to figure out that this is expected and not a big deal). We started our introductions, name, country origin and what not. From this, I figure out that it is very rude to say I am from America. As they too are from America, South America. I will be sure from here on out to refer to myself as "from the United States" so as not to offend anyone. We went to the bar and drank and danced until midnight. We left at midnight because that is when the last bus to Zeist ran. Not to worry though, there is a bar at the bottom of our apartment complex that I had heard many great things about...the infamous WOMBAT!
The WOMBAT is actually more like a little room rather than a bar but enjoyable nonetheless! They play music from around the world, including the United States and have "American" movie posters all over the walls, including Pulp Fiction (the classic of Travolta and Jackson). Jackie and I split a bottle of wine then left to go to bed around 3 as I had orientation for my Faculty Programme at 10am the next morning and she was already druuuunnnnk. Before I left Jonathon said to make sure he wakes up on time the next morning to make it to the Economics Orientation day.
Business Orientation day was a roaring success. The information they gave was helpful and necessary, the people I met were friendly, and I ate cheese. Another big win for you, Ma :) I met two very nice and very looaaadded girls that I hung out with most of the day. One was from Denmark, named Christine, and the other from Toronto, named Alex. They both have Dutch boyfriends that they met while vacationing through Europe and don't have housing through the University but rather through the help of their boyfriends. Very nice, yea?? I thinka so. We were given sandwiches, which are a staple in the Dutch diet, and soup for lunch. The vegetarian sandwich had some cheese and more egg on it. I went with the egg because it didn't have much on it and I took off half of the cheese because I was afraid I would get ill. Once we finished the meal, we were offered seconds, hell yeah, right??? but these girls passed and I felt too embarrassed to moooonnnch on more haha
Alex and I dipped out of the orientation early to set up our Dutch bank accounts and do a bit of shopping for our flats. I needed some hangers, trashbags, hairbrush, and other small items while she needed an iron, coffee maker, and other larger more expensive items. We walked around the centre a bit and she showed me here sweet place right in the middle of the city. Great stuff. It was a very productive day, got lots of good stuff done...met lots of great people.
Tomorrow is the Social Orientation day (I swear I am going to know more about being "oriented" than anyone else you know after this weekend). Listed on the agenda is a city tour, canal tour, bike shopping, lunch, "pooling," day drinks, and night partying until something like 5am?? Don't these people know I have a very strict bedtime. Honestly though, I can't wait.
UNTIL THEN!
Marcelo: "that guy is the mother fucking good guy, no??"
