Marissa's Adventures Abroad : August 2015

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Amsterdam is Like a Giant Fraternity Party

Okie Dokie.

I'm back.

My Grandma was getting angry that I had only posted once since I've been here. So I thought I would post another update even though it's only been a week!

Everyone seems to be SO obsessed with me.

Last weekend was crazy fun and by Monday I was exhausted. But, there seems to be no time to be tired here. The rest of the residents moved in on Monday and I finally got one of my two roommates! YAY! Her name is Kayte and she is from the UK. Not to be confused with Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.

The roomie and I

After an exhausting weekend it was time for an exhausting, jam-packed, fun-filled week of welcome.

Above I posted what we did each day. I won't go into detail on each event because

I don't want to brag but I do believe I was placed in the best group. AKA Group 7. AKA Party Squad. It was awesome meeting people from all over the world. We would compare different things and it was interesting to learn what other cultures do. I also think I explained what a sorority is at least 50 times.

I think my favorite activity was the pub crawl on Thursday. Even though it was way past my bed time and my feet were numb, it was a blast. Actually, Thursday all together might have been my favorite day.

I say group you say 7. GROUP 7, GROUP 7!

Clubs are different here. They play a lot of older music and not that hood rat ratchet shit I'm used to. Everyone kinda jumps around here.

And I'm more used to dancing like Beyonce. Obvi.

The Zoo was no San Diego Zoo, but it will do.

My coaches made me.

Sail Amsterdam: This cool event where sailing ships from all over the world come through. Happens every five years. I forgot to take pictures so I posted some random ones from the web. For more information... google it.

Pretty sick riiiiight?

Here are a few more pictures from the week.

Part of the party squad.

Our canal cruise captain.

Went to a "Beach"

And then drank wine at the "beach" in beanbag chairs

YAAAASSSSSSS

I'm about to leave to go return/ fix the bike I bought. I metroed? Metro'd? The past tense of metro to a flea market with my friend Stephanie to buy bikes. Then we biked back to the dorms (6.3 long ass miles). I discovered that when I get up to speed on my bike it squeaks so loud at an octave that annoys anyone, human or animal, within a 30 mile radius of me. One trip on it and I'm like alright, I'm taking you back. Fun fact, every Dutch person seems to tower ten feet over me so finding a bike was so difficult that I had to get a kids bike. So sad.

*3 hours later*

OK PEOPLE, I traded my bike for a different one. Still a kids one but it has gears on it and it's a little bigger soooo it's more of a pre-teen bike.

It's a little more purpley. Hard to see in the pic.

Biking around here is so much fun. It's kinda stressful trying to figure out the bike lanes and crossing and what not but I'll have it down soon.

That's all for now. BYEEEEEE.

P.S. All of y'all's task for the next week is trying to pronounce the name of my dorm: Fraijlemaborg. It's been a week and I'm still struggling.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

So, I've Arrived in Amsterdam...

I figured the easiest way to talk to everyone and let them know what I've been up to was through a blog.

I know it's pretty basic. Basic white girl writes a blog on studying abroad in Europe...

But I can't call everyone everyday so I'M WRITING A BLOG.

My flight, my dorm, my new home

Yes, the moment I hugged my mom... I cried. It hit me. I wouldn't have my mommy for the next 6 months and I was about to leave the country. Ironically, a girl standing in line with me through security was going to Amsterdam and had just worked at a Young Life camp all summer. I went to Young Life camp when I was younger, so we had lots to talk about. Once on the plane, I sat next to a mother and daughter who were from the U.S. but currently live in Belgium. The ten year old girl was super bratty but she didn't really bother me #nannylife. In the last hour of the flight she actually started to teach me Dutch. She got mad when I was pronouncing it wrong but I was like homie, chill, I have 6 months to learn.

Coolest clouds I've ever seen.

Over Iceland looked like this. The sun never set the entire time I was flying, even though it was night.

Morning over England

My first view of the Netherlands!

Finding where I was supposed to go wasn't too hard. I got my bags, went through customs and found the meeting spot for my school. I was surprised that I managed to figure it out all by myself. High five to me. After checking in and getting all of my welcome information I headed straight for the dorm. I sat next to a girl from Thailand and obvi asked her if she likes thai tea because, if you know me, I'm obsessed. She said no, she doesn't, so I immediately unfriended her. I'm just kidding. - side note- I'm eating a tortilla while typing this and just wanted you all to know it tastes nothing like a tortilla. It's really sweet. So weird.

Continuing on.

I've posted a few pictures below of my dorm.

My dorm!

1. My desk area. Complete mess right now

2. My bed. They provided the duvet and pillow

3. Kitchen area

4. Kitchen

5. Sink and shower.

6. Toilet and sink not in with shower. It's on the other side of the dorm. Weird.

I was trying not to have jet lag so I had to peel myself off my bed at 5pm to walk the common room downstairs, which by the way, is the only place that has wifi. ( SO DON'T TEXT ME. If you want to talk to me download Viber). But, doing so, I met so many people who were using the wifi too. We started talking and making plans and went out for drinks.

All in all, a stressful but successful first day/night.

The next day we went to Ikea. Thank god. And then to the city center. Below are more pictures of my second and third day.