I'm finally settled in in Amsterdam. It took me a while to get used to my living conditions because my host and I don't really get along. She has very strange (and often offensive) opinions and we don't see eye-to-eye on almost anything. We've begun to discuss more neutral topics and have started to get along a little better. I have a bit of a break though, because she is currently visiting her daughter in South Africa, so I have the apartment to myself. She is a fabulous cook—so I'll miss that—but think it's the best that we have some time apart. Her apartment is lovely. I have a nice room and a wonderful view. When I get back from Croatia and Morocco, I'm sure it will be nice to see a familiar face, but for now I'm okay with the separation.
view from my window
The program I'm involved in is interesting. My theory course is challenging, my dutch teacher is really nice (though my dutch is awful!) and we've had some interesting lectures. There are only 10 other students in the program (down from 25 last semester) so we spend a lot of time together. Luckily we all get along well.
We have a fair amount of free time where we can go to cafes, wander around the outdoor markets, and go to museums. There are some gezellig (very cozy) places we've found where you can "have a cup of tea and stay for hours," as our leader Kevin always says. The weather has been pretty chilly (40's and 50's) and so windy and cloudy. Spring is supposed to be coming soon, and I'm ready for some warmer weather.
cute (and quirky) cafe on the zeedijk
dog art at a canal house museum.
I've also finally adjusted to riding my bike around in this city. The roads along the canals are tiny and I often find myself riding 3 inches away from a truck or cement mixer or van. Bikes have the right of way, and the dutch cyclist bike fast and very aggressively. On foot you have to be very careful, but when I'm trying to navigate between the tram, two way traffic, bikes, pedestirans, tourists and motorcyles it can be quite overwhelming. Our bikes have no gears and backpedal breaks, which is also interesting to adjust to, especially when you need to stop fast. Yesterday, riding to a museum a bike passed me going the other direction with a basket on the front with two dogs, barking at all of the oncoming bikers. It's not uncommon for dogs to ride in baskets, and some bikes have attachments to carry children, ladders, furniture, and other large things. I have enough trouble riding my bike down tiny cobblestone streets, I cannot imagine trying to do it while holding a shelving unit.
My group is currently preparing to depart to Croatia in a week, which should be interesting (and warmer!) I'm off to watch a 6 hour BBC film about the fall of Yugoslavia, but will try to post here more often!
Liefs en groet,
kathleen
