Long time no post: EuroTour!

It´s been a while since my last post... i wouldn´t be suprised if my blog has been given up on. But it will survive! I haven´t had time to call my mother of facebook let alone blog until the past few days, if that´s any consolation.

So far on my europe tour i´ve been to Budapest, Venice, Vienna, Nice, Monaco, and now I´m in my hostel for a one night escapade in Barcelona. Anna should arrive any minute. Most of the time we travelled together, accompinied in the first two countries by Ada which was soooo lovely. Travelling started out smooth but got rocky quite quickly when all trains from Venice to Nice were booked, and therefore we spent a full day of travelling when we should have spent the day in Nice. Once we got that figured out Anna and I split up, Anna to a small town south of Perpinion and me to Monaco to stay with my friend Agnes. We had replanned our intinerary only to find out the the next train we booked was also booked, which set us back another full day. Now we have one day in Barcelona and one day in Paris as oppossed to two in each as originally planned. But hey, that´s the fun in travel - you never know how things will turn out, but it´s not the destination but the journey, right?

Everyplace has been tremendously beautiful and each city has treated us beautifully, even if I have less to say about the public transport. I could write for hours on ever place I travelled but I haven´t the time nor the energy. Ask me in person!

Tonight is a big celebration in Barcelona, Saint Joan´s day. We had no idea! Music, beach. fireworks, dancing. Anna and I should have a tooon of fun.

Then we spend the full day tomorrow and take a night train (if all goes as planned) to Paris where we spend the day and take an evening train to Amsterdam. Then I have a few days to pack my things and get out of there. I think one of the days before I leave for Oxford Anna and I are recording a demo in a professional music studio. How cool!

I´m a little nervous about the logistics of packing and shipping and moving, etc, but it should be fine.

Now - Barcelona! If only I could salvage my long lost high school Spanish...

Everytime we say goodbye...

It's officially over. The school year has finished. We finished our finals (total madness), had our last big bash, and people are slowly leaving campus. It's bittersweet to be honest. I'm so excited to live here not as a student, but just a resident; I'll really get to live beyond the confines of schoolwork. On the flip side, however, it means the bulk of my journey is over. It really hit me when one of my closest friends, Priyanka, left for home in India. I wasn't expecting the emotional reaction I had when I realized I had no idea if/when I'll ever see her again.

On the bright side, soon it will be summer session, which a lot of the students stay for, so the bar will still be open and there will still be a bustling life on campus, but with a more relaxed atmosphere than the school year. Also, I'm staying here longer than expected so that I can perform with Anna at graduation! I am sooo looking forward to it. And then, the day after, June 9th, I begin my European extravaganza in Budapest when I meet up with Ada! Horrah!

So that's it I suppose. Here are some photos of the last party and last pancake lunch:

Written May 1st

Today is the first of May. Time is moving at an incomprehensible speed! The musical just finished this weekend and it was a terrific experience. Anna had two good friends from Norway, both professional actors, come and direct us for the last two weeks of rehearsal which really pulled the show up from its roots and made it quite good. I got close with many of my cast-mates too, an unforeseen benefit to the whole thing, although it’s a shame the year is almost out and I won’t have much more time with them. At least I’ll be staying for the entirety of May, which will give me a little more social time without the stresses of school.

The night the play closed was also Queen’s night (Koninginnenacht) which is arguably the biggest holiday in the Netherlands. It’s a day celebrating the Queen, as you might have guessed, and it’s basically a street part where thousands of people gather to drink beer and listen to live music and wear orange. Side note: the orange is a symbol of the royalty who stem from Willem van Oranje, a historical savior to the Dutch. Anyway, the play closed and we opened the door of the theater (which I haven’t mentioned is smack dab in the center of town) to street party madness. It was a pretty cool way to celebrate.

The next day, yesterday is Koninginnedag, of “Queen’s day”. I went with Anna, Rob, Oscar, Banta and the Norwegian actors to Amsterdam. We got there a little late but we still caught a few hours of sun. We drank, we danced, we listened to some great (and some not-so-great) music, we coffee-shopped, we shopped, and we ATE. I put “ate” in caps because I think I can say with a high level of certainity that I have never eaten so much in such a short period of time in my entire life. I still have a stomach ache. And all of my friends who are reading this and know how much I can consume, think double, TRIPLE. But ooooh was it good. After a long day we headed back Anna and Rob’s cozy flat just outside the city center, and eventually passed out.

This morning I woke up early to go to ROME. That is correct, I am in Roma as we speak, waiting for Kathryn, my lovely hostess, to pick me up from the station. She should be here any minute. Time for another adventure. More updates to come.

Ciao!

Various shots from Delft and Amsterdam (Mom in Holland!)

Dag!

Hoi! Well, I finished my week of midterm madness. Phew! It was much more difficult than anticipated, but I must say I am quite proud of the final products. I guess I'll have to wait until I get my grades to be sure...

Today was an exciting day because my mommy is here! How exciting. She's falling in love with Holland just like I am -- I'm glad we're on the same page.

The weather is still pretty crappy, but the sun is beginning to shine more often. Spring is coming, I can feel it. The air is beginning to warm, coats are worn less frequently, and the tulips and daffodils are beginning to bud. Soon the whole landscape will be in full bloom!

I have been very inattentive to this blog, and especially on the picture front. Thus, I have added some old and some new random photographs from my time here. Enjoy!



The campus bar
Dutch Pancakes

Kathryn came to visit!

My girlfriends and me

Waiting in line for the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam
In front of the Centraal Museum right by campus. Ultra modern, no?
BBQing on our deck with Banta -- a weekly tradition!

I'm Baaaack...

Hello all!

It's been a long time since I've last posted, I apologize. Unfortunately UCU provides me with enough works so that the last thing I wish to do with my free time is blog. But I'm going to get back into the habit. It's quite enjoyable, actually.

SO. Here's what's new:

I've started rehearsals for Moulin Rouge (the actual title is : Vive la Boheme"). So far it is super cool, and the people are wonderful to be around. I am also quite impressed with the script, which is good and also rare considering it's student written. An exciting new development in this realm of my life at the moment is that I've been asked to give singing lessons once a week for the lead male in the cast. This will be fun and force me to dust off the old vocal skills. It should prove beneficial for both of us, I hope.

I had another teriffic day trip to Amsterdam, this time with my friends Steven, Salomea and Amanda. We explored all of the big parts of the city (Rembrantplein, Leidseplien, Red Light District, the Dam Square), so we basically stuck to the westernmost half of the city. It wasn't too cold this trip either, so we were really able to walk long distances and observe the hustle and bustle of the city. We also met up with people while we were there (Priyanka and her friends from international school and Amanda's friend studying in Amsterdam on exchange from New York). Once nightime hit we went to a few pubs, drank some beer and listened to the ever-eclectic music of the Dutch bar scene; absolutely all over the place, and always amusing. Finally we took a train back to Utrecht around 1am, and walked the lengthy journey from the Centraal Station to UCU, as all the buses stop running by midnight. We got to campus just in time for a last round of drinks at the campus bar -- a perfect way to top off the night.

Midterms are coming up, which is only mildly upsetting. Luckily I have been keeping up in my classes and feel I will have adequate preperation for my exams. Yippee! I have bouts of anxiety, but I am mostly confident.

I am tremendously excited because my mother is coming to visit me! She'll be here starting the 13th through the 19th of March --the beginning of my sping break. Then I will fly to Paris and meet up with my friends for the last few days, and then head on back to Utrecht. I have a lot to look forward to!

Moreover, in just a few days Kathryn will be here! She will be visiting for an extended weekend and her last night will be spent at a massive concert/rave with my friends and me, called "Trance Energy". March should prove to be one exciting month.

And I saw a little sun out today. Things are looking up!

Pictures to come.

Doei!

Inconsistant Blogging Habits

I'm sorry it has been a while since I last posted, but things have been quite hectic here!

I have now been in school for two full weeks -- and what full weeks they have been!

I am taking 4 upper division Psychology classes which are all interesting and intellectually stimulating, but obscene amounts of reading. I have never read so much in my entire life. Really. At times I feel as if my eyeballs will fall right out of their cozy sockets.

I auditioned for the musical here, a new twist on the film "Moulin Rogue". Almost all of my unit mates are involved, particularly Anna from Norway who is directing, Oscar the Dutchman as technician, and Maria from Romania as designer. Pretty neat. I got cast in a part you wouldn't recognize if I told you the name, but take my word for it, it's good. And I get to sing "Lady Marmalade" which is fabulous.

Other than that I have been doing the usual fun night time activities. The campus bar is always a buzz, any night of the week, and you're always guaranteed to see someone you know and partake in some lively conversation.

The other night my friend Amanda and I went to a nightclub called "Club Havana". Amanda was invited by a family friend who lives in Amsterdam. I really enjoyed it! They played a fun (and often funny) selection of music, ranging from great techno and house music to America's top 20 to "You're The One That I Want" from Grease. Eclectic.

Otherwise things have been going swimmingly. That whole, "you'll have the best time of your life" cliche? Yep, it's happening to me. Full blown. And I couldn't be happier.

Tot de volgende keer! (Till next time!)

Ik Woon Nui In Nederland! (I now live in the Netherlands!)

This is my first official European blog entry, and I know it is long overdue. I have been busy getting settled and participating in mandatory programs for the past week and a half, but now I think I can start, and continue to update, my travel blog.
I began my journey on the 5th of January. It started off swimmingly, as my plane was fit for royalty: two seats on either side of the plane, incomparable leg room, leather seats, multiple reclining positions, a full media center, and a three course meal. And this was economy!
Getting from the plane to University College Utrecht was a quick and painless, because luckily for me, Amsterdam’s Schipol airport is magnificently designed and easy to navigate. Casey, you were right.

I arrived in a taxi to school– a lovely campus just minutes outside the city center. The buildings are made of brick and stone, and are strategically placed in a rectangular formation around the campus grounds. I checked into the Netherlands EAP study center in one of the academic buildings, and was greeted by two lovely Dutch EAP faculty members, Esmee and Patrice. They provided me with materials for my stay in the Netherlands and for the Dutch Culture and Language program, which I was to participate in for the first two weeks.

I had a farcical journey to my dorm as the cobblestone path was covered in frost and ice; I could barely walk solo, and with a 70 lbs suitcase it was nearly impossible. I was able to get to my room with only a few pathetic stares from passers-by. I made it to my apartment after another ridiculous feat – lugging my suitcases up a flight of stairs. Of course my unit had to be on the second floor! And little did I know at the opposite end of the building there is an elevator. Oops!
Frantic and frazzled, I finally got to my apartment.

When I got inside the set-up seemed pretty cool: A living room with colored couches and huge windows with curtains to match, a kitchenette, a room and a bathroom. I checked the room letter to see if it was mine. Nope. I then looked up to see that on the left and right of me were two narrow winding staircases. Oh yes, I would have to defeat another round of stairs. Luckily a man came out of the room downstairs. His name is Oscar, he tells me, and he is from the Netherlands and in his second year here at UC. He’s been living in this unit for a semester already. Then he turns himself into a saint when he offers to help me with my bag. I love this guy! He helped me to my room, and it’s huge! Well, for a single anyway. We talk for a little bit and then he leaves me to my unpacking,
I have the epiphany at this moment that this is the first day of my European adventure, and I turn on my computer, play “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder, and have myself a little victory dance.

That night after I unpack and settle in, I go to the EAP room to meet up with my fellow DLC participants for an Italian feast. I should explain here that these students are all the University of California studying at various universities in the Netherlands. This was the beginning of a mandatory program called the “Dutch Language and Culture Program”.
I go out to dinner and begin socializing with the group, and that night a few boys and myself are shown an excellent pub by an EAP part-time employee.

The Dutch Language and Cultural program was a blast. We had several social activities planned for the first few days, such as the dinner and a city tour of Utrecht. Then we began our classes. Every weekday we would have a Dutch language course, which was the definition of a crash-course, because there is no way to learn a significant amount of any language in such a short time. Then we would have a seminar where we would discuss the lecture given the day before. There lectures happened in the evenings, and were given by a slew of Utrecht University professors on a variety of subjects pertaining to Dutch culture such as their monarchy, geography, history, economy, etc.

In these two weeks, in addition to the classes, we had several assignments. For one assignment we had to go to a different city in the Netherlands and report back on a museum we had visited. Another was to visit the multi-cultural and poorer area of Utrecht called Lombok, and record our observations and again, report back in class. A fun exercise was when we were told to go to a restaurant and order in Dutch. This was amusing, because the despite the fact that I could say, “I will have”, I couldn’t pronounce anything on the menu because we had chosen a Vietnamese restaurant for our assignment. The whole group of us had to continually say: “I will have... that,”

I made a lot of good friends in the short span of the program. We learned information that I now find invaluable, and have a ton of people to visit all over the Netherlands.

Beginning last Monday was UCU’s Introweek. This is the week before school begins where first-year students and those on exchange have a week full of activities and social gatherings to get us acquainted with the socil aspect of school, mainly. We were first split up into “families”, which are a group of about twelve or so first-year and exchange students. We are given “mommy’s” and “daddy’s”who are volunteer students who have gone to UCU for anywhere between a semester and a few years, who "look after us". My group is incredibly diverse: There are students from America, South Africa, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Aruba, Austria, and Bulgaria. The whole group of us, all families included, is even more diverse, with students from places are far as Israel and Kenya. I love my family, and unlike some of the others, we spend the majority of our time together.

Introweek just ended, and it was a blast. Seriously, I haven’t had so much fun in a long time. We did all sorts of activities such as a bike tour of Utrecht, lead by our dean Rob van der Vaart, an array of themed parties at our very own student bar, a Sports day, a pub crawl, a Formal Dinner, a Karaoke Night, and much more. It was a really fabulous week.

Now, in addition to the events that have happened throughout the last two and a half weeks, there is also the environment to consider. I am in the Netherlands! I just love saying that. This means for a few weeks I have experienced some pretty marvelous scenery.

Holland (my particular province) and Utrecht specifically, is beautiful. The city center is a lively area where shopping and restaurants wind around the picturesque canals, many built in the Middle Ages. For example, the Nieuwegraght, meaning “The New Canal”, was built in the 1400’s. And that one is the newer of the main canals! They are spectacular. There is also a church in the middle of the city center called “The Dom” and it lends as a navigational center-point as it hovers above the rest of the city.

The Dom is split into two pieces however, because in the 1600’s a hurricane blew just the middle segment to bits and left the rest standing. Therefore, in the middle area where there the church’s middle used to stand, they color coated the bricks they lied down in the street to represent pillars and planted trees to give the feeling of a roof to connect the two pieces. There is even a mural on the side of one of the buildings displaying what the inside would have looked like because apparently when the middle fell, it fell in such a way that its architecture could be seen.

The buildings in town are also all stunning. It’s classic Dutch architecture from the 1400’s generally. Something also classically Dutch is the bike culture. Because the Netherlands in flat in a way few Americans can't even imagine, it is perfect for bicycling. Everyone rides a bike: the Queen, the Prime Minister, the students, the children, the rich and the poor. It reflects the Dutch egalitarian culture where they strive for equality, are very pragmatic, and frown upon show-offs and gaudiness. I can safely say, nothing like America. It makes much more sense in my mind.

I have also been to Amsterdam twice now, which is a stunning city. Many would disagree with me, but I find it quite romantic, even despite the seedy areas such as the Red Light District, which yes, I did investigate awkwardly.

The canals sweep through the city and their beauty is breathtaking. There are many large majestic buildings that hover, as the Dom does in Utrecht, over the city of Amsterdam, such as the Palace (where royalty visits but does not live), and numerous others… (I haven’t quite gotten a handle of the city yet, but I’ll get there).

To finish off the longest blog entry in existence, I must first congratulate you if you finished! That’s dedication. And secondly announce how happy I am here. Oh! And I start my first day of classes, or rather, my first class, today. In less than an hour. Yikes!
Wish me luck!

Doei!