All Human Wisdom Is Summed Up In Two Words - Wait And Hope

Day 12 - That Time I Realised That When You Are Meant To Be Busy It Is Easy To Find Distractions But When You Have Nothing To Do It Is Impossible To Fill The Day

I quite literally have nothing to do.

I could fly home tomorrow if I wasn't quite so sure that I will have to do a re-sit. All I am doing is waiting for exam results and, if they are published saying I passed, I could have gone home yesterday.

It is very frustrating.

I have taken to perusing dress and shoe websites which is only causing more frustration and depression when I realise that there is no way I can afford them.

Excuse me while I go and drown my sorrows with Earl Grey.

&&Fin.

Art Is Never Finished, Only Abandoned

Day ?? - That Time I Updated To Avoid Cleaning My Room

So I have been really busy over the past few days. I went out on Wednesday for cocktails and had a Long Island Iced Tea for the first time. Which may have been an error because now I fear Wednesday Cocktail night may have to become a ritual.

This is not conducive to a healthy working environment.

I realised the other day that this was meant to be a photo blog and it's actually turned into me ranting and raving a lot. But hey ho.

The last few weeks have been insanely busy. 2 exams, a 15 page paper and a 4 day trip to Milan.

It was a great trip although there were a few things that could have gone better...

First of all, the trip there is exhausting. We left to catch the bus at 2am which would take us to Bremen. We arrived at the airport in Bremen at 4am (ish) then tried to sleep till 9am because our flight was at midday! It was such a long time to be travelling.

When we eventually got to Milan we got on a tram and didn't realise you were meant to buy tickets before you got on so we rode it for free! My blood pressure was through the roof the entire way. I honestly thought we were going to be arrested at any given moment by the imaginary conductor.

Terrifying, I tell you.

Then when we got to the hostel we had booked 7 beds in a private dorm. Turns out that didn't count for anything and he decided to put 5 of us in a private dorm and 1 of the girls in a separate room. (One girl unfortunately couldn't come with us. My maths skills aren't that bad.) So we grumbled a bit but it was fine.

We then decided to walk into town. I feel we would have re considered this decision if we had known how far from town we actually were. It took us probably 2 hours for all us girls to get to the centre by which point I was so hungry that I was ready to eat one of the smaller ones. (I could have taken them. Maybe.) So we picked a restaurant that was close by and not too horrifically expensive.

Bad move.

Only two of the meals were enjoyable and only 4 were actually edible.

We were in Italy and the food was bad.

Need I say any more?

Probably not. But here's the rest of the weekend anyway.

• Wandered around for 5 hours on Friday night after travelling all day. This wandering did not end in alcohol. Hence the disappointed tone.
• Saturday went to find Top Shop only to discover that it does not exist in Italy. Duh.
• Got laughed out of a hotel when we asked for directions to the mystical Top Shop.
• Panicked that I wouldn't be allowed in to the Duomo because of my short, inappropriate skirt.
• Cursed the fact that this was the one day I decided not to opt for jeans.
• Friend was pick pocketed in the train station on the way to dinner.
• Went to a restaurant to find it packed and had stopped the buffet.
• Pick pocketed friend is (justifiably) very upset and now just wants to go to McDonalds as this is the only thing she can afford.
• Find a nice family restaurant and have a lovely meal. Pay for pick pocketed friend as a gesture of friendship and kindness and possibly restoration of humanity.
• Drink copious amounts of wine.
• Get ready to leave then decide more wine would be better.
• Laugh at French toilets. 
• Get told off at the train station for making too much noise and for starting an escalator that has been switched off for the night.
• Get a train one stop and are told to get off because the train station is closing.
• Discover we are an hour away from home.
• Walk.
• Walk some more.
• Get home to find a bit of a party going on. 
• Go to sleep. (Have to don socks and a hoodie with the hood pulled up in order to fend off the cold temperature threatening to seep into my bones).
• Wake up to the sound of some puking. (Have I been transported back into University Halls? Nope. Still in my freezing hostel room in Milan).
• Wake up to the sound of a hair drier.
• Wonder how students can consume so much alcohol and not feel rotten in the morning.
• Buy an umbrella from some guy in the train station. Pick up one which is 2 euros but then spot a rainbow brollie for 6 and decide that is a bargain).
• Climb 250 stairs up to the Duomo roof. 
• Take nice pictures.
• Go find somewhere to eat for lunch. Devour the best lasagne ever.
• Go to Milano castle and explore the museums. (See a Leonardo Da Vinci painting and the last, unfinished Michelangelo) 
• Go to dinner.
• Have amazing Happy hour.
• Head back to hostel. Have been moved into a different public dormitory (Fffffuuuuu...)
• Decide to have a fairly early night. (Am sharing the double with a friend and this is just a happy excuse to snuggle for longer)
• Wake up to the lights being switched on and the hostel owner shouting 'WHO HAS DONE THIS?'
• Discover that our room has flooded. Decide that laughing may be better than crying.
• Get out of the hostel as fast as we can the next morning.

I think that's basically it for the Milan trip.

And now that I've typed that I'm officially all blogged out. Although lots has happened since that fateful holiday. 

I shall save that for another day.

Ciao.

&&Fin

There Are Nights When The Wolves Are Silent And Only The Moon Howls

Day ?? - That Time I Locked Myself Away and Did Revision

I know, I know, it sounds like the start of some spooky halloween tale. In fact, just saying the word 'revision' aloud makes a tremor run down my spine. Nevertheless, that is what I have been doing for the past week. It was a very strange exam system though.

The European Private Law exam was 6.30pm-9pm. Which I was very baffled about - who does exams in the evenings? Very weird. Also, it wasn't properly moderated, you had your bag next to you, the invigilator left the room occasionally, you went to the toilet on your own.

But, weirdest of all, when I opened my Law exam staring back at me were multiple choice questions.

....?

Not that I have anything against MCQ papers it's just that...that's not how we're used to doing Law back in England, letmetellyou.

It was just a different, continental experience all round I guess.

Anthropology was very odd too - a take home exam which we had 10 days to complete (so coursework really). There were 10 questions split into two parts (1a&b, 2a&b etc) but you were only allowed to write one page for each numbered question so one page for both parts of your answer.

Most confusing.

My friend sat her Masters level exam and she was allowed a statute book in with her. Nobody checked that she hadn't written extra notes in there or that it was a clean copy.

No wonder the pass rate over here is 60% instead of 40%. How embarrassing if you fail.

(I say that now but in a couple of weeks I expect I'll be in tears over my mark of 5 or below.)

So, alas, my adventures have not been so great this week. Although I have enjoyed some new experiences I suppose. Here are some other things I have done:

• Gone for hot chocolate and stayed in the coffee shop for 3 hours.
• Bought lights and a seat cover for my beautiful Hoj. (Because he's worth it.)
• Had someone clear out the bike shed so now there is room for all the bikes. Huzzah!
• Lied to a charity worker.
• Missed out on what looked like the best Halloween party ever because it was the night before my exam.
• Ruined my freshly painted nails by cleaning the kitchen after my student manager came to remind me.
• Laughed at some pretty funny pictures on facebook (you know the one I mean!)
• Talked to Hanny Vee for the first time in agessss. <3
• Arranged Sam to come and visit in November! =D
• Arranged for Sam to have a bed when he comes to visit.
• Cried because my Mum told me she was re-decorating my room and I was emotional.
• Invited an Australian back to my house for Christmas.
• Asked my parents if I could invite an Australian back to my house for Christmas.
• Watched an entire season of Legend of the Seeker.

I think that's about it so far. 

&&Fin.

A Crown Is Merely A Hat That Lets The Rain In

Day ?? - That Time I Got Really Wet And Had A Melt Down (no pun intended)

Sometimes I feel like my life is one very long, very unfunny punch line.


I have been waiting for a package from my mother for a few days because it contains waterproof clothing but I have been lucky with the weather (very unprecedented let me assure you) so it wasn't too much of a worry. However, as the black clouds of winter start to roll in over the Netherlands I became more eager for signs of this packages arrival so have been checking my mailbox every few hours for any post to no avail.


Anyway, this week Hoj has been making very strange, very unnerving noises. In my attempts to figure out what was wrong with my poor, bipedal friend, I managed to rip off part of the rear wheel guard and then the inner tubing that helps me to balance.


This did not eliminate the embarassingly loud noise of rattling every time I pedalled.


After a couple of days my friend pointed out that my tyre appeared to be very flat.


It was, in fact, as flat as a pancake. And not one of those scotch pancakes that has a bit of substance. I'm talking a crepe. Yeah.


So it turned out I had been cycling on the metal part of the wheel for about a week. And, worse still, was the fact that Hoj had been screaming in agony for the better part of a week. The poor thing.


So, anyway, I took him to the bike shop today to get it sorted. The man said to come back at 6.30, which struck me as odd considering Groningen (well..anything vaguely usesful) dies at about half 2 in the afternoon. But, regardless, I wandered home and vowed to return for my beloved Hoj at the aforementioned time because I would require his services at 8.30 the next morning to travel to Uni.


At 6.10 I dragged my tired, weary body out into the howling rain and gales of Groningen (read as medium-heavy drizzle). I walked all the way to the bike shop and discovered, to my unmitigated horror, that it was shut. Cold droplets of water trickled down my spine as I stared, with uncomprehending blankness, at the closed shop.


I walked all the way back to my house, my glasses now essentially useless thanks to the rain. My jeans and jumper were soaked through and itchy. On my way to the elevator I decided to check my post box.


I think you know what is coming, dear readers.


Yes, my package of waterproof clothing was indeed waiting for me when I returned.


If you'll excuse me, I'll be sighing heavily (with the occasional bout of fist shaking) for the next few hours or, perhaps, the foreseeable future.

Day ?? - That Time I Did Some Questionable Things

I have just spent a lot of money.

'On what?' I hear you cry.

Well, firstly I have booked my flights home for Christmas so I know I won't be stranded in the Land of the Nether Regions for the festive period (no matter how attractive that option may have appeared with exams looming in January). I have also booked a flight to Milan. Now, dear readers, I am not entirely sure why I have booked this trip for November 12th but, alas, I have. And therefore will take lots of photos with which to share the experience.

Finally, I bought a bunch of Monkey Island games from Tell Tale Games & Lucas Arts.

I am officially a nerd. But I also stumbled across this enlightening documentary so watch, enjoy, learn.

They Do Exist

&&Fin

The Party Don't Start Till I Walk In

I have arrived and spent my first 24 hours in the Netherlands.

Day 1 - Leaving On A Jet Plane

The airport was hard. I went to a little local which was very friendly but, when it came to saying goodbye to my family, there were still tears in my eyes. I was a brave soldier and refused to cry but my vision was a little waterlogged for a few minutes.

And I lost my hat.

But then I got on the tiny little plane (it had propellers) and everything was fine. I love flying so I was instantly back in a good mood and ready for my new adventure.

The flight was a little over an hour but we had to wait around for larger planes to get out of our way both at home and abroad so I was actually on the plan for about an hour and three quarters. We hit some turbulence as we approached the Netherlands because we were flying through rain clouds but it kept making my stomach lurch and made me giggle.

I'm sure the poor man sitting next to me thought I was insane.

When I arrived in Amsterdam I wasn't expecting the airport to be quite so huge. We were let in through the gate that was farthest away from anything so I had a good walk to baggage claim. Through passport control (no questions asked tyvm) and onto baggage and I thought 'here we go, I'll have to wait hours for this' but, just as I turned the corner I saw my case go past on the belt.

Bloody marvellous.

So I grabbed that and headed for the exit. There was a bizarre deflation moment where I just went 'well...what now?' But I managed to find the trains and got my ticket.

Luckily (or maybe not) for me there was another student going to Groningen who was waiting on the platform. Maybe I have that student vibe about me but he came straight up to me to ask if I was studying in Groningen. Bear in mind that this train has many (many, many, many ) stops before it arrives at Groningen. So he helped me onboard and helped load my luggage into the overhead storage which was really kind because I couldn't lift it at all.

Then, for the next 2 (almost 3) hours he did not shut up.

And I'm not talking about conversation between the two of us being a constant flow.

No.

I said about 5 words. He just filled me in on his life and his ex-girlfriend and how he likes to play World of Warcraft and listen to heavy metal and his Uncle's concubine treated his Grandma badly so he threatened to break her legs.

You know, real first conversation type stuff.

I managed to say a hurried goodbye at the station though and then went to meet my friend who was picking me up. We got the taxi to my new house and walked in through the front door.

There is no one around.

I have no phone number, no room number, no instructions as to what to do next.

So we sit there and look like very lost, very awkward tourists.

Wonderful. Just the sort of first impression I want to be giving.

Some kind soul comes along eventually and asks if we need help. I think he might have been a bit scared at how we practically jumped at him. I met my student manager who is a lovely bloke who gave me a tour and set up my internet and gave me all new kitchen things. The kitchen is connected to a common room with sofas and a TV and a balcony where people can go and sit (most people smoke out there as then it won't smell). My student manager made me feel really welcome (he may have forgotten to give me a pillow but we'll forgive him that small oversight) and I got to see my room. It's very bare but it's quite large so it looks even paler and emptier because it's reasonably big. Much bigger than the room I had at my university at home.

Much bigger than my sister's at my parent's house.



Left to our own devices, my friend and I go to explore the city and buy essentials like food, bed covers and a hair drier. (I now realise that that list should be far more extensive: slippers, towel, dressing gown, socks, extension lead, mirror, tupperware, light bulb, dirty clothes bag etc etc.)

In my shopping trip I managed to buy bed covers and a hair drier.

It occurs to me (and my grumbling stomach) now that food probably should have been higher on my priority list. But we did get a good look around the town.





Anyway, I went back to my friend's for dinner and stayed until about 8.30. When I decided to go home we didn't know what would be the best route. I didn't want to walk because it would take me nearly an hour and I was fairly sure that I would get lost. (Confident, really.) So we thought a bus might be good but, in the dark and on my first day, I wouldn't know where to get off. So I got a train from Groningen Central to Groningen Noord which is much cheaper than a taxi and close to my house.

Or so I thought.

I managed to get lost no fewer than 4 times on my way home, almost cried, wanted to phone a taxi, wanted to phone my mum. I eventually found a landmark that I recognised and hurried home (the sun has completely disappeared at this point) and, on my way, walked past a man relieving himself in a bush. To give the man some much needed privacy, I crossed the road to the other side. However, this seemed to alert him to my presence. So he said hello and asked me how I was.

You can't say the Dutch aren't friendly.

I almost ran the last part of the way home but managed to control myself and walk at a decent pace. When I got back to my room I almost collpased with relief and then remembered that I still hadn't unpacked, still hadn't met any of my flat mates and still hadn't skype-d my family like I promised I would.

After these three things were checked off my to-do list I brushed my teeth and went to get changed for bed. The afore-mentioned balcony is right next to my room and I can hear people talking out on the balcony. As I take my shirt off I look to the left and make eye contact with one of the blokes out there through my curtains.

My curtains are not very thick.

At all.

So after a day of mindlessly babbling, getting lost, being indecently exposed to and exposing myself I'd say it's been a successful first day.

Dank u wel and tot ziens!

Day 2 - Heroes and Thieves At My Door

Today I woke up at 7 and got to watch the sun rise from my balcony.

If there could ever be a little slice of perfection I think that's what it would be like.

I went to meet my friend quite early this morning because we were told there was going to be a massive bike market and I really wanted to buy one as soon as possible because I'm quite a way from town.

There were no bikes to be seen.

So we pottered about for a bit and then went to get a bike from a normal shop. I ended up paying about 95 euros for a second hand one but it had gears and hand brakes which quite a few of the others don't. (In order to brake you need to peddle backwards. It's a bit obscure but seems to work fine.) I was very excited and pleased with my bike because it was in reasonable condition and was good value in comparison to others we had looked at.

I wheeled it home (not quite brave enough to traverse the right handed traffic of the continent) and went into the bike shed in my building. My key didn't appear to unlock any of the cages where the bikes are kept and the dooor wouldn't open behind me which was irritating and odd. But, I figured, if I left the bike in the shed (which has locked doors) I could run upstairs and get my bike lock t secure it more satisfactorily.

I was gone 10 minutes and, when I returned, my bike was no where to be seen.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

But, I thought, neither of those options actually helps me in any way. So, instead, I pulled my shoes back on and walked back into town where, from a different, more helpful bike shop, I bought the cheapest bike they had to offer and a very hefty, very expensive bike chain.

I now have no gears, backwards pedalling brakes and a rusty piece of junk. But I do have a huge chain that I can barely pick up so nyeah bike thieves.

That's about it really for the first 24 hours. I've been lost, returned an extension lead that I didn't want, learnt some words in Dutch, bought no less than 2 bikes in the space of an hour and have allowed one (or several, I'm too embarrassed to check) of my housemates a good look at my naked bosoms.

Huzzah.

I Made Plans To Make Plans

Apparently there are certain things you are meant to do before you move abroad.

1) Get insurance.
2) Change money to euros.
3) Pack.

I am slightly concerned that none of these have been done and, even more worrying, I'm not panicking.

My suitcase is in my room and is currently empty. I have no plans to change this in the near future and I find myself wondering when I'm actually going to get ready to leave the country.

Well, I suppose it will have to be soon because my flight is in 7 days.

To Die Will Be An Awfully Big Adventure

I am off to the Netherlands for 5 months.

I have booked my flight today and suddenly it has all dawned on me that, soon, I will be leaving behind all sense of 'home comfort'. I didn't even go very far to university so why I have decided to go and spend almost half the year in a foreign country is still something that I'm trying to decipher myself.

I also thought that the flights would be cheap - how often do I see adverts about Amsterdam flights starting from £3.99? It's costing me £83 to get there and then I have to hop on a train for two hours. This 'public transport' milarkey is hard enough for my brain to cope with in grand Great Britain so how I'm going to manage it in the Netherlands I do not know. I have slowly been learning some Dutch on the internet. However, I am somewhat suspicious as to the accuracy of a website called 'digital dialects' - they might be teaching me all sorts of things instead of 'where do you come from?' and 'sorry'. If I end up with phrases like 'your mother looks like a toad' etc etc I will not be impressed.

I have also been thinking about baggage recently.

My allowance is 20kg.

I think my shoes alone weigh more than that.

I do NOT want to cut down on my clothes but I'm going to have to and, irony states, I will find that I need the one thing I have left at home. I need to talk to the bank, the phone company and my landlord. Oh, joy.

Perhaps I should call the whole thing off? If I claim bird flu they won't let me fly anyway, right?

...Right?