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.
