8-25 Groningen, Netherlands
"Smile or do you know a language more international" - sign found on the street.
I rode the bus today and learned how the system worked with the help of Roberta.
Signed up for classes: Only Tuesdays and Wednesdays!
I am amazed by how much the Bosschers eat. Every night Roberta prepares a large wonderful dinner. For example one night we had large(vegetarian) meat balls, each a huge stalk of broccoli, many small potatoes, salad, wild mushrooms, then dessert of melon, and then yogurt with a sort of fruit and syrup mixture. By now they serve me either half or less of what they serve themselves. You would think they would be heavier than their very healthy thin selves. And they call me a modest eater, which always cracks me up.
Each night we either eat outdoors in their garden or at the table with tapered candles lit.
8-31 Groningen, Netherlands
I'm in my new place, I love it! I bought a vase and some fresh flowers, tapered candles and a holder, to live the Dutch way.
For the first time I feel comfortable living here and looking forward to studying heres. Before at the Bosscher's all I could think was "I want to go home, I want to go home." Just because I felt like a guest, and couldn't unpack. Now I feel like this could be my new home for a while.
On Friday, Bedr wanted to show Stephen and I the Groningen night life. First we played pool, I really enjoyed that (I know, Brandon, you are always saying I would like it if I tried it.) Then we went to a huge bar called 3 sisters, it was 5 stories and each floor was huge. A complete maze. It became packed so then we went to an Irish pub. I liked the atmosphere a lot better, it was much smaller, the music was good and you were able to hear and talk to people.
On Sunday, Doeko took me to see some megalithes. (No where near the same granduer of the stone hedge, but similar in its mystery.) I am very curious now about them and want to go to the museum in the north to learn more.
Tuesday, I went on my first day trip, a 2 hour train ride to Arnhem to the openluchtmuseum (open air museum). I got to see a lot of very neat sights such as windmills, old farmhouses, and people doing crafts like cloth making, metal working, and rope making. The ropemaker showed me how they created rope similar to the kind my dad works with. He showed me how by having me help him make some.
On our way there we met a woman about my grandparents' age who was so willing to help us find our way when we asked her a question that she invited us to her friend's home who was from the area who could help us get to where we were going. Before she had to get on her bus though she asked around and was able to tell us how to get to the museum. Everyone has been really helpful and kind here, and most willing to speak english. It has made it a lot easier to find things and get around.
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