Oktoberfest!

Last night, a few students threw an Oktoberfest party at one of the flats. It was only €5 for unlimited beer and bratwurst, so hey, I think it was worth it. Stereotypical German music was blaring, and broken beer glasses and trash were littering the floor. So it was almost like experiencing the Munich Oktoberfest.

I'm so ridiculously happy here, I never want to leave! All of my friends are amazing; we always have a good time and I can always rely on them. And I'm fortunate to have a good roommate too, we get along really well. We're in a great location too, everything is just a short bike ride away. Oh, I'm going to miss my bike too. I really want to ship it home, but I may have to work in the Red Light District for a few weeks in order to pay for shipping. Kidding.

Did I mention how much I love these people? Oh and Elisa persuaded me to buy a plane ticket to Barcelona for next weekend. I've never made such an impulsive, spontaneous decision! So David, Elisa, and I are headed to Barcelona on Friday after classes. I'm definitely looking forward to the warm summer sun.

Rainy Days

There's nothing better than a cup of tea and reading a book in bed on a rainy day. Classes have finally started and I'm procrastinating on doing homework because I realized I haven't posted a blog in a while.

I've been doing nothing but biking and eating my way through Amsterdam. Here's a better picture of my bike, even though you can't see the pink. I can't wait to spray paint the fenders pink!


And here's proof that the Dutch love sugary and fatty foods. We went to the Pancake Bakery one morning, and indulged in pannekoeken. They're similar to crepes, but rather than being folded up, they're served flat and topped with all sorts of sugary or savory goodness. Then you roll it up and cut out bite-sized pieces. Chloé, left, ordered a Thai pancake, while Jen, right, ordered a Greek pancake. I, however, ordered poffertjes covered in whipped cream, strawberries, and powdered sugar. Mmm.

God what fatties we are! The same day we went out for pancakes, we decided to join Jen's friend Xin for Ethiopian food. Here's me and Jen with our platter of more fatty goodness. I've decided to not eat out for the next few days, and bike around Amsterdam whenever I have the chance. Yesterday I biked to the Albert Cuyp market in search for fresh stroopwafles, but had no luck. Instead, they had fresh produce for sale, but I didn't feel like biking home with fresh strawberries; I'd probably end up with strawberry jam once I arrived home.

Oh and how could I forget FEBO? It's a small take-away place that has hamburgers, chicken burgers, and even kroquetts (minced meat roll that's deep fried) in vending machines. I have yet to muster up the courage to buy a kipburger from FEBO, but maybe I should save that for a night when I have a severe case of the drunchies.

XXX Pole

Today was productive! First the boring stuff: registering for a residence permit, grocery shopping, and opening an ING bank account. Evelien went to ABN AMRO with her bike, since you get a free zit zak, or bean bag. However, the particular branch couldn't open an account for her, so she came back empty handed. On the way back, she stopped dead in her tracks and said, "Oh my God. I HAVE to take that!!" Confused, I looked at what she was pointing at and only saw a pole, identical to the ones that border the sidewalks in Amsterdam. She handed me her bike and picked up the pole, which had been dug out of the ground by someone else.

So, in broad daylight, we walked back to our apartment. Evelien carried the pole while I pushed her bike, and everyone stared. Or laughed.


We finally made it home, and Evelien proudly showed everyone her prize. Yesterday the RA's told Evelien that if she brought home an Amsterdam pole (marked with XXX because it's a part of the city's crest), they would bury it in the garden and ship it to California when she leaves. Aren't they in store for a surprise.

Oh and we found a Chinese grocery store in the city center, so now I can have udon noodles and fresh tofu whenever I want! This city is so similar to San Francisco, I'm falling more and more in love with Amsterdam.

Ik Spreek Geen Nederlands

Goede morgen! I'm trying to teach myself Nederlands, or Dutch. I didn't sign up for a course in Dutch because it was about €200! Besides, I'm already signed up for four courses this semester. At least the courses are only 8 hours a week total!

In order to learn Dutch, I've been copying phrases and words out of my phrasebook. I've also been trying to find children's videos online with subtitles, and I'm thinking about buying a few secondhand child's books. It feels a bit silly, but it's the best way to learn. Even going to the grocery store has helped me learn a few phrases and terms.

I've made friends with a few students who speak their native language, such as French, a second language, and English! I feel rather stupid with my limited knowledge of Japanese (which wouldn't help my situation anyway). When I return to San Francisco, I am definitely signing up for a course in French or Spanish.

When I explain how embarrassed I am to only speak English, many international students tell me I should be glad a majority the world knows English, and that America is such a large country that I don't need to know a second language. Which doesn't make me feel any better; it just makes me feel like a stupid American. I wish learning a second language in America was a standard, rather than an elective.

Oh, and I'm trying to learn the metric system as well. Why did the United States have to develop their own measurements? I always catch myself saying "it's 80 degrees back home" and everyone stares at me as if I live on the surface of the sun. Then I have to guess what the equivalent would be in Celcius, which I usually mess up because I'm awful at math, too. Americans can't get anything right.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

I got a bike! It was spray painted bright green and pink, and it was love at first sight. It's got handbrakes, a light and reflector, a bell, and a chain cover. It was €50 for the bike, and an extra €10 for maintenance. I just need to buy some spray paint to touch up the color and a basket for the back and I'm set!

I don't think I've ever been so happy. I hopped on my bike and flew through Amsterdam with a fat smile on my face, like I was a little kid again. I'm going to miss my bike when I leave Amsterdam, I really wish I could take it back to San Francisco with me.

I finally got my class list, and I'm only in classes 8 hours a week. What a relief! I thought I had classes every day. The University of Amsterdam is very unorganized, and the way you choose classes and your schedule is impossible. You email the University what classes you would like to take, then they choose your schedule for you and email you "timetables" of the classes. Then you have to navigate around the website to find your class list and timetables.

I can't believe I start school on Monday, I feel so unprepared. I don't want to go to school, I just want to travel and ride my bike around the city!