THIS IS AMSTERDAM

(Like yesterday, this guest-post comes to you from Zandria.)

You know what? Everything you’ve heard about Amsterdam is true. It’s a gorgeous city that literally screams “character.” There is a palpable sense of a quick-paced, modern place, while at the same time retaining many of the same aspects from hundreds of ago.

Part of Amsterdam’s character are the things it’s known for world-wide. I can’t remember one visit to the city where I didn’t smell marijuana smoke – there are simply too many coffeeshops clustered tightly together in the maze of narrow streets. If you are easily offended, then you might want to reconsider visiting. At the very least: don’t walk through the Red Light district, don’t dwell on the number of junkies wheeling stolen bikes, and take care to avert your virgin-eyes from the signs advertising Sex Museums and psychedelic mushrooms.

Instead, go to some of the tourist sites. I went to the Anne Frank House. The Historical Museum. The Rijksmuseum. There are tons of places I didn’t visit, that others come from all over the globe to see. But those are just physical places – you pay your fee, look around, and later you can point it out in a guide book: “See, I went here, and here, and boy were the lines at this place a drag.”

The things I’ll remember most are the experiences: My poor, flimsy excuse for an umbrella getting battered and abused by the terrific gusts of wind. Mostly, the walking. I never got tired of looking at things – the tremendous variety of people, cultures, and ethnic representations – that truly stamp the word “multicultural” on a popular tourist destination.

I love how there are tons of people who don’t have to own cars. They go on foot, they ride their bikes, they take the tram – and for longer trips, the trains leave every few minutes from Central Station. I love how the average height for Dutch people is higher than anywhere else in the world, and although some are pudgier than others, I can’t recall seeing hardly any obese people. Biking is such a normal part of their lives that they don’t bother letting it dictate their wardrobe choices. I was just as likely to see someone riding comfortably in jeans and sneakers, as I was to see a lady in a short skirt and pointed boots (although the lady was more likely to bring her knees in at an inward-angle while pumping the pedals up-and-down).

I don’t know for sure if I’ll ever be back. I would like to say that I will, but it’s a little too far from Virginia to say for sure. It’s nice to know that if I do return – even if I still don’t know more than five or so Dutch words – that I’ll be able to find my way around. I could point out my favorite spots to walk, away from the most popular streets where every step involves dancing and weaving around a mass of bodies. I could ride the tram with ease, secure in my use of the Strippenkaart. I could even show my brother, Ben, how to find “Coffeeshop Ben.”

I’ll miss you, Amsterdam. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for knocking me out of my comfort zone and showing me that I’ll be okay, no matter what.

THE TEMPORARY SWEETY

If Sweety were writing this, she would entertain you with tales of fun and sunshine: observations about her current road trip through California, as well as interactions with those crazy Americans. (That’s right – we’re waiting to hear about the not-so-good things as well!) I considered pretending to be “the real Sweety,” but regular readers would see through this charade in an instant. Could an “American-raised” girl pass herself off as “Holland-raised?” Possibly – but it would take some effort. Sweety is effortlessly cute.

Instead – hi! This is Zandria. Some of you may remember me from this August post of Sweety’s, when she and FreezeM made a special trip to pick me up from the airport in Amsterdam. I was arriving in Europe for the first time to spend a semester studying at a local university – not only did they deliver me safely to my new residence, but the three of us took a trip to Belgium less than a week later.

To make sure I was reachable in my temporary host-country, they gave me a cellphone. It saved my skin more than once: when I went to visit Sweety and FreezeM in The Hague, I got off at the wrong train station and we had to play some serious phone-tag in order to figure out this mistake. (“I’m standing in front of Station 6-A!...Yes, I swear that I am...What? You’re in front of Station 6-A, too...Sweety, are you sure that you haven’t been drinking this morning?”) Since I won’t be able to use the phone once I leave the country next Monday, I consulted Sweety and will be mailing it off to someone else who can use it – namely, “Mama-Sweety.”

Although I didn’t know it at the time, that visit was to be the last I would see of my new Dutch friends. Other responsibilities intervened, like Sweety’s return to university studies in addition to working her regular job. The same thing happened to me earlier this year when I was spending a majority of my time with either work or school – after the fact I could think about a few concessions that I might have made, but hindsight tends to make things clearer than they actually are at the time. Either that, or I was such horrible company that they couldn’t fathom the thought of having to spend any more time with me. :-) I’m guessing/hoping that’s not the case, since otherwise she wouldn’t have asked me to post on her website while she’s currently without regular internet access.

So! After a four-and-a-half month stay in the Netherlands, I’ll be returning home to Virginia in exactly five days. I have some observations that I’m working on, but in order to not make this post too long (and also to be able to say to Sweety, “I updated more than once!”) – as well as the fact that I have my very last exam tomorrow morning and need to study – I’ll be back again soon.

Who says winters have to be cold??

First, thank you all for the sweet comments. Even on the tv internet thing in our hotelroom we don't have access to gmail.So now you know why you aren't getting any replies from us.

So here's an update while our feet our resting from all the walking. Up the hills and down the hills. I didn't realize I had that many muscles in my legs!

I have to say this first:
I WANT STARBUCKS in The Netherlands. That Gingerbread latte is to DIE for. SO good

Okay.. having that said..... SF is absolutely amazing. To live here would be NO punishment. The weather is extremely nice, duing the day it's nice and warm. At night it can get a bit cool.The people are very friendly & polite.

Yesterday we went on a evening tour to Alcatraz. It was a great trip. We went by Blue&Gold fleet. The audio tour was amazing. The place lookd abit creepy in the dark though. If you;re easily scared I would take the day tour ;)

We've been to pacific heights and saw all te beautiful Victorian houses. We've also seen the famous FullHouse houses. Lots of tourists there.
Also we've had lunch at Haight Ashbury/ Mission District which is a very gay area. I loved it. Absoulutely reminded me a bit ofAmsterdam.

We both coud totally live in this wonderful city.

Tomorrow we're of to Carmel. Monday we're driving to San Luis Obispo and Tuesday we're staying in Santa Barbara. I'm not sure if we'll be updating anytime soon.
Now we're off to Christmas shopping. Accidentely we waited untill every American goes christatmas shopping (it's the last weekend beforechristmas).Downtown SF is very crouded today unlike the past few days where it was kindof quiet on the streets.

Take care everyone and w might update again from another CA city.

By the way, who said winters are suposed to cold???? MuHAHAHHAHAHHAHAA :)

(thanks Zandria, I read your cmment, you're the best :))

San Francisco, we're here!

We're here! It's so nice & warm.

After a 20 hour trip we finally made it. I cannot see another airplane meal the next 10 years!

We're at the visiter information center right now. Unfortunately we cannot use our gmail.

SF is SO nice! The hotel we're staying in (The Chancellor at Powell street is more than fantastic.

We're off to the cable carts!

Countdown

Suitcases: full
Stress level: high
Dollars: enough
Tickets: ready
Passport: ready
Excited: very
Cats: sad
Bunnies: no clue
Empty bag for christmas shopping: check!

Aaaah, we're almost leaving. Start singing California songs!

Aren't I forgetting anything?

We sold NewYork. How dumb is that.

*cough cough*

Anyone here?

Loyal readers... ?

Hello?

I know I haven’t blogged in AGES. Shame on everything that’s Sweety.

A dotsie summary of the past week:

• Friday was my last workday for the next 5 weeks. 5 weeks. 5 weeks. I still can’t believe it. I’ll start working again on January 10th.

• Sinterklaas eve:

When the Dutch still owned the land that later became New York, they brought the Saint Nicholas' eve legend with them to the Americas, but without the red mantle and other symbols. The name Santa Claus is derived from the character's Dutch name, Sinterklaas. Note that in Dutch, the feast is called 'sinterklaas feest' and it celebrates the birthday of sinterklaas during sinterklaasavond ("sinterklaas's evening") on December 5th or in Belgium on December 6th.

from wikipedia.com

So yes, yesterday we celebrated Sinterklaas. When I find some time I’ll post some pictures. We had a fantastic time.

And if you’re totally bored, go watch this fun video about Sinterklaas. It’s by Boom ChicagoAmsterdam & Run DMC. Go go go!

• Monica has given birth to a beautiful baby boy. I’ve been reading her blog for some time now. Now go congratulate her!

• LOOK!!! Look over there!! It's a purple birdie!

*whispers* my last grade (for organisation & management) came in… it’s a 3.5 on a scale of 1 (suckage) to 10 (brilliance). The class average was a 4.2. Our coordinator is going to talk to the teacher and he will tell him to pull the grades up so that at least 55% of the students passed the exam (pass = 5.5). So please... let me see your mad finger crossing skills... I might just be lucky.

What no bird?

• I did it. I love it. You should do it too.

• School period II started. This Thursday I have a presentation for Dutch. I’m going to give a presentation on the history of advertising in The Netherlands. It’s quite interesting actually, I find myself sucked into the book I borrowed from the library.

• Oh .. there is ONE thing positive about not posting in a week. NO spam. I’m lovin’ it.

• 5 weeks. 5 WEEKS. Woohoo.