One last day in Leiden...

Well, this is my last day in Leiden and it's quite a rainy one. It's been storming for most of the afternoon but that didn't keep me inside for long. I ventured out to the market for one last stroll through the streets and to smell the fresh stroopwaffles cooking on the hot plates. I'll probably go out one last time for a couple drinks and then rest up for my long journey home. I leave in the morning for my trek to the train station with 2 carry-ons, a large backpack and a suitcase. It's going to take some time; hopefully the sky clears up to make this journey a dry one.
I can't wait to see my family and friends in St. Louis!

With only 2 weeks left in Leiden, I look back at all of my trips and adventures and am grateful for such great company and wonderful experiences. I could not have asked for a better semester or more outstanding sights. I spent most of yesterday at Keukenhof, a flower garden in Lisse, The Netherlands. The single day journey made my stay in this country so much more beautiful. I have never seen a more perfect garden or more stunning flowers. The vibrant colors and smell of spring filled my senses with delight. The day began with a 35 minute bus ride from Leiden to Lisse. Crammed with 80 others in a bus with a 75 person limit is not a pleasing way to begin, but it was quite worth it. As we passed the fields of tulips I couldn't wait to get out and wander through the gardens. Upon arrival, I hopped off the bus and could immediately smell the beauty. The aroma was filling the air (much different from the scent on the bus). I walked around the grounds for a couple of hours, stopping to rest by a tree and to take some photos. The weather was gorgeous and the sun beating on my face made me anxious for summer. The place was quite crowded for it is only open 2 months a year, but I was so enthralled by the display of colors that I didn't notice the others much. After a day spent in the gardens, walking aimlessly and enjoying the sights and smells, I headed towards the exit and out to the fields. This was my favorite experience while there and one of my favorites in The Netherlands. I walked around the fields of tulips for awhile and took many photos, posing for some as well. The sky was clear and the flowers against the blue made for wonderful photo opportunities. I cannot begin to describe the lightness within me while walking through those fields. Truly remarkable. The trip back was a bit troubling, after waiting in a bus line for 2 hours; but like I said, it was worth every waiting minute to see the beauty of those fields.

1 month remains...

I can't believe how fast 3 months have gone by here in The Netherlands. I've had so many great experiences in many beautiful cities around Europe. I have thousands of pictures and the memory of all of those I have encountered along the way. I have learned so much from traveling and have taken in so many cultural aspects of the world around me. My eyes are wider now and my thoughts much deeper, my hands are wide open and arms outstretched. The road I've been following has prepared me for the future like no classroom could ever do and has inspired me to do the same for those I may teach in the future. A little piece of me is going to miss this continent but a larger piece of me is eager to share my adventures with those I love back home.
I set out in early January with no purpose in mind but the pure thrill of travel, to see the other side of the ocean and mingle with an unknown. It's easy to leave when you know you are returning and it's intriguing to explore when you are not afraid of wandering, but you never forget where you came from and a longing to return sets in and it encompasses your every thought. With midterms out of the way and 4 weeks ahead of me; I am eager to go home. It's a full circle of emotional events that begins with the excitement to explore and escape from routine, upon arrival momentum throws you through a whirlwind of events and before you know it 3 months have passed. The circle has made its way back to the beginning and has awakened my excitement and anxiety to not escape from routine this time, but return to the routine that I left a few months back. My life has taken a giant step in a short time and I am learning something new everyday.

Well I left my happy home to see what I could find out/ I left my folk and friends with an aim to clear my mind out
Well I hit the rowdy road and many kinds I met there/ many stories told me of the way to get there
So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out/ there's so much left to know and I'm on the road to find out
- Cat Stevens, 'On the Road to Find Out'

I've had a lot of time to think and write lately with minimal travels. I spent the majority of March getting to know Leiden and its many wonders. I discovered a fantastic little innovation for the average bicycle (photograph). It has a compartment for groceries, belongings and/or kids! It's perfect for the Dutch mother who is gathering food, household items and random knick knacks all whilst accompanied by her children. When I have children, this will be the first thing I will buy.
Springtime has made its way into town and rain is falling heavier and more frequently. I suppose all this rain will produce those lovely tulips in the late spring, making it all worth it. As the rain falls, I have been forced inside and have chosen to be as productive as possible. I picked up a book from the library titled, Childhood & Society by Erik Erikson. It's a great look at the psychological issues of children and will help me prepare for such encounters. It's interesting because most of the time the children are begging for us to help them; if only we would listen in their language.
I've also dug deeper into my art history course which chronicles the Renaissance era. We study art, architecture, geography, culture, fashion, government/politics, and religion. Not much has changed. The same groups are still fighting for the same issues, causing the same arguments and accomplishing the same tactics - nothing much at all.
On another note, I've been thinking a lot about summer. This cold weather and rain has made me eager to get home to hot summers and relaxing at the lake. I will miss Leiden however, with the Wednesday and Saturday markets that surround me with produce and locals, the hundreds of bikes that I have to dodge on the way to school or anyplace for that matter and the trains that run so efficiently, delivering me from one place to another. However, there is something that has been pulling me in the direction of home since I've been abroad; friends and family. No matter how far I go, whether it is a short trip to another state or a longer stay in Thailand or The Netherlands - I am always pulled back to middle America - my home.

A little home cookin'

I decided to make something for dinner that reminded me of home. I thought about it for awhile thinking about the materials which I had to use: a few pots and pans, silverware, a stovetop and microwave. I finally came up with chicken noodle soup. I woke up early today to beat the crowd to the Saturday market. I ventured through the tents full of fruits and veggies and grabbed a few ingredients for my soup: peppers, onion, carrots, celery, lima beans, and finally a chicken. Yes ma'am, the entire chicken. Luckily, the chicken's were cooked on the rotisserie and all I had to do was add it to my soup. However, I did feel a bit strange walking around with a chicken, so I hid it in the bag of veggies. I dropped off my main ingredients in my room and headed to grocery store to pick up some essential cooking ingredients: chicken broth, noodles and spices. Once I had gathered the materials, I was ready to cook.
Back in the room I chopped up the ingredients and dealt with the chicken; dismantling the best I could. I finally decided to throw in the legs, thighs, and wings and chop up the breast myself. Once I had all the needed ingredients in the pot, I began to simmer the soup. It is now about 3 hours into the simmering process and smells delicious. There is plenty to feed the entire dormitory, but by the smell of it I think I'll just keep it to myself. I can't wait to give it a try.

10K in Den Haag

A couple of months ago I decided to sign up for a run in The Netherlands. I found a 10K (6.2 miles) in Den Haag scheduled for 14 March. I thought it would give me plenty of time to train. However, those two months flew by and let me say I was not prepared. But I did have a fantastic time and the entire experience was one of the greatest cultural realizations. I packed my bag this morning with a change of clothes and extra jacket then caught the 11:20am train to Den Haag. The race was scheduled to begin at 1pm, I arrived around 11:40am and began my adventure. I honestly had no idea where I was going and I walked out of the train station to be pleasantly surprised by mobs of runners headed in the same direction. I took a chance (a pretty good one) and ended up at the grounds. The next step was to find my bib number and D-tag (shoe timer). I walked around looking at the signs written in Dutch and realized that I was a tourist. Mind you, I've been living in The Netherlands for a bit over two months now. I began to look around for people with their bib numbers and found the tent that housed them all. Upon arrival, I was asked many questions in Dutch and found myself smiling then shying away as I kindly responded, "Do you speak English?" I was in luck, the man led me in the right direction and I was able to get my number after writing down the spelling of my last name and handing it over to the nice woman. It was a strange experience and I was the odd man out.
Step one was successful. After dropping my bag off at the bag drop area; which took some time to find, I was almost ready to run. The sky was grey as usual and the sun was hiding away, I thought for sure it would rain. I pinned on my number and strapped the timer to my shoe, then took a jog around the grounds. About 20 minutes to 1pm, I headed over to the starting line and continued warming up. It was quite chilly and I knew my muscles were stiff. A woman approached me and asked me a question (in Dutch) I was not able to answer, so she quickly switched to English. It's almost like a light switch in the brain, I was amazed at her talent. She asked me about the letters posted on the signs and needed to know which one to stand at, I was just as confused as her so we headed to the back of the crowd.
Starting time was approaching and I began to get a little anxious, probably from the nippy breeze. The speakers were blasting some sort of Dutch pop song and people were dancing and stretching and laughing all around me. I joined in and figured I may as well have a good time as well, even though I do not understand Dutch, beyond thank you & you're welcome. Before I knew it, the cannon went off and I was running through the cobblestone streets of Den Haag. I could not have seen the city in a better way. It was amazing to run past the landmarks and winding canals. I forgot about the grey day and the smile on my face grew as I kept on running.
The race was flat, which I was very grateful for, and the distance was not too bad. I enjoyed the run and definitely the experience. After the race, I am used to being offered carbohydrates and sweets. However, after this race and after receiving my medal and t-shirt, I was given a great big bratwurst with many toppings and a pile of french fries with mayonnaise. I could not have been more surprised or happy. It was a truly Dutch experience. While retrieving my bag I was once again approached and had to claim my tourist identity. The man just kept on walking, as he seemed to be in quite a hurry. I made it to the bag drop counter and retrieved my bag. I ate my bratwurst and fries while watching some children play in a pile of dirt nearby. After finishing, I headed back to the train station and found my train to Leiden. Despite my aching knees, I had a great time exploring Den Haag on this grey afternoon and an even better time being emersed with the local Dutch. There is so much to learn!

"I'm sittin' in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination..."

Soon I will be homeward bound; in the words of Simon & Garfunkel. I am approaching the halfway point of my semester abroad. Winter is still amongst Leiden, even though spring break has begun. The sun shines bright, but is accompanied by the chills of winter time. The dormitory halls are full of noisy undergrads packing up to spend the week in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. The solidarity is much needed though, as I must complete my Advancement to Candidacy in order to graduate next year. My travels are slowing down and I'm preparing myself for the arrival of the new study abroad students. It's always fascinating to see a fresh set of faces wander in with their wide eyes; lost in a city of winding canals and cobbled streets; inching past the bicyclists who find little amusement in avoiding these awe-struck newbies.
My new course for the second term is Italian Renaissance Art, I'm pretty eager to begin and study in depth the many works that I've had the pleasure of seeing first hand. I've also registered for my summer courses which will begin in June and return me to the classrooms in St. Louis. For the last eight weeks, I plan on visiting The Netherlands and taking in as much as I can of the country that has allowed my residence for the first half of the year. I hear, one can get anywhere in The Netherlands by train in two hours or less; which is even more incentive to see the countryside, windmills and beautiful tulips when they come into bloom. I'm looking forward to new beginnings as I start my journey back to where I began. Soon I will be homeward bound.