How's Life?

Yesterday I had an introduction to my academic faculty here in the Netherlands, the Faculty of Arts.  The morning started off with a tour of a 91-year-old theater in the City Centre,

Pathe Tuschinski.

The beautiful theater told the story of a Polish man, Tuschinski, who had a passion for theatre, business, and money, and how his theatres were built around the Netherlands, surviving Nazi occupation among other obstacles.  Pretty interesting to say the least.

After the tour we had a brief lunch (Subway!!) and then headed back to the VU for some practical matters.  From information about culture shock to appropriate e-mail organization to how to purchase a Museum Card, my favorite part of the lecture was at the very beginning as they discussed proper Dutch academic culture.

Our faculty advisors, Ilin and Sanne, explained that here in Amsterdam the Dutch have a very distinct point of view on how they live their lives.  They told us that the quality of life is more important than competition, that boasting or bragging about grades/money/status is considered rude and inappropriate, and that there is far less focus on excellence and hierarchy.  Suck on that Capitalism! HA!

Now if you know me at all, you can probably imagine that when I heard these words I nearly passed out.  Are we sure I don't have any Dutch in my blood?  Were they reading my mind as they put this powerpoint together?  Isn't it funny how God's plan has a sneaky way of making an appearance.

In other news... I have been keeping track of some funny/interesting/shocking culture differences that might brighten up your day:

Alright so here in Amsterdam you don't pay taxes on food.  However, if you want salt, butter, catsup, mayonnaise (fritessaus), mustard, or any other condiment (and we're talking like packets they give you at McDonald's) it's gonna set you back anywhere from 20-30 cents....a piece.

I've mentioned the transportation system briefly, but public transport is extremely prevalent all over Europe.  Here in Amsterdam we have the metro, the tram, cars, mopeds/vespas, bikes, and pedestrians. They have bike lanes which are nearly the same width as the road itself, and can be used by both manual and motor bikes, but NOT pedestrians; and the tram/metro run in the same lanes as the cars, and downtown, the bikes as well.  There is literally no distinction between road, sidewalk, bike lane, or tramline, and all modes of transport run incessantly over the terrain.  Did I mention that the roads are also cobblestone?

Yeah that wasn't great when I dropped my camera on day 5.  R.I.P. Purple Nikon Coolpix....

So, I've brought up paying for grocery sacks and condiments, but get this: at many establishments you actually have to pay to use the restroom (toilet as they say here).  That's right folks, restaurants, bars, and clubs alike will charge you upwards of 50 cents just to pee in a porcelain bowl.  Even if you only need to sneak in to snag some deodorant at a crowded pub, fifty cents per swipe y'all.

Finally, as I'm sure you can imagine it was quite an event to get to buy a bottle of wine at the grocery store.  Aside from the fact that all labels at the grocery store are in Dutch (yeah try choosing cheese when there are about 50 different types that all look the same with Dutch titles) we weren't sure how much money to put down for our first legal alcohol run.  Hastily, I chose a bottle of Spanish Moscatel and we rushed up to our rooms to use our tea cups for a little wine night.  While Emily skyped her parents I tested the wine... not quite the same flavor as the Barefoot Moscato.  Essentially once you got past the initial fire burning sensation on your lips, it tasted nothing more than sparkling grape juice.  Success.  I actually ended up diluting mine with water to prevent future chap stick overdose.

I really do hope as you read this you insert my witty tone of voice, because honest to goodness I am so incredibly happy to be here, and all these incidents are taken with a grain of salt and a hearty laugh as I learn how to live 6,000 miles away.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

~Lao Tzu

The first weekend.

Starting Friday afternoon, I got to take part in an introduction weekend to Amsterdam.  Being as tired as I was starting off the weekend with mega twister (about 30 twister boards taped together with about 200 students) didn't seem like a great start.  However, our group bonded nearly instantly and we made a great time out of the games.

Each night as a group of about 20 international students, we went for an activity or two, dinner, and a night out on the town.  While the food tended to be less than fabulous, the activities included a canal tour, an improv comedy show similar to Who's Line is it Anyway, a guided tour of the city center, and ended with a photo scavenger hunt.  We pretty much went nonstop for 72 hours, which means I am currently about one step above comatose.

I have to admit, when I first found out that I'd be coming to Amsterdam this past March I was devastated.  Ideally we had planned to go to Edinburgh, Scotland, and Amsterdam was actually our last choice.  I didn't really know anything about the city besides weed, and I guess I had just had my heart set on the UK.  After the extensive tour taken this weekend, I have fallen deeply in love with Amsterdam.

The streets have so much character, 

the tilting canal houses tell a million stories, 

the whizzing and whirring of bicycles are the soundtrack to the fantasy tale told by the barely clad girls in shop windows of the Red Light District.  

The rain is sucky to say the least, but the grass is a shade of green unseen by my eyes back home.

I want to go into every shop we pass,

I want to ride my rusty, used, hand-brakeless bike over every inch of cobblestone alley,

I want to live in a canal house,

Pray to a hidden church in the middle of the 600 year old convent courtyard in the middle of downtown.

More to come later, as I have so many ideas running through my head that I can't seem to catalogue them all on my lack of slumber.  Thanks for reading, thanks for praying, and keep believing :)

A day in the life of a foreigner

Yesterday was a little vague, I’d like to give you some insight on some deeper concepts Amsterdam has offered these past few days. 

The food situation is… interesting to say the least.  Seeing as how we can’t speak Dutch, reading menus is problematic.  Some restaurants have an English version, but you have to ask for it.  Also, since we’re living in an apartment, we’re totally on our own for food.  No meal plan, no food court, no nothin’.  So far I’ve eaten French fries (frites), a cheeseburger (with a magical mystery sauce), and an authentic Italian Panini.  Tonight we were lucky enough to find a grocery store, where I bought a few staples: m&m’s, nutella, etc.

Oh yeah, so the grocery store.  They don’t really have carts, they have like carry baskets and then these baskets that have an extendable arm that you pull around similar to a suitcase.  All the labels are in Dutch, naturally, and the American items are about 10 times more expensive.  Reese’s Puffs for example were 9 euro, equivalent to like $11.  Holy shit.  So I gathered some milk, dutch special k (with chocolate obviously), loaf of bread, and nutella and headed to the 12 year old cashier.  As he scanned my items I realized there was no one to bag them at the end.  Okay, so I have to bag my own groceries, fair enough.  However, then when I ventured to the end of the lane, there were no bags to be found.  I politely asked the cashier for a bag and he handed me one about the size of those bags they put greeting cards in at Wal Mart.  For my basket full of items.  I frantically motioned over to Emily like, “What THE hell?!”  when she mouthed that we actually had to buy the grocery bags.  Yes, that’s right, you have to purchase your own grocery bags here in Amsterdam.  For about 20 cents a piece.  I quietly bought 2 bags and filled them with my things.  Absolutely flabbergasted.

What a concept though, buying plastic grocery bags.  I had somewhat noticed the green movement in pretty full swing here with the bike prominence and push for recycling, but man grocery bags!  Guess that’s an incentive to bring your own sacks though, I sure as heck am not trying to buy bags every time.

So, hows the money you ask?  Most everyone back home has asked about the cost difference between here and the states.  While I know the monetary difference is about $1.70 to 1 Euro, it honestly feels like I’m spending Monopoly money here.  It’s a different size, different color, and 1 and 2 Euros are coins.  Weird.  So honestly I’m probably blowing money left and right, but it doesn’t feel like I’m spending anything at all.  Probably not great.

Today, however was much better, as on the campus tour we were made aware of the food court (insert Hallelujah), I squeezed in a nap, and I was actually able to exchange my new phone number with some friends!  This weekend we have signed up for the International Student Introduction Days, where we will do various things in and around the city.  Very exciting.

For now the to-do list still goes on with finding a bike, registering for classes, loading my public transportation card, and buying trash bags.  We're definitely getting there, although I can't really tell if I'm actually mentally doing okay or if I'm just so freaking tired that I don't really give a shit about anything besides food and sleep.  Maybe at around the time my jet lag fatigue wears off I'll simultaneously feel more accustomed to my new home, but for now I shall finish my bread, nutella, and banana snack and head to bed early.

Miss you all,

Messie

Welkom

Good afternoon, America!  If you haven't heard, I made it across the pond to my quaint Amsterdamian apartment.  Uilenstede (pronounced owl-en-shted-a) is my new home for the next four months, a small collection of student apartments that house those who study at the VU (pronounced fvooo).

After a sleepless 7 and 1/2 hour flight, Emily and I arrived by bus to an afternoon full of information about our new home, a multitude of new accents (along with language barriers), and way way too much information to simply share all.  This being said, my plan tonight is to update you on what, to me, has been the most different from the states.  Any complaints you might find in this post should be taken as sarcasm, as I am trying to stay extremely optimistic, and realize things will eventually get easier.

After 24 hot, sleepless, and tear filled hours, as soon as I made it into my apartment all I could think was SHOWER.  However, this was extremely difficult seeing how I had no shower head...not to mention towels, shower shoes, or wash cloth.  What I did seem to have though in the corner of the sea-foam green tiled cube was a cold water running faucet.  Literally it was a faucet, and I managed to bathe my individual body parts with it for as long as my flesh could stand the needle-like sensation.  Okay, it wasn't THAT bad, but if you know me and my OCD with cleanliness you realize it was a little difficult.  And I'm sure you can imagine how clean I am today.... yuck.

So, Emily and I dealt with a stream of various feelings yesterday.  From sadness for leaving, to frustration with our rooming situation, to hunger from the lack of food, to extreme fatigue from the lack of sleep, we were basically one big, smelly, shit show.  Add one Heineken purchased LEGALLY from the pub down the road and I was essentially in a coma.  My weary soul passed out about 2 minutes into The Holiday.

This morning, after a warm welcome presentation at the university, we took a little walk around the town scoping out some restaurants, markets, and sights.  Now I shall simply list the vast differences I have noticed from my 48 hours of taking it all in:

1. The cars are smaller
2. The roads are skinnier
3. The biking
4. The amount of shrubbery
5. Everyone seems to say "Oh, I should have guessed" after I say I'm from the US
6. Everyone has a distinct smell
7. I have a distinct smell
8. No one seems to care about what they look like
9. The Cokes are smaller
10. There is almost always access to a pint of Ben & Jerry's (not just a pint of Heineken)

Alright so obviously there are about a million more things than this, but for my brains sake I'll save those for more in depth posts, I just wanted to give y'all a rundown on what Amsterdam has been like so far!  Aside from being overwhelmed, I am as I said still very excited and optimistic about what's in store for the months ahead.  It's kind of hard to see, via various social media, that life is still going on back in the states, just difficult for me to feel like I'm missing out; but I know that after the adjustment process I won't feel like I'm missing out on a thing.

Your prayers, emails, and even snail mail are always welcome, and appreciated!! My email address is jbmunn@butler.edu

if you're down to be a pen pal email or Facebook message me and I'll shoot you my snail mail address!!

Much love from Europe!  Afecheid!

Indian Summer

Driving in the car this afternoon, my mom and I began reminiscing this summer.  While we both agreed that the thought of summer ending literally made us nauseas, I could honestly say that this summer has probably been the best I've ever had.  I had so many awesome opportunities, made a multitude of unforgettable memories (and new friends), and really went out with a bang before my long awaited journey across the pond.  So this post goes out to all the fun-loving friends who made this season one for the books, cheers!

The first couple weeks of my summer were spent in good ol' Monticello, before I headed back to sublease with some of my sorority sisters back at BU.  My dear friend Brooke and I got to have a few days of fun before we parted ways... she took an opportunity to work at Universal Studios in Orlando... (and I thought I had a sick summer).  Anyways, we spent the last few lazy days of May going for walks, playing Just Dance 3, and taking a trip up to the Indiana Dunes on a perfect sunny day.

During June I kind of let my YOLO outlook take over my financial responsibilities by going out to some great concerts at a pretty sweet outdoor venue in Noblesville.  With many wonderful people in tow, we jammed with Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Toby Keith, and Zac Brown Band to name a few.  The INSANE heat didn't keep us from tailgating or enjoying ourselves one bit, I mean come on... you do only live once, right?

 Reppin' the DG at Brad Paisley!

Sweating up a storm at Toby Keith!

Just missing Lindsey and Drew at ZBB!

My sublease in Indy this summer was spent with some fabulous ladies, especially my darling roommate, Lindsey!  Before she jet setted off to London for most of July we made some memories of our own rocking the football team in a case race, holding down the fort on our own only to end up with a house full of 20 people and some speakers we never managed to get rid of, and thanks to her I made some hilarious, genuine, free-spirited new friends.  

Lindsey, me, and the infamous pigtails I will never live down.

Bunch of yahoos enjoying the sun at our friend Ethan's lake house.

At the end of June, instead of hanging around BU for the infamous weekend of Midsummer, I took a Megabus up to the Windy City to visit my favorite Chi O girl, Maddie.  We stayed in a little place downtown, shopped the Magnificent Mile, had some INCREDIBLE Chicago-style pizza, and enjoyed a million hearty laughs and secrets.  

Maddie and I enjoying some laughs at a popular destination in Chi-town, Dick's Last Resort.

This summer also brought 2 weddings between 4 of the kindest, most genuine people I have met.  All, I might add because of Butler.  In June, my best friend Emily's brother married a wonderful gal, and Emily and I relished in the pre-wedded bliss at the rehearsal dinner.

Then a few weeks later, another amazing couple tied the knot while I had the pleasure of sharing scripture at the ceremony.  I danced the night away at their Pinterest-esque reception with some fabulous people, once again forced to beat the heat, but looking back, I don't think we would have had it any other way.

Post wedding Pre reception photo op with Brady and Lauren

Wildo and I making use of the photo booth

This fantastic summer also held some incredible milestones in the family unit, as my not-so-baby cousin graduated high school, my brother John showed his first pig in the county fair, and I ended my "reign" as the 2nd Runner Up to Miss White County in July.  Let me tell ya, nothing makes you feel old like sitting through someone's high school graduation ceremony when you realize yours was 2 years ago.

I knew since my last day of summer '11 that I just couldn't last another stuck in Monticello, and I wouldn't take back one moment of work, class, naptime, lake day, trip to the drive in, or midnight snack binge.  I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had this summer, so incredibly ecstatic about the semester ahead.  God Bless everyone I got to spend time with this summer, I can't wait to come back and do it again :)