Hello again from Utrecht! I thought I’d take some time to post pictures and some more updates on my life settling into the NL.

First up: The Fiets (bike)

I got a bike before class on Monday morning. It is imperative to have one here as it makes getting around SO much easier and it is generally a fun way to travel through the city. There are also tons of bike paths in and around Utrecht to explore on a sunny afternoon. My bike and I have already developed a love-hate relationship, however, even though I’ve only known her for six days.  Here she is in all her glory:

She looked so pretty in pink at the fiets shop and perhaps I failed to give her enough attention prior to purchasing her, but hindsight is 20/20. Now for the story: So I was on my way home the other night cruising along, fietsen toward my apartment and all of a sudden, the light breaks loose from its bolt, falls down into the spokes on my wheel, and the next thing I know, I’m eating some of the brick bicycle path that helps make Utrecht so gezellig. Despite the fact that the tumble from mijn fiets could’ve been really bad for my health, I walked away with just a sore knee and a wounded ego.

The next morning (yesterday), I took my bike back to the shop as they promise a 2-month guarantee for anything that goes wrong outside of the occasional flat tire. I was peeved to learn that they think this was somehow my fault for not making sure the light on the bike they sold me four days prior would not randomly fall into the spokes of my wheel and nearly kill me. Therefore there was nothing they were willing to do to fix it or trade it or anything. Grrrr.

I was pretty angry. I hope that next year’s Washburn students can find a different bike shop because these guys were tools. Anyway, I took it to another bike shop down the road and an extremely helpful guy gave it a once over and made it safe to traverse the Utrecht streets once again. So now my bike and I are friends again as I promised her I would take better care in the future. I do love riding my fiets around town!

Next Up: The Apartment

I live in the Baden Powellweg international student apartments about 5 minutes fietsen from the lively square called Ledig Erf. (Take a look at this link; it’s a panoramic picture you can move around to get the feel for the square. Thank God for the Internets!). The apartment is also about 10 minutes fietsen to where my Dutch language course is located, so I’m really enjoying it here. Now for the pictures:

Summerschool Apartments

This is our apartment

When you first enter, this is the way to the living room and kitchen.

Nice furniture, huh? Thanks, Ikea.

Where the Magic Happens

This is located in the living room.

Where you get to stay if you come visit!

This is a small kitchen, but we love it.

Hagelslag, stroopwafels, and hazelnut spread. Erg lekker!

The Essentials: Dutch Food

I will leave with this final image: Hagelslag (on the left) is essentially milk chocolate sprinkles that Dutch people put on everything. I have just tried it with the Hazelnut Spread, also known as Nutella but I get the supermarket brand (on the right) on biscuits. Stroopwafels are in the middle–these are great for breakfast with coffee. These three things are fabulous staples in my Dutch kitchen. As they say in Dutch, these food items are Lekker Lekker!

Hagelslag, stroopwafels, and hazelnut spread. Erg lekker!

Not pictured: the greatness that is Dutch cheese. My favorite has become the Old Amsterdam variety, but I’m loving the selection of all the great cheeses.

So those are the everyday things about my life here in Holland. I’ll post again soon regarding our trip yesterday to a brewery in Tilburg.

Oh yes, one more thing: I have also started participating in another European fashion trend: wearing leggings. My American roommate swears that I’ve sold out, but I love it! When I wear skirts, it makes it so much better to ride the bike, that’s for sure. Perhaps they’ll catch on again in America soon? Speaking of fashion trends, a HUGE one here now is the wearing of Crocs shoes–yeah, the rubberish brightly colored shoes with holes . . . yeah, they’re all the rage. That is one fashion statement, however, I’m ready to leave behind! Ha ha, gotta love fashion! Tot ziens for now!