Hello again from Utrecht!! I can’t believe it’s already the 22nd of September. Time is flying by!! I am starting to feel a bit more settled into life here with my schedule somewhat normalizing and getting used to the weekly routine.
The weather has been beautifully sunny for the last week or so and I’ve been trying to be out and about as much as possible to take advantage of the days without rain. One thing has changed with the weather–the temperature. It tops out around 18 or 19 degrees during the day (mid-60s), which is quite nice. However, the evenings drop between 3 and 10 (38-50) and without our furnaces being able to be turned on quite yet, this makes for some really chilly sleep! It’s quite the adjustment with the weather, but overall, I really like its mildness. I’m sure my mind will change when faced with having to bike to class in the constant 40s and 50s, especially when rain is reintroduced to the forecast…but that’s a story for another post 
An update with the bike accident I told you about last time: The day it happened, I thought I was so fortunate to be able to walk away without any injury. However, upon trying to go for a jog a few days later, my knee became swollen and sore. Bad news!! Especially bad news when a) there are a million things that can go wrong with a knee and b) I live in a foreign country where I know ABSOLUTELY nothing about how the health care system works for foreigners. So, in a quest to be educated about the Dutch system and to go figure out what might be wrong with my knee, I set off to a neighborhood doctor who kindly referred me to an orthopedist. I saw the latter today and 300 euros later (which should be reimbursed from the insurance company in the US but you just never know), I found out that she thinks there’s nothing wrong with the ligaments and there is no sign of bone damage (from x-rays taken today).
She sent me to a physical therapist who will be in charge of giving me the green light for jogging and perhaps playing soccer again. I see the orthopedist again in six weeks. I have to call to make an appointment with the physical therapist but I’ll do that tomorrow. A long story short–it seems like there’s nothing major wrong with me and again I feel very fortunate because anytime a biker meets a car, there can be really unlucky results for the biker…
I miss playing soccer because of my injury. I went and watched our team play on Saturday and just wished I could be on the field helping the team out. We have a great group of girls and we’re starting to look better and better on the field. We also have plans for saturday after our next game to have dinner and to go out as a team for “bonding” purposes. I am really looking forward to it!
As the title of the post suggests, we still have no internet at our house. It was supposed to arrive last Monday but alas, no dice. The only place I can check the status on the website says “in process” . . . No kidding?! It’s been 3.5 weeks since I ordered the service and we’re still waiting on the modem. Another lesson in patience. At least I’m learning…
So, for now internet is reserved only for when I am not too lazy to bike into town and check it either at the Janskerkhof or the Law Library if it’s open. I’m writing now from the law library. It’s a really nice facility at which to do my research for the program, homework, and general internet tomfoolery. I’m glancing out the window from where I sit and I see the quintessential Dutch gables of the building next door against a backdrop of a Utrecht sunset. I feel really lucky to be here doing this project and though I’ve been here approaching two months, I still am in awe at what a beautiful place the Netherlands is.
The language is coming along slowly but surely. I now know why people say to move to a country that speaks the language you’re trying to learn is the best way. Immersion is just that–being immersed at all times with the language. TV shows in English are all subtitled in Dutch, which makes it really nice to try to figure out the syntax and grammar (and vocab). Yesterday Clara and I finally made it to the Call of the Wild, also subtitled in Dutch. It was a good movie, as a side note. As I said before, all my soccer practices, games, e-mails, and meetings are in Dutch and I am trying really hard to start speaking it more (even though I’m still very self-conscious of my ability). It is really good to know that despite only being here a short time I am picking up the basics well.
I better get going back home for dinner and some reading. I’ll be back at the law library tomorrow morning to continue my research project. I’ll write another post about that soon after I make some more progress. I really hope everyone back home is doing well and getting settled into school/work or continuing to enjoy their jobs and lives. I really do miss all of you but feel at home here. Send me an e-mail if you get the chance. I also really love reading all the comments!!
Tot ziens!
