Amsterdam

So I’ve found the perfect time to do my blogs… While I’m at the laundromat! It’s so close to my place that I can actually get internet service from here. Bonus! I’ve actually been sitting here the past 10 minutes trying to translate the words on the box of detergent that I bought, praying that I don’t find the word “bleach” anywhere. I probably should have thought of that before I used it.

My house is the white one to the right of the brick house!! (I'm on the second floor)

(the laundromat!!)

Since last week, I’ve been getting used to the life that I will be living the next few months. I thought I had got the hang of the transit system, but then took the wrong tram going to school, (a straight shot from where I live) causing me to be late for my second class. My first day of work was on Tuesday this week, which I also showed up late for (not because I overslept – mom). My roommate Caitlin and I got a letter in the mail last week in French. I guess after a few days Caitlin thought it be a good idea to translate it to see what it said. It was a letter telling us that we had to appear at our local police station before Tuesday so they could confirm that we were, in fact, living in the studio and so our registration process at the commune could continue. Long story short, we got lost finding the station causing me to show up 30 minutes late for my first day of work. I don’t think they were so bothered though; later that evening (they kept me there until 7:30), Dr. Grässle (the member of parliament that I am assigned to) invited me to have a glass of champagne with her and we toasted to my arrival.

My first few days of work have been good. They actually have been giving me hard and legitimate work. My first assignment was to read a 20 some page paper on the Agencies in the European Union (you wouldn’t want me to explain in any more detail), and summarize it in my own words. If I’m not mistaken, Dr. Grässle reads these summaries before meetings so she can be reported on relevant information. There are two other interns working in the office with Dr. Grässle. They both have been very nice and have shown me the ropes around the Parliament, which is a huge building. There are two cafeterias, a library (which I’ve been doing most of my work in), dry cleaner, travel agency, newspaper shop, a few cafes and probably many other things I have yet to discover.
The square in front of the parliament Part of the Parliament building

Last weekend, four other friends and I traveled to Amsterdam! It was a great weekend trip. While we were there we toured Anne Franks house, visited the Heineken Brewery (which was my favorite – see picture below), and went to the Rijks Museum of Art and History. Besides all of the museums that we went to, we also did a lot of walking. We got lost a few times, but Amsterdam is a beautiful city to get lost in. Almost everywhere you turn, canals line the street. Apparently just a month earlier, some of the canals were frozen over and people were able to ice skate on them! For a good laugh, we also took a walk to the red light district to see if it was all it’s made out to be. I don’t think I’ll go there again.

ME! In the Heineken Brewery!

Tomorrow I will be traveling to Antwerp, a city in Belgium, for the day. Antwerp is the second largest harbor of Europe, is the diamond center of the world, and is supposed to be one of the best fashion cities of the world. I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes. My friends and I have also bought tickets to go see FC Köln, Cologne Germany’s soccer team, the second week in February. I was recommended to go see this team by a die hard European soccer fan (thanks Joel), and he says they’re games have an awesome atmosphere, so this is something I’m really looking forward to.

Well right now the third episode of The Bachelor just finished downloading on itunes, so I’ll say goodbye for now so I can catch up on my American reality TV!!

Love from Belgium - Lindsey