The most beautiful makeup for a woman is passion

   Oh my, it has been so long since i have posted on here that I don't quite know where to start. I am getting ready to start my third week of my spring semester at SIU. The homework load is most definitely quite a bit larger than it was last semester, but I guess that's what I get for taking a 300 level class and an Honor's class, not to mention a geography class that involves physics, chemistry, meteorology, geology, and geography! Actually speaking of class, I have some homework that I have to catch up on. A student's work is never done.
   This week has quite frankly been one of the most horrifically stressful weeks I have ever had in my life. I just felt like it was one thing after another for five days straight! I do not feel  like sharing very much about all of the details of what exactly everything was, I feel like a large portion of it is personal and should be left between those involved. Thank God I do have an amazing boyfriend who decided to force me to enjoy my weekend. It wasn't anything spectacular, but certainly much needed. Friday when he got off of work we simply went to his place and watched movies- he even rubbed my back and shoulders for me. Aw how sweet! :) Saturday I caught up on some of my English reading (200 pages of it) and then Ethan and I along with the couple that he lives with went to a mutual friends for some games and drinking. Lucky little me won $16 while spending absolutely zilch! Saturday night I was also dubbed "Holland" due to my recent trip overseas. Unfortunately I do have quite a bit of homework to do for this following week and really should get to it. I'm thinking posting weekly on Mondays that way I can keep everyone updated on my life but not be so incredibly stressed out on having to write every single day. What are everyone's thoughts and opinions? Well it's time for me to sign off.
     xo
   PS- I get paid on Friday and get to go home! :)

Day Thirteen: My Last Day

   So today was my last day in the Netherlands and I must confess I am so extremely depressed that I have to get on a plane and fly 10 hours away. I love it here so much and everyone is so amazing I can't imagine not being here for God knows how long. However, there are a few things that I am ready to go home for. So I am going to make a list of the top ten things I will miss here and the top ten things I am ready for when I get back home.

Top Ten Things I Love About Holland:

10. Everything being so close (as in I can go from one side of the country to the other in just a few short hours)

9. The fact that I can not only get INTO the bars but drink legally at them as well (okay maybe thats not a love but I thoroughly enjoyed it).

8. Learning new words

7. Learning to play pool/billiards (even if I am absolutely terrible at it).

6. Being told that I am ''exotic''... by my Uncle Jerry.

5. All of the new music. Note to self: Download Ode to the Bouncer.

4. The food!!

3. The Open-Air Market, or the fashion in general.

2. That I always have a story to tell everyone back home.

1. Everyone who has become my family!

Top Ten Reasons I'm Ready to Go Home:

10. Knowing exactly what time it is just by glancing at a clock.

9. The country (corn fields, hills, trees, dirt roads, etc)

8. Bonfires, Chilis, and Steak 'n Shake. 

7. Understanding everything everyone is saying... even if I don't listen half of the time.

6. Being in the same time zone as 95% of my friends list on Facebook.

5. Being back in Southern Illinois (but not school).

4. Being able to use my cell phone!

3. Driving myself around in my own car.

2. Kisses from my favorite four-year-old and 9-month-old.

1. To see my family, friends, and that one guy that won't quit talking about how much he misses me :)

At least I know that I can always come back, and I will come back. Maybe for Qlimax?
     XOXO

Day 'Ten: Nijmegen, Aachen, Dan Haag- Oh My!

   The past few days have been incredibily crazy and each day blurs into the next, so I apologize in advance if I bounce around a lot today. I also apologize for not posting for so long, but I have been so busy that by the time I get home at night I can't even keep my eyes open.
   On Tuesday, at least I'm pretty sure it was Tuesday, we went to a town not far from Arnhem called Nijmegen. I'd say it was about a 15 minute train ride. In Nijmegen we shopped around at the Open-Air Market. In short it is pretty much a bunch of little stands with discounted clothing, shoes, and accessories. Further down the road they also had vegetables, meat, and fish! I did end up buying quite a bit- a nice blouse and some boots from the market and a dress and leggings from H&M. We also went to an area that used to have a castle. I'm not very rehearsed in the story, but this is what I understand from the story from Uncle Jerry. Some British, Polish, Canadian, and American Airborne Troops in Arnhem waiting for the tanks and such as they were trying to take the bridges during WWII. However, the tanks they were waiting for could not make it very far past Nijmegen to Arnhem. Because of this, many of the troops that were in Arnhem had to sneak across the river here and into Nijmegen and many were captured or killed. Also, the town of Arnhem was also bombed by first American planes then German planes. So in short the made it across the Wall River but could not make it to the Rhine. Hopefully I got that at least mainly correct! We also ate at a little pub in town. The food was quite delicious and the customer service wasn't as bad as I had heard it could be over here, even though I never got a refill on my water. I ate a Tosti Paul, which Aunt Mieke explained is very similar to a panini with chicken, cheese, and spices. I quite enjoyed myself!
   Aachen was a very early day. Thankfully we drove there which means I got to sleep in the car on the way. We went to Charlamagne's church. It was so beautiful! The ceilings had designs made from tiny squares made of gold and such. The pictures I took in no way compares to seeing it in person! We then went and ate at a place called Hansworst or what-not. I got to eat my first authentic German brat and tasted some of Uncle Jerry's German beer. The brat was delicious, the beer not so much. Then it was home and Brianna and I went over to Lis's for a relaxing night of nothing.
   Yesterday we went to the Open Air Museum in Arnhem. It was so interesting to see Holland from a historical point-of-view. There was so much to see there! It is so shocking to think of how young America actually is compared to the places in Europe. They even had people acting the parts of some of the people from that time period. After a few hours there, we came back and Brianna and I went back Lis's for another delicious dinner.
  Today we went to Dan Haag, Aunt Mieke's hometown. We visited an art museum and Holland's version of the White House. I was shocked that some of the paintings in the museum actually looked like photographs until you got closer. It was so neat! We met up with one of Aunt Mieke's childhood friends and went to McDonalds. Yes, very original I know. Their mediums were the size of our smalls! I won't complain though because I could actually finish my whole meal for once. We then went to the beach. The wind was crazy! I swear it could have blown me over! We gathered some sea shells, and watched the waves. Due to the salt and such the waves formed foam which would wash over the beach. I have never seen that at Virginia Beach or on the Gulf of Mexico. After some time we came back home. Now it is simply a relaxing night. Tomorrow we are planning on going to another Open Air Market and then going out with Joey and some of his friends. Therefore, I am definitely going to try to catch up on some sleep tonight.
   I can't believe my trip is drawing to an end, and it is actually making me very sad. I love the country and I feel like just another member of the family here. I do miss my family and friends terribly though so I am ready to be home. Just a few more days left in Holland and then I will be back in the States. See you all very soon!
     XOXO 

Day Four: Or is it Five?

   Oh my where to even start!? We took the train into Amsterdam yesterday. It was so much fun! Everyone was bustling around and nobody paid any attention to anyone else. We visited the Van Gough Museum (I know that the spelling is most likely wrong but it is very late and I don't want to look it up), the Anne Frank House, and did a Canal Tour. I also ate a hot dog that was almost twice the size of my hand! I even got to see the Red Light District. It wasn't as vulgar as I have always imagined it to be, but it was still interesting to see. There were plenty of streets that had coffee shops too, and no they do not sell coffee there. No worries Mom and Dad, Aunt Mieke escorted me very quickly away from those. The thing that shocked me so much was that Amsterdam is supposed to be so big and famous, yet it is actually quite small. Also, I don't think very many people around here know what privacy is because of all of the houses we passed very few actually had curtains, and the ones with curtains did not have the windows covered. Even the house boats on the Canal, in which hundreds of people ride by every single day. I couldn't imagine it!
   Today was a very relaxed day. We went to a mall in town and did a little shopping, and I am very proud of myself for how little I actually spent! I bought a new purse and a pair of sunglasses. Then I went with Brianna to her cousin Lis's house, I hope I spelled that right. We simply relaxed and cooked some food for tomorrow. Then tonight we went out to see the fireworks with Lis's son, Joey. It was so much fun! Imagine the fireworks from the 4th of July in the States, but just a few feet away! There were so many people just standing outside of the houses watching. A few times I thought one would explode too close to me and catch my clothes on fire or something crazy like that. I definitely think that fireworks are going to be a New Year's tradition that I take back to the States! Tomorrow is a family day in which all of Aunt Mieke's family will come for food and visiting so I'm sure that will be fun as well as relaxing. That is probably my favorite part, I feel like I am doing so much yet it is all quite relaxing. I still wish I could bring my friends and other family, but talking today I am always more than welcome to come back! I will definitely take everyone up on that offer. But it is very late, 2:30am here, and as I said before we have another fun-filled day tomorrow.  See you all very soon! :)

Day Two: Goede Morgen

   I have finally found a place that I am a morning person. It is 8:00am and I have been up for a few hours already! I obviously have not done much today since it is so early, but I decided I could elaborate about yesterday a little bit more. My activities from yesterday consisted of napping, taking a short walk to the Rhine River, and then having a delicious dinner. At first when I saw everybody setting up their plates I was a little iffy about the meal, but after some contemplation I decided that if I was in a forgein country I can't go without at least trying their food. The meal consisted of speklap (a meat that is very similar to bacon except it is cut thicker), boiled potatoes, beets, and green beans (all of the vegetables were home-grown!) While this may seem like a pretty normal meal, the way they combined the food was what I thought of at first as an odd combination. First, they mashed the potatoes and scooped the beets on top. Then, add onions, mustard, and gravy. Lastly, mix it all together and enjoy! I will be sure to find out how to make it.
   The house structure does feel a little strange to me. Back home in the states all of the houses are short and wide while here they are very tall and narrow. The bathrooms, which they call water closets, are very much that- a closet with a toilet and sink in it! In the upstairs bedroom, there is not much distinction between the shower and the bathroom floor. The light switches are not actually switches at all but little squares that you push up or down, which I think is actually better than an actual switch. I do have my very own bedroom here that even has its own television. Believe it or not there are even channels that have English on them! They put the subtitles in Dutch, which I figured would be the other way around. I hear that is very common though unless you watch a child's show.
   That is about all of the excitement that I have for now. I will be sure to write again later today about my adventures this afternoon.
     XOXO
 PS- The only thing that I am not enjoying about this trip is that I wish I could share it with more of my family and my friends. Maybe next time?