Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween but not for the American abroad! There are no scary ghosts and goblins roaming the streets tonight, rather everyone is doing what we would normally do on an Monday evening. Doing homework and relaxing by with a book, paper, computer or TV.

I would like to see what everyone dressed up as but I don't think it's possible to post photos in the comments. So shoot an email or something!

Today I have been extremely tired. I know why too. Last night after lacrosse I stayed up a bit to late and then the fact that my body clock was an hour ahead of the new time compounded the issue. But in my grogginess I managed to survive the day, and my science teacher reminded me of a great idea. Which is for all my classes that are word sensitive (math, science, etc..) I should make a list of the sword i don't know this way when I get to the test I have a list of words to help me read the questions correctly! So, it's off to a bit more homework and bed because I need to sleep for tomorrow!

Not Good Enough

We should have won this game, but after a stellar first quarter we fell apart. In our loss to Utrecht we found where are holes are and what needs much improving. All in all on paper it was a bad day, but we still had fun playing and afterwards on the trains home.

I want to give my support to the Philadelphia Union, lets get that trophy! Don't let Huston get by you!

Here is an image taken by an someone from I think Rotterdam University, Blogger is having image issues. You can find more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/114250637610621364142/201130OktoberDomstadDevilsVsGroningenGladiators#

A Little Late

Yesterday was a good and semi productive day. I had my first haircut in Holland and I was able to hold a mostly Dutch conversation with the hair cutter. I also got a bit of homework done. The weather was OK with overcast and a wet feel, but today looks like it will be better.

Tonight I will give an update of how the lacrosse game goes, and hopefully I'll have some pictures.

Word of the Day: Homework

Although on Fridays I don't have many classes, I do have many break hours. But because of the work that my teachers need done by the test week in two weeks, I have been swamped by Biology, and Chemistry! Physics as I said yesterday has clicked for this unite, so finishing my house work for that was relaxing in its own way. Today was also the practical test in Physics, which was testing our knowledge about circuits. During my break hours I put a decent dent into my homework but I still have Biology to translate and a few more Chem. chapters to finish.

In the evening Wouter came home, and after dinner we watched the film BenX. BenX is about an autistic boy who lives almost inside a World of Warcraft like game. He is bullied in real life and when he is he imagines himself in the game. The movie's most important message is about bullying, especially the bulling of kids who are handicapped or just different.

Tomorrow I think I will get my first haircut in Holland, and I would like to buy new ear-buds because my pair has broken. I hope everyone has survived another week in school or work. Lets enjoy the weekend!

Clear

The best way to describe today is to say it was a clear day. Everything and everything fit into place for the most part and many important things clicked. Biology is getting a bit crazy with DNA and proteins but I have been watching Khan Academy videos to make sure I don't miss too much. While making my physics house work, it just clicked and I feel quite confident about it. Chemistry is looking up after a good day yesterday and today in my moms care package I have all my Chemistry notes! When I was going through them I had flashbacks to each lab and day when I wrote those notes. Also after speaking with my English teacher I have submitted my request to move up to F.L.E.

In the good ol' care package, which brought back memories of Tanager, I now have the following: My Chem notes, Peeps, A White Water Pass Shirt courtesy of my neighbor who's sons are a part of the band (Link below), Sunscreen, Instant Starbucks coffee :). For the rest of the house we have American Pancakes, Chocolate Chips (I'm pretty sure they are here too but oh well), new fancy tea, and fortunately no more Maple Syrup because if we had anymore our teeth would fall out!

http://whitewaterpassband.com/fr_contact.cfm

Brain Surgery LIVE

I am sitting in our living room watching a semi live brain surgery on TV. I could bet my last dollar nothing like this would ever appear on American television. The patient is conscious and the host can speak to the doctor via web cam, sometimes taking questions off the web!

The weather is true Nederland weather and it makes each day seem like the one before a little bit. School is still a struggle but I am able to read more and I only need translations to put the words I know together. I see the light at the end of the language tunnel!

Oh after an attempt a week or two ago by both Tineke and I. Tineke tried again to locate where to purchase a train discount card online. This time after an hour of pushing through the web, she found it and now a card is on its way. This will save me a lot of money. So much that by only two days of traveling I will have payed off the card in savings! Thanks Tineke!

To Not Know What You Know

This evening at fencing I was mad. Not at other but at myself. I have forgotten so much in the time that I was recuperating, that I am fencing like I was when I first began. Give or take a few things here and there. But, the fact that I am forgetting simple basic actions and just flat out making bad decisions, along with awful footwork. I am just beating myself up! I know I will have to practice practice practice, but it is a strange feeling to know but to not at the same time what to do.

School was interesting today, in that I remembered all of my textbooks, but i forgot all of my note books except for Nederlands and Physics. So I made it through the day with writing in my Nederlands notebook. That just left me twice the homework, since I now have to copy everything out of it.

Tomorrow is my full day of fun, with Earth Science, Culture, Information Studies, Chemistry, and Math! One up, is that all classes have been shortened to forty minutes in order to in a teacher meeting.

Back To Work (School Work)

I am back into the school day grind, now that vacation is over. Monday fortunately isn't a very busy day. It was nice to see everyone again, and I found out I wasn't the only one running all over the country during the week! Someone set off a stink-bomb though in the cafeteria area so that ruined my one of the lunch periods.

On this first day back I thought back to my first day where I was scared to death to speak a single word of English or the little Dutch I knew. Everything has changed so much since then and I have so many new friends who are eager to makes sure I never have to worry about not being able to speak Dutch again. I am learning more and more each day and I have begun thinking in Dutch at times. Also by becoming friends with everyone, it has made sure that I don't become home sick. Though I do miss the beautiful fall colors of the North East, and I also have to say a few American customs wouldn't hurt here such as free water (Tap) at restaurants.

I have worked ahead today by pre-translating by biology text, and I have begun looking at the next chapter in Physics. Although my cyphers mean nothing this year (well maybe if I do well Ill ask if they count), I am going to make my teachers and peers proud and impressed, by ending the year with high cyphers. This will be one heck of a load to carry up the mountain but I will make it.

Maple Syrup

Well I think it is safe to say that after my Mom sent me to Holland with four gallons of Vermont home made Maple Syrup, it is a staple ingredient in many dishes we make. Thankfully we have so much, that i don't see ourselves running out in the near future.

Today was a relaxing day where I regained my energy from the weekend. It's a little sad think that friday was our last voyage in the Emma before she is sold to a new owner. I am burning through Fall of Giants, the story is seamless and is perfectly crafted.

Monday school resumes. It will be nice to have a routine again.

Note: This wasn't posted at one in the morning!

SO Tired

I really need to do this at better hours of the day...

Well today was a long one. Following yesterday's voyage, we spent the entire day today packing up the campsite and now all tidied up except the caravan which has to be moved to the winter storage.

I am officially a temporary citizen, I was on October second but the letter arrived yesterday and I opened it today. Also I am taking a break in Non-Fiction books, and have begun the new master piece by Ken Follet "The Fall Of Giants"which is the first of three books.

That's all for now folks and Ill try and post at a more reasonable time tomorrow (today).

Feels Like Summer

It feels like summer. If your summer has consisted of frigid morning dips near Canada or regattas across the North Sea. It it quite chilly here in Oudega and the trip to stow away the two sail boats was a good one but also slightly numbing. I was dressed the same as I was aboard the Eendracht, minus a layer or two underneath my coat. Wouter and I sailed the Emma W, while Jan and Tineke sailed in the Johnny Sailor. Te wind was steady and firm and the sun was out making the journey less gloomy. The air and water were dogs though. Any part of your body not covered turned red in the cold.

It took the most of the afternoon and evening but we made it to the winter haven and dismantled both boats for the most part. Tomorrow we have a few final preparations to make. As a reward for the long day of sailing we ate out. I chose the mixed grill, which came with soup and a desert of apple pie and ice cream.

Once we returned to the camp site it was time to play Ticket To Ride. I placed third after mistaking exchanging the wrong objective card and didn't realize it until I had already made it half way to the other objective. Tineke was first, followed by jan, and due to back luck and blocks by other players Wouter was in last place.

I was not able to take any photos today but I think Tineke has a few.

Terug Van Utrecht

   After a day in Delft with the Hanke, Pierre, Gosse, and Houp (spelling?), I am back in Hoorn. We had a great time walking the streets of the city between two cities and the burial ground of all Dutch royalty including William Van Oranje who founded Holland and was shot in Delft.
   In Delft there are thee main churches one is the Old Church where William Van Oranje was shot. The same church also has a peculiar characteristic, the bell tower is leaning over! Sound familiar? Yes that's right, Holland has its own leaning tower! The second church is the New Church (didn't see that coming did you?). The New Church has the second highest bell tower in The Nethalands, after De Dom in Utrecht.
   If one looks to the tower from the west, one thinks that there was a fire at some point in the churches history by looking at the top of the bell tower where the stone is blackened. Although it is correct that the church did catch fire after being struck by lighting, that is not the reason for the blackened stone. The blackened stone is because of the salt and sand that the wind picks up and flings at the stone. On all other cardinal sides of the church the stone is just as it should be after its long history.
  From atop the tower you can see Den Haag in the North, and the modern skyline of Rotterdam in the South.
   The third church for some reason is right next to the New Church. We did not visit it but I am assuming that it is of a different branch of Christianity.
   It amazes me sometimes, that where I am walking and sitting is older than The United States itself. It goes to show just how young the USA is and how quickly it has exploded since colonization.

   I will upload some photos tomorrow, but for now I need to get some sleep for another trip tomorrow. Tomorrow we are going back to Oudega to do more preparation of the camp site for the winter.

Utrecht Again!

I am back in Utrecht, which seems to have a magnetic pull on my family ever since my mom's family moved here very long ago. I spent the afternoon with Gosse and his family before going into Utrecht with a few of Gosse's friends to see the second Johnny English. Then we biked around Utrecht until it was too cold and wet to stay out any longer. Tomorrow we are planning to see Delft with Hanke.

Tomorrow may also include skating with my school friends but that's if i am home in time.

Amsterdam For A Day With Lisa

Today was a great day. It was spent with my cousin Lisa who is visiting Holland for a a week or so before going back to the United States. We meet up at noon in Amsterdam Centraal Station. Since she used to live in Amstleveen, which is a suburb like area of Amsterdam, she was the guide. We meandered through the streets of Amsterdam stopping for coffee at a small shop, and later for lunch. Something that I had noticed some last year, and this year even more, is that there may be more McDonald's in Amsterdam than in Central Philly (Amsterdam is smaller than Philadelphia so I am trying to compare the area)! We visited museum square, where many of the famous artist's museums are located such as Van Gogh, and Rembrandt. To wrap up the day we went to see "Midnight In Paris" in Amsterdam because although we had each seen it before, Lisa had seen it in French and didn't understand the story at all. After the movie we headed back to Amsterdam Centraal where we put the finishing touches on a birthday card for our younger cousin Elanor who is eight years old today! From Centraal it was time to head back to Hoorn.

Oh yeah we spotted two electric cars plugged into recharging stations! Once was a regular Renault i think, and the other was a very sleek Tesla Roadster which is definitely a dream car for me.

Recovered and Cleaning

While I wasn't able to go and visit a few people so today was relaxed. My knee is still feeling perfectly fine and I am really pleased with it. Tomorrow I am visiting my cousin Lisa in Amsterdam, and I am looking forward to seeing her. Then on Wednesday I am traveling back to Utrecht to visit Gosse who is the son of one of my moms best friends.

So in my down time I have cleaned up my room some.

There's not much else to report from today.

Victory!

Another W has been recorded in the books for the Gladiators, thanks to a 5-4 victory over the Tilburg Titans! The weather was beautiful and we couldn't ask for more. Jane and Noor tagged along to get a view of lacrosse and from what they said they loved it and wanted to begin practicing. I have to start collecting gear for women as well now...

Tomorrow involves more traveling to visit friends and family, so I hope the weather keeps. Later this week is filled with going to Oudega to take up the camp site. Should be a fun vacation week!

Calm Before The Storm

The weather is playing nice it seems. The past few days have been nice, but the week is predicted to hold more foul weather. Sunday fortunately looks good, so no more playing lacrosse in the rain (for now). I have restrung on of my sticks and I am satisfied with how it throws and catches. I just need to warm up with both that way I am ready to use both.

While I said I would go out and take more pictures I did not end up doing so today. I will at some point this week before the bad weather sets in.

Tonight is the Pursuit Of Happiness, and tomorrow is Lacrosse in Utrecht! Jane and Noor are coming with to see what lax looks like. Hopefully they'll see a women's game soon because all they will see tomorrow are the men's games.

Enjoy you vacations everyone!

Theater en Foto Maken

Its vacation time! The last day of "school" before vacation was at the theater house where we saw a small show put on by a youth theater group. It was very funny and unexpected. I was able to understand a good bit as well which was nice. Afterwards I biked around Hoorn taking pictures of many of the sights I see each day. Tomorrow I plan on capturing a few more. Ill post a few below, the rest are on my facebook and picasa profiles.

Wouter and Kees are home for the weekend, and sunday is a lacrosse game in Utrecht! I have to finish restringing my stick tomorrow but that shouldnt be a problem.

Clear Skies And Cold Streets

The weather has dried up at last! In place is the nice cool fall weather which I am much more a fan of. In the mornings it is cold enough to see your breath and I have broken out my bike gloves to keep my hands from numbing, and I'm sure in a few week, falling off. By the afternoon the temperature was warmer and very nice. Jelle and I threw a lacrosse ball for a bit and then I went running with him. It was my first run in too long and I can definitely feel the effect of doing nothing while my knee healed. It will take some work but I think ill be back in shape soon.

Tonight concludes the three in a row showing of Load Of The Rings on TV, the ideas for a movie night are floating around and so at least there is one series we can don't have to put on the list.

Tomorrow is looking nice for the last day of Activity week before break. We are going to be seeing a show but on by one of Holland young theater groups and Hoorn's theater house.

Oh and I promise I will be going around Hoorn taking photographs of where I live, learn, etc... soon! I have been waiting on the weather.

I Know This Is Holland But Really?

The rain has continued all throughout the day, soaking the roads and my jacket. Biking has also gain a new aspect. Learning to bike through the rain and on the wet asphalt is a small challenge. I have already had a wipe out and a few skidding stops. This week has been very relaxing, it is a smart idea to have this week for the student who were not on school trips. Today was small math quiz, I am not sure if it counted because half of the school isn't here to take them. After a few people and I hung around to chat for a little while before heading home or to our next engagements.

I think I will be able to begin running or jogging again starting next week or maybe later this week. My knee feels great even after a long night of fencing which followed my first Lacrosse game in a long time. So its onto rebuilding my condition and enjoying athletics again.


Tomorrow is my next activity and there is also a physics demonstration in the afternoon. I hope that the rain will finally relent.

Heel Goed Dag

Sorry this post is so late there were issues with the internet last night.

Today was great, enough said! A day that was intended to be spent on the water, turned into a day with friends in Hoorn, and in an awesome thrift shop.

On my way to the boat, I was nearly blown off the dyke by the very strong winds that were blowing off the Ijsselmeer. Then once everyone arrived we learned that we would not be sailing today but instead to make up for it we would go to the West-Friesland museum in Hoorn. But at the time it wasn't open so we were aloud to go and do what every until eleven. Lotte, Vera, Naomi and I went to the HEMA for hot chocolate (which I hadn't had in a very long time), tea, and a few small cookies. Then after the museum Lotte, Vera, Naomi, now Jane also, and I hopped on our bikes are went into the industrial park of Hoorn, where there is an awesome thrift shop. On the first floor were all the clothes and furniture. Unfortunately there weren't any appealing men's clothing so I helped with picking out things for the girls who had many good finds. After a few hours picking the racks clean of dresses, shirts, and what not, we moved our hunt to the second floor, where we were floored by the shear amount of stuff. If you needed to furnish an apartment, it would have been more that possible to do so under a hundred dollars if you have a few things and under two hundred if you don't. Then in the next room, there were tons of CD's, DVD, VCR tapes, LP's, you name it media wise. I found a few new LP's to put on my wall back home, and I found the rare musical by Daft Punk; Intersella 5555. Everyone else found other CD's, book, and old favorites from the VCR collection. By now it was lunch time and very conveniently and deviously the thrift shop even had a Café built into it. So we had our lunches while playing Yahtzee (Vera won if I remember correctly). After lunch we stayed in the store for another hour or so talking and finding random things such as tins. When we did end up leaving the weather turned on us and it began to rain. I hope everyone's things we OK after the very wet rides home. Once home, I dried off and relaxed until fencing.

Fencing this evening was great, my knee is doing so well and I was even able to lunge and move freely. I am still timid though when lunging but that will pass. While hurt I seem to have picked up a few bad habits which I now have to break, as well as having to reteach my subconscious all the key instincts that a fencer need which it has forgotten after not needing them for so long.

Activitite Week

Well its activity week and it looks like it will be a relaxing one. Today I watch a Dutch film which was even more confusing than watching Inception half asleep (no not because it was in Dutch). Then we were aloud to go home after answering questions in groups. At home I had a chance to stretch my muscles and to complete a MC adventure map, which I can imagine the hours it took to make.

Tomorrow I am going with my class on a sailing trip on the Ijsselmeer, should be fun unless the weather persists to be moody. We shall see!

Lacrosse Is In Holland! With Dutch Weather To Match!

Today was game day in Amsterdam, and even though the weather absolutely sucked with rain, cold wind and mist, we came out with a 12-1 win against the physical machine which is Den Haag. For any athletes in the Dekeware Valley,Den Haag is like Ridley. The Gladiators have even more English speakers than last time, and everything is repeated in English. There is a guy from Ireland, one from the Philly area (I can't remember exactly where), many are taking business classes so they speak very good English. So I will be learning some Dutch but not too much during lacrosse. My knee feels really good and I even though I held back during the game when I needed it, my knee was there and ready. I will need to take extra good care of it though during the next few days.

Tomorrow begins the school activity week and to start it off we are taking a guided tour of Hoorn by boat while being given a history lesson.

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures during the game and nor did Jelle. It was raining too much. I will get more next week. Perhaps I can even make a practice this week since I don't have school other than a few little classes for activity week.

50 Years! No way!

Today was Jan's sister Ellen's Fiftieth birthday and we celebrated it at an old mansion in Sneek where she used to work. The property was beautiful, and I was given the chance to meet my host family's family. There was a tent for the kids and I chatted about how MTV and other TV is not real and other differences between America and Holland, over Jenga. Of course we had to sing songs too! Jan even wrote lyrics to a Dutch song to match the occasion. Jelle and I held the sign for everyone to read the words to the refrain.

Tomorrow is game-day and I hope to play a little. I know my knee is not totally ready and so does my coach, but I need to at least be there for my team. I did a little running and soccer today and it was fine.

Pictures of the Mansion will be uploaded to this post tomorrow

Rain What Rain?

So this morning was another dodged bullet. I don't know how I do it but the time I leave for school corresponds with when the rain lets up for about the ten minutes it takes to bike to school. Throughout the day the weather shifted between dropping sheets of rain so heavy you couldn't see two meters out the window, and clear blue skies. There must have been hundreds of rainbows across North Holland.

English turned into a break hour since our teacher didn't show until half way through the hour, and in Nederlands I had to guess my way through a grammar and spelling test that I had to make no exceptions. In my five free hours I completed all my homework from this week and then some, as well as getting one extra KWT hour down, so after the vacation I will be able to make one less KWT hour.

After school Max, Steve, Mike, Rens, and a few others went out for Kebabs in central Hoorn. It was a nice excursion. Back at home we had the left overs from my meal last night mixed with Chinese pork over rice. Our evening consisted of going to a show hosted by the school Jan teaches at. It was very funny and instead of an auditorium you [the audience] sat in the Kitchen and restaurant depending on the scene.

Tomorrow we are attending a party in Friesland, and then Sunday I am going to Amsterdam for lacrosse. I hope the rain lets up then, if not oh well its Holland I better get used to it.

Also a funny little cartoon for fellow photographers: Found via Ashley Smith

 And an awesome man: Also found via Ashely Smith

Memories, Weather, Food, and Homework

Today Steve Jobs passed away, and I would like to say thank you to him. His ideas spurred the writers and designers at apple to produce amazing products. I today am posting via a Macbook Pro, and own an Ipod Touch. Many people have gone so far as to form a cult following of Apple, which shows how strong today's society's connection to technology is. Through deviously clever marketing, and ground breaking ideas, Jobs and Apple have revolutionized the Technology Industry. This is an indisputable fact. I have heard many people asking how Apple could possibly continue without Mr. Jobs, but that thought is a bit shallow. Apple employs thousands of people. All of whom have a passion for their job, and many whom posses the skills to create new products. There is no possible way that Mr. Jobs, totally invented all the products that Apple has brought out. So today, remember Steve Jobs and, tomorrow we shall see what some are calling the next era (a post Jobs era) of Technology.


The News of Steve Jobs passing corresponded with the first rain in a week, and by rain I meant downpour. I was lucky and dodged the bullet on my way to school, but as for the others who joined our classes later during the day weren't so lucky. Biology seemed really slow today, I still don't know why. Because of the rain, the planned sports day was canceled and I had two free hours which I filled in with KWT. English was all about listening today, and I am considering asking to move to FLE because I would at least be doing something and I would get to go to Scotland (guess which has more weight).


I cooked dinner tonight. The recipe I choose was a Robben/Cohen/Williams favorite: Ham & Peas. It wasn't perfect but it tasked great according to the judges (Tineke, Jan, and Jelle) so in the future after I try a few more recipes I will perfect Ham & Peas.

Friday is my homework making day once I have lived through English & Netherlands. Then to top things off I have Earth Sciences in the eighth (last) hour.

Busy But Not Bad

As with all of my Wednesdays, I had a full day of classes. In chemistry I am gaining some traction, and I am keeping up with work for the most part. I am learning all the Dutch vocabulary quickly, and it is more a matter of reading questions and text that is holding me back.

The weather is beginning to shift after an abnormal week of near perfect weather. There are clouds stretching across the Atlantic, and rain to match. Also the temperature has dropped. I won't be wearing sweatpants though, because in Holland, and the rest of Europe from what people have told me, you only wear sweatpants when exercising. It looks like I may have some cold mornings ahead.

Tonight's homework consisted/s of biology, chemistry, physics, and math. I admit it's not all done, but tomorrow and Friday I have plenty of free time. Also tomorrow is sports day. After the third hour, the rest of the day is reserved for being at the track and field complex.

How are the fall colors of the east coast?

Fill In The Blanks

Today I had so much free time I didn't know what to do. I went to the bike maker to have a few things on my bike repaired. I have a loner now,  and I can't wait to return it haha! I went into school early to record a few KWT hours, since I need eight per week to make the thirty three hours required by law.

I had my first Physics test today, and I think I did decently maybe 6-7 out of 10 (that's the Dutch grading system). I couldn't understand a few parts, one I switched to the wrong answer (I had the right one before I changed it) and another I couldn't remember how to completely do.

Homework for tonight was biology as always and physics.

Lekkere Dag

Its Monday! Now that shouldn't ever have an exclamation point after it, but in this is an exception. Today was relaxed and my classes went well. I am understanding more and more, in everything. I still miss many things though, including having to sign up for activities week next week. Tomorrow I have to amend that. Also it's Wouter's twentieth birthday today! Congratulation man, don't let the 2-0 stop ya!

The good 'ol knee is doing well, the weather is heavy so its been creaking again but no pain. My finger is less swollen and its regaining some flexibility.

Due too many class cancellations I dont have class until the afternoon. So I get to run a few errands that are long overdue

Sunday Sail

Today was just how a Sunday should be. Relaxed, and spent on the water with a white sail above your head. We stayed in Oudega until after dinner. After dinner we packed up a few things including the two Kayaks. Later this month we will have to pack everything else.

My finger is less gross and is getting better at flexing. It is still a bit swollen but I think that will subside. My knee is feeling better but I have to keep knocking on wood each time I say that. I don't want it to relapse again haha.

I hope everyone else's weekends were relaxing!

A New Month

Its the beginning of a new month and I can feel the improvement I have made since arriving in Holland. My Dutch is much better and my body is slowly putting itself back together. I have made friends, friends who are my lifeline in a world I am still very unfamiliar with. To start off the new month, we have taken advantage of the perfect weather, and traveled to Oudega. There hasn't been any good sailing wind, so instead we took the Kayaks out and explored the canals feeding into the lake.

In health news: I took the splint off my pinky. Unfortunately the splint did nothing other than make my pinky look gross. For the most part my pinky is permanently bent slightly down, and I cant straighten it out like I can on my left. My knee is doing better (knock on wood) although it remains stiff ( and stubborn).

I am really tired form a restless sleep last night, and Kayaking all day today so I bid you all farewell for tonight.