Netherlands - Day 1
I am here!
Gosh--I feel like I've been preparing for this for a long time! It's been comparable, but maybe not as intense, as before I left for England. I kind of forgot how much there is to think about when traveling abroad. Passport, phone usage (will texts and phone calls work and if yes, will I be charged extra?), credit cards (with a chip or if there isn't a chip, making sure it has a pin), letting your bank know you're going to be gone, getting Euros, etc. But I did get all of that figured out and am here now. Not sure about the texting thing yet, but at least I am connected to my world via Facebook chat! Also, we'll find out soon if my debit card works!
Verona (biology instructor), Janet (government affairs coordinator), and I drove to O'Hare together with Verona's husband, Cary, behind the wheel. Check-in was a breeze; TSA was a dream. International TSA did not make me take my laptop out or take off my shoes or jacket. So strange. We ate lunch at a restaurant inside the airport and I had my first (and probably only) Amstel Light to celebrate the occasion.
We realized upon finding our gate that the flight was delayed by 50 minutes. No biggie. Started rereading The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. (It's being made into a movie. I'm pretty excited about that, but side note: I swear all books that I read are then made into movies. I guess I don't read obscure-enough books.)
We boarded easily, but then sat on the plane for another hour or so prior to taking off. There was a "technical" issue, but no other details were given, which can be somewhat unnerving, but alas, we arrived unceremoniously. The flight was great, actually. KLM is the airline to go with! We got a really great dinner (pasta, salad, crackers/cheese, bread roll, apple crumble thingy for dessert, and I had white wine--for free!) and breakfast (yogurt, granola, orange juice). Also the flight was not very booked up, especially at the back of the plane, so people were laid out taking naps across several seats. I personally was on an aisle but had no next door neighbor, so that extra leg room was awesome. I slept probably 3.5 minutes total and am still awake from yesterday. It's 6:00 am right now at home. I am tired, but also pumped, so I probably will just stay awake.
Right now I'm at Joyce and Asgeir's apartment just relaxing. Asgeir is Joyce's boyfriend. We will probably get groceries later this afternoon and just have a low-key night, which I'm totally cool with. Her apartment is super cute. It's very small and cozy and modern! There is a living room/kitchenette/desk area down stairs and a loft bedroom upstairs. I am sleeping in their apartment and their neighbor is staying at her boyfriend's, so Joyce and Asgeir will sleep over there. What a generous neighbor! I will have to buy her a bottle of wine or something!
I can't believe I'm here! I am so lucky that I'm able to hop on a plane and a few hours later be in a completely different place/country/culture! What a great life experience. More to come!
Gosh--I feel like I've been preparing for this for a long time! It's been comparable, but maybe not as intense, as before I left for England. I kind of forgot how much there is to think about when traveling abroad. Passport, phone usage (will texts and phone calls work and if yes, will I be charged extra?), credit cards (with a chip or if there isn't a chip, making sure it has a pin), letting your bank know you're going to be gone, getting Euros, etc. But I did get all of that figured out and am here now. Not sure about the texting thing yet, but at least I am connected to my world via Facebook chat! Also, we'll find out soon if my debit card works!
Verona (biology instructor), Janet (government affairs coordinator), and I drove to O'Hare together with Verona's husband, Cary, behind the wheel. Check-in was a breeze; TSA was a dream. International TSA did not make me take my laptop out or take off my shoes or jacket. So strange. We ate lunch at a restaurant inside the airport and I had my first (and probably only) Amstel Light to celebrate the occasion.
We realized upon finding our gate that the flight was delayed by 50 minutes. No biggie. Started rereading The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. (It's being made into a movie. I'm pretty excited about that, but side note: I swear all books that I read are then made into movies. I guess I don't read obscure-enough books.)
We boarded easily, but then sat on the plane for another hour or so prior to taking off. There was a "technical" issue, but no other details were given, which can be somewhat unnerving, but alas, we arrived unceremoniously. The flight was great, actually. KLM is the airline to go with! We got a really great dinner (pasta, salad, crackers/cheese, bread roll, apple crumble thingy for dessert, and I had white wine--for free!) and breakfast (yogurt, granola, orange juice). Also the flight was not very booked up, especially at the back of the plane, so people were laid out taking naps across several seats. I personally was on an aisle but had no next door neighbor, so that extra leg room was awesome. I slept probably 3.5 minutes total and am still awake from yesterday. It's 6:00 am right now at home. I am tired, but also pumped, so I probably will just stay awake.
Right now I'm at Joyce and Asgeir's apartment just relaxing. Asgeir is Joyce's boyfriend. We will probably get groceries later this afternoon and just have a low-key night, which I'm totally cool with. Her apartment is super cute. It's very small and cozy and modern! There is a living room/kitchenette/desk area down stairs and a loft bedroom upstairs. I am sleeping in their apartment and their neighbor is staying at her boyfriend's, so Joyce and Asgeir will sleep over there. What a generous neighbor! I will have to buy her a bottle of wine or something!
I can't believe I'm here! I am so lucky that I'm able to hop on a plane and a few hours later be in a completely different place/country/culture! What a great life experience. More to come!