And So It Begins...

            I must admit it was strange buying notebooks and No.2 pencils again…I realized when I was in the supplies store, “Oh yeah, this whole school thing like requires…stuff!!” Haha It’s all coming back to me now…homework, study groups, presentations, research, office hours etc.. Ok so here we go!

            The first two weeks of introduction to my courses, professors, classmates, the city, and the country was an exhausting 9am-5pm daily schedule of complete and total information overload. I found myself dog-tired at the end of each 8 hour day and wanting my warm cozy bed straight after dinner. Luckily they were all fascinating activities and the Dutch make great coffee to keep me going! My classes are completely engaging, my collegues interested in learning, and the city of Groningen is right up my alley! I realize I am still in the throes of the “honeymoon phase” of my culture shock both with this area and my education, but hey, for now, I’ll take it!! We also took a few group field trips over the past two weeks including a canal city tour and a trip to the largest flower auction house in the world, which were both really interesting and quite lovely!

            Outside of school, as you all know, my free time was swallowed up by house hunting for Charlie and I. We had been staying in an Airbnb apartment with a wonderful couple for the time and finding another place was turning out to be quite a challenge! Thanks Linda and Wessel for your spectacular hospitality!! BUT as always, patience prevails and Charlie and I have found ourselves living in the most wonderful studio just outside the city and very close to the university! And wouldn't you know it, in typical Dutch fashion; there is an enormous wind mill right outside my window haha. It is too much really...The place is located slightly in the countryside and there is a big yard for Charlie as well as other dogs to befriend. I think he is in doggie heaven because he runs hot-laps in the yard and rolls in the dirt until all his white fur is replaced with brown….and then he gets a bath! Here are some photos of the new place!

            I broke in the new digs by having a few friends over for Sunday brunch. We drank mimosas and munched on sandwiches, cakes, croissants and everything else a lovey high tea needs while chatting about school and how we thought everything was going. I must say, it really made my little space feel warm and cozy just like a home should! Thanks Miriam and Julia for your wonderful company!!

Also on a side note, this is my new bike!! I have to say I was sad to leave Stella behind and considered changing the name of this blog (to omit the car part), but now am happy to report Louraine (name of bike) will be temporarily filling in for Stella as the 3^rd member of “the crowd” while she is in Idaho warm and cozy in the hangar. So I suppose now the blog title should be Three’s a Crowd: Adventures of a Girl, her Dog, and her Bike!!! And what adventures they shall be!! Stay tuned for more to come and please fill me in on all your own adventures as well!! Love and miss you all! xoxo