Sad day for Finnegan

I found this on my computer from the first time I went to Delft. Pretty niffty huh? It has nothing to do with Finnegan though. Finnegan is my computer... well macbook to be super specific. He's dying. The trackpad is slow, the camera is broke, he takes forever to boot up: I think he may have the flu. AHH I gave Finnegan novietentyfus!! I need to take him to the mac shop today and see if he can get fixed. (And how much that may cost.) Thus! Posts may be delayed for awhile. (Aww, shucks!) 

Other than that I have another lunch today with one of the colleges. Speaking of college, I need to get my college information from Texas and very soon. Why are they taking so long!? I may just end up sitting in the classes this week so I don't get so behind, but I'm starting to worry I won't be getting into the school this year. Sad day for this girl too. To top it all off it's all rainy and windy and stuff. Also I have a mega headache. Whine, whine, whine! It's my blog I'll do whatever I want. Pout. 

Anyone know of any good second hand shops in Delft? I still need to buy a dress for the inauguration. Also, I'm looking for a bigger and warmer vest. 

[drie uur later]

Well $#%@. I went and talked to the international office today and found out that because my Dutch isn't proficient enough I have to take an intensive Dutch course before I can enroll into TU. That starts in November. Well at least I will be doing something. Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner!? Also... the Dutch for foreigners page on the TU website is in Dutch (face palm) this helps.

Lets see, lets see... how to end this post so I don't sound like I'm super sad today...

OH OH I know!! I get to mingle with more DSB members tonight and ask about their colleges. I also get to help plan the inauguration party with my fellow year mates today! Wonder what we're going to do for a theme? Hah, please not Spongebob (our year song is to that tune). 

- This mildly disappointed girl

"Thanks."

If someone says to you "thanks" it can have so many different meanings. In this case it means much of the following: "You're a fucking bitch." And... probably more. Though, it isn't much of what I don't already know. Anways, thanks for reminding me. I'm an awful person and I'm working on it. Jeeze.

So how to respond? Hah! I don't. I mean honestly, what would I say? "You're welcome." Maybe throw in a smiley face just for a real kicker. No, the deed is already done. I'm sure that she knows there is no message coming from me, though she may hope.

I can't say I was in my better judgement at the time. Alcohol was definitely involved. Besides, it takes two to tango, right?

Now I wait for his message where he tells me how much he hates me and himself. Now that is a message I can respond to:

"That sounds unhealthy, have a drink instead."

Really, I'm not the best influence.

- This bitch

Boot Camp

I drank beer out of this boot. Like a boss. (Four times.) It's Hello Kitty too. I wouldn't suggest it; drinking out of a boot. It smells like rubber and unless you drink it all at once (which, trust me, is a very, very hard feat to do... pun so intended) the beer will taste a bit off. Last night at the DSB was fun, though I'm pretty sure I left my sense of direction at the bar. Luckily, it found me this morning. 


So I'm banging through a crash course in Dutch. Maar mijn nederlands is niet goed. Oke, beetje beter. Writing things out and seeing how they're spelled really helps. And since I have the alphabet down now, people can spell things out to me in Dutch and I understand the pronunciation a little bit better. 


Now time to add to the list of things I didn't even consider would be different in Europe. Crutches. Didn't think they would be so different, but they are. Instead of them going all the way up to your armpit and resting your body on them like that, you stick your arm through a ring and hold on a hand grip. The ring is attached to a bar that is slightly bent for support so you're resting your weight on your arms. It's weird and hard to describe. Anyways, I have them because I fell down the other night and someone stepped on my ankle during a bit of chaos. (Fun chaos.) It's just badly sprained and still a bit sore, but it swelled up so big! The EC and a couple of my nestors kept telling me to sit down and that I needed to go to the doctor and make sure its okay. They were happy when I came back the next day with crutches. They are really, really nice. I feel like I should thank them more often... maybe I'll bake them a cake. But goodness gracious! The DSB has so many stairs! So yesterday I only brought one crutch and today I'm not bringing any crutches. I'll just wrap it again and make sure to be careful. 


We get to find out who is in what colleges tonight! I've been making some guesses but everyone just kind of winks at me and smiles while shrugging. It's fun. I can tell when I'm right though because they're so proud of their colleges that the blossoming smile on their faces kind of gives them away. I really can't wait to talk to all the DSB members about their colleges. You get to know your year mates really well and become a family with all of them. We're all equal and we're all going through the same thing. You can really tell that we're already so close with how everyone interacts with each other and how kind everyone is to each other. We make jokes, we tease and laugh, and if someone needs help you bet everyone is going to offer to help. It's great. Then, there is the bond through the colleges. That's even tighter. Your college is your family. The people you will be with and know for the rest of your life. It kind of sounds like a crazy extreme commitment, but I like it. Especially since moving over here alone. I don't often talk about how homesick I am sometimes or how much I miss my family, but I do. I already kind of feel like the DSB is my second family. It's nice. 


More people in the Netherlands are reading my blog and I can only help to think that some of them are DSB members (especially since some of the DSB members told me they read my blog). So, hi DSB members! How are you today? ... mhmm, interesting. Hold that thought, I'm writing a blog. Can we finish this conversation tonight? Kay, thanks! 


I know there aren't any nicknames in this post (and I know how much y'all love to decipher the nicknames) but I'm afraid all the juicy details about who I like and who did what will have to wait until after the inauguration. Don't worry, the inauguration is next Friday. 


- This homesick chick

Good morning...

Last night was a good night. We celebrated Jiska, Wybren and my birthday last night and well into this morning. In fact, I went to bed somewhere around 3:30 in the morning and woke up at 7:30 to find people still awake.

"I thought you were going to bed?"

"... I went to bed..."

Now I'm eating breakfast which consists of hotdogs and a really good mango. Right now students are asking 'how did you afford fruit!?' I saved up and boy was it worth it! Boy is sitting across from me... he has to go to work soon, but he's just staring at his phone. I want to throw something at him. He threw it back. Jerk.

So I joined a studentenvereniging. (Like a fraternity, but coed, so more like a frarority.) I really don't know a good English translation for it, no one does. Not even Google! All it does is say 'student' and I guarantee you that this does not translate to just 'student'. Anyways, it's called DSB and it's in Delft. This week, in fact today, starts the introduction weeks. I guess you could technically say that that started two weeks ago with the OWee and the DSB boot camp from Hell, but this is for all the members that signed up this year and survived the boot camp. I actually thought it was a lot of fun, aside from the terrible allergic reaction I had to the lactose products that got thrown on me (all of us). Though I think the first two rules of DSB boot camp involve me not talking about DSB boot camp. I would like to say that despite their tough guy act, I got four of my mentors nestors to smile while we were in carre (that formation that you always see the military guys get into). They weren't supposed to do that because they were supposed to be intimidating, but really they're all just super cool and sweet guys. This year DSB broke some records! We got 74 new students, 13 of which are girls! There were two camps though and I only had two other girls in mine. Needless to say, we became very good friends in those three days. I also have a butt load of bug bites all over me and I itch. UGH!! 

One of the guys I met in DSB also organized that foam failure party. He was also one of my mentors nestors at the camp. I've only recently gotten to know him and he already really likes me, to the point where it's getting a bit annoying and frustrating. He came last night to the party and brought guitarist. According to wannabe boytoy, guitarist and wannabe boytoy are 'best friends' and as such I wasn't allowed to kiss guitarist. This demanding behavior is one of the many reasons I am not attracted to wannabe boytoy. There are a few others like: he really wants a relationship and I really don't. So anyways, guitarist and I get along pretty well and I'm interested in hanging out with him even if it is just as friends. It's been awhile since I had someone so passionate about music as a friend and it'd be fun to collaborate with him. (Insert oh that's what they're calling it now-a-days jokes here.) 

Last, but not least, asshole (or 'ass' for short) apparently wants to apologize. I know, we didn't go over this yet. SO here is the story. I briefly mentioned the OWee, which is a week where all the different studentenvereniging throw huge parties to recruit new members. While partying at the DSB (I need to work on how flirty I become when drunk) I became super cuddly with this one guy for maybe about 30 minutes. I drank a lot that night, I mostly remember sitting on a one person couch with cuddly guy having his arm around me and another guy who refused to give up the couch thing. Cuddly guy (and Jiska too as I later found out!) were trying to get me to kiss cuddly guy. The reasoning behind this was "You have to kiss me! If you do that guy there will join the DSB! So we have to kiss!" Even with a bit of alcohol on board that logic didn't sound solid and thus it didn't happen. Then I proceeded to get distracted, potentially by a need to go to the bathroom which tends to happen to drunk people, and left. The only other time I talked to him was when I was leaving to which, due to DSB tradition, he tried to throw me into the canal. Since then cuddly guy has been a total ass, hence the name change. Especially at camp where he was one of my nestors. Then last night he asked for my number so he could apologize to me. Before you go thinking 'maybe he's not an asshole after all'; he hasn't apologized yet. He hasn't even contacted me yet. And if he wants to apologize he can do so this evening at the introduction social drinking...thing. Thus, his interest in obtaining my number has me a bit curious. 

Anyways, I'm going back to bed. Guitarist and wannabe boytoy are still in my room sleeping since guitarist lives too far away and was supposed to stay at wannabe boytoy's place, but due to a bit too much alcohol ended up in my room. Lame.

- This hangover battling girl

Things are really starting to come together.

Ever played king's cup by candle light? Outside? On a blanket!? I have and it's actually quite fun.

So I have a lot of faith in myself getting into one of the colleges/universities here in the Netherlands. I'm about to talk with my mum and she is going to get my transcripts and send them to me, then I just have to pass clearing on this end and I should be in. If I'm a student I get a student visa, I'll have an OV card (really important for traveling around this country for a reduced, and on week days, free price), be able to legally work here, and gain student prices for housing. Plus this means I finish my degree. My family should be very pleased to hear that.

I may also be joining a frarority. I don't know what else to call it. It's co-ed (despite the very few girls that join the one I'm trying to join, girls can join, they just tend not to) so it's not actually a fraternity or sorority. It's kind of like both. I'm really hoping I get in because it'd be nice to be apart of a group and get to know people. Plus I'm sure a lot of them can help me with finding housing and tell me what I need to do about getting into the program I want to study in years to come.

Until then, this week is reserved for partying in Delft. The lovely university city that, due to the tech school, has way too many guys and not enough girls. (This would be the city in which the foam-fail-party happened where I met handsome and the fan club.) The fan club will be there again! Don't know about handsome though, I didn't ask him. It'd be nice. It's one of Jiska and my friend's birthday this week. I need a good nickname for him.

Giant chewy chocolate CHUNK cookies... mmmm

We (being Jiska and I) figured out that I'm actually allergic to lactose rather than cocoa itself. Which really explains a lot. And my recent love for soy milk is definitely helping the sympathy pains. Though I must admit, there are a lot of things with lactose in them. I almost rather be allergic to cocoa... that's not true. But doesn't that just look so good? (And the bar of chocolate in the background there... om nom nom nom.)

Well one guy and I hung out. I feel these get-togethers will be few and far between. Anyways, I spent the night with him at a beach house in a town that I can't pronounce... at all.

(Jiska: That you can't pronounce very good.)

Oh if it only was just "very good", I can't pronounce the damn city at all. It's Schrevinsdlasdgjlkj-GEN. Seriously that's the city name-

(Jiska: No, it's not, it's Scheveningen. Easy.)

Yea. Well I went there. And then it rained. Yay Holland.

(Jiska: You forgot to mention you got on the wrong tram.)

Trams hate me. Note to self: Jiska really doesn't need to be here when I'm writing my blog.

Last time one guy and I hung out we kind of agreed that if anything were to happen it'd be slow. I guess sleeping together, and that's all we did, counts as slow. Okay, we made out some too. I don't think I like him. I like someone. I like mystery guy. Don DON dOOOooOooonnn!!! For the by my side experience, this should really be said out loud. Do it. You know you want to. Mystery guy (getting used to the nicknames yet?) has a girlfriend. OKAY I know what you're thinking: "This again? Don't you learn?" ... no... No I don't.

Yes he has a girlfriend. If I paid any attention to previous points in my history I have learned that guys with girlfriends are bad. Mainly because their girlfriends tend to get jealous of me (not saying I'm some drop dead gorgeous bomb shell or anything, I'm saying I fill the roll of the good friend. Now some of us know how the good friend roll turns when it's a guy and a girl.) This has happened a few times. I cook, I play video games, I like doing random things like build blanket forts or play in the rain- long story short I'm insane, apparently that's attractive. What really does it about mystery guy? His smile. Never thought a smile could be so attractive, but this smile is the epitome of happiness. And goodness gracious I hope he doesn't read this blog or I will deny his existence in it. ("No really, it isn't you. Just shut up.")

Anything else? Oh yes, I'm broke like a joke and living off of pasta. Now something to be aware of in Holland: we all ride our bikes EVERYWHERE. Thus, pasta isn't helping me stay my cute little shape. I'm in fact dropping kilos. Jiska and I have a plan to eat Greek food when I get my paycheck in at the beginning of next month. Staying healthy is actually extremely expensive. Did you know they only have cows here for KAAS CHEESE!?

(Jiska: We eat them too. [long pause] I think.)

My point exactly.

Next week is partying in Delft, the technological school here in the Netherlands. It's about 90% boys, so if you're wondering where my drinks will be coming from... now you know. There are some really nice boys in Delft! I tend to be pretty social anyways, and they're fun to talk to. (No I'm not just saying this to save my @$$ later if any of them read this.) You guys are awesome!

- This pasta eating queen (and her lovely sidekick Jiska!)

On top of the world!

I went to the south of France and it was amazing. First I ate lunch on the very top of a colosseum, then I went to the beach and spent the evening in an amazing hookah lounge, then I picked up two German backpackers in Montpellier and had them join Tommy and I at the Estivals (Summer Festivals). I literally felt like I was on top of the world. It helped that for a moment I really was; as I sat on the very edge of the colosseum.

I'm hitchhiking to London tomorrow. I'm meeting up with Meli and the Deans. Definitely looking forward to that. Though I do need to pick up a backpack first and a map...

Today there where these three German guys busking in the city center. They were amazing!! So Tommy and I invited them up for lunch with the rest of the gang at the flat. We almost had them convinced to couchsurf with us. Now they're going to host me when I go to Berlin in a few weeks. I also realized I may or may not have a thing for German guys and I have a tendency to pick up German guys and get them to couchsurf with Tommy and I.

Well, boy successfully pissed me off, again. Though this time was much more serious. I was beyond a Texan accent. He ditched me on my birthday. It was this past Monday and ditched me for another girl. Not that the gender of the person he ditched me for really matters, more so that he said he'd grab drinks with me after salsa and then didn't. Plus he is the only one left in the flat that isn't on holiday, so I was kind of hoping I would have someone at the flat to hang out with on my birthday. Fortunately Tommy saved the night. Well, him and Anu and Duncan. Anu is from Estonia and Duncan is from Scotland. Two really cool people that I got really close to this past week. Tomorrow they leave for Estonia!! I'm sad. But they get back to Toulouse, France in September so I'm going to go visit them then and we're going to build a treehouse. The next day boy apologized. Which is nice, but still I am a bit pissed with him. My attraction to him though has gone fully cold. Right now just friends is just fine.

I applied to Webster University and I am now 20. All fingers crossed I get in!!

- This old person