News in Groningen

Surprise! I had a dutch baby! Just kidding Mom. His name is Ruben and he's the son of my friend Eline. He's the new man in my life.


Eline and Ruben - could those two get any cuter?


Last week I had the opportunity to visit a Dutch high school for a day. It was quite the experience. Eline teaches English to three classes at the high school and decided to bring a 'real' American to her class. It was hilarious. I talked about my life in the U.S. and then they had to ask questions in English. Examples included, 'do you have a boyfriend, do you eat vegetables in the U.S., and do you have a car'. They were true high school students. When I left they were all yelling, " I want to go to America." One student even asked if he could come back with me. It was too sweet. The day went well and it really made me think more about teaching.



Teeny-boppers

a little update...

Just thought I would quick write a little update. Life in Groningen is still going well. I'm learning a lot, taking advantage of free dvds at the university library, biking, enjoying visitors, hanging out with new friends, playing sports, and enjoying live music.

Already I have had two visitors in Groningen. A few weeks ago an old friend who I have not seen for two years was passing through, good old Mike. We studied German together in Minneapolis. It was really cool to see him again and meet his girlfriend. The world is a crazy place. Last weekend, another friend of mine from Minneapolis, Herman, also came to Groningen. Herman is actually from Holland and his brother lives in Groningen. It was really cool to see both of them, especially all the way over here in Groningen.

Mike and I eating Oliebollen (translation - oil balls, which is exactly what they are)

I've also been taking advantage of the sports offered at the university. I'm now playing ultimate frisbee every Wednesday night. Last week was the first week and I am already looking forward to frisbee this week. It's a lot of running but I love it!

I've been enjoying the great biking opportunities here in Groningen. I think I mentioned once that Groningen was named best city for bikes; the name really holds true. Besides beautiful biking routes within the city, you can truly get lost in endless flat fields of cows and windmills just outside the city limits

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Windmill that Coraline and I stumbled upon on a biking trip last Sunday

Beyond the city limits

The music scene in Groningen has also been a nice surprise. Every night of the week there is at least some kind of live music in the city. I had the pleasure of seeing Adam Green last week and it was just what I needed. He is from New York and has such a crazy sense of humor. I was feeling a little homesick so it was nice to hear some hilarious American expressions.

Video I took at the concert

I've also been enjoying traditional pancakes! If any of you come to visit, I can guarantee we will be visiting the pannekoekschip (pancake ship). My roommates and I went the other day. My favorite, believe it or not, is banana with cheese. Yum!

Pannekoekschip

Back to school...

Finally, the reason I came to this city in the middle of nowhere began - school. After a 9 month break, it was of course an adjustment to go back, but after only one week I have learned so much. This year will definitely be a lot of work but I am ready for it.

The Rijksuniversiteit Groningen is the most welcoming university I have experienced yet. In total I had 5 welcoming receptions/orientations: the university's reception for international students, opening ceremony for all students, one reception for students in the faculty of arts, a week full of events for international students, and a welcoming reception for my individual program. Needless to say, the last two weeks have been pretty busy.

The reception for my program took place last Friday. To start, my professors introduced the program, and then two students who are currently finishing presented their MA thesis findings. We informally introduced ourselves and then biked to our professors' home (yes, two of them are married), had drinks, and enjoyed dinner together. It was such a great way to 'break the ice' and ease some nerves many of us had. My program consists of 26 students from all nationalities, languages, personalities, and ages. Some of the students are of course Dutch - others from Vietnam, Columbia, China, Brazil, U.S., Canada, Britain, Greece, and the Czech Republic. It is an extremely diverse and dynamic group.

The ESN introduction lasted nearly a week and was full of many fun activities for the international students. Some activities included city tours, pub crawls, dinners, a salsa workshop, film workshop, history lessons, sports, museum visits, a comedy act, karaoke (believe it or not I went on stage!), and many parties.

Only after living here a short time, it is impossible to go grocery shopping or ride through the city without seeing a familiar face. Note to self: don't make enemies here.


Opening party of the university

Opening reception for international students located in the Martini Church. There are approximately 1,500 international students!

Amazing firework display at yet another festival. It was so beautiful and arranged with music. Now I don't feel so bad I missed the 4th of July this year.

Typical Groningen

Noorderzon

Last night was the closing night of the Noorderzon Festival here in Groningen. In other words I am finally updating my blog because I am not at a concert tonight. Some of my favorite performances were Little Cow (Budapest), Chk Chk Chk (New York), Chromeo (Montreal), C-Mon & Kypski (Holland), Jean Parlette (Holland), Herman Dune (New York), Voxtrot (Austin, TX), etc. I also went to one of the films called Children (Iceland). The festival was a perfect start to my year in Groningen. My favorite part about it was the range of people who attended; I had an amazing time simply people watching. Here are just a few pics from Noorderzon.


Me, Charlotte (my mentor), and Coraline (exchange student from France)

Pic from the show last night, C-Mon & Kypski. I take back anything I ever said about Dutch music because they were amazing!

Waffle dipped in chocolate on a stick! The Dutch really know what they're doing.

Kim (from Groningen) and my little Dutch buddy. He counted to ten in every language he could and proceeded to count to one hundred in Dutch for me.

What a show!

So basically every evening for the last week I have been going to a festival here in Groningen called Noorderzon. It's an arts festival with every type of entertainment. I have definitely been taking advantage of the free concerts every night in the park. I just got home from the best show I have seen here yet. The band was called Chk Chk Chk (from New York). They were unbelievable! I might even say that they were the most entertaining, energetic, hilarious, and fun group I have seen in my life! The stage is set up in front of a pond in the middle of the park meaning that the audience is split into two and cannot really stand in front of the stage. At some of the other shows I have felt pretty disconnected to the bands, but not tonight. The lead singer was all over the place. During the show he said that if someone would swim to the mic, they could sing a song. Of course during the last song, this Rastafarian Groningen guy named Eddie, who I met a few nights ago, dove in grabbed the mic and finished the song. Meanwhile, the lead singer jumped in the pond and went for a dip. It was quite the finale!

It's funny to think I almost did not go tonight because it was raining earlier. The rain stopped right before the band began.

Fun fun fun

Most of my stay in Berlin was spent with Kerstin and I couldn't have imagined it any other way. Her and her roommate Muna were nice enough to let me crash and trash their place for a week. Thanks again! It was so much fun! I tried to pay them with American rice crispy treats, but it still was not enough:) The week was filled with a day at the beach, dancing dancing dancing, talking all day at cafes, learning how to tango at Julian's, going to a beach bar, watching one of my favorite movies, going to the scene of the movie, going to markets, and eating delicious bread from Berlin which I missed a lot.

Kerstin and I

Finally making my way to the scene of my favorite German movie, the Legende von Paul und Paula.

You could actually read this side of the sign.

Learning to tango with Eddie and Julian (his dad is actually a real tango instructor from Argentina:)

A day at the beach with Anton and Kerstin

I'm going to miss her

Back Together Again

Another great moment in Berlin was having dinner with my old roommates. We were all together again, except for Jana who was sadly not in Berlin. Like always, we had a lot of fun and laughs. I still feel really lucky that we got a chance to live together and that I got to see them again. From the left is Kerstin, me, Eiko, Alex, Katrin (Jürgen's girlfriend), and Jürgen.