Berlin again!

I never thought I'd get the chance to go back to Berlin this year, but as luck had it, I did! I had the choice between Cambridge and Berlin, but chose Berlin because most of my good friends were going. I did see many of the same monumental buildings, but the trip itself was completely different. I won't go through it day by day, but rather highlight a few things....

One thing I hate about Berlin (although it's not just in this city), and I may have mentioned it before, you have to pay to use the bathroom. Gas stations, train stations, McDonalds, you name it- from fifty cents to sometimes even a euro! And if you really have to go, taking the time to find the exact change, or make change, is not appreciated. I miss free public restrooms!

Well, my class and the class below us, stayed in a very nice hostel/hotel, however, it was located slightly out of the city. Therefore, if we had an activity in the city, transportation would take about an extra thirty minutes or so. Not the end of the world, seeing as the hostel/hotel we stayed at was pretty high end for a school trip!

On the trip we went to the Berlin Zoo, to the top of the TV Tower, to The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, to the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum, did some amazing shopping, and ate pretty good chocolate! Everything in Berlin is cheaper in the supermarkets, so many people loaded up on their fair share of German snacks. 

Going to the top of the TV Tower was pretty cool, the elevator went six meters per second! We went at night, so you could see all of the lights of Berlin. 

The Zoo was pretty nice, although I find the Zoo in Rotterdam better, due to the fact that the animals have a lot more space. However, the monkey section was very cool, as well as the nocturnal, underground part! Unfortunately, the weather was cold and grey that day, so spending five hours walking around outside was not ideal. Nonetheless, my friends and I had a good time looking at the lions, tigers, bears, baboons, and more. 

We also visited the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum, which had some really incredible modern art pieces, like nothing I'd seen before. Fiona, Beau and Pascale were required to go because they have Kunst (art class), and Maartje and I just went along for fun. It turned out to be pretty interesting, and I was glad that I went!

I also saw the President of Indonesia! We were walking by a hotel, and there were police cars, security, and a whole crowd surrounding the entrance. We waited for about thirty minutes, and saw him for about two seconds! 

We took a boat ride on the water one day, which passed many historical buildings. The sun was out that day, and the weather was perfect. It couldn't have been better! You could even see the back side of The Berlin Wall, completely plastered with graffiti.  

The trip was pretty great, the best part was spending time with my friends, and getting to know other people from my class. Shopping was also a plus, did I mention that it was amazing?! We went to Primark and spent hoooours in that store alone. H&M Divided is also my new favorite store now, because Berlin had such a cool one! 

The next thing that's coming up for me is...my birthday! Seventeen already....sounds a bit older, right?

Well, for now- more school work. Test week is the week after next, and I have to pass my math test! So I'll spend many afternoons making the homework and studying...

-Molly

Austria and other things.

I realize it's been about a month since my last post, I've been traveling the world! Well, that may be an exaggeration...but I did go skiing in the Alps, and toured Berlin again! So, I have somewhat of a valid excuse.

February has come and gone, and I feel as if time is slipping through my fingers. I have been living here for over two-hundred days, and have less than four months left. That thought makes me want to cry, in both sadness and excitement!

This past month has been very busy, and great fun. I don't think I had a weekend where I wasn't doing something! On the fifteenth of February, I went to De Guyter in Pijnacker, for my friend Nienke's birthday with many other classmates. The famous (in Holland, and possibly Belgium) Yellowclaw was performing that night, so the bar was completely packed! They came on 'stage' (really just a small raised area) around midnight, with strobe lights and all. I had such a fun night, despite how loud, crowded and hot it was in the building! To the left is a picture-collage of the night. It was definitely one to remember! Then again, it feels like most days are here.

The next Saturday I spent ten hours in the car with my host family, headed to Austria! It was quite crammed with six people, everyone's bags, and ski gear. For the drive, Tim and I made thirty sandwiches, so that we only had to stop on the way for bathroom breaks!

Most of the drive was through Germany, until we hit the mountains. Driving through the mountains reminded me so much of going back and forth between Homer and Anchorage! So in other words, they were quite gorgeous indeed.

That week, everyday we went skiing in THE ALPS. We stayed in a small apartment, right in the center of the small town, Neukirchen. In the mornings, Renee and I, or Dennis and Tim, would walk across the street to get pastries for breakfast. After coffee and food, we'd all dress appropriately for a day of skiing, and head to the lift.

Learning to downhill ski was such an adventure- funny, and even at times a bit scary! I realized halfway in the week, that if I didn't look all the way down to the bottom of the slope, I wouldn't get as nervous. Most of the time it worked! I did of course fall down a few times, but who doesn't when skiing in the Alps? Luckily I had Tim, Dennis, Renee and Rob to help me!

Most days were gorgeous at the top of the mountain, with the sun shining so bright that I had to put on sunscreen! Somehow I still managed to get a bit burnt... but that's one of many gingerproblems.

We'd ski until lunchtime, and break for a delicious meal in one of the restaurants. Depending on how tired Renee and I were, we'd either ski after lunch for a bit, or call it a day! It was quite exhausting.

Listening to other foreigners around me was quite entertaining also, because most of them came from either Germany or the Netherlands- therefore I could understand half of them!

In the evenings we'd go out to dinner at one of Marijke and Rob's favorite restaurants (they had been to Neukirchen many times before). The schnitzel was to die for, and I tried so many delicious, Austrian meals and desserts! For the last night in the restaurant, I tried Jagertee, which is a tea that is often drunk in the colder parts of Europe in the winter, even more specifically, in the Austrian Alps during the ski season! It is black hot tea, normally made with rum and other spices. I am a big fan of teas in general, and it was as they'd say here in the Netherlands, heerlijk.

All in all, the trip was fantastic. After dinner each night, we'd all play card games until midnight or so. I had a great vacation, and would honestly love to go back there someday. A girl can only dream!

Saturday we all piled in the car again, and headed back home, to the Netherlands. This car ride I was smart; plugged in my music, and read a book to kill the time! None other than, the well-known 50 Shades of Grey. Now I can understand what all the hype is about!

I was home only on Sunday, because Monday morning I would be headed to Berlin with my class! So of course, Sunday was spent doing laundry and packing for my next trip....

That's for the next post though!

-Molly

145 Days Left

I have less than five months left living in this quirky country. It's so hard to believe that the half-way mark has come and gone; it feels like just yesterday that I was boarding the plane in New York. Looking back on that moment, I had no idea what I was getting into.

Months prior to my departure, my "AFS Year Abroad" sounded like some distant paradise, where all of my frustrations and troubles would vanish, where I would create a new life for a year. This is true, and untrue in so many ways. I guess, I never really took into consideration all the obstacles that I would have to overcome while living on the other side of the world, and how much stronger I would grow from them. When something seems so heavenly, we seem to be blinded from reality. I was told of the homesickness, struggle, independence and self realizations I would be faced with by AFS Returnees, but I never actually took a minute to think hard about them. Nobody said it would be easy, that's for sure!
Don't get me wrong, this year has been, and will be the most eyeopening year of my life, but not only in the travel sense. I am learning so much more than I can even put into words about relationships between people, myself, ways of thinking, and more. Being here has also made me realize how much I love where I have grown up; really makes me appreciate all of the things I took so easily for granted back home.

I miss the mountains. Bishops Beach. Two Sisters sticky buns. Open, untouched land. Cosmic Kitchen enchiladas. Wildlife. Road trips with my sister, or even just car rides to The Spit and back with her. Hiking with my dad in the summertime. My moms weird, insanely-healthy vegan meals.

When I left home, I never thought about any of these things. Honestly, like any other teenager from Homer, I considered it boring and couldn't wait to get out and see the world. The world has beautiful, special places indeed, and it turns out Alaska just happens to be one of those incredible places.

In five months, when I'm back to living in Homer, I am certain that I will also have aspects from here in the Netherlands that I will long for as well. Maybe it will be simple, silly things like cycling to school everyday, or taking the metro into Rotterdam. Maybe it will be playing card games with my host family, staying up into the late hours discussing morals and analyzing situations. Maybe it will be going to Vierkantje every Friday with my friends. Then again, I'm guessing it will be everything! The sad part is that I don't know when I will be back here again, if it will be in a few years or ten. However, considering my new found love of traveling, I'm guessing sooner than later. And honestly, I think leaving Bergschenhoek, my life here, might possibly be one of the hardest things I will be faced with in this year.
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Next month I will be seventeen, an age where "plans for your future" is a phrase often heard, and constantly thought about. College, career, dreams, plans. Being here gives me a lot of self-reflection time, spent mulling over such topics. At this point, I could realistically see myself joining my sister at CU Boulder after graduation. Being here has made me realize that I really enjoy living close to her, and miss that comfort completely. It also could be the last time that we would live so close to one another, depending on how the future plays out. Mom and Dad could visit us at the same time, and I'd always know that she would be there for me (physically be there, I mean). Boulder is of course a beautiful place, set in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There seem to be an endless amount of things to do there, both indoors and out. Not to mention, the campus is hands down gorgeous.

I plan to apply early, and visit Maddie during spring break of 2014 to see if it's the place for me. This is only an idea at this point, but a serious one. Thinking further into my college plans, a semester abroad is definitely something I'll consider as well...who knows, maybe I will even end up back here! I will also apply to other colleges of interest....none of which I am certain of yet. I have been on several college tours though, so I have some grounds to start on!
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Time has just flown by since I've been here. Admittedly, day by day it didn't always seem to pass at such a fast rate, but now considering I have less than 5 months here, I can see that it definitely has. I feel as if the next few months will go by even faster, unfortunately! In less than two weeks, I will be skiing in the Alps in Austria! The week after, I will be touring Berlin again, but with my class. In three months, Maddie will be joining me here. We will travel to Paris for five days together! In four months I will be at Concert At Sea with my host family, and in less than five months I will be on the plane headed home, and get to see my parents for the first time in over a year!

I have so many things to look forward to and I am so fortunate.

-Molly

IAMsterdam

On the third of January, I woke up to catch an early bus into Rotterdam. From there, I trained to AMSTERDAM for the very first time! I had never seen the city in daylight, for the only time I had been was to see Blof in concert at the Ziggo Dome. I met Alaine, a friend from Homer whom I worked with over the past summer. She's studying in Germany, and she and two other friends had been traveling through Europe the past three weeks, Amsterdam being their last stop!

We rented bikes for seven euros, and cycled around the city. It's gorgeous! The tall, skinny buildings squished together on each side of canals. Of course, Amsterdam is also known for it's legal soft drug use (marijuana), in which friends had always told me you can smell it everywhere you went! I always thought that was an exaggeration, but to my surprise it was not...at all. Literally around every corner the strong, recognizable whiff would hit me, even in the train station! The drug, probably for the attraction of tourists, almost dominates the town. Any souvenir shop is stocked with t-shirts, magnets, lighters, glasses, you name it- plastered with the well-known green leaf. Very different than any other cities I've been to in Holland!

Alaine, Andrea, Danae, Austin and I continued to explore the city. We visited the famous Rijksmuseum, where the most gorgeous collection of Delft-ware is (blue/white pottery made in Delft). We also went to Anne Franks House, but unfortunately not inside. The line seemed miles long and we only had a few hours. This was okay with me, being as I will visit it with AFS in a few months.

I had such a nice time catching up with Alaine, hearing how her studies and experiences abroad have been. It seems as if we miss similar things about Homer, but are both having the experience of a lifetime. I was so glad to see her, it was weird being in my (now) home country with someone from the same place as me. Almost like we could just as easily be hanging out, walking around Homer talking....but instead we're in a whole different continent.

We didn't make it to the Van Gogh museum, because it was about seventeen euros per person. I'm sure I will eventually, maybe when Maddie comes! I would really like to. Speaking of, she will be buying her tickets to come see me in May soon!

On the sixth of January, I went to Amsterdam again with Marijke, for an AFS skating get-together. I am horrible at skating, as were many other students, so it was quite entertaining. A few of the students had come to the Netherlands last march, and were leaving in one week. So it was really great to get to say good-bye! Unfortunately I had to leave a bit early, because ever since the Nieuwjaarsduik I have been very sick. Luckily today I am finally feeling a bit better (after two weeks). Tomorrow I will go to school for the first time technically this year, and take an english test. Friday I have my math test, and then in the evening will go out for sushi with my class, and possibly Vierkuntje afterwards.

That's all for now! Today, the fourteenth of January, is Maddie's 19th birthday. Sad that I can't be with her to celebrate, but I know she's having plenty of fun. Miss her so much.

-Molly

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

2013 already?! It's always interesting to look back and think about what you were doing last New Years, what were your worries, goals, etc. I spent it in North Carolina with my family of course, eating an extravagant dinner at my gramma's while waiting for the ball to drop in New York on TV. Maybe even a few fireworks across the swamp from her house.

This New Years Eve was as if I was in a whole different world! In a good way, that is. I woke up at nine...why? Well, starting at nine every minute or so I could hear the popping and booms of fireworks. Throughout the day that time interval between fireworks decreased, until literally I could only hear fireworks!

 Early in the day I went to Zoetemeer (neighboring city) with Fiona, Maartje and Beau. We were looking for shoes for both Fiona and I. Not only did I find shoes, I also bought black pants and a cute sparkly top for the party that evening! The rest of the day I spent at home, where the Dijkstras (family friends) came over to celebrate. Rob made "oliebollen," which could quite possibly be the BEST food ever. What are they? Deep fried raisin bread with powdered sugar! It's a Dutch food traditionally eaten on New Years. 

Around Christmas time, there are stands in town or markets which sell them specifically also. They are dangerously LEKKER. 

Until midnight, we all played games and socialized! I use the word "gezellig" too often I think, but the thing is most situations here can only be described as gezellig! This night would be one of them. When midnight struck, we all toasted each other, saying "gelukkig nieuwjaar" of course! Afterwards, we went outside and watched all the fireworks being shot up into the sky, and lit some of our own too! I had never lit fireworks before. It was so much fun! 

At 12:20 I had to meet Maartje on the main road, so that we could bike together to Pascale's. Dennis biked with me (he had is own party to go to) which was good because it was a bit nerve racking! At midnight, all hell breaks loose here. Everyone is outside on the road lighting fireworks! Maartje's dad biked her to where we were meeting up too. From there, just Maartje and I biked to Pascale's to meet up with Beau, Pascale, Fiona and Pascale's friend Kevin! We all walked in the rain to De Akkers Sports Hall where The New Beginning party was. The line was so long, we must have waited forty-five minutes! Finally we got in though, amongst about 1500 other people. It was such a fun night, dancing and socializing under strobe lights! Best New Years ever, also a night I will never forget. 

The next morning we woke up at ten in the morning! Fiona was packing her stuff quickly because she was going to France that day, and we had slept in an extra two hours. The rest of us had to make it to the New Years Dive on time to get tickets! Doubtful of that happening, we still rushed out the door and headed to the metro station. In Scheveningen (the beach where the Nieuwjaarsduik is most famous), luckily there were a few tickets left! 

The New Years Dive is an event completely out of this world. Over 10,000 people gather at Scheveningen, clad with bright orange hats and prepared to jump into the ocean. Mind you, it is winter time here. When the clock struck twelve, every single person on the beach raced into the water in bathing suits. I had never seen or done anything so crazy! The water was FREEZING, but it was so much fun. Music was blasting, and everyone there was so happy. It was nuts. 

After those 24 hours, I was exhausted to say the least. Today, the second of January, I played tennis in the morning and have done absolutely nothing since! It's been so nice to have a day off...I watched The Notebook, and will probably watch Pretty Little Liars the rest of the day. Tomorrow, I'm headed to Amsterdam in the morning to meet up with Alaine! Can't wait!

-Molly

Treinen door Nederland!

Last Sunday I toured Holland! Well, I went to about five cities in one day. Beau, Pascale, Maartje and Fiona had bought "dagkaarten" a while back at a reduced price, that expired in January. A dagkaart allows you unlimited travel around the country during one day- whereas normally how much you pay is determined how far you travel. They made a plan of which cities they wanted to see, and invited me along! So I too bought an dagkaart, for about twenty-three euros.

At 7:30 bright and early Sunday morning, I biked to Beau's and from there we all cycled to Rodenrijs (the nearest metrostration). From then on until about ten o'clock at night, we traveled and explored different cities! We first went to a city called Roosendaal, but being that it was Sunday morning, the streets were empty and everything was closed. So shortly after arriving there we hopped back on the train!

Breda was our next stop, which I must admit was my favorite city of what we saw that day. It was still a bit early in the day so most everything was closed, but luckily we found a cute little coffee shop! And no, not the coffee shop that first comes to mind in regards to the Netherlands. We ordered gourmet lattes and talked about our plan for the day. Breda, like Deventer/Delft, has the same small-town feeling, but is still a city. I would really like to go back someday and look around more! To the right is Fiona, Beau, Pascale and I posed in front of a gorgeous church in Breda!

Most of the day was spent either walking around or sitting in the train- both were equally entertaining! I was trying so hard to understand what the other girls were talking about, by listening for words I recognized (in Dutch of course). Many times I thought I had a pretty good understanding of what they were discussing, only to end up being very wrong once I asked a question relating to what I thought was the subject! Oops. Most of the time it was pretty funny, because I was so far off! Well, I'll keep trying of course!

Den Bosch was next, which was a very nice shopping city! Prettier than Rotterdam, and in my opinion better shopping! We all had things we wanted to buy (needed attire for the New Years Party), so we went in and out of basically every shoe and clothing store. Beau and I wanted a glittery top, Pascale wanted to find very specific Vans, and Fiona and I wanted shoes. In the end, none of us bought any of those. We literally shopped for hoouuurrrs. Of course it was a blast though! My feet are still a bit sore from all of the walking.

Lastly was Utrecht! I had been to Utrecht before, but only in the train station. It's very nice! We were there in the evening, so it was already dark outside. The store lights and leftover christmas decorations throughout the main shopping street really gave it an...almost elegant feeling. It was so funny, if we ever have to use the bathroom in general while out and about, the easiest place is normally a McDonalds (doesn't cost too much, maybe 25 cents). So Maartje, Beau and I went to use the bathroom, Beau went first and couldn't get out! The lock was stuck, and after many attempts from Maartje and I to open the door, Maartje had to go ask a worker for help! Luckily Beau finally got it open, but by that time a man and a women had already come in to help. Talk about awkward! Plus, we weren't even customers or anything.

We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant below that street, kind of on the canal. We had hours to kill, so we ate slowly, just talking and gossiping. Afterwards, we figured we might as well head home because all the shops had closed, and there wasn't much else we could do. Plus, it was dark and cold so sightseeing wouldn't be that much fun!

It was such a fun day, one I'll never forget! So many inside jokes and memories made. It's so cool that here one could literally travel all around the country in a day! Anyways, it was a great way to spend one of the last days of 2012. Time is really flying by.

-Molly

Kerstmis!

Christmas has come and gone again. It was gezellig here with eight people- Katharina, her sister Tini, Tim, Dennis, Rob, Marijke and I. On Christmas Eve we had a three-course dinner, and on Christmas day we had a five-course dinner! Each course was prepared by two people. Dennis and I made mussels, and Marijke and I made cute cupcakes that looked like Santa hats!

Sharing gifts Christmas morning was very nice as well- it took hours! From Dennis I got those two posters on my wall (; Vampire Diaries is my favorite show, and I'm slightly in love with Damon Salvator...so it was the perfect gift! I also got very nice perfume from Tim (Burberry!), The Vow, candles, earrings, english/dutch dictionary, and several other gifts! I also opened up boxes I had received in the mail from my aunt in Japan, family friends in Juneau, my gramma, and of course my family!

It's known that Christmas time is the hardest for AFS students, or so I've heard. I can definitely vouch for that...nobody said it was easy, right? Well I won't go too in-depth, but I did have some low points due to homesickness. All in all however, Christmas was gezellig and memorable. I talked with my family for ten minutes or so, and then Skyped them two days later for two hours! It was so so so nice catching up with them, seeing Maddie at home and such (she is home for the holidays). Here my dad's showing me their tree, and pointing out all of my old ornaments I made when I was younger.

On the second night of Christmas (two days are celebrated here), Kat, Tini and I went out to Braaf which was relaxing and leuk. With eight people in the house at all times it got a bit chaotic!

Well, on Christmas Eve I reached the four-month mark here! Sounds like such a long time, but at the same time it went by relatively fast.

-Molly