Mei Vakantie!

What a wonderful two weeks that I have had! Since Koninginnedag, I have just continued doing very cool things, making sure every day of my last vacation here counts! We had very nice weather for a few days here, so my friends and I did many things outside, like bike to the Alexandrium in Rotterdam, or bike to the Rotte (small, beach-like area) and enjoy a picnic. I also went to Delft with Tim and Dennis one day, where we went birthday shopping for Marijke, ate ice-cream and walked around the city. Unfortunately I wasn't careful enough, and got extremely sun burnt!

On the 5th of May was Bevrijdingsfestival, which is Liberation Day here, in celebration of freedom after World War II. In every  big city in the Netherlands, free music festivals are held. Beau, Pascale, Maartje and I traveled to Haarlem for Bevrijdingsdag, because it had one of the best artist line-up's; Ilse de Lange, Asaf Avidan, Van Velzen, Skip&Die, Kensington, and many other famous artists performed. The weather couldn't have been better for a festival, and we had a blast! We stayed until eleven, and then hopped back on the train and headed home. 

Marijke's birthday was on the 6th, where we spent the day playing games and sitting outside, enjoying the sunshine. Wednesday, my friends and I had first planned on going for a run in the evening (which we haven't been doing often enough during this vacation...), but unfortunately the hard rain, booming thunder and lightning flashes scared us off....so instead after dinner, we went to the Bioscoop (movie theatre) in Zoetermeer, to watch Safe Haven. I would really recommend any girl to watch this movie! We laughed, we cried, we cringed....it was a great love story, written by Nicholas Sparks of course.

Yesterday, Maartje, Beau and Pascale (Fiona is in France) came over to watch The Ugly Truth. It was fun to show them my room and how I live! Today is Marijke and Rob's Anniversary, so I'm not quite sure what our plans are. Tomorrow though, is the Tent Feest in Pijnacker, where famous Dutch musicians will also be performing, such as Memphis Maniacs and Van Velzen. For my last day of vacation, Sunday, MADDIE COMES! I swear, I have never been so excited for anything in my life. I just want to hug her, cry, laugh, and never let her go. This year has been so hard without her, and I can't wait to share my life here with her. My friends are also very excited to meet her! Thursday we will head to Paris, the tickets are finally booked! It doesn't even seem real that I will see her in two days, after not seeing her for almost nine months... honestly, I don't think that I can ever go that long without her again.

For now, it's time to start working on my homework! 

-Molly

Koninginnenach&dag!

Monday night was the beginning of a fun filled 24-hours! Around eight in the evening, Fiona had a spur-of-the-moment idea that we should spend "Koninginnenach" in The Hague! So after getting permission from our parents of course, we all hopped on our bikes and headed to the metro station.

The Hague was very crowded, with music blasting in the main central square of the city. Thousands of people clad in bright orange attire and relatively drunk filled the streets. Everyone was in celebration mode; so happy! We spent the evening dancing, walking around, singing along to songs that we barely knew, and ended up meeting some pretty interesting people. By twelve o'clock we were running back to the station, just in time to catch the last metro home!

The next morning we met up in Bergschenhoek, which was so crowded that I couldn't even bike through the streets! On both sides of the main street, families and friends were selling their belongings- sort of like ongoing garage sales, one after the other. Kids with orange paint on their faces, or the red-white-and-bllue flag painted on their cheeks, ran around looking to buy new toys. Live music was played in the center of town, and everyone was wearing something orange. French-fry stands, waffle, and even cotton candy stands were also mixed in the chaos! We walked around for an hour or two, discussing our plans for the day.

We ended up hopping on the bus to Leiden, which is a really student-filled city. The bus we rode was so full that eventually the driver had to just close the door and drive off, leaving fifty more people waiting at the bus stop. All students of course, most of whom weren't sober. Queens Day is the experience of a lifetime, if not to just people watch!

I had never been to Leiden before, and I'm glad I did. It was so much fun celebrating Queens Day there! We happened to also run into a few guys that we had met in The Hague, which is one of the most coincidental things that can ever happen in the Netherlands! What are the chances.

Once again, thousands of people filled the streets. I saw people kayaking and even swimming in the canals! I also heard lots of english-speaking people; I guess it's a popular tourist attraction. I can see why! It's literally just twenty-four hours of celebration, music, drinking, eating, dancing, festivals, etc.

We ended up going to the Tent Feest in Pijnacker around eight, which was a party under a big white tent with live music and once again, full of people dancing. For once, I ran into many people I knew, mostly from school. I will be going to the same type of Feest on the 11th of May, where famous Dutch artists will be performing such as Roel van Velzen (from The Voice of Holland), and Memphis Maniacs.

Today, Pascale, Beau and I made pannenkoeken, painted our nails, and watched Muriel's Wedding. Tim had a Lord of the Rings Marathon at home with some classmates (as in 10 hours of Lord of the Rings....) and I thought nail polish and pancakes sounded better for my taste.

Beau and I went running again this evening, which is always gezellig en lekker gezond! Tomorrow we all might go shopping, or just do something fun together. Maddie comes in less than ten days! I am so excited.

-Molly

Fashion shows, City Golf, Tulips and more!

What a busy weekend! Friday night Katharina invited me to go to a fashion show on the beach in The Hague with a friend of hers. It was pretty neat, although very cold. Good music, and fun fashion nonetheless.

Haarlem might possibly be one of my favorite cities here. It looks very similar to Amsterdam, but smaller, with less people, and more cozy! This past weekend we had the Alders Family Weekend, that happens every three years. Extended family from Rob's side all get together for two days, and catches up with each other! We stayed in the Stayokay Hostel, and on Saturday played "City Golf" through Haarlem. What is City Golf? It's where in teams, you literally play golf through Haarlem, using a soccer ball and a handmade golf club, as you can see below...the hard part was trying not to hit pedestrians!

We ended the day at the carnival, where I went on the scariest ride ever with Dennis and Tim! I knew I would regret it though if I didn't go, so I took a chance...closed my eyes and screamed the entire time! It was one of those rides with the long arm, that holds you upside down, looking over the entire city. Not funny! 

In the evening we barbecued and I got to know a few family members. The next morning we all headed to the beach, and drank coffee on a terrace outside. Heerlijk weather!

 

We also drove through a town full of rows and rows of brightly colored tulips, and other flower types. It was beautiful, really what you see in cheesy tourist-postcards from Holland.

This past week was also my last week of school before the May Vacation, and I got my math retake grade back! I was so nervous I almost didn't look. Good thing I did, not only did I pass...I got a 6.9! Brought up my grade, and now I am passing math...in a foreign country!

Monday evening is Koninginnenach, and Tuesday is QUEENS DAY! I am so excited, it's the last Koninginnedag for who knows when...I have heard about it since the day that I got here, so I cannot wait. Don't know what me and my friends will do yet, but I'm sure it will be fun!

-Molly

Maasland, Feestje, Girls Night!

Last weekend was very busy, but exciting! I spent the day in Utrecht with other AFS students from my region, walking through the city and catching up. We also went to the Dick Bruna Museum, and afterwards ate appetizers and had a few drinks together. I had to take the train home rather early though, because I had Nienke and Ella's birthday party to go to in Pijnacker!
The feest in Pijnacker was erg gezellig, full of dancing and socializing. Biking there of course is a pain, due to the fact that it's about 45 minutes away! The party was well worth it though. We all spent the night at Fiona's afterwards.


Yesterday I spent the day in Delft with Marijke, Tim and Rob,
and we sailed the
sailboat to Maasland. Well, more like I sat on the boat and enjoyed the ride. The sun was shining, and it was so gorgeous outside. We passed by baby ducks, sheep, windmills, etc. etc., typical Dutch things! In the evening, Katharina, Renee, Sanne, Roos,

Marijke and I had a girls night together at Roos's. We did our nails, watched Magic Mike (with the b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Channing Tatum), and ate so much chocolate until we thought we would die! Great fun though, and an evening very much needed. Roos's husband and son stayed the night at our house back in Bergschenhoek; I'm sure they spent their "Guys Night" drinking beer and watching (or talking about) soccer or something like that with Rob, Tim and Dennis!

Tomorrow I have my math retake (for the test that I failed), and I am so nervous! I have studied so much though, so I better pass it... right now I have a 5.0 average, and I need a 5.5 to pass!

Wish me luck,
-Molly

Feestje!

Last weekend my friends and I threw a "Cowboys & Indians" themed party, to celebrate our seventeenth, and Pascale's&Maartje's sixteenth birthdays! Both VWO classes came, Pascale's friends from swimming, Beau's friends from Scouting, etc. etc., in total there were about seventy people there! Most of whom dressed up, some even went all out with the theme. All in all, I think that everyone had a blast. Next weekend, my friends Nienke and Ella will also be having a birthday party, but in Pijnacker- two towns over.

Tomorrow evening Marijke and I will go to Den Hague for an AFS get together; it'll will be nice to catch up with everyone from my region. Next Saturday I will go to Utrecht to walk around and explore the city, also with other AFS students from my region. Busy busy busy! Not to mention, Maddie comes next month- I am so excited, I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen her...since August! Wow, time flies.

Well, nothing else is new...the weather is FINALLY starting to warm up a bit here- maybe even nice enough to wear shorts in a few weeks. One can only hope.

-Molly

Belgium, Reusel, en Pasen!

Distance seemed unreal here in the Netherlands this past weekend- Friday I hopped on the train to Tilburg to visit my friend Marlie, Saturday we spent the day in Antwerp, and Sunday I came back home to Bergschenhoek. 

Who knew that for three euros and only a few minutes in the bus, you could be in Belgium? It still seems crazy to me! Marlie, who is a former AFS student, lives in Reusel, a small town outisde of Tilburg. This part of the Netherlands is more farm-like, has more open spaces and trees. In contrast to Rotterdam, you could even say it was full of nature! Friday I ate dinner with her family, who is also hosting an AFS student, Laura, from Brazil. 

Reusel is in the south province of the Netherlands, called "Brabant." Wherever you travel in the Netherlands, people's accents will differ. Here, people pronounce the "g" softer than in Rotterdam for example. For me, it took a bit more concentration to understand what was being said at the dinner table due to this difference in pronunciation. 

Saturday morning, we met up with another AFS student, Caetano, who is from Mexico. He had been to Antwerp many times before, which made him a great tour guide! After two buses and literally three euros, we were in the heart of Antwerp, Belgium. The first thing we did was eat Belgian waffles of course! It was the best waffle I have ever eaten, and that I will probably ever eat in my life! Mhmm, and drizzled with rich Belgian chocolate...to die for. I'm glad I didn't choose Belgium for a host country, because I'm sure I'd eat one of these every day!

The rest of the day was spent walking through the streets of Antwerp, and of course shopping. The country itself doesn't look too different from Holland, because the buildings are very similar in structural design; tall, skinny, quirky roof architecture. 

We walked passed incredible musicians on the main shopping street, famous statues, and of course went into Antwerp Central Station- where the well-known, huge flash mob took place about a year ago. 

Caetano then took us to a cafe, that had the best hot chocolate (and other chocolate drinks) I have ever tasted! I really don't think chocolate gets much better than in Belgium. De-licious. 

Before I knew it, the day was over and we were on the bus headed back home. Well, to Reusel that is. Sunday morning, I enjoyed an "gezellig" Easter brunch with her family- mother, father, sister, Laura and grandmother. We also hunted for chocolate Easter eggs outside! 

Afterwards, her dad- who owns a construction machine that lifts people up very high- let us go up on it! I could see most of Reusel, and the Tilburg tower. It was like their own personal Euromast!

Soon after, I hopped back on the train and headed to Rotterdam Central Station, took the metro to Rodenrijs, the bus to Bergschenhoek, and walked home from there. For dinner, we had "gourmet," where everyone gets their own mini-frying pan, and cooks whatever small slices of meat, fish, shrimp, vegetables, or anything that they want! Not to mention, mini-pancakes for dessert. Soooooo good! 

This week, I'm off from school (done with my tests). Friday is "Mentordag," which means every class will do something together outside of school.  Tim's class is participating in a pain-ball war I think, and mine is taking a Cocktail Workshop in Scheveningen and eating sushi afterwards! I can't wait- the school even pays for it! 

Still loving it over here, as always.

-Molly

Verjaardag!

Last week was indeed, my 17th birthday. Saturday the 16th, extended family and a few close family friends came over to celebrate the birthdays of Rob, Katharina, Tim, Roos (family friend), and I. It was very nice, delicious food, fun people, and leuke cadeautijes! There must have been at least thirty people over! Uncles, aunts, cousins, grandfathers, neighbors, dogs, and more. The night prior, we all spent cleaning and cooking in preparation- making cupcakes, quiches, you name it! The party was a success, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I got the movie, "500 Days of Summer," nail polish, hand cremes, money, jewelry, stroopwafels, and socks! After the party, I went to Vierkantje with the girls, because Sunday just happened to be Beau's birthday! 

 Monday was the Daltonloop- a 5km run that most of the school is required to participate in. I got a 29.02, which considering my exercise level here is little to nothing....a pretty respectable time. Not to mention, 18 seconds faster than Tim! 

On Tuesday, we celebrated my birthday and Kat's as well- ate pannenkoeken for dinner, and exchanged gifts afterwards. I got DVD's, hair clips, cake-pop maker w/book, Dutch book called "Matchbook," makeup, and tickets to MAROON 5's CONCERT! It's in July, three days before I leave.

Beau, Maartje, Pascale and Fiona had wanted to throw a birthday party together at some point- and said that I could join in. So in two weeks, we will be giving a party! The theme is Cowboys and Indians (stole it from one of my high school's dance themes). Seems easy enough to dress up for! 

This week is test week, and this morning I took my math exam. It was very hard...I had thought I was so prepared for it, but now I'm doubting. We'll see. My next exam is Thursday, and then Friday I will be going to Tilburg to visit my friend Marlie. Saturday we'll spend the day in Antwerp! 

Yesterday I got an email from AFS with my travel itinerary for my return home...a bit sad and startling, but hey, I still have three months left! 

-Molly