Good evening from rainy, stormy Zwolle.
Today, Thursday, was the first day we had to bike in the rain since we got here. Apparently that is amazing since they expect it to rain every day pretty much. So - I am pretty happy I got rain pants for Christmas. They worked like a charm.
I will update a little bit about what I've been learning at school and the activities we have taken part in. I will need to peek at my schedule because I can not remember what we did sometimes - we have done so much!
On Monday we did a lot of socializing at school. The day started with a little welcome, then a coffeebreak, then we signed a form, took a tour, heard a speech, and ate lunch. We took another tour of the whole GH building and that is when a very embarrassing thing happened. We went up the nursing floor (the top floor) because I wanted to see it. There was a nursing lab that I went into and of course every one told me I had to "show them something." So I went over to a fake arm that was connected to some fake blood (water with food coloring). I was looking at it a little and I decided to touch the tube that it was attached to. Little did I know the tube was close to coming apart and that is exactly what happened. Fake blood starting squirting everywhere and not just a little... I got it all over my hands and luckily I got it in the sink quick enough before it made a huge mess. I am glad I could provide some laughs for the whole group. Monday night we met up for hot chocolate with a group of us. I took my host sister along too :) The hot chocolate was amazing. They gave us steamed milk and a chocolate lolly to dip it into so it would melt and also whipped cream on the side with a little cookie. LEKKER! (YUMMY)
After our tour the SPICE buddies gave us bike lessons. I think we all did pretty well and I am proud to say that I will be biking to school alone tomorrow without any help. I hope I can write here that I made it successfully without getting lost. We will see. I do enjoy the biking but with wind and rain - its not so fun. On Tuesday evening I had my first fall off my bike. It was a pretty bad wipe out but only have one bruise on my knee to show from it. I got the wind knocked out of me and I was pretty shaken up after but I am OK!:) So is the bike. These bikes are made to handle a lot. I also fell off my bike today and I really don't know why this keeps happening. My bike really doesn't like me right now. I hope things get better -
So Tuesday we began to learn survival dutch. Its intense and I would rather do my Rosetta Stone on my own. Its only for two weeks and I am sure I will appreciate it when it is done but right now I am not a fan. I think I felt more confident of myself after a Rosetta Stone lesson. At least we don't get a grade. After school we went shopping for some dutch orange clothing items that we were required to wear speed dating. We also got stroopwaffel mcflurrys. Absolutely delicious. When I came home I was informed that my "host-niece" was coming to stay with us. She is 2 and absolutely adorable. They taught her to say "How are you" and "Katie" so we played for a while, ate dinner together, and I read her a book last night before bed in Dutch. She didn't listen very well because it probably did not make sense to her. She is gone now and it makes me sad but I hope she comes back to visit soon!
Tuesday night was the Joffer night where all the SPICE students and SPICE buddies go out on the town. It was a good night overall and I look forward to many more. All the buddies are very friendly and nice to us - I appreciate how they make us feel so welcome here in Zwolle and at the GH.
Wednesday we began the morning by receiving a Dutch/English Bible from the Gideons. I am happy because I have been reading my family's Dutch Bible for practice and now I have my own!
Then we discussed the differences between churches in the Netherlands and churches in the US. VERY interesting. Then we had Dutch class and in the afternoon I had a meeting with the nursing professor...FINALLY!
I got to learn about my internship and I am very happy that instead of working at the nursing home type place I will be observing at the hospital here in Zwolle on the Cardiology floor. I am so excited because I am very interested in Cardiology. I do not start until March so unfortunately I will not have much to say about it until then... other than that it is great news.
After my meetings we had a speed date session with the SPICE buddies. We got to know them a little better and they were able to also get to know us better. Once again, always fun and hilarious if they are around. After that we had a Stoppotbuffet with our host parents and professors from the GH. Basically it was a lot of Dutch food... That was fun but I was so tired and ready to come home for a good night of sleep. I watched the Bachelor and a new episode of New Girl then called it a night. Who knows if I'll ever give up my American TV shows when I'm here.
Today after school we had a scavenger hunt in Zwolle. We had to do random things in order to get to know the town better. Tomorrow we will find out who won.
So I will end with my plans for the weekend... our first weekend trip to Delft! I am going with a few girls from SPICE to visit one of their Aunts. I can't wait to blog about it.
Its almost the weekend!
To all that are reading - I miss you dearly and I wish we could all be here together. I would love that. I hope you are all doing well.
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