Prague Blog.

This last weekend I went to Prague with three wonderful ladies :)

I had a great time and pictures can not even describe how beautiful this place is. I seriously thought it was fake and at night all the castles and buildings were like disney world!

We saw a lot of great sites and my favorite was the Prague Castle.

That is the only museum we went inside and the rest of our trip consisted of walking around and finding a good place to eat or get a good drink.

We stayed in an apartment for cheap but we had to climb four flights of stairs to get there ;)

Friday we trained half way to Berlin and spent the night. Our train was two hours delayed because someone decided to jump in front of another train - we arrived at 12:30am just in time to miss our metro that would take us directly to our hotel. We had to navigate our way using a different method of transportation and we finally arrived at our hotel at 1:30am - praying it would be open for check in :)

We had a wake up call at 6:15 so I squeezed my eyes shut on my uncomfortable, sinking bed for a mini nap - that was all I got.

The breakfast was a delight and we made our way to the train station with a taxi this time - much more direct - and hopped on our train to Prague after applying for the 50% refund of our delayed train to Berlin. With Starbucks in hand we comfortably settled into our seats for a 5 hr trip to Prague.

We made it with no delays and even saw some beautiful scenary in Germany on the way. I had great company and the trip went quickly. When we got to Prague we were ready to drop off our stuff at our apartment. The city was very confusing with a map so we went the complete opposite direction of our apartment before we figured it out. We turned around and trudged to where we would be staying the next two nights.

The apartment was nothing exciting - but the city was :)

Here are some pics! Next time I go here it will be romantic - the city tends to bring about that sense within. Nonetheless, I had a great time taking it all in with three wonderful friends.

Thankfully we made it back safe and nothing was stolen our of our apartment which was our fear.

"I hope you get MRSA"

No. 42: Swearing with diseases

Posted on July 2011

Don't make me angry!

Dutch people swear with diseases. Often with old dreaded diseases from the past. In fact, they go so far as to make angry bold statements wishing these diseases upon you orcursing you with a particular deadly ailment. The more serious the disease in question, the more seriously you have clearly angered them. If you are going to live in the Netherlands for any amount of time, you had better brush up on your knowledge of rare diseases from years gone by.

This “swearing-by-disease” is in fact a unique Dutch trait. No other language has similar curses. It’s odd and it’s strange, and quite frankly pretty darn harsh (“I hope you get smallpox and die” – certainly doesn’t beat around the bush, does it?!?)

Now, now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not like Dutch people go around all day randomly telling people to drop dead of a certain ailment. But, if you are

lucky
unlucky enough to be witness to a serious argument you may happen to hear some 16th century diseases make there way into the fight! Now go, f!@#-off and catch herpes!

I found this little diddy at http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com/ and this one made me laugh because I found out some news recently ...

I carry MRSA in my nose. I had to get tested for MRSA here in the Netherlands when I arrived in order to do my internship I had to be negative. I had swabs taken in my nose and mouth... I would get the results back three days later. Seven days went by and I did not hear. I get a call the day I am leaving for Prague and was told I am MRSA + in my nose.

This means I have to do an extensive 7 day treatment to get rid of it before I can start on the hospital floor. I will take two pills by mouth that will make me have nausea - as well as a third medicine to counter the nausea. I will wash myself with a antibacterial soap that will dry out my skin and hair. The medicine side effect is making my eyes yellow and watery so I have to wear glasses. I also will have to change my sheets every other day. Then I can get swabbed again and hopefully it will be gone!

MRSA screening is different here than in the US because they treat it with different antibiotics. In the Netherlands they screen their employees and patients before they work or enter into the hospital. In the US they only screen the patients.

No I am not contagious and this is just a little bug that has harbored itself in my nose - its something I picked up from the hospital. The only person at risk would be someone who is immunocompromised or has a wound that has not been properly cleansed. Carrying MRSA in your nose is actually very common - its just that you are unaware you are a carrier until you get tested. What do you know... I have it :(

I hope the medicine will work and I can go ahead and get started on my internship! I will start on March 5 - maybe I will post a picture of my yellow eyes ;)

just another wednesday

So lately I have not had much inspiration to write on here. Mostly because my weekdays here really are not that exciting... except Tuesdays ;)

I mostly just sort through all the home work I have to get done - papers, presentation, research etc. for my classes through Dordt. It takes discipline but I have been able to accomplish at least one thing a day because I do not have anything else going on. Not having anything else going on is another problem though because if there is no schedule to work around... work rarely gets done efficiently.

I have tried breaking up my day though with a workout and drinking coffee and tea :)

Last Wednesday I had a Bible Study at my "house" and two of the SPICE girl buddies came along with two other SPICE girls. It was really nice to discuss a Bible passage and also get to know the girls a bit better.

I went to Groningen on Saturday with Kaitlyn and it was so nice to spend time with a great friend. We got a free ride with my host parents because my host sister lives there. We left around 9am and when we got there we went to where my host sister lives. We had coffee, tea, and little cup cakes :)

Then while my host parents went to an open house for my host sister's work, Kaitlyn and I went to a museum and shopped. The museum was strange. It had a lot of different random exhibits. The first was couture dresses that used to be on the runway and then there were paintings of course. The picture is of us and a couture dress. They were all very unique looking.

Groningen is apparently the "place to be" for shopping and going out.

We ended our day by meeting up with my host family for dinner on a pannenkoekship to eat some "pancake pizza". The photo is of me and my host sister.

I had chicken, ham, pineapple, and cheese on my pancake and it was very delicious.

After dinner we went to my host-grandparents for coffee -

It was nice to meet them but I do not think they said a word in English to me. Its very difficult for them. They were so sweet though and I got a picture with my host-grandpa who participated in Elfstedentocht in 1958. Its a 200km skating tour through 11 friesian cities. Amazing!

On Sunday I ice skated 10km and I was sore ;)

Sunday I woke up and I did not feel very good but I took it easy and did some trip planning for Prague this weekend. Then my host parents took me to Kampen, a city nearby, for our last time ice skating because the temps are going up and the ice is melting.

It was difficult to skate on the ice this time because it was getting soft and all the skate blades made cracks in the ice - I almost fell 10 times and my body hurt from getting so tense but I did not fall! After skating my host parents dropped me off at an International church - it was something I wanted to check out because the service is in English. I met another SPICE student there and she was with her family. The service was a little different than what I am used to but it was great to hear worship in English again. I was very blessed by the speaker as well. The speaker works with YWAM (Youth with a Mission).

In the evening my host family and I played Rummikub and later I skyped my parents.

I received a funny Valentine's Day card from my family and some yummy Hershey kisses :) I really appreciated the mail!

Yesterday was Valentines day and we celebrated with a get-together where we ate delicious brownies and had some rose beer along with wine (pink beer) :)

It was fun to see the SPICE gang because it had been a while since we had all been able to get together! We watched the movie Valentines Day and after we headed out for another eventful night at the Joffer!

This weekend I am looking forward to going to Prague! We leave Friday and return Monday. Then I will have a lot more to blog about! :)

volendam

Het Concert Gebouw

Amsterdam, Volendam, Amsterdam

So - I have been quite the train traveler lately :) That is why I have not been able to update here much ... hopefully I can make it up to you readers with a nice post tonight.

After we got home from Belgium it was snowing... and it didn't stop. I believe it has snowed five inches here and it has frozen all the water so...
now we ICE SKATE :)

First, I will start with this week and past weekend because I guess it is Monday now. Crazy!

Well - after Belgium we took a field trip to Amsterdam - all 17 SPICE kids and 2 SPICE buddies - along with our fearless Professors.
We boarded the train around 915 am Tuesday morning and after an hour of delay we made it to Amsterdam. We walked through the Red Light District after we finally left the train and I was shocked to say the least. It was hard to look around and there were real women standing in the windows... that early in the morning.
I had a sick feeling in my stomach and I wanted to get out of the neighborhood asap. Its really sad ...
We went to grab some hot chocolate at an old building that I believe was the old trade building. Lekker hot chocolate. Seriously - one of my favorite things about Holland :)
We toured the building and I almost got left behind! I used the restroom and when I went outside everyone was gone! I ran to the corner to look down the street and they were way far ahead. I ran as fast as I could to catch up with everyone. Apparently , leaving people behind happens a lot... So that is my problem ;) I'll need to be quicker in the bathroom.
Then we went on a canal tour - I enjoyed it a lot but I can not wait to do it again when my parents are here and the weather is nicer.
After that we went toe Rijksmuseum where we saw a lot of old art :) It was very neat- I enjoyed looking at the colors and contrasts of the original paintings.
Its completely breathtaking and I am simply speechless.

After that we headed to the square and had some free time for a McDonalds McFlurry that was free because it was the Queens birthday! :) Happy Birthday, Queen! Yummy Apeltaart McFlurry for me!

After that we went to Anne Frank House - it was very moving for me to actually see where the Frank family hid during WWII. I have always been fascinated with the stories. The museum gave me goose bumps.

The field trip was very enjoyable and on the way home we had a four hour delay because someone jumped in front of the train and committed suicide - this is the second time that this has happened and I have heard about it since I have been here. It s very sad. It was a long night and once we finally got home we needed some hot chocolate again before the Jofer - Tuesday night is bar night for everyone. It was a chilly bike ride but it was so worth it :)

Wednesday I had the day off and I got to go ice skating with my host mom! It was so nice - I did not fall and I could keep up with her! She told me that ice skating is true Dutch culture here. I believe it because since the ponds, lakes, and rivers have frozen - I see way more people outside than ever!

Nothing eventful happened Wed-Thurs ... having days off is nice so I can work on homework, readings, etc. for school.

Its funny because Friday I woke up and it was snowing really hard - I had promised my host family that I was going to make them an American dinner. I got the recipie for "Sloppy Joes" because I figured it was midwest enough ...
I had all the correct ingredients but no chicken gumbo soup ... :( I went to after the snow slowed down and I was pleasantly surprised at how well biking in the snow went. I was sad to discover that chicken gumbo soup does not really exist here ... so I had to change plans.
I made chicken alfredo - so a little American Italian :)
I had some friends over that night and together we successfully set off the smoke detector while cooking - my host dad told me that out of three girls of his own I am the first to set of the smoke detector. I can not lie ... that was the second time since I have been here. I also set one off in my room when I was blow drying my hair :/
Whoops!
Good thing they work :)
The dinner was a success after finding out that the rolls had to be cooked first...
I almost served dough to my host family - but it really looked and felt like a cooked bun so I am so confused!
After all that craziness we went to my friend's birthday party at her house. She turned 21 and we had a lot of fun as a group since 21 is a big deal in America - its not so much here.
Instead of saying hip hip horaay here they say hiep hiep horaah!
Its pretty cute - and I was so excited to see cupcakes with frosting. Delicious!

Saturday I took a day trip to Volendam with my two friends and one of their host sisters :)
Volendam is where a lot of famous Dutch stars live so I thought we would see one - but sadly we did not :(
Volendam is a charming little village by the water. Its known for its fishing but since the lake was frozen I'm not sure what its known for ;)
We had a lot of fun in Volendam - we took a cheesy Dutch picture all dressed in Dutch costume. I may figure out how to scan it someday soon!
After Volendam I came back home for dinner with my host family. It was fun because I was able to meet my host-sister's husband and my host-brother.
The evening was very fun because we played Boggle together - English version ;) I failed miserably. I am sad to say... I was showed up by my host family that does not even speak English as their first language!
We were talking that evening and my host brother mentioned that he had an extra ticket to a concert Sunday evening at the concert hall in Amsterdam. I asked him which one and he told me it was Het Concert Gebouw- I was in shock! My brother Nathan told me that if I ever got the chance to go to a concert there I should take it because it has amazing acoustics :) I asked if I could come and he said YES!
The rest of Saturday night was a blast because my host family - 2 host sisters, 1 host brother in law, 1 host boy friend in law ;) all went out to a local bar here called the Flying Horse. This is also where all the SPICErs were hanging out for our friends 21st birthday so it was a great night!

Sunday was nice because we got to go ice skating on the river by Hattem. It was family event and afterwards we all enjoyed a nice cup of hot chocolate. :) It feels so nice to get some exercise and fresh air ice skating. After that I got all dressed up for the concert!

The performer was a countertenor and he was accompanied by a oboe, fagot, violin, cello - basically a small orchestra :)
It was a beautiful concert and building. It was packed full and the applause at the end of the night lasted FOREVER.

After the concert I stayed up until 5 to watch the superbowl with my host brother and his friends. It was fun and they made some american style food like BBQ chicken wings and nachos :) there was also plenty of Heineken ;)
They laughed at how much I didn't know about American football.
I slept a long time today and I have been attempting to start some homework :)
Tomorrow is class and of course... Joffer night!
Good night!