Welkom.. !

3 days into my exchange and I already feel like my head could explode from all of the new things I have seen and experienced. One thing is official: my host family is amazing.. I know I said this in my last post but they are so accommodating I can't believe it. Last night was my Welcome BBQ and they prepared for it almost all day. Tons of food was ordered along with extra tables and chairs. I was able to meet all of my future host parents and most of the kids. They seem just as excited as I am to come live with them. My second family has a daughter who lived in Canada last year on exchange near Niagara Falls. They will be taking me to Switzerland for 2 and half weeks in December for Christmas holidays. My third and last family has a daughter leaving for Argentina this Saturday on exchange aswell. I can't wait to grow even more relationships with other host parents in the near future. I am still overwhelmed with all of the friendliness and encouragement! My host club has made a program for me where they will assign a Rotarian to me each week, and they will provide me with some kind of an "experience". It may just be going to a movie, or it could be a weekend trip somewhere. Either way I am so excited to be able to get to know everyone more closely.

Back to the Welcome party, it was perfect. About 40 people came to welcome me and introduce themselves. It went until about 10pm and then the jetleg was starting to get to me again. I went to my room and thought about going to bed.. and then came upstairs to say goodnight. I walked in on my host dad dancing to the new Pitbull song first.. and he turns to me and says "Hey! Wanna go to Amsterdam tonight?" I basically just yawned and laughed. But he insisted he was serious. I kept laughing then realized Dieteke, Geraldine and him were actually looking at me for an answer. I was so tired but the most common advice I have been given from past Rotary students is you have to be a "yes" person. Never say no to an opportunity. So I figured we might as well hit Amsterdam. It's about a half an hour drive from Sassenheim, and even though I was almost falling asleep, I was quickly ready to hit the town. Apparently 10:30 is too early to go so he wanted to leave at 11 or so. The neighbours came over for some wine and then soon enough Jaco grabbed his keys (that's when I realized he REALLY wasn't kidding.. I was still a little skeptical) and we headed out the door. We had a nice talk on the way there.... about pretty much everything.. especially music. I asked him what his favorite song was and he started playing it. By playing it I mean blasting it in his BMW. It was the most intense techno rave music ever and made me extreeeeemely excited to go to Amsterdam.. why we were randomly going on a late Thursday night I'll never really understand. After the song he just said "Oh, I miss being twenty." ..SO AWESOME. He also has a pretty good talent at dancing and driving at the same time.

Anyway, we get to Amsterdam after the Dutch GPS conveniently guided us right to the main night life square. At first I thought it was strange I was about to go out in Amsterdam with a 30 year old, but he's so funny and easy to get along with it wasn't even awkward at all. He relates well to being an exchange student and wants to make sure I have an unforgettable year. He used to work in Amsterdam so he knew a lot about where to go and where not to go. First he took me to chic place to show me a taste of the nightlife. It was crazy, there was every type of person you could imagine.. even men with briefcases who just got off work at the office. We only stayed there for a bit and then walked around to a few other places. Amsterdam is beautiful at night time, I can't wait to go back.

Today Martine, my counsellor who is helping me get everything set up, took me to the Hague to apply for my residence permit. This is when I got my first taste of stubborn bureaucracy I guess you could say. We brought every possible document you can imagine, along with many photocopies of each. I got to stand in line many many times and then sit through arguments that I didn't understand hardly a single word of. But hours later I got a pretty stamp in my passport so I guess all is good! After that we signed up for my bank card.. and then hopefully in the next couple of days I will get my cell phone.

I'm now feeling completely settled in.. I'm still missing everyone at home but my family has occupied me so much I don't even realize it until I start thinking about. My new room and new place is starting to feel more like a home everyday. :)