Thoughts about exchange

I've been thinking a lot about the exchange to Liverpool, and I am more and more leaning towards not going actually. There are many reasons for this, but one of them is that I just don't think it's worth the stress. I'm trying to relax more lately, to be more kind to myself and stop adding a lot of pressure. The exchange is one of those things that I didn't think so much about, but just saw as a matter of course. Everyone is going on exchange, so then I should go too. I think there is a reason why I wasn't thrilled when I got the letter of acceptance to Liverpool; it was simply not what I wanted deep inside but more what I thought I should want.

I haven't officially declined it yet, but the more I think about it, I probably will. I need to be honest with myself, and going on exchange would probably be more for my CV's sake than for my own. Plus, I don't mind finding a nice apartment in the summer that I'll know I don't have to move out from within 6 months again.

Crappy Dutch weather!

It is on days like this, when the wind pushes you backwards and the rain slaps your face, that I wish I would've moved to a warmer country instead. Apparently, we're going to have rain for about two weeks now. This is so typical Holland, because this morning it was actually pretty nice weather, and an hour ago me and my friend had to abandon her bike downtown to take the tram home. It was simply impossible to walk in this storm. It's a good thing I have tomorrow off, because I'm seriously not going to leave my house until it clears up again. 

Birthday in Belgium

I just booked a ticket to Belgium this weekend! A friend of mine turns 20 on Sunday and of course I want to be there to celebrate her. We met in Spain a bit more than 1 ½ year ago when we were studying Spanish, and spent two weeks together before she had to go back to Belgium. I'm usually really bad at keeping contact, but as they say, true friendship lasts. It's been a long time since I saw her now, I think it was sometime in the winter. The fact that we live in different countries complicate it a bit, unfortunately. But now I'm finally going there and I can't wait to see her!

Music night

Went to my friend's place last night with a bottle of wine and some snacks, and we ended up listening to music and talking all night. I love sharing music, especially with people who have a great taste! Two of the songs I loved the most from yesterday were these two. Listen and enjoy this otherwise boring Monday!

Sohodolls - Bang Bang Bang Bang

Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand

Great weekend

I just said goodbye to my mom and my sister after a wonderful weekend filled with a lot of laughter, shopping and wine. Yesterday I showed them Scheveningen and the beach boulevard, and we had a glass of wine or two at a beach club there. Later in the evening we had dinner at Genko Tei, a Japanese restaurant that was amazing. We can never have enough of Japanese food!

Now it feels a bit lonely in my small room when they've left actually, but we'll see each other again in May when I go to Sweden with two of my friends from here. 

At Golfslag Beach Club

Getting ready

Busy Friday 13th

Yesterday was probably the longest day ever. I got up at 6, went to Amsterdam with my group, pitched, went back to The Hague, shopped all day, had a glass of wine in the sun, shopped some more, had a really nice dinner at the newly opened restaurant Umami (great food!), went to Taste Wine Bar, and then finally to bed.

It was so cute, when we were on the train back to The Hague, one of the girls started taking out napkins from under her armpits. Me and my friends were watching without making a sound, completely confused. Apparently, she had ben so nervous so she prevented sweat stains to show during our presentation. How cute!

This morning I heard it's snowing in Sweden, and I can imagine my mom and sister are especially glad to be here now! This afternoon I'm going to show them the beach in Scheveningen for the first time, and I'm sure they will want to be here all summer after that.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

A Dutch traffic jam in rush hour.

Afternoon wine in the sun

Weekend visit!

I've been a bit negative in my posts lately, so I thought it was about time to write about something positive. Tonight my mom and my sister are coming to visit for the weekend! They are probably more motivated by the shopping than by seeing me, since we saw last saw each other on Monday, but I'm happy anyway. It will be nice with a real girls weekend. So, today I have a few lectures, then pitch practice with my project group and then sometime tonight (I don't know when?) they will pop up outside my door! I feel a bit sorry for them though, because tomorrow I have to get up around 5.30 to get to Amsterdam (I haven't told them that yet out of fear that they will cancel their ticket)...

Happy and girly, as usual.