First Week of School. (Short and Sweet)

I made it so far a little over a week in Holland, now it was time for the real challenge, what would be taking up the majority of my time here, high school. From the first day I saw so many differences I wasn’t quite sure what to think. But before that, riding the damn bike to school everyday is crazy. It’s only thirty minutes, but against wind and rain it gets hard. My legs have been sore every day, but I’m hoping to get in good shape from it all, ha. The first thing I saw in the schoolwas just how high tech and modern the school was. The walls were covered in beautiful art, I’m not sure if they were of the students, or bought. Either way it was very pretty, which just that is a lot more than from home. It had a round design so that the smoking area was in the center, with a tiger lily pond, benches, and a garden. The whole school was decorated very nicely with more paintings, posters, and just nicer all around. They had auto window shutters, simple classrooms, and everything always seemed very tidy.

I also noticed all the fashion differences. The biggest one I have made a huge deal about is the guys, they ALL have gel in their hair. I haven’t seen so much gel in my life. Almost every boy does it, and it drives me crazy. They also wear a lot more V-necks, jewelry, and boots. Most of all that I’m not used to from home. As for the girls, they come to school a lot more dressed up than what I am used to. Some wear heels, business jackets, tights, dresses, lot’s of jewelry, and skinny jeans. I haven’t seen those so in style since junior high. So I go to school with my Toms, bootleg jeans, and a plan grey shirt and get all these weird looks. Thankfully I brought some of my old debate clothes, so I wore those and fit in a lot better, I almost feel like I need to buy completely new clothes. After riding my bike for a half hour I feel like a mess, I don’t understand how some girls look perfect after coming to school, it’s crazy to me. Oh, the girls also all have purses as bags, I have seen almost no real backpacks, and it’s very odd. 

One thing as far as social means that I have noticed is that in the hallways and cafeteria the genders are completely separated. Boys stay with boys, and girls with girls, there are mixes but it’s rare. At home it was not like that at all, so that’s been different. In the class people are more about their own work, the teacher is more of a guide just offering help if you need it. I haven’t been able to understand most of the lessons, but I’m getting a bit better. One class that I thought was hilarious was English class. Of course the language is English, but when my teacher started talking in a British/English accent, I started laughing out loud. For some reason I expected an American accent, but I was surprised. He even said ‘smashing’ once, it was hilarious. When I was asked to read, I read way to fast and the whole class freaked out, it was pretty cool. I was told that my voice was beautiful. If teacher’s are sick, they just don’t show up, instead of getting subs. There’s a lot of free periods, so students are always walking around or doing study. The whole feel is just very different and more independent. 

First Official Week!

So the first day of my ‘official’ exchange had finally come. After getting so used to all the new friends I had made and had become comfortable with, it was time to leave, once again to start life in a place where I didn’t know a single person. As I was waiting with Brennan for my family, we watched everyone else run up to their new parents and siblings, hugging and handshaking. Each time another person found theirs, I became more and more anxious, Brennan even said I was making him nervous. And then in the distance, I saw the family coming towards us all. I wasn’t sure if I should pretend to not see them, or just run up to them. I sat down, caught my breath, and walked up to them. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time, even though you could feel the massive awkwardness. After getting our picture taken we went to get a coffee and tea, to just talk about things. They were very nice; we were all excited and a bit unsure of what to do. Things got easier and more relaxed as more and more time passed. Then we separated again for Travel Active to explain some things to the families. After lunch I said my sad goodbyes to new friends and loaded everything up go to…home.

In the car we found that we both liked Regina Spektor, which they thought was hilarious since hardly anyone knew who she was there. We found we also liked other similar music, so that was at least a bit comforting. Then we got to the house, a farm house, and it was beautiful! After bringing all my stuff in, they took me on a tour. The backyard is a massive garden, with perfectly trimmed bushes, all sorts of different flowers and trees, lot’s of Nel’s clay sculptors, and Henry’s wooden carvings. The backyard felt like a dreamland, or Wonderland, it was so so pretty. Instead of a farm though, Henry had his business in the ‘barn’ or where it used to be. They cut down trees, removed, move ect. His workers come there in the mornings where he and Nel also work from the office. The house was just as gorgeous as the yard. It was a very old house, which is what they wanted. So they kept the classical aspects and added to it to make it their own creation. It’s very big and decorated with the clay and wooden creations. They have a room where they spend the summer holidays, and also a winter room for the colder times. A beautiful library that looks like places I have only seen in movies. The upstairs seems smaller, but that only has the bedrooms, and the large bathroom for showers and getting ready. The other bathroom is very unique and old fashioned, it’s very strange at first to see.

So as time went on I learned about typical Dutch culture. In the morning there is always bread with many different topping choices. The one thing that I found very very different, and is also very very Dutch is Hagel Slag Puur, which is basically chocolate sprinkles. They eat this almost every day,but I was used to seeing it used only on cakes and treats at home. So every morning is bread, with tea(thee), coffee(koffie) or chocolate milk(chocolade melk). While we eat breakfast we also make lunch for the day, which the same choices, bread and toppings. Then at night there is always a big, hot meal followed by typical Dutch dessert, like pudding. So far every meal has been fantastic and delicious! I really do enjoy the way meals are, because I always know what to expect and I never go anywhere without being full, Nel always insists that I take more more more. I feel like dinner is the time everyone comes together and talks about their day, it’s very nice and not what I am exactly used to, but I am enjoying it very much. Either it’s because I speak English, or the culture, but always feel that everyone is very intent on listening to me, so that’s very nice. I just wish I could speak Dutch fluently already!

After dinner we usually go to the summer room to spend the rest of the night together. So far I’ve seen very very funny Dutch versions of shows that I know from home. Jersey Shore, So You Think You Can Dance, Dating in the Dark, and others are just a few of the ones I’ve seen. Every night we always have tea with some kind of yummy cookie, the best one yet is Stroopwafel I’m definitely bringing a ton of those home.  The days typically go the same every day, so that good to know what’s going on.

Every once in a while there’s a party, gathering or something else. The first night I went to a birthday party, and the next night a going away party. The birthday party was very odd, first of all it started at 9, then when I got there the boys and girls were almost completely separated. They had tables set up and only boys were with boys, and girls with girls. There was wine and beer everywhere, most of the guys were smoking cigs, and the mom was coming in and out with no problems. It was just very odd because at home if teens want to do that, they have to hide it. It was just so accepted here. Most of the music was in English, or other languages, hardly any Dutch music. Not any dancing, just drinking, smoking and talking with your own gender. Very different. The second party was more just family and friends, but still there were people smoking and drinking wine like no big deal. That was a little bit better because I talked to some more girls, but once again the genders were separated. I hope that I’ll be going to more parties soon, and get more used to everything that’s different.

So that was just the weekend,  I’ll talk more about school and traveling in the next one. (: