finding my way... i arrived in tilburg yesterday. as tante ria drove off into tilburg traffic, i realized i was on my own! it was exciting! i'm in a city that i've never been to, surrounded by people speaking a language i do not understand and trying to live on my own which is probably the most foreign thing to me. once i arrived in the university, they explained welcome week, i signed my housing contract (453 euro a month! yikes!) and they drove me to my new h...

A CONTENT LIFE... after only a week of observing my dutch family and the dutch people i have come into contact with, i have discovered what it is i admire and love so much about the dutch way of life: it's calm. it's simple. it's content. instead of waiting impatiently in line at starbucks for their venti extra hot no foam non-fat cinnamon dolce latte they sit at a restaurant with a cup of earl grey tea and a light cookie watching the passerbys and talking with...

FIRST EXPERIENCES at 10:45am on january 9 my plane landed at schiphol airport in amsterdam. i was greeted by my tante ria and two cousins, mirjam and anniek. the first thing i asked for when i got off the plane??? KROKETTEN! kroketten: a paste made of meat (usually beef) and spices rolled first in egg and then bread crumbs. deep fry it in oil and spread over bread with mustard. please enjoy responsibly. it was a two hour drive to goes (the town where tante ria l...