Free Keys

The cliche saying of  'it's the little things in life' should really not be underestimated or taken lightly. It truly is. Leaving the flat on Steve without a map, getting my hair coloured in 'Kapsalon Tina' by three Egyptian men dressed in khaki, sleeping in until 11am and cooking dinner for myself are all the 'little things', yet so significant, as they serve as a symbol to the fact that I am settling in and reaching a point where I am able to call Amsterdam 'home' temporarily. It's fantastic. Because on the other end of the spectrum, not a day goes by the where the unexpected held in the mystery of a day in Amsterdam jumps at me without fail. It's been exactly two weeks since I touched down. Been blessed with rain-less days since the start and they have been taken full advantage of. Days have been spent lazing about in the beautiful parks, going to the Uitmaarkt Festival (a showcase of the theatre, music, dance, arts and culture coming up in the months to follow) and witnessing some incredible talent [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWnWhA6VwHo], bargain shopping at Waterlooplein and nights spent in the bustling nightlife of this alive city (to mention a few).

 The start of academia has also commenced where I was shown around the beautiful campus I'l be spending some time at for the next four months and met the fellow Psychology exchange students who seem as eager as myself to start learning the Dutch way. The Dutch academic world is fundamentally different to that which I'm accustomed to. A false illusion is created when it is brought to your attention that you only have class on a Tuesday and Friday, However I am reminded that the responsibility rests in your hands and am quite eager to find out how the two different systems compare. Tomorrow marks the start of my academic experience as a Psychology student at The University of Amsterdam (essentially the sole purpose for this experience), as well as my first birthday spent without family, and the start of my twenties. 

Living in a different city, country and continent, with constant international stimulation and introductions to different cultures, results in you developing a sense of patriotism. I have gotten my kicks off telling others about South Africa and Cape Town and trying to share as much as I know about my home country to those who don't. It has been a reminder that every city holds in itself it's own energy and charm and I have become both an enthusiast about experiencing a different one, as well as an advocate for promoting the one I call home. Cape Town is incredible in a way which sometimes one only realizes when you're in a place so significantly different. So to those back home, take a look at the mountains, the oceans, and the large stretches of open land and remind yourself how beautiful it is incase you've forgotten. 

Westerpark, never dissapoints.

Student Cooking

Steak & Salad on the Stavangerweg Pier

Group Cycle - Ralph, Steve, Schmidt & Borris.

Stavangerweg Internationals having a barbeque

My backyard. 

The lovely Nat.

Obsessed.

The classic Albert Hein Spork.

Baby and his 'biertje'. 

Bicycle Lifts.

Waterlooplein win - 3 Euro Jersey & 4 Euro Boots.

Rijks Museum.

Uitmaarkt Showcase.

Tessa Rose Jackson. So great.

This is called a 'Oorlog' (War) - Chips with peanut butter sauce, mayonnaise and fried onions.

And then I found this :)

Steve looking sexy.

Solo night cycling. Content.

Claimed it :)