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Published: March 7th 2009
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View from my place
Actual pictures of my place to come...later...when it is cleaner...haha. The great aim of education is not knowledge but action--Herbert Spencer I am the best blogger ever. Really, haha.
I've been here in the Netherlands for a little over a month, and what a month it has been! I have to honestly say that sometimes it all seems so very normal to me. I really have come to see this as my (temporary) home and as routine. It seems natural sometimes that I'm here, riding the tram or buying fresh baked goods. I've basically adjusted.
Not to say that it has been easy. School, for instance, has been a difficult adjustment. First of all the process to register for classes makes you want to jump off of the building itself. Before I came over I chose some courses that sounded interesting, a mix of political science (the whole reason I'm here) and random others. I chose the courses blindly; I couldn't find anything that described the them. During orientation we received information about the courses, and I realized I wanted to change one or two. Easy, right?
Of course not. One thing about the Dutch: they are organized, but usually in a way that doesn't
MY canal
This is the canal right outside my place. make sense. I was given the list of courses I signed up for. I had to determine first what courses I was dropping, because on that Thursday we met with some administrators to tell them those courses. But we couldn't add any that day. Adding was for Friday, and only Friday. The thing is, in order to meet with the administrators, you had to sign up and get the number that determined the order in which you were seen. I got to the school on Thursday, the day just for dropping, at 8 in the morning and was in the hundreds. On Friday I was third, only because two of my friends that live closer got up at 6 and went over. Even as third, though, I got put on a waiting list for a course (that I eventually got, thank goodness). The process is ridiculous when compared to Mount Union's efficiency. However, it isn't over for me. I get to repeat the process for next term, in April. You better believe I'm dreaming about that day, haha.
Another adjustment concerning school has been the classes themselves. They are an hour and a half long, and we only meet
My School
This is where all my classes take place! The school has basically one building that houses everything. once a week. This means a lot of the learning happens outside of class, which is something I'm not used to. Sure, at Mount we have homework and projects. But I receive most of my information from my profs and their experiences and knowledge. Here, outside of class, we have group projects and presentations, papers and truly
massive amounts of reading. I suppose I don't mind; after all this
is college. In some of them, though, it is hard to gauge just how much I am learning. I guess I will know at the end. Most of the classes you have one assessment in the form of either an exam or essay. Or perhaps there are two assessments, with the exam and group presentation. Either way it is a lot of pressure at the end, and it doesn't help when the other students go on about how difficult the exams are. Failing (or almost failing) is common.
The actual subject matter, once you can get pass the mechanics of the courses,
is interesting. I am taking two language courses: Elementary Dutch and Business French. The Dutch course is a lot of independent study,
Outside of the School
And of course it is wet. It is Holland after all. but I am learning the basics. The pronunciation is so difficult for me though! The "g" sound is very gutteral and unlike anything I've ever made before. So of course most of the words here contain at least one "g," haha. French is a bit difficult, and I'm not used to working so hard in French anymore! The thing is the fact the class contains all Dutch students except for myself and a Russian exchange student. So oftentimes the Dutch students will say something in Dutch to the teacher and I have to hope that it isn't important! Also there are things in Europe, things like bank cards and taxes, that are different from America. Some things in this class literally get lost in translation.
My favorite poli sci course so far is Public International Law. Part of the reason I like it so much is its structure: homework and problems and the teacher actually uses his slides (a common problem in my other courses: the seeminly unrelated tangent). I also feel I am learning a lot from the course. I know really nothing about law and how it works. And while International Law can be frustrating with its
Chinese New Year
I live close to Chinatown, so we went to the celebration on January 31 flexibility, it is interesting in that respect too. I am not, however, going to become a lawyer quite yet, haha.
School takes up most of my day, although not nearly as much as back at MUC. For one thing, I am not involved in any clubs here or have to organize any events. I also don't have a job. It is really strange and I actually kind of miss being busy. For one thing having all that stuff to do forced me to allocate my time wisely. Here there aren't any big consequences if I watch TV for two hours. This is a bad habit to get into!! The lack of income is also sad. Things really are more expensive here. There isn't a Target or (heavens forbid) a Wal-Mart to go to. I have found a relatively good-priced grocery store, but even there I have sticker shock. I am honestly worried about finances when I come home.
However I keep reminding myself that studying abroad is my dream and has been for some time. It is (probably) better to go broke over here, having a good time and making memories, as opposed to going broke on
More Dragons
They are everywhere! AHHHH. Starbucks at home. This is a daily reminder, haha.
I've grown to really like the city, and while I question the school I'm attending, I know I chose the right place. Den Haag is a largish city, and obviously worldly. The number of different nationalities here is something I've never experienced. I really enjoy it, and living in Chinatown makes it all the more real. One thing about the city is all the shops close by 6. Weekdays, weekends, it doesn't matter. The city stops in the evening. Don't take this as criticism though. As much as it inconviences me sometimes, I really do like the small-town atmosphere here. This is the first time I'm
really living alone. I have to cook for myself. I have to clean. I have to purchase all of my own things. I am an adult! (But be prepared, Mom, for me to return to my laziness back home. You better believe it, haha. Love you!!)
The Hague is internationally known, and since I've really settled I've been able to sight-see a little more. One of the big expeditions I've gone on was to the Peace Palace. The Peace Palace is
Oh Look, Sun!
You have to celebrate such a big occasion. where the International Court of Justice and the International Court of Arbitration are located. It is a little tour, only over a half hour. But the building is gorgeous. One of a kind, too: all the countries that helped make the court and have joined it have given some sort of gift. There are statues from South America, tile from France, a fountain from Denmark. It really was beautiful and I hope to go there once it is spring to walk around its gardens.
Going to the ICJ reminded me why I came to the city in the first place. I've been wavering on whether or not I really want to do political science. It interests me, definitely, and I enjoy learning about it. But what am I going to so with it? There are so many different opportunities here in the Hague alone that I am reassured that I can find
something to do with my degree.
So overall, life in the Hague is good. Sure, there are times I wish I was home or at Mount Union (usually the time happens to be around dinner!). There are times where it would be easier or
I'm Cooking!
Macaroni and Cheese...from a box. But still. cheaper if I had never gone here. But this is a golden opportunity and one I've been waiting for my entire life. Every day isn't an adventure over here, but it certainly holds a discovery, whether about myself or the city around me.
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