Monday Morning Hookers

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Today we had to register with the foreign police. It was a big long bureaucratic process that involved really intimidating Dutch interrogation and shady back doors in even shadier alleys. Just joking. While it was a hassle getting all the paperwork together and making the trek out there, it was pretty simple as far as government processes go. And I got a really cool sticker to take up another page in my passport. It also made me two hours late for class, but the teacher was accommodating.

I'll I've done other than that today was walk home from school, but in Amsterdam, just walking is quite an event. I love walking to or from school. It's only about a mile and a half and there are so many different routes to take. I just kinda arbitrarily pick some streets that are going in the general direction of home and walk. Sometimes my walks take me by gorgeous canals and quaint little residential areas. Other days, like today, I end up walking through areas that house red light district rejects and sex shops. Its really startling to look over your shoulder and see a half naked woman in the window. Some of the prostitutes are actually quite attractive, but definitely not the ones I passed by today. I think the general rule is that they get prettier the closer to the red light district, the closer to the weekend, and the closer to nightime. These were the Monday Morning far away from the red light district hookers, so they were kinda beastly. But seriously, walking is a lot of fun. I can count on passing by a beautiful church, a historical monument, a coffee shop, a pretty canal view, a stand selling herring, and a bakery no matter where I go. I also get to stare into a bunch of living rooms. The houses are all right against the sidewalk, and all of a sudden you are looking in someone's house instead of a storefront. I also get to see adorable little Dutch children. They are seriously a special breed of cute. I want to take a picture of them, but I think their mothers would freak out.

So this week I am starting my budget. The first week was difficult because I made a lot of one time purchases (bike, books, etc.). From now on I'm going to try to live on 5 euro a day for food and 15 euro a week for fun (clubs, eating out, etc.). Hopefully I can stick to that.

So travel plans are kinda updated. I'm thinking about going to Prague from May25th-May29th since airfare is only $105 (US) round trip.

Oh, there are also mutant pigeons in the garden and a possibility that we will be getting chickens. This makes me very happy.

Random sidenote: This whole trip is making me reconsider my life's plans. Theres a potential internship waiting for me back home, and if I get it, it would start in early June meaning I would have to leave Amsterdam right after the program ended. I would love to stay in Europe and travel...especially Wwoof. But if I want to get a head start int he coorporate rat race, I would really need to take this internship. The stay or go dilemma got me thinking about my career path and whether or not I really want to start it so soon. Do I pay my dues now and hope that later I'll have the funds to do what I love...but risk the chance that I may get so bogged down in life that I'll actually miss the chance to do what I love. Or do I do some exploring now, and hope that pushing a career back doesn't negatively effect my chances at success in the future. Argh, peace corps anyone?

Well off to make lunch (tacos!) and do some reading.

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Comments

[Judith (cousin)]

To stay or not to stay
First, your photo of the dusting of snow on the trees was awesome. Definitely for reprinting. The walking in European cities is always a pleasant experience as you describe. Even though, I haven't been in Europe, Ireland or England since 2000, I still have vivid recall of some of the places I visited and scenes forever saved in my mind. Such as National Day in Switzerland on August 1st, where huge bon fires are lit on all of the mountains. I think we were on Bergen looking down at the Zucker Sea and the other mountains surrounding Lake Luzern at all of the other bon fires. It reminded of the lighted fires in the "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." Though it was August and warm at the lower levels, it was quite cold where we were, but the comaradie was infectious. You have quite alot to think about. Europe and the opportunity to explore is rather captivating. Because I had to work my way through college, I didn't go to Europe until I was 52. But, I had a fabulous time and wonderful, very memorable experiences. Avenues for career opportunites, especially in this town, seem to appear and as easily evaporate into thin air..."What was your name?" Maybe a pros and cons list of each option will assist in the process of making a decision along with following intuition and your heart.