Sex, Money, and Random Pictures

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So I had my first Introduction to Sexual studies class today. It was......interesting. Our teacher is very...I guess the word would be....open. The assignments should be fun and the class seems pretty easy. So now I've finally had every class and for the most part they seem like normal college classes, just with Dutch accents. Nothing overly inspiring or horrible, just classes.

In sad news, my bike is currently out of commission. Sometime on the way to class I noticed that I was feeling the cobblestones a lot more than usual and on further inspection I noticed my back wheel was flat. Arrrghhh. I decided to ride it all the way to the bike store where I got it, thinking that they would fix it free of charge because of the warranty. Riding a bike with a flat tire for 2 miles over cobblestones is definitely not the most comfortable experience I've ever had. Anyways, they tell me that the warranty covers everything but a flat tire and that I have to pay 18 euro to get it fixed. I really hope they aren't taking advantage of the stupid American tourist. At this point I just want to get my bike fixed so I tell them fine, and I guess I just wont eat for the next three weeks. They tell me to pick the bike up tomorrow at 5. I have class until 6. I ask if I can pick it up on Thursday. Sure, they open at 10. Excellent, I have class from 9-1. Eh, I can live with walking to and from school for another two days. I just hope they don't sell my bike sometime during the next two days and then tell me that they have no record of me dropping it off. That would really suck.

I also included some pictures for your viewing enjoyment. They're just random pictures from a random walk one day. Basically, its what I see on my way to school.

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Photos

My Front Yard
This is what I see as I step out of my dorm. Not shabby.

Prinsengracht
My "street".

My future house...
I've decided that at some point in my life I HAVE to live on a houseboat. Apparently the house boats here used to be popular student housing.

Westermaarkt
The church (?) that's about two blocks down the street. It's right next to the Anne Frank House. Both of which I see on a daily basis.

Raadhuistraat
The major street I walk down to get to Prinsengracht.

Museum
I think its a museum since they're having an exhibit on Istanbul. Whatever it is, it's large and impressive.

Pimpest Mall EVER
This isn't a castle or a church...its a shopping plaza. The inside is only a little less impressive than the outside. I CANNOT afford to shop here.

Daam Square
This would probably be considered Downtown. Lots of tours groups, protests, rallies, mimes, and bad comedians can be found here. It looks a lot more impressive in person. There are also a ton of pigeons who think nothing of landing on your head or flying into your face.

Closeup of The Palace
Sorry I don't have a good full shot. The Palace is in Daam Square. If I'm correctly recalling...this was the center of the French Empire during Napolean.

Comments

[Al n Shez]

18 Euros for a puncture repair?
Lauren, $23 to fix a puncture? That is outrageous, I can only assume that you ruined your tyre and inner tube by riding it flat. If they are charging 23 bucks for a patch then they are seriously taking the p*ss. Bike punctures are so easy to do, find another bike shop, by a repair kit - should be no more than a few Euros - and find someone's Grandfather to show you how to do it. Jeez, if I was in Amsterdam I'd show you myself. Please let me know if they put a new tyre on or not.