10 Things I Miss About the Netherlands

It's been a little over a month since I got back from the Netherlands, and I definitely hit the ground running. Not only did I have to adjust to being back from Europe, but I also dove right into my new full-time job in Ames!

Sometimes, I feel ike I haven't had a single moment to sit down and relax and reflect. But in the midst of everything, I've found myself longing to be back in Leiden... Why? Let me tell you!

1. The wonderful weather. (50-75 degrees)
   This was the perfect temperature to wear a shirt, cardigan and scarf and then be able to mix-and-match depending on whether the sun was out or if it was overcast.
2. Hanging out with Emily, Allison, Drew and Doug.
   These people were my best friends for a month, and now I hardly talk to any of them!! We got to know each other so fast and so well, and I love them all dearly... I miss you guys!
3. The courtyard.
   This place is hard to describe... it was like our private little sanctuary where we could just hang out, unwind and appreciate being in such a beautiful and wonderful place. (Even when the other tenants didn't appreciate us.)
4. Walking on the brick/cobblestone streets.
   At first, this seemed like a negative. The sides of my calves hurt on our first few days, and I'm SURE that I tripped over a rogue brick EVERY single day. But cobblestone streets are beautiful and historic. They're a far cry from the ugly and boring cement that is EVERYWHERE in the States.
5. Hugo de Grootstraat/Rapenburg/Haarlemerstraat.
   These were the streets we walked on most frequently in Leiden. I think they were also the only street names I knew... The rest just looked like a jumble of consonants with a few random vowels thrown in!
6. Spar & sour candy.
   Spar was the grocery store we frequented. It was a little more expensive, but it was close -- and when you have to carry your groceries, you err on the side of close. It was also nice because it was small and less overwhelming than the large stores. The sour candy doesn't need much explanation. It was amazing. I bought 3 packages EVERY time I went into Spar (which was practically daily).
7. Steef, Matthijs and Lotte.
   These wonderful people were our program director and class "teachers." They were VERY Dutch and had quite eclectic personalities. They were the topics of many of our conversations and the main characters of many adventures. To get an idea, here's a video of who we're pretty sure is Steef (around 1:30)... and here's Lotte's Web site (beware).
   
   
8. Bikes everywhere.
   Most people know that there are lots of bikes in the Netherlands. It's not a secret. BUT most people don't know the extent of the bikes in Holland. They're EVERYWHERE. There is no doubt that I saw more bikes than cars on any given day. There were piles of bikes. And people were so talented on them! Riding with 3 kids... riding with another adult on back... riding one bike and steering another... riding, texting and eating at the same time. Ahhh-mazing. -- Also, I saw somewhere recently that they were thinking about banning bikes on roads... and I wanted to scream, "Do you WANT to continue the trend of killing the environment and becoming obese??" Ugh.
   
9. Walking.
   I also knew that I walked a lot while abroad, but I didn't realize how different that is from when I'm in the States... where I hardly walk at all. In the Netherlands, I didn't hesitate to talk to a store that was 25 minutes away... I even walked there three times in one day! But in the States, I walk to my car in the morning, drive to work and walk in the building. THEN, at the end of the day, I walk out of my building, drive home and walk inside. Lame. I even drive places that are totally within walking distance and don't even consider taking the healthy route.
10. Living in history.
    This is probably my favorite thing about Europe. Everywhere you look, there is history. And it's not short-term history like in the U.S. This is SERIOUS history. Our university was founded in 1575, and the Hortus Botanicus is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands. We walked past Rembrandt's childhood home on the way to Leideseplein and saw William of Orange's signature on a wall. I love history... therefore, I love Europe!