Adventures in die Niederlande

Hello, Hello! I am writing you from the Pension in Heidelberg…which means I made it back from the Netherlands! I’m only stating that fact because I wasn’t actually always sure that I was going to be able to do so! 

What a weekend! Exhilarating, beautiful, educational, fun, aaaand of course – a bit dramatic! Of course, as is the case when Rachel travels ANYWHERE, we ran into some very sticky situations. It honestly would take so long to explain it all, but I truly am able to look back on it with laughter now. I should never, ever go into a trip expecting things to go as planned or “normally”. And really – I usually don’t! But every time it is a little bit different, and I never see it coming! ☺ I am so sorry to those of you that travel with me and are affected by the attraction that bad-travel-luck has to me! But really – God ended up blessing this weekend ABUNDANTLY! I will try to tell you the highlights of it! 

My friend Nicole and I caught a train Wednesday afternoon, and about 6 hours later arrived in Amsterdam. To cut down on costs, we were doing what is called Couchsurfing. Now stick with me here☺ Couchsurfing, although sounds a bit sketchy, is actually a really great idea. I belong to this international network where you create a profile, and can meet people in EVERY part of the world. You could search for people that live in your town and just meet up for coffee (which I have also done), or you can search for people that live in cities that you are traveling to, and request to stay with them when you travel. You’re able to stay for free around the world, and the idea is that you also return the favor, and open up your couch to other couchsurfers who would be traveling in your hometown. You are able to read a lot of detail about the people, see pictures, see other people’s reviews about them, what languages they speak, what their housing is like, etc. You choose who you stay with, so you can keep searching until you find a profile that has reviews that you think sound reliable, and then you request to stay with them (and get rejected quite a bit for various reasons, so you have to put a lot of requests out!) It may not be for everyone, but I love the whole idea, because you’re able to really see cities through the eyes of locals, meet some interesting people along the way, and save a good amount of money! 

In Amsterdam, we stayed with a 21 year old girl named Lotte who lives with her 23 year old boyfriend. They lived about 15 minutes outside of the city center. We had no idea what to expect, of course, because this was the first time I‘d stayed with anyone through this network. What we found was quite interesting☺ They lived in an old, abandoned school, where they lived very inexpensively because the government asks people to stay in these old buildings until they are restored, just to be sure that no one breaks in and damages it. So, she led us through all these doors and led us to our room. She opened up the door to a big empty classroom, with two mattresses on the floor with messy, DIRTY blankets on them, trash overflowing out of the trashcan, dirty clothes on the floor, a grimy, hairy sink…etc. We were…thrilled☺. Really, it wasn’t so bad – it was just funny to us. The bathroom was waaaay down the hall, and the shower facility was an old locker room that’s light was broken! I got a kick out of the whole thing. But hey – it was free! It would do for two nights! We weren’t going to complain! But we did chuckle at the whole situation…a few times☺. 

Amsterdam is a great city – we tried to fit a LOT in in two days! My favorite was probably the Anne Frank house and this giant open air market that we went to. Among them, we also got to see the Van Gogh museum (sadly, overpriced and not everything I hoped it would be.), a canal cruise, a holocaust memorial, lots of cute souvenir shops, and just walked a lot around a beautiful city! I really enjoyed the city. 

On Friday night, we made our way to a different city – Rotterdam. We didn’t really know what there was to do there, but we had heard of it, and figured we would just discover when we arrived! We got there about two hours after we thought we would, and found the next couchsurfer we were staying with – a lady named Maartje. I had no idea when I knocked on the door of this little townhouse that I was about to meet such an incredible lady. Talk about NIGHT AND DAY difference from out first couchsurfing experience! Maartje opened the door with a big smile and welcomed us into her adorable, clean, well decorated little home! She had prepared a nice dutch meal and even though it was late, had waited for us to arrive to eat because “dinner is something she believes should be shared”! We sat down and had a lovely meal together.She was incredibly friendly and interesting to talk to! She spent a year studying in Minnesota, so her English is great, and I think a bit of the Midwest kindness rubbed off on her ☺. She brought out some different unique dutch things to try after dinner (my favorite are called Spekulaas – SO good!). We spent the whole evening talking. Nicole and I were EXHAUSTED after a very stressful day, and so she led us up to a cute little room with clean bedding, comfortable mattresses, a heater, etc. All things for which we were so thankful! 

The next morning she took me to the organic grocery store and bought all of these things to prepare a huge brunch for us! The whole time, she pointed things out to me, “ this is dutch this…”, “this is dutch that…”. She was so cute and loved to teach us about her country! We did NOT expect anything like this – she was already going so far above and beyond anything we thought! We only asked for a free bed – not a 5 star bed and breakfast! 

After a delicious meal, Nicole and I took a train to another city called The Hague. Here, we met up with a guy who is from America but has been living there for the last 5 years studying, touring, and recording with a band that he formed. It’s a completely crazy story how I met him (but shortly- I sat by his dad on a plane to California. His dad completely befriended me, was incredibly kind, and we talked most of the flight. He gave me his son’s website just incase his band would ever be touring in Germany. I contacted his son randomly just a couple of days before we went, and he said he’d be more than happy to meet us and hang out for a day! Funny, huh?). It was a crazy connection, but such a blessing! In The Hague, we went to the beach, which was so much fun! We took a long walk on the beach, saw some WWII bunkers, walked through these beautiful dunes, walked all over the “city center” and saw lots of important and beautiful government buildings. Half of the city was bombed, and the other half wasn’t, so it was really neat to see the difference between the two. It was a really fun day, and I am so thankful to have had someone to show us around and get to know. 

He was a lot of fun! Sunday was our last day. We had a 4:00 train to catch, so after being prepared another amazing meal by Maartje, - (Dutch pancakes - which are one of the most famous things they are known for – very different than American pancakes! Not really the same at all), we rented bikes and took a private tour of the city with Maartje☺ She led us around to all the important things to see in the city of Rotterdam. Again, we would have been clueless without her, and she gave us so much of her time to be sure that we experienced it how we should! We saw the place where the Mayflower departed from, and bought Maartje a coffee at a restaurant called “The Pilgrim” that is really famous. It was really cool – another beautiful city for it’s own reasons! 

That afternoon we headed back to Heidelberg, and three trains later, we were home! The weekend was FULL. I know this entry is a novel, and I did not even include nearly all I could. But I hope if you even skimmed it, you get the most important part: God is GOOD. When we came to the point that we realized we so desperately needed him to survive the trip, he blessed us beyond what we could have imagined. I really grew to love the Dutch culture. It is so unique and actually has many things different than Germany, so I LOVED learning about it and witnessing it firsthand. There were many things I wish I could have brought home and shared with you all. But this is a country I am so thankful to have seen, and highly recommend to anyone looking for a vacation destination! 

Now, real life is back in full swing! T his week is the busiest one I have had yet. But it’s good. I love being here. There is so much I want to fit in in my remaining time here to really experience this place for all it is. The end of the semester is quickly approaching…a subject I won’t even touch on now! 

As the dutch say vaarwel!

Pictures of the adventure

Off again!

This may have to be short, because I am leaving in a few hours for yet another trip. I just wanted to update you on a few things and then I'll be on my way!

Things have really taken a turn since the last time I wrote. It would take quite a long time to try to explain it all, but basically, God has given me a complete perspective shift about my time here, about myself, about Him, and about all of those things combined. By his grace alone, my heart has been encouraged and I am now feeling so uplifted. I am living every day with a new sense of gratefulness. It's following me everywhere! Everything I do, I can't help but say "Lord, THANK you for...". It is not that my circumstances have necessarily changed but I have learned that it all lies in my hands how I CHOOSE to view a situation. It is entirely up to me. God has simply given me too many blessings, and it would be nothing short of foolish to choose to dwell on anything else! I am so thankful for this new way to see things, and am simply loving my time here. I am realizing how quickly it is coming to an end, and there's so much I want to do and so many people I want to get to know before I leave!

Speaking of people, I really have been meeting SO many people. It is incredible. Not everyone in the group I'm with is as excited or willing to get out and do this, so I usually venture out on my own to meet people - both Americans and Germans, and then a variety of others too (from Spain, Kenya, Chile, Holland, etc.). It is the most invigorating thing for me to get to know these people, ask them questions (ha - can anyone imagine - ME asking QUESTIONS?! :) ), find connections, hear their stories, etc. I looove it! I can't get enough of it, and wish I had more time to continue the relationships that I'm developing.

This weekend I spent another day in the town of Stuttgart with my friend Julia. It was al ot of fun to be with her again. We attempted to bake my favorite "fall" thing - apple bread!! However...with the difference in german ingredients, measurements, and ovens...it did NOT quite turn out like I'd hoped :) Oh well, it was an experiment. And it was really nice to be out of Heidelberg for a day and with her again.

I have been continuing to go to a doctor three times a week for laser treatment for my tendon. It's been three weeks since the initial injury. It has been a HARD three weeks, but God is SO faithful and I really can't do anything but offer Him praise for the healing of this, and all He's taught me meanwhile. It is feeling a lot better, and I went on my first run again on Sunday. It was incredible and SO good to be back out there (and, not to mention, SO hard to stop.:) ). Now the tricky part is easing my way back to where I was before I was injured. I'm so inclined to just get out there and get right back at it, but recovering from this injury requires a gradual build back to my regular routine. That means taking days off and doing shorter runs for awhile. It will be hard to remember this, because to me it just feels so good to be able to run, that i figure - why stop?? But it is simply not worth it to re-injure it, or make the injury chronic, and I have to keep telling myself that! But really -  if any of you were praying for this recovery, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Some other news that I don't think I ever shared is that I actually have changed my flight home...for the second time! There were so many factors in this decision, but basically, I am realizing that traveling here is much more expensive than I thought or planned for, and also extremely time consuming and stressful to plan alone. I was going to be traveling at the end of my time alone for two weeks until I met up with Sarah, and it was so hard to plan amidst a busy semester. I began to feel really uneasy about the whole thing when I was in Vienna, and so started praying about it. Long story short - I have moved my flight a whole week back, which I am honestly feeling such peace about! I was planning on still traveling to spain at the end, but the more I looked into it, the less it was becoming worth it for the amount of money and time it would take to do the actual TRANSPORT part of the trip, and wouldn't get to actually see all that much! It is extremely disappointing, as Spain and Prague were the two places I wanted to go more than anything here, and I won't get to do either! BUT I have decided to go spend another week with my sister in Switzerland, which I couldn't be more thrilled about it. It's been a crazy semester, and it will be so good to have some downtime in a place that I know I love, with a girl that I love, and her awesome friends and environment! I really am looking forward to this time. I've realized over the years that I'm a little bit possessive of my sister- when she's home, i want her all to myself! :) So this way, I'll get some time with her before I have to share her with the rest of the world for her short time in Iowa! :) I'm trying to remain positive about not getting to see Spain after all. I do feel like I have traveled a lot, and it's hard to fit so much into a few short months. I am thankful for what I have seen, and am just telling myself...this won't be my last time in europe! I will hopefully just get to spend more time in Spain when i have time to really be there and soak it in, and not rush through!

And that note, today I am leaving for a five day trip to the Netherlands with my friend Nicole. We are jumping on a train right after our class today, and five hours later, we'll arrive in Amsterdam! We'll spend two nights there, and then make our way to Rotterdam. We're thinking that we'll spend a day in The Hague, and a day in Rotterdam, and then we'll head home. I am really excited to see this country - I have heard great things and it should be a lot of fun. I have been saving my money for trips like this, so I am excited to experience it! I am praying for safety, good weather, and wisdom in all of these cities. You know me, I'll try to pack in as MUCH as possible, so it should be a busy five days! :)

Alright, well, I'm off. I am thinking of you all often and thank you for the ways you have intervened during my time here already. PLEASE shoot me an email if you ever have a chance, as I'd love to know how I can pray for you too and hear how you are doing. Now that I'm back "on the road" (on my feet...) every day, I want to be really intentional about using that time to lift others up the the Lord - to get my mind off of myself and focused on others. So, I would love to be praying for you!

Holland here I come!