Discovering Brazillian food

Whenever one goes to live abroad, for any period  of time, one always hears about the importance of experiencing a culture, that is not one's own, fully. Now what is unique, and in my opinion, fantastic about living abroad in a university setting is first off, the world of the uni is a nice safe buffer between the teenage years and the real world, and secondly, it allows for the traveler to experience, in a bubble environment, bits of cultures from all over the world. For example, here is what life in my flat is like: I am an American trying to adapt to Welsh life. My three flat mates are Brazilians trying to adapt to Welsh life. Now, because the four of us live together in a confined space, I become an American trying to adapt to Welsh life trying to adapt to living with three Brazilians trying to adapt to Welsh life trying to live with an American...Reading back over that sentence, I have become aware of how this post might benefit from a diagram of some sort...Basically, our flat, at any given time, is a meeting point for at least three different cultures, and that number changes any time one of us travels and returns. All of that to say, my flatmates are fantastic people. They are open and friendly and went out of their way to make sure I had an easy adjustment when I first arrived. But by far, the best thing they have done is introduce me to Brazilian food. It is Amazing! Thanks, Gabriel, Virginia, and Marcus! Living with yous has been great :)

     

Dancing

I used to dance a lot more a year a go. Then I messed up my knee and got busy with school. Since coming to Swansea, I have had more time to take it up again. And I have gotten to introduce Erika to a new hobby that I really enjoy. I think she likes it too, and she picks up moves really quickly. The second video is from a swing dance class on campus and the first video is from an impromptu salsa dance lesson from my flatmates in our kitchen. And I worded it that way because that is how they uploaded and it was too much of a pain to fix it.

14 February 2015

Because it was Valentine's day and I was sort of on a vacation, I decided to take the morning easy, sleeping in a little bit, having a proper breakfast, and getting to know other people in my travel group, before some of us hit the town for lunch between eleven and twelve.

If you are in Amsterdam, ORDER ORANGE JUICE. It is freshly-squeezed from an actual orange on the spot when you order, and it is fresh and amazing.

Delicious lunch at a corner cafe between our hostel and the Rijksmuseum

 After our lunch, once again we went our separate ways. Since I am not a fan of beer, I went to the Rijksmuseum. And, since my traveling companions are not huge fans of art, they went to the Heineken Experience. Now, people, learn from my mistakes. I did not have the best time at the Rijksmuseum; it is an ALL day project, especially on crowded weekends. So lessons learned: 1) be prepared to be at this museum all day 2) be prepared to queue for Everything. There was a queue to get into the building, that lasted about an hour. If you can, buy your tickets in advance that queue moved much more consistently. There was a queue to buy tickets. After all of that there was another queue one had to stand in at a specific time in order to see the special exhibit the museum over Rembrandt's later works. Yeah, do not try to do a day in three hours. 3) be prepared for crowds. Everywhere I went in the museum was packed to the brim with jostling crowds keeping one hopping from foot to foot; there was hardly room to breathe, let alone to contemplate the art on display, which is a nice segue into 4) if you are pressed for time and the museum you are in allows it, take pictures of the artwork you want to look at for more than a few minutes or artwork that you want to look up so you can learn more about it.

One of Rembrandt's later self-portraits

Van Gogh's signature.

The Research Library in the museum: 4 stories of bookshelves

The Stain-Glass window above the staircase at one of the entrances

Rembrandt's Night Watch

Vermeer

Once I finished at the Rijksmuseum, I was low on time before everything started closing, so I decided to make my way across the city to Beginjnhofkapel to look at some of the architecture. I studied my map and began to roam again. I decided, since I was in no great rush, to grab an early dinner at a charming little sandwich place near a hostel and just down the road from an incredibly chill coffee shop called Mellow Yellow, which had a very distinct smell coming from it. It reminded me of the smell that came from the Happy Feelings Coffee Shop up the road from our hostel.
Okay, so as most people have guessed probably, I am talking about the smell of pot. In Amsterdam, it is legal to both sell marijuana commercially and to use it recreationally, so spattered throughout the city are coffee shops that sell coffee, pastries, blunts, and some of the local "space cake". This fact is a point of pride with the citizens, one of the locals boasting to a member of our group that the pot in Amsterdam is the most effective in the world and gives the best high. It is also a major part of the marketing in the city. When you see tourist stalls, you will find a lot of marijuana themed merchandise along with a lot of merchandise related to the business of the Red Light District.
Anyway, my sandwich and regular coffee were delicious. I just chilled for a few minutes working on one of the assignments I had brought with me- I think it has been five years, since I last took a holiday without bringing work with me. If any of yous have gone longer than that, please do not tell me; I want to hang on to the dream that "this too shall pass"- after doing some reading I continued wandering the city. I managed to hit the main commercial center during rush hour, because I am just talented like that; people and cars were everywhere, a lot of hustle and bustle.

After getting lost and turned around a few times, I finally found Beginjnhofkapel. The reason I walked by it so many times is because it is, literally a random door in the wall by one of the busy city-center streets. Imagine this: you are on a busy street between 17:30 and 18:00 in a large city. Cars are piling up at an intersection, blaring their horns at jaywalkers/cyclists. Cyclists ringing out their annoyance at the various pedestrians. Lots of chatter from the tables outside the restaurants and various groups gathered by newsstands and benches. A tour group stand in the center of the pavement straining to hear the guide above the din. Then you enter this door in the wall

And go through a stone tunnel. And come out into a quiet area right in the middle of the city, devoted to service to God. It was a refreshing peace after the bustle and pushiness of the city streets.

After looking around the chapel, I headed back to the hostel to meet some friends to go out for dinner. The following are just some shots I got of the city as I walked back.

 

13 February 2015

I woke up about an hour from Amsterdam. We got to the city at about 10 a.m. and walked over to the hostel. Since our rooms were not ready, we left our luggage in storage and hit the town.

The Rijksmuseum as we were walking to the hostel

Some friends and I first went to grab lunch at a bakery/sandwich place around the corner. Also coffee, much much needed coffee. The serving lady was very understanding of our tired states and both the food and coffee were made fresh on the spot.

  After brunch we walked across the city towards the Anne Frank museum. The architecture of Amsterdam is absolutely gorgeous, but it is deceptively a friendly pedestrian city. The bicyclists will kill you, and it will be your fault. Just be mindful.

When we got to the Anne Frank House, there was quite the queue; we were in it for about an hour, so I took a few photos of the buildings around us. Also, this pigeon, which I have christened the Godpigeon, kept coming up to Connor and following him and strutting around him trying to assert his dominance. It was pretty amusing and a little intimidating as it kept following us down the line. Also, we were accosted by a guy wanting us to go on his boat tour, but we did not go since we already had plans for the rest of the day.

A small glimpse of the queue: we had been in line for about forty minutes at this point

I have no pictures from inside the Anne Frank House; it is requested that no one takes photos because 1) the diary pages could be damaged and 2) as a way to show respect for those who are there to honour the dead- a rule I was more than happy with which I was more than happy to comply. I am glad Erika gave me the final push I needed to go to the museum. It was sobering, emotional, and tiny and dark. And it was impossible to imagine people living there for years. It was frustrating to know how close Anne was to liberation. It was heartbreaking to see videos and photos of her grieving father after the war, trying to find his two little girls who, he learned, would never come home. It felt as though I was at a meeting place of all that is innocent and all that is evil in humanity. If any of yous are ever in Amsterdam, Go to the Anne Frank House; go honour and grieve for this family and what they represent on a larger scale.

 After we finished in the Anne Frank House, we crossed the canal over to a pancake cafe for second brunch/lunch/afternoon snack.

View from the bridge across from the Anne Frank House

A Famous Dutch Pancake

The pancake reminded me more of a crepe and the syrup more of molasses sauce. After we finished our pancakes we walked back to the hostel stopping at shops along the way. We found a fantastic vintage shops with clothes from maybe the '50s forwards. I found some great leather gloves to replace the ones that I forgot. After we put our bags in our room we went to take photos on the Iamsterdam sign in front of an ice rink behind the Rijksmuseum. 

The back of the Rijksmusuem

 After we were done taking pictures, the others wanted to go running, and since I was not interested in running, I took off on my own to go through the Van Gogh museum. After confirming with the gatekeeper that the museum was open until 10 p.m. on Fridays, I began wandering about in a quest for food. I got really excited following a group of students- because it is a universally acknowledged truth that college students, no matter where in the world you are, will know where to find decent and cheap food; however, that trek proved fruitless. So I kept wandering and came across a street that was all shops for almost every major designer line one can think of and was confronted with two realities. The first being that fashion can be used as an art form, and the second being just how much that art form costs. So I kept wandering and came across a pharmacy, what followed was a somewhat hilarious endeavor on my part to teach myself to read Dutch, because I was trying to figure out which bottle had aspirin. So, I kept wandering, getting fairly hungry at this point, until I circled back to a bakery I had passed early, that was about to close up shop. I hopped in and grabbed a chocolate croissant and a cappuccino. At first, I was worried that I would not be able to get even that because both workers addressed me in Dutch before switching to English, when they saw the terrified expression on my face. After finishing my evening snack, I wandered through one of the city's largest parks to get back to the museum.

It was about twilight at this point and I finally entered the Van Gogh museum. Now it is worth noting that this museum is the main reason that I wanted to go to Amsterdam. I love Van Gogh, not just his paintings but his writings as well. His impassioned frenzy-filled style makes him my favourite artist. Maybe it is the liberal arts major in me, but I find the channeling of utter madness into beautiful, expressive art something to be admired. Spending a few hours in such close examination of this man's work was not only a highlight  of my time in Amsterdam, but a highlight of my time "across the pond" period. If you are remotely interested in art and happen to be in the neighbourhood, go to this museum.

*Side-Note* I was mistaken for a Brit during my wanderings, an insult to real Brits, no doubt, but it was an error that amused me immensely.

12 February 2015

Going to Amsterdam for a long Valentine's weekend. I am so excited! I love art and Amsterdam has some of the most reputable galleries in the world, like the Van Gogh Museum.

Grabbed breakfast this morning with the girls. The pub outside the village we live in has all you can eat breakfast for three pound ninety-nine. Not a bad treat for a bunch of uni students- a status which is synonymous with perpetually, to some degree, broke.

The bus ride to Amsterdam took about thirteen hours, so I guess technically this post turned into 13 February 2015. We arrived at the majestic White Cliffs of Dover, which I am sure are much more majestic when not viewed through bleary, sleep-deprived eyes at 00:33, and we boarded the ferry to cross into Calais. I took advantage of the smooth ride by finding a chair in the corner and sleeping until we crossed into the continent.

A Typical Week in "Ze Life"

Okay. Yeah, this blog thing. I am supposed to write one, and it has been awhile. The main reason being that my presessional class is over, and I was throwing my self into my literature classes 100%. I also had a major essay due, which took a lot of my time, which kept me from posting. Also, day-to-day life is just that, day-to-day life. Though some of the finer details change, the structure of my week is usually pretty consistent, and  that is the theme of this post. So, here is the basic structure of my week.

Monday: By far my busiest day. I have two lectures in the morning, a seminar in the afternoon, and Christian Union in the evening. And sometimes the students at CU will all hang out together afterwards. So I am usually home for about ten hours on Monday and am on the go the rest of the time.

Tuesday: I have a seminar that runs from late morning to the early afternoon. When it is finished, I usually stay on campus to the mid or late afternoon working on the mountains of reading I have for classes.

Wednesday: I have a day off, and I am getting so spoiled because of it lol. Wednesday serves as my catch up day normally. If I need to go the market, I will go on Wednesday. I will take most of Wednesday to work on the coursework for my classes at NSU. I will work on the mountains of reading I have for my courses here. If the weather is nice, I will go for a walk around Swansea. Wednesday is the day I do laundry. Occasionally, Wednesday will also be used as a "day-trip" day. For example, Erika, my flatmates, and I are going to Cardiff for the day next Wednesday.

Thursday: I have a lecture on Thursday afternoon. I will usually take Thursday morning as "me" time. I will sleep in a little later. Actually cook a proper breakfast or brunch, whenever I decide to eat. If I do any work it will be just reading.

Friday: I have a three day weekend- did I mention I am getting spoiled?- so a lot of my trips throughout the semester will go over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If I am in Swansea, I will hang out with friends Friday night, and we will do something.

Saturday: A do-whatever-needs-to-be-done day

Sunday: Church in the morning followed by lunch either at the church or with a few friends. Then hanging out with friends in the afternoon, and I use Sunday evening to prep for Monday's lectures.

So, yeah. That is my week in a nutshell. Here are some photos from day-to-day life:

Jaime, Kaylin, and Erika at the international enrollment lunch a couple of weeks ago.

From when I was sick a couple of weeks ago. The tissues are significantly bigger than my face lol.

Erika and I celebrating finishing our essays with Joe's Strawberry Swirl, Nutella, and Banana sundaes.

31 January 2015 pt 3: Some various shots of Bath

Please note Queen Victoria on the building. To explain: the first time I was over here- and I do not know why I did this- I started what I guess can be called a sort of scavenger hunt for myself, in that every time I saw a statue of Queen Victoria, I would snap a picture. I guess that is going to continue on this trip because when I saw this statue the first thing I did was pull out my camera.

After the Baths and the Centre we still had forty-five minutes before the bus left, so we grabbed some coffee, pulled out our cameras and roamed the city for a bit. The above are some photos from that walk. I thought Bath was absolutely beautiful and would love to spend some more time there.