From an outside perspective, Holland seems random. It's okay. It's a random country. A little bit of forgotten land, reclaimed from the sea, wedged between Germany and Belgium (that other random country), and filled with windmills and cows. Let's be honest, people are really only reminded of it when the conversation turns to tulips, cheese, marijuana, and..... oh yeah, prostitution. But my selection was not entirely random. I was born in The Hague, and don't really tend to hide the fact that I'm (half) Dutch. Well, my last name doesn't really make it an easy fact to hide. But I really am very proud of my heritage, thanks in part to my outspoken, very Dutch,
I've always played around with the idea of moving back in my head, ever since I was bitten by the travel bug when I was about twelve. But it's one thing to say it, and quite another thing to say 'ok, I'm doing it.' I like to think I'm pretty fearless when it comes to traveling, but even I balk at the thought of packing up my life and moving by myself an ocean away from my family to a country that could just be considered the setting for some fuzzy childhood memories and a summer vacation spot. But then I studied abroad last year in Spain. Some of you may have read my other blog (I promise I'll keep this one better updated!), and everything changed. I probably learned more about myself and the world in one year than I did in the ten previous years. The most important thing I learned about myself? I can totally survive by myself abroad. And not only will I survive. Dammit, I will flourish! Ok now I'm sounding like a flower. But it really showed me that I can move to a new country, and though there will be scary moments (having to talk your way out of an €800 speeding ticket to a Guardia Civil guard was an interesting one), it is these scary moments that actually make me stronger and more confident in myself. I have yet to run into a situation abroad that I absolutely could not fix or alleviate in some way. Great. Now that I said that, I'm sure it will happen to me. Look for me in the next episode of "Locked Up Abroad."
Anyway. I came back from Spain, and honestly I just wanted to turn around right there and fly right back to Europe. But I had my senior year at Mary Washington to finish. So finish I did. It was nice to see my family and friends again, and I won't lie, the familiar was comforting. But I was itching to be challenged again. For some strange reason, my senior year was surprisingly, confusingly easy. I know, I don't get it either. I studied abroad for a year. But that just gave me waaaay too much time to daydream. Oh, and I had to pick up a hobby so I started training for a triathlon, because otherwise I was going to go mental. But in between writing my thesis and running, I decided I wanted to pursue a Masters degree in history in Holland. It's always been my plan to continue my education after undergrad, and because of my year abroad and easy senior year, I wasn't too burned out by school like a lot of my friends. I'm also realistic. I am well aware that I graduated with a history degree in a time when engineering majors are having trouble finding jobs. So instead of working in a museum gift shop for a year, I decided to relieve that horrible travel itch as well as earn my masters.
Studying in Holland was an easy choice, for my particular situation anyway. All Masters programs in The Netherlands are conducted in English, so although my Dutch is pretty good, I don't have to worry about getting caught up on nasty long Dutch academic words. Also, education for Dutch citizens is DIRT CHEAP compared to the US. My program will cost €1.771. I know, I shouldn't brag. See? Socialism ain't that bad. I also have a good support system of family and friends in Holland that make the transition easier. So there really is absolutely no reason not to go! I actually hopped over to Holland for a hot sec in January to check out which university I wanted to go to. I looked at two universities in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Leiden. I actually got a little ballsy and emailed a professor at Leiden and asked him if I could meet with him to discuss the program I was interested in. It was only after he accepted and I arrived in Holland that my Dutch friends that lived in Leiden widened their eyes at me and laughed, saying he was a very well-respected professor in The Netherlands, and that was a very brave thing of me to do. Oh, well, okay then. I'm glad they told me that RIGHT before the meeting. I don't know how I didn't pee in my pants while I was talking to him.
But the meeting went perfectly, and it was completely clear to me: I wanted to study Migration and Global Interdependence at Leiden University. I was further encouraged by my father, who attended Leiden for two years in the 70's, although he didn't graduate from there. If you ask my dad, he'll tell you he spent more time studying the bottom of his glass at the bar, than his schoolbooks. Regardless, I came back from my little trip, and set to work applying. For some reason, I had this cockiness, that really had no basis in anything whatsoever, that this was going to work out. It sounds stupid, but I just felt like I didn't have to worry, and it would all work out. So like an idiot, I applied to Leiden in March.....and no other schools. And no back-up plan. Nothing. Any time anybody would ask me what I was doing, 'ohhh, I'm going to Leiden.' I know, I know, I was quite cheeky. But luckily, I was not struck down by lightning, and three days before I graduated, I found out I was accepted.
I know that was a very long-winded description of the last year, but I think it's important to see why I made my decision. I've thought long and hard about it, and I've put in a lot of effort to see my plan through. So yes, Holland is a random country. But it's exactly that randomness that attracts me. And I know it's the right choice for me.
So here I am. I leave in one week. Good news: I have a place to stay. I was extremely lucky and found a house in the center of the city with three Dutch roommates, and they were looking for someone to fill the attic room. Jackpot! Bad news: I haven't started packing yet. Okay, okay, I know. I'm up shit's creek. But honestly, how are you supposed to pack your life into a suitcase? This past January was the first winter I've spent in Holland since 1995, and holy smokes was it COLD. So I have to pack hot (for when I go on vacation to, say, Spain... it's inevitable), warm Dutch summers, cool fall, and then freezing Nordic winters. For some people, when they feel overwhelmed, they over-organize. Or plan way ahead. Not me. When I'm overwhelmed, I pretend the problem doesn't exist, and magically I'm happy! Ok, that's not true. Ok, maybe it's been true the last couple of weeks. But starting tomorrow I'm getting down to business! I swear!
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