Disclamer: So with Blogger, you can check out the stats to your blog site, and see what geographical areas they come from. What I find hilarious is that I made this blog for all my family and friends at home in America, so I didn't keep having to write emails to them to tell them how it's going. But where do 60% of my views come from? The Netherlands. Pfff I find this hilarious. But now I gotta watch myself, now I can't start saying things about people that live here! (PS- also shows me specific countries regardless of number of views, so yes you, you who are the only person I know that comes from that country... thank you for reading haha)
I guess I'll start back a couple weeks ago, when we had our international student introduction days. The university organized a two-day (three days for Masters students) agenda of events for us to get to know each other. Unfortunately, the Dutch weather did manage to spoil some of the events, but I still met plenty of very interesting people. Actually fascinating. I can't stop being impressed with the people I meet here. I'm still in a funny situation, because I am an international student, I consider myself an international student, but the school doesn't see me that way. And I don't know about the Dutch students either. Every time I have to register somewhere and they need my name, I say "van der Noordaa". They just stop and look at me. So I already have worked out a whole speech. The moment I get that look, it all comes out in one breath. "*takes deep breath* myfatherisfromhollandmymotherisperuvianiwasborninhollandbutimovedtoamericawheniwasfiveiwasraisedmywholelifeinamericaiswear". Then they usually look at me like I'm crazy.
In my situation, I came here because I'm familiar with the country and language, it's a good program, and it's way cheaper than it would be in the States. But these people I'm studying with have come here from all over the world, (Brazil, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, Canada, Greece) to name a few, attracted by the fact that Leiden has one of the best law programs in Europe, and The Hague is one of the most important centers for European politics. And here I am... studying History. I'm not downplaying my study, because it is challenging and important. But I meet these people, and I can already tell they're going to do something great with their lives. No matter where they come from, they all speak excellent English. They're smart, adventurous, work hard, have no qualms about leaving the country to pursue their goals, it's intimidating! I feel like I need to get a life plan, ASAP! Some of the people that I met those first days of Introduction week are now my good friends. When we want to visit Amsterdam, or blow off a little steam at Einstein's on International Night, there's no one better to ask!
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| Here I am with Eva from Czech Republic and Stefano from Italy in Amsterdam |
Let me interject here with a funny little anecdote. One of the events of the Introduction week was a speech and drinks with the mayor of Leiden in the Hooglandse Kerk. The seats were extremely uncomfortable, the mayor was a little late, but ok, it was pretty nice. Then we had a little break to walk around, go to the bathroom etc. Well earlier on, they had pointed to the grave of Pieter van der Werf. He was the famous mayor of Leiden that in 1574 during the Siege of Leiden by the Spanish, bravely offered up his arm to the starving people of Leiden (gross, I know). Well, he's one of Leiden's most beloved heroes. But during the break, I began to walk around and look at the graves in the ground of the church. Directly next to the mayor was another grave. I was standing in front of it, trying to read it upside down. "van...der...nooRDAA!?" what the hell!? It was the first day of introduction days, and nobody I knew was around me. But inside I was freaking out! I wanted to scream it out loud! Who is Seymen van der Noordaa? Wow, 1750, that's a long time ago! And was he so important that he was buried next to the illustrious van der Werf!? I swear I could feel my family ring on my finger buzzing being so close to my ancestors, it was a very serendipitous moment. My father had always told me he thought there were some ancestors of ours buried in Pieterskerk, which is another church nearby. I have yet to go there, but hey! Found some other ones, Papi! And of course I ran into him accidentally during International student day. Now how the hell am I supposed to convince people I'm international!?
After the introduction week, the law students (which is about 70% of the International students, Leiden's law program is famous) had to start immediately. Ha ha! I still had a week! So I worked, and chilled, and prepared for the gathering storm.
Oh, quick explanation of my job since I never really talked about it. I decided in the summer I wanted to work to get some money coming in, if I want to travel, I know I gotta work for it! Everyone was telling me it was going to be hard, especially with the crisis. I must just be extremely lucky, the third place I walked into hired me! I work at Cafe Midi, which is a cafe right outside the Volkenkunde museum, which is the national museum of ethnology. Score! Museums... right up my ally! They hired me to work in the cafe all summer, and then when the restaurant inside the museum opens up (in approx. 2 days) I'll work there. Awesome people, awesome food, awesome pay... what more can I say? And all you creepy Dutch readers... come visit me!
First week of classes! So after the whole mess of registration, etc. (it makes me tired to even think about writing about it, so I'm not going to), I signed up for 3 classes. I thought (as I'm sure many of the readers are thinking) oh god, three classes, what am I gonna do with so much free time? Why won't Leiden let me sign up for more? HA. WRONG. My first class was Tuesday, Myths about Crime. It was one of the few classes I could take this semester that fulfill my research seminar requirement for my migration studies degree. I walked in not knowing what to expect, and walked out with about 6 articles each about 30 pages, and two mini-essays.
Okay... next class. Maritime History. Yes, I know... sounds riveting. Actually it's pretty cool. But I walk in, and there's seven students. Okay, well this will be a nice small class. Then the teacher starts talking in Dutch. All humanities masters programs here are required to be taught in English unless there are no international students present. So I raised my hand, and somewhat ashamedly told them I was international. She looks down at her roster, and looks up at me and gives me the look. So then my whole jumbled explanation came out... but for some reason I'm an idiot, and I was flustered, and I said it in Dutch. Well, she then complimented me on my Dutch, and said "I'm sure you don't mind if teach in Dutch." Ooookay then. But she's super sweet, and we came to the agreement that as long as I could write all my essays in English, and read all my books in English, and ask her anything I didn't understand, she could teach in Dutch. And surprisingly, I actually have no problem understanding the class at all! And I hope it will improve my Dutch, I'll certainly learn all the Dutch seafaring words.
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| Admiral Tromp: Beloved Dutch naval hero, and Mr. Holland 1625 |
Then was my thesis seminar, in which she said okay, we're meeting once more in September, and then we're not gonna meet until November. Okay then? But it makes sense, this seminar is just a forum to aid in the writing and development of ideas for our thesis, but me and most people in the class don't have a thesis yet, because we just got here. Finally was my Migration and Integration class. Finally, a class focused exclusively on my study! The professor, Prof. Luccassen, was the professor I met with in January. I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorite classes. Regardless, I finished my first week of classes with an obscene amount of work. They really hit the ground running here, huh?
I like to keep a nice, balanced schedule. So in addition to work and school, I wanted to do something active as well. If you know me, you probably know I'm hyper competitive and always need to be doing something or some sport. Well I wanted to join a sports team here, so during the international week I was looking at some sports. But I was shy, and I wrote down some dates and then didn't show. But one day I was chilling with my group of Dutch guy friends on the street (yes, I know, weird but it was no-car Sunday or something like that, so we thought let's drink beer), and my bionic ears perked up at the word "voetbal".... or as we yanks call it: soccer. "What? Huh? Who's playing voetbal? Do you need a keeper? Can girls play?" Well it turns out he was the unofficial coach of a girls team in Leiden, and before you know it, you're looking at their new keeper. Sweet! You have no idea how good it feels to be back on the field.
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| Showing off my new cleats to my dad |
Then another thing falls on my lap. I swear, this stuff just keeps happening too easily, it makes me nervous. One of my roommates friends works within the humanities department, and was asking my roommate Juud if she knew any enthusiastic, active people in the humanities department. Well, I guess I'm overly social and can't keep my mouth shut, so I would qualify. Well, you're looking at the new membership promoter for Leiden University Humanities Department Career fair. One of six, baby. Only international student ("I'minternationalIswear!"), and the University pays me! Oh, and I get to network with companies. Awesome!
So as you can see, I've got a full plate this semester. Lekker bezig! :)
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