Adventures in Amsterdam. First post!

Erika Eats it on her Bike.

Erika: So, here goes nothing. Amanda and I are starting this blog in an attempt to record the happenings as we venture through Amsterdam and throughout Europe for the next 4 months!

I 've been in Europe now for about two weeks now. My strong and healthy bros came to travel around with me to Prague and Budapest for a week and a half or so. The experience was pretty amazing. It was a comfort to have a piece of home with me while I get acclimated to this new place. They helped me get settled in to Amsterdam and left last Thursday.

Because it's been probably the craziest week I've ever had due to orientation and getting situated, I'll make it up by giving a concise cliffs notes version. Apparently, in Amsterdam, orientation means get all the international students in a room and get them all drunk because that's basically what happened every night from Wednesday to Saturday. They filled us up on free Heineken at random events like a karaoke night or at a club. Nonetheless, it was a glorious orientation and a great way to break the ice. something America should think about. no more of this "go around the circle and tell me something interesting."

So, other highlights from that week include:
- going to the windmills in the rural area, saw how clogs were made, went to an amazing cheese factory with the bros
- sitting by the canal with new friends eating cheap thai food
- walking all over Amsterdam
- finally getting a bike
- went to an art show opening where the artist built a giant ant hill out of cardboard which you were able to climb through
- attended the Amsterdam jazz festival which was amazing
- Amanda learning how to ride a bike!
- eating at the Pancake Bakery
- cooking my first meal with Amanda
- going to an open air market to shop for meat, cheese, and fruits
- getting buzzed on the canal cruise
- getting pretty stoned and imagining an entire world underneath the canal, with a talking swan
- trying out new gange
- first day of school was today. teachers talk really slow here but the content seems interesting. amanda and i have all our classes together! yay 4 day weekends. =)

AND finally, to describe the picture of the day, I fell for the first time on my bike today and totally ate it. Now my bike makes strange noises, the handlebars are off centered and my knee is a bit disabled. BUT, i guess its just a little welcome present from Amsterdam.

Thanks Amsterdam. Glad to be here.