Well, if you folks have been keeping up with my oh-so-many blog posts </sarcasm>, you know that I am in the Netherlands! As a girl who grew up in a small town having only ever spent on week out of the country before in her entire life, this is a pretty huge experience for me and I'm feeling all of the things and it's all just very new and a little surreal to me.
Of course, I am feeling excited about living in a new place and going to a new school and meeting new people and integrating myself into a new culture. Though I am pretty introverted, I do like to meet new people, especially from cultures different from my own. I also love languages, and as there are people from all over the world here, I am getting to hear many different languages.
Despite all this excitement, it's also pretty overwhelming for me. It seems that people mostly meet by drinking together here, and I feel a bit like an outsider in these situations. It was my goal to lead a healthy lifestyle when I came here a week ago, and so I don't really drink alcohol, and while it's still fun to sit and talk with everyone while they are drinking, I feel like I'm being judged, even if I'm not. I'm sure I'll find comfort at some point, it's just that these initial stages leave me feeling awkward, and a little lonely.
Luckily, I have my amazing boyfriend Dylan. While he is not here in the Netherlands with me, though I was he was, he has been absolutely amazing about everything. He is supportive, and caring, and it's amazing how even though he's 4000 kilometers away, he's still a shoulder for me to cry on. I miss him like crazy, and I am so excited to come home for Christmas to see him and my family. So Dylan, if you're reading this, and I know you will, I love you, and thank you for being the best boyfriend a girl could ever ask for. I am so lucky to have you.
As always, despite the good and the bad, life continues onward, and I have no choice but to be dragged along with it. School for me starts the day after tomorrow, on Monday. I guess I'm considered one of the weird ones, or maybe just a nerd, but I've always liked going back to school, and I'm especially excited for it this year. The homework will be a welcome distraction from missing my family and my boyfriend, and maybe I'll even make some friends in my classes. As I mentioned earlier, I love languages, and I get to take a beginners Dutch course, so that should be pretty fun.
All in all, I have pretty mixed emotions right now about this whole situation, but I know that I am privileged to be here and to have a few friends here to support me and to have my family, friends, and Dylan back home supporting me. I intend to make the most of the trip, and I know that things will get easier and better as I go, and that I'm blessed to be here and I'm blessed to have all the love and support that I take with me, no matter where I go.
