Be where you are.

Let's be honest... I was pretty skeptical about studying in the Netherlands. However, I could not have picked a better place to study this semester.

So the weekend following Switzerland, I spent preparing for finals.  However, I had not yet been to Amsterdam and so Marley and I decided that we should take a day trip that Friday.  The day consisted of touring the Anne Frank house, lunch by the beautiful canals and visiting the Van Gogh Museum.
The Anne Frank house was interesting to see. It’s amazing how many times I am reminded of how good my life is since I have been here… It is so easy to separate myself from suffering, but walking through the house was a reminder that these people were just like me. At the end of the tour, I was reminded of the compelling quote by Yehuda Bauer:

"Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander."

Somehow, even in the most serious moments, Marley always manages to make me laugh


Is this bad? Maybe.



Betcha didn't know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice? Probably more bikes too.



Found out what this memorial was for after the picture was taken... made for an interesting story.


Lunch time!


Duh. Why doesn't every city have one of these? Don't want to forget where you are...

So I'm not really into art, but I loved the Van Gogh museum because
1. He was pretty good at what he did.
2. I know who he is (studied Starry Night in preschool... Sic 'em Colonial Presbyterian)
3. As you walked through the museum each chapter of his life was told next to his most famous pieces
4. They had Picasso and Monet originals in the museum is well (3 for 1)
5. It was free with our Maastricht ID card (can't beat that).

My one complaint: How was I to know Starry Night was in New York?  Who decided it was a good idea to put his most famous piece there instead of the museum dedicated to him?  Idiots...


This is my favorite. I bought it to frame for my room in Waco... I mean, a copy of it.

Anyway, needless to say, I had a beautiful and relaxing day in this city.  I would highly recommend a visit. It is beautiful, unique and does a wonderful job reflecting the Dutch culture that I have come to love.

A few days later, I returned to this city, but had a totally different experience. Through my university, we got the opportunity to (for only 25 euros) watch Holland's national football team (KNVB) play against Hungary in the Ajax stadium.  For those of you who did not follow the World Cup last summer (shame shame), Holland came in second to Spain in the final game.  Way to go boizzz!


Of course, I had to buy a scarf and wave it around like everyone else in the stadium.  I wanted to look... you know, local. Nice try, Hans.  However, going to a European football match was on my "things-to-do" list for the semester. Check check.



Never have I ever loved orange so much.




Our small group of Baylor students that took advantage of the opportunity. I was totally unimpressed with the rest of my classmates. Americans are so uncultured. I bet if it would have a team in the Super Bowl playing more people would have gone.





This is what they call "beautiful soccer."