Surprise

Oh, and guess what I found after my ride? This:

And guess where I found it? My thigh. It bit me. Or at least was trying to nibble me. G-R-O-S-S

A Bike Ride Through the Dwingelderveld

As requested, here's a google map of where I am, and another, zoomed in one of Lhee. Please note, on my bike ride through Lhee today I did in fact find the correct road home on the first try.



The day started cold and overcast. But once again it cleared in the afternoon. So after I was done working (I'm learning about radiative transfer as pertaining to molecular gas clouds. Einstein coefficients, anyone?) I threw on some tennies and I was off. Instead of heading into town this time I dared go south into the national park. Here is a photo journal of my ride:









These are in the order I took them on the route. The scenery changes so quickly, and it's all breath taking. Google maps is being dum and doesn't have a satellite shot of this region so I can't map out my route, but yeah, it was great.

Had enough pictures of green and nature? Well too bad! There's a lot of it out here.

A Jaunt Into Dwingeloo

Went for another bike ride today into town. It rained on and off for most of the day but around 7:00pm it cleared up and I chanced a ride. Took pictures this time, still got lost in Lhee (a tiny tiny village right up the street from me) though.
My trusty 3-speed bike :) Haven't figured out how to downshift yet, so I'm stuck in 3rd gear...
Field just down the road from me. It's very flat here, very flat.


Yes, that's a thatched roof. They're fairly common too...
Farm house in Lhee
Cute little townhouses coming into Dwingeloo
House in town, fairly typically awesome.

Pretty flowers at a pond in Dwingeloo.

That's ASTRON/JIVE :) My office is either the second or third window (which you can't see) to the left from the center on the bottom floor.


Additionally, I thought I'd post the few Dutch words I've learned from just reading signs.
1.) Ingang -> Enter
2.) Te Koop -> For rent
3.)

Okay, so not many. More to come.

Airport Goodbyes Suck

Yup, it's a blog. How terribly cliche. But hey, I'm living in a foreign country for 11 weeks- that's sure to generate a story or two. So deal with it, and enjoy the photos! Oh and p.s. I DON'T want to hear about my dhumbh grammar mistakes. Read it and like it! (Okay, maybe I do want to hear about them, but discretely, k? My pride wounds easily.)

There a list of things that, if they happened, I might have to start believing in god. It's a short list, I assure you. Getting an A in quantum was on there, but that didn't happen so I thought I was safe. But my travels were so smooth and perfectly timed and easy that I am beginning to question if I am being tested by a divine being who loves me and kills everyone who doesn't love him...But seriously, as far as traveling goes, it was great. Got window seats!!! The food wasn't horrible. My neighbor didn't snore (I caught myself a few times though) or droll (I don't think I did) or otherwise try to 'be friendly' and TALK to me (Heaven forbid). Got to Schiphol, got a train ticket, caught the train, didn't get lost (amazing!), and the taxi was waiting for me in Hoogeveen (exactly as was planned). Made it to ASTRON/JIVE (where I'll be working) and settled into the guesthouse next door. I then promptly feel asleep.

Today I got out my maps and Dutch phrase book and rode my bike into town. I am living in BFH (butt fucking Holland). It's RURAL. I rode by more fields and farmland and sheep and cows and amazingly cute little brick homes than I could count. I was concentrated on not getting lost so I didn't take any pictures, but I will, promise. Dwingeloo itself is amazing. It's ...quaint. But that's not really the word I want. It's different. It's european. It's ...faily tale? Whatever it is, it's awesome. All the streets were cobblestone and were hardly painted for traffic at all. The shops are all in beautiful brick buildings with little a-frame posters outside with the menu or specials printed in neat Dutch. The people are very nice and smile a lot.

Tomorrow's supposed to be rainy so I don't know what I'll end up doing. Reading most likely. And sleeping. I can still call it jet lag, right? I'd like to go back into town again, though I'm too poor to actually buy anything and riding to town to just go to town seems dum. The rain may just decide for me.

Anywho, I'm getting hungry, so I'm going to go rummage through the stocked pantry and try to find food that I either a.) recognize or b.) can figure out 1.) what it is or 2.) how to cook it.

Oh, and here are some initial photos :)


What's that? Oh that? It's just a GIANT RADIO ANTENNA outside my BACK DOOR!


My bedroom :) Messy, like it's going to stay. And although it's a twin, the bed's not bad...

View from my bedroom window. It's okay to feel a little green with envy...haha.