Just returned from my first experience with Utrecht nightlife with Francesca and Adam. Actually my first bar experience and first beer (yuck) experience to speak of. Had een bier en een witbier. I'm buzzing along happily.

F & A are actually wonderful, and I'm not sure if we have much in common and I'm not sure if I really like beer (but it is goedkoop!) but I resolve now to get to know everyone I can and experience as much as I can. With twee biers in me I think I'd have fun doing anything -- and I don't feel terrible saying that.

It's all about the experience.

I told F. -- just to set the record straight -- I'm no huge partier -- I like to bring alcohol back home with a few beloved friends -- but I think I can have a lot of fun in a -- I can't find a way to say "compromising position" without implying something I definitely don't mean -- but you know.

Surprisingly I'm not really homesick. Just bored -- not much to fill up my days yet, and I don't know the city that well. I'm happy to be here, but not always happy/elated; at times it's still like, "I'm in freaking Europe!" others, it just seems all right.

Anyway I think I'm adjusting and learning the ropes rather well.

I'm looking forward to maybe seeing Lani and Josh this weekend and by extension some of the sights to see in England.

Finances -- I'm being deliberately frugal on food to leave € for travel and EXPERIENCES. But I love the apartment-style living, and "cooking" for myself. It's all very liberating.

I got to talk to my mom for about ten minutes today. So good to hear her voice.

I hope in these six months there will never be a day I step outside, look around, and don't say "OH my god." This city is gorgeous. I need to do some serious exploring soon.

Buzz, buzz -- I wouldn't have expected to feel so good off two [disgusting] beers.

Anyway I'm occasionally bored but never lonely -- I am the picture of independence and self-sufficiency. I can occupy my time well. And I'm mostly having a blast.

Some general observations:

-- pigeons are everywhere, huge, and strangely colored.

-- We all whistle in the same language.

-- You can't really make rice in a coffee pot.

-- Everyone speaks English, so you may as well stop feeling like a spoiled cheater. No one forced them to capitulate.

-- Dutch is still a beautiful, if incomprehensible, language.

Ah...

And they can call me brilliant if I succeed...
Ani