My final words....

I'm back in Montreal, my first day back, and this will be my last entry in this blog. There are a few things that I wanted to say that I hope that you are all reading.

My trip home was exhausting but adventurous. Maaike and Paul drove me to the Schipol airport, where we dealt with heavy traffic and parking troubles (get a smaller van, Paul!). They were so sweet to drive me there and not let me leave Holland alone. Goodbye was too short because I was late and we couldn't park the van everywhere, but you both know that I love you and I would have liked to have spent more time with you at the last minute.

I hopped on my plane and got as far as London. However, we landed too late and I missed my connection. It turned out that I had to stay in England overnight and catch the plane the next afternoon. This was kind of sucky since the new security rules made sure that I had no makeup, deoderant, toothpaste, clean underwear, or anything with me. I spent the evening in my (free) hotel eating (free) buffet dinner and chatting with English and Irish rugby fans to pass the hours. In the morning, I hopped on the underground (which wasn't underground until it was near the central area) on the Picadilly line and managed to see Buckingham palace. This was a very short tour of London, about 45 minutes of actual picture taking, but it was fun nevertheless.

After an hour of going through security at the Heathrow airport (yes, I had to take off my shoes), my plane left late again (curse British Airways!) due to an engine problem with the original plane. I landed 1 hour late and, you guessed it, my baggage did not make the trip with me. I still don't have my suitcases, which means that I have no camera cable, so I have no pictures to show you in this entry.

But, in the end, I made it to Montreal safe and sound (to the relief to Mom and Dad), where my sister Lisa picked me up at the airport and took care of me (Cameron was working late).

I went into shock last night seeing my apartment for the first time in half a year, but my cat soon recognized me and things started to settle back in slowly. There's just no place like home.

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Before I sign off, I wanted to leave a list of all the crazy things about the Netherlands and Groningen that for your amusement. This list is inspired by Janelle, who started one herself and showed it to me hours before she left Holland herself.

The crazy things about Dutch and Groningen life, Susan's perspective:
* Giant black and white cows (apparently all B&W cows in the world were originally raised in Friesland)
* Kangaroo farms to feed the rich fancy meat
* Groningen bars are open until 7 am (and still busy until closing!)
* Scary narrow stairwells
* No tipping except for sit-down restaurants (though I always tipped and got great service for the gesture)
* Extra-foamy beer that is poured in a way that will shame the English
* The bike phemenon
- Carrying everything from beer crates to toddlers on bikes
- Taking passengers on the back of your bike with buses whizzing by an inch away
- Wearing dressy clothing on a bike to go to a fancy night out
- Going home drunk on a bike
- Couples holding hands while riding their bikes
- Cars go out of their way to let bikes rule the roads
- 90% of the bikes have been stolen at least once
- Humongous bike parking lots
* Wearing clogs at the hospital for work
* Stores are strictly open 9am-7pm, and never ever on Sundays (so you starve if you don't plan ahead)
* Orange madness during football season (everything from toilet paper to food is orange)
* Public urinals in the middle of the street that pop up out of the ground at night and disappear mysteriously during the day
* The refusal to use 1 cent and 2 cent coins (they round up to the closest 5 cent rather than deal with them)
* Strict IOUs when lending money to friends (hence the term "double dutch" when going on a date), except for buying rounds at the bar
* Big Bird from Sesame Street is blue
* Everyone knows English because American shows are subtitled and not dubbed
* The food
- candy on bread (little sprinkles and slices of pressed coconut candy)
- raw pickled herring, eaten whole with raw onions (the old man favourite)
- peanut soup (like hot peanut butter with onions)
- huge mounds of mashed potatoes mixed up with green veggies
- all butter is unsalted
- bi-colour meat slices with pictures (including football players)
- Febo food from vending machines, particularly fried unrecognizable grey liquidated meat
- all iced tea is fuzzy
- a gazillion potato snacks dominating 60% of the supermarkt aisles
- tea is never served with milk
- vla and kwark
- yoghurt is always in liquid form
- curry ketchup that doesn't taste like curry nor ketchup
- frites with "special sauce" aka mayo, curry ketchup and raw onions served in a paper cone (which they say is Dutch but the frite stands are Belgian)
- awesome fresh water from every tap
* The lack of Dutch who smoke pot (vs. 90% of tourists)
* The whole country is basically under sea level
* Holidays (days off work) every second weekend
* Rain is ignored, you just get wet
* Their outspoken (don't ever say "blunt") and direct way of speaking (which I totally appreciate and respect!)

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I will miss Holland and its people with all my heart. Though, I will be back next year for another internship, I promise! So, "tot ziens" not goodbye!

Keep in touch. You know how to reach me by email.

I will be starting a new blog from Montreal (also listed in my links) so that you can spy on my life from wherever you live.

I love you guys and thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the best time in my life!

Love,
Susan