This is late! but, better late than never...

So last Monday we decide to go out to a bar. It was a pretty good time. The bar’s name was something that I can’t remember but it was SO PACKED. Like, we couldn’t even really get in the back door. It was craaazy. But, we managed to all pack in there and get some beer in our hands. I checked my coat, scarf and purse and took that number as well as Sean’s and Cat’s because Sean is obviously more than capable of losing his, and Cat didn’t have pockets. The evening started off tame and fairly boring. We basically just stood around for an hour or so and listened to the music and talked to one another (and when I say talked I mean we screamed in competition with the loud music and the 60 other people that were in the same room with us). Then, good ole’ Audra and Jack decided to get on top of this black box that was randomly in the back of the bar. It was basically like an extra table or a stage even, no one knows it’s real purpose, but they used it as a surface to get their groove on. Of course, I wanted in on the fun, so I hopped on up there. It was a blast! And it didn’t even bother me that all the Dutch kids in the room were looking at us like we were crazy (they were just jealous). Well, soon all of us were trying to fit on this little surface. We started a trend, Audra and Jack got the whole place movin’ their groovy bodies. So then, Audra made a friend. His name is Justin Beiber. I shit you not, this kid looks EXACTLY like Justin Beiber, it was creepy. He had the hair, the boyish face, the sideways trucker hat thing, the whole nine. So, we got up with us for a while and danced. They were playing great music, it was a very successful night. Even when Sean decided to leave and I found that there were only 2 tags in my pocket instead of the 3 that should have been there, the guys at the coat check were super nice and let me describe my stuff and returned it to me with limited attitude.

Wednesday night we decided to go out again and check out some of the places that would have “International-Night” specials. We first decided to check out a place called Einstein’s but it was so full of people that our caravan of more than 15 wasn’t going to fit. Then, we kind of split up and a group of us headed to the bar that I described from the first night of orientation. There was an older crowed there this evening, which is fine, but we weren’t really into that until Audra heard the jazz music coming from downstairs. There is a jazz music festival going on here in Leiden until this Sunday I think and there was just this huge big band playing in the basement of this bar! It was awesome! There was no charge and me and Audra and Fatima stuck around long enough for some seats to open up. It was a great atmosphere, and some really kick-ass music. When we were heading back, Audra wanted to stop in at a place that looked like it had music in it as well. Well we head in, free again, and find that someone is doing a James Brown cover! And this crowd was dancing! It was awesome haha we stayed for the last song and got our groove on.

Classes are still going really well. I really like my documentary class, even though it meets on Monday mornings. I feel like it’s helping me think like a documentarian and making me do things out of my comfort zone, like leading a debate! I also love my art history course. Not only is the material naturally interesting to me, but the teacher is hilarious. She’s probably a little crazy, but hey, the best ones are. She wears these really cute outfits and jewelry has her hair and makeup done for class, and then you look down and you see her white tennis shoes that look like they’ve been around for a while. Some of my favorite lines from the class thus far are “Jack! I had a dog named Jack, He attacked me.”, “Oh and look, there’s baby Jesus making a bee line for Mary’s womb”, and last but not least, “That’s JOSEPH! Joseph- he was beyond being able to do anything—if you know what I mean”.

In my earnest attempt to update everyone on all the cool stuff that I’m doing, I failed to explain some little things, like my room and stuff like that. The key that I use to get in my room is this little blue tag that has a magnet in it. It’s pretty freaking cool. When I want to get into the room, I put it up against this certain part of the door and this little green light comes on, then I can unlock it. When I get inside, I put the tag in this little holder on my wall and that turns on the electricity in my room. Seriously. So, when I leave, my heat and lights turn off on their own, and everything plugged into the wall stops charging. What a way to save energy.

Also, my bathroom is about the size of a small closet, if that tells you anything about the size of the shower, which is inside it. I turn off the water with my elbow at least once every time I shower. I don’t really mind it though, I appreciate their conservation of space. I don’t really appreciate the smell of the hot water though. I don’t know if it’s just the building or if it’s all of Leiden, or Europe or what, but the hot water that comes out of the shower and both faucets smells like… I don’t know what. Like, yeast or something like it. It’s kind of sweet, but not in a good way. Does that make sense? And that really wouldn’t even be that bad if I didn’t get wiffs of it when I work out or sweat at all…whatevs.

Oh! And to any of you who wish to know or send me anything, the address to send letters to is:

Catharine Goeke

Living Learning Center

Galgewater 1 3K

2311 vz, Leiden, Netherlands

and packages to ( this one’s mostly for mom and dad)

Catharine Goeke/ Benninger

Boommarkt 1

2311 EA Leiden

The Netherlands