but first a bit of a recap:
The flight over was fantastic. Kate, my oldest and dearest friend from home, got some much needed rest while I LOVED the movies on demand in our personal headrest T.V. and decided that watching 3 movies and the sunrise was a better use of my time. Thankfully, I was able to catch a 45 minute cat nap during our layover in Frankfurt. In true Sanchez fashion, while we were brushing our teeth in the airport bathroom, we met two girls from Seattle who were on our flight to Amsterdam. Catherine is studying in Cairo for the year, and her friend Becca was visiting for a 10 day stay in Amsterdam. If we can, I plan to meet up with them in Amsterdam before I leave for Cork. If not, I'm sure there will be plenty more opportunities for another lifetime connection to be made in an airport. --- 9 years ago in the Atlanta airport, we met our dearest family friends Hans and Sherry Tschudin, waiting for our flight to Switzerland.--- I suppose we have a travel fairy of sorts, hopefully she pays me a visit at some point this trip.
Kate and I are staying with the Karsch's. Prisca and Hans have two daughters Saskia and Ingrid. Ing studied at Kate's high school 3 years ago, and the rest is history. Saskia and her friend Julia visited this past summer, and the family grew by one more. Now, I'm am so blessed to be welcomed with open arms, and Hans has spent the entire week out numbered by women here 6 : 1.
The night we arrived, we shared a delicious Japanese hibachi meal with about 1230983240 courses. I quickly learned that almost everyone speaks English, and yet every dinner table conversation, in public or private, includes sex, bodily functions and plenty of other 'taboo topics' in the states. The buckeyes and Mary-Kay I brought over were well received. I think it's impossible to hate either, and so we spent the evening enjoying company and processed sugar.
Yesterday afternoon we walked around town here in Stadskanaal (means city by the channel), There is a beautiful canal that runs right through the town. Julia, Sas, Ing, Kate and I visited Prisca's store downtown. It has some of the most beautiful soaps, scrubs, and shower delights brought in from countries all over Europe.
Even though we have been told we speak dutch like a deaf person, Kate and I asked for "Mag ik een appelflap alstublieft" = ' may I please have an appleflap please'. Appelflappen and Oliebollen are like a fried dough, some with raisins or apples and you put powdered sugar on them if you'd like. They are a New Years tradition. Prisca's two sisters Romi and Saskia came over with their families to ring in 2011. After plenty of good food, grapes, and kisses, everyone pours out into the streets to set off tons of fireworks. Throughout the day we would here them being set off, but the entire sky lights up after midnight as everyone is setting off their own display. Afterwards, neighbors lingered in and we watched several performances on T.V.
Today has been a relaxing day at home and tomorrow Kate leaves to stay with Julia and her family in Haarlem (right outside of Amsterdam) and flies out Monday morning for London, where she will be studying at University of Westminster. Sas, Ing and I are going to Groningen for the rest of my stay. This is where the girls go to school. I'm excited to see what a dutch college town is like.
Sorry this is such a long post, I don't anticipate all of the posts to be this length. Bare with me as I learn how this whole blogging thing works.
(Insert catchy parting phrase here)
Happy New Year 2011, you're off to a great start, I'd say! xo mom
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