The end is coming

So I thought about that last night lying in bed trying to get to sleep, I have less than 100 hours till I am done with school here in Maastricht. I thought about this and many other things laying in bed last night. Its gotten warm here these last few days so I have to have my window open. No AC, stupid dutch. I lie on top of the covers pretty much sweating, not the most pleasant sleep. Outside my window I hear one femenist talk about her favorite singer, Alanis Morisette, and why she likes him. Then I heard some Peruvians and Spanish kids talking. No idea what they were saying, it was in Spanish. I also heard a lot of birds. Then theres the bugs. No bug screens like Ive said. I have my reading light on above me, just listening to my walkman. I see big ones and small ones swarming around it. Of course I occasionally have to slap my arm, leg or chest. At least they aren't West Nile Skeets.

Classes are over and the studying has been going nonstop. Almost everyday since last Saturday Ive been studying over 10 hours a day. I have so much to cram into my head that everything becomes a jumbled mess. Listening to my walkman on the way to library I think about how I know every single lyric. I wish memorizing marketing research articles and all of their hypothesis and whether or not they were proved was that easy. Guess not.

Tuesday night. International drink night at the Twee Heren(it means Two Men in English, dumb bar name). Well I hadn't been there since March is my guess. I walk in, its crowded and hot. It was my idea to come, now its my idea to leave. I buy some drinks and decide to make a stay at. A hour later, and many drinks later I am on stage dancing. I got dragged up and I dont care. I dont care how dumb I look up there, I know I have no rhythm, no need to tell me. But Im telling my friends here, Im like I dont care because I will never see anyone in this place ever again.

So we decide to go to Meta, a club. I thought I was there for 15 minutes. Turns out I was there for a good hour or more. Im surprised that I was there for so long, because I remember saying I need to go home. The walk didn't seem so long this time around. I threw up once I got to bed. Now I wouldn't include this, but its funny because I have a mesh garbage can with no bag in it. Let me tell you how much fun that was to clean the next morning. I sleep in the next day, and Im not able to eat. I wake up to see I fell asleep on my glasses and they are bent. I also see that I used up the roll of film. I remember taking 3 pictures, I wonder what the other 8 are. I get to class, so I deserve credit for that. After class, I put my key in the bike lock and break the key. Long day. I get the lock off finally and feeling out of it I decide to walk my bike and go check out the zoo. Its really just some animals in a chain link fence area, nothing exotic. They got goats though. The weather was nice that day and it felt good to be out.

Thursday everything is back to normal. I get my glasses fixed....for free. YES!!! The library has actually been closed these last two days because of Ancesion day. Finals are around the corner and they close the library. Stupid Dutch. Even on the weekends they are only open for 7 hours a day. Not much compared to back home.

Need to get back to the books.

You know you'vé been in Europe too long when you start dreaming of exchange rates. The exchange rate from my standpoint has dropped considerably since Ive been here. While Ive lost money in every transaction, I will benefit from my deposit. A little bit of arbitrage.

So there is this French guy in my marketing class who has left for France for the next ten days. He hasn't seen his girlfriend in two weeks, so he needed to get back. Most of us were thinking, two weeks isn't that long of a time. Plus with finals next week, he could be distracted with wanting to go out with her and all. Still I was jealous of the guy, he was following his heart and not his head. I am someone who would like to be that carefree, but still am very much rational in my decisions.

Finals are just a bit over a week away. Ive started studying for them, because I am somewhat afraid of failing. With no prior midterms or exams I have no idea what to expect. The thing I hate about finals week is that it is always so slow. Time comes to a halt. But then that makes you wonder about time. Since our time here is limited, it should be good that days are slow. We should hope for days such as these. Still I want this week over done with ASAP. And hey say a prayer for me to pass my exams. I need all the help I can get. Also say one for world peace, thats a good thing too.

So they just made an annoucnement that the library is closing at 1pm. The reason. Because today is the official opening day. Makes me wonder why today is, since its been open from the time I got here. Why close it? The library is meant for the students.

Yesterday I went to the renovated grocery store. Good ol C1000. While it looks nicer, it isn't that much better. So this lady pointed in my basket at the Frosted Flakes. I had no idea what she was saying. So in English I said, "Yeah Frosted flakes are good." She just kind of stared at me.

Its one thing I've come to realize will be different coming back home. Everywhere around me is another language being spoken. It will be weird to be sitting next to strangers and know what they are saying.

The French Connection

This could be called the last minute trip. Everything about it came together at the last possible moment. Deciding to go to Paris really only happened the day before we left. Not much planning was involved, just a call to Eurolines reservation center to get a seat from Brussells to Paris. Here is the trip.

We needed to catch a train to Brussels Friday night to catch our 6am bus. Well we decided to take the last train to minimize our time in train stations. So we needed to catch the 10:10. We actually were running down the platform to get on this train. The conductors were telling us to hurry up. As we jumped on, the doors closed. So we are in Brussels, and realizing we have to spend the night here isn't that exciting. We decide to go into town, walk around a bit, maybe find a bar. Well we are heading into town and are going down this street. I've never seen so many prositutes. Honeslty over a 100 on both sides of the road for several blocks. Random. We get close to the center and find a bar. After a few hours we are tired and need to catch some sleep so we can hit Paris hard the next day. Walking back to the train station we discover its closed. We decided to catch some sleep on the benches outside. We find a good row of benches. Out of no where a total stranger sits right next to me. Its 3am, there are plenty of benches, and yet this guy decides to sit next to me. I was just about to lay down, but now he is too close for me to do so. I get up and choose a different bench. One of the guys I was traveling with starts talking to him. He seems nice enough, talks about Nirvana and his home in Morocco. I fall asleep. Within 30 minutes I wake up, shivering. The temperature has dropped and all I have is a fleece sweatshirt. I truly felt like a bum, I was lying down with only a backpack and was so cold. All I could do was lie down and shake. Around 5am the train station opened up and we went in. It was cold in there too, but no wind. Hanging out on a bench, a random guy all of sudden comes from right behind. He was about to grab my friends backpack, his attempt was not successful. This trip made me realize that I can't wait not to be a broke college student. Spending the extra bucks and get a hotel room and the comfort and security it includes.

So we get on the bus, it was a hour late and go to Paris. The four hour trip was a much needed nap. We get into Paris and try to find a hostel. Last minute trip, we didn't reserve. So the first one we went to was booked (not much of a surprise, mid-May, travel season). We go to the tourist office and they give us a hostel that has rooms available. Now we are trying to catch a 3pm afternoon bike tour. Well we are running late, and are actually running through subway stations. We emerge from the underground and run to the Eiffle tower trying to find the group. We missed it by 5 minutes. Back to subways stations, to this day I still love coming up from underneath. Its always a new sight, you never know what to expect.

So we hang out by the tower, Im doing one of those typical poses. Pretending Im leaning against it, supporting my weight. All of I suddden I hear Dave, Dave. No way. It was girl I knew from my marketing class back at A&M. She had just graduated and was touring around europe for a few weeks. That has always been one of my hopes, run into someone a world away out of blue. I guess I can check it off.

So now we just walk around. The river Siene, Arc de triumph, Champ-Ellyse, the Louve, Notre Dame, and some other parts. It was an good time. Random thing, true it was near the Louve, touristy area, but the place was selling Coke for 10.40 a liter. Now I know I can pick up a 99 cent 2 liter bottle down at the Texaco not more than two blocks from my apartment. I could make some money in Paris.

The next morning we decide to go to the Louve. Mona Lisa, great painting. Is it really better than all the other pieces inside this huge museum? Whose to say, but I don't really think it is. Saw the sculpture of aphrodite. I was like hey lets put our arms inside our shirts and pose next to it. For those that don't know, the statue ís missing its arms. We go ahead and do it. I was thinking we'd get some stares. Why are you being disgraceful? This is art, not humor. Instead we got our pictures taken and some laughs. I appreciate art, but now and then its better just to have some fun with. After the museum we head to the Latin quarter, grab some lunch, and just walk around. The guys have to get back because they have classes on Monday. I stay around another day. For the rest of the afternoon, I check out La Defense, Monte Marte(an amazing view of the city on top of a hill). On one subway, I notice this Asian couple get on (Im sitting right by the door). All of a sudden the guy is attacked. I don't know what happened, but before I could act on it, it was over. The French guy was off the subway and the Asian was sitting down with torn pants. Im guessing the French guy went for a money belt or something. Still I felt bad for the guy. Im sure his trip was a little less enjoyable.

I get back to the hostel around 10ish. Even brought out the marketing book and read an article I needed to. I must tell you it rained everyday we were there, forgot to mention. So now I have strangers in my room. One guy is in his 40s, and carries around his Jack Kerouc book. I must admit, I've always wanted to read his poetry. Anyways, while our conversations was limited this isn't the guy I want to grow to become. Hes in his 40s traveling alone. Saying words like cool, man, and the such. Im sure he loves his life and that is what is important. Still if I told him the VW minibus was waiting down on the street, full of petro, with no destination known he would have said Lets do it Man, it'll be one hell of a journey. I'd rather not be single, traveling alone and staying in youth hostels when Im at his age.

The next morning I was going to go on a tour, but with the rain I decide to go ahead and axe the idea. I walk around, see Sorbonne, Luxembourg gardens, and just walk..a ton. The rain is picking up and Im getting too wet. I decide to go ahead and check out a book or record store. Well I find this cool little record shop. I hang out in there for about a hour. Listening to all sorts of music. While they had the big American artists, they had a ton of independant ones as well. Had an entire section. Even found a single copy of my boy Mraz. Made my day. Checked out a bookstore, then needed to catch my bus.

So I want to go to the bathroom. Number 2 in fact. Im at the bus station, and to open the doors you have to pay 20 cents. So I put in my money, open the door, and look in with nothing but shock. It was disgusting and didn't even had a seat. About to squat I decide to check to see if there was tp. Nope. I get out and leave. Boarding the bus, the driver said we weren't allowed to use the bathroom. I just closed my eyes and fell asleep. The bus was a hour late. I missed my train. Made the last available train. This train was running slow, I would have missed my connecting train to Maastricht, but since it was the last one they held it back. Thank God. I couldn't imagine spending another night in a train station. Thinking Im going to have to walk the 40 minutes or so back to the Guesthouse I'm not too excited. However all the city buses are lined up. I hop in one I need, and in about 2 minutes all of them take off. It was the last round.

All in all France was a great time. It ranks near the top of favorite places of been to. Rome is still on the top. London might be higher up, but I need to back one day and explore it a bit more. The French were also a lot nicer than I was expecting. Their English isn't that good, but they know some, where as I would not be able to help a French tourist in America. Also there is something right with the French gene pool. The French girls put the Dutch to shame. Plus they have style. Dont get me wrong, the Dutch have a certain style to, its just one Im not too fond of.

2 more week to go in Maastricht. I've realized well that isn't all that much time. Im starting to study and before I know it, it'll be over.

Who looks like a 12 year old? If ya guessed me, youd be right. I haven't had a haircut in almost two months, which for me is quite some time. It was really shaggy looking I decided to go ahead and get it cut at this Korean place that is cheap. Well seeing how English is there third language(not fluent) I guess I got what I should have expected. Its real short, but it doesn't really matter. It'll grow and I can always wear a baseball cap.

We got our grade back from the paper/presentation. We did good. Its funny looking over the paper, most of the marks came from the section the Dutch student worked on. I don't care all that much because our grade was better than what I thought it was going to be. What I do find funny is that I have hardly ever written papers using references and the such. Still I had an idea of what to do. During the editing phase the Canadian girl prefered her way of referencing. Sure maybe it is a legit style, but we got marked off for it in every way. This Canadian is so controlling and always thinks shes right. Well she aint, but I am. kidding

Tonight I leave for Paris, actually Brussels. We are catching a 6 am bus from Brussels to Paris tomorrow morning so that means we have to take the last available train to Brussels from Maastricht tonight. We will get into Brussels around midnight. So that is a good six hours of doing absolutely nothing in a train station. Why not take any earlier bus, like a Friday afternoon one you ask. Well the reason is sad in all honesty. Its because I didn't want to skip a class. Since I've been in Europe I've only skipped one class, and that was the class I ended up dropping. So guess what Im bringing to Paris too, a textbook. Exciting times. Im on a bus or a train long enough to get some reading done I figure. Anyways Im hoping in Brussels tonight there will be some bums to talk to. Im guessing we will try and find a bar and stay till close. I think Belgium is out to get me, for it won't be the first time I have to sleep there without a bed. Im looking forward to Paris, well mainly the Eiffle Tower. I'm sure its just ok, nothing special, but I've always wanted to see it. It will be a nice escape to get out of Maastricht for a bit before studying for finals kicks in.

Today is a good day.

Our group just gave our presentation. We were creative and made it pretty group interactive. We made up a Jeopardy board (totally my idea). It made for a late night preparing and everything. In the morning our Powerpoint still wasn't exactly right. It was difficult to coordinate each our individual sections. We have a Dutch student in our group who was gone all weekend and couldn't meet up Monday till late in the afternoon. Stress is a funny thing. There's this Canadian girl who was in my group. Nice girl and all, but a little bit controlling. Then when things don't go the way planned, she freaks out. Maybe if she was more flexible then it'd be okay. I was in her room helping her with her part. We each chose our parts and she always thinks she has more to do than others, even though we all come to an agreement on who does what and make sure its equal. So I was in her room, listening to her complain. Jokingly trying to help her realize how small of an ordeal this, every five minutes Id be like stop bitching. You're driving me crazy. I'll leave you. Which made me think about why I stress. I was really relaxed about this paper/presentation. I knew it would come together and quicker if she was calm and took everything in that needed to be done and do one task at a time. It made me wonder then why I stress about my classes. I am in control, I should do fine on my exams. I've done pretty damn well in my four years of college. Its just school too, wait till I have a career and a family. Yet I still have my doubts about class, something I really need to work on. Is my stressing over? Unlikely. I will work my best to keep it to a minimal.

So heres a helpful hint on presentations. Prepare what you are going to say. Really know your material. Practice if need be. Dutch girl went first, she didn't use paper much but kept on saying uhmmm and pauses. The Canadian read her notes a lot, not looking at the group. I was a combination of the two. I spoke to the class not using my notes. However when I needed to use notes, I would have to try to find them. Wasn't the most suave way, but in the end it worked. This was really the first presentation I believe that I wasn't all that nervous.

Another reason for the good day. Im going to go grocery store shoppping. Many would dread this, but here is what is in my fridge (no lie) 2 limes (left over from the previous roommate), a tub of butter, an onion, salad dressing, and salad. Now this lettuce in a bag is kind of gross looking. Did I throw it out? Nope. I think its just a funny thing guys do. We leave it in there hoping that magically it will become edible. The pantry isn't much better. A thing of spaghetti noodles and half eaten jar of peanut butter. So its safe to say I need to hit up the store, plus the one I like is suppose to reopen today.

Looks like Im going to Paris, its not set, but I am going to the train station to see if I can get the discounted student ticket for this weekend or next.

Maybe the reason the most important reason why its a good day, THREE MORE WEEKS. Thats all there is left. 3 weeks. Also one month from today I will see that ol Lone Star flag waving.

Start with the bad end with the good.

European Community Law. I don't like it. It might be so much the material, no that is exactly what it is. I am so lost in that class its ridicolous. Refer to Article such in such, which then you will have to look up another article, but section three of that article. Endless numbers. Then we have to read these cases and because they are in such legal terms I have no clue what is going on. I feel as smart as a chicken. The professor doesn't help much either. I can not understand him because of his accent. Dutch, Spanish, French. I don't know, but Im pretty sure its annoyning. Yep thats it. Annoyning. Since I can't understand him anyways I dont care that he talks a mile a minute. Im so confused that even if he slowed down I would still be lost. I have so many issues with this school and Im looking forward to sitting down with the advisor back home and discussing them with her. I am taking the same classes as Europeans and even other Americans who are 27 years old and getting their MBAs. Hmmmmm does that seem fair. I'd have to say no. I am getting undergraduate course credit for a graduate level class. Thats bull shit. Plus my grades transfer on some messed up scale, that is if I pass the classes which honestly wouldn't surprise me if I didn't. Easily over half of the exchange students I've met have dropped or failed a course. I already dropped one, maybe I should fail just for kicks. Except I can't allow myself do that and have been in the library basically everyday this block.

Good news or I should say random. Talking to a German student in my class he mentioned how in highschool he was an exchange student for a year. I asked him where. He said Montana, and I was like oh thats where I group up. Told him Billings, he said thats where he went. We ended up going to good ol West High together. He was a senior there, my sophomore year. However we realized we had some of the same professors knew some of the same people. Biggest kicker was he was on the tennis team. While I didn't travel with varsity, I was at practice everyday and so was he. That is truly a small world.

So I finished another book a few days ago. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. I remember seeing the movie and wanting to understand it more, hoping I could get a better insight. Well the movie was disturbing in parts and well the book was worse. Plainly stated it was really gross in parts. I enjoyed the movie more, which I believe is a first. But if anyone has read it, I'd like to talk about it, because there was some symbolism and I am not able to grasp what it means. The new book on the bed side table is Accordian Crimes. Its an International best seller so it must be good. Still it has stood there for a few days and has yet to be cracked open.

Other news.
1. I ended up making tacos. Not just beef. Not just chicken. But both. I went all out. They were good too, which surprised me because I was pretty damn skeptical
2. I asked my professor if I could write in the book we are allowed to take in on the exam. He asked what I had intended on writing. So I was straight up honest with him, my notes. He laughed, and then said no. But I guess Im able to write some in the book. I think Im going to have rely more on memory than text
3. I got my bed back last night. Since my roommate is gone I have two beds Im able to push together and its great. But eveytime some one has a friend over they ask if I can borrow one. I really am not allowed to say no because then I would be a jerk.

Randomness
1. Services Marketing teacher told us today about 50% of the students fail this course. Isn't that a kick in the pants. Still, she is from America and I think or should at least hope she has some sympathy for me. She said she doesn't like how classes are set up here. Well in all honesty, no shit. You don't learn much yet work outside the classroom takes up so much more time. Another paper and a 2 hour presentation due next week. Woo hoo.
2. I think I saw an A&M baseball cap. He was coming in a door I was leaving and it caught me eye. I would have said something, but I was surprised and it happened too quickly. Or maybe I'm just a poor ag.
3. Im suppose to cook dinner tonight for 6. I have problems cooking for myself alone, let alone 6. Ordering pizza for delivery is tempting, but I think I'll go to the grocery store and see what I can make.
4. 4 more weeks

One Month. Four and a half weeks. 31 Days. No matter how you look at it, my time here at Maastricht is coming to an end. Am I counting down the days? In a few words: yes. I've seen pretty much all I wanted to in Europe, which in essence was the main reason I wanted to study abroad. Ok, I should say I've seen pretty much all I can afford to. Anyways its been a good time, and Im sure these next few weeks will be just fine. Still I can't help but get a little anxious to get back home. Living over here is fine, true I have issues with the restaraunts and the grocery stores, but its just I miss everyone back in College Station. I've really been thinking how my college life is almost over, less than 8 months. I just want to get back to everyone I've spent the last few years with and enjoy every minute of it. Soon enough I will be wearing the corporate suit working the 9-5(yes, I realize it'll be something like 7-8). Still I can hope for that 8 hour work day.

Random News:
1. I saw the guy with the biggest mustache ever yesterday.
2. I got an email from UCS, wanting me to talk to them about setting up an interview. Supposedly I sent them my resume. I really have no idea when, and in reality I don't think I ever did.
3. I almost fell asleep in class today. Sitting in lecture for two hours can get to you.
4. In random interviews, usually seen in magazines, they might ask the question to a celebrity or famous muscian if you were stuck on a deserted island what five albums would you want. I've been in Europe for over 3 months now and have 10 CDs. While I still listen to them, they are getting old. There is no way 5 could be enough.

Well its been several days since I written. I wish I could say I've been traveling around or way too busy to write, but in essence it is quite the opposite. Its rather boring here lately. But here's some news. Monday our hall had a dinner. I cooked my egg dish. It was either that, pasta, or quesidillas. Since I lacked the ingredients for the the last two, eggs it was. Tonight Im also cooking up an egg dish. I've been the biggest mooch. The people I hang out with rotate cooking dinner, and I think I've only cooked three times for them. That comes out to like once a month. They like to cook though, and I do dishes. Fair trade.

So today I went grocery shopping. Finally found a stick of deodarant. Not much to really choose from. All they had was one brand. In the same aisle I saw a husband staring at Maxi pads. I felt sorry for him, he seemed lost. If I was in his shoes I would have felt the same. Still it made me smile, and shoot someday I probably will be in that position.

Ok, so getting to the grocery store, I have always walked outside and around the complex. I figure there has to be a way through the complex, rather than around. Today I discovered it. I live in a hospitol. Its really weird but I see patients walking down the halls every day. Well I walked down a staircase and through some halls. It was a whole new world to me, one in which I live in and never noticed. I found an orthodepic shoe store, a blace called body imaging(I think it might be tanning salon), and many doctors offices. Its strange, but in the end I have now found a shortcut. It only took me three months.

Other big news, in my kitchen here I have one frying pan. Yellowish, looks 70ish, and is hellish to clean. Well basically all the teflon on the bottom is gone. I have heard that you can get a new one at the front desk if you exchange it. So I decided to see if that was true. They were shocked when they saw the pan. I said its ok, I was still able to cook with it. She's like you're going to get cancer. Walking down a hallway to a supply closet with her, she was like thats very dangerous to have been using that. You probably won't get cancer, but you might. Who knew that teflon was so bad for you. It wasn't like I was eating chunks of it. I guess I'll be back here in 30 years to sue the place.

Random side note, there is a security guard walking through the computer lab, he makes sure we aren't eating, but he also turns off the Num Lock key. Some other people have noticed this, and we think its to turn off the small light saving some energy. If this is the case, it only proves how cheap the Dutch are. It's ridicolous.