Since I have been living here, there are many things that I’ve had to get used to. For example, the toilets have no flusher, just a huge button on the wall. The light switches are upside down, so to turn on the light, the switch must be flicked downward. Instead of looking both ways for oncoming cars before crossing, you must look first for oncoming bicycles. In one day the weather can change from warm, sunny and cloud free, to cold, rainy and cloudy in two minuets and then back again.

The fashion is also something to get used to. In my first class this morning, I was embarrassed to find that out of the twenty-three girls in our International Fashion Management class, I was the only one not wearing heels. This is a problem that cannot easily be solved. I did bring high-heeled shoes with me of course, but the cobble–stone streets just are not looking too friendly. I still have yet to figure out how all the women here can thoughtlessly strut around in their heels without wiping out. Also, Dan and I were not pleased to find that no one here wears flip-flops. We honestly look like major geeks showing off our feet. Our Lacoste shoes and Chucks have been treating us very well.

Dan and I have also started making friends!! After deciding that all the other boys here are “crunchy” (our new word referring to the slicked back hairstyles . . . think Dep) we have scored a wicked group of fashionistas to hang with! Linda and Ann are from Germany; Heidi, Jenni and Salla are from Finland; and Christina is from France. All the girls are also exchange students, except for Ann who is just beginning her four years here at AMFI.

Hopefully I can figure out this camera crisis I’m in so I can start showing how great it is here! Not to mention what a cute town Diemen is and how cool (and extremely beautiful) everyone is. I have sadly resorted to a disposable camera and my new cell phone to take pics, which I faithfully used all weekend at the fair in Hoogarkspel and Westwoud. They are the two towns Kees, Annie, Kim and Crissy live between. But more about that later!!