Drops of Jupiter

I am scribbling this on scrap-paper that I will later transcribe on my computer, once I am out of Edinburgh, Scotland on my first ever solo trip! Although I am currently in my hostel lobby, let’s pretend that we are both strolling beneath the shadows of the towering Gothic architecture, hearing the distant whistles of a bagpiper. Since my birthday, November 9, falls during my exams, I decided to celebrate a few weeks earlier with the Loch Ness Monster and some Hyland cows. Literally, though, I sailed the dark waters of Loch Ness as a tour guide explained how MIT had come to take sonar tests of the depths to try and disturb Nessie. If the intelligent brains of MIT can believe in her existence, why can’t we? Exploring the city until my feet throbbed was the most enchanting birthday gift; every corner and tavern was a new adventure. It was a relief seeing mountains and hills again, given that the Netherlands is extremely flat. I bumped along in a bus tour of the Scottish highlands, where scenes of Harry Potter and James Bond were filmed. Hiking up Arther’s Seat (an extinct volcano in the heart of Edinburgh) with gusty winds blowing and a panoramic view made me feel like I was flying! I had to physically hold back my squealing when I rode the classic double-decker bus and spotted red telephone booths. If a dragon flew above the towering buildings, I would not have been *that* surprised. Despite an egregiously long stay at the airport (due to my cancelled flight), I can safely say that Edinburgh is my favorite city, second only to sunny San Diego. I hope the pictures attached below give a more vivid account of Scottish magic, because I could write endlessly about it.

But, of course, most of October was spent in my lovely (and increasingly cold) Utrecht. Whereas September passed slowly, this month flew faster than a Dutch grandma on a bike (believe me, they’re speedy). One of my favorite memories was when my flat and I surprised our roommate, Sophie, with flowers, balloons, and cookies for her birthday. Sophie, who is English, later told us that she “enjoyed the American festivities” because birthdays in England are not as grandiose. Finally, the US is doing something right! Living with so many internationals and meeting more on campus has made me realize that xenophobia is not as taboo here as it is in the US. My other American friends can attest to the fact that the European detest for Americans is not just a Tik Tok fad, it is real. One of my goals in coming to the Netherlands was to be a good ambassador for my country, but seeing the fixed mindset against us has made this a little discouraging. However, Griffins aren’t quitters, so I helped host an “American Culture Night” for the Christian Union organization I am involved in here. My fellow San Diegian, Esther, and I cooked fried chicken and waffles, gave a presentation about our lives in the states (where I showed many snapshots of San Diego; if you don’t think SD is stunning there is no hope for the rest of the US), and flicked on “Home Alone.” Aside from people giggling that we call football “soccer” and that we don’t know what a kilometer is, I think everyone was receptive to our perspective.

Speaking of Americans, I had the chance to meet more UCEAP’ers this month! A group of us girls got our ears pierced and explored vintage stores in downtown Utrecht. It was so sweet speaking with other Californians about the random things we miss about home, some of these being: free public transportation, understanding random people’s conversations, and blue skies. That being said, I adore aspects of the NL that California could never reciprocate: canals, cobblestone streets, hanging street lanterns, Tony’s Chocolate, and hopping over to another country within an hour flight. My favorite thing about my new home, though, is the autumn colors. Tall, skinny trees have boasted burgundy, orange, and yellow leaves that fall with swooping delicacy. Strolling in the city center with the quaint shops, autumn leaves, and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” playing in my headphones is and will forever be a core memory.

Another sweet memory this month was a weekend retreat to an apple farm called, “L’Abri” in a picturesque Dutch village. L’Abri is an international Christian community where you can live in a large home and enjoy home-cooked meals in exchange for a few hours of labor. The entire experience was very cottage-core, and the missionaries working there gave some of the wisest lectures I have heard. I was able to befriend a girl from Washington state and a missionary from Hungary and together we chowed on many of the fallen apples. From a treehouse library I read CS Lewis novels and enjoyed the slow rythm of farmlife away from technology. For the “work” portion of the day, we chopped thick tree stumps for firewood-it was shockingly fun!

I am thrilled to see how the magic of Utrecht will be amplified during Christmastime. There are already hanging lights in the streets and red and green wrapped chocolate being sold, but I long to experience the notorious Christmas markets. You may have to wait more than one blog post to read about these, but I am sure November will hold many more lessons, memories, and new experiences (and the most notable event: my 21st birthday!!).

Until then,

Katia