Ups and Downs in Maastricht

Hey everyone! I hope all is going well.

Amazingly it has been over a week since I returned from my amazing trip to Berlin. First off I want to apologize for all of the type-Os in my last blog post. I was writing it at like 2am so can you blame me?

The last week has been crazy. After I returned from Berlin I felt terrible. I assumed it was just exhaustion from not really sleeping in Berlin. After sleeping all day Sunday I realized it might be more than exhaustion/Berlin hangover. But me being me I thought I could just tough it out. After a few more nights characterized by a feverish delirium and a terrible sore throat I spoke with my coordinator about seeing a doctor. She was able to get me into a doctors office that afternoon. That was quite an experience. They have a clinic at the dorm I am living in but it was booked so I had to find a building tucked away in old town Maastricht. After an eventful search for the building I arrived just in time for my appointment. However, when I got there I realized that the lovely lady at the front desk spoke no english and I, of course, speak no dutch. So after 20 minutes of hand signals, laughter, tears and help from a young man walking by the office I was able to fill out the necessary forms. When the doctor was able to see me she took my temperature and looked down my throat and prescribed me antibiotics. She didn't run any tests but she told me she thought it was strep throat (yikes!). I then had to try and go find the pharmacy. So I asked my non-english speaking friend at the front desk for directions. That did not go well. After she repeated herself ten times I nodded and pretended to understand her crazy hand waves and rudimentary drawings and went on my way. I thought that if I just walked around downtown I would eventually run into a pharmacy. Low and behold I did! (This was on thursday by the way).

Unfortunately during the time I was sick I missed a few pub crawls and other shenanigans. But hey, I'm here for four more months. Plenty of time to get into trouble.

The next few days consisted of soup, juice, ibuprofen and antibiotics.

Finally on sunday I felt better, I was able to get out of bed and go the weekly farmers market in the main square in Maastricht. It felt good to get out of my dorm.

Today, monday, was the first day of actual school at the University of Maastricht. I, however, do not have classes on mondays and wednesdays! So I spent the day obtaining a bike and buying the book I will need for my international studies class.

I have my first class of the semester tomorrow! I'm nervous and pumped! It should be interesting. Additionally, I have booked two trips so far. Next weekend will be spent in Amsterdam and the weekend of the 27th I will be in Munich for Octoberfest. How freakin' cool is that?

Ah, I almost forgot. I have another Netherland Noob (NN) moment for ya'll. Again it occurred at the grocery store. Who thought it would be that hard to buy food?!? I walk in to the store with a little swagger in my step because I was feeling better and I knew which check outline to get into this time. I grabbed a few things, some bread, cheese, salami and a couple pieces of fruit. I proceeded to the check out line and double checked to make sure that I wasn't in the "no cash line". The clerk goes to scan my fruit and starts yelling at me in Dutch. I kindly informed her that I do not speak any Dutch and she tells me that I didn't pre-weigh the fruit. I didn't really understand what she meant so the person behind me kindly explained that I have weigh my fruit and and print out a bar code before I enter the check out line using this machine.

So, yeah, heres the machine. You're supposed to put your fruit on the scale and press the corresponding picture and it prints out bar code.

Thats all I got for today. Also, if anyone is interested by best bud Granger is studying abroad in Morocco and is blogging. Here is the url: http://tripptomorocco.blogspot.nl