Dutch Culture Night!

I had around four hours of sleep every night in the last week or so. First was the exam on Monday, which I spent almost the whole day Sunday studying for. Then came the whirlwind trip to Madrid, which lasted not even 3 days, of which we had probably around 6 hours of free time. Then, after returing to Barcelona, classes resumed again, and there was an assignment due, another deadline looming close, and then there was a culture night presentation I had to prepare for. During lectures in the daytime, I would so tiredly just doze off to sleep. How very embarassing, but I am really so exhausted.

Anyways, I guess things turned out well in the end. Because we all come from different parts of the world, representatives of each country is asked to present something special about their own culture and country. And the Netherlands happened to be tonight. In the midst of all this chaose, with some others I went to the supermarket and bought some food and drinks for the group. It was hilarious, as we wandered around the corridors of the supermarket picking out anything and everything slightly related to the Netherlands... chunks of Dutch cheese, readymade pancakes, kegs of Heineken and Grolsch beer, and bottles of wine. In the end we bought 30litres of beer and close to 40litres of wine. So last night I had so much beer on the floor of my room it was difficult to even enter. And the funny thing is: I hate beer!



Finally tonight was the night... Together with the other Dutch person in the group, we made a great 15 minute presentation with videofootages, pictures and lots of interesting facts about the Netherlands. I think we did a great job, especially given it was done inside this sacred chapel crowded with close to two hundred people, in an unbearable evening heat with no breeze. Yes, the wonderful student residence that we have just moved into is not the ideal place for a bunch of rowdy international students. But somehow we managed to pull things off, and tell people a bit about the country we come from... not just the softdrugs, legalised prostitution and same-sex marriage... but also a bit about the famous Dutch people throughout history, as well as the great strides the Dutch have made in space exploration.

I guess walking around in an orange shirt, with the Dutch flag around me, I can be proud too.




Arriving in the Netherlands

Prostitution in the Red Light District


Flower auction



Finding life on Mars