Day 75-Flight AA 81, Seat 33J

It's too weird that by the time I publish this last post, I'll be home in the States. It's been quite the journey these past 75 days...and I know I'm a different Brianna than I was post-study abroad. :) Academically, I feel the purpose of Studying Abroad has been successfully accomplished. I feel I've accumulated more knowledge about the history of art and culture, made more connections, and appreciated my passion more than I ever have in the past. It's been a blessing to experience firsthand what I've only seen in pictures or read about in my textbook.

I've learned quite a bit about myself as well (what I love, what I can do without, etc) and have had valuable time to ponder my life. I've thought long and hard about what I've done in the past almost twenty ;) years of my life and what I wish to do in the years to come. I've pondered what it means to know I'm one of Heavenly Father's daughters, and the vast amount of responsibility and joy I'm blessed to have because of this knowledge. My testimony of the power of God and the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been unquestionably strengthened as I've been exposed to different people, cultures, and experiences I couldn't have encountered any other way. I've had time to think about the importance of (and hopefully work on) patience, humility, and gratitude as it relates to my life and those around me. I've struggled with those parts of myself I wish to change, and even though I'm not perfect, I know I have my Savior to help me when I put forth the effort and ask for His guidance.

This journey has been life-changing, and even though at times it was rough, I'll be forever grateful I had this opportunity. :D

Day 73/74-The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Today was mostly spent in my hotel (minus a couple of hours spent walking around the hotel and surrounding area) so I thought I'd share a little list highlighting what I just know I'm going to do instinctively back in the States. Enjoy ;)

At the grocery store:
1. Head straight for the apples, bread, and peanut butter.
2. Look for digestives and lion bars.
3. Reach inside my pants in the checkout line.
4. Refuse a bag because they cost extra.

At home:
1. Wash my underwear in the sink.
2. Ask for an extra towel.
3. Set a meeting time in the morning.
4. Sniff-test a shirt five times before washing it.
5. Use an adapter.
6. Go to bed at 10.

At the restaurant:
1. Point to something on the menu for fear of mispronouncing it.
2. Ask for "take away."
3. Ask for the WC.

Miscellaneous places:
1. Watch for bikes when crossing the street.
2. Automatically crowd close to someone on the bus.
3. Ask, "Do you speak English?"
4. Be wary of birds.
5. Use every single available bathroom.
6. Go to H&M for clothes.
7. Upon smelling smoke, immediately perk up.
8. Assume karate position when anyone permeates a two foot radius.
9. Walk EVERYWHERE.
10. Kick pigeons.
11. Stare.

Day 72-The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Last official day of Study Abroad!! It's a little strange this day has finally come...I'll be honest. It's a surreal feeling knowing I'll be back in the States within the next three days. I'm pretty accustomed to European life/being on the go 24/7 so it's going to be an adjustment returning back to the norm. Definitely mixed feelings.

Knowing it was our last day, I'm pretty sure my professor saved some of the most exciting adventures for last. We went to two awesome museums: one was an open air museum (where we wandered through a typical 17th century Dutch village) and the other had some of the coolest outdoor sculptures I've ever seen. One was this interactive red thing that was suspended in the air...and you could swing in it :) Probably the best part of the day, however, was riding bikes through Holland's forest/safari landscape. It was so peaceful feeling the gentle wind and the green forest around me. I felt like a native hollander riding around. :)

It really was the perfect last day.

Day 71-The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Walking took up the majority of the day today. Beginning in Leyden, we walked to a quiet canal where we watched swans (and listened to our lecture, of course) and then we walked to the Frans Hals museum (more Dutch 17th century baroque!) and then finally around the town where we saw an old windmill (more on that later) and several interesting birds.

After Leyden, we caught a train to Da Haag where we walked for an hour (it was suppose to be a 20 min walk, but I didn't mind the additional time) to get to a museum that didn't allow pens, purses, pictures, or people. Ok. Not the last one, but still. They were so strict and protective of their collection and it wasn't even the Louvre...oh well. I found at least one painting I fell in love with all over again, so it was all worth it. ;)

Even though we were exhausted by this point, six of us decided to return to Leyden and visit the windmill we'd passed earlier in the day. We arrived 15 minutes before it closed, but were able to scale the several flights of steep Dutch stairs (I felt like I was climbing a latter...) all the way to the top and back down (which was really freaky) in 10 minutes. Olympic training.

By the time we made it back to our hotel I was struggling to stay awake, so I watched the Dog Whisperer and Ancient X-Files (who knew Joan of Arc wasn't burned at the stake?) on National Geographic. It was almost too adventurous for me...

Random note before I end: Holland farmland reminds me of Idaho farmland (minus the irrigation pipes) more than any other area in Europe has. I do wish we had Holland's delicate canals cutting gracefully through the fields, however, because it looks so awesome to see a field with a random line of boats in it. Makes me happy :)

Day 70-The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Five days. It's funny. I think I have some sort of mental block preventing me from fully accepting my return to the States...It's like I know everyone else is leaving for home and their families, but I'll still be here...ready for another group of people and new instructors. But that's not happening this time! It's unreal.

Today's adventures took us to Haarlem, a super relaxed town which has been my favorite of all the places we've visited in the Netherlands. Starting with the train station (where part of the Best Two Years was filmed), every boutique, house, and frites shop made me happy. :) I also enjoyed sitting along a canal and watching swans glide by. The art we saw (mostly Frans Hals and other 17th century Dutch painters) was very nostalgic and wonderfully jolly. :)

After Haarlem, we went back to Amsterdam for the last time (I think I'm good with that) to see an impressionist exhibition. It was beautiful. After that museum, we were set free to wander. Since one of the girls in my group had never been to a zoo (a travesty of childhood), three of us decided to take her to the one in Amsterdam. Unfortunately upon arrival, we found out our cards didn't get is in for free so we didn't go in. But we did see three camels, one donkey, a reindeer, some monkeys, a pigeon, and a fake owl...completely successful in my opinion.

Walking back was interesting. The only trouble we had (besides smelling non-cigarette smoke) was when we were almost at the station and accidentally brushed shoulders with the very corner of the red light district. It was pretty sketchy and honestly just sad that women choose to objectify their bodies in such a degrading manner. Definitely not my favorite experience. Luckily, we only ran into the edge and were able to quickly redirect our path towards the station. After Amsterdam, home (the Etap) was a pretty sight indeed.

It's funny. Five days seems like forever, yet each day passes so quickly leaving only memories. Thankfully, these linger and in time the good have the ability to overwhelm the bad. :)

Day 69-The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Oh, Amsterdam. You are one strange place. Today we ventured into the city many (including our group) have coined "the devil's city." Gratefully we weren't subject to the worst parts, but even in the "safe" right side of the city (back facing the station) there were some pretty interesting things taking place around us. 1) Tourism shops selling "special" pot cookies and chocolate bars...took me three seconds to figure out the leaf on the package wasn't mint. Guess no chocolate for Brianna. 2) When accidentally making eye contact with someone, being asked if I wanted to "buy"...And my personal favorite. 3) 15 year-olds growling (I'm dead serious. It was hilarious.) seductively at you from under rain canopies...Naples all over again, except the Italians don't growl.

Although these experiences were quite enlightening of Amsterdam culture, I must admit I enjoyed the other cultural experiences I had today. Not only did I see Rembrandt's Night Watch (sorry the picture's bad) along with a slew of 17th century northern baroque pieces including several Vermeer's, De Hooch's, and Frans Halls', but I also saw the largest collection of Van Gogh's I've ever seen. It was funny. When we were sent off to write about any piece that "spoke to us" at the end of lecture, I stood in front of an ordinary (well, Van Gogh's are never ordinary, but you get the point) painting and began writing. Within seconds I was surrounded as tourists tried to figure out my fascination with a simple vase of irises. The entire 20 min I was writing, the irises were carefully scrutinized from every angle (as were my notes...) but the second I walked away, the irises resumed their place amongst the other post-impressionist pieces and the tourists shuffled on by. Art Student: 1. Tourists: 0.

Between the last two places we visited, we went to a quaint Dutch pancake hauss and enjoyed traditional pancakes (shout out to my Grandma Soucie for making similar-if not better-pancakes) and enjoyed some thoughts for our last FHE together as a group. :(

The second to last museum we went to was a bit boring so I'll spare the details, but the Anne Frank hauss I went to with some of the girls was incredible. It was astonishing how small the annex that hid eight people really was (and how suffocatingly dark it would have been), yet how well it blended in with the bottom portion of the warehouse. It was difficult to look at the original collage of magazine pictures, flowers photos, and other memorabilia Anne had used to decorate the walls of her compartment before she was found and arrested. It's tragic to think inhumanity existed on such a level that power eventually overcame love and the moral decision was lost out of fear. Also powerful were several original pages from Anne's diary on display.

I had some purposeful experiences today I know redefined the way I think about humanity and my place in the world. I'm so grateful I'm having this experience!

Day 68-The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Today was one of the most spiritually enriching days I've had abroad. It was so nice to attend church in Da Haag even if we walked for 45 minutes to get there) and be uplifted by other members and their personal experiences. In Sunday school we talked about being truly converted to Christ and the importance of having our own personal conversion to the gospel. I loved hearing the members talk about their growing testimonies and realizing we are all working towards salvation together. It was a great meeting. :) Sacrament meeting was great as well, but I was pretty distracted by the language. It's funny. Because some Dutch words sound English, the words I don't understand sound gibberish. Not all the time though...At one point, we listened to a guy from Ganda give a talk in English and when this member (who actually played in The Best Two Years!) translated for the Dutch members, I think I understood more of his Dutch than the speaker's English. Bottom line, church was entertaining and I needed it!

The rest of today was relaxing for the most part. Sunday's such a bonus on a study abroad ;) though I can't wait to go into Amsterdam tomorrow...love it!

Sorry no pictures...