day 1

Sunset view from my seat on the plane, over the atlantic somewhere.

The day I arrived here in amsterdam, i had been awake for what seemed like forever. I woke up on July 5, 2009 at 9:00 am, got to PA where i boarded the plane for amsterdam at 6:30, then didnt arrive in amsterdam until 8 am on July 6th. (since there is a 6 hour time difference, its like i woke up at 3pm, july 5th, amsterdam time). Within these hours, i slept for a total of 3. But i since it was only 8 in the morning, i had a full day to kill, plus a full night, & the jetlag would be killer to get rid of. So i stuck out another 7 or 8 hours until 8pm, when i eventually fell asleep for the first time in a full day & a half.

But even on the first day there was a lot to see and learn about the way some people live. over here all people ride is bikes, or very small cars. any one familiar with smart cars? well, they are everywhere. most people prefer to ride bikes, and because there is such a high majority of those who do, there are special bike lanes that run along the side of the street, between the road and sidewalk, ust for bikes. It is a pinkish stone path that has dashed lines speparating two lanes, they have their own stop lights, and most riders are very aggressive. They even get the right of way to pedestrians that are walking. Where ever you go, there are always hundreds of bikes locked up, all of them with different ways to carry groceries or other people, such as little children.

While we took our little ride, i learned a few words...

Dank u wel = Thank you ; pronounced (dan-Q-vel)

Alstublieft = Please / here you are ; pronounced (allshtubleeft)

Haar = Hair

Op = On

There is such a thing as a Euro Cent, which is just like an american cent. They are all differently sized gold-colored coins.

At my aunt & uncles house in southern amsterdam (amsterdam zuid), the television as american & dutch channels, as well as UK channels, and such. But all of the commercials are mainly in dutch. Most people here, speak quite fluent english as a second language.

FOOD EATEN TODAY:

Pizza (pennsylvania airport)

Pasta (airplane)

amsterdam:

doritos

stuffed chicken breast

asparagus

rice

water

glass of wine (rose possibly)