Jet Lag

Jet leg... let me tell you it's a real thing that wakes you up at 2am, 4am, and 6am every day for a week straight! At 4am you body is certain that it's 10 in the morning but the clock says differently. Thankfully, I am now a few weeks out and the jet lag has subsided. However, I still try and pull that excuse to go to bed early or to take naps, but my friends are not buying it anymore; instead, they just look at me and say, "You've been home for 3 weeks now, get over it #siudwi (suck it up and deal with it)" Experts say that it takes one day for every hour difference. And that is true for sleep side of things. Each day got a little easier and by the end of the first week I was only waking up at 6am instead of 2am.

And then life starts to set in... My sleep schedule has returned to normal, but there are several things that remain "jet lagged." For example, I find American coins very strange; they are so light and frankly I don't use them as often as I used euro coins. Secondly, I can't just call up a friend and say I'm biking over to your place now. I can't bike to the store or the market. Other things include ordering, I have to remember that when I go to order something that I can actually use English.

I think the biggest thing that has been "jet lagged" is the fact that Tuesdays no longer revolve around which Dutch city we'll be visiting this week as a SPICE family. Lately, I miss them all especially more than usual because I am in transition. Transition is a word that I will most likely be using for the next few months as I try and find my place after study abroad and after graduation. I'm also transition from being surrounded by a group of students traveling Europe to being with family in one stationary spot. And then one more transition this week. I'm transition from being at home with family and few responsibilities to a camp where I am surrounded by friends that feel more like family and where my responsibilities seem overwhelming at times. In these times of transition, I find myself missing the spontaneity of my time with the SPICE group, I find myself homesick for a group that it took me 4159 miles and nearly 3 weeks to remind myself that we became bonded by our similar experiences and our need for connection.

So friends that I may encounter during these times of transition. Be patient with me if I talk incessantly about the Netherlands. Bear with me if Dutch words are the first out of my mouth or instead of using the English word, I want to learn the Dutch equivalent. Hug me extra tight if I come and my eyes are red, I may have just bawled my eyes out missing Europe. Push me forward (or off my chair) if I keep talking about de vliegende paard. Tell me to #siudwi if I blame things on jet lag because let's be real, jet lag ended about 3 weeks ago.

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#katiespiceurope
#studyabroad

When in Rome

Oh the places you'll go and the people you'll meet. When you travel with a group try not to fall on you feet. - Dr Seuss (edited by L.L. Cornstarch).

The travel craze lately has been focused on traveling alone. My own travels have emulated this trend as I've treaded through 7 countries with only myself by my side. I have loved the challenge of finding out who I am and stretching my comfort zones. Meeting new people came easy because I was forced to rely on strangers for a lot of my needs. However, I have had my share of group travels as well, including a most recent trip with a group of 30 students to Rome, Italy. Well it may be obvious that I prefer one way to travel over the other, it does not mean that one is necessarily better than the other - they are just different. Those differences are influenced by the group dynamic as well as the size of the group. Here are the main differences that I discovered:

(1) Spontaneity has a different meaning in a large group because everything is planned and there is a schedule and a route to the way the day moves. It's harder to veer off course and see a sight thats not on the schedule. It's harder to fully rest on your break when you know you have to keep walking in 10 min. However, everything is planned for you. Instead of me fumbling through the ticket line to get into museums or finding out which churches to see, things are already taken care of and I just follow the group where they lead me. I definitely saw more sites with a group than I did on my own. There were two different styles of learning. On my own it was all about about learning through experiencing the culture and walking around. With the group it was all about the sites and learning the history behind them.

(2) Other people's opinions matter. You have a other people to consider when you are with a group - their expectations, their tolerances, habits, likes and dislikes. For example, making choices for dinner. Instead of one opinion you get about a million. You also notice that more people are indecisive when it comes to a group because they want everyone included, and then you run across those people that take charge. Personalities really come to light in groups. When you travel alone it is up to you to fulfill all the group roles.

(3) So many people to talk to. You can just float around from person to person as you walk, making conversation as you go. You might get separated from you convo buddy for a block or two and you have a few choices find a new one, meet back up with them or walk by yourself. What makes a conversation work? Anything. Anything at all! Name you poison. What did you think of church number 7? Number 23? Number 370? Would you visit Rome again? Would you live in Rome? Where else have you travelled? What do you love most about the Netherlands? You name it and it goes, even if for one short convo.

Travel far enough, you meet yourself - Cloud Atlas

     Traveling is where I became confident in finding my way through the unknown. It all started with a single plane ride across the Atlantic (okay maybe two planes) where I met a family that was unknown to me at first, where I experienced a culture that was unfamiliar. I briefly tasted what it is like to travel and live out of your backpack for 3 days, 6 days, 12 days! I traveled by myself and with groups of people. I watched the sun rise and set in more than one country. I shared countless stories that may have caused a few people to be jealous. I hopefully shared a few that inspired at least one person to pursue their desire to travel (even if its a short trip across the pond).
 
     There it is, the end of my travel adventures. But, to say it is the final end would be a lie so let me re-phrase that to say: my travel adventures are wrapping up here in Europe and I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the next time a door like this opens up.

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Lord thank you for your continued protection as my travel adventures of the semester come to a close.

#katiespiceurope
#travel

Excursie #6 - Den Haag (in het Nederlands!)

Okay here goes my first blog post in Dutch ... This HAS BEEN a goal of mine since the beginning of the semester - to be bootable to communicate in Dutch, even just a little bit.

Okay, my first blog that I write in Dutch. Thursday I was in The Hague with other students from SPICE. It was a fun day because we saw  the second chamber (parliament), lots of art, the sea, and Madurodam (small Netherlands). My favorite was Madurodam. But the second room was also nice because we saw Geert Wilders (He is the Donald Trump of the Netherlands!).

The Hague is near Rotterdam, but is not close to Zwolle - a two-hour train. But two hours is nothing after my trips to Scandinavia.

The Hague is "political heart" of the Netherlands. We walked through the second Kamar. We saw a debate with the Minister of Justice (and Geert Wilders was there).

This is Geert Wilders.

This is the second kamar (Madurodam)

The sea.

People do their feet in the sea. It was cold!!!! I did not. But it was nice to see the sea.

small Zwolle

Madurodam was my favorite! All of Netherlands in one place! Groningen, Zwolle, Utrecht, Schiphol, Amsterdam, Rotterdam. I'm bigger than the buildings there. Nice!


















Many people look at work like for the girl with the pearl. The girl with the pearl is a small work of art so it was hard to see over people. I love the work with the cows! It was great. Artists have a lot of patience and time to create a masterpiece. Wow! Beautiful!

An important work of art

Another important work of art. The girl with the pearl. 

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Lord thank you for-allowing me to learn so many new things this semester! Continue to expand my understanding of the world!

#katiespiceurope
#excursions
#dutch

Sister sister!

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I have been abroad for 12.5 weeks now and in that time I have experienced a lot and have wished that I could share those experience, share those places with my family, with my sisters, and with my friends. This week served that purpose. My two sisters (Stephanie and Elizabeth), and Alice (a family friend) came to visit me in the Netherlands for one week! Right away Friday morning, I could barely contain my energy and my excitement as I brought one (host) sister (Aniek) to meet my sisters and Alice. Aniek can attest to how excited I was the entire train ride to Schiphol airport! That excitement lasted the whole we as we traveled across the Netherlands.

Sisters can stand for a lot of different things, but in this acronym Sisters is cap stoned in silliness, with just the right mix of reality in the middle.

S Silly smiles. I have a firm belief that sisterhood is rooted in how many silly smiles you can give each other. Maybe it's even possible to have a whole conversation in smiles.

Steph and I

I  Interesting walks, as a result of our family's new best friend - Rick Steves! Narrating our way around cities we were our own tour guides.
**Tip: follow a city walk in the correct order...

Katie, Stephanie, Alice, Elizabeth (L to R)

S  Silly jokes. "Now you've seen two major artworks in their original form, and in the Delft blue!"

T  Talking... or not. This is something so neat about being with people you are comfortable with, and being with people who have seen you through all phases of life. You can talk non stop one day and then the next all you need is head nods.

E  Exploration. Everyday a new city every day, right?

Ignore the drive time.

R  Relax. Despite being away from my blood family for 3 months, I can relax and know that when I do see them that everything is going to be alright. I can take a deep breath and know that even when I feel that the world around me is changing that family will always remain your family.

S  Silly sisters. A picture can speak louder than words...

I think they missed their true calling to be cats!

The week ended the same way it began. Bringing my two families together, I was so excited, so happy, so full of joy! Two groups of people that I love, finally meeting each other and creating one larger group (if only for dinner time).

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Lord, Thank you for family. Thank you for the opportunity to share experiences with my sisters. Please continue to guide and protect this time that I have left in the Netherlands. 

#katiespiceurope
#family

The Balancing Tale

"Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends.You are constantly off balance."

- Cesare Pavese 

Traveling can balance you and leave you unbalanced at the same time. Life happens at home when you are not around, trains take longer than you think and you end up taking 6 different trains sometimes to get where you want to go, traveling makes you tired. 

After walking the streets of Italy, and wondering the ruins of Athens, after several hours of train rides to Paris, Copenhagen, Goteborg, and Oslo I came to a realization that despite the joy of traveling to someplace new its hard because I started to feel off balance. 

In all of those places, I encountered water and sailboats! In those times when I've been traveling, I felt like I was on my sail boat. You set off looking out onto the water, wanting to feel the waves splash across your boat, wanting to catch the wind, go fast go far, race the other boats, see the sun set from the middle of the lake, explore the other side. However, what you don't realize is how strong the winds get in the middle, how confusing the winds can get when they come from multiple directions, and how when you're in the middle of the lake how much balance it takes to keep your boat from capsizing. When a gust of wind comes you have a couple different options: (1) let out your sail, slow down, don't capsize. (2) sheet in the sail, catch the wind, hike out, balance the boat. (3) sheet in, catch the wind, forget about balance and end up in the water. There are many other variations but these are the main three. When you've been sailing for a while, finding the balance of the boat comes naturally, knowing what to do in situations is like knowing your own name. 

I don't have that luxury yet of knowing balance on a study abroad program or knowing the balance of traveling like I do the sailboat. Life is all about finding and creating balance between social time and alone time, balance between too much sugar and the "right" amount, balance between talking too much and talking too little, balance between family and traveling, balance between studying and traveling. We are faced with this challenge of balance everyday. So how do I find and create balance between all these aspects?

This is what I have learned so far. Balance is about being flexible.When I look at water it reminds me of something my dad always said to me. That you just need to let things run off your cheek like water and oil. Or something like that... who knows what he actually he said because I was crying so much when he said it! Essentially, he was saying that I need to let things go so that the world around me can rebalance itself. When you're on a sailboat and you know you can't balance your boat, there is one thing you can do, we call it the safety position, let go of the tiller and the main sheet and your boat turns into the wind, you may feel a little wobbly, but it gives you time to collect yourself and your boat. It gives you time to rebalance. 

Balance is about knowing your limits. Balance is about being able to say that you know yourself well enough to not be afraid to say no or say I need to stop - to let go of a few things in order to collect yourself. Balance is about knowing what your priorities are and what needs focus for the world around you to rebalance itself.

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Heavenly Father, in you we find balance. May we draw closer to you everyday so that we can experience that balance so that we can experience shalom.

#katiespiceurope
#travel

Excursion #5 - Rotterdam

Rotterdam! A diverse city, which isn't surprising since it is a port city and was the main hub for migration to the new world - Hotel New York!! Additionally, there are 30 mosques and about 250 Christian Churches for a population of just over half a million making it the Netherlands second largest city.

A theme commonly repeated on all of our excursions is that space is everything. These houses are a great example of that. Rather than using the space on the ground the architect decided to use the space in the air. This leaves room for shops, walking paths, a little garden, and bike storage just below the houses.

The most impressing portion of the excursion to Rotterdam was the visit the Turkish Mosque. We drank Turkish tea, discussed the Islamic religion, and saw inside the prayer room. This visit helped me to see past the news and how media portrays Islam. I never realized how clouded my vision could get but the visit helped me to see past the muck that's in the news.

In a typical dutch fashion, our group biked around the city! But I forgot my emergency potato in case of hunger. ;) Thankfully, we had a stop at the Market! All these different food vendors inside one place. The walls even screamed food (not literally, but in the art)!

Lord, you are the one true God! Thank you for sending your son Jesus to save us from our sin. 

#katiespiceurope

On my own but not Alone

Chances are, people you meet when you travel alone will be incredibly interesting people.

Eleven nights on my own (living out of one small backpack), traveling and exploring the southern part of Europe by myself. Some call me adventurous, while others call me crazy. The number one question that I get asked is "Don't you get lonely." My reply... Yes, of course I do because we are creatures meant to be in relationship with other humans. I miss having conversations over meals and sharing a good laugh as we walk away from a bizarre situation. I miss the security of having a buddy when I walk down a sketchy street and having someone to talk to in order to avoid the awkward social exchange with strangers.  

But, was I every truly alone? No, with God by my side I was never alone. When I was feeling lonely there was always something or someone that came my way to give me laughter and give me company. Here are 5 stories from my trip where God provided a good laugh, comfort, and companionship.

(1) Have you ever been hit on by an 80 year old man? Well I have! His name is Aldo. He lives in Genoa, Italy, the city I took a spontaneous day trip to. At first I thought that Aldo was offering to take my picture for me, but instead he wanted to show me the Cathedral. He barely spoke English so our conversation was a lot of famous American Songs that Aldo would hum and I would sing a line or two. Inside the Church, Aldo showed me the bomb that didn't explode. As we talked Aldo would call me "bella donna, bonita!" At one point, he started to hum "here comes the bride." Before, I said my goodbyes we went for the Italian two cheek kiss, but heading towards the second cheek I was staring at Aldo's lips! Don't worry I didn't kiss him, I just called him a sneaky man and walked off with a wave. Ciao!

This is the sneaky Aldo!

(2) Have you ever mistaken a garbage can for something else? Julie did! Julie and Becca are a mother daughter duo visiting Venice the same day I did. I didn't meet them until the end of the day, but our short conversation and company on the long train ride filled me with joy. The day was gloomy, rainy, and tiring. I barely stopped walking except to take a boat ride, eat food, and visit a couple churches. The company of this mother daughter duo reminded me that its the little things that make you smile. For example, all trains come equipped with a trash can, Julie didn't realize this and thought the box was for wet umbrellas. Becca was so embarrassed that her mom put the umbrellas in the trash can, but we all found it comical and had a good laugh for a short time.

(3) Have you ever wanted a butt like a man in an old painting? Not until Milan I didn't. There's nothing like the company of people who you can call your own. Luke, Eliana, Sarah came to visit Milan, where I was their guide for the day. We spent the afternoon laughing at silly jokes, such as how firm the butts of some of the men in paintings are!

(4) Have you ever met an Angel? Well, I met an Angela in Athens. She was a true blessing, dispelling any uncomfortable feelings I had in a new city. Angela is a Taiwanese Business women, who stayed in the same hostel as me. Within 5 minutes of meeting her she invites me to eat with her. Every night in Athens, Angela and I would go out to eat and each night I would learn something more about her life, her business, her travels! This just goes to show that companionship comes in many forms.

First night in Athens with Angela

(5) Have you ever been so excited to talk to a complete stranger? After a 11 days of being on your own, a simple conversation can bring a smile to your face. On the train ride from Thessaloniki to Athens, I was tired, I was anxious, and all I wanted was something familiar. Thats when I met Elias, a 19 year old boy. We came from different places, and had different experiences, but it was the ease of conversation about school, music, and dreams for the future felt familiar. In our short conversation before we each drifted off to sleep, I felt assured that friends can be made at any time and in any place!

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When you travel by yourself you learn a lot about who you are, what gives you strength, and where your foundation lies. One of the biggest lessons I learned on this trip was to put my full reliance in God. I had to trust that He would light my path and provide for me every step of the way. He provided friends and company to remind me that even when I travel by myself, I am never truly alone. He goes before me and walks right beside me. Never did he leave. Not once.

Matt Redman, Never Once:

"Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us
...
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did you leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful"

Father God, your faithfulness continues to amaze me. Thank you for never letting go of my hand and always keeping me in your presence.

#katiespiceurope
#AdventureTime
#SB2k16

Excursion #4 - Utrecht

The fourth excursion for SPICE took us to the city of Utrecht, an hour train ride from Zwolle. One would think that I would get tired of looking at the history around me, and that I would get tired of hearing stories about places that I have never heard about, or that I would get bored with the same scenery. Well, the day that that happens will be the day that I stop learning. I hope never to stop learning. I hope that I will always find at least one thing to brighten my day on the excursions and on my trips.

A guy walks into a bar. He looks around a little confused... walk out double checks that the sign says bar and walks back in. He walks up to the bartender and asks, "do you serve drinks here?" The bartender says, "We serve most anything from Beer on down!" The man says, "Oh good, I almost thought this was a church." The bartender replies, "Good thing you didn't walk in a few decades back!"

True story... Okay, well not really. However, the first stop on our Utrecht excursion was to a bar that used to be an old Catholic hiding church.

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A lady, so in tune with the will of the Father that she places her self in a position of humility towards her God for continuous prayer.

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The Dom Kerk was divided in half. Literally, divided in half due to a large storm that caused part of the building to collapse. The bell tower remains separate from the church. When you enter the gardens of the church you might be a little confused and want to start waving a wand around. I felt transported to the world of Hogwarts for a few minutes.

Three hundred and sixty five steps. Thats right. 365. Up and Up and Up. The Dom tower is the bell tower to the Dom Kerk. This tower is the tallest one in the Netherlands. The view from the top... Well, I'll just say that I'm glad there was a fence!

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A tradition for our excursions is to sit, warm up, and drink something (koffie, thee, etc). This café, was built on top of and in the old Roman sector of the city. The basement still holds two Roman pillars. Talk about history!

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The Rietveld Schröder House: Imagine a house that could change. Walls can move, windows can become walls, beds are couches, the ceiling opens up to let in light. And then change it all back. Rietveld was a man ahead of his time. A modern building in the midst of traditional Dutch construction, yet it holds true to the Dutch belief that space is everything.

The City of Utrecht from the Dom Tower

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Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on us sinners. 

#katiespiceurope
#Utrecht

42 thoughts on 42 hours Berlin, Germany

42 hours that is all it took for me to fall in love Germany (well, Berlin because thats all we saw, but you get my point). So, what better way to express my adventures in Berlin than 42 thoughts on my 42 hours. Some points are short, some are long. Some are pros, some are cons. Some you'll read, and most you'll gloss over. But, all explain my 42 hours traversing Berlin - 1 girl and 2 guys!

1. Public Transportation day pass cost €7. Use on tram, subway, and buses. 
2. Public Transportation exact change is preferred otherwise you hold up the entire bus.
3. Reichstag Building. A perfect spot to take pictures of other people taking pictures.
4. There is always a lot of people around the Brandenburg Gate, but if you can place yourself just right you can see the Victory Column through the middle of the gate. #PicturePerfect
5. The Victory Column marked a victory of war and also suffered the effects of a different war. 
6. Climb the 294 stairs to the top of the Victory Column for €3.
7. Five main streets form rays of a sun around the roundabout surrounding the Victory column
8. I would feel safe as a single girl walking around, but this trip I was with 2 guys (my body guards as my host family labeled them). 
9. Food! Let's just say Germans have good taste! Sauerkraut, Goulash, Spätzle. 
10. Food part two: Schnitzel! A must-have if you visit Germany. 
11. Berlin Central Station is huge! Know which platform your train leaves from beforehand. 
12. Soviet Memorial, the memorial is in Russian, but there is a portion behind it that has Russian, German, and English. 
13. Street Artists: People juggle in the middle of the road on a red light! What!?
14. Street artists part two: There was a bear (well a man in a bear suit), and a man playing a music box.
15. Credit cards are accepted at most every place except small cafes and restaurants. 
16. Pedestrian buttons: Don't be fooled if the button doesn't depress because in Berlin the "buttons" are sensors.
17. Postcard stamps €0,90
18. T-Mobile Thank You for International Coverage!
19. So many cars! 
20. Be prepared to be jostled in the buses. 
21. One day it's Sunny the next it's snowing! (Reminds me of home)
22. Directions - figure out which direction you are facing and match that up with the map before you start walking. I should have learned this from NYC, yet I still start walking and then realize two blocks later I am going the wrong direction. 
23. You can't see everything. No matter how much you plan, and how much you walk, and how late you stay up. You cannot see everything. Even if you live in an area for 42 years you will never see everything. 
24. I don't look German so most people spoke English to me. 
25. Trash cans are orange. Do not mistake them for post boxes (Post boxes in the Netherlands are orange).
26. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe features 2,711 stelae reinforcing the enormity of this horrific event in history. 
27. It's perfectly okay to play tourist for a day! Just make sure that you find at least one "off the beaten path" place on your trip. 
28. Topography of Terror Museum is Free!
29. German History Museum. Students €4 with ID. 
30. Checkpoint Charlie: 1 of 3 checkpoints along the Berlin Wall. 
31. Berlin Wall. There are pieces all over the city, with graffiti on them. Most famous spots are at Checkpoint Charlie and Topography of Terror Museum. 
32. Beer! My first dark beer since I've been abroad. A true German Beer, now that is the way to go!
33. Coffee shops. Don't worry, in Germany, coffee is not synonymous for pot. 
34. Travel buddies. They make life interesting. You learn a lot about them, especially if you share a room for two nights and spend 54 consecutive hours with them. You learn that one blow dries his hair and the other gets hangry pretty fast. 
35. Hostels are nice if you're on a budget, but if you have some wiggle room go for an apartment or an Air BnB, you won't be disappointed. 
36. When in Europe travel by train. It might take a longer time, but you get fantastic views of different cities, and of the landscape. 
37. Train travel part two: Don't worry about reservations on Bahn (German trains)
38. Walking. Most everything can be reached by walking so be prepared to walk a lot.
39. Good walking shoes. Even if you are planning on only using public transportation, the small distances you'll be walking you will most likely encounter uneven ground. (i.e. brick walk ways). Have a good pair of sturdy shoes because your feet will thank you.
40. I always pack too much!
41. Mail boxes - YELLOW! Need I say more?

Leaving Berlin Hbf

Lord, Thank you for your protection and guidance. May I follow your ways the rest of my days.

#katiespiceurope

#AdventureTime

Excusion #2 - Amsterdam

5 Germans 1 American impaled by Crazy Dutch Drivers

Thus reads the headlines of yesterday's adventure... or maybe the headlines read:

Insta-overload: 23 photos same canal

The second may more accurately describe our second excursion with SPICE. While we were all a little trigger happy with our cameras, we also learned a lot about the city of Amsterdam. 

Need more exercise? Join SPICE! Fast-walking Amsterdam Feb 2, 2016!

Right out of the gate, we start walking although maybe not the speed of professional speed walkers, but enough to make me want to keep near the front so I don't get left behind. Because let me tell you that those Amsterdam divers are crazier than NYC! Watch out for the trams too! Oh, and the bikers! And don't forget the pigeons. 

Our excursion included a canal boat tour, a city walk guided by our professor, self-guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, and a visit to the Anne Frank house. 

1 girl inspires millions

The story of Anne Frank is familiar to many; if not then google it, or better yet read her book. I've visited the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. and I've read and learned about Anne Frank since I was in Elementary School. Therefore, this was a perfect learning experience to put a story with the actual place it occurred. The museum was empty and the atmosphere dark and solemn. One of my classmates said it the best: Even though Anne and her family were technically "free" (not in a concentration camp), they were bound by rules an routine and were in captivity and a prison of sorts. Because the family needed to stay silent all day long, and couldn't go outside or even look outside, their secret annex was their prison. 

Sex, Drugs, Water

When asked what three words would describe Amsterdam a friend said sex, drugs, water. As you walk you don't realize that you have entered the Red Light District. You see something move in the window and you look over to see... Well, I'll just leave it at that. On nearly every street corner there are coffeeshops (aka pot shops). With nearly 100 km of canals in Amsterdam and 1500 bridges, I think it is safe to say that there is a lot of water. 

23 ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 1

Our group! 5 Germans 1 American

We started our excursion with all 23 members of SPICE. Six of us stayed on for more adventure (The Paper Kites concert). We found good food and great sites amongst our budding friendship. I feel so blessed to have gotten to know the five German girls of the SPICE group. Their friendship is a true blessing. As the morning went on, our group of 6 turned to 5 as Rachel went home. And then later we moved to 4 as Carina also left. Our little group of 4 found gorgeous sites in the Centrum and the Jordan. I think I found a perfect Instagram post on this trip, and it was even more special because it was shared with good friends. And then there was 1. Our first adventure complete. On my bike ride back to my host home, I kept thinking was "Boy, I'm glad my bike didn't get stolen!"

Lord Jesus Christ, Thank you for your continual protection and guidance. Thank you for friends and this beautiful country. Your glory shines through even in the darkest of spots.

3 - 2 - 1 Take Off!

Nigeria 2011

“Oh the places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

And, we're off! As this post publishes I am most likely over the Atlantic ocean trying to catch some zzz's. I'm ready for a wonderful adventure to travel, learn, explore. Several have already said "you'll learn more about yourself and the country you are from when you travel." Saint Augustine is quoted saying, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." I want to read as many pages as I can, I will never stop reading. Eventually, I'll have to read second hand through my kids, but I will always hunger for more of this book!

 

Nigeria 2011

This isn't my first trip over seas. I went to Nigeria in 2011 on a medical mission trip, so I am familiar with going through customs, passport security, and navigating different airports. Despite this experience, I am still anxious. I am anxious to see if anything has changed and if I remember things correctly. I am anxious to get on with this adventure and fill my brain with a new pages of the world book!

Mark Twain states, "Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one's lifetime."

James Michener states "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home."

I don't want to stay at home, that is why I chose to go on SPICE. Lord, open my eyes to see your people and to explore your creation so I may grow closer to you in your Kingdom here on earth. Here's to my journey where I aim not to be afraid of the unknown, but I aim to embrace the differences.

"Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,  

Healthy, free, the world before me,  

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose." 

-- Walt Whitman

#AdventureTime
#katiespiceurope

Preperation H(ere we come)

Well, I leave the United States in 8 days. Can you tell I'm nervous? I keep checking, double checking, triple checking everything. I have already completed a dry run of packing my bag to see what can fit in there without going over the 50lb weight limit. The purpose of this blog is to document my travels both on a fun what I've done and a logistical level for when I travel again. So, what have I done so far to get ready?

• I used kayak.com to check for cheap flights. Some of my cohorts had miles built up so they could book with their preferred airline. I do not have miles built up so the cheapest flight for me was through Icelandair MSP --> AMS $319. WOW airlines AMS --> BOS $231 These tickets were purchased in mid-November. 

• Check my phone coverage in Europe. My current carrier is T-mobile. What they lack in service in small Sioux Center, IA they make up for in awesome international plans and coverage. Or so the research says... update to come once I'm abroad. On the current Simple Choice Plan there is "Unlimited international data and text while roaming in 140+ countries and destinations and calls are just $0.20 per minute." I'm covered on that front because for calling I can use video chat on Skype, Facebook, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts. All the options!

• I needed to look at my credit cards and what fees I will be charged. I bank with Wells Fargo and have a visa credit card and debit card with them. If I were to use either of those cards for transactions in Europe I would be charged a 3% international use fee. Additionally, if I were to use the debit card at an ATM I would be charged the 3% plus an additional non Wells Fargo ATM fee $5-$10. Dilemma! Here are my options:

1. Use both cards and pay fees.
2. Use debit card at ATM to get large amounts of cash to use, pay fees.
3. Take out currency in USA, exchange rate from Wells Fargo USD:Euro::1.15:1. 
4. Apply for a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees.
5. #4 + #2
6. #4 +#3

Can you tell that I like options? My final decision was to go with option #6. After some       research on what my options were for #4, I applied for a Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa. There are no foreign transaction fees, and no annual fee; however, the rewards are minimal. i.e. points:USD::1.5:1

• Decide on a Eurail pass. For this I relied on a very reliable traveler... Rick Steves. I went with a global 1 month pass. There was a 20% discount when I ordered mine. Be sure to look for a deal and when you need to use it by. Also, make sure you order it at least a week before you leave the states (it is a paper ticket mailed to your US address). 

• Create a #hashtag... landed on #katiespiceurope 
• Create a budget. Categories for (1) travel, (2) clothes, (3) personal, (4) food, (5) souvenirs, (6) misc/emergency. 
• Make a packing list and Personal/first aid kit.
• List all the countries I want to visit and major attractions to see there. 
• Buy adapters and converters for plug ins
• Get prepared!!! Watch Rick Steves Amsterdam and The Netherlands 

Thats it for now! 

#AdventureTime

#katiespiceurope

Adventure Awaits You - SPICE 2016

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#katiespiceurope

Creating a blog is easy.... making a blog that people will read and that fully illustrates a purpose is perhaps a little more difficult. My hope is that you, my readers, will be able to enjoy and learn form my study abroad semester in the Netherlands (and the greater European continent).