The past few days has been orientation, which i thought was going to be ridiculously boring, but hasn't! One of our CES (Center for European Students) leaders, Severine, is pretty much crazy. We have had a few long meetings about the culture, our classes, schedules, how to be safe and all that. She is tall and lanky with big eyes and a big smile, ramona quimby length hair (but it's wavy and dark brown) that she keeps usually 3-5 butterfly clips in at all times. She really likes the color orange and on occasion she has up to 8 separate pieces of clothing that have a different shade of orange on each. But once you get past- or maybe a better term: embrace- the art project she clothes herself with, she is VERY nice, VERY helpful, strict, and has prepared an amazing semester for us. We have had a few (more like 20) tours of the city so far and as much as I want to go back to the dorm and sleep these tours are so fun! Maastricht is one of the coolest cities I have ever been in. History is cherished here. They have build a contemporary world around the smallest of old walls and doors so you will turn the corner to this sleek stone wall but the window will be old... and there will be a few rows of brick that was there originally but now they have built around it. It is soooo cool looking. The library is SO high-tech i feel like i should put on sunglasses and wear black leather all the time. They have this old mine-pulley system for your bags, so when you walk into the library there is tons of black rope and you look up and everyone's backpacks and jackets are hanging from the ceiling because you aren't allowed to bring anything in but books, paper and a pen. All the walls inside are glass and in the stair way the windows are floor to ceiling with birds frosted on like they are flying. I felt completely under dressed. I would say 98% of all the european boys wore designer jeans, a collared shirt under a sweater with italian leather shoes and gelled hair. Needless to say I did not dress to impress, but i guess that's my warning. All the girls here have awesome, funky leather jackets with layered skirts and BOOTS- EVERYONE WEARS AMAZING BOOTS!! Which reminds me: we are going to Antwerp this weekend with the KOT boys (the guys in the garden picture). Dr. Lusk (my advisor at Baylor) gave me these really cool travel books about this town and they are fashion walks through the city and i'm pumped! This seems like the town for me!! If it is anything like Brussels + fashion... incredible. Anyways... Our tour guide today during the "historical maastricht tour" was such a character. Her name was Tonny (pronounced Tony), she was around the age of 65. Brown tweed double breasted blazer with a gold thread. Brown scarf that she would take off and use as a prop sometimes when she told stories about the wars and then would toss it around her head when she was done. She took us by this coffee/bread restaurant tucked in between the "original maastricht wall" and an old nun house. It's right by a stream, so it uses a water mill to grind the wheat. They gave us samples of some raisin bread and cinnamon ring that was fresh and delicious. We all agreed that it was a definite regular spot. That reminds me of the lunch we had today... there are these sandwich shops everywhere with cheap sandwiches. And it's not like a sonic sandwich or a sliced pb&j.. it's a soft french bread, fresh veggies, weird- yet amazing combination sandwich. And in the student building where we had our meeting today was a coffee shop (my weakness) and they have us a little nougat taffy with peanuts free with every drink! Severine took us by the offices and the mail room where i felt like the coolest person there because i had a package already! I mean, it was my glasses that i had left at home, but still. haha. thanks mom :) Dr. Waltman is the professor that is incharge of us and who teaches the Poli Sci classes. He is one the nicest people in the world. I lost one of my tickets (we have about 15 everyweekend) and i felt soo bad. Another girl had lost hers as well and it turned out not to be a big deal at all, but because we had to get new ones, we had to catch a later bus which gave us time to talk to Dr. Waltman. He kept going on and on about how we are so responsible (yeah, right after we lost our tickets), but i guess after going to London every semester with 275 students, we really are good!! He has only taught at baylor for about 4 years and previously taught in Mississippi. He's writing a book comparing minimum wages in the states and in britian... very interesting. We are starting a bible study over the book of James, which I am pumped about. It will mainly just be a discussion session, but it will be so good to talk through things and hear what other people are going through and everything. Dr. Waltman is going to be incharge of it, but he said he wants the conversation to be student lead. This week for amy and i has been quite entertaining. First trip to the grocery store.. hmmm. They don't give out sacks. You have to bring your own bag to bring your groceries home in. We almost bought potato salad for sandwiches? Nothing is in english.. yet ALL they listen to is american music... actually really bad american music. But we get our breakfast and dinner on a meal plan here and the food is... mmm. ok. But i feel SO bad for the cook because somebody forgot to tell him we were going to london and he pepared all those meals and just thought we didn't want to eat it! :( so sad!! The washing machines cost 4 euros for each load, so amy and i expeirenced washing a week worth of clothes in the bath. A site to see. If you have ever seen the Lucy episode where they are squashing grapes at the winery.. well, you get the picture... Well, I think it is time for me to clean. suprise suprise? haha. until next time!