These streets are becoming my own.

Hmmm week three of work was interesting. Definitely my toughest week. Partly because I was fully acquainted to work, so it started to seem a bit boring. And I definitely was not made for an 8-5, sit at a computer all day kind of job (I can barely sit still long enough to watch a two hour movie…). But God's been using work to teach me lots - patience, surrender, working hard for Him even if I'm not loving every moment of work (because somehow I love every moment of school). It was still a fun week though: I got access to one of the top secret labs and got to fly drones around it! And got to see an octo-copter fly (think helicopter, with eight rotors instead of one). And watch a 3-D 'movie' with these fancy glasses. 

On Wednesday of this week I went out to dinner (for the first time) in Amsterdam with my roommate and a friend from Hillsong church. Ordered a pizza, and ate the ENTIRE thing. Guess I've been living off p.b. sandwiches for too long…I forgot how good real food is. 

Afterwards, we went to a Bible study with the church which I really enjoyed. It was all about church - how church means a people, not an event that happens on Sunday, or a building. Good stuff. I was quite surprised to here everyone ask me if I was joining them for drinks afterwards. Coffee and doughnuts - ya sure that's what Americans do after church. But go to a bar? 

It turned out to be a ton of fun! It was my first bar experience in Amsterdam (although I only ordered a fancy hot chocolate). But it was a blessing to get to meet more people from the church and just joke around with them. Even when they are all speaking Dutch, I still feel included. Without Hillsong church, I'd be a friendless foreigner, sitting at home, well, probably blogging. So all you faithful readers who've been waiting for new posts - you've got all these cool friends I now have to blame ;) 

Random side note: The fourth of July means nothing in other countries. Every city in Europe may have a "Kennedy Lane", but Thursday was just a Thursday. My advisor emailed me pictures of fireworks in Washington D.C. - I guess that's slightly closer to fireworks than my past 4ths have been the past few years (in Kenya, the DR, and Jamaica). 

My weekend following this week was absolutely delightful. Praise #1: the sun came out. It was warm (note: NOT hot). But when the sun comes out, so does EVERYONE in Amsterdam. Families have dinner outside, the parks are full of people in bathing suits, the canals have more boats than I thought could fit safely. It is a sight to see, it is glorious to be a part of. 

My Friday night was relaxing - started playing piano after stopping so many years ago. Turns out I could muster through the Dutch level 3 book sitting by the piano pretty well!

My Saturday was organized (and payed for :D) by the MIT MISTI program (who sent me here in the first place). Started off by going to the Rijksmuseum early in the morning. Although museums aren't really my thing, I enjoyed seeing the models of ships, old Renaissance works I studied in AP European History, Rembrandt's night watch of course, and the newly renovated building itself! I had forgotten I had even been there before until I stumbled upon two big giant dollhouses that I remember falling in love with as a 9 year old girl. To be honest, I had thought those doll houses were from a dream or something - so it was pretty crazy to see them again, and have a flood or memories rush back to me. After the museum we went out to the gardens, and they had this awesome fountain that stopped squirting water for a few seconds so you could run inside it! I love water, and with such a sunny day, I longed to be like the little girl running through the fountain in her bathing suit. Eventually, I couldn't contain my longing any more - and ending up running through it. I was completely soaked afterwards, much more than I expected. But it was completely worth it. 

After the museum we went out for Dutch pancakes (pannekeok). With MIT footing the bill - we feasted. We all got poffertjes to split, and I finally tried the chocolate milk here! I then ordered an apple raisin pancake with cinnamon ice cream and peaches. Incredible - absolutely determined to have another before I leave. It was also fun because seeing Oma get a huge pancake last time I was here is one of my most distinct memories from my trip 11 years ago. My friend's chicken and cheese pancake was quite good as well :) 

To end our day together we took a canal cruise through Amsterdam. Hanging out the side of the boat and soaking up the sun was the best part…until we got yelled at. 

Afterwards I did some exploring by bike. I went to the museum of science and discovered you could go on its roof, where there was a terrace with a waterfall going down. It was almost like a little beach - and you could overlook all of Amsterdam. Checked out the Amsterdam library too. It was such a nice building - very new, with a view of Amsterdam as well! I almost wished I had homework to work on so I could sit in that building for a few hours…

My Saturday night was extravagant. Mark, a friend from church, invited me over his house. He had a private chef over to cook for a group of us that night. We started dinner at 8pm, and finished around 1am. Guess that's what happens when you have an ELEVEN course menu. The chef was awesome - let us see how he cooked everything, and even let us help out a bit. Got to meet more awesome people, and eat more protein than I have since being in this country: salmon, duck, clams, shrimp, veal…I'm starting to appreciate good food :) Oh - and I got to go on Mark's roof and overlook Amsterdam and see the boats passing by (full of drunk people at midnight). So, so beautiful. And turns out biking home at 1am alone is completely safe and normal! 

My Sunday was a continuation of such a great Saturday. I went to church early, and got to serve on the hosting team! It was a blessing to be able to serve, to greet people, to meet people, to be out in the sun, to be filled with the joy of the Lord! And the message really hit me - kept me thinking all day. 

From church, I headed to Zaandvoort aan Zee aka THE BEACH. Took my bike on the train, so I could bike to a less crowded beach. Slept on the beach for a few hours, and took a dunk in the North Sea. Then biked through the sand dunes on my way back to the train station. Found a cool lake, with weird wild cow things, and swans, and birds. Parked my bike and journeyed off the trail a bit, where I sat on a  bench for over an hour just talking to God. Exactly what I needed. 

That feeling of salty, sun-kissed skin, beach hair, dirty feet, and a peaceful, rested mind - finally had the summer day I've been longing for :D