The simplicity of life in Europe

Daily life in Paris moves at a much different pace than in America. I don't have a dishwasher, a microwave, a TV, amongst other modern luxuries. I do all my dishes by hand, cook with the stove, and once a week sit at the laundromat for an hour with a book while my clothes wash. I buy all my groceries not from a supermarket, but from a small market across the street where the owner and I are now on a first name basis. 

Life feels languid here at times; everything is done on purpose. Food takes time to prepare, you can't just pick it up and eat it. I take public transportation, so I have to plan out my trips accordingly. When we go out, usually in the Latin Quarter, we will go to bars or cafes and have some wine. There is a lot of time for discussion and contemplation.

I like this way of living. There are things I miss about the fast pace life in America, but here I never feel rushed. I have time to eat well, exercise, study, relax, and go places with friends. I feels like a much more adult way of living, particularly because I am responsible for making sure everything is taken care of on my own. 

The warm weather has really made me enjoy the city again. It was rough during the cold because I never wanted to leave my apartment, but now I get out and explore nearly every day. I am looking forward to going home but I think I will miss it here when I return.

Hot Wine

I finally tried hot wine today for the first time. I am a big wine fan but I was so confused every time I saw "hot wine" on the menu at a cafe because it's definitely not something that seems logically. I was understandably a bit wary. However, today I was at a coffee shop with my friends and I couldn't take the curiosity any longer. It is actually pretty good! They prepared it with an orange slice and some cinnamon and when you sip it, it is actually very sweet.

School is still going very well. I had to give a presentation yesterday and I was a bit nervous, which usually never happens to me. People complimented me about it so I hope that is a good sign. Things are starting to be a bit warmer here which is always awesome for me. Today was one of those days where I wish I wasn't leaving so soon. It all feels like it's not real sometimes; I know that eventually I'll have to confront the real world back home but for now I'm enjoying myself right where I am.

Well, tonight I think I am going to see the Hunger Games, officially a day earlier than everyone else I know. 

Au revior!

Amsterdam

Wow, what a city. My trip to Amsterdam was both relaxing and fun. First off, the city reminds me a lot of America. I literally walked off the train knowing nothing and no one in the city and had the time of my life. Everyone there speaks English and is very friendly. They smile at you and are more than willing to help you out with anything you need, much unlike the Parisians.

The hostel I stayed out was very nice, which was good because I was nervous. I had never stayed in a hostel before that, but I ended up with one where the staff was very friendly, the residents were very quiet, and it was close to the city center. Amsterdam is not a very big city and one can pretty much walk anywhere if you know where the Dam Square is.

Of course, there are marijuana coffee shops everywhere. I don't personally smoke but I think it was cool that I was in a country where it was legal. You will be literally walking down a random street and smell weed. The red light district is interesting as well. Amsterdam is a very liberal city and there are sex shops everywhere. The district is cool at night when all the red lights light up.

The buildings have a very unique style and they fit really well as a backdrop against the canals, which the city is built on. There is a lot of history in Amsterdam and it is neat to see the Anne Frank house and other monuments. Of course, there is also the Heineken factory which is cool. It is really a hassle to find anything other than Heineken in Amsterdam though.

There is a really cool square called Leideseplein where all the popular bars and clubs are, which is another thing that reminded me of America. In Paris it seems like the all the bars young people go to are spread out around the city. In Amsterdam there is a huge crowd of really attractive and lively young people that gather at the bars at night. I met some really awesome friends at the hostel and we went out every night and had a really great time. After dark, the city is really safe and taxis to just about anywhere are really cheap.

I would definitely recommend Amsterdam to anyone who wanted to visit a cool European city without the hassle of learning a different language or navigating a complicated metro system. The Burger King alone is definitely worth the trip.