Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Hallo!

Hello all, here's the blog I've promised.

As some of you know, and some of you don't, I'm going to the Netherlands for my sophomore year of High School. I leave on the 16th of August, approximately 2.5 weeks from now, and have to somehow pack for a year in under 44 pounds.

But packing aside, I believe that the next year will be a great experience for me personally, and not only will it be a great challenge and eye-opener, but hopefully will be equally enjoyable. I've been placed into a town pop. around 17.000 in the province of Noord-Holland, with a family of 5. I have been in contact already with my host-parents and one of my host-brothers, and they seem like wonderful people. My dutch is slowly coming along, I've been working on it for about a month and can generally understand basic phrases. It's nowhere near fluent, but I'll survive, and once I'm there it will get better as the year goes on.

So maybe I'm overly optimistic and have no idea what I'm getting myself into, but whatever happens, I should be updating this every week or so, if you want to follow along. And on that note, I leave you with some Tolkien to ponder:

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
     And whither then? I cannot say. 

What- did you think that just because I'm going to a foreign country for a year, you'd escape my nerdiness? Sorry, folks. :)

Tot ziens,

Irene

3 comments:

  1. I may still be in California when you leave! Perhaps I'll see you before I leave next week… if not, then I'll have to give you a high-five in Europe!

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  2. "It's a dangerous business, Irene, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

    We all look forward to your posts - Dad.

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  3. "She is truly wise
    who's travelled far
    and knows the ways of the world.
    She who has travelled
    can tell what spirit
    governs those she meets."
    From Hávamál, in which Odin gives advice to us mortals on how to behave and manage in order to lead a prosperous and worthy life. I'm looking forward to what your travels teach me. xxoo

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