Hi everyone!
I'm now starting to look back on my year as a whole, mostly because I'm just about to start my last week in the Netherlands. Where the hell did the year go?????
I cannot begin to express how amazing this experience has been for me. This semester, especially. I'm so glad I stayed for an entire year. I've made wonderful friends, traveled to amazing places, tasted delicious foods, had fascinating conversations, and leaned so much about the Netherlands, Europe, and myself. It is difficult for me to conceptualize that my life here is winding down and that I'll have to say goodbye to so many things and people I have grown to love. If there is one thing I'm sure of, it's that I'll come back to visit... hopefully soon.
Luckily, I've befriended two Clarkies here who I will have next year to miss Leiden with me :)
I know this year has made me more confident in myself. I remember how worried I was that I would go through wave after wave of culture shock or want to come home too badly to enjoy being here or not make any friends. Well guess what! None of those things happened!
At the moment, I'm focusing on selling my stuff and getting ready for one last adventure in Europe. My cousin and I will be traveling to London, Scotland, and Ireland for about three weeks - yay!!! With any luck, we'll find two "Scottie Hotties" to run away with us - fingers crossed.
This past week will be filled with friends, parties, stroopwafels (and stroopwafel mcflurries!), and bike rides - not a bad way to end one of the best school years of my life!!!!
Tot ziens!
Rach
