My last day. I can't believe I am sitting in my empty jail cell of a room with less than 12 hours left in Europe. I can distinctly remember riding in the car with my mom to the airport, not fully realizing that I was about to get on a plane and be gone for over six months. I remember emailing my friends about these two girls I spotted in the Philly airport:
"Oh my gosh maybe I'll make it to orientation after all! Unless I follow them to the wrong place"
I did miss orientation, but those two girls happened to be Maddie and Sarah, two of my closest friends here! I remember trekking through the snow with my two large suitcases and backpack, wondering why on God's green earth my parents ever let me go to a foreign country by myself. Thank goodness I found Maddie and Sarah though, because if I didn't I firmly believe I would be wandering around somewhere in Germany, wondering where the heck my apartment was.
I've had so many crazy and wonderful memories here, and going through all my pictures and old posts I can't believe it is finally coming to an end. Throughout my time here I have visited ten different countries and 27 cities, and each hold a unique experience and story.
But Den Haag became a second home for me. I came to recognize the workers at Albert Heijn, the Indian guy at the convenience store who suggested which wine for me to buy that night, the Ramazotti workers who gave us free fries, the workers at the Turkish market who didn't speak English and sold me an entire chicken (okay that was my fault), Stavanos the Greek guy who knew my usual, the fitness instructor at the gym who forced us to take her class, and even the creepy Holland Spoors who I actually won't miss at all. These people are what made this city feel like home. There are too many stories to tell, but here are some of my favorite days spent in Den Haag:
International BBQ
That time I got pushed in the canal at the international BBQ.
Abby got pushed in too.
Thickets. Hopefully I will remember the story that goes along with this in 50 years.
Leaving our mark!
Pancake cruise. Duh.
That time I broke my key trying to get in to my apartment after Club 7 and ended up having to sleep at Pat's house. The jury is still out on whether or not we ate Turkish pizza that night.
That time my mom sent me a package to my next door neighbor's house by accident. He opened it up to find tampons. A lot of tampons.
My wonderful signs from my flat mates!
That time I made "chili"
That time we could actually wear shorts at the beach!
And gave Abhishek boobies.
And thought we were cool.
Our countless times at Ramazotti. We still believe there is a brothel upstairs.
Maddie, Sarah and mine's last time eating Ramazotti together. Our first night here we all split a single pizza, and two bottles of wine. Our last night we all got our own pizza and bottle of wine.
That time Abhishek was confusing. An Indian, who lives in England, is studying in Holland, and who looks like he should be Jamaican.
That time the Ravens WON THE SUPERBOWL!
...and no one in Holland cared.
The countless borrels we had at school.
The many times I passed over my favorite canal on the way to school!
My amazing flat mates and all the times Estelle cooked me delicious Korean food.
Estelle actually left for South Korea this morning. I woke up to find two muffins and a tea bag with a note that said, "Good morning my lovely flat mate Laura. By the time you get this letter I'll be in airport or in flight. Enjoy your last day here and wish you have a safe trip to go back to the states. This is for you! Don't skip breakfast and sorry for leaving you alone today. Keep in touch, goodbye xoxo Estelle" Probably the most genuine and sweet person I have ever met!
My bike!!!!!! I will miss you.
4/20
Too many nights out.
Our wonderful final BBQ on the roof.
Pork gyros from Stavanos.
Stroopwafels.
Attending our "lovely" school. Pat really nailed it- this picture is all it deserves.
Days at Scheveningen.
And a thousand other memories that can't be put into words. I keep trying to write the ending to my Erasmus story, but every time I try to put into words what I have experienced it doesn't seem quite right. But I guess that's what this whole thing is. An experience. Trying new things. Meeting new people. Being open to new ideas. Exploring new surroundings. Taking chances. Living.
So to my amazing parents, who I never fully appreciated until coming here, I wanted to say thank you. I never realized how much I take for granted, how much you both sacrifice for me to have an amazing life, and to do things that not every person can say they have, or will ever do in their life. You have allowed me to be exposed to so many different people, cultures, ways of thinking, and I hope and feel that I have truly grown as a person.
So simply put, thank you Mom and Dad, for giving me the world.
Paris, France
Galway, Ireland (Saint Patrick's Day don't judge)
Lisse, Netherlands
Rome, Italy
Budapest, Hungary
Capri, Italy
Salisbury, England
Prague, Czech Republic
Berlin, Germany
Den Haag, Netherlands
Cheers to you, Den Haag, you will always have a special place in my heart!
And to any of my friends reading this:
