I'm baaaaaack

Ahhh...Wooden Clogs and Hedgehogs. Its been a while. I feel like some things have happened since my last post. And by some things I mean two years of my life. Quick recap:

Visited Lisbon and Barcelona with my family during my senior year. None of my teachers noticed I was gone for ten days. 

                                                                                                                                                                   

Somehow survived my senior year in College Park and graduated college (RIP Laura's liver)

                                                                                                                                                                   

Survived Memorial Day Weekend in Dewey

^ *a picture is worth a thousand words*

                                                                                                                                                                   

Decided I didn't want a real job so I taught arts and crafts at Gold Arrow Camp in California for the summer, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I also went by the name "Hedgie" for three months. So.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Once camp was over, I flew straight to North Carolina for our 27th annual Darmody Family Reunion, where I was actually referred to as Laura instead of Hedgie. It took some getting used to. My liver on the other hand needed no reminding.

 (As I'm typing this I'm realizing this "quick recap" is rather extensive but whatever, if you're reading this you're either procrastinating studying for finals or hating your life at your job. Or you're like...obsessed with me *hair flip*)

Hedgie and hedgie.

This was also the fourth annual Darmody cook off challenge, which was macaroni and cheese! Scores were based on a combination of taste, presentation, and overall mac-and-cheesiness. First place went to my Uncle Tommy with mushroom, onion, and bacon macaroni and cheese. A well deserved last place went to my Uncle Robert with an interesting combination of tuna fish and capers. I think we still have some left-overs if you're hungry.

This is riveting stuff people, try and contain yourselves. 

                                                                                                                                                                   

After the family reunion, my friend Cassidy asked me if I wanted to roadtrip to Nashville real quick. 

We went out of our way to see this coffee pot shaped house.

And we went significantly out of our way to see this giant pencil. We even got out of our car to get a better look. We parked our car. To look at this pencil. 

But then we made it to Nashville.

Where we proceeded to force our Lyft driver to drive us to McDonalds. We did offer to buy him something from the dollar menu.

INGRID MICHAELSON. I cried during her performance. Real tears.

                                                                                                                                                                   

After getting back from Tennessee I thought it would be a good time to apply for jobs.

That didn't go over so well.

                                                                                                                                                                   

My mom felt bad for me so she invited me to go to Oregon with her to visit my mom's 

side of the family. 

No Grandma, I don't have a boyfriend yet.

Honestly being unemployed is tiring.

                                                                                                                                                                   

After we got home my mom gave me some bad news. She told me the time had come. It was time to get a job.

And that, my friends, is where my story starts...*drops mic and walks away*

Crazy how time flies

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: