The Adventures of Stephanie

life decisions

July 14, 2011
So nothing too exciting has been happening at work recently.  Just chugging along on getting various tasks done.

Yesterday we went to the Hague to see Harry Potter in 3D.  To my surprise, it was a pretty good movie.  I guess I can't really spoil it for anyone back home (since it came out here 2 days before there) with already knowing what's happening from the book, but more so what is or isn't included in the movie to book.  The place we went to for dinner beforehand was delicious though.  Super good Italian food.  Marissa and I both have a hard time deciding what's good to get on the menu, because there's always more than one thing that sounds good, so fortunately we usually go half-sies (which works out great) and we had a super good salad and pizza.

Today, Thursday, marks one week until I return home to Minnesota.  I'm super excited to go home to see my family, but I have definitely enjoyed my time here, and besides just meeting people, I've made really great friendships in such a short time.  I do hope to see many of them again in the future.  

Today has also been, hands down, the absolute worst weather since I've been here.  It's pouring and it's windy.  This is not fun when riding your bike.  Some people have pointed out how it's the middle of July and this is by far not summer weather.  I've suffered through such before being in Minnesota, and they are from California so I think they're having a little bit harder time accepting it, but it is pretty ridiculous today.  On top of the bad weather, I have been stopping at a grocery store on my way to work to get a muffin for breakfast but for the past two day they haven't had any kinds I like left!  All the more reason to get a stroopwafel though.  The grocery store was playing Juanes, La Camisa Negra, yesterday too and today is free coffee day - so that's definitely a plus.

Olmo, who I met one of my first days here with Pedro, is helping out with UNAWE too.  He is the main 'sorter' of all things stored of UNAWE.  He found some really cool buttons (including a NASA one I am now wearing) and a picture of the STS-120 crew - with all but two of the members AUTOGRAPHED!  New joke of his - he doesn't need to toss anything out but just give it to me!

I have also decided that I am going to take the internship in Paris/Cape Town.  I am very excited about it and will plan to continue my blog during those travels.

I feel like you achieve a level of cool in the social level once you know the music of the country you're in.  Dutch rap at its best.

 

harry potter people

July 13, 2011
I've gotten a gallery of pictures on the photos page from Belgium trip this past weekend - all the photo credits go to Mattia and Matteo for having working cameras with them!  

Monday and Tuesday have just been a whirlwind of events.  Yesterday we brought all the of UNAWE materials from storage into George's office so they can be gone through.  It has become quite a daunting task as there is a lot - a lot.  We also 'tried' playing the board game again but now have more revisions and work to do...
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the last launch, belgium, france and south africa

July 12, 2011
So much to talk about here - thanks for being patient!

First, Thursday night I was forwarded a post about an internship being offered by the International Astronautical Federation, IAF, headquartered in Paris to assist with the International Astronautical Congress IAC2011 to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in the beginning of October.  The position is to start as soon as possible.  Myself, thinking I had a long shot, but that it would be pretty cool, I stayed up til about 2 in the morning F...
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wasabi!

July 7, 2011
Today I was passed on this article from a friend here.  It is truly disappointing to see this happen.  NASA, in my opinion, even if you don't want to support various projects, you must agree that it is in a way a beacon of America.  Yes, NASA has had its failures, but it is America!  
 
Last night I ate, and made, sushi for the first time.  It wasn't too bad either.  3 people there have spent an extended amount of time in Japan too so we definitely had some guidance!  Some people had lots of fu...
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and so the countdown draws near...

July 6, 2011
In honor of the last shuttle launch, I have three NASA shirts with me and am wearing one today, tomorrow, and July 8, the planned date for the launch.  Check out the article Carthage has on some of my friends who are traveling to Kennedy to watch the launch (and work on some follow up from our Microgravity project).  Super jealous - I can't wait to hear about all of it from Kim, Amber and Steve!  I unfortunately cannot attend because I am in Leiden but will surely be watching it live online! ...
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success!

July 5, 2011
4th of July was a success could be an understatement.  I found sparklers so we had a great time playing with those.  We had to wait until about 11 of course to take full effect since the sun doesn't go away until after 10.

Matteo has an awesome camera and took pictures for us.  They turned out so cool!
 
 
Karimu, Irene, Marissa and Me!


Maya, Karimu, Me, Irene, and Marissa

More sparkler fun!
 






The potluck/picnic was great too.  Marissa made the cake and I helped her decorate the flag.  It turned out ...
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happy 4th of july!

July 4, 2011
Today, instead of heading to the Uni to work, Pedro, Wouter, Sarah, Frederiek and I headed to the Hague to visit a children's science museum to discuss prospective programs and activities to do in collaboration with UNAWE in the Netherlands.  Besides going there for such a meeting, we also got a personal tour of some of the exhibits and then got basically a VIP pass to 'behind the scenes' = practically all of their archived items.  It was SO COOL!  They had different warehouse-type rooms depe...
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zaterdag = saturday

July 2, 2011
Last night, we met up with Fabian (from the kayak club) and some of his friends to Odessa, a place in town.  Turns out one of his friends has a brother who goes to Hamline - as in Minnesota.  So crazy.  Then he said that when he went to visit, they went on a road trip to none other than Fargo with a stop a Paul Bunyan land.  Who does that?!  



Today, Saturday, Sarah and I went to the market and I got a stroopwafel.  So good.  I'm a loyal customer and won't go to any other cart!  We stopped at t...
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go spaceballs!

July 1, 2011
So last night dinner at the African restaurant was really good.  It was definitely different than anything I've had.  They also don't give utensils and you use your fingers to eat.

Today was the astronomy department BBQ and futbol tournament.  There were ten teams in total and we played 10 minute games of 4 v. 4.  It was fun, but definitely very tiring.  It was a beautiful day too.  We ended up winning one out of four games and got our butts handed to us by the faculty team.  For those of you ...
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it's up!

June 30, 2011
The website is up!  Check it out here!

Tonight we are going to dinner at an African restaurant.  It should be really good!

Tomorrow is the astronomy department barbeque and picnic and I have been invited to play on a soccer team for a little tournament they're having.

Met some people from Ohio today at lunch.  Me, loving to talk to people, saw that one of the students was wearing a North Central College shirt.  Not that I'm a fan of theirs, as I am a Carthaginian, I still thought, 'what a small ...
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