Rotterdam

In the Netherlands! I still love to read such an old-fashioned turn of phrase in the country's name. It's the first place that I've been that I didn't know I was going to, so that's exciting in its way - especially because I'm staying with a friend from l'Abri - but I don't know much about it. Not really the history, or culture - I've been reading my guidebook (I must be a tourist) and as I find something familiar, such as M C Escher or the fact that Descartes went to university here, you'd hear if you were here a cry of "really, that's here?!".

Dutch is impossible for me to read out loud. Now I can see where Indonesian was encouraged in its tendency to use more vowels than are called for. As well, 'g' does not exist so much as has been transformed into a kind of clearing of the throat sound, which since the rest of the language sounds a bit like singing is strange to hear at first.

Still, the Dutch are lovely as a group and individuals. I love the bikes and cycling around. I am perplexed by yoghurt that comes in milk cartons (but it's runny enough here so I suppose it works). I love that the metro driver shrugged an apology as he pulled out and we came down the stairs.