Queen's Day - The Netherlands

Today, April 30th, is Queen's Day in the Netherlands. (From www.iamsterdam.com) "Queen's Day festivities invite locals and up to 800,000 visitors alike to soak up Amsterdam's open-air fun. In the streets, canals, parks and everywhere in between, the city is bursting with orange as Amsterdammers enjoy the biggest street party of the year. Amidst orange-pride, live music, DJs, parties and a citywide flea market, you'll find an electric atmosphere not to be missed. The first Konninginnedag (Queen's Day) was celebrated on 31 August 1885, in honour of the birth of Queen Wilhelmina. After her daughter Juliana succeeded to the throne in 1949, the day was changed to 30 April in accordance with the new Queen's birthday. Today, Queen's Day is still celebrated on 30 April as the Netherlands' current monarch, Queen Beatrix, chose to retain the day in honour of her mother. You'll be treated to a sea of orange as everyone - and their pet - is covered head to toe in oranje (orange) as a show of pride for the Dutch Royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau."

This Queen's Day, however, is EXTREMELY important to the Dutch because Queen Beatrix is abdicating the throne to her oldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander. King Willem-Alexander will be the nation’s first king since 1890 and will be 46 years old when he ascends to the throne.

The future King and his family

Read all about the event here!

It was fantastic being in the Netherlands 1 1/2 weeks ago because we got to really feel the excitement leading up to this Queen's Day (which will now be King's Day in the future). Orange items (the official color of the Royal Family) were being sold EVERYWHERE, and news of the Royal Family inundated everything! Even here in Belgium the news is teeming with Royal Family stories. People in these parts are very excited to welcome a new King and his wife, Maxima, as their Queen.

Check out how the Dutch celebrate in their orange!

The Netherlands flag with orange streamers attached

Is it just me, or does the guy on the right look like Steve Carell?

Happy Queen's/King's Day, everyone!

Mol, Belgium

We ventured a short ways from the Netherlands to the neighboring country of Belgium. I don't think any of us were ready to leave the Netherlands just yet, but we were off to Belgium anyway! I had a short bus date with Miss Jessica P. from Mexico, but 1) I was SUPER tired from not getting much sleep the night before and 2) the bus ride was super short (like 1.5 hours), so before we knew it, we arrived in Oud-Turnhout (1 of 2 cities this week) and Jessica had to get off the bus while I had to stay put, so we didn't get a picture together =(

We had some free time in Mol once we arrived, and we enjoyed a quick bite of ice cream from a local shop. I got a scoop of Speculoos ice cream, which is VERY Belgian. Mention Speculoos to any Belgian and they'll start drooling...it's strange. For those who don't know, Speculoos is a type of cookie (or biscuit, as they say here) that is like a gingersnap type thing...or it kind of tastes like Teddy Grahams. They also have a Speculoos spread that's great on bread or crepes, which is what this ice cream was made with.

With one of my favorite girls, Diana (CA, USA)

We had our host pick up shortly thereafter, and all of our codes were Belgian beers. I had never heard of mine, but apparently Krieg is a very famous cherry beer (I've since tried it, and for a girl who hates beer, it's actually quite tasty). My host parents for the week were Jos and Lisette, an adorable couple who love biking, their grandchildren, and spending time together (They're SO cute!).

I lived in an absolutely stunning home this week, with the most amazing landscaping I've ever seen! Check out the backyard, for heaven's sake!

 Jos and Lisette's daughter, Kathleen, and her family (Wim, Mies, and Niel) were also hosting, so we enjoyed a lot of time with Simone (Denmark) and Celine (Belgium) throughout the week. We liked eating dinner on the huge, gorgeous covered patio!

Study abroad day was very successful in getting work done and enjoying free time. And the weather decided to spoil us! It was SO warm and sunny, so we enjoyed some treats at a cafe outside. Hello warm appletorte! So yummy!

Enjoying the sunshine with my Colorado girls Abbey and Tara!

 That day was simply full of treat after treat! At the end of the day, the staff surprised us with a trip to get fresh Belgian waffles. I shared mine with Simone. YUM! I've been asked if Belgian waffles are the same as what we call Belgian waffles in the States. Yes and no. They are small rectangle waffles and are best when eaten plain right off the iron. They have little beads of sugar in them so you get hints of sweetness as you eat them. You can also get them with chocolate or other toppings, but they aren't quite like the Belgian waffles we eat. They are much better.

 We had a 4 shows total in Mol and Oud-Turnhout, but we were given a host family day in between cities. Thursday and Friday shows in Mol, host family day on Saturday, and then a double show day in Oud-Turnhout on Sunday. For host family day, Jos, Lisette, Simone, Celine, and I ventured to the nearby city of Antwerp (Antwerpen, in Dutch) to explore.

At the Antwerp train station, which is gorgeous!

 

At our show on Sunday, Mallory and I got to see a special visitor! We both separately hosted Clara when she toured in Cast A 2012, so it was fun seeing her again! We'll get to spend some more time with her in Brussels, but it was fun showing her our show, since it's a completely new show from when she traveled last year!

Mallory, Clara, and me

After a great week, it was time to say goodbye to Lisette and Jos. Off to the next Belgian city!

Travel While You're Young!

I found this article posted by a friend in the cast. I read it and loved it because so much of what is written is what helped me decide to join UWP!

 3 Reasons to Travel While You’re Young

by Jeff Goins

The other night, I had a conversation with a young woman who had a number of decisions ahead of her, one of which was whether she should go to grad school or travel the world.
I told her to travel. Hands down. No excuses. Just go.
She sighed.

Photo credit: kokorowa (Creative Commons)

“Yeah, but…”

Never were more fatal words spoken:

• Yeah, but… what about debt?
• Yeah, but… what about my job?
• Yeah, but… what about my boyfriend (or dog or car or whatever)?

“Yeah, but…” is pernicious. Because it makes it sound like we have the best of intentions when really we are just too scared to do what we should. It allows us to be cowards, while sounding noble.
Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did. Conversely, plenty of people who waited for grad school or a steady job and traveled still did those things — eventually. Be careful of the yeah-but. The yeah-but will kill your dreams.
I was so stirred by this conversation that I shared it with a group of 30 young adults last night, many who were asking these very same questions.

The life you’ve always wanted

When you get older, life seems to just sort of happen to you. Your youth is a time of total empowerment. You get to do what you want.
But as you mature and gain new responsibilities, you have to be very intentional about making sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important.
So if you still have a reasonable amount of control over your circumstances, you should do what really matters. Because life won’t always be just about you.
During early adulthood, your worldview is still being formed. It’s important to steward this time — to give yourself opportunities to grow. A good way to do that is to travel.
So, young person, travel. Travel wide and far. Travel boldly. Travel with full abandon.
You will regret few risks you take when it comes to this. I promise you that. There are three reasons to travel while you’re young:

1. Traveling teaches you to live an adventure

When you look back on your life, you will have moments of which you are proud and maybe a few you regret. It’s likely that the following won’t be on the latter list:

• Bicycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Appeared on Italian TV.
• Hiked a Mayan ruin.
• Learned Spanish in three months.
• Toured Europe by train.

They’re not on mine (fun fact: I’ve done all of the above). So what, then, will be? What choices will you regret making? Holding back. Being afraid. Making excuses. Not taking more risks. Waiting.
While you’re young, you should travel. You should take the time to see the world and taste the fullness of life. It’s worth whatever investment or money or sacrifice of time that may be required on your part.
This is not about being a tourist. It’s about experiencing true risk and adventure so you don’t have to live in fear for the rest of your life.

2. Traveling helps you encounter compassion

In your youth, you will make choices that will define you. The disciplines you begin now will be with you for the rest of your life.
Traveling will change you like little else can. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you.
If you go to southeast Asia, you may encounter the slave trade. If eastern Europe, you may see the effects of genocide and religious persecution. If Haiti, you’ll witness the the ugly side Western paternalism.
Your heart will break.
You will begin to understand that the world is both a big and small place. You will have a new-found respect for the pain and suffering that over half of the world takes for granted on a daily basis.
And you will feel more connected to your fellow human beings in a deep and lasting way. You will learn to care.

3. Traveling allows you to get some culture

While you’re still young, you should get cultured. Get to know the world and the magnificent people that fill it. There’s nothing quite like walking alongside the Colosseum or seeing Michelangelo’s David in person.
I can describe the city of San Juan and its amazing beaches and historic sites to you, but you really have to see it for yourself to experience it. You can read all the books in the world about the Great Wall of China or The Louvre, but being there is a different story.
The world is a stunning place, full of outstanding works of art. See it. Do this while you’re still young. Do not squander the time. You will never have it again.
You have a crucial opportunity to invest in the next season of your life now. Whatever you sow, you will eventually reap. Please. For your sake, do this. Because you won’t always be young. And life won’t always be just about you.
So travel. Experience the world for all it’s worth. Become a person of culture, adventure, and compassion.

“What if I’m not young?”

Travel, anyway. It may not be easy to do, but find a way to get out of your comfort zone. It’s really never too late.
But if you haven’t gotten sucked into the routine of life yet, I implore you — travel. It will never be easier than it is right now for you to do that which really matters.
Have you seen what the world has to offer and how it can change you? Join the discussion in the comments.

Cast Profiles Page

Better late than never! Our cast profile page is FINALLY up on the UWP website! =) Check it out! These are all of my lovely castmates whom I dearly adore! 

Cast Profiles Page

Amsterdam!

We had a great day in Amsterdam on Sunday. Normally Sunday is host family day, and we wanted nothing more than to spend the day with our families, but schedules didn't work out, so Hector, Kevin, Jessica and I all took off by train to go explore Amsterdam. We missed the time with our hosts, but we truly appreciated getting to explore such an amazing city!

 On the train to Amsterdam!

Our first stop was the Anne Frank House. What an amazing place that was. I've always been fascinated by WWII and the events of the Holocaust, so I knew I needed to see the house of Anne Frank. Pictures weren't allowed, so I found some pictures online that help depict the secret annex Anne and 7 others lived in for 2 years before being captured and taken to the concentration camps.

 

The Anne Frank house as it was in the 40s (left) and present day (right). The facade is of the warehouse, not the annex. The street view goes to show how well the annex was hidden from view. You couldn't see it from the street.

The warehouse (left side) and the back annex (right side). The 8 people in hiding lived in the back annex that was hidden from view.

The moveable bookcase that concealed the hidden passageway to the back annex. It was a big step up and a low ceiling to enter the passage, so you had to be very careful.

Anne's room that she shared with Fritz Pfeffer. She decorated the walls with newspaper and magazine pictures

The stairways were INCREDIBLY steep and straight up, and during the days, the families couldn't open the windows or curtains a single inch. They lived in silence during the day so that the warehouse workers below wouldn't know they were up there. They didn't run water, walk on the floorboards, talk, sing, cook, or anything for fear they would be discovered. Eventually all 8 were captured and taken to the Nazi concentration camps. 7 of the 8 perished in the war - only Otto Frank, Anne's father, survived. He played a vital role in preserving the annex as a museum and publishing Anne's diary for the whole world to read. It was unbelievable knowing I was walking on the same streets and floors as the Frank family and the Nazi soldiers who invaded Amsterdam. What an experience.

After the museum, we walked all the way across town through the Flower Market to visit the Hermitage Museum where the Van Gogh paintings had been temporarily moved. We explored the Van Gogh exhibit and then continued on to see the rest of the city!

Train station

The whole city is built over canals. It's great!

 Flower Market!

Just a funny moment. We thought Kevin was recording a video, but it was a picture! I love the faces!

We ran into Mika from Japan!

It's all about the wooden shoes! =)

I played the tourist card and bought some clog slippers. I LOVE them - such a great decision, and now I'll always have a little piece of Holland with me!

Roomie Blog: Jessica S.

I had another American roomie this week...the youngest person in our cast, in fact! I was roomed with Jessica S. from California! We had a great week, despite some being on time issues (Jessica REALLY likes to sleep and ignore alarm clocks! =P). We had an absolutely fantastic host family, host neighbors, bike riding adventures, conversations with the Princess of the Netherlands, and a day trip to Amsterdam!

So, a little about Jessica...

From: La Cañada Flintridge (a suburb of Los Angeles), California

Age: 17

Jessica's favorite thing we did together as roomates: late night pillow talk our first night! We finally got to talk for more than a short while!

Fun Facts:
- She'll be going to UC Berkley this fall to start her college career! Hooray!
- She is a great little singer who has quite a few star moments in the show!
- She has really funny sleeping habits...even though she's little, she's mighty! She nearly kicked me out of the bed a few times!

My Week in the Netherlands!

*BEFORE READING THIS BLOG, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO LEARN LOTS OF NEW FUN THINGS ABOUT THE NETHERLANDS!*

Holy cow. I just lived in the Netherlands for a week. The land of chocolate sprinkles for breakfast, bike riding EVERYWHERE, and TALL PEOPLE! Oh mylanta are the people tall here! I felt petite, and let me tell you what, that never happens!

But really...you put chocolate sprinkles on bread. ALL THE TIME!

We had our longest travel day by bus...11 hours...and traveled from Liechtenstein through Switzerland and Germany to arrive in the Netherlands. I had a great bus date with our token Swedish guy/drummer/badass and rockstar extraordinaire, Robin, and then I had time to talk with our sound technician, Darlene, as well! We drove through some fantastic scenery and finally arrived at our location a little later than expected.

 Scenery on our drive through Switzerland. Oh, I was in heaven!

With my buddy Robin

Darleeeeeeeeeene!

Host pickup! Host Code: Queen Beatrix

I was so excited when I learned I would have a 4-year-old host brother, Daan. Just check out how cute he is...am I right?

A photo my host mom took and had printed in the house

We had a fun photobooth session!

We had a great week of fantastic community impacts and study abroad. I went to a place called GGNet twice that week to work at an institution for mentally ill residents. We did some gardening, cooking, and interacting with the residents through our international costume fashion show. We didn't speak Dutch, but we still had fun!

CI Crew Day #1

CI Group Day #2...fashion show! I wore a traditional costume from Russia

All week we got to RIDE BIKES like the locals! It was so much fun. The bikes are HUGE here for all the tall people, but luckily my host family had a smaller travel bike that fit Jessica perfectly. We enjoyed riding

We had a great study abroad day full of productivity, both academically and shopping-wise! Some of us girls had a great afternoon out at H&M and enjoyed some ice cream!

Study abroad group in our study facility for the day...yup...at a bar!

Apeldoorn was also a very big week for us because we were in a gorgeous performance facility, we were hosting a VIP dinner as a fundraiser for our beneficiary, New Day Impact, AND we performed/mingled with ROYALTY! Yup, I met Princess Margrite and her husband when they came to our show!

Our amazing show facility...the Orpheus Theatre in Apeldoorn

Me and Simone (Denmark), two of the students selected to host the VIP event!

The VIP crew dressed in our fancy clothes!

At my table with some of the ladies

And then we met the Princess. I talked with her at intermission and then we met after the show for a picture opportunity. She's the sister of the current Queen Beatrix (who is resigning April 30th and her son will be sworn in as the new king)

We had a great day on Sunday in Amsterdam, but I'll write about that in another post. The week came to an end much too quickly, as it always does, but we left with a ton of great memories! My host family was fantastic and I loved my week in the Netherlands!

Gert-jan, me, Daan, Marlon, and Jessica S.

A photo collage my host mom made and sent us! =)