one weekend in amsterdam.

new country, language, city, 'home', room, flatmate(s), university, classes, classmates, teachers, assignments, subject matter, cafes/hangouts, types of food, daily routine, habits, modes of transportation, grocery stores, shops, phone (now lost), restaurants, clubs, museums...

you get that, everything's new.

not so great with the concept of 'new', but i think i'm slowly getting used to it or hopefully i will. not a fan of the unfamiliar either, but all things become familiar in due time. you never know *shrugs* by the end of 6 months, i might actually be sad to leave?

i had the greatest time the weekend just past, perhaps because for the very first time, my eyes were opened to the possibility that i could actually enjoy the city and the experiences it holds in store for me - if only i would let it.

V, B and Y (virgi's friends) were said partners in crime. i joined B and Y for dinner on friday night, with every intention of going home that night and picking virgi up at central station the next morning. had super yum indonesian food! best meal since i've been here. however as the night wore on, i got the feeling it wasn't about to end anytime soon. i was right. we met another of V's friends, J, and her friends - travelling around europe together, went to a coffee shop at the boys' request (watched them smoke some questionable but legal substances) followed by drinks at a quiet longue-y place. post-multiple rounds of drinking games, we finally called it a night.


made the trek to their hotel and watched B pass out before our eyes. i kinda didn't want to sleep in the same bed as him - acc. to the prior arrangement - lest he beat me in his violent sleep! i washed up and sat nicely tucked in Y's bed, chatting away.. till 4plus, when i fell asleep in his bed. he v. kindly offered to sleep half on a chair and half on the bed, at my feet.

unsurprisingly, acc. to him, i kicked him twice in my sleep. oops! (though i don't completely buy that story, but hey! it's possible)

picked virgi up. sooo glad to see my big sis *grin*. had breakfast and talked for AGES in a little cafe, whilst B was snoozing like a little piggy. met up with B, had more food. wasn't supposed to be hungry after that breakfast but i was, correction: we were. discovered a quiet japanese restaurant and ordered enough sushi to feed... well, us. yumyum. i must make it a point to return someday. made our way (by foot) to the van gogh museum, where we promptly parted ways - virgi and i headed to the bond street of amsterdam, not that we bought anything of course and the boys got tics for van gogh. v and i walked around for a bit then settled in a lovely underground cafe to chat and share a slice of tiramisu + i had hot chocolate - fast becoming a staple in my life.

rushed back to meet the boys at the appointed time, then onto the heineken brewery, by which time it was too late. i can't remember what we did next.. i think we had dinner? we searched for HOURS (well maybe not hours, but it sure felt like it), trying to find this cafe by the water, with a SUPERLOVELY view. we came across it purely by chance, while on the prowl for the red light district - not for my viewing pleasure, in case you were wondering - it was all lit up and you could see the pretty interior. after walking back and forth endlessly, Y (official mapbearer) found it. once again, delightful meal - virgi and i shared a main - salmon, a salad and tomato soup.

one thing i've realised about that weekend is that; it's being with the right company (i can't stress this word enough) that makes the experience. i was surrounded by fellow singaporeans + family, on the same wavelength, speaking the same lingo, getting the same jokes. ahh.. familiarity. at last *beams*

some people have been rude/unkind/unhelpful to me since i've arrived. call me weak or whatever for not standing up to them, but seriously, what's the point? i just let it pass, i think it's a waste of my time/energy taking offence, plus it's draining. that's my mentality. 75% of the time, i let it pass, then maybe i secretly curse and swear and stick pins in voodoo dolls behind their back - heh. just kidding, about the cursing and swearing of course :) immigrations anyone? 25% of the time, when i've had just about enough crap, i will go crazy and scream - which thankfully, hasn't happened. yet. i have quite a high tolerance level, about certain things, in certain situations and with certain people. or maybe 50-50? hmm, i don't know..


basically it comes down to rights. having rights and knowing them. i don't know my rights as well as virgi of course, which results in me being bullied by strangers ie: crazy english cab driver.

i've gone off on a tangent again. what was i saying?

anyway the night is no longer young and i need some sleep. i hardly have time for myself these days. no time to think, no time to write. just work work work. sigh..

'one weekend in amsterdam' to be continued...