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There have been no weeks since I've arrived in Utrecht that have been the same. There's no sense of monotony. I realize most of this can be attributed to the fact that I've spent many a weekend elsewhere in western Europe. But at the same time, a familiarity has developed in the past four months. I know where everything is in Super de Boer (my grocery store), and can usually guess what beer will be on special each week. I have favorite places to get coffee, and favorite people to do so with. I occasionally get in arguments about Dutch politics. I talk about the weather more than I talk about sports. I know more about Dutch and Flemish painters than I have ever cared to. And I no longer feel uncomfortable being the shortest male in the room. That being said, the past week has been unique. For the first time in a while, I stayed in Utrecht for the entire weekend. And my agenda is marked in the month of June, which I still find hard to believe. But the major difference I've noticed is that for the first time, I'm thinking about the end of this trip. This vacation, this experience, if you will. It becomes a topic of conversation among my friends here, and I make plans to meet up with my friends back home when I return. At first I thought, this is a little like high school graduation. But that's much too easy of a comparison. I still see many of the people I graduated from high school with, and I can do so without too much trouble. But the people I've met here, traveled with, lived with, spent late evenings at Dutch discos with, will not be within easy reach. Some of the people I'm closer to are returning to Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, New Hampshire, and Texas, too name a few. In that way, it's very unlike a high school graduation. Although my time here is a senior slacker's dream. Regardless, I feel like I'm beginning to grasp why people call the study abroad experience 'unique'. It is truly impossible to replicate. And I only hope I can retain what I've learned here and apply it to life back in the States, and more importantly, maintain these unique relationships I've formed here.
I have a little premature nostalgia. So shoot me. The other reason this past week has been unique is how much time I had on my hands, when the weather was agreeable. I've had the chance to visit a few parks, throw around a frisbee, play some pick-up football, and just spend time outside, with no fear of sudden downpours. On Sunday, the American in me had an overwhelming urge to barbecue. Fortunately, stores are open in Utrecht on the first Sunday of the month, so I didn't need to break in anywhere to get the grill and the meat. It felt great to stand over some hot coals and flip big, fat burgers, drinking beer and even talking a little baseball. (With Red Sox fans, but you take what you can get). The only thing that was missing was a big cooler, filled with ice and beer. You cannot buy ice in Holland, and I've never seen a cooler. I think my family has a dozen coolers. Someone should start a cooler redistribution program, open an ice shop, and enlighten the Dutch. There's money in ice here.
I have one more trip before the semester ends and I rail around for a few weeks. Wednesday morning, with five other Americans, I'm flying to the Czech Republic, land of cheap Bohemian beer and eastern european women, for five days. God help us. We'll be spending the first few days in Prague, which I'm consistently told is "my favorite city in Europe." Then we head to the deep south, to Cesky Krumlov, a tiny town pinned between a big river and an ancient castle, for some outdoors sports and relaxation. Then back up to Prague to celebrate my 22nd with plenty of Pilsner Urquell. We'll return Monday morning, and I suppose then the end will truly be in sight, with only a few weeks left in Utrecht. Seems like yesterday I had a few months left.