Summer Plans

As much as I am loving my time over here in the Netherlands, I have some very exciting assignments that have me anxious for the summer.

First, I have been extremely fortunate to receive a Dean's summer research fellowship from Creighton's College of Arts and Sciences.  My research focus is the interaction of nationalism, European Union law (how the latter affects the former), and legal philosophy.  

Second, I have two internships in Sioux Falls: one with the Public Defenders' Office, and the other with the State's Attorney's office.

Third, I get to spend time outside at the lake with my family and Megan.  

It is going to be a great summer!

Belfast

I have neglected updating my many(?) readers.  I apologize.

At the end of February I headed over to Belfast, N. Ireland, to visit my friend Matt.  He's an M.A. student at QUB (Queen's University Belfast) studying Irish Lit.  Matt was kind enough to show me around Belfast for a few days; we even crossed the boarder of the Republic and spent some time in Dublin.  

Belfast is a robust city with a very storied history.  The general perception I gained after two days (not a sufficient amount of time for making judgments, but oh well) is that the people of Belfast are a down-to-earth bunch: practically minded and hard working.  It seemed like a fabulous place for a student to spend his or her time.  I'm quite jealous of Matt.

My trip to Belfast was also my first hostel experience.  The full details of my nights at Belfast International Youth Hostel will not be posted online.  For all of the juicy details, you will have to beg me in person.  I am currently working on a short story, an appropriate forum, I think, for the oddities I observed.

Kristen comes soon, Mom and Dad too, and trip plans are starting to germinate.  Now off! - I must study for a final!

C

Pickled People Parts

20 February: Emily, Anna, and I went to Amsterdam for some fun.  We took the tube to the outskirts of Amsterdam and visited the Museum Vrolik at the University of Amsterdam's medical center.  Emily, an Art History grad student, had read about the museum in a bio-art book--that should have been my first clue...

The Museum Vrolik is a one room exhibit of deformed humans, human parts, and bones in jars.  I did take some photos, but after Anna got instructed that photography in the museum was prohibited, I snuck my Canon into my pocket.  There is a reason this post does not have a photo attached.  If you are truly curious, well, you are already on the internet.

The day certainly started with a strange tone, but it ended with a beautiful one: Emiliana Torrini serenaded Emily, Anna, Henry, Elfa, and me with her sparkling voice.  It was my first concert trip to Paradiso, but it will not be my last.

Ameland

On 13 Feb., 70 international students from Leiden Uni. took the party to the Dutch island of Ameland.  

Simple meals of sandwiches, cheese, yogurt, and beer comprised the bulk of our holiday diet; the distribution of the food groups was not equal.

Saturday 14 Feb. was the best day of my semester in Leiden.  After a leisurely breakfast of nutella and peanut-butter sandwiches, milk, and bananas, some of my friends and I formed a boerengolf (famers' golf) team.  The trophy ceremony bestowed first place honors on myself, Nick, Sam, Henry and Coley.

I enjoyed perhaps the most beautiful bike ride of my life that afternoon.  Clear skies, a bright sun, and easy pedaling footed the bill as I pushed myself along a bike path paralleling the ocean. 

Even after three hours on the bike we all managed to dance away the night.

Hockey in Den Hagg

Emily, Nick [the Greek], Nick (the Swiss), Nick (the Gator), Ojars, Henry, Elfa, Anna, Chris, myself, and some others  drank beer around some ice.

Rowdiness ensued.  

Swift Currents

Hello all.

I thought it would be fun to start a blog to keep everyone updated on my travels and tomfoolery.  

Mornings find me at 33 Herengracht in Leiden, the Netherlands.  Outside my window is a canal that attracts birds, trash, and charm.  Boats sink in the canal sometimes; their ropes struggle to resuscitate them to buoyancy.  

Life is simpler on a bicycle.

At Leiden Uni. I am studying course law of the European Union, realism in post-civil war American literature, and the logical positivism of mid-20th century analytic philosophy (Vienna Circle, Kuhn, Popper, and Feyerabend).  I occasionally drink Dutch beer.

I have five housemates, one from each of the following countries: Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, and China.  

More later.  I have to go slow down.