New Days

We receive what we give; it's true. Give out love, all the time.


New updates on my life and classes: the bike thing is settling in, or so I'm deciding to believe. My crotch is doing better (thank you for asking) and my legs aren't even hurting. You really have to put your back into going up hills (read: canal bridges, because there are *no* hills), and it turns out asthma can be triggered by biking just as easily as by walking, hiking, or jogging. Fun facts. Who knew?

My classes are settled now. I am taking:

Beginning Dutch, M 4-6pm, Th 6-8pm
Europe in the Global Political Economy, Tu 2-4.45pm
European Union Law, an Intro, W 3.15-15pm, Th 3-5pm
Nationalism & its Revival in Europe, W 9am-noon

Reasons I dropped Russia, Eastern Europe, & European Integration:

1. I thought it would be more hyper-contemporary, and really focus on the EU (the EU takes up a total of 2 classes)
2. I have already taken this class (since it turns out it's about Soviet Russia & Soviet disintegration in Eastern Europe & Russia)
3. I took this class from a MUCH better professor. Peter Rutland is renowned, widely travelled, isn't snotty, is British, is awkward and cute, and writes about political economy. Plus he uses YouTube a lot. Plus he chose *AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING* readings
4. This professor is snotty, Dutch, and makes uncomfortable arrogant jokes
5. He assigns bad readings
6. I'd have class from 4pm-9pm without a dinner break
7. I really dislike the professor. Not just because of my perception of his personality, but his readings & way he's not teaching the class the way I anticipated. This is just reiteration and increased judgment. I apologise
8. He yelled at me for being 10 minutes late to a 3-hour class on the very first day of class. May I remind: the very first day of class, especially for an entirely international student make-up in this class, means no one knows where anything is. Also, I fell over on my bike on the way over, AND I got lost inside because the classroom posted online was not correct. May I remind that 10 min. is a negligible amount of time for a 3-hr. class (180 min., to be exact)? Also, no first class says anything important in the first day, let alone in the first 10 minutes. So when I finally get inside and my knees are scraped, I don't expect to hear, "You're waaaay to late." When I tell him the truth, which is that I just got out of a different class (Intro Dutch ended 5-10 min. before, and I'm a slow biker, and it's a 25-min. walk away), he doesn't take it back

So I'm taking my four other classes instead, but not out of negativity for this class! I am taking them because I honestly like them or feel I'd benefit from them. Here's why:

Beginning Dutch. Well, it's required by Wesleyan. I'm really excited about Dutch. Also, I miss languages. Also, I want to learn Dutch. Also, I want to learn French and really want to relearn Spanish. It's funny how much Spanish the English-speakers are using here, just because of the foreign-language environment (including from the international student body we're in).
Europe in the Global Political Economy. AH I LOVE THIS CLASS SO MUCH SO MUCH SO MUCH. Jamal, PLEASE let me do research with you next summer. Please please! It's a giant class and you don't know me yet, but we're going to be bffs, please. Alstublieft! Plus I've always wanted to live in Belgium, so I can learn French and Dutch, and then do research in Brussels with you next summer. Please say yes? Also, when talking about the EU, it's incredible, because the sort of matter-of-fact, factual way of describing the EU's approach to foreign policy is not only a "win-win" situation belief (or, a non-belief in zero-sum gains. ECONOMICS!) but, it's a positive, cooperative, partnership-building belief. Jamal says: The EU understands that you can only have peace when those around you have peace, so if you really want to have peace, you have to encourage it in others. So they've set up advisory bodies to aid conflicted countries in building up infrastructure and help them create their own countries again, in order to allow every nation to find a sense of peace and security for themselves (the DRC is a case in point). Rather than being imperialist, they're being a helper, and using their privilege for support and good, not imposition or authority. Using their resources for the benefit of those without. Real Altruism in the understanding that it comes back to them and everyone rejoices. And they believe in true peace. It's something straight out of The Four Agreements. Except, this time, it's actually international public policy. How incredible is that?
European Union Law, an Intro. I need to know about the European Union. It's embarrassing not knowing what the Three Pillars are. Is the European Union different from the European Community? You betcha, as Sarah Palin would say! And every European knows it. So it's my turn, now.
Nationalism & its Revival in Europe. I'M THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT! It's a 20-22 person discussion / presentation class, and I'm the only non-Dutch person. Not even kidding. The class is taught in English (and people have to write their papers in English) because I'm in it. (I was not super happy about that at first). The book we're reading as our main text is EXCELLENT. Filled with Durkheim-esque, Cece Miller-esque, &c. theories. Good class. Even if it is 9am and I was uncomfortable with being the only non-Dutch. Now I'll have Dutch friends?


Food Not Bombs no longer exists in Amsterdam. We are discussing how to improve this situation.

BUT. Urban sustainable / squatting community gardening / farming does exist. And I am partaking of the joy. And making activist Dutch friends. Yesssss.... Also, meeting random hitchhikers from the UK going to Turkey and stopping over at all the squats they can find.

Had a € 3 vegan feast for dinner tonight. Soup appetizer, vegan rice, nutritional yeast cream sauce, fresh spinach and mint, fresh zucchini and large tomatos and some eggplant, and amazing onions and seitan. And vegan chocolate cake dessert. We didn't have tupperwares so not all of it was harvested to its full potential. But next time? We'll be back. And we'll be prepared. (This was at the squatter house, btdubs.)


Yesterday and early this morning I heard birds singing outside my window. It was like Spring all over again.

Love,
Miranda