Waalwijk Adventures Chapter 1

Around this time two years ago I would be preparing for my trip to the Netherlands. One of the best trips of my life. It was an exchange program with AACS and Dr. Mollercollege in Waalwijk, NL. I think every American student should have to do an exchange trip sometime in their school career. I learned so much in my two weeks with Anne (my "FEZ") in the Netherlands. Starting with Dutch:


Living in a place where English is not the primary language is...strange? People wouldn't realize I was foreign and start speaking to me in Dutch. It was really awkward at first because I didn't know what to do. Should I nod and pretend I know what they are saying or just admit right away that I'm just a stupid American? I tried both. But for the most part I would just stutter and then say "Sorry, do you speak English?"
I learned a few words before the trip, but none of them were very useful. For example: tafel (table), vliegtuig (airplane),zwart (black), blauw (blue), hond (dog), kaas (cheese)

I owe Rosetta Stone the credit for informing me of such practical words
Of course Anne taught me more throughout the trip. Hello/Goodbye and such. And of course, my favorite: Sinaasappelsap (Orange Juice)

Or in case you are ever in need of an escape hammer in the Netherlands try this:

Ornithoscelidaphobia

I have this ridiculous fear of dinosaurs. Ornithoscedlidaphobia. It's one of those things that you tell people but no one ever really takes you seriously. I'm not sure how this phobia started but I do remember having dinosaur nightmares when I was pretty young. I remember waking up with my heart racing after dreaming about a T-Rex chasing me through New York city. I still, to this day, will have that same dream about once every 5 or 6 months.


I remember having "Jurassic Park" on VHS in our old movie cabinet. Sometimes when I was little I would go to the movie cabinet to pick out something to watch. I would just stare at the "Jurassic Park" movie, contemplating if it was too scary to watch. In the end I would always settle on something reasonable like "My Best Friends Wedding" or "It Takes Two" (When in doubt always go for Julia Roberts or Kristie Alley).

I think when I get to heaven one of the first question I'll ask God is why he created dinosaurs. I have a theory that He did it just so we would wonder and be curious about His prehistoric creation.

I just hope there are no dinosaurs in heaven...