"amsterdamaged"

before anyone starts jumping to conclusions about the title of this post, i was told this is a common phrase used by the dutch and people traveling to amsterdam. i was in no way shape or form "damaged," though i'm still recuperating from the lack of sleep.

i will say though, that at the airport before i left my dad told me "to suck the marrow from the bone on this trip." so dad, i think i sucked all the marrow out of amsterdam.

before heading to amsterdam i met up with some other students who i learned were traveling there as well. as brave as i try to be, im not comfortable taking the metro alone really late. i met up with some very friendly fellow americans and we headed to the bus together. when waiting in line i also met another girl who goes to UGA and grew up in Buckhead. we know a ton of the same people, such a small world!

we boarded the bus around 11:30 pm and weren't scheduled to arrive in amsterdam until 6:30 am the following day. it was a long bus ride, and i barely got any sleep, but alas, we made it to amsterdam. i hopped in a cab with my new georgia friend and we were off! i made it to my friend Vicki's house around 7 in the morning. she and i grew up going to camp together and became really close when i was 13 and she was 15. her older sister carolyn (who also lives in amsterdam) was also one of my counselor's at camp, so we all go way back. i was beyond excited to reconnect with these girls and to see the city they left the states for.

after a quick shower to freshen up i had to start getting ready for my disneyland paris audition.
vicki came with me and we got to the audition place at around 9:45 am. i've been to quite a few disney auditions before, but this was intense. there were 300 other girls there. minimum. and i was probably one of the shortest girls there. awkward. we got measured first, and then watched a short presentation about the contracts they'd be offering. i was definitely the only american in the room, so i thought i'd have a pretty good chance. we split up into groups and did an "animation routine" which really meant we posed like a pirate, a cowboy, one of the 7 dwarves, a princess, and a villain. then we waited to see if we made it onto the next round. i was cut. honestly i was completely shocked. i've never been cut so early in an audition before, and i'm bummed they didn't even get to see me dance. i got 15 seconds for them to look at me in various poses and then i was dismissed. i assume they didn't have any contracts for girls of my size, considering i don't see how i could have messed up posing. whatever, it was an experience.

then vicki and i headed to a pretty central square in amsterdam and got to see a flashmob. it was awesome. we met up with some of her friends and had lunch, it was good, but definitely not as good as french cuisine. i've become so spoiled with the food here, though not gonna lie, i REALLY miss chipotle.

i got to experience snow for the first time. ive woken up to snow before in both atlanta and clemson, but to be walking down the street with little flurries getting in my eyes, this was a first for me. and it was COLD. we walked around for a bit, stopping in various shops to look around and take pictures. i saw the market where they sell flowers and it was beautiful and smelled heavenly. right across was a marijuana cafe, didn't smell so nice, but now i get to say i went into a marijuana cafe in amsterdam. it's crazy to me that people can just smoke it on the streets, but no mom and dad, i didn't smoke any.

in the evening, we headed back to vicki's to take a nap. we slept for about an hour and a half and then were suddenly woken up by her friends banging pots and pans together in her room. not cool. we went over to carolyn's for dinner and i got to see chelsea hartline! another long lost camp friend. it was crazy that we were both visiting at the same time, but such a gift. we sat around the table, laughing and sharing stories for hours. it was some serious soul talk, but all three of these girls are so easy to talk to and relate to. all are so confident in who they are, i admire them so much.

later that evening, vicki and i went out with some of her friends, but honestly didn't stay out too long. we were tired and it was snowing. we did however carry the fiesta back to vicki's room, and people were over until 5 in the morning. i don't know how these people do it. i can barely make it to 1 am with friends back home.

the next day was a completely chill day. i walked around, met some more friends, and then hung out with vicki back at her place. her friends are wonderful and i love the dynamic all the students have with one another. it reminded me a bit of living on the hall and constantly having people in my room. (shout out to my chi o sistahs back home. i miss you more than i can put into words.) just like the girls in my sorority, these people are not only fun to be around and go out with, but also great listeners, and even better talkers. it was a taste of home, and i loved it.
before heading to bed we went into vicki's neighbor's room. its so freaking legit. a bunch of them splatter painted the wall but left a huge white space to watch movies from a projector. i was amazed. we watched pirates of the caribbean.
the next morning i woke up at 6 am to catch my bus back to paris. i was exhausted, but glad to have been able to spend the weekend around such wonderful and loving people. amsterdam was a blast and i recommend it to anyone looking for a fun weekend getaway.

happy to be back in paris now. it already felt like i was coming home, and the friends i've made here are absolute gems. they make living here a breeze.


classes start tomorrow which is exciting, but nerve wracking, considering i haven't been in a classroom setting in two months. and one of my favorite clemson tigers is coming to stay with me this weekend! can't wait for you to get here breen! paris better watch out this weekend- the tigers are on the prowl.