My trip to the alien police.

So the big thing for today was the trip to the alien police to pick up my temporary residency permit.  Last week we filled out all the paperwork, and today we each had an appointment.  Mine was at 10am.  I decided I needed to leave by 9 to make it to the bus stop, ride the bus, and arrive on time.  The only thing is that this was the first time anybody had actually ridden the bus.  We were told what bus to get on, but we didn't really know where to get off.   It was really cold today but sunny, so we all waited out in the cold for the bus.  We needed 1 or 11, but after we analyzed the schedule it looked like 1 was the only one to stop at our stop.  So a few buses went by and none were ours.  One person I was with tried asking another bus driver, but he didn't speak English.  So we waited longer.  Finally our bus came up.  We all got on and had our strippenkart stamped.  Then we were off.  We soon realized we had no idea where to get off, so I went up and asked the bus driver what stop we were suppose to get off on.  He didn't speak english, but a lady was getting on the bus, and she said it was her stop and to just follow her.

We eventually came to our stop and we got off and headed into the police station.  We had to be buzzed in, which was strange.  Then we waited in line, and he told us we were too early and needed to wait for 20 minutes before we could check in.  So we waited, and then when the time came, we went and checked back in.  He gave me a number and said something in a mixture of Dutch and English.  It was something about waiting for my number to show up, then walk through these doors.  So when I looked at the sign, it was displaying my number.  I headed for the door.  It looked like a locked door, so I followed behind somebody and got in.  Then before I know it three different people were screaming something at me in Dutch.  I said that I speak English, and I was here because they called my number.  So one guy took my by the shoulder until he figured out I was supposed to be in there, and everything was ok...no big security breach or anything.

Right now I am watching soccor and there is talks about a poker game, but who knows if that will actually happend

I signed a few things then I was on my way.  We didn't know what street to tell the bus driver we were going to, so I found some kid's book, and wrote down the address of our dorm and said "get us close to there."  So we made it back, incase you were worried.

Throughout the day different kids would come to ask me how to get to the alien police, so I would tell them and they would right it down.  I also picked up by laundry card, which costs 10 euro for the card and 3 per wash.  They give you detergent, but no dryer sheets.  The washers are smaller than what we are used to, but I guess it will get the job done. 

Once I made it back from the alien police, I decided I needed to go see Jorge (coordinator for IU) and pick up one of my books, and ask him a few questions about going to see Kelly in Russia and good hotels to stay at in the area.  He was very helpful, but I also realize its going to be a lot of work to get to Russia and very expensive.  But after Jorge, I went to try out the gym.  It felt so good to get back to lift weights after such a long break (about a month or maybe a little more).  There were hardly any people there, and the Europeans don't really power lift so I felt a lot bigger than eveyrone which was nice.  I think I will probably get a pass just because I enjoy going so much.

I also went grocery shopping so I had some bread and to buy some stuff to make a chicken with red wine dish for dinner.  I will admit, I got it from Rachel Ray.  But I would also like to point out that it helps to have more than one burner working in order to hit the 30 minute mark which she is know so well for.  In the end it took me 1 and a half hours to get the whole thing prepared.  People would stop in from time to time and ask what were had made because it smelled great.  So I would tell them.  I also shared it with Nick.  The other problem was the ingredients.  I would say I had about 40% correct.  I couldn't translate some of them, and then other I thought I purchased but they turned out to be something different.  I also forgot to buy sugar.  So halfway through I was worried it was going to taste terrible, but it actually tasted AMAZING!  Then we cleaned up and that was that.

Right now I am watching soccer and there is talks about a poker game, but who knows if that will actually happened.  I tried calling Kelly's cell phone, but it said the number had not been activated.  I would have called her house, but it's too late now.  She has already started school.  So I can only try to get a hold of her in the evening.  I am thinking about signing up for a "Experience Holland" trip.  It is for an entire weekend, and it costs 110 euro.  I just don't know if I want to to it.  Lastly, I checked about the proposed ski trip, and it will happen for sure, but it is just a matter of when.  They said we should receive an email sometime in the next two weeks.  I am very excited to do that.  I guess it is time to start planning a trip.  I am thinking maybe Paris??  Its very close and should be a lot of fun.  I started looking at airfare to Russia.  There is no cheap or easy way to get there, but Jorge said he would help me once I get my visa.  Well they just came to get me to play Hold'em, so I'm off.