Dutchieland part 2
So where did we leave of in part 1? I do belive it was somewhere around the time I had to move from Utrecht to Zwolle. Only, well, I never did make it all the way to Zwolle. I found a 15m2 room in a larger old house in Deventer where 6 students and a crazy 32 year old woman lived. The room looked absolutely shitty when I first came to see it but after a few coats of paints, vaccumcleaning, and some nice furniture it turned out quite alright.
Though of course, the above picture is misleading since the room was not at all very tidy most of the time. It is hard to fit a life into 15m2 and even harder when there is no closet. Life was allright in the house. I guess crazylady has been mentioned enough times on the blog allready so you can’t have missed it. And if you did, it’s probably just as well.
From here on out I lived in Deventer and studied in Zwolle which meant that I commuted by train like a proper dutchie. And for me that was more important than all the partying I voluntary “missed out” on. I was in Holland for the dutch experience, for the life, the people and the culture.
The summer seemed to last forever but once school started in Zwolle the warm weather gave way little by little and fall suddenly came over us. Not sure if I should go into my studies much, I feel pretty much done with that part by now – especially since I had to keep a diary and analyze my own and the group effort. I will, however, dedicate this part to Deventer and Zwolle and save the trips for the 3rd part. In how few a words and pictures could you summarize 6 months of your life? I would say it is not something that is done in the blink of an eye.
Tabakswal. A street that is not even a street. I missed it the first time I went to Deventer to see my room. You see there are some trainbridges and a parking lot. And the street is made out of street-stones (like a sidewalk in the city) which makes it very unclear that it is a street and not just merely an in/out for the parking space. Of course I would soon find out that the street was very well trafficked (I had my one window towards the street).
If there’s horses around I’ll find them. And it did not take me long to locate Natuurpark Ossenwaald in between Overijssel and Gelderland. At the shore of the river a flock of 13 konik horses lives together with a larger heard of dark brown cows of some sort (and a mean looking bull of course).
This is where I spent quite a lot of my spare time. Taking a walk, going by the natuurpark and saying hi to the horses. One of the mares quickly became my favourite as she seemed to recognise me and always came to say hi.
I also enjoyed strawling along the city, especially close to christmas when the decorations were up and the snow had fallen. Deventer has quite a few landmarks… like the oldest house in Holland, the mill on the picture below and the bridge, at night.
The mentioned house – the oldest lived in house in Holland, built 1130.
Seeing as walks was the only excercise I actually did during my stay in Holland, not counting the two times I did go for a ride out, I did a lot of walking. And took A LOT of pictures.
I didn’t spend all that much time in Zwolle, asides my studies. I did a tour of the city on an afternoon off, checked out the centre and got stopped by two Jehovah who wanted to know if I knew jesus christ. I told them I don’t belive in jesus and started walking away while one of them, in a desperate voice, yelled after me that I can still know him. No thank you. Then again. I did live and study in the dutch bible belt.
In Zwolle I saw a lot of the train station and Windesheim. I also saw the church and the Straaspoort to mention some of it.
Since I resided in Deventer that’s the one city of the two that I know best, and also, like best. I felt very at home in Deventer even though the living arrangements left a lot to wish for. It is a nice little city with nice old houses and a nice environment surrounding it, pharming it in.
Holland is not known for the cold or snowy winters but when I lived there we did get quite a bit of snow and cold. Not as much as we had back in Sweden though. I was completely unprepared for -25 degrees, canceled trains and a travel time of 9 hours rather than the 3 I had expected. Sweden welcomed me back home brutally. From a rainy Holland and wet feet I stepped off the airplane into a winter wonderland where my wet feet immediately froze…
At last… I finished part two.
