Shame walk.

Things have got pretty quiet around here. Someone was asking if exchange was ending with a bit of a bang and lots of parties. The reality is more of a slow fizzle.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love a bit of quiet Natalie time. Especially when I'm bogged down with coursework and running errands. But when peace and quiet is suddenly forced upon you day after day. It gets old. And quickly. 

To be fair, I saw this coming a mile off. Everyone has been excitedly sharing their travel plans and returning home, whilst I'm sat here preparing for my exam. Turns out that I've got a lot of study time on my hands and very little excuse for procrastination. =P

I have actually had a few really lovely days (post study session). But much of it has either been really simple, kind of abstract, or not blog appropriate... 

*mysterious laughter* ;)

Apologies my little ducklings!

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Over the weekend, Lindsey and I embarked on our final market and park venture before she went gallivanting off on her travels (which sound amazing). I am more than a little bit jealous! 

As we strolled towards the water, she enviously eyed-up the children as they 'selfishly' hogged what she declared to be an amazing swing. What do you mean actual children are playing on the swing? Oh, the outrage! =P 

Then, as I ogled at the pretty 'beach'-like area of the lake, Lindsey looked on horrified. Apparently it doesn't quite match up to Florida's standards. But with Scotland's sand and beaches as my most recent reference point, my expectations may have been set a little lower.

Debate: dirt or sand?

As well as the departure of yet another friend, I suffered a second loss that day. My lifeline. My baby. My bike. We had our final adventure together before she became almost impossible to ride. 

Please excuse me while I go sob uncontrollably. Cheers.

I probably could get her fixed but with just over a week left there seems little point. Just going to have to figure out what to do with my much-loved little darling. Because I don't think I could cope with the idea of leaving her to rust!

A second landmark event this week was the football match. Australia vs Netherlands. And, as I presume anyone who actually cares already knows, we won! 3:2. That was a fun afternoon! Again, I watched on campus - which was awesome. Bumped into a few people who I didn't even realise were still here, and said my goodbyes to a couple more. I spent the first half of the game chatting mainly to Eva - it was her final evening. Since both of us had arrived late we found ourselves standing on the outskirts of the little crowd with a beautiful view of a pillar right in the centre of the screen. Perfect. The second half wasn't much better in terms of actually seeing the screen, but we at least found some more of the gang. I sat with Michael and we looked on slightly bewildered, neither of us fully understanding what was prompting all the excitement (other than the obvious, e.g. goals). Such massive football people... =P

Also heard the news of a possible Glasgow visit. Exciting stuff!

Vijf - Één

The weekend began with a busy Saturday:

• Market venture
• Impromptu interpretative dance performance
• Fancy ice cream: white chocolate and Oreo flavours 
• Girlie picnic in the park
• Common room party

It was a bit of a bizarre day, with a million and one activities crammed into it. But we had a lot of fun and the evening was almost like a big send-off party before the majority people begin to leave.

But, as early as the next afternoon, we were already having to host little farewell gatherings. One by one: Jess, Helena, and Emma all flew the nest this week. And thinking of all the "Farewell Rotterdam" posts that I found myself 'liking' on Facebook, I imagine that there were probably more than a few others that slipped more quietly under the radar! In fact, we even bumped into Jimmy's little crew helping him with his luggage. And there so many more are soon to follow. *sad face*

Gawd guys. Please stop abandoning me and this wonderful city that we now call home...I'm beginning to get a complex here!

Anyway, I'll quit with the emotional ranting (for now, at least).

On Sunday most of the crew said goodbye to Jess with a mini gathering on the terrace. But luckily, I'll be seeing her once again (if only for an hour or two).

We also had our first room inspection this week - a little surreal. Don't remind me that I'm leaving!

As a nice distraction, Emma, Kaia and I found ourselves scouring Primark for bargains once more: treating ourselves to a little (budget) retail therapy. Nothing wrong with that! Might have caught ourselves indulging in a McDonald's for all of our wonderful shopping efforts...oops!

On Thursday, just prior to Emma's leaving dinner, me and Lindsey took ourselves for an afternoon visit to the park. The weather was gorgeous (as it has been all week), so we just sat soaking up some rays. Thankfully for my wee milk bottle legs, the heat was just starting to ebb away slightly, meaning I could finally sit outside without running the risk of returning home various shades of pink. It's hard being Scottish sometimes! ;)

Dinner was lovely: stuffing ourselves with pizza and yet even more ice cream (stroopwafel and cherry mania). Afterwards, I joined Emma and Lindsey for a final cycle around the city. The riverside was stunning as the sun set: a truly beautiful way to conclude Emma's Dutch journey. We might even have spilled a few tears on the final bridge...

Friday has also been eventful. 

Part of my bike fell off as I was cycling. Of course, the heart stopping moment was perfectly timed for me to be weighed down with carrier-bags full of groceries from the supermarket. Nightmare. Had to preform a bit of DIY magic at the side of the road. Thankfully we are both still in one piece! Well...one(ish). Touch wood, she seems to be working okay for now, but I imagine that a trip to the repair shop isn't in the too distant future... Directly following her little injury, my poor wee bike was then 'held hostage' and trapped in her space by another bike. 

Absolute nightmare - so flustered!

Finally made it to campus for another power pump session and a screening of the World Cup football match: Spain versus the Netherlands. Now, everyone who even vaguely knows me will probably be familiar with my complete indifference towards anything football, but it was actually pretty awesome. Lindsey and I arrived relatively unenthusiastic but quickly found ourselves getting swept up in the national spirit. Who knew?! 

5:1 to my adopted country!!! =D 

I heart NL ;)

Chocolate factory.

Damn. So much for sticking to my schedule!

It's been a fairly busy week. Unfortunately the first half was completely dedicated to assignments, but it began to liven up a little after midweek. 

On Wednesday the girls and I took a well earned study break - I had locked myself away for so long that I was beginning to forget what real people look like. ;) And we did the only thing we know how: eat food. Lots of it. We started off in Bagels & Beans before progressing onto the 'Chocolate Factory' (I'm sure the store has a real name but I'm not in the mood for technicalities). I treated myself to a delicious BLT and hot chocolate (complete with chocolate spoon). Bliss. 

Over lunch Emma also endowed us with cute little gifts from the motherland. Mine was a little reflector keyring to 'keep me safe' in that 'dark country' of mine. D'aww. What a sweetie!

The following afternoon Lindsey, Jess and I made our way over to campus for the Smitse Fest: a wee music festival. It was nothing overly exciting, but it was pretty awesome to get out the house for a while and listen to some nice music. It was a pretty cool vibe. Always needing a refresher of some kind!

That night was a late one: desperately editing papers before the Friday deadline.

Then, for some unbeknown reason, I 'treated' myself to another gym visit for completing my papers on time. Freya and I are really starting to get into this Power Pump thing! *flexes muscles* ;)