3 cheers for productivity!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have (finally) reached the point in time when Anya actually enjoys going to the gym and eating healthier. I think I have had some kind of gym membership on and off for the past four years and although I always went - I never, ever could understand the benefits. Sure, it made me feel "okay" afterwards but mostly, it was miserable. And eating pizza all day and sitting on my bed seemed like the much, much better choice. But then something changed, just in the past couple of weeks.

Perhaps it's the fact that I've started to do a lot more cardio in addition to taking fewer days off... but I've actually, for the first time in my life, begun to see the difference that it's making. And it feels awesome.

In terms of eating healthier, I think it's definitely the spring weather that's given me the desire to eat fresher and "lighter" things. Why would I order a greasy and overpriced pizza when I can make this deliciously healthy meal -



Also, another development in the past week has been that my fourth class, The Meaning of Having Children in Different Cultures has begun. Although the final assignment seems as if it will be relatively easy (a 10 page paper proposal constructed in groups of 3-4 people) the work from week to week is a little bit overwhelming. We have to write 4-6 page responses on readings, each week. The good news is, I've been getting through both the reading/writing extremely quickly. In fact, between the few hours I spent on it yesterday and the hour or so more I need to spend on it today, I will be done with this weeks work for that class. Sounds good to me.

In other news, this weekend my program is taking us to a northern island in the Netherlands called Schiermonnikoog. (Pronounced as: Sceermonnikoh). We will apparently be staying on some kind of "farm-like" hostel located on the beach. We will go biking, mudwalking and make beach fires? Anyway, it sounds pretty rad to me... as long as the weather is nice.

Until next time...

one week down.

So, I've been here a week. Longest week of my life.

Still have gotten (nearly) nowhere in the socializing/friends department. But I'm less concerned about it than I was. There are definitely a few people I like and hopefully when I get more settled (and figure out a better going to the gym schedule that doesn't cut into other social activities) things will work themselves out.

Speaking of the gym - I have such a love/hate relationship with exercising. I think everyone does though. I mean... I hate it. It's an awful feeling to be sweaty and not be able to catch your breath. Of course, the after effects feel great but that's about it. I also think it's impossible for me to go to the gym in the morning because I don't feel fully awake until I take a shower and there's no point in taking a shower before going to the gym so I end up going at night. Which is ok, I guess... but tonight I could have made dinner with some people but knew I had to go to the gym so I did that instead. I need to not go to the gym at 8:00pm anymore, at least.

Even harder than the working out thing, though is eating well. It's not the foods themselves that are the problems... I generally like a lot of food that's healthy but it's the portions. The one thing I have a problem with is overeating. Especially salty foods. I could eat an entire bag of chips without thinking twice... after I've already eaten a full meal. So that's the kind of thing I really can't do anymore obviously and it's really, really hard to stop and/or find an alternative. I suppose maybe after a while my body will get used to not consuming that much crap but right now I'm really, really struggling with it. I haven't slipped or anything but it's requiring a ton of will power. Anyway, I want to lose 15 or so pounds because I gained that much in the past year and a half and I'd like to not look like a flabby rhino. Ha.

Anyway, had my first class today - Dutch. Not really all that exciting because Bonny teaches it and I pretty much knew what it was going to be like. But... we'll have to see how the whole memorization/tests/studying thing goes because I am completely horrible at all three of those things. Write a 20 page paper? Fine. Take a vocab test? Forget about it. Either way - I'm glad I'm taking it and hopefully I won't crash and burn.

OH and it's been a week so here is the beginning of daily pictures. I don't really know why I'm doing this - it's a little strange but I think it will be interesting when I have 4 months worth.

WEEK ONE

Bye, folks!