Before I go...

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Following Mark Twain's advice, I am studying abroad for the second semester of my junior year. I am going to the Netherlands, known for weed and red lights (at least to the American student population). Given my disinterest in both marijuana and prostitution, I am not ridiculously eager to experience either of those two aspects of Dutch culture. I am, however, insanely excited for the canals, windmills, tulip fields, and the sprinkles that top breakfast bread. Oh, and the sex museum in Amsterdam. That seems pretty cool too.

A quick PSA: For those who think weed is abundant, plentiful and (more importantly) legal, let me clarify: Substances in the Netherlands are classified into harddrugs and softdrugs. Cannabis is a softdrug – there is no prosecution against users of softdrugs, but they remain illegal. And, despite very different drug policies in the US and the Netherlands, marijuana use is largely the same. For young adolescents, rates of marijuana use are lower in the Netherlands than in the US. 

Anyhoo, I will do my best to regularly "blog"' but no guarantees. To all of you who take the time to read it: I hope it’s enjoyable.
I love you all, and the next time you hear from me I'll be IN THE NETHERLANDS!!