About this blog:

My name is Barry, and I am a junior at the University of Redlands, studying Music Composition. Fall semester of 2011, I will be studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands. This is the story of my adventure...

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Day 9-10, CvA Orientation Cont.

Yesterday was more of the same: orientation designed for freshman with useful information being rare and in small doses. I am really getting excited to start, I think it is the lack of productive activity that is getting to me. If all nothing else, at least I will be well-rested for when classes do start next week. We did take a boat tour of the canals and the Ij, which was fun, and very tourist-y. It was, however, very windy and raining.

To top off the day, we decided to have a "dinner party" kind of thing at a friends place. He cooked up some really awesome vegan food, and we got to hang out and vent a little. It was very much needed all the way around. Unfortunately, it was poring when we left, so I can now say I have experienced riding my bike in the poring rain at night in Amsterdam.

I was assigned a drum practice room (they call them "cabines", which is kind of a cute way to describe the tiny room we are expected to live in) yesterday, so that was good. The guys I am sharing with are very cool too, which is very important since I forgot my cymbals. Since I got all of that figured out, I got to practice this morning. I can honestly not remember the last time I really sat down and practiced, hard, like this. It was somewhat depressing to be reminded how bad (or should I say "rusty") I sound, however it felt refreshing to be at least a little warmer than I have been. One of my "roommates" (a gent I share the practice room with) took me to a little music store near Dam Square, where I purchased some drum essentials. The gentleman working at the store asked me where I was from (as most people do), and continued to press for a more detailed description of my home than my typical answers of "United States", to "California", then to "Southern California". Turns out he has relatives in Palm Springs, and actually knew where Redlands was (not Hemet however)! Nothing like hearing the name of your home town 6000 miles away to make you feel connected to the people. Now if only I spoke Dutch....

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