Arrived in Maastricht about a week ago now. The small town is nice but I still problems navigating. The red bricked houses all seem like the same to me and every corner I turn is just a replica of the previous one. I like the ambiance the place gives off though. There is a flair to it. Although trees are mostly bare, blooming flowers can be seen in pots near every other window. The barren tops make the bushes and the grass seem so much greener with so much more life.
It is cold. It is not bone shivering ice age here but it is cold. A sweater does not suffice during the night but a beanie and scarf may be an overkill during the day. The breeze when I stroll down the blocks freezes my ears but tickles my cheeks. The weather and I... We do not have a love-hate relationship but rather a like-dislike relationship.
I've grown slightly accustomed to the calcium-rich water here. I don't mean this in the good way. I very much prefer my bottled water but the upkeep is just way too high. I'll probably buy my water for when I venture out. After I finish my last bottle, I'll just keep to tap.
I miss home. I really miss the easily accessible food there and the cheap everything. But I miss my family. I feel like I'm growing to be independent now but I'd like to have them around. Everything I do here is based on my conscious decision. I haven't asked for much advice except for money matters from my parents so far. I miss them. I miss my boyfriend too. I wished he was here with me. I see my friends who have their partners here and I wished he was here. Then again, I wouldn't have the opportunity to really be independent if he were.
Today, I just had my first lecture and I realised how much work is actually expected of me. I hope I can catch up with the Dutch peeps who have been doing this since their first semester. I want to excel, not pass. I want to succeed.
