My "new" life!
Funny how even when you plan on having a new life, in a new city it seems to be all the same. Then you realise it's the common factor. You. Or rather, Me.
Life in Groningen is fantastic and it already feels as if I've always lived here. It's been so long since I've blogged anything that I've decided that I'll update you with a few anecdotal stories. . .
No. 1 - IKEA
Yes, it needs it's own post. My living space in "winscho" (the street is called Winschoterdiep, however all students abbreviate our college to winscho) is generous, yet modest. I have a nice little room that is purely mine to fill with whatever I desire. . . there's not much there to begin with. All kitchen and bathroom facilities are shared, and to begin with it feels much like being on a school camp, however when it's what you have, it becomes the norm!
I have filled my room with IKEA - sheets, lamps, boxes, you name it. There has been many an evening spent roaming through the IKEA maze an of course I've thrown in a bit of people watching in the restaurant for good measure. I swear that every Dutch family goes there for dinner - it's a legitimate thing!
There have also been a few work outs, known as 'interesting trips home', roping new friends into carrying heavy, awkward pieces of flatpack furniture back to college. We're students! Did you really think we'd pay for delivery, or a taxi! Couldn't think of a better way to make friends anyway....
Then there are the things that I would never normally even think about:
- Having to take my own toilet paper to the toilet. Every. Single. Time.
- Buying bowls, plates, a SHARP knife, tupperware, baking paper!
- Not only laundry detergent but a laundry basket (actually I still haven't got one) and drying rack (haven't got one of those yet either).
- Towels! Dish cloths! Tea towels! Tongs!
I was definitely under the false pretence that these things simply existed for people everywhere! I mean TOILET PAPER.
I am overwhelmed by the number of things I take for granted at home. Not only that, it has really opened my eyes to the 'consumerist world we live in'. The number of things we 'need' to live. WOW.
Amongst all my moaning and aching muscles from carrying tables home from IKEA I, of course, have had the BEST time decorating my room. My inner domestic goddess has emerged and I have spent hours making paper cranes, pin up boards, paper pom poms and various other things to make my room inviting. Finally I get to choose the colour of my scrubbing brush and chopping boards.
Freedom at last!
- paper crane mobile
- goodies!
- tea towel pin up board
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