Great Aunt Ans

Yesterday evening we travelled to Einhoven to see Ans. She is such a sweet lady! She bought me some true Delft Blue ceramic clogs as a small souvenier I could take home in my backpack. Her English was terrific! I am constantly amazed how EVERYONE here is fluent in at least English and Dutch, and most can speak French as well. Another great part of Holland: English menus. Everywhere else, I've had to ask if they had one, or just made due without. But here every little restaurant has an English menu, and they will just bring it too you as soon as they hear you speaking English! Last night at dinner they could tell from my accent that I was the only native English speaker, so they brought one for me. It was so nice to know what I was ordering! (Altought at lunch I ordered grilled eggplant sandwich as it seems to be THE thing over here. ...it was actually quite tasty!)

Today Jan (Ninke's father) and I will bike to a small village, whose name translates to the "White Village". As a part of the marching band world I had always heard legends of a village with 2 marching bands, and all of the villagers supported either one or the other so much that "Romeo and Juliet" could have taken place there. Well it turns out that those legends are of the White Village! Carin and Jan think it is the perfect place to take me today, as I have seen so many cities by now and I love music!

Anyways, I'd better go and unfold my bike. Yes, that's right. UNFOLD A BIKE. Some of the bikes over here fold into a suitcase size so they can be easily transported in a car or on the train! I so want one! I could keep it under my desk at school...

Love,
Andrea