All is well in Well

I have officially gone through my first week of classes.  This semester I am taking History of Western Art: Renaissance and Baroque, The World Since 1914, Intercultural Communications, and European Literature.  As of now,  they all seem very interesting and I am eager for the lessons to come.  History of Western Art is taught by two professors who are raved about at the castle and I was told that their class is "life changing."  It's unbelievable that I have the opportunity actually see the pieces of art in person that I will be studying in class.  Just from yesterday's lesson on Grecian art, I am already dying to go to the Louvre in Paris and see The Winged Victory of Samothrace. 

 

I have also heard amazing things about my World Since 1914 class.  My professor is German so he has a very interesting perspective on WWI and WWII.  It reminds me of how the US civil war is taught the same to students in the north and south but also quite different.  During our introduction, he told us how the town of Well was once occupied by the Nazis and that they used the castle to house SS officers.  It gives me the chills thinking that I could be living in a room where Nazis once stayed in.  In our upcoming weekend trip to Amsterdam, he's taking us to the annex where Ann Frank was in hiding which I know is going to be a moving experience.  He also has plans to take us to a concentration camp, however the thought of going makes me nervous.  I feel like seeing a concentration camp is something I must do but I'm fearful of being there without my family.  Something about being in Europe is making me a lot more sensitive to the Holocaust.  I think about my Nana from Germany, all the family she lost, and my ancestry.  Hopefully I’ll be able to build up my nerves until then.

Intercultural Communications is already fascinating.  As many of you probably know, prostitution is legal in The Netherlands.  The government feels that rather then not acknowledging its existence, they want to regulate it and make sure its safe.  Our teacher brought in a guest speaker yesterday who works at the prostitution headquarters in The Red Light District.  She was never a prostitute herself but she told us about the history of prostitution in The Netherlands and allowed us to ask her any questions as we wanted about its laws and regulations.  Once we’re in Amsterdam, our teacher is actually going to take us to The Red Light District to where the quest speaker works so she can continue her lecture with a tour of the area and provide us with a question and answer session with working prostitutes. WILD! My teacher said to come prepared with questions because we’re allowed to ask them absolutely anything we want with no restrictions.  Let me know if you have any questions you would like answered!!

European Literature seems like it’s going to be better than I thought.  I was really worried about all the reading assignments and exams on top of traveling but I think it will be manageable.  My professor is this old, ex-hippie, frazzled woman who wants to teach us everything but also wants us all to succeed.  Those are my favorite teachers.  She actually lives in the castle and she said that we’re always welcome to stop by for tea, discuss the books from class, or just discuss life.  I absolutely plan on taking her up on that!  She also reads tarot cards so that should definitely contribute to another interesting blog post to come. 

At the castle there aren't any classes for my major (Communication Sciences and Disorder for speech pathology) so this is a good semester to get my general education requirements out of the way.  Liz, one of my roommates, is also in my major and we were thinking about visiting the local elementary school to volunteer and learn how speech pathology plays a role in the European school systems.  She also has a family friend in Amsterdam who is a speech pathologist and we were thinking about getting in touch with her to make a day trip and shadow her in her office! I really hope we are able to do that because I think it would be great to see how treatment methods and techniques compare in Europe to what we've been taught back at Emerson. 

I'm currently writing in a cozy chair by a window in the hallway because Liz is taking a nap.  Kate's in class and Lena is walking to Germany.  Isn't that cool?  We can WALK to Germany!

 

I know this isn't the best picture and my roommates would probably kill me if they new I put this online but this is our room on day 2 of being at the castle! YAY!  The devilish looking girl in front with the glasses (who is really the sweetest and silliest girl who I can't stop laughing with) is Liz.  Although you can't see her face, Lena is in the green scarf, and Kate is sitting at the desks next to her.  I'll add better pictures soon. The other girls in the picture are some of our new friends admiring our bathroom because we're one out of two rooms in the entire castle that has a bathroom.  Everyone else has to use a communal one in the hall so we got really lucky with that!  Mom, see your purple bathrobe on the back left chair?  I've been LIVING in that!! Thanks for letting me bring it.  

I know I promised more pictures of the inside of the castle but I just haven't gotten to it yet. The students at the castle last semester made this awesome video though that will give you a better visual idea of what it looks like here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0-ef9sLYg8

I leave for Amsterdam tomorrow so while I'm there I'll take plenty of pictures!  I wont be bringing my computer with me over the weekend but I'll be in touch early next week.

Lots of love,

Amy