All Things Dutch

Enschede, the city where Jannes lives and studies is a wonderful place in every sense of the word. Cold, but wonderful. From the neatly trimmed bushes and shrubbery to the perfectly symetrical trees that line the streets. Bikers and pedestrians enjoy the right-of-way on painted Wizard of oz-esque paths that criss-cross through the city, making any foreigner want to skip and sing and tip a top hat to the locals. Buildings and houses, as foreign as the language itself, grace the cloudy sky with their elegance, shaped to set the standard of modern construction.

The people, oh how the people are unique. Like the buildings in which they reside, they too grace the sky with their stature and height, elegance and beauty. Jannes tells me that, on average, the Dutch are the tallest people in the world; i would agree. I'd say the average height is no less than 6'5. Girls too. There are few things more comforting than a ßlonde-haired, ßlue´-eyed, 6'6 Dutch girl towering over you as you stroll the streets.

Needless to say, I stand out a bit. But they do not seem to mind. The tenants of the house are genuinely sincere; Offering dinner and coffee and accompanied trips to the city. I truly wish that I could speak to them in their native tounge. I suppose I now have something to work towards when I return; learning German.

A recap: (itulation)

In October of 2008, I had the opportunity to spend a little over 5 weeks in Nicaragua working at two different orphanages. The first one I visited is located in the capital city of Managua, and the other one located about 4 hours into the mountains called Jinotega.
When I had originally arrived in Managua and learned that I would be traveling into the mountains, I was told that there were already two interns present; one from Germany and the other from the Netherlands. Naturally, being new to the country and having limited spanish background in the states, my mind was in a wired frenzy. I also learned beforehand that both of the interns fluently spoke four languages. Four. Fantastic! I have far from mastered one.
The four hour trip was more than enough time to conjure up in my head visions of these multi-lingual interns. I kept thinking to myself "trench coats, they will be wearing trench coats and carrying automated weapons." It sounds extreme, I know, but panic and uncertainty can do abnormal things to the brain.
When we arrived, I found that my perception and preconcived notions could not have been more utterly incorrect. Jannes, the intern from the Netherlands who is full of joy and excitement and life, though at first terrified me beyond beliefe came to become one of my dearest friends during our stay; and even to this day. Christine, from Germany, has such a heart above all else for Christ, and through that for the kids in Nicaragua that it is a humbling experience to just sit and observe.
When our time to part ways inevitably came, the idea to someday visit one another was tossed about loosely. We masterminded all types of plans; building canoes with sturdy Nicawood with children's sheets as a mast. Jumping in someones suitcase in the hopes that they would be traveling to a nearby continent. Swimming.
On my end at least, I did not expect that day to come so soon. Now I sit here, on this thursday evening, on the 6th of may 2010 merely 3 days away from a greatly anticipated reuinion with two inerns who, in fact, did not wear trench coats nor carry automated weapons; but rather showed love to more than one brown boy in Nicaragua.