Good Morning Sunshine!

2012-04-11

It has been cloudy and rainy for a few days and first time in a long time I was dreaming that I wanted to be in Summer Michigan. And somewhat I was stuck in my room and doing everything in my room. I didn’t have enough motivation to go out and do something outside. Then, I realized this might be the lowest point – unmotivated moment in the trip. So, I had to change it up! I was not going to let myself miss any opportunities around where I live.

So, I started jogging in the morning, very early – 7:30am. I bike to Amsterdams Bos, which is a big park close to my apartment. Then RUN! Now, everything is turning green and starting to bloom. I am amazing to see the nature – smell of fresh air, sound of birds, and warmth of morning sunshine. I could not stop smiling.

I know that it won’t be easy to get up early to jog, yet it was more than just exercising, way more. I am going to try 5 days per week at least a month, hopefully more and it becomes my habit.

Picture - Amsterdams Bos

Green

2012-04-07 Saturday

Yesterday, I arrived in Amsterdam. No? I know. It’s been already two months that I’ve been in Amsterdam. So, I’m half way through this semester – what do I think about it. First of all, I like it; I like the culture, I like the people, I like the transportation system, and I like living here. Every time when I go out to the city, I see and learn something new and enjoy what I see.

Volunteering is one thing that I put effort to do wherever I live, even in Amsterdam for semester abroad. And I started regularly going to English Reformed Church in downtown Amsterdam and, I got to meet Melissa who works in YWAM Amsterdam (Youth With a Mission). She told me about homeless ministry she is doing with her staff every Monday and Friday night. Three of us from Calvin group joined the volunteering group – we had to make three months commitment to come every Monday night. So, I will tell you what we do – we serve koffie, thee, cake, and bannan to homeless people at the square in front of the YWAM building after salvation army food van arrives and we share Gospel to the people around us.

Like I said, I appreciate the beauty of city, yet that is not all about Amsterdam or any cities. There is always dark side of a city, and I wanted to know a part of or at least I acknowledge it. If could help in any way, I wanted to try to help. Sometimes, we see only what we want to see and don’t realize what is really around us. In Amsterdam, we do not see or recognize homeless people, because they don’t beg for money and lay around, and more they look like tourists. A lot of them are from east Europe to find a job in Amsterdam, and end up not finding a job or okay with living on street.

Spring is here in Amsterdam. It is time that everything turns green. Yet, chilly wind is still bothering for me to go outside. I can smell warm spring is around the corner.

Pictures - in Urk