Some day this blog will be awesome...

... but not today. Meh.

Relishing my last week in Groningen - winding up my time here with long mornings sleeping in; drinking strong coffee; braving the gusting howling Netherland winds; and relishing my Kikitime before it's all Skype and phonecalls for a few months when I move to Montpellier. My train tickets (12 1/2 hours) are booked for Feb 12th. It's hard to look forward to leaving, and I don't; on the other hand, am excited by the thought of sunshine, digging into new courses, and starting research at UM2 in April.

I've thoroughly enjoyed living in Groningen. It's a laid-back city, small enough for friendliness and large enough to keep most people busy and entertained. I've enjoyed live jazz nights at De Spieghel (www.jazzcafedespieghel.nl); beers, cheese and mustard for late-night dining at Der Witz, one of Kiki's (and now my) favourite hole-in-the-wall pubs in the centre; dancing until 6 am at Warhol, where "coat check" involves slinging your things over the low-hanging beams (solid foot-square logs); coffee mornings at Doppio and Saturday afternoons wandering the market inhaling an intoxicating medley of fresh fruit and veg, stroopwaffels, anise candies and fresh raw fish; the heady late-night aromas of cigar tobacco and sugar beets; long runs of bleak gloomy gray days broken by resplendent moments of sunshine, an occasional day of spring-like weather when you're glad to be alive.

I also enjoyed some of the finer points of living in the Netherlands. I was fortunate enough to "salvage" an unlocked bike off a street near my house when the bike I'd been using needed repairs; and was just as proud of myself when two months later, the same bike officially (now dead for a snapped chain and seizing rear hub) was stolen from infront of my house after I foolishly left it unlocked overnight -- here I thought a stiff, chainless bike would hardly be a worthwhile target. Fortunately, Peizerweg thieves are disappointingly uncreative; I found my bike just two blocks from my house, unlocked, so just brought it home again (and locked it this time) and salvaged the brand-new tires to replace the fraying ones on the bike I'd originally been riding. Hooray!

I've learned to say "I love you" (Ik hou van jou); make andijvie stamppot (endive with mashed potatoes and bacon bits); discovered mosterdsoep (yes, mustard soup: 'nuff said); eaten (enjoyed) real Groninger sausage; started well on my way to a zoute drop (salted licorice) addiction; and will sorely miss kroketen from the Febo foodwall, and late night fries. And who could ever get through a long study night without a couple of Hasret pizzas? So long as France has discovered gorgonzola as the ultimate pizza topping, I guess I should be fine.

Back to relishing moments, then.