Winter blues cure!

One thing which I have come to know and love in the Netherlands is the weather... According to meteorologists, the country has a 'maritime climate' which basically means no matter where you are in relation to the sea, it feels like you are right beside it. For the past two days I have not seen the sun. It isn't as if I haven’t been looking for it, it has been hiding behind a wall of fog.
I must admit that this weather has not been keeping me in the best of moods. It is not that I am particularly sad or angry or felling anything much really, I just really have the urge to hibernate!

One day, I will take a winter off and gather a stack of all the books and DVDs that I have been meaning to read and watch with all my favourite foods and plenty of vitamin supplements. Then I will just hunker down next to a nice log fire for 4 months.

But this winter I will have to keep motivated as I have a degree to earn! What I can say is that I am very glad to have invested in a cosy duvet. When I was about to come here, the housing agency which I am renting my room from offered me a 'bedding package' for 55 Euros. I figured I would buy this if I really had to but would try to get something more funky than just a white cover set for a little cheaper...
One of my favourite shops over here is Hema or 'the Hema' as people here call it. It sells everything from bicycles to wine and wine with bicycles on it. Everything in this shop has a funky little something about it. So how does that relate to the story so far?

Well, the Hema is where I managed to buy myself a plush double duvet for just 30 Euros as well as a truly 60's inspired psychedelic duvet cover for just 10 Euros :) Bargain!

So on the mornings where I can sleep in (or should get up but sleep in anyway), I have the most lovely bed to snuggle up in. However, it is only a single bed so was a bit of a squeeze when my boyfriend came to stay.

So any way, as I said before, the weather is getting me a bit down. As well as that, I am only just beginning a new block of studies.

In the Netherlands unlike pretty much all other countries, there are two semesters which are split into two blocks. So last week, was exam week for the first block and now we begin afresh with new courses. Because of what I have been used to back in the U.K., I feel now like we should have a break of at least a few weeks to refresh. Instead, I had a week in which I had lots of fun (see previous blog entry 'Klik! Animation festival') but now it is back to the grind stone. Some how my mind feels like it is late January or September as this is when I have been used to having to start afresh with subjects.

With cultural differences, it seems like on the whole things are manageable for example language, which is a primary way in which cultures differ, is not too much of a barrier as someone else who speaks English is not too far away or you can look at the pictures to help with understanding of posters etc. But it is the little differences which seem to really affect me as I am not expecting them. So I guess I should try to 'expect the unexpected'. But hey, try telling my subconscious that!

As you may have gathered, I am feeling a little home sick, but I have a way of overcoming this!!! Listening to music which and dancing around my room to it!

I would highly recommend this method of beating the winter blues, home sickness, and pretty much anything else psychological :) (Amber' seal of approval).

One of my favourite labels has had two new releases in the last week or so. This has made me very happy!

http://jellyfishrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/citrus-harmony-ep
I have been listening to 'citrus harmony' and 'Kosmichemusik'

So enjoy :)