getting settled

Rebekah's notes of the day:

1. Men wearing coveralls are very popular right now. They where the top down so it hangs at he waste. America watch out, this could be the trend in America in several months. At least thats the direction fashion moves.
   
2. I finally have a phone number. I won't be memorizing it anytime soon. its 07 98 42 35 335 to call me from the states you must exclude the 0 from my number and add the US access code 011. okay so for people in the US its: 011-798-423-5335 if you have a good plan for international calls or a phone card, or a business line *make them pay for it! lol. Then call me so we can chat.
   
3. Never be afraid to ask questions
4. Never buy chips (french fries) even from McDonalds. They are awful! Oh wow, thats why the lady looked at me weird today. I said french fries not chips. Okay good thing she didn't get mad. I don't even know if they like the French.

So it has happened. I have got a phone. I walked into t-mobile today and activated a pay as you go account because I was tired of not having a phone. I now feel more connected. Now I don't know if the people at t-mobile are racist, hate Americans, or just provide a different kind of service then the states but I was not helped and this dude that helped me was super sketch kind of not answering my questions and not helping me at all. I went into other cell phone stores (there seemed to be several) I really like 02, orange, and virgin and was actually thinking of getting a phone from there because I was not impressed with t-mobile and vowed to discontinue service (that I didn't even have) due to the way I was treated but in the end I stuck with t-mobile because I knew them and all the study abroad students chose them as their provider because its safe.

I think its just the way they are...

so onto other news. I went shopping today. Okay I didn't go shopping really I just went to the main city centre because I hadn't seen it and the perks of shopping by yourself is that you don't have to depend on anyone so it was nice and I really enjoyed myself. I saw some really interesting things. Some street witnessing in light of Easter in front of this beautiful catholic cathedral in the middle of the square. It was gorgeous. I will definitely take pictures next time I go. The streets are amazing with cobblestone and these small tiny shops all crammed in together. It reminds me a lot of Quebec. It was very cold today which wasn't so pleasant. It was warm all day and then It got very cold I could see my breath. So I was bad and bought some clothes. Actually, I bought a pair of gray skinny pants, an emo stripped top, and I was sooo close to buying this European cut jacket but I decided I wouldn't buy anything unless I really liked it. The clothes were actually cheaper then the US even after the exchange rate which was weird but I've been told its THE cheapest place. I think its called Primark. Its cheaper then Walmart. anyway, I justify my clothes shopping in that I really needed another outfit.

So I went to join the student athletic union today. tomorrow is a running meet, which I am volunteering at, so the girl was busy so she couldn't process my card but I got the emails of people. I'm looking to join the surf team, snowriding team, and maybe kite surfing. I was going to do sailing but I decided I could do that at home and well I could snowboard too but here they take trips to Switzerland and places all over Europe for very cheap so uhm YAH! sign me up.

I decided to volunteer for the running competition because I really need to meet people since I don't know very many others. I met this girl Rose today. It was actually very nice meeting her. I had been praying for friends and she just popped up into my life. God is so good. She is from Holland and she surfs. Now how coincidental is that especially since I couldn't find any surfers. She seems really cool and were going to be partners tomorrow at the event. We really get along. She told me that she hasn't gone into the water yet but she can't wait to catch a wave. hmmm.... I think I'll have to learn the lingo.

so funny story. tonight when we were saying our names at the volunteer meeting Simon, the officer, had us recite our names. When I said mine everybody looked back. I'm going... oh come off it. You've never heard an American accent! So I got a free shirt for volunteering, I'm going to get a pint mug (interesting...) and tickets to the after party which is nice because they aren't cheap. I'm happy I went to the meeting. Things turned out good.

so I'm winding down now. I'm starting to get used to the time difference. I still feel tired all the time but its getting better. There was a bad rain storm yesterday. It kept me awake all night. I like the sound though, it reminded me of home. Not the best weather for sports but I'm not sick of it right now.

Hope things are good for you.

ps. keep in mind the time difference if you do call me. its an 8 hour difference!

here is a link to a phone help page if my directions were bad. here

and the pictures are pictures of the beach here. someone from the surf team took. these are legit. amazing I know!