Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

December 19th-December 21st

Kyra (The Netherlands)

12-19-18 Wednesday 

Today, Kyra and I toured down town Amsterdam!!!! Finally, I get to see this city! We were on a mission to see as much as we could. First, we walked through the Red Light District. We didn't see that much profanity thank God, but a little bit. Also, there was the stench of weed everywhere in the streets. People would just smoke a joint like a cigarette in the street... I couldn't believe it. Then we went to a famous stoopwaffel shop where they put extra toppings on FRESH dough and caramel. It was the best thing I've ever tasted. We walked through gorgeous streets with rivers right in the middle! It was the picturesque views of Amsterdam. Then we went to the Anne Frank House. I have never been more impacted by a place. I just could not believe that I was standing where Jews were hiding from the Nazi's. I grew up learning about the Holocaust and especially Anne Frank so it was surreal visiting that house. Her family had been hiding in the Secret Annex for 3 years and then they got caught 2 months before the war ended. I would go to Amsterdam 5 times over again just to go through the Anne Frank House. It was that impactful. Then Kyra and I hoped on another train and went home. It's Kyra's brothers birthday today so we went over to the neighbors house for wine and drinks!!! Yet another great day in Europe.

12-20-18 Thursday
Last full day in Europe!! Kyra went to the hospital to work in the morning from 8-12. I slept in and then picked her up with her mom. Then we went to the mall in Arnhem to buy shoes for our Christmas party at night. We got all dressed up and went to the school for a Christmas dinner. They had lights, traditional food, and Dutch Christmas music! It's those moments that I am so grateful to be in another country during the holidays because I have a huge global perspective of how other cultures celebrate my favorite holiday!! Then her entire family including mom, dad, brother, and grandma all took me out for my final dinner. We went to a Sushi restaurant and I had sushi for the first time, Salomon, shrimp, spring roles, and rice. It was the best meal I have had all tour. I feel so at home at this house because their family has totally adopted me. When I left, the brother was like "I am gonna miss Liv." It was a big deal for him to say that because he doesn't like anyone. HAHA!! I am really gonna miss this family, but they are going to come visit at camp, and next semester in Germany:))) Then I packed and got ready to go home!! This day has finally come...WOW!

12-21-18
After 74 days (10 weeks) touring seven different states in the U.S, and 27 days (4 weeks) touring 4 cities in Mexico, and 48 days (7 weeks) in five different European countries, I am finally going home!! I have stayed with a total 17 host families from all over the world. I have performed in 24 full length shows, 10 Backing Track Shows, 3 School Shows, 15 Acoustic Promo Sets, 2 Flash mobs, 1 Christmas Medley, and 2 acts in Expression. I also had the opportunity to record a song for Up with People, a music video, and the backing tracks for the show. I had 30 complete days of Community Service this semester doing things like: Working in schools with students ages 8-20, shopping with elderly, exercising with disabled people, gardening, painting, picking up trash on the road, teaching dances to students whose parents were in prison, performing for cancer and hospice patients, organizing clothing stores, sorting junk in salvation army, working in food shelves, working in laundry mats, feeding the homeless, cleaning barracks of shelters for low income families, painting houses in Habitat for Humanity, and many culture fairs!! I have gotten such a variety of working with non-profit organizations, and it opened my eyes to how much need there is in every community. It has inspirited me to continue to help out in my community when I get home. While all of that is amazing, the best part is my 100 best friends from 19 different countries. I have connections and homes all over the world, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. I have been stretched in my faith in so many ways, and I feel like I am even stronger in my beliefs after seeing people who don't know God just struggle with their identity. I am sooooooooooo ready to go home!!! I am about to get onto a plane that is headed for Iceland... Check that off the bucket list too!! Then I am home!!! AHHHH I can't wait. I am super excited and kinda nervous too.

Leuven, Belgium

Leuven, Belgium

December 16th- December 18th

Leonie (Belgium)

12-16-18 Sunday
We spent the night at Kyra's house in Amsterdam Saturday night after our flight from Paris. Then we woke up early to tour the city of Breda!! Her family drove an hour and a half to take me to this gorgeous European Christmas Market. They bought me a cappuccino, apple pie, gluhwein, and bitterballen. I got the full dutch experience. Then we went shopping for a little while in the markets. After a full day of Christmas spirit and fun, they dropped me off at the Breda train station. I had to take an hour and a half train ride with one transition in the middle. I was so nervous about switching trains because I had to do it in 10 minutes without any navigation from my phone. They printed out directions on paper, but when I had to make the transitions the information was wrong. The train that I was supposed to get on broke down. I completely had a panic attack and cried in the middle of the station. I had no wifi, no information about the next train, and no communication with anyone. I asked a random lady and she helped me out. I made it onto the right train within seconds of the door closing. As I sat down on the train, I was shaking and crying. Then I just laughed at myself, but I have never been more scared in my entire life. PHEW! I finally made it to Belgium, and then Leonie picked me up at the station. I got to see Angelis, Ivy, LaRyssa, Yaz, Joaquim, and Kayla. They all came down the stairs and gave me a big hug when I arrived. After dinner, we decided to go out. There was a Christmas Market where we met up with many more Uppies! We saw Leah, Mattias, Aurlie, Katelyn, Santa, Liam, Juliette, and Anne-Marie! All of my favorite people were all in one place. All of the train drama was so worth it when I got to see everyone again. We were acting like alumni already. The big group of us went to a restaurant and ordered the notorious Belgian Beers!! It was an amazing first day in Belgium:))

 

12-17-18 Monday
The crew at Leonie's house slept in pretty late and had a great breakfast together. Then we walked to a famous castle in Leuven, Belgium. After that, we had lunch in the center of downtown. We shopped for a long time, bought souvenirs, and enjoyed being with each other. We bought Belgian Waffels and ice cream before we went back to her house. Then we played games with each other all night.

 

12-18-18 Tuesday
Today we all woke up early to say goodbye to Angelis. When he left, everyone broke down in tears and realized that we all will not be together like this in a very long time. It changed the mood of the day pretty quick. Later on, we went for a walk through the forest and shared memories about our previous fights, frustrations, irritations with each other. It was funny to laugh about all the things that we did to make each other mad throughout the semester. Then we went grocery shopping to make macaroni and cheese. I had to leave back to The Netherlands before dinner. I said goodbye to everyone for the last time, and then headed for the train station. I had a three hour ride back with three different transitions. After my first experience to Belgium, I was absolutely terrified to ride back. Leonie dropped me off at the station, and then Kyra met me half way in Maastricht. I successfully made on transition, but I was so anxious about it. I was shaking the whole time. As I stepped off the train, I saw her standing there and I was SOOO relieved. We rode the rest of the way back and everything was perfect. I don't know what I would have done without her helping me!!! Then her dad picked us up at the station, and we crashed into bed.

Off to The Netherlands

Paris, France

Paris, France
December 12th-December 15th
Kyra (The Netherlands)

12-12-18 Wednesday
After the final banquet, we took the bus to the Copenhagen airport. Then I spent 15 hours in the airport saying goodbyes, sleeping, and hanging out with the Amsterdam squad because we left at the same time. It was truly heartbreaking watching 10 of my closest friends walking away all at once together, but I was excited to see Kyra and travel together. I had waited all day in the airport for just an hour long flight!! HAHA!! Then Kyra picked me up in the Amsterdam airport, and then we took the train back to her house. I met her whole family and I love them!!! We packed a smaller suitcase for our trip to Paris and then went to bed.

12-13-18 Thursday

We woke up at 5am and took the train to the airport for our flight to Paris. I was running on three hours of sleep for the past two days, but the adrenaline gave me energy. It was an hour and a half flight. We bought our metro passes for the next three days, and then checked into our hotel. Then we went to Notre-Dame, Square Jean XXIII,  and the Louvre Museum. I got to see the real life Mona Lisa! It was much smaller than I expected. While we went to these places, we walked around and saw the beautiful rivers and building of Paris! The city is magical and exudes history. It feels surreal to be in such a well-known place in the world. When we got back to our hotel, we were EXHAUSTED from the flight in the morning, the metros, the walking, and the extreme sight-seeing. We have accomplished so much today. Then I bought wine, drank it in our hotel, and we had a girls night! AHHH it's been amazing so far, and it's only the first day.

12-14-18 Friday
Today we woke up pretty early, had breakfast in our hotel, and started our tour of day 2. First we went to Arc de Triomphe. While we were there, we saw about 15 police cars in a row with sirens driving through the street. I got kinda nervous about that, but it's good that there is protection in this city. Then we went for lunch and I had Salmon and Crepes for desert!! It was delicious. Then we went to the Eiffel Tower and of course had a photo shoot like all the other tourists. This random girl came up to Kyra and I and asked us to take a picture of her. Then we talked to her for 20 minutes and took a selfie with her!! Kyra and I went for coffee to get warm and charge our phones, and then we went back to the Eiffel Tower to see it at night. It was so cool see the most iconic tower in real life!!! I really can't believe I am in the same place where my parents marriage all started. That's so special. Then we went back to the hotel, and PASSED OUT!

12-15-18 Saturday

In the morning, Kyra and I went to a chocolate museum. There was a demonstration of how to make chocolate from coco beans into the delicious candies we eat today. It was actually really interesting, and the French Chocolatier was very serious about his job! There was an Eiffel Tower made out of chocolate!!! Then we went to lunch close by and we saw protestors with yellow jackets walking down the streets holding the French flag!! YIKES! We got really scared, paid the bill, and walked fast back to our hotel. We had seen many police cars and many protestors on the way. We had decided to head to the airport right away to stay out of danger. Then our hotel concierge turned on the news and we saw the protesting that was happening in the streets where we had walked yesterday! There were thousands of yellow jackets and 69,000 police officers in the streets creating chaos. We got really scared to walk from our hotel to the train station. Once we mustered up the courage, we walked fast to the train and rode it straight to the airport. We spent 5 hours there waiting for our flight, and then headed back to The Netherlands. It was insane to be in the streets where history is being made with the politics in France!! That is something I will never forget, and I am so happy that I got to experience this legendary place with Kyra right after my unforgettable journey with UWP! I am so blessed, and it just keeps getting better.

Now off to the Netherlands!!!