Family Vacation, Moving into the Dorms

On December 31st, my family and I flew out of SFO to Frankfurt on a nice long flight in economy seats. We had a 3 hour layover in Frankfurt. The Luftansa terminal was the longest walkway I have ever traveled! It seemed like it went on forever! Every couple of feet there would be a short moving walkway, then a terminal and another walkway, and another terminal. This went on and on. From Frankfurt, we had a nice little flight back over to Amsterdam where we were surprised by my mom's old friend Aleid and her husband Henk Jan. After making our way to the hotel, Aleid and H.J. treated us to dinner. Matt and I tried a traditional meal consisting of mashed potatoes, kale, and sausages. It was very good.
We spent the next two days sightseeing in Amsterdam. The weather is absoultely brutal. After standing in line to get into the musuem for over an hour, in the freezing COLD, I definitely appreciate SD weather more now than ever. Everytime I go outside I have to bundle up: thermal underwear is a must, layered under knee high socks, leather boots, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, heavy wool coat with insulation, knitted cap, polar fleece gloves, and a big scarf! Even with all of that the wind still stings your face, your eyes freeze open, and your lips begin to chap.
Yesterday we took the train from Amsterdam to Utrecht where I will be staying for university. The weather was miserable: light rain, overcast, absolutely freezing! We walked from our hotel to the shopping center. Things looked rather bleak: the streets were deserted and graffiti covered the walls. Searching for the shopping center the Centrum, we entered Media Mart and found ourselves in the center of the nation's biggest shopping mall. It was literally shoulder to shoulder human traffic. It felt like the whole town had converged to this one shopping center.
Today was my check in date for the start of my EAP program. After much debating, we decided to check out the campus and assess the situation from there. We took the #4 bus to the campus from Centraal Station. Ten- fifteen minutes later we were at the campus and I was checking in, getting keys, and getting aquanited with other students. Debbie arrived shorty after and we helped her take her luggage to her room and check things out. Then we found my room and went off for lunch. After lunch Debbie and I went to buy dorm essentials at Blokker, which was kind of like a huge Big Lots. I'll probably need to head back to the mall to get more things because my room looks so bare!
After my parents said good bye, Debbie and I tried to figure things out: internet, phone, the bedding... Soon it was time for dinner so we headed back to the EAP Study Center where all 30+ UC NL Study Abroad students had congregated before taking the bus to dinner. We went to an Italian resturant right next to the canal. It was loud, everybody was trying to get to know each other, and not pass out from jet lag. After dinner some people headed off to explore the city's nightlife, but being cold, sick, and tired, I've retired to my room for the night. Tomorrow we start 10 am sharp!