until next time, Europe

So my time in the Netherlands (and everywhere else in Europe) has come to an end.

I've loved sharing my experiences with you readers.

I'll let you in on a little secret. 

Google put together some of my pictures and made them panoramas.

So these are the coolest ones I wanted to share, just to recap on my semester abroad.

It is very bittersweet looking at all these pictures and I'm glad I have something to cherish from my time in Europe.

Amsterdam, September 2014

Rotterdam, September 2014

London, September 2014

Brugge, October 2014

Venice, October 2014

Amsterdam, November 2014

Paris, November 2014

Dublin, November 2014

Stockholm, November 2014

Groningen, August - December 2014

I'll love you forever Europe.

xoxo

winter in Groningen

It's coming down to the end of my study abroad journey.

Sophie's already gone.

Martha and Karen left today.

and Jessie and Swenja are leaving tomorrow.

I am not leaving until Monday, so it might be a lonely couple of days without my besties.

But it's been a wild ride!

I have truly been so lucky with the wonderful friends I have made here.

They have taught me so much.

They are the most kindhearted, loving, generous, funny people and I will miss every single one of them with all of my heart.

But it's not goodbye forever, it's see ya later.

That is so corny, but true. 

This semester abroad will be in my heart and mind for the rest of my life and I am truly thankful for it.

I am trying to make the most of my last few days in the Netherlands even though it'll be hard without my girls by my side.

But then I'll be home for Christmas, which will be pretty magical in itself. 

So anyway, some of these pictures are old, but I haven't had the chance to share them anywhere.

Here is what Groningen looks like in the winter:

(as seen on instagram today)

yes, this is in IKEA

the last (IKEA) supper

pretty or distracting?

the best fondue spread

same cafe, different dessert

omg meg in a tube top

the gang's all here

I like to knit

  

I see you Jessie

she needed a little help

These girls.

xoxo

a journey to Utrecht

Last Saturday a couple of friends and I traveled to Utrecht.  

It was the last day trip we could ever take, so we took advantage of it.

Or at least tried to...

We had a bit of trouble with the trains. 

There was an accident that morning, so non of the trains out of Groningen were working so we had to wait for the first one that was headed in the right direction to start running again.

Once we got to Zwolle to change trains, nothing was working there either.

It was literally chaos. 

But we finally made it to Utrecht.

I didn't really know what to expect except people who have gone said it was a less touristy Amsterdam.  

I would describe it as a mix between Amsterdam, Brugge, and the Hague.  

It had a really pretty, quiet residential section that we walked through.

There were houses down in the canals because for some reason the canals were super low (and kind of murky) there.

We searched for a place to eat and found a lovely restaurant with a great view.

I got a hamburger, which is not normal for me.

I haven't eaten red meat in about a year but that kind of went our the window about a month ago.

I do trust the meat here more than I do in America, so I'll probably go back to avoiding it.

We shopped around after lunch until it got dark.

Then we stopped at Starbucks for cake and tea and I was so happy because I got to use my partner numbers.

Lo and behold, there was train trouble on the way back home as well.

But it turned out okay.  It just took longer than we thought it would to get home.

strange man

fun way to eat lunch I guess

cathedral

Hogwarts

red doors

lovely (and kinda spooky) courtyard

I think this is what made me crave a hamburger for lunch.

interesting canals

cute car!

this is for you, Mama 

our view from the restaurant

my first hamburger in probably a year

I love the canal houses but I would be afraid of flooding!

"2theloo" literally, a store for the toilets.

apparently this is Jessie's angry face

It was a good last weekend to spend in a city I hadn't traveled to yet!

I have one week left.
Literally, I leave next Monday.
It's the most bittersweet situation I've ever been in
because I am so ready to be home for Christmas and see my friends and family,
but I know I am going to miss this place like I've never missed anything before.
So expect a heart-felt goodbye post to Groningen ;)

xoxo