01.22.08

Christmas in the Netherlands

Posted in Amsterdam at 21:45 by Staci

DSC_0060Ok, so this post is technically a month late, but hey I am working on my Masters and was a bit busy in the month of December!!! Cut a girl some slack! My Environmental and Energy Policy Tools course was wrapping up with an intensive group project on “Alternative Management Strategies for Mitigating the Human-Lion Conflict in Cameroon” which involved multi-criteria analysis and a lengthy report. Add on top of that studying for a comprehensive exam covering techniques from GIS to cost-benefit analysis and stakeholder participation, and needless to say December kept me busy.

But, Jeff and I did find a little time to get into the holiday spirit. One day while at the University canteen, I heard Christmas music (back home traditional music) and woah did that ever put me in the spirit. I started singing right there! My countdown to coming home, seeing family & friends, kitties, and hopefully snow (got that wish) began!
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01.16.08

It’s Like We’re Clark And Ellen Griswold

Posted in Travel at 22:33 by Jeff

Ed. Note: The following post is very long and detailed. If you have a hard time reading, or get bored easily, or heard this in person, you may want to skip it.

With the holidays behind us, and a couple of weeks to cool off, I can now write about our journey to (and from) the U.S. for Christmas and New Year’s. And what an ordeal that was.

Staci & I take the train to the airport, get checked in and grab something to eat before our long day of traveling. We find a spot at the gate and relax while waiting to board. (This would be the last bit of serenity for the next couple of days.) Things are a little behind due to a snow storm and freeze moving through northern Europe, but nothing too bad (so we thought.) After ~45min delay, we finally get boarded and depart.
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