Today is Thursday and it is about 15 minutes before 10pm. The last couple days I have been having some really good conversations with my host parents, and Tom my host brother has become accustomed to my being around. Living here is also feeling more natural with my sleep schedule as well. Something that has really struck me the last couple days is how foolish some American traditions seem now that I perceive them from another perspective. The best example is how the culture here does not seem so busy. Sure there are things to do and places to go, but riding my bike home at 1030 last night there was barely anyone around. The structures of Dutch culture naturally allow for time to reflect, to relax, to just be. It is a beautiful thing. Last night was a buffet with all the international students as well as the host families and other students from the school, and it was delicious. There is something wonderful about community in the context of good food. It is a natural thing. This evening was relaxing. We had dinner as a family and then I experienced something I am not used to, but the American church could certainly benefit from doing. One of the elders from my family’s church visited for the evening to discuss how life is for my host parents. Apparently this is an annual visit that occurs to make the people of the church more connected to the leadership as well as creating a strong accountability framework. Although most of the conversation was in Dutch, I appreciated being able to listen in and participate here and there. Tomorrow marks one week in The Netherlands. It has been really good so far. But I already miss participating in music…voice lessons, praise and worship, choirs and easy access to a piano. It is not as common for a Dutch family to own a piano was it is in America. I was able to find a piano at the school that I can play occasionally during school hours, but that time is limited. I suppose listening to music will have to suffice for a while. I would not mind living in Europe for much longer than I will be here. Maybe someday I will move here.That is all for now. 10pm, it is time for a relaxing beer with Coen (my host father) before bed.  Goodnight.