I've been going to this really cool café called Bagels & Beans and I sit on the second floor and people-watch like a creeper and/or read and/or draw. Today was no exception. I packed up my new drawing pencils and sketch book and set out for the walk to B & B. Right around the corner from my dorm, there is a nursing home which I really like to look in at when I walk by. If I ever were to live in an assisted living facility, I would wish it to be like this one. A lot of the old folks gather in the cafeteria and get served tea and pastries almost all day. After passing this big room, I pass smaller bedrooms on the way up the more main street.
One thing I've noticed about the Dutch is that even though they tend to be relatively reserved in every-day conversation, most of them leave their ground floor windows exposed, no blinds, curtains, or other drapery. It's an interesting contradiction. Tucker said he read something about that being a way of showing social status in the Netherlands.
Anywho, back on the topic of the nursing home, I pass mostly empty bedrooms, but almost every time I walk past one old man's bedroom. He looks awesome. He has an old phonograph and chills in his room a lot of the time. I almost always make eye contact with him. He doesn't seem sad, but content to be alone a lot of the time. I imagine this is how my dad would be if he were to have grown to live in assisted living. I think a lot of people could use some more time with their thoughts. After all, when did enjoying alone time become such a crime?
Continuing on my journey, I'm realizing Leiden is quite a bit less convenient than living in Montreal, but it's not such a bad thing. It forces me to get some fresh air and exercise, for which I ultimately become grateful. I got to Bagels & Beans and sat on the second floor near the window. I had planned on drawing the architecture out the window, but realized the view was really not ideal, so I decided to draw a line drawing of the café instead. It proved to be quite a complicated and difficult drawing, since there were so many things overlapping each other and people and objects were moving about, but it was a fun challenge! The perspective also caused me some struggle. I need to practice drawing more. I think I've lost some of my technique, but I really enjoy drawing and I'm sure it'll come back in time. It's so therapeutic.
Later on in the day, I met a new friend! Her name is Sasha and she's from New Jersey and goes to Rutgers. She studies fine arts, so I think we'll get along quite well. She seems really sweet and interesting. Also, I talked to David and he booked his plane ticket (at a seriously reduced cost!), so that he'll be arriving just before Valentine's Day! We're planning on going to Paris together for Valentine's Day, which should be sooooo awesome.
Tomorrow, I'm going to try to finally go to Amsterdam and visit the Van Gogh museum. Also, I want to get a phone arranged and I might meet up with a girl name Melanie from McGill who's also studying in Leiden!
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