Thanks for checking out my blog. Mag ik me even voorstellen (that's Dutch for, allow me to just introduce myself). I am an American girl from California and currently a junior in high school. I'm going to be spending my senior year of high school in the Netherlands. I'm learning Dutch with a tutor right now, but I still have a long way to go. I decided to study abroad next year because I feel that I need a change and a challenge. I have lived in the same state, city, and house all of my life, so why not embark on an amazing journey right before college? I do plan on attending college as soon as I return - more on that later. I created this blog so that my friends, family, and anyone interested can stay up to speed on what I'll be doing in the Netherlands. I'll try to keep these posts brief yet detailed to make them easy to read while still describing my experience. I figure on posting about once a week, maybe on the weekend, so if you would like to follow me, you won't have to be checking back every day. At the moment I'm mostly just trying to prepare for next year (learning the language, making a packing list, finishing classes, etc.). But I'll keep you updated about the major things (like when I find out which part of the country I will be living in and such). Feel free to comment on my posts, I'd love to hear from all of my friends back home! -Emily
