Hi from Maastricht!

I'm not really much of a blogger, so email is the best way to go. As all of you know, my life tends to get pretty crazy, BUT if you email, Facebook or skype me, I will reply ASAP...keep in touch =)

I've been in Maastricht for one week now, and I absolutely love it!! I'm rooming with Nicole, and Ian lives a couple of rooms down...so he might as well live with us, considering all the time he spends in our room! The entire Baylor crew is staying at the University of Maastricht Guesthouse...which is in a hospital. YEAH, we're definitely in a wing of an out-patient hospital facility building. It's slightly strange. In the day, patients go in and out for appointments so we see them in the halls...really. really. awkward. But our room is pretty big, and we have a small kitchen area so it's good.

First let me back up a bit because everyone keeps asking about Iceland. We were in Iceland for 4 days and it was fantastic, albeit too cold. Pictures are gorgeous--check out FB. We did all sorts of random things while we were there. Our group hiked up mountains, went down walking trails, and walked behind waterfalls. Yes, you heard it. I AM OUTDOORSY NOW. =)

Best parts of Iceland = whale watching and the Blue Lagoon.

Whale watching was a success---we saw minke whales breeching, which is when they come up out of the water all the way to breathe, and puffins---they leave the island (Puffin Island) in the winter and take to the sea...they are so funny to watch fly! BTW the term 'whale watching' is misleading because you don't actually get close to the whales. They swim away when they hear the boats so you only see them off in the distance. Still, very cool! The water was really rough the day we went out but Logan, Nicole, Ian, Will, Adam, Jeffrey, Chris, Ryan and I managed to secure the VERY front railing as our spot on the boat. So we had a great view! But...we also got hit with every wave that washed onto the boat. Luckily, you get these really warm onesie wet-suits to wear over our jackets. Except for Will, Adam, Jeffrey and Logan who decided to be "Vikings" and not wear suits (FAIL).

Then we headed to the Blue Lagoon. Google it. We spent 2 hours there, going back and forth between the mineral water hot tub, the sauna and the steam bath. Great day!

Exploring Reykjavik at night was awesome and, somehow, Ian, Nicole, Chris and I managed to find a techno dance party on our first night in town--CLEARLY a sign!! We knew right then and there that our semester was going to be awesome! Sure enough, since our first European dance party 2 weeks ago, we have heard the Black Eyed Peas 'Ive Gotta Feeling' every single time we have been out, and so our group has dubbed it the official theme song of our semester =)

Now to Maastricht....we got into Maastricht last Wednesday. On Thursday, Maastricht students showed us the way to the University building where we have classes. Friday, we had Orientation. That afternoon, we took a boat and cave tour of Maastricht. We took a boat down the Maas River to the limestone mines of St. Pietersburg. Basically this mine has 240 km worth of mazes but, due to cave-ins and such, only 80 km are open today. It's pitch black down there and you have to stay with your guide or you will get lost and wander around until you die....last year, a couple of teenagers got lost and their bodies were found a couple months later. Creepy...very, very creepy...

Background info---there are about 40 Baylor students on this trip, along with a professor and 2 Grad students. The group of kids I hang out with consists of 3 girls and 7 guys---we already knew each other coming in. All of us are either Stu Gov members, Honors College kids, or (the boys are) ATOs. We eat together, go out together, travel together, etc. In fact, we took our first Eurail trip to Bruges, Belgium on Saturday. Best bratwurst EVER for lunch. Then on to the Belgium Chocolate Museum to learn everything there is to know about the history of Belgium chocolate. Yummmm! We went into a few of the gorgeous churches that are all around Bruges, and bought some Belgian waffles for snacks.

Mostly, we have spent all of our free time exploring Maastricht. Lots of shops and cafes. All sorts of old historical sites and churches. Maastricht is the oldest city in the Netherlands so there is lots to see. Yesterday, after class, we went to this old Dominican church that has been converted into a bookstore. Bizarre but really neat.

Our group of 10 is headed to Berlin for the weekend; Sunday is Wittenberge. Being the staunch Lutheran that I am, I demanded that we visit while in Germany, so we're hitting it up on our way back. For all you Religion nerds, we're going to see Luther's house and Melanchthon's house--both have been turned into museums--and Castle Church where Luther nailed the 95 Theses. =)

This email is entirely toooooo lonnnnng already so, for those of you who like to write, here's my address

Katie Jo Baumgardner
Center for European Studies
Student Services
Maastricht University
Bonnefantenstraat 2
6211 KL Maastricht
The Netherlands

If you want to hear some good stories, just e-mail me back, OR skype me at katiejobaumgardner

Sic 'em!
~KJ