First, we are sorry for getting behind on the blog. On our long train ride yesterday there was no access to internet and therefore impossible to write anything. I am reading an interesting book "What the Dog Saw... and other stories" by Malcolm Gladwell. Julie even studied a little bit for her boards! But thats her day to write about so let me catch you up on Sunday!
Sunday morning we were actually able to sleep in! Laura even slept in until 8:30! After a lazy morning, we began to get dressed to go to the FC Utrecht football game. We were unable to get a club card for the Amsterdam Ajax game, as it turned out to be the match of the year between Ajax and FC Twente. It was not the championship game, just the last game of the season. The Netherlands league does not do playoffs, but has a schedule of games each season. They determine their champion based on a point system. The champion of the Netherlands league then gets to play in the elite Europe league next season. So Ajax will have games against Nethrelands teams and other European teams throughout their season,competing for two separate championships. The European league does have playoffs and a championship, they determine rankings based on a point system as well.
The team we went to see on Sunday was a competitor of Ajax: FC Utrecht. This was the club near Aunt Gijske and Uncle Joe's town. Their neighbor had a club card and lent it to us for the game. For all of the Netherlands teams, you must belong to the club in order to get tickets. Club holders can loan their cards out, but at their own risk... if someone misbehaves the club holder will also be punished.
We got to the stadium around 12:30, bought our tickets, grabbed some hot dogs and chocolate milk (yes, they have chocolate milk at the games, it was awesome!), and enjoyed the atmosphere. We learned that in a recent FC Utrecht practice, there was a collision between two players, one of them, a Romanian, broke his spinal cord and became paralyzed from the waist down. They had a special flag and ceremony for him at the beginning and end of the game. The flag was a Romanian one with a large picture of his face on the front. The flag took up almost half of the field. The player that fell on top of him sat out because he felt so horrible.
Our seats were behind one of the goals, opposite the side of the crazy cheering fans. However, this also put us next to the visitors' side. The visiting team was caged in in order to ensure safety of everyone. (Not all stadiums have this feature, it is very smart). They were not allowed in until a certain time and had to remain in the stadium until all of the FC Utrecht fans had cleared out. To aid in the exit process, the city of Utrecht provided free buses to the main station - which we took after the game! The AZ fans were the craziest ones. They cheered almost the entire game, had a large drum, and a flag that took up the entire section. (They held the flag over their heads.)
The game was so much fun. Utrecht scored two goals at our end of the field, and Julie was able to get video of them, the only problem was the tall man standing in front of her blocking the shot! In the last 5 minutes of the game, Utrecht scored 3 goals! The final score was 5-1. With that win, Utrecht will be able to play in the European A leagure (a level below the Champions league that Ajax will compete in). The atmosphere was so amazing, the fans were so supportive, and no announcer was needed to get people cheering. We have videos to upload but won't be able to until Paris at the earliest.
After the game, we rode to the bus station and caught a bus to Gijske and Joe's house to pick up the car. Once we changed and freshened up a bit, we grabbed some bikes and rode to the party. Let me clarify a little. Julie and Yo rode bikes while Lauren sat terrified on the back! I tried to sit on the back of Julie's bike but it proved futile so I hopped on the back of Gijske's who has a bit more experience with these things. I had a look of fright on my face for most of the ride - Julie was able to capture the moment. We arrived safely but I opted to ride back in the car with Aunt Gijske and Uncle Joe. Gijske, Joe, Peter, and Laura were already at the birthday party for Peter and Yo's friend. Peter has been friends with the husband since college! (Always nice to see lasting friendships!
The party was a mix of kids and adults, we were the only twenty-somethings in attendance, but there were plenty of people to talk to! There was one girl at the party, Katie, that Julie immediately took to, with the help of Laura the translator. It seemed the only two sentences she could say in English were "It's a Monstar (pointing to her shirt" and "Good morning Sir!!". She was quite adorable. After we finished eating (mix of Indonesian, Dutch, and other types of food) Laura Challenged Julie to some basketball - there was no hoop, but they improvised with trash cans.
Following the party, we packed up the rest of our things at Pete and Yo's house and said our goodbyes. We were going to stay at Gijske and Joe's house one last night as we had to be up early (4:30am) to catch our train (6:14am). Laura was very sad to see us go but we reminded her that the big stinker (My Uncle Dave) would be coming soon and that she could always come back and visit us in the states! This cheered her up a little!
Back at the house, we sat and talked for a little before showering and heading to bed by (11:30pm - ish). It seemed liked we only slept 5 minutes until we had to get up. Uncle Joe and Aunt Gijske were wonderful hosts - as were Peter, Yo, and Laura! We appreciate all their hospitality and kindness they showed to us, we do not know how we can ever repay you!
Monday's story is of our train rides (quite interesting) and arriving in Nice, France.
Love you all! We are headed out into sunny 70 degree weather on the Mediterranean now :)
Lauren and Julie
Sunday morning we were actually able to sleep in! Laura even slept in until 8:30! After a lazy morning, we began to get dressed to go to the FC Utrecht football game. We were unable to get a club card for the Amsterdam Ajax game, as it turned out to be the match of the year between Ajax and FC Twente. It was not the championship game, just the last game of the season. The Netherlands league does not do playoffs, but has a schedule of games each season. They determine their champion based on a point system. The champion of the Netherlands league then gets to play in the elite Europe league next season. So Ajax will have games against Nethrelands teams and other European teams throughout their season,competing for two separate championships. The European league does have playoffs and a championship, they determine rankings based on a point system as well.
The team we went to see on Sunday was a competitor of Ajax: FC Utrecht. This was the club near Aunt Gijske and Uncle Joe's town. Their neighbor had a club card and lent it to us for the game. For all of the Netherlands teams, you must belong to the club in order to get tickets. Club holders can loan their cards out, but at their own risk... if someone misbehaves the club holder will also be punished.
We got to the stadium around 12:30, bought our tickets, grabbed some hot dogs and chocolate milk (yes, they have chocolate milk at the games, it was awesome!), and enjoyed the atmosphere. We learned that in a recent FC Utrecht practice, there was a collision between two players, one of them, a Romanian, broke his spinal cord and became paralyzed from the waist down. They had a special flag and ceremony for him at the beginning and end of the game. The flag was a Romanian one with a large picture of his face on the front. The flag took up almost half of the field. The player that fell on top of him sat out because he felt so horrible.
Our seats were behind one of the goals, opposite the side of the crazy cheering fans. However, this also put us next to the visitors' side. The visiting team was caged in in order to ensure safety of everyone. (Not all stadiums have this feature, it is very smart). They were not allowed in until a certain time and had to remain in the stadium until all of the FC Utrecht fans had cleared out. To aid in the exit process, the city of Utrecht provided free buses to the main station - which we took after the game! The AZ fans were the craziest ones. They cheered almost the entire game, had a large drum, and a flag that took up the entire section. (They held the flag over their heads.)
The game was so much fun. Utrecht scored two goals at our end of the field, and Julie was able to get video of them, the only problem was the tall man standing in front of her blocking the shot! In the last 5 minutes of the game, Utrecht scored 3 goals! The final score was 5-1. With that win, Utrecht will be able to play in the European A leagure (a level below the Champions league that Ajax will compete in). The atmosphere was so amazing, the fans were so supportive, and no announcer was needed to get people cheering. We have videos to upload but won't be able to until Paris at the earliest.
After the game, we rode to the bus station and caught a bus to Gijske and Joe's house to pick up the car. Once we changed and freshened up a bit, we grabbed some bikes and rode to the party. Let me clarify a little. Julie and Yo rode bikes while Lauren sat terrified on the back! I tried to sit on the back of Julie's bike but it proved futile so I hopped on the back of Gijske's who has a bit more experience with these things. I had a look of fright on my face for most of the ride - Julie was able to capture the moment. We arrived safely but I opted to ride back in the car with Aunt Gijske and Uncle Joe. Gijske, Joe, Peter, and Laura were already at the birthday party for Peter and Yo's friend. Peter has been friends with the husband since college! (Always nice to see lasting friendships!
The party was a mix of kids and adults, we were the only twenty-somethings in attendance, but there were plenty of people to talk to! There was one girl at the party, Katie, that Julie immediately took to, with the help of Laura the translator. It seemed the only two sentences she could say in English were "It's a Monstar (pointing to her shirt" and "Good morning Sir!!". She was quite adorable. After we finished eating (mix of Indonesian, Dutch, and other types of food) Laura Challenged Julie to some basketball - there was no hoop, but they improvised with trash cans.
Following the party, we packed up the rest of our things at Pete and Yo's house and said our goodbyes. We were going to stay at Gijske and Joe's house one last night as we had to be up early (4:30am) to catch our train (6:14am). Laura was very sad to see us go but we reminded her that the big stinker (My Uncle Dave) would be coming soon and that she could always come back and visit us in the states! This cheered her up a little!
Back at the house, we sat and talked for a little before showering and heading to bed by (11:30pm - ish). It seemed liked we only slept 5 minutes until we had to get up. Uncle Joe and Aunt Gijske were wonderful hosts - as were Peter, Yo, and Laura! We appreciate all their hospitality and kindness they showed to us, we do not know how we can ever repay you!
Monday's story is of our train rides (quite interesting) and arriving in Nice, France.
Love you all! We are headed out into sunny 70 degree weather on the Mediterranean now :)
Lauren and Julie
I think the cage idea for visiting teams is great !
ReplyDeleteI wish you could trace a map on your blog as you travel, I will have to google earth where you are, being geographically-challenged !
Be sure to post photos of all things French : )