Trains

Way back when in the first year of my studies (2004/2005), I didn’t live in Utrecht yet. In fact, I didn’t get my room here until March 2006. In April of 2004 I subscribed myself to the student housing thing and yes, it really took me 2 years to get a room. So for almost two years I’ve been travelling back and forth a couple of times per week.
Some terms it was only 2 days, but others it was 5 days and believe me, it wasn’t pretty! Especially early morning classes, meaning classes which start at 9. I had to leave the house at 7:30, to get on the first train and then I’d catch the 7:55 train to Utrecht. It’s always super crowded at that time, with all the people who work outside Zoetermeer. Of course in those years that I travelled back and forth I have had a million delays. I could seriously write a book about them haha. And during those delays you really wonder where we were when we didn’t have mobile phones yet. Worried sick mums, no more dinner left when you get home, no news about when the trains will start riding again (as the people at the station never know anything, mum kept me updated via text TV), stuff like that. No idea I’d ever say this actually, as I was very anti-mobile for a long time. Until my dad got me one for my 16th or 17th birthday *ahem*

Why I write this is because I had to think about my first blog today when I was transporting my bike to Utrecht, by train. In the first year of my studies I had a Dutch blog. It’s still out there somewhere I think, but I only kept it up for a couple of months. I mainly talked about my study and a lot about my train pains haha. I remember the last blog I put up there was a major rant about the public transportation, because that day it really was terrible.
I won’t bother you with the details, but normally it would take me an hour to get to Utrecht. That day, it took 4,5 hours! I had to go via Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport), which is a complete different direction.  Luckily they didn’t do a control check on the train tickets on my way to Utrecht, because when I went back I realised I had forgotten my train card! (students can use public transportation ‘for free’, on a loan base, complicated to explain) So I travelled through the half of the country, ok only three provinces.., without having a ticket! Eek!! Of course on the way back I did get asked for my card, so initially I had to pay a fine. Lovely things is though, you’re allowed to forget your card once per calender year, so I didn’t have to pay for it after all. That was some serious madness.
So I’m just very glad I don’t have to travel by train everyday anymore, I have respect for the working people that do!! Best thing to do is just laugh about it, otherwise you go crazy everytime there’s a delay haha.

Tonight I’m going to have dinner with my housemates, first time that almost everyone will be actually here, so that should be fun. I’m cooking together with one other housemate, wish us luck, it’s for seven people. Nothing complicated, but it should be tasty!