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Oh New York how you feel close to home. I mean granted I'm still a 3 day bus trip away from Vancouver Washington and my own bed and yet New York feels not to far. I really am thinking it was a good idea to have a stop over in New York before heading directly home. I think having only a 6 hour time difference rather than a 9 hour difference is very beneficial and so I really don't feel that jet lagged, at least yet. Granted I didn't fall asleep last night until technically 7am in the morning Amsterdam time but I really don't feel that bad.
So when did I last leave off? Amsterdam day 1? So I guess this is actually a post on New York and Amsterdam.
I really still feel Amsterdam was a pretty amazing place. Maybe it's just my home land calling me back (being half dutch and all) or maybe it's that God is truly calling me there, whatever it is I am sure I'll be back. Anyway!!! So on the second full day in Amsterdam I started with breakfast and while there met up with a guy named Shaky I had met before. Shaky is from New York and is a documentary maker. Check out www.shakyjones.com for some of his work. Anyway he was in Amsterdam to film a documentary on biking so that he can try and increase bike use in New York (and ideally America). Well we had talked the day before and he wanted to interview me about Triumph and biking in Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Europe in general. I figured this could be pretty exciting and so I agreed and that was why were meeting at breakfast. So after breakfast we headed out to do some filming and found a good location right on a canal with bikes in the background and yet secluded from sound and wind. Then we filmed. It probably was about an hour of footage of basically me just talking (I'm REALLY good at talking... just on and on and on and on and on...rather boring sometimes). Nonetheless I think it went well and afterwords he was generous enough to take me to lunch before we headed our separate ways.
I headed out to see some more of the town and visit another outdoor market or two. I love these markets! Fresh fruit and flowers along with used and new clothes and all sorts of gadgets, gizmos and bikes. I got some fresh squeezed orange juice and a fresh made smoothie along with a banana and some other nick nacks and items before heading back towards the hostel. On the way back I passed a free museum type thing. I think it was the history/photo archive of Amsterdam and I would definitely recommend going. With a free entrance and lots of photos and some other items to explore it is worth an hour or so. I sadly couldn't stay long due to having only 30 minutes before it closed.
Once back at the hostel I had dinner and chatted with some other visitors. Oh the people you meet are amazing. All over the world at any hostel if you strike up a conversation you are guaranteed to learn and grow. I talked with an older gentleman from Ireland along with a guy from Portugal and some others. I don't remember when exactly I first met them but there also was a group of girls from George Fox University (SMALL WORLD)that I talked to for a little bit. Experienced another Bible Study which was very cool. Everyone is so...soo...so in Love with Jesus it's fantastic! I was telling Katie earlier how they all are super friendly and just constantly asking "Hey how was your day Spencer?" or "Spencer how'd you sleep" or "What have you been up to Spencer?" It's amazing. So during Bible studies and prayer times everyone seems really real and not like they are putting on a front. During the prayer time we prayed for a lady from Germany who is planning on starting a hostel very similar to the one in Amsterdam along with for safe travels and adjusting to being home again for some others.
I played Set (a card game) that night with some of the workers and tried to help another visitor with his computer that was having graphics issues. Like I said earlier, this place feels like home. I spent the whole night just chilling, relaxing, talking, playing piano and guitar and then went to the prayer night.
The next morning I was sad to say goodbye and yet looking forward to being back in the states and a few hours and days closer to my real home, family and Annie. This trip really has been amazing and everything I hoped for. God truly provided for me and is continuing to provide and lead me. I can't wait to get back to Amsterdam but will being praying to see when God tells me to return.
So ...
after hopping on a plane in Amsterdam at 2pm and one transfer later in Iceland I arrived in New York JFK airport around 7:45pm at night local time. With a 6 hour time difference that meant I had arrived at about 1:45am.....my time. This meant I felt really tired and didn't want to deal with finding a hostel and then being required to check out the next morning by 10am or something crazy...so I hoped a bus to Grand Central station, then a train to Poughkeepsie New York, then took a taxi (with Willie the taxi guy!!! He was super awesome and for the entire 15 minutes we had fantastic conversation) to Vassar where I am now hanging out. I slept in this morning till noon but that was probably good for me and so far I've just been seeing the campus and eating all of Katie's food.
So my plan is to probably spend another night here before heading into New York city on Sunday to see some sights and then spend the night there so I can hop the bus in the morning. I'm excited to get to do some American tourism where everyone speaks my language and get to compare but for now... rest is good.
So ya! I hope that satisfies all of your needs for an update. I'll get more photos of New York City when I return on Sunday if all goes as planned. I'll probably update again if possible Sunday night.

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ME STILL! Only 5 days left! CRAZY!

Ok so I forget to put in this tip... when you know you are going to experience jet lag do two things. First continually roll back your watches time. I think this really helped me, about every hour I would roll it back an hour or so. This meant that when I arrived in New York I still felt like time had passed and yet I was already in the mindset that it was 7:45pm not 1:45am... I truly didn't realize it was that far off until I had a lady who had just flown from Paris tell me what time it was for her and thus me. Second ... (I don't know if this actually helped or if I just think it did) eat lots of chocolate. If you look at my photos from Amsterdam you see some wonderful chocolate and a chocolate covered strawberry (with a shot of liquor in it) that I paid a LOT for in the Amsterdam airport. I probably shouldn't have eaten all of it but it truly was the best chocolate I'd ever had and I think it did help with the jet lag...for whatever reason. So ya. Set that watch back while traveling, and eat chocolate.