Hope you haven't been too worried about me. I have been so very busy. In addition to classes, I have been very busy with my interviews. I have interviewed a person a day, a two on weekends for the last week and have planned for the last week. I am learning a lot and the work is going well. And I am still in classes at the Institute. Last week I took a class which looked at issues of of transference and counter-transference (Freud's concepts) play out in fieldwork. I found the class very interesting -- especially since I am usually very aware of these types of feelings in my work.

Meanwhile, I also have some friends I have spent a lot of time with. The Friday after I sent my last message was probably the worst day for me. I was feeling so lonely and homesick and tired of coping with new things every day that I ended up crying. The followind day though I had been invited to watch the Canal Pride Parade (gay pride on canal boats) with Martyn and some friends. Martyn is someone who I met through my work. He brought along a couple friends and the four of us had a great time. I have spent quite a bit of time since then socializing with Martyn and his friends and feel very close to them. They have accepted me in a way that none of the other students have really been able to. I still see Inbal, but her mother was visiting one week and now her husband.

The Canal Pride Parade was really fun. It was even more fun with Martyn telling me which group/club organized which boats and all the politics/meanings behind the themes they chose. When the parade was over we went for drinks at a outdoor cafe along the canal. The next day we went to another celebration and then hung out at Sam's place. I stayed so late with my friends that I missed the last tram (which runs at midnight -- makes me sorta of a Cinderella). Sam offered a very Dutch experience -- he took me home on his bike. That means riding on the luggage rack on the back of the bike -- all the way across town at 2 AM. Sort of my night-time bicycle tour of Amsterdam. It was both beautiful and fun. I also got together for drinks and socializing again Friday night (another bike ride) and then for dinner Sat. night. These are wonderful people and I hope to keep in touch with them from home.

Well, it is now early Monday morning. I have to be at class soon. Then I need to go to the library at lunch time and have an interview this evening. I leave Amsterdam very early this Saturday. The last day I can pick up mail at this email address is Thursday. After that, send mail to my regular email address -- but don't expect a quick answer -- I will be traveling until the end of next week.

Love,
Dawn