The month-long period of warmth and sunshine in Amsterdam came to an end yesterday with a day of rain. Today, the sun broke through for a brief happy moment (just long enough for me to walk home, which was excellent), before retreating into a thunderstorm. When I compliment the great weather, I'm often told that we've been especially lucky this spring and had unusually great weather. Even now, the weather is better than at home - it drizzles rather than pours.

I listen to the Boston NPR station (all NPR stations are available streaming over the internet) to keep up with the news at home, and since there is a six-hour time difference, I often listen to the morning news before I go to class. The morning news includes the weather report, which is usually pretty bad in April and May. It's odd to hear "it's currently 45 degrees with a possibility of showers" and look out my window at the bright 70 degree sunshine. Now, however, I listen to WBUR and hear "50 degrees and raining" and when I look outside, it's true!