I arrived at Schiphol airport around 8.30 am this morning, and after a little wait for the luggage I met with my parents and several friends. It's great to be here.

The weather is terribly depressing, as it often is here, but it was very warm welcome. We had coffee and breakfast.

During the day we did a little bit of shopping, and I went through our belongings in storage in the attic. I found several books that I want to bring home, and threw away a lot of old things.

First the first time, I will have my own phone during a stay here, and it even has internet. I bought a prepaid Vodaphone card for my phone, and Vodaphone's BlackBerry service is free until December (a promotion), so this $10 prepaid card gives me voice and data access. Pretty cool.

My phone number this week is 06 - 50 41 74 23.

Last night I went out with my coworkers from Germany and Raleigh in a new bar on Pierce Street. There's no fridge in the hotel room but it's cold enough here to leave the milk on the balcony overnight.

I'm in meetings until 2.00 pm. and then it's off to the airport! My flight departs at 6.55 pm, and Saturday morning at 8.20 am I'll be on Schiphol, Amsterdam.

Today I traveled to New Jersey. Not a direct flight this time; I flew over Atlanta, Georgia. It wasn't too bad but it took me all day.

It's odd to be in Somerset again -- we lived here for 7 months. I bought my milk and cereal at the Shoprite were used to do our groceries.

My hotel is near a major highway, so I really feel I'm back in the busy world. I had a phone call from 8.00 pm until now, tomorrow my meetings start at 8.00 am (a breakfast meeting at 7.00 am was canceled).