Terrifying Tunnels

Apparently I was extremely tired last night and did not get around to recording the second day. No worries, it is all still fresh in my mind!

We all began with mandatory breakfast as usual. The food is good, and suprisingly I eat a good size portion breakfast. I believe it's due to the fact that lunch is not very big around here. After breakfast Amanda and I had plenty of time until the next scheduled thing began. So we scurried up to our room and talked to our dear friends back home that were just then thinking of going to bed.

First on the agenda was orientation at Maastricht University where classes will be held. Here, there is not a college campus. Most of the class buildings to attend are a good walk away (thank goodness the landscape is not too hilly). Each of us were taught the four stages of culture shock that will come our way:

1. The Honeymoon--everything is new and exciting; think that it is all great!

2. Hostility--wanting nothing to do with your surroundings and detaching yourself

3. Humor--able to laugh at yourself for all the stupid stuff you did in the hostility phase

4. Home--able to see yourself calling this home for an extended amount of time

Once this inciteful lesson was learned, we headed down the building for coffee and fly (pastry). I am not a coffee drinker. The furthest I get is a latte or frappacino. Oh but this coffee was unfortunately appealing to the tastebuds. Self-control will have to come into play before addiction to Dutch coffee sets. Not saying that drinking a lot of Dutch coffee is bad; it's the withdrawal of not having any available in the states once back. Onto lunch in the business school where they serve "cheap" meals (aka 6 euros for a sandwich, salad, and water). With some food and energy running throughout our bodies, we divide into our one of two tours: Cave Tour or Historical Tour of the city. Feeling more like a cave adventure, precisely thirty-five of us began the "short" walk to the beginning of the tour.

Here is where the interesting occurs. We are told to divide into groups of six. Okay we all attend Baylor, groups of six is no problem. Only one group can enter the "caves" (tunnels) at a time. A little historical fact about the "caves". These winding tunnels were built strategically inside the wall as a fortress to keep the Romans, French, and Spanish out. The Dutch were aware that if any other country could seize Maastricht, all of the North was conquerable. Side note, Maastricht is the Netherlands oldest city being 2,000 years old. Oddly the University is only 32...

Amanda and I were part of Group 4. Before we face the fate we were unaware of, pictures are an absolute must! You may be wondering, "What face is she making?" We all decided to make fun of our guide book cartoon.

Our turn to enter the tunnels of doom. Chris (the only guy in our group) and I are advised to wear these trendy white hats that are suppossed to protect our head due to the fact we have exceeded the height limit of this attraction. Group 4 is given 3 flashlights to help us find our way through complete darkness. Please remember there are 6 of us. Next we are told that the guide book (yes the one we were making fun of) has directions and clues in it that must be followed to the tee or else our stay in the "caves" will be extended. Not hard-read directions, answer the questions when instructed, and keep those flashlights on! Several events occurred to prevent us from doing this.

Reading the directions. When told to take a right at the first passage and then an immediate left into the gunpowder room, this sounds like a doable task. My friends it is harder than it seems. Nothing is how it looks. Some passageways come to dead ends with two directions to choose from.

Answer questions when prompted. As Baylor students we think, "Okay. There are again 6 of us. With all of our brain power we can figure the answers out no problem". Lets just leave this portion of the blog with the knowledge that the questions were harder than assumed. Lesson learned: never think you are above anything or anyone.

Keep flashlights on. No problem there! The tunnels are creepy enough with the minimum lighting. Who would want to turn theirs off!? No one in our group until a person working this tour tells the group everyone must extinguish your torch. Here is what we were instructed, "Please leave the light off. You are going to walk about a football field length in total darkness until you all reach a curtain. Line up. Place your left hand on the person's in front of you shoulder. Next place your right hand against the wall and drag your hand along here until you reach the curtain". Wonderful. Complete darkness. We do as instructed but cannot remain silent for long. Songs are sung to keep our minds off the fact that our eyes are open but cannot see a thing. After a few hundred or so baby steps, Chris finds the curtain! The three of us who had flashlights could not wait to turn those things back on!

Three hours pass upon entry into the tunnels, and we have made it through many T-junctions, creepy voices, debris, rocks, clueless clues, and a couple glimpes of the hostility phase. Once free we still have a 30 minute walk back to the Guest House (dorm). Some of us signed up to go out to dinner with a group of students from the University to Cafe de Twee Hereen. The salmon and french fries served had never looked so appetizing. My feet were throbbing because I had not sat since orientation many hours previous.

Amanda and I were suffering from feet exhaustion after dinner, so we headed back on the 20 min walk home. Did we go to bed you ask? Nope. Our jet lag continues to linger apparently.

This concludes day 2 of one of the many adventures awaiting!

Daughter of the King,

Kaitlyn