Can I just say that as much as I love being back, that the food is driving me insane? M and his brother are both perfectly thin and their parents are both perfectly round, so none of them pay much attention to what they eat. Bread with Nutella or hagelslag (sprinkles) in the morning, no real lunch (just grabbing snacks while you're out, like French fries), and then a huge dinner with (usually) no dessert, and then later in the evening another snack, like chips or bread with flavored cream cheese. It's all GOOD, don't get me wrong, but I DON'T EAT LIKE THAT! I want my fiber cereal in the morning, and I want orange juice, and I want Lean Pockets and protein bars and SKIM milk and salad! All this sugar and carbs is getting to me. I don't suppose I've really gained that much weight in six days, but it feels like I have because I can't CONTROL what I'm eating; I'm at the mercy of M's mother and what she chooses to make.

We finally went swimming yesterday and the first few laps felt awful. It got better as I went on - I think I swam a total of about 2500 meters, with breaks in between for the hot tub and slide, and I did eventually start to get 'in the zone' - but I really hate this. I'm thrilled to be back in this country - because I still love it here despite everything, and the language is actually easier than ever - but I want my normal schedule back, with twice-a-day swimming and normal, healthy food.

12 days till I come home.