In Alaska, the mosquitoes are rampant for about two weeks in the summer. I had the pleasure of spending a week in the Prince William Sound during that exact time of year, and got to know them quite well. They're the size of dragon flies, it is a long-standing joke that they're the Alaska state bird.

Despite their size and overwhelming numbers, you can trust the Alaskan mosquitoes. You get the sense they're just flying around waiting for you to stumble into their path. When you do, they bite you through two layers of clothing and let you go on your way. They're scary as hell, but there is nothing sneaky about them.

In Oregon, they're tiny but aggressive. Anyone who has moved sprinkler pipes in the summer can tell you that Oregon mosquitoes are a force to be reckoned with. They are unlike their Alaskan cousins in that a swarm of Oregon mosquitoes will smell a human from across a 60 acre field and charge toward her with amazing speed and force. You feel like Winnie the Pooh being chased by the honey bees, and it has led people to do some crazy things (like covering oneself in mud to prevent their bites - don't ask).

I can't tell for sure, but I imagine they are also highly choreographed. If you remember the scene in "Finding Nemo" where the school of fish is teasing Nemo's dad you may know what I'm talking about. I think if I were less edible, I would like to stick around to find out more about their capabilities there.

In Montana the mosquitoes, like the people, are sparse. You rarely have to deal with more than a few at a time, and then they are slow and easily swatted (not that the people are slow and easily swatted, some of my favorite people are from Montana and I would never imply such a thing).

In Amsterdam, the mosquitoes are part insect, part demon. I'm not kidding. Somewhere along the evolutionary line one of these pesky bugs mated with Satan himself to produce a mutant line of highly specialized human eating machines, and they live in my apartment! I knew when I took the place on the canal that it would be a risk, but I do love the location and so I chose to deal with it. Mind you, my most recent experience was with the slow, swattable, Montana mosquitoes with whom I really wouldn't mind sharing a place with so I suppose my memory was a bit cloudy.

The mosquitoes in my apartment are predators. They wait until night time to strike, and only when I'm in bed. I leave the light on in the other room, hoping it will distract them but they are too savvy for such juvenile tactics. Once I am soundly tucked in the stalking begins. One at a time they approach my face (the only part of my body that is not covered in layers of protective cotton). Here is the clincher - THEY DON'T BUZZ. They are stealthy little bastards and they know better than to give up their location. They also know that once I fall asleep I'll be an easier target and I can't do that with them buzzing around my head. So they scout the situation: they fly close, wait to see if I swat at them, and stay just beyond arm's reach. I'm pretty sure they then report back to the others. I know they're there, I can see their grim outline in the faint light from my window and I can feel the air from their wings on my (apparently tasty) skin. So I lie there in fear, waiting for them to strike - but THEY DON'T. I feel them all around me, hovering, waiting, watching. But they are patiently waiting for the command from their leader (who I am pretty sure lives in my closet).

This dance has become a part of my nightly routine. I fight off my need for sleep in an attempt to avoid the inevitable. Once I finally give in they make their move, they crawl down into the covers to bite the backs of my knees, the spot between my shoulder blades that I can't reach, my feet (in places that rub against my shoes). Every 45 minutes I wake up, I try to catch them at it, I roll around hoping to squish them while they feast but to no avail. And so, I surrender. Usually around 4:30am I drift to a cautious state of sleep, knowing that I will wake up covered in itchy red battle wounds, with circles under my eyes and the groggy, clumsy, morning personality of someone who partied all night. But my state of disarray is not because I'm hung over, it's because I'm hunted. In my own place no less, where a girl should feel safe and relaxed.

This war has slowly begun to take over my days as well. Any slight breeze, a floating piece of fuzz catching my peripheral vision, a stray hair tickling my arm sends me into a frenzy. I can no longer see the line between the dark reality that is my situation and the 6 legged villains that haunt my waking dreams. When will it stop!?!?!?!

I know there are solutions - like citronella candles, a mosquito net perhaps. It all sounds like a good plan, but where would you go to buy these things? That's right - Target. And they don't have a damn Target store here. I don't know where to buy the weapons I will need to continue fighting this war - I have asked, and I have looked, but I remain unarmed and fear that I am close to defeat. So if anyone knows where in Amsterdam to buy Mosquito repellent, candles, traps, or insect-seeking missiles, please share!

I got home from a very long day at work today and was thrilled to see the news that Hillary decided to concede the primary. By the time I could log on and blog about my excitement the story had been corrected.

Shame on you, Associated Press! This is not the first time election results have been prematurely (and inaccurately) announced - remember 2000?

The good news is Obama's candidacy is only delayed, he's not going to lose. By the end of this week my beloved Barack will be able to focus on beating McCain in November.

Come on, Hillary, this is embarrassing (for you) and has gone on long enough! I mean I like you as a candidate and all, it was a tough choice for me - but step aside.

Please pardon my rant, I am extra sad about this because I won't be able to watch Jon Stewart address the whole mishap on The Daily Show. And that's just not right.

Things I Love

1. Chipknip (Smart Cards)

You can use your bank card like a debit card where you enter your pin, but you also have a separate amount which works like cash (called Chipknip). Once you put it on the card, it is there. If you lose the card, it can't be recovered - this also means that machines can accept it without a network connection since your identity or funds available doesn't have to be verified (like a laundromat card).

I have always thought the reason we don't have this system in the US is that it's not feasible - but they're everywhere here. You can pay parking meters, public phones, the cafeteria - it's fantastic and you don't have to carry change for everything.

2. Multi-function appliances

I had no idea there was such thing as a washer SLASH dryer. Not a stacking unit where they both fit in the closet - it is ONE machine. You put dirty clothes in and get clean, dry clothes out! It is like a miracle, a dream come true. But as with other things, you must be careful what you wish for. I have already shrunk about 4 items because I wanted them "extra droog" and didn't realize that 60 on the dial meant degrees Celsius and not minutes in the spin cycle. Lesson learned...

But wait, there's more! I also have an oven SLASH microwave! It is small, only a little bigger than a toaster over but it can also microwave things! You can put plastic in there, or reheat your tea - it's nuts. I don't know how that works, nor do I care, but I am damned excited about it as you can see.

3. Flower markets

Just one canal over from my apartment there is an open air flower market that is open every day. They have every type and color of flower imaginable - several variations of my favorite (lilies). Each stem is the diameter of my index finger and standing on the floor the blooms reach up to my waist! And then as if it couldn't get any better - they're only EUR 7.50 for a bunch that is too big for just one regular sized vase. You can't beat that.

4. Driving sensibly

I've come along way since my last post about driving - I'm even praising it now. There is a law here that makes it a higher penalty for passing on the right than the one for speeding. As such, everyone just passes when necessary and then gets back over in to the appropriate lane. Traffic actually flows and you don't spend your morning behind some a** talking on the phone and going 45mph in the fast lane (not that I would care, because as I mentioned before I am now a patient and forgiving driver). It makes sense, America, try it!

Things I Miss

1. Produce

Vegetables. I miss vegetables! I was spoiled in California having access to quality produce - those days are gone. You can't walk into a market with a list and expect to get tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, lemons, and bananas. You have to walk in with an open mind and settle for the least pathetic looking of the severely limited options. There is no relief in dining out - salads are almost invariably the most expensive menu items and they are mediocre at best.

The Netherlands is not known for good food and I see why. I can also see why they're the tallest on average of any country. Dutch people love meat and potatoes, anything deep fried, and they wash it down with milk. It's as far from California as you can be.

2. Box stores

I know... how very un-San Franciscan of me. I can't help it, I miss Target. I cannot even count the number of kilometers I have walked and hours spent trying to find basic things. They have a different store for everything here. There are absolutely no one-stop shops for groceries, toiletries, and household items. It makes shopping an all-day event - but on the bright side I think I am more conservative since I dread having to go find these things again!

3. Pseudo-healthy convenience food

Hopefully I redeem myself a little bit when I say I miss Cliff Bars and banana chips. As I mentioned above, there is not much of a demand for anything remotely healthy here. I know of a British/American grocery store but I am trying to acclimate and get used to the local customs so I've been avoiding it. Let's be honest though - I can only go so long before giving in!

4. Pedicures

Gone are the days of getting a fresh Mani/Pedi every Saturday for $25. I could walk 4 blocks, go right in without an appointment, and read trashy gossip magazines while the girls tried (often successfully) to talk me into the extra foot massage for only $10 more.

I have looked for places here in Amsterdam, but have found only one that seems clean and it takes a week and a half for an appointment to get a EUR 36 pedicure. The magazines are in Dutch, there is no extra massage, and quite frankly the woman is scary.

These are my initial observations about Holland - overall the good still far outweighs the bad and I look forward to getting used to life here and not noticing my bare fingernails or the extra chins I will probably develop as a result of eating fried meat on a regular basis.

I traveled via high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris and arrived just in time to grab some lunch and duck out of the rain at a cafe. I enjoyed some authentic French crepes (which are not very much like American crepes) and studied my Frommer's "Paris in One Day" map which seemed way too ambitious and involved some public transportation which we all know is not my strong point.

I quickly ditched the idea of a map when I realized that everything was a sight to be seen. I chose a direction and walked from the Arc de Triomphe to the Musée du Louvre and several side journeys in between. It was pouring rain, but about 70 degrees outside - not the best weather but it seemed to add to the experience. Every direction I looked was one breathtaking scene after another, it was truly exhausting taking it all in (and walking about 10km in a couple of hours). I felt like running so I could see more but didn't want to miss anything.

The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, so I regret not being able to go inside - but the building's exterior is in itself a piece of art. After my exhausting day I met my colleague and client for an amazing dinner. The icing on the cake and perhaps my idea of a perfect night in Paris was last night's lightning storm - I love electrical storms and got to lie in bed and watch this one for about an hour.

Today was the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) conference on Data Protection which I found to be quite interesting and I learned more in a few hours than I could even absorb. After the conference we met for drinks with some of the other participants at an outdoor bar with stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, and then had another great dinner nearby.

Unfortunately I have not a single picture of my trip because my American power converter didn't fit into the hotel outlet so my camera wasn't charged. That's fine though, it would have been just a lot more photos with inanimate subjects since I was traveling alone - post cards are better anyway.

I am anxious to return and take some photos and spend more time wandering around the most beautiful place I've ever been. It should be noted that I've been to some beautiful places: the Prince William Sound in Alaska, the Big Island of Hawaii, the Rogue River in southern Oregon, Glacier National Park in Montana, Manhattan, the Wallowa Mountains, the desert in Utah....all different types of beauty but none so astonishing as my new favorite city in the world (so far).

As you may have guessed, today I picked up my lease car provided by KPMG. It is a 2006 VW Golf. It's very cute, I'll add a photo once it is clean. Today was one of the most terrifying days I can remember, I'm thankful I'm not in Britain or another country where the steering wheel is on the other side and they use the left side of the road - I don't know if I'd have made it!

When I took the driving test to get my license, I spent about 20 minutes with an instructor in a town with no stoplights. I had to demonstrate that I could safely turn left and right, use my signals, and come to a complete stop. I didn't even have to parallel park! All this, and there were in total about 10 other vehicles within a 3 mile radius (none of which were honking or yelling at me, by the way).

When I first arrived in San Francisco, as I attempted to maneuver the unfamiliar territory I asked "What in the hell were they (the DMV) thinking when they issued me this Driver's License?" Why, instead of taking my $4, isn't the toll booth attendant checking to see if I am in fact qualified to drive in the city? (I think they should have a similar operation at the base of a mountain pass during snowy months, to be fair). But I managed, and with a little practice I think I've adjusted for the most part.

Of course I do realize it is unrealistic to expect that someone check qualifications of drivers when traveling from one traffic and road condition environment to the next. But from one CONTINENT to the next? You'd think they'd have controls in place for that! The gentleman asked me, "can you drive a stick?" and when I replied affirmative he tossed me the keys!

He sent me on my way with a navigation system that speaks to me in Dutch (I subsequently got help changing it to English) and a Petrol card. My first stop was to fill up the tank. Parking in front of the pump I suffered a flashback to my first solo trip out of Oregon (where all stations are attended and it is illegal to pump your own gas). I stood there, confused, staring at the various Dutch signs and notices and looking around for some guidance. A kind young man offered his assistance and did everything he could to stifle a smile. As it turns out, it's very complicated. You insert the nozzle, and then squeeze the handle. I felt my face turn red as he explained, "in Holland, we still trust people to pay us." I chose to interpret his explanation as a sign that other Americans had made the same mistake before. It cost over EUR 85,00 for 53L - I'm still struggling with the Metric system but I know expensive when I see it!

My next challenge was to find my way to the De Meern office. With my navigation system programmed and a full tank of gas, I pulled onto the motor-way and drove with white knuckles to the office I will call home for the next 18 months. Of course, I can't understand what the signs say as they are in Dutch. I recognize a few familiar names of towns, but without a strong sense of direction or orientation, I don't know which ones to choose. As if that weren't enough, even the symbols and road markings are completely different. All of the lines are white (whether on a one way, two way, or divided road) - some dashed, some little triangles, and there is the occasional solid/dash combination (which does not mean "no passing"). A huge red circle with an "X" through the middle does not mean, "Do not enter" and when a sign indicates you are no longer in a 100 Km/h zone, it doesn't indicate what the speed limit is now. I actually have no idea what any of them meant, I had to improvise by observing other drivers - I'm going to study tonight.

I did arrive at KPMG De Meern in one piece - somehow. I met with the Secretary to the Partner I'll be working with, and she introduced me to my new colleagues around the office. It was not until they took my photo badge picture that I realized I'd apparently been sweating profusely and looked like I'd gone days without a shower. Nice first impression - the sweaty American girl.

On my way home I decided to wait out the heavy traffic by stopping for a snack. I asked the navigation system to take me to a restaurant near my current location. Finally, after 30 minutes of driving around lost uttering (or was it yelling?) a few choice names and phrases at the voice narrating directions, I gave up and headed back to Amsterdam. My clever plan to "wait out" traffic was a silly idea - there is no such thing here. It's one of the most densely populated cities in the world and nearly everyone drives.

Tomorrow I'm going to scope out a "Park and Ride" facility to avoid so much congestion. And I'm not listening to that stupid nav system for restaurant suggestions - she had no idea where to go! I felt like one more turn and I'd have ended up like Dwight and Michael when their rental car GPS told them to drive into Lake Scranton. If you haven't seen that episode of "The Office (US version)" then pretend I said something really smart and funny.

I am exhausted, and look forward to sleep. Today was tough, but of course it could have been much worse. I did learn a valuable lesson: I need to be nicer to people who are driving like idiots - there's a chance they really did learn to drive yesterday. Again, my sincere apologies to all of the bad drivers in San Francisco and beyond (except taxi drivers - there is no excuse for them).

After a brief rest and a shower I decided to head out exploring. I'm only a few blocks from Museumplein ("Museum Square") which is beautiful. I haven't been in any of the museums yet, but I look forward to going soon.

Past Museumplein toward Centrum was nothing but one beautiful street after another. I felt like I was walking around in Disneyland or some kind of movie set. The canals are full of commercial tours and private groups out enjoying the beautiful weather. In front of historic mansions there are weeping willow trees whose branches skim the water. It's like nothing I've ever seen before, and I can't wait to keep exploring.

Next I wandered into Vondelpark which reminded of a college campus, or Dolores Park in San Francisco on a sunny day. Small groups of people parked their bicycles in piles and gathered on blankets to drink wine and eat snacks. The park was so crowded I thought there must be an event happening, but it turned out the main attraction was the sunny afternoon. Given Amsterdam's reputation for tolerance I would have expected more neo-hippies, but there were actually very few. I didn't see anyone strumming guitars, playing bongo drums, or hula-hooping. I'm not sad about that. Also, people are remarkably clean. They take care to avoid leaving trash, and pick up after their dogs.

In one of the ponds within Vondelpark I saw a pair of Mallard ducks. I was surprised how comforting a couple of ducks could be to a person who actively hates birds. I mean I REALLY hate birds. About a month ago I was in Washington, DC and Fabian and I noticed a pair in the reflecting pool. Of course, they are also common in Eastern Oregon as well as Montana. The buildings, the streets, the cars, the stores, the food, even the plants are new and different; and so it is nice that some things are the same. Unfortunately, there are also Pigeons - but they're less aggressive than in San Francisco. There are new birds too, something that looks a bit like a crow, but with blue eyes instead of red. I'm not sure what they are but they seem to mind their own business and so I don't actively hate them...yet.

In the afternoon I met with Guido, a housing agent who specializes in expat rentals. He drove me around the Centrum area and showed me five different places. I fell in love with two different apartments, each on a different canal. The first was on Keizersgracht. The living room overlooks a beautiful garden, and the bedroom overlooks the canal. The second was on the ground floor and had a huge, recently remodeled bathroom and it's own private garden. The first was sunny and bright, full of energetic yet peaceful noises. The second was perfectly serene - on the ground floor and facing away from the street, painted with muted colors and almost silent. I chose the first and hopefully they accept our offer, I could me moving in within the next week.

Later I ventured out again in search of some food. My internal clock is still off so I wasn't particularly hungry, but I figured it would be good to eat anyway. I found an Italian restaurant with outdoor seating on a busy corner - perfect for people watching. After dinner I meant to make my way back to the hotel but ended up getting lost and walking for a couple of miles in various (wrong) directions. The feeling was familiar, as many of my first days in San Francisco consisted of a similar schedule. However, I found Amsterdam seems safer. There are no homeless people panhandling, and no groups of young men loitering. Eventually I made it back to the hotel for some rest and to call my family to let them know I've arrived safely.

Please check out my photos on my Picasa site. Usually I add photos here in my blog but there are just too many beautiful things to see!

My first assignment will take place in nine different countries across Europe.  I plan to spend as much time as possible traveling around and seeing as much of the world as I can.  Between business and personal travel, I hope to cross a handful of items off my ever-growing list of places I want to see.

I am excited to get there - only a little bit nervous so far.  KPMG will help me with everything related to the relocation.  They will pick me up from the airport on Wednesday morning and take me to my hotel.  Then in the afternoon I'll meet with the housing agent to drive around looking for apartments.  They'll set me up with a car, a bank account, a phone, and Dutch lessons.    Most people in The Netherlands speak English, and the client projects I will be working on will be in English.  But learning the language will make it easier to adjust and I wouldn't want to pass up an opportunity to learn a new language.  I will be allowed two trips home during my stay, I haven't yet thought about when those might be.

You may have noticed I've updated the design of this blog - seems appropriate with all the changes in my life!  I'll still be using the same e-mail address to keep in touch - and I will be keeping my US phone number.  I can receive voice mail but no text messages unfortunately.

Please keep in touch and check back soon for photos and updates!

Our first day was rather short, only three hours of driving and then we spent the night in Lake Tahoe with friends Daphne and Mike. We set out early for Salt Lake City but took our time during the day. We stopped in Elko, NV for some Basque food - who would have guessed there is a Basque restaurant in Elko, NV? Unfortunately we missed the 4 hour window in which they are open and had to settle for what might have been the worst Mexican food I've ever tasted.

When we arrived in Salt Lake City we checked into our Bed & Breakfast, Haxton Manor. It was a lovely place with a great inn-keeper, Buffy. She proudly showed us the place that hosted the English Olympics team in 2002. Our room was beautifully decorated and had a nice Jacuzzi tub, perfect after a day of driving. We enjoyed dinner at a Thai restaurant and then called it an early night.

Rather than leaving early in the morning, we decided to check out more of the city - which is when I fell in love! It reminds me very much of Missoula, but the central location makes it perfect! The views of the mountains are delightful and the people are very friendly. We toured the Joseph Smith memorial building for a view of the Mormon temple. This was perhaps the most interesting part of our trip. A docent invited us in and took our picture with a statue of Joseph Smith that must have been about 8 feet tall. We took the elevator to the top floor to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

We approached a kind looking man with a stack of bibles and literature to ask the purpose of the metal roofed building (it is the tabernacle). In addition to an answer to our question, he gave us a condensed (yet surprisingly detailed) history of the religion. He was the sweetest gentleman, but we unfortunately had to cut it short after about 20 minutes.

Our third and final day was filled with even more great views of the Utah desert and the Colorado Rockies, ending in Denver at Cooper's parents' house. I said goodbye and flew back to San Francisco, happy I had the chance to spend a few days with my dear friend before she moves to Malawi, Africa!

On Friday we went to a bar under LAX called Noir - it is accessed via a hidden entrance and you have to be invited to get in. Once you enter there is a long, dimly lit hallway that eventually opens to a round room. In the center is a large, low hanging chandelier and along the walls are black leather benches. In the next room there are about 10 tables surrounded by plush black leather chairs and couches. Floating mirrors hang from high ceilings and the DJ is spinning house music. The place defines cool, and needless to say I was out of place! I'd have taken photos but our hostess Ebony informed us there are no cameras allowed - to protect the privacy of celebrities and other guests. I guess that's how they keep what happens in Vegas in Vegas!

One of many great things about Noir is the elevator to LAX. You get to bypass the entire line and get right in to the club. The vibe is totally different - it's loud and packed. Luckily Bradley happened to be dressed in all black so he pretended to be a security guard and pushed our way through with ease! We hung out in the main club for a while, but my aversion to crowds soon took over and I needed some space. Rather than leave, we simply went to the VIP lounge. Since we had been downstairs at Noir, they automatically let us in. Here is a photo of our new friends Brian and Rosemarie from the VIP lounge.

All in all, Vegas was crazy. I had a blast but it may be a while before I'm ready to go back!

I headed straight to Washington, DC for a conference afterward. Check out Fabian's Photos on Flickr, note the one where I kissed Barack Obama - I love that guy!

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find.

While I am certain this is not my year to get married, it will be a time for a fresh start for me...more to come on that later :)

The following is a description for those born in the Year of the Rat. As with any astrological profile, it is vague and generic and most parts could be applied to anyone. The parts about "knowing how to hang on to a penny" and "love parties and other large gatherings" are certainly not accurate in my case, but I think many of the others are true for me. I guess you could also say the "never without admirers" part is a bit untrue for now - maybe that will change in the Year of the Rat! Other things are very accurate such as: "often buy things they don't need and tend to save everything" and "they try to do too much at once."

Rats are both charming and aggressive. They appear calm and well balanced on the surface,but underneath, they are restless and a little nervous. Rats are compatible,hard working, and they know how to hang on to a penny. They are never without admirers. They are very appealing.They have a bright and happy personality,and this keeps them busy socially.They love parties and other large gatherings. They like involvement and are very outgoing. Rats cherish friends and loved ones. For this reason,they often get entangled with others' problems and lives.

One can always tell when Rats are upset. They become edgy,very nervous, and quite nagging. Rats are always taken by a bargain. They often buy things they don't need and tend to save everything. Souvenirs and sentimental odds and ends are found tucked away everywhere.

Since they make it a point to know everything about everybody,Rats are excellent writers. They have a good memory and are extremely inquisitive. Rats can be successful in almost everything they try to do. They easily adapt themselves to the situation at hand. They are at their best during any crisis and are great problem solvers. Rats are very level headed and are also very alert. Their intuition is strong and are always on the lookout for opportunities to better themselves. Rats seldom get into jams they can't escape since they cover themselves well in advance.They have a built in alarm system.

One of the Rat's biggest fault is that they try to do too much at once. They often scatter their energies and get nothing accomplished. Once they learn to finish what they have started,there is no stopping them from being successful. The Rat must also watch those fast deals and those great bargains. In these areas their judgment may fail them. They must not become too greedy,or they will suffer a financial blow or two.

Rats have great respect for their parents and dote on their own children. They love their home. Family life is very important to them. Rats born during the evening are tempted to a more hectic life than those born during the day. Rats learn early, quickly, and are avid readers. They know how to express themselves well-both written and orally. Given the slightest chance, Rats can make a success of their lives.

I am proud of myself for having made an informed decision. I've been watching the debates - both Democratic and Republican - and doing research online. After the California debates I decided to vote for Barack Obama. I am very impressed and feel that he is the right person to represent our country to the rest of the world. I feel that America has a long way to go go rebuild the reputation our current President has destroyed, and Barack is the one to do that. He has a commanding presence that one can't help but respect, and he has a long-term vision.

I also liked Ron Paul, if I had felt that he was a good strategic choice I might have had a more difficult time deciding. No second thoughts though, I'm all for Barack!

Skydiving was one of my favorites so far. After a brief instructional video we suited up and donned our safety goggles. We spent a total of 6 minutes each in the wind tunnel - less than 2 minutes at a time though. Each session seems to last a long time, as staying up requires a lot of concentration. In my case, that was the most difficult part as I could only concentrate on the hot instructor!

My conclusion: I'm ready to try the real thing!