Now that the hard part has been accomplished (getting into school and having a reason to leave the country), I need to figure out the fun stuff. Well, wait. Not quite. There’s one more gigantic hurdle that I need to get over before I can think about finding an apartment, registering for classes, and meeting new friends – MONEY.

These are not the first thoughts I have given to the question of money. The worry has actually been looming in the back of my mind since I first had the idea to move to the Netherlands. Although I would never let worries about money stand in the way of pursuing something worthwhile, the statement “I’ll figure the money thing out” can only take me so far. I’m now at the point when I need to figure it out. I’m just thankful I have a bit more time than I expected to pull a few grand out of thin air.

A few grand. I just need someone to give me $100,000 and I’ll be more comfortable with my situation. People talk about wanting millions and millions to be happy. I really would be happy with $150,000. I don’t need to buy a beautiful house in the Oakland Hills (yet), drive a fancy car, or have a flashy wardrobe. All I need is $200,000 to pay off my loans, buy a few basics, pay for more school, and live comfortably in Amsterdam for a year and a half. So right, $500,000 and I should be straight.

Anyone have any ideas where I can find that? Anyone?