parking problems of another sort...

One funny thing I came across in the news this past week that is so typically dutch: a parking problem for bikes, specifically bak-fiets. These bikes are mainly used by the hip/trendy dutchy parents in their 30's to cart their kids to and from school or around town in an extra long bike with a cart in the front that can fit 2-4 kids. And these trendy parents are found particularly in the the more upscale neighborhoods in Utrecht (not my neighborhood!). These bikes of course take up more space than the normal bike, and are actually causing parking problems at schools, at grocery stores, and other places around town. And in true Dutch spirit, this issue has found its way to the political agenda in some neighborhood organizations. They want to have special parking spots for these bikes, because it inconviences other 'regular' bikers. These political groups are thinking of having a special corner for bak-fieters.

Only in Holland.

You can never go home again

Its been quite awhile since I've written. Part of that was due to a two week trip to the US in November. The main reason for going was to be at the wedding of a good college friend of mine in St. Louis. But I combined this with a trip back "home" to Washington D.C., my home from 2005-2007, and to my real home, Sheboygan. It was a busy two weeks, but I enjoyed myself. M didn't come with, mostly because of time and money, but also that I was in the wedding too, and he'd be bored most of the time, as we were doing girl things. It was good to go back and visit with some good friends, eat some good food (mostly unhealthy!), and see my family again. Having gone to the US right after the election, and only hearing pro-Obama things here in Holland, I was a bit taken aback at the reality of the situation is certain places of the country. But, I suppose it was good to get a reality check. As my dad said, "you've been in Europe too long" (in an effort to add some humor/cheer me up). Its only been 2 years, have I changed that much? No, I think I was already this way before: open to new things and ideas, concerned for people's civil rights and human rights, concerned for the environment, and concerned about the current reputation of the US around the world and our lack of international cooperation (and common sense). When I heard some of the things I did while in the US, I was both shocked and scared. Its quite sad there there are people so close-minded, and it was a good reminder to me of, despite my complaints about Holland, that people really are better off here. It may be "absolute anarchy" in Amsterdam, as Bill O'Reilly so kindly put it on FOX News this past week, on the culture problems the Dutch have (um, ok). So many coffee-shops (not really), the red-light district (its regulated and in a small area only), and everyone distrespects the 'baby Jesus'....Well, despite the often bad manners I see here, things aren't all that bad (I suppose). There may be a lot of rules, but the government is around to regulate and take care of its citizens. Taxes may be higher here, but there are programs and organizations to take care of everyone and everything. Whether you are sick, unemployed, homeless, poor....there are ways to help. I will pay higher taxes to help others. I may have no choice (except to leave), but I will do it. Transportation is loads better. I don't have ot own a car here at all. It not only helps the environment, it also saves me tons of money. I can afford to actually save money here, unlike my situation while living in DC. And while I can see that this probably would never work in such a big country as the US, its really disturbing how people react to ideas and ways of life that are different than their own. As much as I want to move back to the US, because of being closer to my family and friends, as well as the familiarity of it all, I really scared myself thinking of not coming back (right away).

Usually I go home for the holidays, and this time was different. It was not only an eye-opening visit. But it was also the last time that physically will be going "home" to my house that I grew up in. My parents are moving over the next few months to a house they built 30 miles outside of Sheboygan. While it is a nice house on a lake in the quiet countryside, its not 'home' to me. This was the last time I slept in my bedroom that I grew up in, where I played as a kid, listened to my parents read me bedtime stories, hid under my pillow so I wouldn't see the lightning in summer, or the bright glow of orange sneaking into my room from the reflection of the streetlights off the snow in winter, and the excitement of knowing when I would wake up the next day, it would be Christmas morning. Never again, will I have the possibility to go back to this room after coming home for a visit. Its very difficult for me to accept that I cannot go home again. Growing older is not easy: to do or to accept.

Since the US, I have been working and finishing off Dutch lessons. After 1.5 years, I've had enough. I do not want to come home at 1030pm anymore. I get the most stressed out when I do not have time for myself to do what I want to do (or do nothing at all). But working full time and going to school 6 hours a week is tough. And while I finished on the 2nd of December, the real apogee of my entire "life" in Holland arrived this week. How integrated am I really? I took the Dutch national language test, otherwise known as the staatsexam. It consists of 4 parts: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. If you pass them all, you get a diploma saying you are 'fluent' in Dutch, and you are allowed to follow courses/programs at the university level. Unfortunately they only offer it during the daytime (in typical Dutch unhelpful fashion), so I had to take 2 days off of work for this...when it could have been offered within one day ---or at night. Anyways, I will know in 5 weeks if I passed or not. And while the diploma may say I'm fluent, I really don't think I am. I can converse in simply constructed sentences, but I can follow a conversation if I'm actually paying attention. And I know how to take tests well. I was the only westerner at these exams, and there was an over-representation of women. Only 2 of 20 people at today's test were guys. And I recognized no one from my classes at the local ROC school. So, in 5 weeks, we'll see if I'm really integrated enough into Dutch society. But all I had to do was go back to my home country for 2 weeks to know that I might not belong there either anymore.

The day after: verkiezingen in de VS (election in the US)

I haven't been able to write for awhile, due to an exhaustive schedule. Many things have happened in the last month. But the most important news in years and years, the presidential election, I cannot pass this historic day by without writing something!

In the last few weeks, I have gotten asked several times by people if I can vote. And I replied, yes of course! i already did! I sent my absentee ballot in about 3 weeks ago. I have to explain how that works of course. My only trouble with that was the fact that I needed an American citizen to sign the ballot as a witness. WI is the only state that requires a US citizen as a witness. Now, when you live in a foreign country, as is part of the point of an absentee ballot---where do you think I will come across an American? I was really worried I wouldn't get my vote in on time due to this little problem. But I asked the HR dept at my work if there were any other americans here. Luckily for me there was ONE other american, and I got her to sign it for me! problem solved.

I sent in my vote for Mr Obama with two stamps, just to make sure it got back to WI on time.

The coverage in the US is unrelenting, I'm sure. I know how it works there. The ads on tv, the phone calls, the flyers in your mailbox, the non-stop 24 hour coverage on cable news channels. But here, that kind of campagning and news coverage is unheard of. That is purely thought as of "american sensationalism". And its true, it is a bit over the top, but that's how it works in the US. But in the last few months, the news coverage here has also stepped up. Every news report in the evening had a piece over what was going on with McCain and Obama. And last night, there were several watch-parties around the country, specifically the bigger cities: Amsterdam, den Haag, Rotterdam, Leiden, and Utrecht, with programs and speakers, and in one case "an american breakfast" (they think here that's donuts and coffee). Several Dutch channels (there's only 3 main public ones!) had coverage from NY and DC. The Germans were there too, and of course in Miami, FL (if you know Germans, they love Florida). The free daily newspapers in the train- all have "full" coverage (that means more than one page) of what is going on in the election. There is even a special edition newspaper this afternoon over the election that will be distributed nation-wide. It is very interesting for me to see their coverage on an election that they cannot vote in, yet directly impacts them. There is always a feeling of hope here, that America will pull through and vote for the man that will bring a better future to the US and to the world. And, of course, I want to keep up with everything going on in my own country.

So, it was an unprecidented election- two candidates that would both have made history (first black president or the oldest man to take office), highest voter turnout in generations, and the most expensive campagnes ever. But it was also unprecidented coverage here in Holland as well. Over 80% of the Netherlands would have voted for Obama if they could have voted. Everyone wanted him to win. It was a no-brainer. But I think they were still hesitant here on how America would really vote- could they get past his "liberal" ways or the color of his skin? But even here in the NL, I've heard from many people, that they do not believe Holland would be ready for a black prime minister. Just in the past month, a Morrocan born Dutch citizen was voted as mayor of Rotterdam. Many many people still have a problem with this. But, if he can lead and govern properly and enough people have faith in him to do his job right, then where is the problem? Its letting go of their "dutchness" and of what has always been.

We all know we are at a critical turning point: in international relations, with the environment, and the future of this planet. So, will America continue the same path as always, or vote for change, was the big question.

When I woke up this morning at 630am to check the news, I see that finally my fellow Americans came through, and voted for change! I'm SOO happy and excited and proud that Obama won and will lead our country in a new direction. Now I do not have to be ashamed any more to say I'm an American...Bush will no longer be the image synonymous with the US to others around the world. It will be an inspirational, intelligent, honest, young, black man. The image that everything and anything is still possible in the United States.

Iceland betrays us!

Well, as the US economy crashes a la Depression Era style, one may wonder about the little countries of the world and how they are doing. Ok, maybe no one is really wondering that, but of course, if the US economy fails, it will bring everyone else down with them! Way to go, teamwork USA! Anyways, as you may or may not have heard, Fortis, the big leaders in mortgages in the Benelux, failed and the gov't will bail them out and buy up shares. Iceland's banks have failed, and the gov't took control of all three of their national banks. Seems its like dominoes now.

Up til now, this crisis doesn't directly affect me, except for the dollar-euro exchange rate! Or at least that's what I thought. A few months ago, M opened up a savings account with the Icelandic bank Icesave, which is (was) a purely online banking system. No statements, no hard copy proof....everything online. There was a 5.25% interest rate on the account, and it had good reviews (according to what M found). It was a branch of the Icelandic bank Landsbanki. Icesave only opened up their international banking to UK and Dutch investors only. Well, these banks failed, and Icesave went bottom up earlier this week. We could not even load the page on Wednesday when we realized we should try to withdraw our money. The UK customer's page had a message that all accounts were frozen and no one could withdraw their money. So, while we are still quite young to not have a large savings account, it is still significant enough to be upset about! So, we could be set to lose all our savings due to this worldwise financial crisis.

Now, I'm a nervous person to begin with. I am worried and anxious about quite a few things in life, more than the average person, I'd say. But for some reason, I'm not freaking out about this. I am not worried that we won't get it back. Iceland was supposed to guarantee the first 20,000 euros, and anything above that, the Dutch gov't pays back. Of course we don't have more than 20,000euros, so it shouldn't be a big deal....right?

Then there's the threat of the Iceland gov't being bankrupt. So who's going to give us our money back?

Well, last night, we, as one of 120,000 Dutch customers of Icesave, were assured that we would get our money back, by the Dutch finance minister. Here's a short english article summing up the current situation.

So, while I truely love Iceland (its the special place where M proposed and also a very very beautiful country), I can't help but be upset by their goverment...who stole our money!! A country of only 320,000 people... had billions and billions worth of euros invested in their country by 2 others.....as the PM of Iceland said yesterday: "I think this is a good lesson in the fact that a small country should not aim to be a world leader in international banking."

If that's not a "doh!" moment, I don't know what is.

true love, forever

true love, forever
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

This past week has been one of the most difficult weeks, emotionally, in a long time. One week ago today, my first bunny love, Rosie (left), died. It came as a great and sudden shock, as she did not seem terminally ill. She died while at the the vet's office on Tuesday morning, probably of either a heart attack or of being unable to breathe, probably from stress. Only in the last month was she not breathing quite normal. Since the last week or so of August she was sneezing a lot. I took her to the vet the first week in Sept and she got some antibiotics for her sneezing. She stopped while on the meds, but soon after they were over, about 2 wks ago now, she started sneezing again, a hard sneeze, not a normal bunny sneeze. I also noticed that i could hear her breathing harder thru her nose, and her lungs were moving differently. I asked M to take her in to the vet last Tuesday morning, his last day of work at his old job. I left home in a rush that morning because I was running late. I didn't say goodbye to her, because I never ever thought she wouldn't come home alive. I will always regret that. I thought this would be just a normal check-up and she'd be home. I did feel that she wasn't healthy and probably wouldn't live for another year. I actually said that to my mom on the phone on sunday. But never would I think that 2 days later, she would die! I'm still in shock and disbelief, one week later.

Her x-ray showed that her lung capacity was much much smaller than normal due to a build up of fluid around her heart. The reason for this, we will never know. The vet tried to revive her with a shot of adrenaline to the heart and oxygen, but it didn't work. Rosie wanted to go over the rainbow bridge where the fields are greener and there are endless carrots and cranberries to eat, where she can binky as much as she wants, and breathe easily. She is survived by her hus-bun, Japie. He will miss her terribly, and we can tell a definite change in his character in this last week; he is lonely and misses Rosie.
I've never cried so much for an extended period of time, in my life. Every day all last week, I would cry for my dear Rosiie. This has been really very very difficult.

but, i know, that perhaps this was the best way for her to go, she knew to make it as easy as possible for us (me especially). she wasn't sick very long, she wasn't in pain for long, she didnt let us see her suffer, and she didnt make us make a decision to put her to sleep (that would be horrible). and i'm glad she didnt die when we were in the US, or this weekend when we will be gone. she would have died soon anyways, bc of her lung capacity/heart. so this was probably best. i just wish she didn't have to die! burying her was extremely hard to do, to put her in the cold dark wet ground. and it was all so rushed, i didn't have time to fully grieve, bc we had to bury her before it got dark out. when i got home from work (after crying all day at work), we had a goodbye ceremony here at home. we said our goodbyes and gave her her last noserubs. it was so strange how still and stiff she was, i just kept expecting her to wake up--she was still so soft and fluffy. japie said his goodbye too. that was very sad as well, to watch. We buried rosie with carrots and basil, with some wildflower seeds we gave away at our wedding in june, as well as with flowers and a note i wrote to her. we wrapped her up in her favorite blanket that she and japie used to cuddle up in so much.

its still hard for me to think of her laying there. our house is empty without her big personality around. she was mean to bram and lily. she was bossy yet sweet with japie, her love. she was obedient to us. when we said 'cage', she knew what to do (and expected a treat afterwards!). she also took out my nose piercing, back in 2004...in some weird mental-message my mom sent her (my mom wanted the nose peircing out, so rosie did it!). she always greeted me in the morning, excited for her breakfast. she would steal carrots from japie and hold them in her mouth above his head so he couldn't reach it. she was a really special bun with a distinct character. she was my first pet ever, and my first bunny-love; she showed me that i was capable of loving an animal so much, that she became a member of our family. it was with her, that my love-affair with rabbits started.

i hate to think of her buried in the cold, wet ground. we had to bury her in the rain, before it got dark out. we buried her in a forested area in the polder area, just about a mile from here. we visited her again on saturday and left her some flowers. she will be terribly missed. and we love her so much. rest in peace rosie. you were a wonderful bunny friend.

For her tribute page and some more pictures, please see my flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bunnyloversunite/discuss/72157607595447128/

its happening

well, a lot is happening actually-- therefore i'm too busy to update lately! i started a new job 2 weeks ago, and learning new things is exhausting. i want to try hard and make this work, and i don't want it to end up like the previous job. the first week was hard, to learn a new procedure of doing things, but also learning new names/faces, a new work environment, and a new routine. my new job is a fulfillment administrator in the logistic department of a international corporation that sells computer related things. so far, things are going well. in the last few days i felt more at ease at what i was doing. now i'm actually completing something and accomplishing stuff by the end of the day, unlike before. the end of the day is the most stressful for me, as i try hard to get it all completed and deliveries created before i have to leave. the job itself is not that interesting or special, and is not the 'meaningful' or international type job i was hoping to find...but the people there are really nice and the work environment is professional and positive, so therefore it is a much better situation than before. in the first 3 days alone, i felt more respected as a human being and as a worker than i ever did in the last job. it makes a huge difference in my work ethic and confidence. i feel included in the company already. that is the way it should be. why did i stay for 1 whole year at the previous place? how did i make it?

evenings are busy once again, and i'm hardly home before 1030 (or later) every night. dutch classes keep me busy and tired...now i have no time between work and the class to go home for dinner, so for now until december, i will have to bring microwave dinners to work with me and eat on the go. tuesday is basketball, also starting at 7pm, so it will be hard to make it there on time. thursday is a possible free evening, but probably doesn't happen that way! gotta have social friend time too! on fridays i get to have a relaxed dinner with M for the first time all week. that's the way it will go until december.

lately i've noticed that dutch words are slipping into my english thoughts and conversation. this is not nice and doesn't help me at all! i'm losing more and more english vocabulary (some words this week i had problems with: ballerina, cafeteria, confirmation...and many others!)...and sometimes dutch words slip in on the conversation. just small words like "of" (or/if), "als" (if/when), and numbers....but its happening....too bad the normal regular fluency doesn't happen. i am low on dutch vocab as well, and am still unable to make sentences with complicated verb tenses, etc.

the sun has been shining almost every day for the past 2 weeks, which is amazing. i dont think that happened at all during the whole summer! but it has really helped my mood and get through these tough first two weeks of a new job and new routine. its supposed to switch back to 'normal' (rain and cold) tomorrow....the sunshine really makes such a difference, and you only notice that after you live in a place where it doesnt shine on a regular basis. that is one important reason why the US is a better living situation than the Netherlands! so i will go and enjoy the rest of the day while i can!

Lily

Lily
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

Our newest family member as of last night! She will be Brammie's girlfriend...once we bond them! Its an arranged bunny marriage. She's still pretty tiny, and is a show rabbit...but I think we'll just show her off through pictures! She was born in May so only a few months old. Brammie is lonely, and has so much bunny love to give, he definitely would love a friend.

moving on...

A lot has happened in the last week. My last day was quite interesting, and all the oddities of the year resurfaced, kind of like a "best of" album, or a montage of the "highlights" of the last year. All I could do was laugh, and laugh I did. Out of happiness of getting out and knowing the rediculousness that will continue there without me. I went out on the Friday night to celebrate my freedom.
My first day off, I thought would be relaxing and boring. But instead I got a job offer from one place I interviewed at the week before. I also had another job interview on the phone with another company, and it was all in Dutch, for half an hour. That one didn't work out in the end, but that is ok with me. I decided later in the week to accept the job I was offered. It is an entry level job in the fulfillment area of the supply-chain department, so, logistics. It wasn't anything I was looking for for the past 8 months. But seeing as it was my first offer in 8 months, and it is a stable, mature international company (not Dutch!), and I could hopefully grow in this position, I decided to take it. I will have some income, some stability, and some new things to learn. This job came about through networking, so I guess that really does work. Otherwise, I'd still be unemployed, still searching, and starting to get desparate. I start on the 15th. I have one more week of 'free time', to recuperate and relax after that previous job. I wasn't as excited last week about the job, since it all happened so fast (within a week!), and after such a bad work experience, I am a bit scared and hesitant about how the next one will go. But now I am looking forward next week to starting something new, to being a part of something else. And even if it isn't in my field of study or what I was looking for, hopefully something positive will come out of it and I will learn something new.
In the mean time, I have enjoyed a trip to IKEA, a trip to the dentist (where I found I have 2 cavities), reading time, and some quality time with the buns.
This week I will for sure spend lots of quality time with them, as we are getting another bun. A girlfriend for Bram. He isn't bonded with the other two and is quite lonely. He is more bonded to me now, and while I enjoy that, I think he would appreciate a lady friend to snuggle with at night and hop around with during the day. This will not create more work for us, as we already change two cages, and I vaccuum up a bunch of "dust bunnies" already as it is. But I can definitely understand if people view me as "that crazy bunny lady". I think 4 will have to be our limit for sure. Anything more than that is probably getting out of control, unless we have a bigger house and become foster parents for a local shelter, which won't be happening. We would get one from a shelter, if they were a bit more lenient on their adoption policies. I would love to adopt so many that need a house, but the shelter here makes it so difficult to do so. they even come by for house checks. They can't measure that we will love them and take care of them. All they care about is how big the cage is per rabbit (and they require huge cages!). When the size of apartments here are small to begin with, how can I possibly have a 2 sq meter cage which will take up like 20% of our living room. Anyways, if I were in the US, it would be much easier to adopt a rescued bun. When we move to the US (whenever that may be!), I will do that for sure. But for now, we have "rescued" a girl from a breeder...rescued away from otherwise sketchy people using it for snake-snacks.

Learning to Let go

As the summer is coming to an end and September rolls in, the usual feelings I get of starting a-new come back to me yet again. I am sure it is because for 19 years, September meant the start of a new school year. Saying goodbye to the old, and hello to the new. One (school) year older, one (school) year wiser...even though only 3 months of summer had just passed, I was transformed into my new identity of... a 1st grader, a high school freshman, or a college senior.
One major part of my life is coming to end now too. And while I am (very) happy to move on, I'm still very worried about what is out there - the unknown... or the fact that nothing is out there yet. Thankfully I have important people in my life that still support me and hold me up, like my husband, my family, and my friends. But it is still in my nature to get down and upset about things.

I quit my job, after exactly one year of working here. Friday is my last day. Its very obvious (both to me and my employer) that I am underemployed. I need something more to challenge myself, to grow...and to do something I'm interested in doing. It was also a difficult year here because of the work environment I was in. My contract was coming to an end at the end of Aug, and instead of renewing, I decided to let it expire and not renew. However, despite my continual searching for jobs for the past 8 months, nothing has happened yet. First of all, its hard to find things I'm qualified for...but then I have gotten responses I'm either overqualified or that I don't have enough experience. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground here. And the fact that I am not fluent in Dutch is obviously a major issue to breaking through to a more professional level job that I am searching for, that I would be happy in and that would help my career. I am very worried how my work choices here in the present will affect me later whenever I go back to the US. I've recently had a few interviews, but nothing has panned out yet.

So I have been struggling(mentally/emotionally) in recent weeks since coming back to the NL. After the 'high' of being home, of getting married, seeing family/friends again, of traveling out west...I came back to the reality of my job situation in mid-July. I have to learn to let go. I want to be in control of things, of my own destiny. I want to live a certain lifestyle that requires a double household income. I want to travel while I am living in Europe and have the vacation days to do so. But that requires money. I do want to move back to the US at some point, but not now. I realized this this past weekend. When the real fact of the matter hit me, that 'what if i don't get a job here and have to move back?' question, I really was upset about this. I do not want to move back yet. I want to move back under my own initiative. I do not want to be forced back due to the fact that I need to find a job. But I have to learn to let go, and whatever happens, happens. I will try my best to succeed, and if it doesn't work out that way, then that's all I can do. But on the other hand, I think I am succeeding in the fact that I am getting out of this place. That is a step in the right direction and towards a better future.

Also, I have been going through many work emails in my inbox this week, working on deleting things I haven't deleted yet over the last year. I've held on to some of them, because they were such strong examples of what was wrong here with this group and this organization. When I read over some of them yesterday, I got really upset again. The struggles of this past year are always on my mind here, 8.5 hours a day...plus probably several hours at home too. But I have to learn to it let go. It seems though, as the end is getting nearer, I'm still upset! I should be extatic about leaving, yet as I'm on my way out, all the problems of this past year are being revisited, as sort of a 'yearbook' of memories! But--Friday will be the end of it here. Monday I can start over again. I will wake up in the morning and NOT have to get on the 755am train to Amsterdam. I will not have to deal with these problems of the last year. After Friday it doesnt matter any more. I will be moving on...and those I've left behind will still be here...for awhile, I'm sure. I feel sorry for them.

I will have to work hard to unlearn the things I've experienced (or not experienced) here. But I can take these experiences and learn from them and how to avoid them in the future. I will really have to learn to let go of my bitterness and frustration... and move forward. The lack of respect that I received here: I will not take that anymore, and the next place will be better. After one week of freedom at home, I will feel better and refreshed and ready to move forward.

Lost 10lbs in 2 weeks! The Dutch integration diet!!

Integration into mainstream Dutch society is good for your figure. That's basically the conclusion of research conducted by the Social and Cultural Planning Officethe Netherlands (SCP).


You can imagine my chagrin when I came across the results of a recent research completed by the SCP (Social and Cultural Planning Bureau) in the NL, when I learned yet another reason why it is important to integrate into Dutch society...I'll be obese if I don't! This recently published information from the SCP concerns the non-western immigrants to Holland (of course, because Holland is obsessed with this group of immigrants). They found that someone from this immigrant group in the NL is more likely to be overweight than the normal Dutch population. Those that are integrated, are less likely to be overweight. What a simple conclusion we arrive to! Instead of looking at the factors as to why this may be (different upbringing, different diet, different stress on health or body image)...its instantly related to the level of integration. This gives those hard-core right wing Dutchies the opportunity to slam immigrants again, that we are lazy, jobless and hopeless cases. But now that I am about to become jobless again...maybe I will better fit the data and support their findings. But I gotta say, I've integrated into society by being employed this past year...but the stress from actually working and trying to learn dutch 2 nights a week has driven me to eat more out of stress. I think this research made to find out just exactly what the gov't wanted to hear...to offer more propaganda as to why immigrants need to integrate.
What is also quite interesting is that M is going to start working for the SCP in a month, as a researcher. I hope he will only be bringing home "the bacon"...and not more propaganda.

A little gem

You'd think by now I'm aware of how life works here in the Netherlands, what "business-as-usual" really is. But sometimes I'm still surprised by some interesting quirks that I did not yet know about or experience yet in Dutch culture. One such little gem caught me off guard when I went to the movies a few weeks back to see the new Batman movie. The Dark Knight is a pretty long movie, as far as most mainstream blockbuster movies go. It is a hefty 2.5 hours long. Apparently, in Holland, you don't always just pay a simple flat ticket fee per movie, but rather, by how long the movie is! When a movie is defined as 'extra long', you have to pay an extra 1 euro per ticket!! You can imagine my shock, even though I'm pretty good at rolling my eyes by now, after having had lived here for over 3 yrs (in total). But what "they" define as an extra long movie, I really don't know, but have I ever received a discount for an extra short movie? I don't think so! If you often think that American culture is the only consumerist/make-as-much-profit-as-you-can economy...think again. The Dutch just do it differently, and that's what I have to keep telling myself. But of course, that doesn't mean I will ever get used to it!

Jam session

IMG_9467
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

What is more quintessential European than going to a market to buy fresh fruit on a Saturday morning? How about cooking in the kitchen with three French women! In my new role as house-wife, there's a "few" (read: a lot!) culinary skills that I am lacking at! A week ago Saturday, I spent the afternoon with these three ladies (one is a friend, and the other two I met that day for the first time) making jam!

We started out the day at noon, buying kilos of fruit! We bought strawberries, cherries, red currants, nectarines and pears. Probably over 12 kilos in total. We sat around the table cutting and pitting and talked about what comes natural to four foreigners brought together for an afternoon: about living in Holland as a foreigner all because of love. It was very relaxing, and enjoyable. While the first batch of jam was boiling, we had lunch of quiche and pepperoni (bell pepper) salad. Simply delicious!

After 5 hours, we finally had our final product--jars and jars of jam. One batch was red berries, and the other was the nectarine-pear combo. I have yet to try it, but it is sitting in my fridge getting a bit more jelly-like in consistency. But however it turns out, it was definitely a day well spent! If you don't hear from me anymore, then you know it was the jam!

summer holiday

DSC00162
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

well, we've been back a month now! at least there have been some days of sunshine and "heat" to make it feel like summer. at least we had to use the fan a few days at night to keep cool. and its been nice to not have things to do in the evenings after work..no class, no basketball. but I've still keeping myself relatively busy, but with a few other more enjoyable things. I've had some stress too, job-related, but that is nothing new. two weeks ago, after work on a Thursday, i went to the beach in The Hague for dinner on the beach with M and his best-man, K. It was nice to sit and eat our dinner and drink wine on the beach. wish i could do that every day.

But truly is summer vacation here...maybe not for me, but for the rest of Holland! Its really drastically noticeable: the trains are emptier in the rush-hour times, and there is a lot less traffic on the streets, and the grocery stores aren't as packed and insane. Mid-July thru mid-August is summer vacation for Holland. The last two weekends in July are said to be some of the busiest days of the whole year at Schiphol airport. The last weekend in July, it was estimated that almost 1 million (of the 16 million) inhabitants of Holland were out of the country! Dutchies like to travel. Dutchies also like to camp. The biggest destinations for dutchies are Germany and France, and I'm sure a large majority of those people/families are camping. (sounds familiar...like my honeymoon...). I've enjoyed having a seat to sit in on the train every morning...but on the way home in the evening, there are a lot more tourists, including Dutchies, who come to Amsterdam for the day, and clog up the train on the way home with crazy loud kids and lots of shopping bags. Seeing all the young 20-something backpackers in Amsterdam Central Station really makes me want to take off and travel as well. Maybe next year...

Now, with the olympics started, my evenings will be spent catching up on the daily activities in Beijing. Whenever there is some inter-country sport on and the Netherlands is playing, I will support them, and vice versa with the USA--M will support the US (usually). But what do you do when these two countries play each other? Well, words get thrown out there that can't be repeated on this blog...and its everyone for themselves. Luckily this does not happen too often, but especially now, during the Olympics, our true patriotism (for sports) shows. The first major match up came in the form of soccer yesterday afternoon, where it was NL vs USA. the US played better, and was set to win it 2-1, but at literally the last 30 seconds of the extra time of the 2nd half, Holland scored on a free kick...so it was a tie, 2-2. I suppose that is the safest outcome for us as a couple: a draw...no bragging rights for either of us!

Swimming is the other major sport where Holland shines, so the 100m mens freestyle is the big race to watch here, where national swimming hero Peter van den Hoogenband will match up vs American swimming hero Michael Phelps. Should be a good one. and in under one minute, it'll all be done. I'm looking forward to it!

married!!!

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Originally uploaded by snapshotradio.

Its been almost a month already that i'm a married woman! while i dont have photos up yet on my own flickr page...my friend jonanne took some wonderful photos..mostly of the party afterwards. I don't have a good pic up yet of me and matt, but here is one just to show there's more to follow---soon!
it was a wonderful day and i had so much fun, and i know everyone else did too. it was really special that so many people came from such distances to be there and help us celebrate our wedding day! it was amazing and very overwhelming, this feeling of love and friendship! but the day went by so quickly...I just have to keep going back to these great pictures to see that yes, in fact, it really did happen- it wasn't just a dream!!
i had a great time in the US- a whole month! the 2 wks after the wedding were spent out west in washington state and in british columbia, canada. not a real traditional honeymoon---as we were with 4 of M's friends for the first week, but then just the 2 of us the 2nd week. Mostly we were camping, which is also not your typical honeymoon activity. but it was a fun time and i really enjoyed it. we saw temperate rainforests in olympic NP and climbed mt. rainier in the snow! M and I also went horseback riding and seakayaking. we saw lots of cool animals, including a black bear and elk...and many squirrels that talked to us.
now, back to reality - work. we arrived back this past sunday. things are still the same around here, but its july, so i dont have language class or basketball...so i can relax and enjoy life a bit, i hope! only for month...because amazingly, july is suddenly half over already!

more pictures to come soon!

Great start

As my last post from the Netherlands for an entire month...its only fitting to end on a happy note, right? I'm happy to go on vacation, happy to leave work, happy to go home and see my family and friends again, some friends I haven't seen in a very long time...over three years ago. And of course, happy to get married! The only thing I'm not so happy about--that I have to leave my little bunnies behind for a whole month. I will miss them so much, and I hope they will be ok with their bunny-sitters.

Last night was the first game for Holland in the EK. They played against Italy. Holland hasn't beat Italy in over 30 years, and Italy is the reigning world champion. No one expected it, but we basically blew them out of the water---winning 3-0. It was a fun game to watch. M and I watched the game at home, and every time they scored a goal, you could hear the entire neighborhood cheering and screaming and shouting!!! It was so cool! Bull horns blasting, car horns honking..it was like everyone in the city was glued to their tv watching the game. Not only that, but over 40,000 Dutchies made the trip to Bern, Switzerland to just be there for the game, not in the stadium, but in the city cheering them on (reminds me a tiny bit of OU/Texas games in Dallas every year....but this is such a bigger scale than that!). The whole city is orange. Bern is orange. The fans in the stadium were orange.

Here are some pictures of what its like here. The first is in Bern. The other two are here in Amsterdam- right outside my office. They decorated the 'Nightwatch' statues on Rembrandtplein with orange shirts. Had to take a picture of that one!

Hopefully we can catch some more games in WI...we'll have to go to a bar to watch them at 1.45 pm in the afternoon, since we don't have cable at my parents' house. But what a fun time to be in Holland, for the Euro Championships. It is truly an amazing experience and feeling to be here during a game...and see how orange crazy Holland gets! This is the best time to be here...guess I scheduled my wedding at the wrong time of year! jk

So, tomorrow its back to the USA for one month. When I return I will be a married woman!

bumper sticker a la holland

bike bumper sticker
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

if you don't have car bumpers to display your opinions, then you have to adapt to what you've got: bikes!

this biker is pretty dutch as they get. strong opinion, don't mess with them.

"i want my bike and nothing else."

ok, don't worry, I'll leave you and your bike alone!

Holland is gek, and so am I!

I know I may be going crazy lately, with my wedding coming up and all the long distance planning I have to take care of. But the Dutch have been going crazy lately too- and it will also only get worse! I don't mean losing-your-head type of crazy like me, but I mean more fanatic-crazy. This is for two reasons that you could only find in Holland: fish and football. By the way, the Dutch word for crazy is "gek"...with a very guttural g sound.

Just this past weekend, 'hollandse nieuwe', or the first new herring of the season, arrived on shore, and the winning barrel went for thousands of euros. It was auctioned off on Tuesday. The fish stand down the street from my office has flags up and signs and everything. On Tuesday he even had shots of alcohol to his customers to celebrate. He is known to us as, "the fish man". It may be just a bunch of fish, but it is a BIG deal here. They must be extra tasty or something...I refuse to let those fish get near my mouth. Nee, dank je!

The other craziness is not only in Holland, but all over Europe. The European Championships are starting on Saturday. Every 4 years , Oranje (orange) Fever begins. Whole neighborhoods come together to deck out their apartment buildings and streets in orange flags. Stores are selling more Dutch team related shirts and items...its a great marketing ordeal...and it sells, big time. The first game is on Monday night vs. Italy...its gunna be huge! I'm excited for it, it was great fun to watch 4 years ago here in Utrecht...and even the World Cup was fun to watch while i was in Washington DC. Too bad I will be in the USA for most of the EK (abbreviation for the Dutchies). I bet I won't be able to catch a single game, not just because I will be so busy with other things, but also because Americans aren't very soccer savvy and it won't be shown on tv. Big hopes for the team this year, as Marco van Basten, the coach of this year's team, could become the first every person to have the EK trophy as a player (1988) and as a coach...but can Oranje go far this time around? We shall all see how it plays out in the Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria.

Oh yeah, and if you were planning a camping trip to Switzerland around this time, you can expect to be flooded by a bunch of crazy Dutchies...many camp sites have basically been taken over there by orange-clad dutchies, renaming them Oranje-dorp (orange village). It is a very Dutch thing to go camping (in tents but also campers/RVs). I wouldn't attribute this only to Dutch loving the outdoors, I think it is more of a thing about being cheaper than staying in a hotel. That is a very large part of the Dutch persona - "thriftiness".

Isn't it obvious?

About two weeks ago, it was finally 'discovered' or at least revealed, that the Dutch-required integration exam that residents of most others countries must take before moving to the Netherlands for family reunification, is "discriminatory". These exams have been in place since 2006, and non-western immigrants must take them in their home country in order to be allowed to move here. It obviously was very discriminatory from the very beginning: how can you allow westerners in without a culture and language test...but non-westerners aren't? Sure, Holland may have issues with Turkish and specifically Moroccan immigrants...but is this really the way to go about solving the problem?

Of course the applications have dropped in the last year, as they'd hoped. It costs 350 euros to take the test, plus your own time and money to learn some basic level of Dutch (where are you going to learn that in the mountains in Morocco?) and Dutch culture. This is in addition to the 820 euros you have to pay for the first year alone to get a residence permit in Holland. Where would people from these not-as-well-off countries get that kind of money? And the resources for learning Dutch? I don't think so...It is obvious they are trying to keep these specific groups out of the country.

I know that there are problems with certain groups of immigrants from certain individual countries, and there are some Dutch politicians and citizens that have major problems with this and letting go of a real "dutch" culture...whatever that is. I think the true character traits are coming to the surface now: xenophobia, intolerance, impatience, and stubbornness. The famously held idea of Dutch being "tolerant" does not apply any more in this sense.

I don't see the Netherlands changing their integration tests based on this report by this Human Watch Organization. they're too afraid...and too stuck in their ways. It takes a long time for the fear to go away.

I know Euorpe is more liberal...but come on!

Sometimes I wonder what the hell am I doing here?

Ok, not sometimes. All the time.

For those that don't know, I'm stuck in a job situation that is, you could say, less than ideal. This is my first paid job in the Netherlands, and I've been working here about nine months now, since the beginning of September. I thought this job would be good because it is in a young company, with young people, and the company was growing bigger constantly (in employees and in profits). Well, I've found out the negative side of this: growing too fast does not give you time to build proper office procedures and infrastructure needed in correctly managing people or projects. Hiring people quickly does not give you time to fully screen a person's personality to see if they a) have some sort of intelligence to be able to make their own decisions b) are counterintuitive and unable to properly function in an adult work environment c) are respectful of other people and d) are children.

These things, added together with mindless production work of copy/paste all day long...can really wear you down and damage your soul. Of course many many people in this world do not enjoy their jobs and go through life like a zombie, day in and day out. I am at that point, for several months already. But when you feel like you will go postal-that is when you know you have to get out. Everything here is counterintuitive. There is no communication or decent management of people (or projects)...and certain people won't even greet each other in the morning and never say a word to each other at all- just ignoring them. But why do I want to come to work to be treated like a I'm in kindergarten and have such strict rules as not even being able to eat what i want at my own desk because it smells, according to some people who never had a problem with it until now.

Well, besides the personnel here, what about the work culture? Is that the same here as in the US? Well, I know Europe is considered much more liberal than the US in general culture, but i can see now a blending of the two, where one world overlaps the other. I work in Amsterdam, known world-wide for their Red light district, legal prostitution, and open views on sex. I didn't think this would ever enter my work world, but it has. And I'm finding the exact opposite idea of professionalism is supposed to be. I guess even in an international company, the roots are still Dutch.

One of the girls I work with is out on vacation for a month. She was helping moderate a contribution based community for extra 'fun things' to put on your product (that this company sells). part of the content you can upload (and then others can download at home) are pictures for this product...for the start up screen and the shut-down screen. In the few rules that have been developed since this launched a few months ago, was that any offensive photos or photos with advertising would be taken down from the community...but, in true laissez faire fashion, they're letting the community do its own thing. If there is full nudity, I take it off of the community. But if no actual parts are showing, like a woman wearing a small small bikini, it stays online. There are no rules yet on how many times something should be flagged before it comes off line (youtube and google have mechanisms in order of course for their user-shared community, obviously they cannot moderate thousands of contributions a day). But for now, we don't have that system in order, so I am moderating it for a reason.

Anyways, the situation today lead me to get rather riled up about this this. I removed two pornographic photos today alone. Another one was left up only because it didn't show the actual body part...it was a woman's behind bent over in a suggestive position, but she had underwear covering the specific area to be covered. It wasn't like a hippie running thru the field naked- this was a suggestive photo. Anyways, this got me riled up because why should I be looking at these photos to begin with, at work?? at 9 o'clock in the morning? And the fact that I am going into discussion about what is hard core and border line porn with my supervisor. He wants to test the waters and keep it up. I think nudity is nudity and all forms of it should be taken off. But I am only one person, and a female, and an underling who they care nothing about and don't even recognize that I am an educated person...apparently I'm not representative of their customer base. But I can guarantee that their US customers will not like it. They may be Dutch, and European, but they have customers world-wide who don't want to wake up in the morning and think they're downloading one thing, but get porn instead. There isn't even a warning screen before saying "some things may be offensive" or not even the word "community-based". But with the company's name attached to it, they are the ones who will be seen as distributing porn. And of course, you don't have to download stuff your product if you don't like it, but having the option to and seeing the thumbnail version of it--you're still submitted to seeing it.

Why am I so adamant about arguing about this with a company I don't care much for anymore? I'm more upset that I have to look at and moderate this kind of material. What I look at on the internet or joke about with friends is something I'd rather do on my own personal time. But I do not want to do it for my job or joke about it with my supervisor. I think this is extremely absurd to be in a 'professional' environment. I could say, I don't want to look at these images anymore, but then they'd give the one extra job of 20 minutes a day to someone else...they won't change how this works because of me. I don't want to give this extra responsibility up. And I gladly wanted to help out in the absence of a co-worker, but I didn't want to look porn at work!

several issues at hand here - not only professionalism, but also the whole completely different discussion of community based content and how you monitor and protect both the freedom of speech and the protection of people who don't want to see this 'offensive content'. but there are other outlets for this, and it shouldn't be on such a widely known and used product that this company sells. there are pay for service websites for that. and if you really want that kind of content on this product, then you probably need some help. i'm sure this will come back to bite them in the butt. it sure wouldn't be good marketing if people knew *** was supporting pornography.

a quote from the movie Austin Powers about the dutch comes to mind: "I don't speak freaky-deaky dutch, you perv-boy!" Hmm, what an interesting image of the Dutch--

And interestingly enough, I stumbled upon an article related to community based content on youtube...whether or not they should change their content rules to prohibit any video supporting al-qaida....no less than 30 minutes after I had this 'discussion' (monologue really since i'm always interrupted and my supervisor never listens anyways) with my supervisor.

IRS comes a-knockin' on my door

Yesterday I got a letter in the mail with the return address of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). I was like, oh great, what do they want? I paid my taxes, and thankfully, getting a big refund since I didn't make that much money last year, both in the US and here in Holland. But once opened, I found I was one of the (many) lucky middle class (who make under $75,000/yr) recipients of the The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. I have heard about this in the news in the past few weeks, with media outlets asking "normal Americans" how they will spend their extra tax refund of $300 (or $600). Bush wants the nation's citizens to just go back out and spend it, to stimulate the economy or to avert the economy from a recession. You think that $300 will do the trick? After all the debt most people are in, and with this housing-mortgage "crisis"...$300 won't do the trick. It won't even put a dent in my student loans- That's like a one month payment. It took me 2 full years of living in DC to pay off all my credit debt - and I was only able to pay it off at the very end when I sold everything I owned and left! And plus, $300 is only like 200 euros. Well, maybe I'll get my hair cut with that money. Ah, I'm being sarcastic, that is a bit elitist. I didn't even think that I was going to receive this money, it never occurred to me. Really, that money won't do much, but I'll be happy to take it. But I think over-abundant and unnecessary spending got us into this crisis/recession to begin with. Maybe we should stop spending and save a bit to avoid further problems down the line!

Now, I'll go stimulate the European economy with my American dollars. I better watch out for the laughing and snickering.

going to the vet, dutch style

may2008 047
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

A week ago, I noticed a lump on Rosie's back (Rosie is the one on the right), that hadn't been there the day before. I was very worried, since I know that rabbits can get abscesses extremely quickly, and die from them very quickly. But she was still acting normal, as normal as she can be. Thursday, after I got home, it was red and sort of crusty like a scab. So, we decided to take her to the vet. Luckily, our vet has an open appointment hour on Thursday nights, from 630-730 (literally an hour). Thursday nights are the only nights in the Netherlands where shops are open past 6pm (only til 9pm). Its called 'koopavond', or shopping night, and sometimes other offices are open a bit later as well. Luckily for us, it was Thursday, and it was 6pm, so we had time to get there before they opened. Things are usually made to be pretty difficult and very inconvenient on purpose here.

So, you know, to get the vet, you have two options, as a non-car owner/non license holder....the bus, or the bike. Since the bus is usually full of stupid annoying people, and it costs money and time (you have to change once at the station)...we went by bike. Luckily it was not raining (anymore). So we got little Rosie into her carrier, put that in a big IKEA bag, and M carried her with one hand on his bike carrier. I should have taken a picture to illustrate this!

We got to the vet, and she was pretty scared, after having just endured a 25 minute bouncy bike ride over brick roads and busy streets. The vet found that it wasn't an abscess, thankfully, but he wasn't sure what it was! He thought maybe a reaction to a vaccination she had 2 weeks earlier, or maybe a bite (from Japie). So, no meds given out (also Dutch fashion) for now, and if it stays this way or gets worse after a week's time, we should go back again. Its been almost a week and it looks the same still, but luckily did not get bigger.

When he was done looking at her, she jumped up on M's shoulders to get away! That's a pretty big jump for a bunny on an examination table! When she was put back in her cage, she started thumping--she was really mad at us!

But little did she know, she had to endure another ride back home. But since we were already out, we had another errand to run with her in tow. We had to go pick up our wedding rings at the jewelers in the city center. So we were in a nice jewelry store will a little scared bunny. Of course we look like homeless people carrying around a big IKEA bag in a nice jewelry store, but once they realized it was a rabbit...they were nicer to us. And interested in seeing her.

So little Rosie had the honor of being with us when we picked up our rings. She is the honorary bunny ring-barer.

And I hope we won't have to make too many more trips to the vet in the near future. Especially on the back of a bike.

life on the streets

Ok, some poor quality photos due to the windows being extremely dirty and the glare...but here are some photos from the window next to me, looking down on the street below. I see some interesting things. I'm surprised I have not yet witnessed a person get hit by a tram yet. there is a almost naked rollerblader, but he is too fast, I can't catch him on my camera. He only wears a speedo or a thong while roller blading down the street. And of course, I only see his backside-- I don't even know what he looks like; maybe I don't even want to know!
The Heineken horse and buggy, drives by twice a day. I don't know where they are going, but the horses are so beautiful.
The urinal truck, bringing you your Friday afternoon porta-urinal.
And immediately being used after it was off the truck. Its like this guy was following the truck just to leave him mark!
Rastafarian street cleaner worker.

Happy Europe Day!

May 9th is Europe Day, marking the anniversary of the beginning of what is now the European Union. Back in 1950, talks began between France and Germany to create a common market in the coal and steel industries, but also to create an organization to improve cooperation between the two nations in order to prevent further war. In 1951, the European Coal and Steel Community was formed and made up of 6 nations: Germany, France, Italy, and the 3 nations of the Benelux. This intention to create an economic community is known as the Schuman Declaration and was revealed on May 9th, 1950. Thus, Europe Day is celebrated today. The ECSC led to the European Economic Community and later the European Community, and now the 27 member European Union.

Europe Day is not really celebrated here in the Netherlands, it is more celebrated in Germany and France. But this is the first year that the European Union flag must be flown on the gov't buildings along with the Dutch flag. The day was created in order to bring the EU closer to its citizens and the citizens closer to the Union and one another.

I wish the Netherlands was more supportive of the EU like some other member states, so we could maybe get the day off. That way, I could travel to Spain and become closer with my EU "family". Yeah, in my dreams.

mega basketball overload

This past weekend I took part in a basketball tournament in Utrecht, the MIT (mega-international tournament), organized by the student basketball clubs at the university of Utrecht. There were 49 teams (apparently) from all over Europe - even as far away as Germany, England, and Prague. The theme was a 60's/hippie theme: peace, love, and basketball. It started Thursday afternoon and went til Sunday morning. Now, for those from afar brought sleeping bags and mattresses and slept in one of the gyms at night. But since this is Europe, who really sleeps anyways? Its all about the partying!! I was on a team with 7 other women, a mixed team from the two women's teams from my club. We had one game on Thursday, they played 4 on Friday (I couldn't because I had to work), we played 5 on Saturday, and one on Sunday morning. Its not your normal tourney 'bracket'...its just divided in pools and they found a winner based on wins and the point balance. Saturday the weather was fantastic, and between our games, we sat outside in the sun. I have a nice tan line from my socks/ankle braces....niiiice. I was really exhausted after 2-3 games...even though they are only 25 minutes each (not like real games). Each night there is a big party....but I only stuck around for the party on Saturday night. After 5 games, starting at 930am and the last one at 730pm...I was out til 2am at the bar at the sport club. I kinda was 'heavily encouraged' by M to stay, since I am very hesitant to stay out at bars in group situations like this--the loud music and people I don't know well enough and a language I can't really speak more than a normal conversation. But it turned out to be alright and actually a bit fun. Beer helps you loosen up and dance a bit more, but it also helps with speaking a different language... sunday we had a game at 1130am...and I was sweating all that beer off. We ended up 3rd of 6 teams in our pool. not too shabby. It was fun, and I'll do it again next year if we're in Utrecht then.

Dutch holidays

This past week the stars aligned perfectly, and ascension day happened to land the day after Queen's Day; thus last week Wednesday and Thursday everyone had off of work. For those lucky ones (me not included of course), they also had Friday off and yesterday as well, for Liberation Day. You know what this means in Holland? A wonderful excuse to drink, party, and go bargain hunting. There are crazy crowds of thousands at the flea markets on Queen's Day, the beer-induced drunk-dancing to lame dutch"umpah" music on Queen's Night, the mounds and mounds of trash left behind in the streets because no one seems to understand the concept of a trash can, and free open air all-day music concerts at several cities around the Netherlands on Liberation Day (where more trash can accumulate). I read that there was 300 tons of trash to pick up in AMSTERDAM ALONE after only queen's day!!! 100 more tons than last year. That's a lot of garbage. Good thing we're not living in Naples. Liberation Day is supposed to be a day to remember being liberated from the Nazi's in WWII...but apparently many Dutch Gen X-ers and Y-ers (and probably all generations) seem to find it a day to be liberated from their own responsibilities: whether that is putting trash in a garbage can (or even near one!), remembering to pee in a urinal, or even going to work. Ok, I'm just a bit passive aggressive...

I unfortunately have responsibilities, like contributing to the economy and putting food on the table. Apparently only 10 other people do as well....as I was on the train with these 10 people who had to work on Monday. Monday night, I did go to the outdoor concert for about 2 hours. Its at this time where you can see all the delightfully sun-burnt hippies and the ground littered with plastic cups and beer bottles and other trash. The interesting thing about Liberation Day is that there always seems to be a platform for debate...the Dutch love any opportunity to debate and have their opinion heard. Do children of today appreciate their freedom? Should we continue to celebrate something that has happened "long ago in the past"?, and the ever philosophical 'will there ever be a world without war?'. All good, thought provoking questions.

Well, I'd answer those questions, but I have to go drink some beer with my friends.

The stars also aligned to bring American morning tv host on the NBC's Today Show, Matt Lauer, here to Amsterdam on Queen's Day eve....he was here for a segment "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" I didn't get a chance to see him, as he was here and jetted off to Laos before I even got done with my work day. He was wearing orange pants, so he joined the ranks of northern european fashion for a day. But I am sure it was only to mark Queen's Day.

This coming Monday is the 2nd day of Pentecost. This is the last public holiday until Christmas time. This will put an end to the May holidays...and all the kiddies will have to go back to school (and foreigners back to their language classes!) and workers back to the job. But now that the weather this week is being dominated by a wonderful high pressure system, bringing us temps in the upper 60s/low 70s...it will be pretty tough to go back to work. Maybe sitting out on a terrace will have to do.

spring - new life and new beginnings

I haven't written in awhile...I sort of lost my inspiration to write- I didn't have much to write about in the last month. But with the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures this week, I have more to write about. I hope spring can bring some new beginnings and breathe some life into my current state of being.

With the arrival spring, also comes the arrival of new baby lambs and baby ducks. One of the few times of the day when I can sort of relax is the 20 minute train ride from Utrecht to Amsterdam. It is so nice to see the little baby lambs running around in the green fields, and the little baby ducks struggling to keep up with momma duck, and the scattering of white dots in the green fields: swans! It is nesting time, and there are several nests in the ditches along the tracks- every day I try to get a quick look as we pass by, if there are any new little ducklings. But I have yet to see any baby swans, just momma sitting on her nest. There are two duck families near my apartment that I have been keeping my eye on. It is sad when I see only one left, when I knew at one time the family had 8 little babies. But it is still so cute to see the little fuzzies!

My work situation is still mostly the same. However, in the last month or two, I've become more talkative and better friends with 3 or 4 people that I work with. This has helped me out a lot, not only at work (to vent with people who feel the same way as me, have lunch with some people) but also outside of work. We have been out for drinks several times after work. This is good for my social life, as I did not really have one before! ;-) I'm meeting new people, and we can commiserate together while drinking our pain away. They are also fellow international people, no native dutch. Besides basketball, I have not really tried to make Dutch friends. The situation I am in just does not allow me to meet other Dutchies. All my Dutch connections are through M.

A week ago, M and I went on an extended 3-day weekend trip to Prague. I had never been there before and it is really a beautiful city. It is so much more 3-dimensional than the Netherlands. There are many more colors and hilly terrain. The Prague castle is the largest castle in the world (apparently), and there is a quite famous bridge crossing the Vltava River, the Charles Bridge. This would be tourist central. Its a circus full of people during the day, taking pictures and others selling stuff. The weather was nice on Friday and Sunday, but it rained most of Saturday...but of course we continued to wander around. Unfortunately I got sick on Friday after lunch: food poisoning. For lunch I ate a typical Czech meal: pork roast, dumplings, and sauerkraut. A few hours later I was searching for a bathroom. All day Saturday I was intense pain, all my stomach/digestive organs were pretty painful. Only sitting down would help, laying down at the hotel was best. But we stayed outside of the city center in a hotel accessible by metro & bus, so it wasn't like we could just go back for a few hours in the afternoon and lay down, and then go out later. But Sunday was a bit better luckily. This trip was for our 6 year anniversary (which was this past Feb). Good thing there are budget airlines in Europe. It was only a 1 hr 20min flight there.


Yesterday we rode our bikes again through the flower fields north of Leiden. From there we went to the sea and laid on the beach for an hour, and then rode to Zandvoort aan Zee and then Haarlem. It was quite nice, and I got a bit red from the sun. The tulips were out and were beautiful!

As far as the every day stuff-- my classes are still going on twice a week, but for the next 2 weeks there is a school vacation. Basketball is over until fall, so that should free up my weekends and also not make me so crazy on Wednesdays. Wednesdays are usually my break-down day, where things just get to be too much for me and I get overwhelmed. I hope that can be less now that it is spring/summer. And in a month and a half, I'll be back in the States on 'vacation'- for my wedding and for some traveling. I'm greatly looking forward to that.

Antwerp train station

Christy and Matthieu in the Antwerp train station
Originally uploaded by HelloMouse.

A photo of us in the train station in Antwerp, Belgium.
M has since shaved, he was getting a bit hairy!

Given a new perspective...

March08 025
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

This past week has given me some new perspectives on my life here in Holland. First, the most apparent, is the snow! Tuesday morning I woke up and found a dusting of snow on the ground! It was so pretty! This is the first snowfall "accumulation" all winter. It is very rare to have snow here anyways, but especially so late in the season, in March! The daffodils and hyacinths have been out for over a month now, and the tree blossoms are coming out. But for some reason, it made me really happy, just to have this blanket cover the usual scenery I see every day and offer a new (and beautiful) view on the same-old mundane views I have gotten so used to seeing. Plus I got to ride my bike thru the snow!

Also, last week I had a friend from my hometown visit, a friend from high school, so we've known each other for at least 13 years or so. She was my first visitor! It was her first time out of the USA, so it was all very foreign to her; not just this country, but also the aspect of travel: the obvious language and money aspect, but also the buildings and scenery, public transport, the local cultural attitudes and norms. And one week is a short time to have to be confronted with all sorts of new things at once! I think the 'riding the bike thing' went ok, but I tried not to force her to ride in the rain and wind as I normally would...so we took the bus more often, which means more waiting time and more annoying people crammed in a small area. Since she is not used to public transport...and with added 'stress' of the unknown language and destination...I had to help her out a lot, since I didn't want her to get lost!! But we had a fun time - I hope she did too (she got to see three countries in one week! not bad!!)

But a visitor by someone from the 'outside' really has made me realize how much on the 'inside' I really am here. I know my way, I can navigate from point A to B, I know how to deal with idiots on the train who don't wait to get in the train before I get out, I am not polite (as she is) when dealing with people here, since I know they will not be apologetic back at me. That takes a lot of time to come to terms with, both mentally and in practice. But my own feelings of being an outsider and of my own foreignness to this place, were subsided when it dawned on me that I really do know what is going on here. I am 'inburgerd', integrated. I saw things from a different perspective that allowed me to re-evaluate my position as an "alien" here.

I was just thinking that if I went to South Korea where my sister lives, I would be almost just as confused by the confrontation with a culture and language (and massive public transport system!) as my friend was here (although they do speak English much more here in Europe than they do in South Korea!) The differences, though, are more in individual character and experience, and how you approach a new given situation: such as the subway in Seoul or the trains in Italy. Only from my past experiences have I learned how to navigate my way thru international terminals and random foreign train stations. Also, my background in geography helps too I think, with spatial awareness and direction. But its also either stressing out at the first sight of the unknown or just going with the flow and knowing somewhere along the way, you'll get to where you want to go. I know I'm not the most easy going person there is; I have been known to stress out and have anxiety problems (*ahem*), but part of the fun is getting there. Maybe my second year here (and beyond) will continually remind me and teach me this life lesson.

must be friday in amsterdam...

must be friday in amsterdam...
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

yet another friday has rolled around...and yet another porta-urinal showed up out on the corner. every friday afternoon, between lunch and 5pm, they place a porta-urinal on the street corner in front of my office.

apparently they are anticipating that men will no longer be capable of holding their bladder urges nor responsible enough to make it the bathroom of the bar in which they are patronizing. instead, on the weekends, mass numbers of men make their way to the local street corner and relieve themselves in front of all, declaring their manhood, and perhaps, semi-marking their territory.

hey, i have rabbits, i know how it works!

anyways, its the appearance of my favorite grey plastic monument that i can tell its the weekend. who needs a calender when you have urinals? well, i can also tell its the weekend by the influx of young 20-something year old boys, who look stoked that they are in Amsterdam for the weekend; generally its the southern European guys, here for a quick weekend stone-fest, errr, i mean, visit.

We're down to double digits!

The time is nearing...we have reached the 'under 100 days' mark on the countdown to the wedding! Yikes!

Its 3am and the phone is ringing...

Talk about culture shock...

I was in for a shock last Friday. I got a phone call that said 'unknown' in the caller ID...usually I would not answer such a call if I didn't know who was calling, but since it could be a possible job-related call, I answered it. Unfortunately it was not a job-related call...but it concerned my health insurance company. This woman was calling me, to ask my permission if she could send me an email, where I would answer some questions and she could see if I could get cheaper health insurance! Now there's a first!! In the US, they may be polite in society in general, but when concerning money and big business, no one would ever ask for my permission *gasp* to send me an email! They'd spam me without asking or just continue to call me and bother me. Heck, I still get spam from GEICO and who knows what else... I thought that it was quite amazing to get such a call, especially here in Holland. Politeness? whaaaat?

So I asked, once again, just to make sure, "you're only calling to ask if you can send me an email? yeah sure, send me an email."

I still haven't gotten the email though, and I'm totally ok with that!

tram ongeluk

tram ongeluk
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

This is why I would never want to drive a car in Amsterdam. I was walking to the metro after work and as I was crossing this street parallel to the tram line..I saw this truck coming towards me, but I kept walking because I noticed it had its turn signal on for the other way. Two seconds later, I hear a big crunching sound...apparently the tow truck didn't see the tram, or the tram driver just felt she had the right of way despite the truck being in her path. That is quite popular here by dutchies---they make it so obvious that they're trying to prove a point or to point out that they are in the right and you are wrong, and they'll go out of their way to do it. Doesn't matter for some people, I guess, if that includes going so far as to cause damage to property! Or life even... This same day, when I got back to Utrecht and was walking towards my bike, I had to cross a bus lane with a walk signal. It turned green for us pedestrians, but a bus kept driving and coming at us. Everyone hesitated, but then just stayed put because they weren't sure if he would drive through or not. But one girl walked across the street in front of the oncoming bus, pointing at the green walk signal, just to prove her point. And the bus kept driving. So what if the bus hit her--it was green and she was gunna walk, gosh darnit! I may lose a leg, but i'm right! hmm..... yeah, I think a bus will beat you in a dual no matter what.

Anyways, that is the first accident I've ever witnessed involving a tram, and thank goodness. It could be a pretty unpleasant sight to see if it involved a person. I'm shocked that more people aren't killed by these things every day! This tram had its side window blown out, and several dents/scrapes. The truck lost its bumper and a few other parts. But, I just had to snap this pic and run off to the metro so I could make my train.

The next day at lunch I walked here too, and almost the same exact thing happened again as I was crossing the street---I must be a distraction to these drivers in my pink jacket or something! But the look on the drivers face and the jump he made in his seats when he realized that there was a tram right next to him--priceless!

the new place to pick up a date

heater at amstel station
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

I know my photographic skills on my camera phone are rather lacking, especially since i was trying to be not so obvious about taking a picture of a heater...but about a month ago, the railways introduced this heater (the red column in the center) on 2 platforms at the station I get out at in Amsterdam. They run on solar energy and supposedly only operate under 12degrees C. They are trying them out at this station to see if its worth introducing in the rest of the Netherlands. Its based on a project at Gare du Nord in Paris.

I think its a great idea- one is not enough for the hundreds of people there...but as long as the smokers are not illegally out of their designated smoking area and hogging all the warmth, its a great idea!

The DC Metro could definitely invest in these too!! But I suppose they would be defaced and broken within a week's time.

I can see this as the new place to pick up a date. Used to be the bar or a club...but why not standing around the heater at the train station waiting for a train? How romantic, huddling together around the sphere of heat. heheh..soo...where are you off to on the train?....can i have your number?

http://www.expatica.com/nl/articles/news/New-heating-facilities-at-Amsterdam-Amstel.html

That was a short tour

Just read that Roland Arnall, the US Ambassador to the Netherlands is resigning. He was appointed by Bush in 2006, just about 2 years ago. He is the founder of Ameriquest Mortgage Company, and is worth an estimated $1.5 BILLION. Hmm, yeah, I don't think he needs this gig here in Holland. He just needed it to get out of some federal investigation into his business ethics, good thing his friend GW was there to the rescue. I guess he can't handle the heat in the Netherlands!

But at least he waited til after Super Tuesday, when he got Arnold Schwarzenegger on a live sat-link to prove they really are friends...

Well, perfect timing...I'm in search of a job, and here's a vacancy...I'm available!

Earth to Christy, do you copy?

So we all know about this thing called communication. Whether verbal or non-verbal, you convey thoughts and messages to people, via some sort of auditory means or by physical means. Communication is even a field of study in the US; you can get a degree in 'communications'. The thing is, you don't think about communication until you can't [communicate]. Whether this means being far away from friends and family and not being able to talk with them, being in a situation where no one speaks your native language, or in the workplace where the lack of communication affects your ability to do your job. In my almost 1 full year here (already!), all of these things have been one of the great problems for me here, as a hindrance on my feelings of success and satisfaction. How can I have or obtain a certain quality of life if I cannot communicate properly with people? A good quote by George Bernard Shaw that I recently found sums it all up for me: "The problem with communication ... is the illusion that it has been accomplished."

As I search for a new job, one of the number one points for qualification is: excellent communication in a multicultural environment. Sure, I've studied abroad, heck I LIVE abroad now. I am forced to interact in a multicultural environment, so I think I've got that covered. I've worked with many people of different backgrounds in my last 10 plus years of job experience. But I've never had such an experience of non-communication as I've had here. There is a clear divide between two groups, and while I want to think it is cultural, it isn't: I've realized it is a division based on a background of professional and educational experience- you either have it or you don't. I have experienced many times in the last 6 months, how either the lack of communication or over-communication can affect 'team spirit' or team cooperation. This greatly frustrates me. It not only affects my job performance, but also definitely job satisfaction. And of course those not as experienced in working in a professional environment can still want to work to better themselves, to try...but many don't and just settle with what they have. I don't want to settle for this current state of affairs in my 'team' here, and that is the reason I am trying to look elsewhere in search of personal and professional satisfaction. I've been here almost six months, and during this time I've realized that even though several people try to change it for the better, it will just remain the same unless everyone wants to improve (even then it may not!!). But the fact of the situation is that not everyone does.

So in the workplace (even when English is spoken), with the lack of verbal communication, the focus on non-verbal communication also becomes important. What does mindless talking really communicate anyways? What does non-response really communicate? What does emailing a person sitting 2 feet away from you but not even saying good morning to them really mean? What does fleeing a problem really show me? I've been figuring out over the last several months, just because you can speak the language (whatever common language that is between two people), doesn't mean you can always communicate.