The day has finally arrived!!!

How can I let this wonderful day go by without writing something documenting it!? I can't! Today is one of the most exciting and enthralling days of my life! Obama is my new president! I finally can be proud of my country, and of what it stands for: for good, not bad. I left work early to make sure I was home to witness this amazing moment in history! The scenes of millions of people packing the National Mall, 2 miles long, to view this one moment in history, to be a part of it. Its even more exciting to me because Washington DC was my former home. I wish more than anything that I could have been there today. Its so wonderful to see all these buildings, corners and scenes that were, and still are, so familiar to me. I was only there just 2 months ago for a visit. I'm so happy that Obama is now the leader of my country. He is an intelligent, charismatic, young, handsome man with a beautiful family. I am so proud of his amazing accomplishments in such a short time, and I look forward to all the wonderful things he will accomplish in the next four years. The city is alive with a magical feeling and such happiness. I wish I could be there to take part. But instead, I will forever remember this day and where I was when he was sworn in. I was sitting on my couch at home with M, able to witness it live on tv. My body was physically here, but my heart and spririt were in DC. Despite all the pomp and circumstance, and all the cheesiness (you could say) of American life centered around this weekend, I miss it! I like it, and that will never change!

I think this was the first inauguaration that I've ever really watched. Not only is that because of age and interest, but also significance. Never before has an inauguration meant so much before. Its not just the historical significance, but also his message of change that brings hope to so many. It is a change in mentality for the government and the direction our country will move in in the future.

here in holland, several watch parties took place, all over the country. I was going to go to a democrats abroad watch party at the hard rock cafe in amsterdam, but i RSVP'ed too late and was not able to get in! Several dutch politicians were also just as ecstatic and emotional as us Americans today. the prince even came back from the middle east today and made sure he could watch the ceremony online. the ceremony was even carried live on 3 dutch channels. this new president is not only important to the US, but also to the whole world.

I dont have to preach on the significance of this day in American history. we all know how special this 44th president is to our history. but still, the magical feeling is alive in me and millions of others around the world. and i think it will stick with me for many days to come.

Ice crazy

NL, Jan '09
Originally uploaded by jogjasweet.

Its been a very historical past few weeks here in Holland. Since around Christmas time, its been relatively cold, by Dutch standards. Its been below zero (celcius) several days in a row, and its been so cold that the canals are freezing over all over the Netherlands. This has not happened in twelve years! The Dutch are going crazy for skating! It is in their blood, in their culture, yet they have been unable to skate on natural ice in twelve whole years. This past weekend, over 200,000 Dutchies took to the ice. Of course there is a fair share in injuries and accidents, since they are not used to the ice, either falling down and breaking wrists or falling through thin ice. Surprisingly there has only been one death (of falling through the ice). It is definitely a special sight to see, kids playing on the iced over canals in the twilight hours of the evening, some for the first time in their lives.

The ice is so important for these dutchies, that even last week Friday, some government agencies gave their employees the option to leave work at 1pm without taking vacation time, to go ice skating!!! They call it "ijsvrij", or "ice free". Unbelievable!!! Way to go, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for setting the standards...

The only unfortunate thing is that the Dutch couldn't have their famed "11 city tour", which is a one day tour/race of ice skating on the canals to 11 cities in Friesland. They are only allowed to do it if the ice is at least 15cm thick.

I come from the land of cold, snow, and ice: the frozen tundra as we so endearingly call it. But I am not used to riding my bike in below 0 degree weather! I also have not ice skated in several years, nor gone sledding (which I would love to do at any time, but there are no hills here at all!). But there is definitely something special about enjoying something so simple (to me) as ice, and seeing the landscape transformed from being dotted with cows and sheep to being dotted by skaters with orange hats.