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.