tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46105291821343456702024-03-13T05:23:05.827-07:00I Saw a Windmill . . .Musings from a Canadian expat living in The HagueHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-17248155411068430572014-02-22T23:27:00.001-08:002014-02-22T23:27:33.698-08:00I Took Brussels Sprouts to a Pot Luck<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My friends Paul & Paula were having an olympic themed family pot luck (translation: lots of screaming children running around) and we were to bring food from our country and dress appropriately. For dress, I wore my favourite Hudson's Bay scarf (thank you mom) and my Canada mitts (thank you Huziak's). To me, nothing screams Canada more than Hudson's Bay stripes.<br />
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For food, I knew that I would have to make something with bacon. Not Dutch bacon but good ol' <a href="http://www.presidentschoice.ca/en_CA/products/productlisting/pc_naturally_smoked_bacon_maple_flavouredprod850013.html">President's Choice maple bacon</a> that had been smuggled in from Canada. The bacon that almost got confiscated at the airport after Christmas but I played naive and said "oh, I didn't know I couldn't bring bacon back to The Netherlands". The bacon that I covet in my freezer and bring out for special occasions and this was one of those occasions. . . a gathering of Canadians to celebrate the olympics and more importantly, to celebrate our Canadian pride!<br />
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Yes folks - you read that right - I look brussel sprouts to a pot luck last night and not just any ol' brussel sprouts. These were the amazing fresh, baby sprouts that they grow here in The Netherlands that I have been addicted to (I eat at least 1 lb a week). I tossed them with a little EVOO, some celery salt from <a href="http://www.silkroadspices.ca/">The Silk Road Spice Merchant</a> in Calgary (it is my "go-to" salt for everything) and a little cayenne pepper. I roasted them at about 400 F - not really sure b/c my oven is in Celsius so I just wing it every time I use the oven. Oh I also forgot to mention that I included bits of bacon - real bacon from Canada. I then lightly drizzled them with maple syrup - real Canadian maple syrup and roasted them for another 5 minutes. They were oh so yummy I must say!<br />
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Oh and to be fair, I did also take some bacon wrapped chicken bites with a a nice maple glaze as well - so it's not like I just showed up with a bowl of brussel sprouts! I know, brussels sprouts aren't that glamourous nor are they something that you would normally take to a pot luck but in this case - it worked. I am not saying that they were the #1 hit of the pot luck, but they definitely were enjoyed.<br />
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Today, like the rest of the Canada, I will too will be watching the men's gold medal hockey final - cheering my heart out, but unlike most of you - I get to do it at a civil hour :-) and I will likely be eating some brussel sprouts with bacon and maple syrup from Canada!<br />
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Go Canada Go!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-5364421225277683922013-10-30T12:15:00.001-07:002013-10-30T12:15:49.681-07:0001, 0, 1, 2 - Where Am I?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know I have mentioned it before, but I just need to talk about the obscure way that the Dutch seem to number floors. They don't have something called the basement but instead it is 01. Yah. . .okay. So today at work I was looking for room 1A55, which at first glance, I thought that I was on floor 1 and there was no room 55 where there should have been. That is when it was pointed out to me that I was in fact on floor 01. So I went up a floor and proceeded to look for room 1A55 - once again - no luck. Why? Because I was now on floor 0. Seriously! What floor is called zero?! So up another set of stairs and I FINALLY found the floor and the room that I was supposed to be on. Why can we not call floors what they are? Basement, ground floor, 2nd floor and so on? It is all a mystery to me.</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-29619294669588883262013-08-19T11:48:00.000-07:002013-08-19T11:48:16.602-07:00Welcome to my house<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been meaning to post some pictures of my house for a long time however two things have held me back: 1) I hadn't taken any pictures of it yet and 2) I didn't think it was tidy enough to take pictures :-), so I finally got off my lazy butt and tidied up and took some pictures. This will be a VERY LONG post as I don't know how to do fancy things with pictures in my blog yet, so my apologies. Enjoy though!<br />
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A few things about my house - I live in a neighbourhood called the Statenkwartier and I am about a 10 minute walk from the North Sea so I am constantly listening to the gulls (and of course they crap all over my car and yard). From here it is about a 15 minute leisurely bike ride (aka flat) to work. My neighbourhood has one of the best shopping streets in The Hague (and I live right off of it) and there is not 1, not 2 but 3 wine stores within 2 minutes of my front door.<br />
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My house is approximately 2900 sq feet on 3 levels. In The Netherlands, the main floor is called 0 and what we would call the 2nd floor they call the 1st floor, etc. My house has 2 floors or as us Canadians know it, 3 floors. It has the equivalent of 6 bedrooms, although 2 of them are small and most families would probably use them as nurseries - me, one is my luggage room (I LOVE luggage) and the other, I use as a store room. The house has 2 water closets (rooms with the toliet), 1 bathroom and then in the laundry room, there is a closet with a shower in it - go figure!<br />
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The house was likely built in the early 1900s and this is the first time in my adult life that I have lived in a not new house - so it is taking some adjusting. The house has beautiful parquet flooring throughout the main floor and gorgeous ceilings and chandeliers. I had wanted what I consider a "typical Dutch house" - really, a house with a lot of character but I also wanted some modern conveniences as well - like a modern kitchen and this house seems to fit the bill. I am very happy in my house and all of my furniture fits! :-) Enjoy the tour of my house.<br />
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Oh - you will notice either an absence of art on the walls or painting sitting on the floor - that is b/c I have plaster walls and those 3M sticky hangers, they don't like plaster walls - pretty much everything has fallen and I will be replacing quite a few frames :-(<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master bedroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the selling features of this house - a HUGE walk in closet! Most Dutch homes don't have closets and most people have Ikea wardrobes in their rooms but not me!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can honestly say, I do need more shoes storage/space!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st floor water closet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Guest room on the 1st floor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Authentic Dutch sink</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main floor hall looking to the front</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the back of the house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My backyard - just enough grass to make me happy :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room looking towards back</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conservatory or where I like to drink my coffee in the morning and look into the back yard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room from the conservatory</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room looking towards the living room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sliding doors between dining room and living room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A series of living room pictures from different angles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dutch seem to LOVE red carpet (I saw a lot when looking at homes) and they LOVE steep stairs - mine aren't bad compared to others!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doors leading to front entry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My house - Prins Mauritsplein 4</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audrey parked on the street</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WELCOME!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hall looking towards back of the house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen - on the bottom right, the cupboard is actually my freezer, which by Dutch standards is fairly big!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uCy1wsVB2o/UhJgha4kUtI/AAAAAAAAAwU/bn4BxhvCjBE/s1600/IMG_1324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uCy1wsVB2o/UhJgha4kUtI/AAAAAAAAAwU/bn4BxhvCjBE/s640/IMG_1324.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Ikea for making storage solutions! I still have my Canadian grocery shopping tendancies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luggage room or nursery if so inclined (which I am not!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sky light on the 2nd (3rd) floor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More red carpet. . .looking down the stairs. The red shows EVERYTHING!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd floor hall looking towards the front</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtjYCXittqQ/UhJgk_OA7pI/AAAAAAAAAxU/vrp3sGaM0fo/s1600/IMG_1334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtjYCXittqQ/UhJgk_OA7pI/AAAAAAAAAxU/vrp3sGaM0fo/s400/IMG_1334.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ironing & drying room or the lilac room - also has a balcony that looks down into the backyard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2xB-KyI5Tw/UhJglapr75I/AAAAAAAAAxw/GUURqD7BZKs/s1600/IMG_1335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2xB-KyI5Tw/UhJglapr75I/AAAAAAAAAxw/GUURqD7BZKs/s400/IMG_1335.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backyard looking down from the balcony</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking from the balcony at the others</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest room #2</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't everyone have sinks in their closets?! Both closets on the 2nd floor do yet there is no water closet up here! Go figure!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPeLXKkpwiE/UhJgoO3YCII/AAAAAAAAAyQ/2Ni0u96GBZw/s1600/IMG_1343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPeLXKkpwiE/UhJgoO3YCII/AAAAAAAAAyQ/2Ni0u96GBZw/s400/IMG_1343.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZRjaTING6g/UhJgoKVLDQI/AAAAAAAAAyU/GaUFh3lcB0Y/s1600/IMG_1344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZRjaTING6g/UhJgoKVLDQI/AAAAAAAAAyU/GaUFh3lcB0Y/s640/IMG_1344.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a shower in a closet. . .normal . . .right?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bC77ZbraU4Y/UhJgo9faZAI/AAAAAAAAAyg/_Fhob7fSifE/s1600/IMG_1345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bC77ZbraU4Y/UhJgo9faZAI/AAAAAAAAAyg/_Fhob7fSifE/s640/IMG_1345.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My street<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQVYOIYiSy8/UhJgpNj9e-I/AAAAAAAAAyk/MroEeNTgg7M/s1600/IMG_1346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQVYOIYiSy8/UhJgpNj9e-I/AAAAAAAAAyk/MroEeNTgg7M/s640/IMG_1346.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My street</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-25015622116574401712013-08-17T05:59:00.000-07:002013-08-17T05:59:00.933-07:00Thrills Are Cheap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thrills can be rather cheap in my world - or in this case approximately 31 Euros. I FINALLY, after 3 1/2 agonizing months, with 3 trips to the RDW, 1 trip to the automotive shop and 1 trip to <a href="http://www.wittebrug.nl/audi/home">Wittebrug Audi</a>, got Audrey all registered and my license plate on my car! For those of you whole follow my blog, you will remember my late night craft session when I had to make my own license plate, or so I thought. Well it turns out that I could drive on my Alberta license plate and I found out yesterday that I could in fact drive with it for up to 6 months! Who knew. . .<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audrey with her new "bling" </td></tr>
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I had a great trip back to Canada but I have to say that it was nice to come home and sleep in my own bed again and have all of my "stuff" and to just be home. My friend Heidi who is an expat in Dubai, had posted something on her Facebook about what expats bring back after a trip Home. In my case, my list was pretty simple: bacon, they don't have a lot of good bacon here, or rather the type of bacon I like, Top Dogs (hot dogs) - I am a firm believer that hot dogs should not come in a can. Plus - they were on sale for $2.50 at Superstore so I bought 4 packages as that was a steal! I also brought back shredded cheddar cheese - yes, I am lazy and although there is a lot of cheese here, it can be difficult to find cheddar. I haven't been able to be able to find any Frank's Hot Sauce, so I bought a couple of bottles at Costco, as well as a few boxes of Triscuits and some Premium Plus Crackers (saltines) to go with my Campbell's Tomato soup which I have a healthy stockpile of. I also brought back some wooden hangers - I am quite particular about the type I use and of course 6 new pair of shoes :-). <br />
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With the bacon, hot dogs and cheese, I was taking my chances, as <i>technically</i> you aren't able to bring these back into the country. Fortunately for me, Schipol was a shit show when I landed with 1000s of people in the baggage claim area, so they pretty much just let everyone through customs and didn't ask any questions. Score 1 for me and my bacon! LOL! If you are wondering how I got all of this home, well I bought one of those large duffel bags from MEC and loaded it up. I already had one but I had forgot to pack it so I ended up buying a new one. I figured that the guys at customs would just think it was part of my regular luggage. In my past life of living up in Old Crow, I used to pack my groceries in rubbermaid containers and bring it on the plane, but I figured that 1) it would draw WAY TOO MUCH attention and 2) I couldn't see me lugging it home on the train and the tram! So duffle bag it was. As for my bacon, hotdogs and cheese, I froze them first and then packed them in my suitcase amongst my stuff to try and keep it cold (didn't work).<br />
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It is hard to believe that I have 7 1/2 months already! Where has the time gone as it feels like I hardly even know this place yet? I know - it is the 3 trips to Asia so far that have seemed to have sucked up my time! LOL! Speaking of which, I am only home for about a week and a half and then I am back to Asia again for 3 weeks (China, Malaysia and Brunei this time). Then I am home for a week and then my friend Janet and I are going to Honduras for a week for a diving holiday. So I guess that is where the time is going. . .globetrotting! LOL! Don't get me wrong - I am not complaining but before I know it, it will be Christmas!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-46858534612892480412013-07-23T12:47:00.000-07:002013-07-23T12:47:25.650-07:00Getting Lost with Beatrix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Okay, my bad. . .I haven't actually been that diligent of late on my postings and I promise that when I get back from my holiday, I will get back to it semi-regularly. I even have a series of posts already formulated in my mind but you will just have to wait and come back regularly.<br />
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So I have taken a real shine to riding my bike aka Beatrix :-) and when I say a real shine, I mean a real shine! I ride it everywhere! I ride to and from work daily (thankfully the weather has been nice). Today my co-worker and I Google Mapped it and it is 3.4 km to work in the morning and 3.5 km on the way home - I take a slight variation on the way home due to the oneway paths. That is 7 km more a day than I used to be riding!<br />
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I ride in a skirt and a dress. I ride in high heels. These one are pretty low :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's bike shoes - yes, I rode my bike to work in these. They are a 4 inch heel :-0</td></tr>
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I ride it to go grocery shopping. I have ridden it to the hardware store where I bought a rake and rode home with the rake. I have ridden it to a bbq with a bottle of wine in my basket.<br />
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I no longer feel like Chummy (from Call the Midwife) on my bike and I now ride with a fair bit of confidence, but I am by no means cocky. I have become pretty good at stopping and am more confident using my back brakes (there are not hand brakes). I am have also gotten better at speeding up and slowly down to take into account cars and pedestrians. Now you all might be laughing but when you haven't serious ridden a bike in years, this things all take time to come back!<br />
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The one thing about riding my bike is that I am constantly getting lost, as The Hague, like most European cities is not on a grid system. Often before I venture out, I will Google Map where I am wanting to go so I have a general idea of the route that I need to take but invariably, I will take a wrong turn at some point and wind up going down some random street. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing but I am now starting to see different streets that I otherwise wouldn't go down and find shops that I wouldn't otherwise know exist. I am finding riding my bike to be very liberating and just so Dutch!<br />
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But tonight, Beatrix fell a little sick. On my way to the beach, I seemed to have lost my 3rd gear and it slips and makes a weird noise when I try to use it. Now you are probably thinking, so what, well when your bike only has 3 gears and you lose one, it's not a good thing. When I get back, I will have to take her back to MegaBikes and get her checked out. :-(<br />
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Here are a couple of pictures from my ride this evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what a bike path looks like on the roadways - taken while riding tonight.</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-37344130172754952013-06-30T12:10:00.003-07:002013-06-30T12:10:25.258-07:00Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>I started writing this blog a few months back, and it has been sitting in a draft form for a while. I decided that it was fitting to dust it off, revise it and post it just in time for Canada Day.</i><br />
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When I went back to Calgary in April, one of my friends asked me what it was like to be "home" and I quickly corrected her that "home" is where I live and that Calgary was no longer home, because it's not. Although I still own a house there, I don't live in it, so it is not home. My mom and dad no longer live where I grew up, not that I really grew up in one place, so their place is not home. home is where I live.<br />
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Canada will always be Home - Home with a capitol H. home with a small h is where I live and since I now live in The Hague (although it some times feels like a live in a hotel somewhere) that is where home is. It is where all of my worldly possessions are, it is where I get my mail and it is where I associate with when I say home. I am also very conscious as an expat to not to refer to going "Home" because to me when you say that, it means that you are really here or putting down roots where you live. So whenever I talk about Home, I say that I am going back to Canada, I never say that I am going Home. Calgary, or Alberta for that matter, will simply become a destination on my trips back to Canada.<br />
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I will always be proud to be a Canadian and I show my Canadian passport with pride when I travel. I quickly, but politely correct people when they ask if I am an American and I happily tell them that no I am a Canadian. It is usually when I say "about" they say, "oh yes, I hear it now" - I really don't think I say "about" any differently than any other Canadian I know ;-) I am also proud to call myself an Albertan and lately, even more so a Calgarian (I am a <i>born</i> Calgarian). <br />
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It has been incredibly difficult watching what has been happening in Alberta over these past 2 weeks. I had friends who were evacuated in Fort McMurray because of flooding, I had friends in Canmore who were evacuated there, other friends throughout Southern Alberta who were impacted, and of course, friends and colleagues in Calgary who suffered at the hands of Mother Nature. Thanks to the internet and social media, I have been able to stay abreast of what has been going on and more than anything, I have been able to watching the outpouring of compassion and support for those who have been so profoundly impacted. I could go on and on about my thoughts on this, but I won't. What I will say, is once again, I am proud to be Canadian!<br />
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Happy Canada Day!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1The Hague, The Netherlands52.0704978 4.300699900000040551.9143338 3.9779764000000406 52.226661799999995 4.6234234000000409tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-25483973241870982002013-06-11T10:47:00.003-07:002013-06-11T10:47:58.626-07:00Is that grass back there?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well the day has come that all of my neighbours have been anxiously waiting for - I finally mowed my lawn! The thing about living here is that we all live in these really old, brick row houses and while each unit is generally separated by fences and you can't really see laterally into your neighbours yard, you can definitely see into your neighbours yard from your first floor (which to us Canadians is really the 2nd floor but they call 1st floor the ground floor or 0 - don't get me started!) So needless to say, I am pretty sure that all of my neighbours have been wondering when the hell I was going to finally mow my lawn! My one neighbour, Martin, who I literally bumped into in the kitchen in our office in Beijing, 2 weeks ago - weird, popped his head out of the 2nd floor/1st floor window and made a comment :-)<br />
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It is hard to believe that a little patch of grass this small, can produce 2 1/2 bags of lawn clippings. Mind you, when it is already June 10 and you haven't mowed the lawn once yet this season and it has rained a lot and the grass is up to your mid-calf, then I guess you would expect as much! LOL!<br />
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Seriously though, it took me a good 45 minutes to mow my lawn and you will see, it is not that big! My landlord left me with a little gutless wonder of an electric lawnmower. Seriously, this thing has no juice whatsoever and I wish that I would have brought over my nice gas mower with me - something with some power! And what had been holding me up mowing my lawn was that I needed an extension cord, or a "garden cord" as the guy at the hardware store called it. I was finally able to buy one this weekend and today was the magical day of use!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nxr8UenTXA0/Ubdebd_qLGI/AAAAAAAAAps/Z6t18i5pvZw/s1600/IMG_0601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nxr8UenTXA0/Ubdebd_qLGI/AAAAAAAAAps/Z6t18i5pvZw/s320/IMG_0601.jpg" width="239" /></a>No my grass isn't dead, but I think it was being choked out by this fern-type of thing growing it it and that is what was giving me this false sense of pride that I had green lawn. After mowing it 3 times, yes 3 times, I noticed that it picked up all the nice green and I am now left with brown. Nice. So it looks like I will be finding the garden centre and picking up some fertilizer and giving it a little boost! Yah, lawn maintenance isn't exactly my thing. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a green lawn, but I want it to just happen.<br />
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I am also going to hire a gardener and come in and figure out what is what in my flower beds and hopefully get me all organized when it comes to that. I can't see myself planting much this year, because I said it is already June 10 and I don't even know where the garden centre is! And knowing this country, it is definitely not open past 5:30pm on a weeknight!<br />
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So the upside of all of this is that I actually have a back garden and a nice area to sit. <br />
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Oh by the way, yah, I am finally back in The Hague for more than 2 days so I should be back to my ol' bloggin' ways!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-30468509940988501352013-06-04T00:15:00.002-07:002013-06-04T00:15:49.545-07:00Digital Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>I know, I know - I haven't posted anything on here in forever, but I have been gone from home since the middle of April with only about a week back in between trips - so I haven't been able to write much about my Dutch life! But today I was inspired - inspired by my new digital life. I am back home next week, so watch out - the blog will be on fire again! LOL!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I have really noticed since I have moved overseas just how important technology is to me and the role that it now plays in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always been a fairly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">connected</i> person, and do enjoy my technological gadgets (ie. iPad, iPod, Blackberry, computer, etc.), so I shouldn’t really be too surprised at just how important they are to me now and just how much I use them..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the joy of technology – primarily FaceTime, I am able to keep in touch and even <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">see</b> people (mainly my family).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But also with that technology, I was able to take my cousin and aunt on a “tour” of my house – pictures are one thing but to walk thru the house and show them real time what it looks like is completely different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, just last week when I was in Beijing, my mom FaceTimed me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would have ever imagined that #1 I would be in China and #2 my mom and dad would be able to see me and talk to me there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also quite regularly FaceTime with my cousin and her kids and I can watch them grow up and see how they change – they are some of the people that I have missed the most since moving but knowing that I can still easily see them and talk to them, makes it easier!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have also had to learn how to manage a lot of different facets of my life digitally and often through electronic communications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My work travel has had me spending a fair bit of time in Asia which puts me 14 hours ahead of Alberta, so most of my awake and working hours are after hours for most businesses and when people are sleeping – so email it is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Case in point – I need to get my car serviced, so 2 weeks ago I spoke with a lady at the Audi dealership in The Hague (it is only a 6 hour difference) to make an appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere along the way I wrote an email address down wrong (ugh!!!) but since managed to send it to the general service email address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, I have been communicating back and forth with a new person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most recently they asked for when my last service was (in Calgary) – hell if I know and that information would be back in The Hague – assuming that I kept it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, instead, I fired off an email to Glenmore Audi, asking for that information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I am asleep tonight in Malaysia, someone in Calgary will look up that information and send it back to me, at which point, I will let Wittebrug Audi in The Hague know - and somehow it all works out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or my dentist appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be back in Canada for a few weeks this summer and while I am back, I need/want to go to the dentist, so I have booked my entire appointment online, through my dentist’s website. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throw into the mix international banking!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did people do before email money transfers?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I booked a holiday with a girlfriend and sent her the money via email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My tenant – she pays me her rent via email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess the old school way would have been with cheques but given how often I am away from home, Lord only knows when and how I would have ever have deposited them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overseas living (and travelling) really forces you to embrace a digital life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I would love to see everyone in person and do many things either in person or over the phone, it is not always possible or practical, so the digital life it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-88571793657590493462013-04-13T12:16:00.000-07:002013-04-13T12:16:01.779-07:00Mom, Tulips & Windmills<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been a little while since I have posted - I had a quick trip back to N. America for a small vacay and to attend a very special wedding (no - not mine). For the trip back, my mom met me in Calgary, where I managed to switch her boarding pass without her even noticing, from the back of the bus up to Executive First, which was where I was sitting. There was no way that I could have my mother sitting in economy while I sat in First, and although I had thought about giving up my seat to her, I realized that I didn't want to sit back there either, so it was just easier to get her a seat in First. The only downside is that she if flying back of the bus back to Canada, and I can't even upgrade her as she is flying Lufthansa.<div>
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Long ago, I gleaned some sage advice from a fellow, seasoned expat - Ms. Carley Morgan. For her multiple moves, she would fly her mom to help her pack and unpack and I decided to do that as well. Although I have already been here for just over 2 months, I figured that it would be great to have some help to help get settled and boy has it been worth it! On moving day (which was Wednesday), we had an early start with the movers arriving between 7:00-7:30am and we (meaning my mom) unpacked, while I checked off boxes, directed where things were going and also unpacked boxes - we did this for 10 hours and were both plum exhausted by the end of the day. On day one, we managed to get both of the beds set up, found the basics for the kitchen and quickly realized that I was lacking some serious storage in the kitchen! It was a long but productive day! I would like to say that I am totally unpacked now, but I am not. I am tackling a room a day and on Tuesday, I will have a cabinet delivered which I hope will help alleviate my kitchen issues.</div>
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I am not a total slave driver and have given my mom some time off to play tourist :-) Yesterday we went to the <a href="http://www.keukenhof.nl/">Keukfenhof</a>, the world's most beautiful spring garden. For someone who LOVES tulips (me), this was heaven. I took a few hundred photos - here is a sample of a few of them.</div>
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Today was more touring - this time with us taking a drive out to the <a href="http://www.kinderdijk.com/">Kinderdijk</a>, which happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site for windmills. My mom and I had a "moment" whereby we each looked to the right at the same time and saw the windmills and at the same time both went "oh" - we had a good laugh at that!</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-63679752957389450292013-04-02T18:10:00.001-07:002013-04-02T18:10:48.661-07:00I Live Here Now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I think most of you know, I am currently back in North America on a little vacay. Prior to moving to The Hague, I hadn't completed my annual pilgrimage down to Palm Springs and a very dear friend is getting married in Calgary next weekend and I could not miss her wedding, so I decided to combine the two into a nice little Easter holiday - killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.<br />
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I had a bit of a <i>moment</i> on Friday, at the airport as I was leaving. Just like everyone else, I had to go through passport control, so I handed over my passport and watched as the agent flipped through it and just as she was about to land her stamp on a blank page, I said "I am a resident", as I realized that she hadn't seen my visa. She nicely asked for my residents card - which I don't have - see previous entry but I pointed out my visa, which she then stamped and I was on my way. That was the first time that I think I said to anyone, <b>I live here</b>.<br />
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Now add to that, when I go into Canada on Friday, I have to check off the little box that says <i>visitor</i> and to be honest, that one is going to hard. I get teary just thinking about it. It is weird to think that I am going to be a visitor in my own country. A country that I so proudly hold a passport for and a country that I will forever proudly call Home with a capitol H. But, I am no longer a resident, so that makes me a visitor. Good thing though, my Nexus card still works :-) and I can still avoid all of those line-ups that I hate!<br />
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For this trip I still used my Canadian address for everything because my credit cards are still tagged to that address, I haven't traded in my drivers license yet (on the To-Do list when I get back) and it is just easier that trying to spell out Bezuidenhoutsweg 65-130 (my current address) every time I rent something or check-in.<br />
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I am also using this trip to stock up on those things that either I can't get in The Netherlands, or I know I can get cheaper here - like ice cube trays. The Dutch aren't big fans of ice cubes, and none of the freezers I have looked in have ice cubes or ice cube trays, so I bought some. I also bought some dental floss - the <i>thread</i> that they have there, well it ain't dental floss in my books. I also bought some toilet cleaner - I know, odd purchase but I really like the <a href="http://www.methodhome.com/">Method</a> toilet bowl cleaner, so I bought a couple of bottles. Let's put it this way, me and Target have been good friends on this trip and I packed an extra-large MEC duffel bag so I could load it up with stuff to bring home. Now in my defence, I have also agreed to pick up a new winter jacket in Calgary for my friend Lindsey and that will take up a fair bit of space in my bag. Thankfully I have a 3 bag baggage allowance so I can cart all of my "stuff" home. I also bought a really nice 10 piece set of All-Clad pots and pans, as I Goodwilled all of my pots before I left and if I want to feed my mom, I am going to need some pots. At least the pots are in a nice sturdy and albeit large box.<br />
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It's true what they say, Home is where the heart is, but home is where also where I live now.</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-14563909576026808552013-03-28T13:55:00.001-07:002013-03-28T13:55:11.964-07:00The Honeymoon is OVER!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
7 weeks, 4 days, 9 hours and 45 minutes - that is how long it took for the honeymoon to end. It is a small miracle that some Dutch person wasn't at the receiving end of my wrath and fury and isn't dead today. From everything I had read on relocating and culture shock, this day was destined to come. Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate <i>everything</i> about here and by no means do I want to/am ready to come back to Canada, but rather have finally reached a level of <i>frustration </i>that warrants someone dying!<br />
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First things first - it is still bloody cold here and I am still freezing. And sitting in some port, in some part of this country is my stuff. And in my stuff is my long underwear - which I am in desperate need of. I mean on Sunday I had to wear my down jacket, my mitts and a toque! It is the end of bloody March already! At least the sun occasionally shines. I am so fed up with this cold weather that I am heading to Palm Springs first thing in the morning and by first thing, I mean I have to catch the train to Schipol at 5:47am (and they are very efficient here) for an 8:15am flight, but I digress.<br />
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So what specifically has caused the honeymoon to end. Well I guess it was a couple of things today and on their own, none of them were really that big but compounded with one another, I just decided that the honeymoon was over. Firstly, as you know (if you read my blog) my stuff is here and is sitting in Rotterdam (I think) in a secure warehouse waiting to be cleared by Dutch customs. As a part of my relocation package, I am provided with a moving company who also handles the importation of my goods into the country and all of the necessary paperwork and declarations. What I was required to provide them (and did on March 5) was my proof of registration at the town hall, which would then lead to a "residence card" to be issued by Immigration. I had been previously counselled by the relocation team that also assists with my move, that all the moving company, and customs needed was that proof. So following the process as I so diligently have done during this entire move, I emailed a PDF copy of all of the appropriate paperwork, only to be told by the moving company that they, being Customs, needs a copy of my residence card. Okay but I have no control over how long that takes and they say typically is takes about 4 weeks for it to come in, from where, I don't know and to where I don't know, other than I would get a letter on where to pick it up. So every day, I have eagerly checking my mailbox. WAITING. And WAITING. And WAITING. Today it has officially been 5 weeks and no card. Then I read some of the fine print, in Dutch of course, and it said that Immigration officially has up to 6 months to issue you your card. After reading that, I realized that another email to the moving company was in order.<br />
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Simply put, I said to them just that - that Immigration had up to 6 months to issue my card, so would Customs really be holding my stuff for that long? Within about an hour, I got an email back from the moving company suggesting that there had been a communication issue and that they didn't require my actual card but rather proof of registration with the town office. So through my email files I went and sent a nice (honestly, it was) email back to the moving company, copying him of his original email to me and my email back with all of the attached paperwork, along with a note saying that I had yet another Dutch person read these forms (because they are all in Dutch and mean bupkas to me), and indeed one of the items that I had already sent was in fact my proof of registration. I do believe that this elevated my blood pressure slightly, as my entire move has been on hold because I/we have been <i>waiting</i> for this card. About an hour after I sent that email, I got another one back from the moving company suggesting that perhaps Customs has missed that paper. I want to know - how the hell can you miss it - it was the only attachment I had sent! I honestly think my mover was trying to pass the buck on to customs because he screwed up! However before I left for my holiday, I still hadn't heard back from the movers if Customs had all that they needed. So who the hell knows when I am going to get my stuff!<br />
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Then on top of that and staying with the whole moving theme, I still don't have my official rental contract, although in The Netherlands a verbal contract is a binding contract so the place is mine. What concerns me is that my possession date is supposed to be April 8 (I was originally assuming that my things would be out of hawk by then), which is the day that I return, with my mom, who is coming over to help me move in. See any problems here?! Just a few eh?! At the beginning of the week my rental agent sent me a note saying that we should have the contract later this week - well later this week has come and it is going and I have nothing. I sent them a note this morning asking for an update and also informing them that I was going away and would not be able to sign a contract while I was away as I won't have access to a printer or a scanner. Did I hear anything back. No. Typical Dutch. Let's put it this way, they don't pride themselves on customer service here. I am used to that.<br />
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By the time I leave the office, I am in not bad spirits because hey, it is a long weekend and I am going to sit in the sun and sip some cocktails for the next week and whatever happens with my things and my house, happens and there is not a whole lot I can do about it. So I get on my tram to head home and instead of swinging up towards where it is supposed to go (and where I am going) it starts to head in the opposite direction, b/c there is some big Easter thing happening and they have blocked the tramlines. Do they make an announcement on the tram that this is happening - no, I just figured it out when we started to head back to where I came from. I was mad for a couple of reasons. Firstly, b/c it is bloody cold and the only reason I was taking the tram instead of walking was because of the cold!!!! Secondly, were there any notices anywhere saying that this would be happening? No! (not that it would matter because they would be in Dutch anyway - but still, it is the principle) Rather than take out my fury on the tram driver, because he had no control of the situation and only found out about the change when he started his shift, I decided then and there that the honeymoon was over and that I was done with the Dutch!<br />
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I am sure in a few days, I will be back to loving the Dutch and the Dutch ways, but for now - I'm not and it is probably a good thing that I am taking a bit of a break, or I am sure someone would be getting my wrath sooner, rather than later - if only out of shear frustration.</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-20825893912703064842013-03-24T06:33:00.000-07:002013-03-24T06:33:02.710-07:00Finding Friends & a Community<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Firstly, let me start this post by saying <b>damn it is cold here!!!!</b> I know, I know, I seem to lament about the weather a lot here but honestly, these past few days have been brutal. There is a northish wind coming through making it feel like about -40C! This hearty Canadian, who lived and worked in the arctic is FREEZING!!!! Palm Springs cannot come soon enough!<br />
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I will always be the first to acknowledge that I have an amazing community of friends and family from all parts of my life, and I attribute that to my parents and the fact that we moved throughout my childhood - and of course Facebook. Friends and family have always been very important to me, and I don't let go of people too easily, so when I made the decision to move overseas, I really wondered how I would go about making new friends and building a new community. As much as everyone <i>thinks</i> that I am an extrovert and very outgoing, I am at work but not really in my personal life. I am quite content to hermit at home and if I don't see another person all weekend, I am okay with that - or so I thought. What I have realized is that I was okay with that because if I did want to see someone or be around people, I could, as I have a great community of friends. Well, over here in The Hague - that isn't the case and truth be told, I am a little lonely. Not lonely in the way of sitting by myself crying, but lonely because I don't have someone to call if I wanted to be around people.<br />
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That is slowly changing though, as my friend Skye and her family arrived in The Hague on Monday. She also works for Shell and her and I have worked together in various capacities over the past 6 years and are in fact good friends. So it is so nice to have her and her husband here. As well, another girl that I know from work, Lindsey, her and her fiancé moved here about 2 weeks ago and we went for dinner last night. And there are a few other Canadians at work that I knew before I left and I have them. So slowly my network is growing.<br />
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Another community that has always was a big part of my life in Calgary was my faith community and leaving it was hard, especially wondering if I would be able to find a new one where I felt the same level of comfort and acceptance. Prior to my leaving, my friend and colleague Jason asked me if I had found a faith community in The Hague yet and if I hadn't, he would put me in touch with Tim at the <a href="http://www.apch.nl/">American Protestant Church in The Hague</a> I had looked and found an Episcopal church here in The Hague but really I was open to anything. Tim got in touch with me prior to my leaving Calgary and invited me to come and check out his church and up until today, I have either been too lazy or gone to attend church. My colleague Marja (pronounced Maria) also goes to this church so on Friday we agreed to meet up and go together and I can say that I have found my new faith community here in The Hague. APC is kind of a hodge podge of a church that has both the traditional aspects that I have come to be rather attached to in the Anglican church but also has the contemporary aspects that I also crave as a younger person. If you want the more traditional, you can go to either the early or the late service and if you want the contemporary, you go to the middle service - so this is going to work for me. Plus, it is in English - always a plus over here and is a real mixture of people and cultures.<br />
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Think about how you meet people. Often through work - which I am doing, but also through your other hobbies or interests. I have joined a bunch of meet up groups, expat sites and the one that I think will be the best - <a href="http://clandestinecakeclub.co.uk/">the Clandestine Cake Club</a> (you bake a cake and get together with a bunch of random people who have done the same) with the hopes of meeting some new people and developing that new community and adding to my circle of friends. I also think that once I move into my permanent house, get all of my stuff and get settled, I will feel more apt to wanting to go out more and meet people but right now, I am still feeling in that state of flux.<br />
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But for now, I rely on technology - such a great thing - to keep in touch. Between BBM, texting, Facebook, Skype and Facetime, I am able to see, talk and keep up to date on what is happening with all of my friends and family back home and that helps to lessen the loneliness. I am also super excited that my mom will be coming back with me to The Netherlands in a couple of weeks - now I will be able to show and share part of my new life with someone - that is what I really miss - being able to share things with someone. I know that it will be a little tough for her because she is coming without my dad and doesn't like to travel without him but also also at the same time, I think that it will give her some comfort to actually <i>see</i> where her baby is living and know that she is okay. :-)<br />
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Now please don't read to much into this post by thinking "OMG, poor Heather - she is all lonely and by herself over there" - yes, some of that is true, but I am just being frank about what it is like to move, to another country, by yourself, in your late 30s.<br />
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Oh - and I miss my baby.<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-3790045940345210992013-03-20T02:58:00.003-07:002013-03-20T02:58:45.485-07:00Decisions, decisions, decisions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Decisions, Decisions, Decisions</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the past couple of weeks, a bunch of decisions have been made – all of which have been fairly important to my life here in The Hague.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one, contrary to what everyone had said, you do need (want) a car over here, so I made arrangements to have my car shipped to me in the Netherlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No easy task when you are living half way around the world, and your car is sitting in your locked garage and in dire need of a good cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where having good friends comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God bless my friends Susan and Nick, as they went to my house, got the keys for my car out of the drawer in the kitchen, got the car, drove it around to drain it of gas, arranged with the shipping company to have the car picked up and also took it to get it detailed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t thank them enough for their help and I now owe them BIG TIME!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be clear though, I had arranged the shipping and told Susan where to take it for detailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And oh, she had to send me copies of my insurance and registration for customs purposes on this end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely not the most optimal way to do things, however I listened to what people told me (you don’t need a car) and I since determined otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figure that if all goes well, it should be here sometime in May.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another big decision that took place in the past couple of weeks is around my permanent housing situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been out with the housing search company that Shell provides me <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and had looked at probably a dozen places or so and then one afternoon I walked into this house and went “OMG – this is it!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the quintessential Dutch house (note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the Netherlands, there are very few stand alone homes- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t go and try and describe it as I have included a link with pictures).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Holland, you have to be careful about what you say when you look at a property because a verbal acceptance of a place is considered a contract, so while I was brimming with excitement inside, I kept a stoic face while I looked at the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we left I said – this is the one, however not wanting to make a completely spur of the moment decision based on emotion, my agent and I agreed to go back one more time and in the mean time she would do one final scan to make sure that we hadn’t missed something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course I did one last scan as well and lo and behold, what did I find, a new property that came on the market that very day and had a more modern kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I quickly sent my agent a note saying that I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needed</i> to see this place before I made final decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The long and short of it was in the end, I decided to go with the last place and that is where it got exciting (or as exciting as renting a house in The Netherlands can be)</span></div>
<a href="http://www.funda.nl/huur/s-gravenhage/huis-48630418-prins-mauritsplein-4-s/fotos/"><span style="color: blue;">Pictures of Prins Mauritsplein 4 - my house!!!!</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over here, you can ask people to do anything when you rent a house and it is somewhat expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, my boss asked that all of the laminate be taken out (they LOVE their laminate over here) and be replaced with hardwood (and he did).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at one place that didn’t have a bath tub and my agent said that we would ask them to put one in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if you were in Canada and asked this, you would be told to go pound sand!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My requests were fairly simple, I wanted him to leave the wine fridge, do some touch up painting, steam clean the carpets, put in a couple of shelves, etc – nothing too crazy. So I can tell you that trying to negotiate a deal over 3 continents, across 14 time zones was not easy. The owner of the house was in Houston (GMT - 7), Jorien, my agent was in The Hague (GMT +1) and I was in Beijing (GMT +8). So when I would send Jorien an email in the morning, it would be the middle of the night for her and late evening the day before for the guy in Houston. So then she would send it to the guy in Houston, who in the morning would respond which would be the late afternoon Hague time to hear back which would be the middle of the night for me. But in the end, it all worked out and I got most of what I wanted, including the wine fridge and hopefully I will be moving in when I get back from Palm Springs/Calgary in early April.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And my last decision and a little less exciting, now that I have a place to live and I know what my space is like – I bought a new dining room table and chairs. Hopefully they will arrive in 6-8 weeks and will help to fill up some of my space!</span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-46976929472943644702013-03-08T11:58:00.001-08:002013-03-08T11:58:27.528-08:00It Ain't Cottonelle <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This installment of my blog is dedicated to those things have just made me go "huh?" or wonder "WTH?" or just shake my head.<br />
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Good ol' TP. Now in the past, my friends have <i>mocked</i> me when I load up on Cottonelle when it is on sale dirt cheap at Superstore, but I can tell you, I am so looking forward to my shipment arriving because I want my Cottonelle. I figure that I probably have a good 6 month stock in there! Now don't get me wrong, Dutch TP is okay but is just isn't as good as what we have in Canada. And the rolls are a lot smaller and you can only buy small packages like this one below.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZeTJSd1jY8/UTo-XQ4eNMI/AAAAAAAAAc0/EJrK5iRUcUA/s1600/IMG_1868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZeTJSd1jY8/UTo-XQ4eNMI/AAAAAAAAAc0/EJrK5iRUcUA/s400/IMG_1868.jpg" width="400" /></a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like yogurt to me!</td></tr>
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Now another thing that has completely perplexed me is Kwark or in North American they spell it Quark. To me, it takes just like yogurt and has the consistency of a thicker yogurt but it isn't yogurt. According to the internet (because everything is true on there) it is more like cottage cheese or cream cheese but if you ask me, it is yogurt. And there is also a way GREATER selection of Kwark in the grocery store than there is of yogurt, so Kwark it is going to be. Plus, you can get no-fat Kwark but it near impossible to get no-fat yogurt - go figure.<br />
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One thing that I am most looking forward to getting is my bed! My temporary apartment is a fully-furnished 2 bedroom including what looks like a queen sized bed but after closer inspection (and sleeping on it) it is really 2 single beds pushed together and I have learned that this is <i>very</i> common here. I am in the market of buying a 3rd bed for guests (hint, hint to all of you - my door is always open) and unless you go to IKEA, it is near to impossible to buy a queen sized bed that isn't 2 mattresses. I think it has something to do with the fact that in old Dutch houses, the stairs are VERY steep and it would be very difficult, if not impossible to get the mattress up the stairs. I typically like to sleep in the middle of my bed - I mean, why shouldn't I - I have the whole thing but with this bed, I have what I affectionately call "the moat" in the middle, so I can't sleep in the middle and rolling from one side to the other, isn't that simple.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kyXU-CYvleg/UTo-WjlnmJI/AAAAAAAAAc8/OxmIVEYOaIE/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kyXU-CYvleg/UTo-WjlnmJI/AAAAAAAAAc8/OxmIVEYOaIE/s400/IMG_1867.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see "the moat" in the middle - really it isn't that wide but that is what I have affectionately named it.</td></tr>
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The one thing that I have seen that has made me go "WTH" is the following:<br />
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This is located in a plain (a big park or square), which is surrounded by patios and restaurants - in full public view. You will notice by the little symbol on it, it is for men. Fortunately there isn't one for women to squat on. I am not sure what they expect us to use, but it isn't it!<br />
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And only in The Netherlands will you see an ad on the TV for ironing board covers. . .who knew that that could be such a market that it warrants expensive ad spend on TV!</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-60225468494975503112013-03-06T01:38:00.001-08:002013-03-06T09:18:16.468-08:00Ditched Dutch for Drinks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night I ditched my Dutch lessons for drinks with my co-workers instead – I know – my bad and I have to admit that I feel a tad guilty for it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Technically</i> I could have still gone to my Dutch lessons but somehow trying to learn and speak Dutch after 3 glasses of wine, probably not a good thing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a really good opportunity to get to know my colleagues a little better, as well; it was my first venture to a pub/bar in The Netherlands and I can say that I had a very enjoyable time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is some miscellaneous pub food called bitterballen – given that this was my first bar/pub experience, they felt that it was necessary that we order this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked – they don’t have hot wings here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advice that I was given was “just eat it, don’t look at it, you will like it” and I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main reason that I wasn’t supposed to look at it is that they like to cream their meat for a lack of a better descriptor and then deep fry it into some sort of croquette – we have them in the cafeteria at every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bitterballen are deep-fried snacks that are very common in the bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are battered in a crunchy breadcrumb coating and filled with a gooey mixture of meat and is served with mustard and sweet chili sauce.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjO7An2-tsw/UTcNqdKe38I/AAAAAAAAAcI/dQ_X1bMOPtQ/s1600/Bitternballen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" jsa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjO7An2-tsw/UTcNqdKe38I/AAAAAAAAAcI/dQ_X1bMOPtQ/s320/Bitternballen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate of Bitterballen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0uQ3AgxmCNM/UTcNm3vEI5I/AAAAAAAAAbw/exmQKe1Ofqg/s1600/Bitterballen+%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0uQ3AgxmCNM/UTcNm3vEI5I/AAAAAAAAAbw/exmQKe1Ofqg/s320/Bitterballen+%231.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is some sort of creamy thing with a chunk of beef in it - so yummy!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rk9XDfeNft4/UTcNo-46D3I/AAAAAAAAAb4/B-Zk2nbAzvs/s1600/Bitterballen+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" jsa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rk9XDfeNft4/UTcNo-46D3I/AAAAAAAAAb4/B-Zk2nbAzvs/s320/Bitterballen+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some sort of meat ball - I was assured that it wasn't horse.</div>
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Bitterballan for the vegetarian (I think)</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Yes I know, I need a manicure – those hang nails aren’t looking too lovely!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spring is starting to spring here – it was a gorgeous 15C yesterday, so it warranted some patio time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have noticed with the Dutch is that it is always patio time – they just bundle up for it or sit with a blanket on their laps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sorry but this hardy Canadian, I don’t like to be cold and would much prefer to be inside when it is cold out, not sitting outside with a blanket on my lap!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So back to ditching my Dutch lessons – I got to work this morning and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>saw that I had an email from my Dutch teacher hoping that I was okay – bring on the guilt!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knows that I have to miss next week due to a work trip, so she provided me with some work to do, as well, gave me what I missed yesterday. . .just like school!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-25997509569241930412013-03-01T09:30:00.001-08:002013-03-01T09:30:03.532-08:00Bastardizing de Nederlandse Taal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">As some of you may have seen from my Facebook postings, I have started taking Dutch lessons in an attempt to make my everyday life here just a little easier. Just so we are clear, I have absolutely zero expectations that I will become fluent or remotely fluent by the time I leave here. I want to be able to use my appliances, buy groceries and know what I am buying or be able to follow the directions on a package. I want to be able to read signs and understand how much I am paying rather than just blindly sticking my bank card in to pay for something. I want to start looking at what TV/internet package I am going to order for when I finally get a permanent place, but all of the websites are in Dutch with no English site and Google Translate only works so well! Plus for now, it gets me out of the house once a week for a few hours and gives me something to do. I am taking Beginners Dutch through</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i>ABC Dutch</i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">(</span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT77_com_zimbra_url" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;"><a href="http://www.abcdutch.com/" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.abcdutch.com/</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">) I go for 2 hours once a week for 10 weeks. There are 4 people in my class, 1 other girl who is originally from South Korea but grew up in Canada and the US, did her masters degree over here and has a Dutch boyfriend, an Iranian guy who is a lawyer and a Nigerian guy – can’t remember what he does – so it is a nice small group. What I didn’t bank on was having homework and also having conjugate verbs! I thought that I left that all behind in grade 12 French! So far I can say who I am, where I am from, what I do – those sorts of things that are moderately useful but not really. I am learning my telephone # in Dutch, which is more than I can say for English b/c I don’t know it in English yet! LOL! What I have noticed though after 4 hours of lessons, I can better understand what I read and I do pick up the odd word on TV or when I hear people talk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few people have questioned why I am learning Dutch because:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. No one in the world speaks Dutch other than the Dutch and the odd African who lives in a former colony</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Most Dutch speak English and as soon as you start to speak to them in Dutch and they realize that you are bastardizing their language, as I do, they automatically switch to English</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. The Dutch don’t expect you to speak Dutch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am a firm believer that you should learn a few of the basics in whichever country you are visiting or living in, as a sign of respect. As North Americans we have this expectation that when people come to Canada and/or the US that they will be able to speak English and well, yet when we go to a foreign country, we seemed shocked when people don’t understand us, yet we aren’t speaking their native language.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of TV – the selection IS NOT good here. Or at least the cable package that I have in my temporary apartment is not good. There are a few BBC channels, which are okay some of the time but they seem to have a lot of serials, which I haven’t watched from the beginning so I have no idea what they are about, a bunch of Dutch channels which I have NO idea what they are saying, a news channel but that is generally very depressing and middle east focused and TLC! Yes –TLC which I watch religiously as it is one of the few channels that are in English, that I like and I can follow. One thing that is helpful is that it is subtitled in Dutch, so I can work on matching up Dutch words and English words. I have found one good thing about not being able to speak Dutch is that on the TLC channel, all of the commercials seem to be able some SPCA/Abused animals but I can’t really understand and I just generally turn away because I don’t want to see that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not sure what I am going to do this weekend – probably a bit more exploring and shopping. Might go to another movie or two. They are a little behind on movies here which is good for me because I missed a bunch in December/January that I wanted to see, so now I can get caught up. And as I am sure some of you have noticed, my airplane travel has seriously decreased, so I am not able to watch them there. (don’t worry – there is something coming soon!!!!!) I have also learned that here you can buy a monthly <i>Unlimited Pass</i> for the movies for about €26/month and that includes all IMAX films and 25% off at the buffet (concession) Given that movies are about €10 each, you only need to see a couple to make it worth it. Alternatively for about €19/month, you get unlimited movies and 10% off at the buffet and I think you pay extra if you go to an IMAX. I am sure that there will be a trip to the Albert Heijn this weekend as I do need some more groceries as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check back as I am sure I will update you on what I have done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="NL" style="color: #333333;">Tot de volgende keer. . . hebben een geweldige dag!</span><span style="color: #888888;"></span></span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-91517366462159122912013-02-28T09:21:00.000-08:002013-02-28T09:21:25.122-08:00I Found a Sweatshop!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those of you who know me well know that I like to go for my bi-weekly pedicures and I often frequent what I affectionately call “the sweatshops”. These are typically the little hole-in-the-wall mani/pedi places that are owned and run by a Vietnamese family – or something similar - in Calgary I used to go to Hollywood Nails and then I changed to Bliss Nails (better chairs). One of my bigger stressors about moving to The Netherlands was <i>where was I going to get a pedicure</i> and <i>would there be sweatshops here?</i> I even had this discussion with the girl that used to do my feet at Bliss Nails and she was not overly optimistic. Well <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT92_com_zimbra_date" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;">last night </span>as I wandered around Chinatown (will get to that) as I tried to find where I was supposed to be going for dinner (will get to that too), I found a couple of sweatshops! Firstly, I was surprised to learn that The Hague had a Chinatown – someone at work told me that a few weeks back and secondly, I was happy to see that it smells like every other Chinatown that I have been to. Does this mean that I am going to try one of these sweatshops – probably not because I have also learned that The Netherlands has a professional association called <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT93_com_zimbra_url" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;"><a href="http://www.provoet.nl/" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ProVoet</a></span> which trains and certifies people to give the kind of pedicure that falls somewhere between the sweatshop and being treated by an orthopedic surgeon. My understanding from what I have read is that it is quasi-clinical kind of pedicure, where instruments akin to dental tools are used and the focus is not only on the aesthetic, but above all the health, of the foot. They treat your feet the way a dental hygienist treats your teeth. And like my sweatshop their tools and instruments are sterilized after being used with a single client (my mom is anal about this and so am I!) A basic ProVoet pedicure involves treating the nails, removing any possible corns or calluses, and inspecting for any potentially more serious skin or structural problems. Not sure if they paint your toe nails or not but I guess time will tell as I am going to try and book an appointment – wish me luck!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So why was I wandering around Chinatown last night lost. . . .well I had signed up for this event called Social Expat Dining whereby you meet up with a bunch of other random expats for dinner at a chosen location. . So until <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT94_com_zimbra_date" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;">today</span>, my blackberry has not had any data functionality, meaning that it has been a glorified cell phone and I haven’t been able to use BBM, search the web or use the map functions. So before I left for the dinner, I went on to Google Maps to see where I was going and quickly realized that I knew the area, or so I thought. Well after about 20 minutes of walking down every street in Chinatown, and it isn’t that big, including a more dodgier side of town, I decided to give up and head back home. I was trying to remember specific stores from the Google Map and realized that there was one street that I didn’t go down and lo and behold, tucked in a corner was the restaurant that I was supposed to be at and I was only 15 minutes late. So now I have seen Chinatown, I know where to go for dim sum and where to get some Chinese food, as well where to go for a weave (at the afro hair store).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So back to the actual social expat dining event. Now that I am feeling a bit more settled and more comfortable here in terms of knowing my way around main areas, and in an effort to get out more and not become a hermit, which I do have a tendency of doing, I have been looking for different opportunities to meet people and this seemed like a great idea. It was held at a restaurant called Tenchi, which is an Asian noodle/tapas restaurant. (<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT95_com_zimbra_url" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer;"><a href="http://www.tenchi-noodlebar.nl/" style="color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.tenchi-noodlebar.nl/</a></span>) I wouldn’t say that the food was served as beautifully as their website shows, but it was good. The general idea of the restaurant was small plates or tapas style and that you would order a bunch and share. For this event they had a flat prices of 19 euros (still don’t know how to type that symbol on my computer) plus the prices of your drinks. For our dining group there were 9 of us – all women except for 1 guy and I would guess that the age range was from early 30s to late 50s. Because of the nature of how we were sitting, I really only got to know 4 of the women who were closest to me but they all seemed rather nice and I did have a good time. I am not sure that I will do it again though as it is only ever at that restaurant and there are other places in The Hague that I would like to try. Did I get any play dates out of this - no - but I also didn't suggest one to anyone or offer up my phone number (partly b/c I don't know it) but partly b/c I can be a little shy. Maybe next time. . .</span></span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-81433061641382582822013-02-26T14:39:00.000-08:002013-02-26T14:39:01.881-08:00My stuff is here, my stuff is here!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You guessed it - "my stuff" is here. I got an email from "my guy" today saying that my stuff is here and is sitting in their secure and bonded warehouse in Rotterdam. In fact, I think it has probably been here for some time but since I was waiting for my BSN (see my previous post), I couldn't fill out the proper paperwork for the customs process for my stuff. So now all of that is complete and he has sent it on to the proper authorities and hopefully 2-3 weeks my stuff will be cleared and will be able to come back into my possession, assuming I have a permanent place to live. (that will be another post for another day) I am thinking/hoping that I will get it by the end of March.<br />
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With regards to "my stuff", the thought of it all being packed up, loaded into a sea can and then bobbing around in the ocean for 3 weeks, I have to admit, had me a little worried. Now I know cargo ships traverse our oceans everyday loaded with many treasures, but this was "my stuff" - all of my worldly possessions save what I packed in 3 suit cases and my 75kg of air cargo. Keep in mind, I probably only have 1/3 of my shoe collection with me, so that was a lot of shoes bobbing in the ocean! Then I had these visions of my sea can falling off the ship and my stuff just floating there and then joining the big plastic trash gyros in the ocean. I knew that it was highly, highly unlikely but a small part of you can't but think . . .<br />
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Oh, and another one of my Hague mysteries has been solved - I saw a cemetery the other day but I think bbq is the main choice here. Have to remember, most of the country is below sea level so if you dig a hole, it fills up with water pretty quick (lots of floating bodies). I also think I have found a funeral home, not that I was looking but I go past it on my way to Dutch lessons (another post for another day as well).</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-48094185442404421982013-02-21T10:32:00.001-08:002013-02-21T10:32:21.914-08:00I'm Not an Alien<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As for this morning, I am no longer an alien in this country - I was finally able to register at the town hall and with IND (immigration) as was provided with my registration letter, that proves that I am here until my registration card comes in. As part of my move, I have this lady who is there to help me with pretty much everything, including setting me up with a doctor, dentist, showing me around, helping me register but she left for holidays the day that I arrived and just got back, so that has been the delay in getting my BSN. Now that she is here though. . . .well let's just say, some of those tasks that I have found challenging, are now going to be easier with Carine only an email or phone call away! :-) So what does this all mean? Well, I now have my BSN, which is essentially my social insurance number - without this I haven't been able to do the following:<br />
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<li>All of my "stuff" may or may not be in the country, I don't know, but without this #, my moving/shipping company, cannot process my things through customs</li>
<li>I have been in health care limbo (not that I have needed any). I had signed up for both Dutch insurance and I do have coverage provided by Shell but in order for either to processed, they needed my #</li>
<li>You cannot get a cell phone in this country without your BSN. I am still up in the air if I am going to get a private one, as I currently have a phone through work - so I am not sure what I am going to do - have to research it all a bit more</li>
<li>Can't rent a place without your BSN as that is what proves that you are 1) allowed to live here 2) they know that you live here (more on the house hunt in a different post)</li>
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What is surprising though is that I have been able to open a bank account, get a bank card and a credit, all without my BSN. Fortunately there is a wonderful bank here in The Netherlands - ABN-AMRO <a href="http://www.abnamro.nl/">www.abnamro.nl</a> that caters to expats and what is even better is they have a branch in the Shell offices! On day 2, I had my appointment with Ursila, my wonderful personal banker and by the end of the week I had opened my bank accounts, got my bank card and by the following Tuesday, so within a week of my first appointment, I had a credit card! Gotta love the Dutch in this regard! Up until that point, I had been either paying with cash, which most people don't do here, or using my Canadian credit cards, which is not optimal due to the exchange rate. But now, I am all good to go!<br />
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A few people have also asked what I have been up to so far. Well, I can sum it up pretty easily - NOTHING. Honestly, settling into a new country, a new culture and a new job, is a lot more exhausting than I anticipated. As mentioned, simple things like doing laundry or grocery shopping has been challenging and those challenges are tiring. So for the most part my days are: get up, go to work, come home, eat supper, catch up on the internet, go to bed, repeat. Here we start a little later than back home (8:30ish) but they work later (5:30-6:00pm), so I am usually not home until between 6 & 6:30pm and I go to bed early (10pm) Do I feel like I am missing out yet - no, because I know that I need this time to adjust and that over time as I meet more people and become more comfortable, I will get out more. But for now, my weekly outing will be to my Dutch lessons (more about those later).</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-63628565171950031572013-02-18T10:33:00.002-08:002013-02-18T10:33:48.603-08:00Comforts of Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M-S0LqDpyLU/USJypsbvnvI/AAAAAAAAARo/RazcvEgq3c0/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M-S0LqDpyLU/USJypsbvnvI/AAAAAAAAARo/RazcvEgq3c0/s200/IMG_1821.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Starbucks - I found it!!!! Now I know what you are thinking - you are in Europe and they have way better coffee there - that is true, but to finally find one of of the comforts of home was great! Short of letting out a small scream or jumping for joy, a big smile came across my face as I rounded the corner at the train station on Saturday morning </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and saw the sign. I had seen the odd person at the train station carrying a Starbucks cup but I honestly thought that they were people coming off of trains from Amsterdam, as Starbucks does not have the proliferation here that there is in North American (which isn't a bad thing b/c there is way better coffee out there!) Now I haven't been yet but it is nice to know that it is there and it is so close. :-) </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It is a small comfort of home. . . particularly when I am living in a country where you can't even buy bleach! Yes, it is true - you cannot buy bleach here, so I bought some at the Antwerp Train Station at the Spar. I will buy it where I can find it! (see my travel blog - My Journeys <a href="http://www.calgaryheather.blogspot.ca/">www.calgaryheather.blogspot.ca</a>)</span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-6966810162285101542013-02-15T13:12:00.000-08:002013-02-15T13:12:33.908-08:00Playing Frogger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">On my way to work </span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT68_com_zimbra_date" style="background-color: white; color: darkblue; cursor: pointer; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">the other morning</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I realized that crossing the main roads here is kinda like the game Frogger. You are trying to cross multiple lanes (there are car lanes and bike lanes) and in between these lanes are these little islands for you to stand on. On each island is its own crossing signal, so if you look across the street, the farthest signal might be a green person (which means that you can walk) and the nearest might be red so you wait. Then when it turns green, you have to dodge the bikes (see previous post about Dutch pecking order) and move from island to island without getting hit – just like Frogger.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">At times the little green person starts to blink, so you know that you need to move across faster. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I have also learned the hard way that when you get to the islands, you need to push the walk button or you could be standing there for some time :-) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I also had a query the other day about some shopping and whether or not you could get Cheez Whiz or Kraft Dinner here and the answer is no. A few brands that are the same as back home include Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Boursin Cheese (A LOT cheaper here), Pringles, Coke, Lays, Doritos. . .are you seeing a trend here - junk food! A co-worker of mine also told me that if I go over to Calais, France, they have some larger grocery stores there like Sainsbury (UK chain), with much more selection. She also mentioned that you cannot buy chocolate chips here. . .hmm. . . not sure what I think about that! I have a feeling that I may be doing quarterly trips to Calais to load up on all of those things that I can't buy here but also to feel as though I have some choice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Tonight I decided to venture out to the movies, as a little Googling showed that there was a movie </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">theatre about 10 minutes away and that they played movies in English. I went to see the movie "The Impossible" which was about 1 families story about the tsunami in Thailand in December 2004. Wow! What a horrific experience to go through, I can't even imagine. So going to the movies is a little different than back home. One thing that is similar is the cost - you pretty much have to mortgage your house to go to the movie here as well. A single adult is 9,50 Euros. What is cheaper is their "buffet" as they call it - the concession. I got a medium popcorn and bottle of pop for 6,90 Euro. For popcorn you have a choice of salted or sweet however me being the Canadian rebel that I am (yah right!) I asked for mixed which he was more than happy to do. You can also buy a 4 pack of bottled beer and outside of the theatre door, they have a nice little stand to put in your empty bottles. When you buy your ticket for your movie, you pick your row and your seat - none of this searching in the dark for an empty seat or asking people to move over so 2 people can sit together. In addition, the seats have way more space between them, so you really don't have to get up to let someone past. And they are clean. You can put your purse on the floor without worrying that it is going to stick. For a Friday night, the movie theatre here does not have the frenetic feel that it does in Calgary.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Another experience conquered on my list :-)</span></span></span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com3The Hague, The Netherlands52.0704978 4.300699900000040551.9143313 3.9779764000000406 52.226664299999996 4.6234234000000409tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-36373938960673163072013-02-13T11:09:00.001-08:002013-02-13T11:09:11.035-08:00Dutch Pecking Order<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have quickly learned the Dutch pecking order of the road - it is: Trams, Bikes, Pedestrians, Cars. Does not matter where you are or what you are doing that - that is the order. A few people have asked if I have bought a bike yet and the answer is "no" for a few reasons. 1) It is COLD and I am a fairweather biker. Somehow I can't see me riding a bike in a toque, mitts, scarf and my winter boots 2) I am not sure where I will store it for now. I am sure I can haul it up in the elevator to my apartment, but for now I am fairly central and can pretty much walk everywhere. 3) It scares me! Riding your bike in the Netherlands is just not the same as back in Canada. Big difference is that they rule the road (see above) and NO ONE wears a helmet! I am just not sure I am confident and aggressive enough on a bike yet. I am however asking around to see if anyone offers a biking 101 course. Seriously though, my intention is to buy a bike once I have moved into my permanent home.<br />
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On my way home (I walk through the main train station) I was approached by a lovely girl with a rose who started to rattle on to me in Dutch to which I normally just smile and nod, but this time I said "I don't speak Dutch", at which point she launched into English (as most Dutch do when I say this) and she handed me a rose for Valentine's Day courtesy of some lingerie shop.<br />
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Stopped at the ol' Albert Heijn today on the way home to pick up some more groceries (as I have eaten through what I had previously bought) and experienced a new challenge today, on top of not knowing what it is that I am buying - <i>directions/instruction</i>. Yep - they are in Dutch too! I know that I said that I was going to take my iPad with me next time but I stopped on my way home and didn't have it with me. I am not sure why I torture myself like this! The oven still is giving me challenges but I haven't given up yet (and can't if I want to eat hot food!)<br />
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Here is some of what I bought today - I know what they are - <i>kinda</i>. Or at least know that I could cook it! LOL!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jPwWiuibYwQ/URviJKC1u8I/AAAAAAAAAPI/X0ITJpvGiqM/s1600/IMG_1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jPwWiuibYwQ/URviJKC1u8I/AAAAAAAAAPI/X0ITJpvGiqM/s200/IMG_1733.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This I know how to make - even if the directions are in Dutch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have figured out the <i>Kip</i> is chicken - just not sure what kind of marinade this was - still not sure even after I have cooked it and ate it. Kinda a cross b/w Mexican and Indian</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could I not buy this?! The one thing they do have a lot of choice of his hazelnut spreads :-) Not sure what the white flavour is yet though.</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-56315179511755437842013-02-12T22:39:00.002-08:002013-02-12T22:39:37.509-08:00A little bit from home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what 75 kg looks like.</td></tr>
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My air freight was delivered Monday morning before I left for work and thank God because although I thought I had packed well in my suit case, I hadn't and was starting to question my clothing choices. (keep in mind that I had one entire suit case filled with beach wear from my holiday to Mexico that preceded my move! Given my comments on the weather, none of it is helpful!) Included in my air freight were a couple of warm jackets, a toque and another scarf - thankfully because as I have mentioned - it is COLD here!<br />
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Once I started to unpack my air freight on Monday, after work, reality set - although they managed to pack almost all of my clothes in my main closet (my fall/winter stuff), they ran out of weight space so didn't pack my pants and half of my skirts. For those of you who have seen my closet and know me well, it is rather organized, what I now have to wear on my bottom half is a collection of skirts - all which are stripped in some fashion and one in a leopard print. They weren't able to fit in the solid skirts or my pants. So for the next 6 weeks I will either being one of 2 pair of black pants I brought in my suit case or a stripped skirt. Yah, not to smart! Oh, and I only have 2 pair of jeans with me yet I seem have 4 pair of yoga pants - go figure!!!!<br />
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I am not sure when the rest of my possessions will arrive. I imagine that they are bobbing around in the Atlantic Ocean right now. Even if there were to arrive here tomorrow, I can't get them as 1) I don't have a permanent place to live yet (starting the search on Friday) 2) I haven't been able to register at the town hall yet (that is next Thursday) and without doing that I don't have my BSN (kinda like our SIN I think) and residence permit which seems to be a prerequisite for EVERYTHING around here, including getting a cell phone and for having getting my stuff imported into the country. So hopefully by the end of next week, I can start moving ahead on some of that stuff. <br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-51278705329694873262013-02-10T11:21:00.002-08:002013-02-10T11:21:57.364-08:00Damn It's Cold!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Damn it's cold and this is coming from a born and bred Canadian who spent half of her life either living or working about North of 60 - so this qualifies me to be a good judge of cold! Honestly, when you look at the temperature it is usually above 0 but when you throw in the 65% humidity and the wind, it bites right in to you. Fortunately before I left, my friend Kathy gave me a lovely hand knit toque and scarf, and my Aunty Margaret knit me a lovely scarf/cowl - both of which have been getting a lot of use! I am hoping that I have a warmer jacket packed in my air shipment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GW8hpONr4Cw/URfs3pMqXnI/AAAAAAAAAOE/EClwyUjP57s/s1600/IMG_1719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GW8hpONr4Cw/URfs3pMqXnI/AAAAAAAAAOE/EClwyUjP57s/s200/IMG_1719.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee maker mess!</td></tr>
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Today I have been appliance challenged. I wrongly assumed that this coffee maker came with a reusable filter in it so I just added my coffee grounds to it and turned it on - BIG MISTAKE. After about 2 minutes I noticed that I had grounds in the coffee and then after about 3 minutes I had coffee all over the counter. This is when I realized that I need to put a <i>coffee filter </i>into the coffee maker and because I didn't, everything was coming full force through the coffee maker. So needless to say, there was no coffee this morning b/c I don't have any filters.<br />
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Another appliance (for the lack of a better word) is the towel warmer thing in the bathroom - can't figure out how to use that, so I just hang things off of it. For 38 years I have lived without heated towels, so I am pretty sure that I will be able to live another 4 years without them as well.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suYEYyUTSow/URfvH_9GbLI/AAAAAAAAAOM/q1J77qOjE3M/s1600/IMG_1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suYEYyUTSow/URfvH_9GbLI/AAAAAAAAAOM/q1J77qOjE3M/s200/IMG_1687.JPG" width="200" /></a>The last appliance that challenged me today is the microwave/oven combo. Yes - this is it. There is no way that you could ever cook a turkey in this as it is TINY. Firstly, who makes a microwave/convection oven combo? The Dutch do. I attempted to roast some vegetables and a chicken breast with limited success. Firstly, I couldn't figure out how to keep it cooking. Sounds simple you say but it wasn't. I had to restart it 3 times. Secondly, it is in Celsius and I am a Fahrenheit girl when it comes to cooking. Yes, I know it is as simple as going onto Google to convert, but still. In the end, everything ended up cooked - maybe a little over cooked but it was still very good.<br />
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For fun today, I decided to ride one of the trams from one end of the line to the other and back. I figured that this would give me a nice, <i>warm</i> opportunity to see more of the city, including passing through a couple of neighbourhoods that I am going to be looking in for a more permanent home. In all, the tram ride took me about 2 hours and passed me through some beautiful neighbourhoods and some not so beautiful neighbourhoods - I think I found the 'hood! Needless to say, I will not be looking at places there! So what did this little escapade cost me - a grand total of .86 euros (I still have to figure out how to type euros properly). I think because I got on and off at the same stop, my OV-chipkaart (my tram/train pass) read my chip as just getting on and off and it charged me the basic rate and no km charges. Score one for me! I found this to be a good way to see different parts of the city but also to work on some of my Dutch pronunciations, as every stop would be announced. Lord only knows that I am bastardizing this poor language!<br />
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Yesterday I found the Dutch equivalent of Whole Paycheck, I mean Whole Foods and it is called Marqt (<a href="http://www.marqt.nl/">www.marqt.nl</a>) and just like Whole Foods, you can spend A LOT of money there! Once again, shopping in Dutch, however this time I decided to try and tackle the dairy department. I would say that I was somewhat successful in that I was able to pick out 1L of milk but I can't tell you if it is 2%, 1% or Skim or if they even have those types - I just went for the ones with the lowest calorie count (that I can read). Much of what they sell is either organic or local and very little is processed, so shopping was a little easier b/c a leek is a leek - it doesn't matter if I am in Calgary or The Hague. Bread on the other hand, not sure what kind I bought - I was hoping it was a sourdough type but I was wrong. Not sure what it is, kinda tastes like it has corn in it, but it definitely isn't sourdough!<br />
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One observation that I have had since I was here, I have yet to see a cemetery - I wonder what they do with their dead? Not necessarily something that is keeping me awake at night but just something that I noticed.<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com3The Hague, The Netherlands52.0704978 4.300699900000040551.9143313 3.9779764000000406 52.226664299999996 4.6234234000000409tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610529182134345670.post-47429825533084107832013-02-09T02:20:00.000-08:002013-02-09T02:20:24.683-08:00Grocery Shopping & Laundry . . .my first foray into Dutch living.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I went grocery shopping last night mainly b/c I was in need of some laundry detergent as I hadn't done laundry in 2 weeks, and had a suitcase full of clothes that I had in Mexico that need to be done and until my air shipment arrives on Monday morning, I am limited to the clothes that I had packed in my other suitcase and upon review, not sure what I was thinking! So off to the Albert Heijn I went. The one thing that I have observed about living here is that everything is measured in the number of minutes of the walk away something is - and they don't round up or down to nearest 5! So I was told that the Albert Heijn was 6 minutes away - not 5, but 6 and it was. I was a little timid about trusting Google maps to get me there, as Monday ended up as a complete sh*t show trying to get to work, but this time it was very straightforward. Exit building. Turn right. Walk about 4 minutes. Turn right. Walk about 2 minutes and there it would be - and it was!<br />
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Albert Heijn is the major chain here in the Netherlands - kinda like Safeways but a fraction of the size. Challenge #1 when I got the store, I saw these baskets that seemed to have an extra handle and as I stood there trying to figure it out, up walks a 4 year old, who picks one up and quickly proceeds to use it properly. It was an extra handle so you could tow the basket behind you - duh. I swapped it out for a regular basket. Challenge #2 - NOTHING is in English. I don't know why, but for some reason I thought that some things would be in English but they weren't. Thank God for fresh vegetables and fruit because I can realize that. The one food group that continues to stump me is dairy. I can't seem to figure out what is what and I think they drink yogurt here, so for now, I am avoiding it. There were a few things that were familiar so I bought them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabra Hummus & Laughing Cow - those I know!</td></tr>
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Challenge #3 - there are no brands that I recognize with the exception of say Oreos but that wasn't what I was looking for. And unlike in North America where you have 50 different types of something, here you are lucky if you have 2! Since I had forgotten my Dutch phrase book at home, I just stuck to the basics like some veggies, cheese, bread and chocolate! I have noticed that compared to Canada - groceries are cheap here. Today I have to head back to the market to buy things like dish soap, garbage bags, etc. You would think that they would have them here but they don't!</div>
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When you check out, they ask if you want these mini-groceries - so I said "sure" not knowing what the hell she was telling me - and here is what I got. Not too sure if I am collecting something or what! I guess time will tell.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgfTqsChumU/URYdFJj7WhI/AAAAAAAAANU/pked99ekyPY/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgfTqsChumU/URYdFJj7WhI/AAAAAAAAANU/pked99ekyPY/s320/IMG_1691.JPG" width="320" /></a>Activity #2 last night and what precipitated the trip to the grocery store was laundry! Fortunately my apartment has an in-suite washer & dryer and THANKFULLY it isn't one of those combo units that seems to be common in Europe, but the washing machine is slower than molasses in January! I do think though, it could have something to do with the operator and her not understanding Dutch, so may not be using it the right way. In the end though, my clothes came out clean!<br />
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Washing machine controls - yep, that is Dutch!<br />
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In the end, I survived both my first trip to the grocery store and my first loads of laundry!</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17793430180070421303noreply@blogger.com2