Subtle Differerences

Im a running out the door to sign the contract for my new position doing archiving work and was thinking about the subtle differences that make life a little bit more interesting for anyone not from The Netherlands.

The first thing that came to mind was the Basterd Sugar, which comes in a number of different colors, White, Light and Dark. I discovered the dutch name for thick sugars (like brown sugar) while shopping for Thanksgiving dinner. I immediately began making fun of it at the store calling it bastard sugar and asking about its family status. My friend and a number of surrounding shoppers began laughing, despite my use of english.

Second, Pinda Kaas. Peanut Cheese. Ill give you two guesses as to what this is, and your first cant be "a new kind of gross cheese". It is also just as common here to eat on bread as it is in the states, but for goodness sake, DO NOT PUT JELLY ON IT! That would be just GROSS. Jelly or Jam is eaten on bread with a small scraping of butter and pinda kaas is eaten with honey or plain - unless youre a rebelious american like my sweetheart.

Third, ANYTHING can be eaten on a slice of bread. Chocolate, anise or fruit sprinkles with a bit of butter is the most bizzar, but tasty at the same time.

GOTTA GO! Late already!

The Foreigner

Often times people hear my accent when I desperately try to speak Dutch and ask me, "Where are you from?" When I reply, California, a look of shock crosses their face and the following questions arise;

Why are you here? You mean you grew up in California and you live in Beusichem of all places? How do you like it here? Find jij het leuk?

All of these questions are valid, but having been here for eight months and arriving with such high hopes, that have now dwindled down to reality, I have had to reevaluate my answers to those questions. Being here solely because it is calmer in respect to the hustle and bustle of city life and due to the fact that Bryan didn't grow up with his father started to feel like a fake and canned answer. I began asking myself, why am I here?

Going back to the roots of why I wanted to move to the Netherlands in the first place, I began asking my self what I had really intended to do, and why. Silly me, I thought I could figure out a way to integrate into working for the BBC, as England is only a few hours away and BBC is a predominate news station through out Europe. News Flash, Holland has its own News sources and though the BBC is recognized here, they are only located in England.

I decided though, that the basis of my goals while here in the Netherlands was to do as I want in any other country I visit. I want to get to know the culture, document it and show the world what is different and great everywhere else. I was having a hard time figuring out how I would break into the Dutch culture though. The biggest thing here is the difference in bicycle integration into everyday transportation, which my dear friend, Shirley Agudo has covered and is continuing to cover with her Bicycle Mania book.

I realized that the Dutch culture is also so much about the buitenlanders (outlanders). Most of my friends are expats just like me, or their parents immigrated from other countries. Going back to my roots of an outsider here in the Netherlands, I am on a mission to discover other immigrants stories of survival.

New Project to get me writing.

My new project involves reading an article from the BBC, every day and writing about it.

As my first article I choose something related to India since my sister will be leaving for India to complete a year of study this coming August.

On Friday it was reported that 13 pregnant women have died from IV Fluid that was contaminated. According to the article India also possesses the largest number of pregnancy deaths due to complications. The hospital explained that the IV fluids that could be causing the most recent problems including hemorrhaging have been tested and the glucose showed indications of contamination.

The article is completed with the statement that "campaigners say that most deaths are needless and could easily be prevented if more care and attention was given to the treatment " however, I do not see how nurses and doctors are expected to give more care and attention to IV fluids that should be safe to administer to patients.

Furthermore, according to an article titled "the pros and cons of IV fluids during labor" shed light on the fact that too much of the IV fluids can cause a number of complications for both the mother and the baby, and that some nurses and doctors are even allowing a "hep-lock," open line to allow an IV if needed, but giving the mother sips of water instead if needed.

Regardless of the need for an IV or not, those fluids should be certified safe when they arrive at the hospital. Doctors and Nurses have more to deal with than continually testing the fluids that are administered to patients. Medicine, Blood and Fluids should be safe for patients, in the US, India, Africa, Europe....Everywhere!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12575389

http://www.helium.com/items/720040-the-pros-and-cons-of-iv-fluids-during-labor

Its my Birthday.

Today is my 25th birthday!! YAY! Half-way to 50!!

Bryan turned 24 on wednesday and I threw him an impromptu dinner party. We had GF Chicken Pot Pie, Raspberry Passion Fruit tart and LOTS of 2002 german white wine. (which bryan didn't drink, but we opened 3 bottles of...lol) We listened to our friends sing Happy Birthday in English and then in Dutch. It was a good night and we had a lot of fun. I continue to find out what is dutch tradition with every event I go to. Like that the birthday person CUTS EVERYONES piece, not just their own. And that we talk about EVERYTHING, no matter how embarrassing and we just talk about what we actually feel, no matter the implications. lol.

So tonight started off not so awesome. First B and I didn't know where we wanted to go and when we decided it was to the Greek restaurant in Geldermalsen. When we got there the guy told us there was a 40 minute wait, so we went to the bar next door and I had a glass of wine while bryan sipped on his usual "sinas"

After 40 minutes, we went back to the Greek place and were offered to wait another 5 minutes at their bar, where we were each given an 'on-the-house' shot of licorice liquor. I drank it, B wouldnt even taste it.

Upon sitting down, I realized that I could no longer eat tatziki because you usually enjoy it on pita. Upon my exclamation of this fact...Bryan tells me "Maybe you should just try it and see what happens." I have been off gluten for 7 months now and broke it tonight. It was the best dinner. Not worrying about what was in my food, eating as I pleased....dipping garlic butter pita into my tomato soup....eating SOUP IN A RESTAURANT!

But I digress....

I was bad.

Durring dinner Bryan informs me that he thinks the status of the couple next to us is less than normal. He thought they were trashy. I informed them that "trashy people" have a name here, Tokies. haha. Shortly after passing these messages to me over his phone, he begins to realize that they are talking shit about us in Dutch because they think we only speak English. Time passes and we both go on, Bryan making rude little comments with complex english words or things they wouldn't understand like "Indeed, I agree they would be good for Springer" every so often. Then their dinner comes, then ours. Bryan doesnt take his first bite before her food is flying from a skewer, thudding Bryan in the leg and landing on the floor. The couple begin to laugh hysterically , and she apologizes profusely through embarrassed chuckels. Bryan begins to laugh and sees this as the perfect opportunity to tell them, I understand your dutch, by exclaiming "Ik denk deze stuk leeft nog" (I think that piece is still alive!) - The crap talk came to an abrupt halt at that point and our dinners continued separately.

We breifly stopped by Mandy's work, the local bar we tend to frequent on our lazy sunday nights. Its the place we go when we feel the need to leave the house after only watching movies all day. haha. We left shortly after arriving because of how tired we were and because Bryan was suffering with a bit of indigestion.

Upon arriving to the rotunda down the street from our house we see cops surrounding it. I know its a check point and exclaim so. Bryan doesn't think so at first then realizes it is. We pull up, window down, the cop says good evening, shoves a device in the car and says to Bryan "Blow". I think this is the only time Bryan will agree to put his lips around a small cylindrical thing and 'blow' upon another mans request. (sorry B had to put that in there, you would have done the same.....LMAO). Needless to say, Bryan blew....Into the tube that is....for the breathalizer....I SWEAR! I was there...watching. The test was normal, we made our left around the rotunda and made it home.

After a not so great day of having to work and feeling tired, it was an eventful night. OH AND, Mandy and Sanea bought me a book to help me with my dutch studies....and there is something else on the way? Im excited!!

I also thought of something today....Im one of those ladys who makes the triangle in the toilet paper at the hotels. LOL.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Brighter Horizions

Being that my last blog was an emotional rant and rave, and a while ago, I think it is high time for a new posting of my life.
I have been back from Cali now for 2.5 weeks and have been readjusting back into all of the Netherlands again. Lora and Arie have been going to Germany for 1-2 weeks at a time, and its been quite around here. Bryan and I even took the Cats (Red Cat & Prutzer) for a walk, since the dogs usually go to Germany too.

I have been working on finding a job, building a new business (www.picpolish.com) and developing a new website for Shani Studios and for Pic Polish, all since I have been back from the U.S. and though I haven't been completely successful on the job part, I do have a really great prospect that I fit perfectly with. Im just waiting for the call. Now that I have my permit, I'm under a lot of pressure to quickly find a job, and even though its pressure, I enjoy it, because it gets me more motivated than I am on my own sometimes. I think I work well under pressure, in the right ways....

Shani Studios new website will launch this week and by next week I will have the job I'm banking on in Amsterdam.

My posts may still be far and few between because Im trying to learn Dutch (an hour a night), teach Bryan Photoshop (2 hours a night), get Shani Studios up and find a job....But I will try to post as much as I can, about new and awesome things.

For my readers, if you have a Gmail account PLEASE click "follow blog," as I enjoy knowing I have readers. Also, most of my blogs allow comments...Id love to hear comments from everyone on my new websites and anything else you may want to say to me!

Until Next time....

Christmas List - For those who dono what to get me, but want to

- Ugg like slippers, dont have to be uggs, I just need something to slip on after going out in the snow and need to take my boots off.

- Robe (silky, something light I can just wear to the toilet in the middle of the night)

- Light V-neck or slope neck sweaters (I need to put my snow jacket over them, so not too heavy) Any color and cute styles.

- Ski/wool socks (ITS COLD HERE!!!)

- Toms Shoes

- 8 gb CF card

- Fitted Black Snow Jacket with Fur hood (not slick but slightly waterproof), like a down

jacket.... Large I think...

- Leather Jackie-O style gloves, size 8.5

- Yoga Pants

- Yoga mat

- Snow boots --- WANT THESE!!! Click on the underlined link to see them.

- Thick, wide cable scarf , 1 foot wide.

- Black low top converse

- White girly beanie

Ill think of more if this doesn't help. Love and Thanks. xoxox

Update -- Fuckh8 t-shirt. Maybe the "some girls f* girls" t-shirt. $20 dollars on fuckh8.com

http://fckh8.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/womens-fitted-black-american-apparel-tri-blend-fckh8-1 - Large Please!!

European Plug Chi Hair Straightener

Pair of Skull Candy Headphones (The over the ear type, not ear buds) ....Red Green or Blue please! Pink is okay too!

Last Day Alone, Vrijdag

So they are coming home today. Bryan, Arie and Lora that is. I have been alone at the house since tuesday and still didnt find time to write even short blogs.... Or I was just being L.A.Z.Y (shhhhh....).

I put up the Christmas Tree...

Which I was bummed about but now like seeing it every morning.

And today I scanned a bunch of photos of Bryan when he was a baby. So adorable!