Some things in the Netherlands are exactly the same as in the US

I was sitting in my living room on Sunday afternoon, when the doorbell rang. I thought it could be my landlord was going to stop by to meet me (all of the arrangements have been through a realtor). I answered the door there were two older women speaking in Dutch holding a bible. I politely replied "I do not speak Dutch". One of the women responded that they were speaking to my neighbors about the teaching of Jesus Christ. I thought to myself, " I think they are Jehovah's Witnesses". I politely said " no thank you" and closed the door. Who knew there were Jehovah's Witnesses outside of the US? Then I asked my co-worker from Argentina and they have them as well...who knew?

I am no Tiger Woods

Pitch and Putt
Originally uploaded by rhoyalblu

Wednesday my office had an after work social event. We went to play "Pitch and Putt". It is like golf, only a smaller course. I think there are other differences in the rules, but those who know me know about me and rules ;) 

I don't really like golf so I was planning to be miserable. However the smaller course made golf bearable. I actually had fun.

Off the Grid

I have not had internet access at home since Wednesday night( I am using a co-worker's wifi now). How dare my neighbors turn off their router!!! Luckily My internet should be hooked up in about a week.

 
You do not realize how dependent you are on the Internet until you do not have it.  I have no email, phone calls (I have a Internet phone), news and gossip updates, random searches...no connection to the outside world...(TV is crap here, but I do watch CNN and BBC) 

I never thought about how much time I spend on the computer until I did not have consistent Internet access. On average I sync my Quicken at least once daily (sometime multiple times...I know I have a problem), check all 4 of my email account daily (multiple times), and do at least an hour of random searching (juicing, beginner sewing, gardening, WII fit...other random thoughts). That does not include facebook, myspace, and blog time......Maybe this time off the net will be good for me..

My new favorite Tasty Treat

cup of soup
Originally uploaded by rhoyalblu

So Cup a Soup is huge here in the Netherlands. At first I turned my nose up, but it is quite a tasty treat! I have tried Curry, Mushroom, Mushroom and Ham, Spicy Tomato, Chinese Tomato, and Mustard (traditional Dutch Soup). I have not had one that I didn't like.

I am huge here, but so is my wallet!!!

If you ever find you self down in the dumps in Europe. Clothes shopping is not the activity to lift you up...First the higher size numbers are scary...There are some labels that have "UK" sizes in addition to the European sizes. UK sizes are not the same as US sizes! I could have left the store in tears!

Here are some tables I found online today and I think these still don't tie to current US sizes (Ladies we all know todays 12 is not the same as 10 years ago)..and lets just say here, I am no 12!

Women's Clothing
US UK Euro
6 8 34
8 10 36
10 12 38
12 14 40
14 16 42
16 18 44
18 20 46
20 22 48

Women's Shoes
US UK Euro Japan
4 2 1/2 35 21.5
5 3 1/2 37 22.5
6 4 1/2 38 23.5
7 5 1/2 39 24.5
8 6 1/2 40 25.5
9 7 1/2 42 26.5

I evenually decided the rest of my clothes will be here soon, and I will just wait! My self esteem could not take sizes > 40... I guess this is another reason I will save money here.

There were some of my friends that would concerned I would be broke here but so far I spend far less.
Here is why:
1. No gas - Transportation by Brown Bomber and Nike is free. Even with the 2 cab rides I have taken, by far cheaper....
2. Everything closes at 6PM (except on Thursday night) - No after work shopping
3. The frig. is the size of a dorm frig. - No over shopping and throwing away food.
4. Can only buy what I can fit on my bike or I carry home - impulse buying is at an all time low, when I realize if I buy it I have to carry it home, I realize I probably don't need it
5. Cooking at home - restaurants just have not had the same appeal here as at home. I have had some Chinese take out and snack shop food but I was eating out 3 or 4 night a week at home.

So I guess these are just a few examples of improved habits I will gain during this experience....

Home Sick

Home Sick
Originally uploaded by rhoyalblu

Yesterday I was feeling a little home sick. So I decided on on a tasty American treat. Funny thing is the whole box only had 16 cookies (4 packages of 4). Which again makes me wonder why people here aren't all small?

0.70 Euros to Pee!

0.70 Euros to Pee!
Originally uploaded by rhoyalblu

So I was in the train station in Frankfort...why do you have to pay to potty? Let's say my expectations of a pay toilet were not met!

Now that's a lot of beer

Now that's a lot of beer
Originally uploaded by rhoyalblu

They should serve this much beer with every meal!

Typical German Meal

Typical German Meal
Originally uploaded by rhoyalblu

So I was in Germany Wednesday through Friday afternoon. I ate this Thursday night. It actually wasn't that bad (better than expected)

The Brown Bomber

So I purchased a bike from my co-worker last Friday for 25 Euros. I didn't mention that we tipped over at a stoplight during side-saddle riding (yes mom I am accident prone). Well apparently, we broke the bike. It started riding horrible yesterday (when I rushed home for the stupid garbage card). I took the bike to a repair shop yesterday, thinking it would be a quick tweaks and few Euros and away I go. Well no such luck! 50 Euros to fix the gear shaft, plus 15 Euro to fix the gear shift (which I knew was broken). Argh! I only spent 25 Euro for the bike. So I thought about just buying a new (used) one. The cheapest bike was 75 Euro and it was not is nice as my bike (now known as the brown bomber - I name all my cars, so now I have named the bike). There was a bike comparable to mine for 100 Euros, I think it is too big (side note -I am a midget here. I can't even reach the floor with my feet on the toilet at home). I decided to fix my bike. (Note the co-worker has offered to return the 20 Euros I had already given her, but I dont think I will take it. I think 85 Euros is still a good deal. Plus I made us fall and broke the bike). I have a feeling this will not be that last time the Brown Bomber will be mentioned in this blog.....

Update: The repairs only came to 37.5 Euros...yippie

Sunday, June 15

Sundays are dead here. Nothing is open, except a few restaurants and bars. I walked around, trying to get a feel for my new city. Rented a couple of DVD’s…ate a whole bag of Doritos!!!

Saturday, June14

I am truly becoming European. I carried a comforter, pillow, sheets, comforter cover, and a weekend’s groceries home from the store on my bike. I saw Sex in the City, bad idea for a lonely single person in a new country alone…Next time Slasher movie

Monday, June 16 - One week down (103 to go)

This morning I went to register as a Zwolle resident. It is not like I expect anyone to hold my hand, but I don’t speak the language, I am new to the town much less the country…Giving me an address and telling me what paperwork to bring is not enough, I didn’t even know where to go in the building. The receptionist has no idea what I am talking…I have no Dutch bank account (can’t one get until I am a Zwolle resident)… I don’t have phone (can’t get one until I have a Dutch bank account)…I don’t even know what to do with the trash. I asked my HR (in charge of assisting in this transition). I am told she doesn’t know, now she want the trash passcard for the corporate apartment (I was in the first three days I was here)…PASSCARD FOR THE TRASH…if I had that I would not have left the trash in the apartment!!!! It was in DUTCH! DOES ANYONE UNDERSTAND I DO NOT SPEAK OR READ DUCTH!!!! Now I look a slob that left trash in the apartment for the next person.

Friday June, 13

I bought a bike from a co-worker today. She lives near me so she gave me a ride home and walked to her place. I rode on the back of a bike for the first time since I was ten. It is a lot harder than it looks. I did pilates the night before and my abs were already tender, now I had to hold my legs up while I rode side saddle…Quite an ab workout. I don’t understand why there are fat people here. No one eats very much (that I see). Everyone walks or bikes everywhere. I can’t figure out why everyone doesn’t look like the Olson twins!

Wednesday, June 11

I have a new apartment, very nice. I have room for guests. I have a small area behind the house for a small garden and some small patio furniture. (I have imagined the entertaining I will do here…yeah right I didn’t entertain at home). I am realizing I have too much stuff. I won’t have space for half of the shit I have shipped here. I guess it is good I am getting rid of some of this crap. I feel like I will return to the US such an “improved” person…organized and worldly

The Arrival

I am in the Zwolle, Netherlands after the world most disorganized move. I was not ready for the mover. I did even have to pack. All I had to do was no what to ship air, what ship sea, and what to store, and throw everything else away. I started over a month before my move, but I prioritized everything over getting ready. I wanted to spend as much time with friends and family (like I was never coming back). Luckily I had a good friend help me out after I left, because my place was still a mess. Not a good way to start this new phase in the “life an times of Fatima”.