Oudejaarsavond~ "old year's evening"

As I sit here in America with anticipation of New Year’s Eve, I can’t help but think about this past year but also returning to Holland and putting into place resolutions that come with the tradition of this celebration.

 This past year has been so tumultuous for my family. It was a year ago that my husband and I took a trip to Europe that would change our lives. Within weeks of the interview for a new job, we were being offered a chance for an exciting new chapter in our lives. So many things had to be considered. This decision was not only about a job, it was about our family and totally uprooting our lives. Well-meaning friends that were in the know, were so excited for us and kept prodding… do it, do it, just do it! I finally had to “explain” to one friend, that this was not a European vacation, it was my life!

Real life did move on. The house was sold “Thank God!” and a new place to live was found in The Netherlands. We said goodbye to one of the best schools in America and moved onto an amazing International school and all that entails. Belongings were crated up and shipped across the ocean with only a china cabinet getting a little damaged in the move. And lifelong friends and family gathered to say good bye and wish us the best of luck. They only had one request… find all the best places so when they come over to visit I would know where to take them.

So with that task in mind, that has become part of my resolution. Love God, Be Brave and Step out the door and go have fun!

So to all my friends and family.. I love you!  Out with the Oud ~ In with the Nieuw! Happy New Year!!

Welcome Home!

“Welcome home!” One of the sweetest things said to me while coming through immigration at the airport. The best part was the guy inspecting my passport meant it and I believed him firmly without a doubt.

I have always been raised to appreciate and understand that being born in the United States of America is one of the greatest gifts on earth. That one little fact gives me rights and freedoms that so many other people around the world only dream of. I won’t go on with all of the details... there are too many to list… freedom of speech, freedom of religion…with these freedom’s I’m part of a club, a family, a group of people that understand each other (well most of the time) .

On our way home to America for our Christmas holiday, we took the train from Eindhoven to the Schiphol airport. The guy sitting next to me reeked of pot. It was very overwhelming. Between his excessive chatting, I kept wondering what the scientist thought about second hand pot smoke. What was the risk of getting high from this and how many brain cells was I killing just to have a seat on the train? But as he explained that he spoke 6 different languages and grew pot in his backyard a little thought was running through my head… I need a brownie! He started asking me political questions. Questions I was afraid to answer. Questions like… What were we (The Americans) thinking sending all of those boys to war? What did I think the President was thinking? I told him personally; because I’m the only one I can speak for…. Sending troops into war or not.. That decision has to be made by the man sitting in the chair. He’s the one that has to look at all of the evidence that is presented to him and then decide. One of the great things about being American is being able to vote for our leaders. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose… but once in office, we should support the man in the chair. He also asked if I thought the President knew things we (the people) did not know about. I told him absolutely! Even though we have the press that thinks we need to know every little detail of everything, some things are better kept quiet until it’s time to reveal. How else would he (and our troops) be able to protect us? We may not always agree with everything that is done, but we need to trust that they are trying to protect us. Then, if we do not like what the President has chosen to do, we can vote his @$$ out of office.

We the people are a beautiful country that will always be a work in progress and always striving to be better. I’m grateful to the chatty Dutch man on the train who was curious to ask this American girl’s opinion about our wonderful nation.

The Berenkuil

Art is like love  …. When it’s pleasing to the eye, heart or soul, that’s when you fall in love with it. Sometimes, you can look at something and think “What is that person thinking, creating something like that!!” but then if you give it a few minutes of thought you can change your way of thinking to…” what was that person thinking, creating something like that?”

 I’ve always had trouble looking at modern art; it just doesn’t make sense to my eyes or heart. After moving to Eindhoven in The Netherlands, I was saddened to see a lot of the beautiful city walls and buildings smeared with graffiti. Various writings and pictures scatter the city defacing the beauty of some very old buildings. The letters PSV, the local professional football team, are tagged on walls and poles all over town. I’m all for supporting and cheering for your local sports teams but these three letters are written on everything.

I’ve learned that not only is graffiti tolerated, it’s encouraged. The prime places for an artist to leave their mark are sold. Other places are just randomly drawn on.

My favorite place to see the graffiti is in an area in Eindhoven called The Berenkuil, which means, the bear pit. It’s a free zone where the artists are allowed to paint without be bothered by the authorities. This is an area where there’s a roundabout for cars above, then a lower area for bikes. Thus... the pit. The whole inner pit is covered in graffiti.

 I’m looking forward to the next International graffiti festival called “Step in the Arena”. They paint the whole area black and start all over with new art.

Graffiti…. I say YES!

Memories of Travel

As I get ready to return to the States for the Holidays, my mind is a blur of list of things I want to take back and things I need to bring back here... Tylenol for one! My heart is leaping for joy with the antisipation of seeing my children all under the same roof for Christmas. It's a new home to our family, but one I know we will enjoy. I was thinking about traveling and how life has taken a very different change for me, when I began to think of some of my favorite travels.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

A life time of memories have been made taking trips with the most important people in my life, my friends and family. The wonderful thing about memories is that they are yours and can never be taken away. Places I will always cherrish... Disney World, many other places in Florida, Jamacia, Puerto Rico, San Fancisco, Vegas Baby, Washington DC, San Diego, Yellow Stone, The Grand Canyon, Hawaii, many states traveling back and forth to each of these... and of course my beloved Michigan. Plymouth, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Traverse City, Leland, Mackinac Island, and my favorite...



Little Bear Lake

Three tiny rooms in the middle of the Northern Michigan woods, over looking a beautiful calm lake. No hot water, but plenty of fresh air and the smell of pine trees. To me... this is Heaven

As this chapter of my life has passed it's been fun making  new memories....

Riders on the Storm

I love individuality, not only in people, but in the things that surround us in our lives. One of the pleasures of living in Europe is that not too many things are mass produced making the scenery pleasing to my eyes. While riding in the car, instead of my brain shutting off, I’m drawn to the differences around me.   Since moving to The Netherlands, I’ve developed a fascination with doors.

The band The Doors had it right…  The band took its name from Aldous Huxley's book The Doors of Perception,^[3] the title of which was a reference to a William Blake quotation: "If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite."… Wikipedia.

Are the doors trying to tell us a secret of what we will find inside? Are they leading us somewhere? Are they hiding something? Besides providing us with comfort, warmth and protection, the individual doors are telling us a “little” of what is behind them. To me, it’s like when you’re at a fun house and can see a door. But the mirrors of the fun house show an infinity of doors. What are behind all of those doors? I guess I’m a little like Alice in Wonderland….very curious.

The door at a Monistery in Postel, Belgium

A door in Brugge, Belgium in the circle that surrounds the center of the villiage.



The door to Hell. Gestapo prison door at the El De Haus in Cologne, Germany

Door in Maastricht, The Netherlands..offering a welcoming hand.



The door to the next little piece of my life.

To Market, To Market

One of the things I couldn’t wait to do when I moved to The Netherlands, was to see the Christmas Markets. I have always loved the decorations during the holidays and I usually start listening to Christmas music around the end of October. Yes, I know it’s a wee bit early but it puts me in a good mood. Last year, right before we found out that we were moving, this show came on the Home and Garden channel. It was all about the European Christmas markets. They were all so beautiful and I was so excited to see them in person and to visit the different places.

Well, I’m not sure of the actual number of markets this time of the year, but basically every little town or village has one of some sort or another. I’ve realized I won’t make it to all of them, but each year, I plan to visit a few and make some fun purchases.

My first experience at a Christmas Market was during a trip to Cologne, Germany.  We drove about an hour and a half away from our home to Cologne. After a busy day of touring the beautiful city we finally made it over to the market area. It was beautiful! Christmas trees, tall and beautifully lit, garlands and wreaths and magical stalls were all around. People were selling any kind of Christmas bobble you could imagine. There were ornaments, crèches, wreaths, lights, figurines, toys and an array of food all over. It was so beautiful and also very crowded. I knew my next trip there would be during the week.

My next quest was Brussels, Belgium. After only a short hour and a half drive, we got caught up in the chocolate and waffles. Actually my favorite was a combination of both. I never thought I really cared about trying the Belgium waffles, but Dear Lord, they were heavenly. The city was alive with people and as we wandered over to the area with the market, I was surprised that there were very few people there. One small swoop around the market and I understood why. There was a collection of maybe 10 booths and they were selling weird stuff you could find anywhere. The people selling the items looked like gypsies. Don’t get me wrong, I really know very little about gypsies except Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but they looked like they were more interested in the money than the artistry of their items. Many of the places I’ve visited, that is part of the joy of buying something. The artist is sometimes there and I really enjoy getting to meet the person who makes the item. But… not here. The personal attachment was missing..Anyway, if you’re going to Brussels, skip the booths but head for the waffles covered in chocolate and powdered sugar!

My favorite Christmas market so far was in Valkenburg, The Netherlands. The best part was going with one of my best friends, Cheryl, who was visiting from the States. We had so much fun walking all over this quaint little town. After lunch we ventured onto the market. The market was inside a very large cave. I know this sounds a little creepy, but it was magical. There were beautiful displays and lights and vendors all over. We wandered up and down the little paths picking and choosing our treasures to take home. Cheryl bought lots of little gifts for her family and friends and I bought Christmas cards. The prices there were wonderful! I’ll definitely be going back there!

This weekend… on to Helmond, The Netherlands…Dickens Night.

Christmas 2012.. update

This year as time slipped away as it always does during the holiday season, I had big plans to see a bunch of markets. But instead, daily life got in the way. School, parties, last minute shopping, just life. 

I did have time to spend one day with my friends that are in a Cultural Group that I'm a part of through the International Women's Club of Eindhoven. We traveled about an hour from Eindhoven south the the beautiful city of Maastricht. Some of us traveled by car and others by train. Snow had been forecasted but we couldn't have asked for a prettier day. Sunny with a slice of Christmas Market.

We started out our day in Selexyz Dominicans. Selexyz is a bookstore chain and this one is housed in a 700 year old church. As I said before, many churches are being closed here in The Netherlands. I can't think of a better use for a church that is no longer being used for worship. Inside the Selexyz Dominicans there is a coffee shop called Blanche Dael Coffee Lovers.

 I love how it sits up in what used to be the choir area. What a better way to enjoy a cup of coffee than surrounded with history and beauty!

Outside vendors were set up in the centrum of Maastricht selling all sorts of things but for some reason I zeroed in on a few sweaters. But the true beauty was that Maastricht had the children in mind. There was a giant Ferris wheel, several rides and all sorts of candy delights for the kids.

 In my opinion this is the perfect place to take your children for a day of fun. If you are looking for more vendors selling Christmas items.

 Cologne and Valkenburg have been my favorite so far. But I have plans to get some more German markets in next year. Time just ran out. 

I've also discovered that most of the garden centers set up Christmas markets that are truly beautiful. Coppelman's is my favorite. Room after room, winding around all the stunning displays, trees and little villages all set up. I saw one couple having their wedding pictures there. I'm sure they turned out wonderful.

Another delight for the year, Eindhoven has set up a beautiful skating rink in the Centrum. What a beautiful way to enjoy the holidays.

Ok, off to make Gingerbread cookies. 

And to my dear friend Becky that is moving back to the States this week. Love you! You will be missed! Tot Ziens.

Have Friends... Will Travel

Before I moved to The Netherlands, I called my friend Marion. She had lived here many years ago and I knew she would understand my anxiety about leaving my friends and family and about starting a new life. She had many pieces of advice but the best was to get involved with positive people. She gave me two very good suggestions and that’s what I did. I joined two organizations for women, The North American Women’s Club and The International Women’s Club of Eindhoven. Through these two organizations, I have discovered a new sense of bravery and a desire to do and see more in my life.

Within the organizations there are many interest groups to join. I truly do not like to get overwhelmed with too many activities in my life, so I chose carefully. I joined the book club, art appreciation, cultural club, Italian conversation (which I call Italian listening, because I don’t speak any Italian at all) and walking club. There are also various lunches and get togethers throughout the month. It sounds like a lot, but these things only take up a morning or evening once or twice a month.  

What I have enjoyed the most besides discovering so many new places and things to do, are the friends that I’ve made. These women are so inspirational and brave. They help each other and share their experiences. They have the best tips on what to see or where to go. They know how to survive living away from family and friends. Without even realizing how much they’ve touched my life, they have helped me to discover myself. I’m so blessed to have them in my life. Thank you girls!

Bonjour

Since moving to The Netherlands a few months ago, my bucket list has dramatically changed. Going to Paris was at the top. During our first long break from school, we made the four hour car drive to the city of lights. I had many things that I wanted to see there for my first visit, so we got started right away.

We arrived just in time for lunch at a little corner café then we took off to the Père Lachaise Cemetery  to see where Jim Morrison was buried. A short walk to the Metro train and a few confused minutes later we were surrounded by real down to earth Parisians. My favorite part about riding the Metro besides the easiness of gliding all over town underground was when a Parisian who was looking for some money would get on board to entertain us. Men would play their accordions or guitars while singing for a few euro coins. I found this wonderfully entertaining and quite beautiful! I always made sure I had money for them.

It may sound weird to want to visit a cemetery but I’ve always found them peaceful and interesting. I love looking at the dates and the names and the type of headstone or monument. The Pere Lachaise Cemetery was so different from the cemeteries I’ve visited before. Most families have a family tomb that is big enough to leave a message or some flowers after a prayer. I love this! The cemetery twists and turns and goes on forever. I ran out of time looking for Jim Morrison’s grave. They shut it down and they’re very serious about getting out. Next time!

That night, it was onto the Eiffel Tower. My daughter wanted to see it at night and her wish came true. We got there just around dusk. The lights were just beginning to come on. To stand under this massive tower was truly amazing. Its beauty calls to you from miles away. I loved seeing so many people that had come from around the world to have a look. But the look on my daughter’s face made me smile.   

Throughout the next few days we did many things. We saw the show Moulin Rouge, shopped till we dropped, sat at little cafes drinking wine and enjoying a meal and walked the streets looking at the beautiful buildings. But, I had two more things on my bucket list that I wanted to see. We had been told that the Louvre was an enormous museum and was meant to be seen in several different days. We decided to conquer this task with a section at a time. This time we headed straight for the Mona Lisa. Hundreds of people were swarming to see this beautiful painting. It was then, that I realized my training at the grocery stores in Holland was finally going to pay off. I pushed and shoved my way to the front. (Ok, maybe I said “Excuse me, pardon me” and gently waited my turn). And there she was… wonderful! And yes, she smiled at me.

 Then we walked along the Seine River buying art from street vendors on our way to my favorite bucket list item of the week. We walked around a corner and there it was... Our Lady of Paris, the Notre Dame Cathedral. This magnificent church, with the gargoyles hanging out of the sides, stood tall and glorious. I stepped inside, dipped my fingers into the holy water, made the sign of the cross on my forehead and then went to light two candles. I lit one for my parents and one for all the unborn children in the world. I do this at most of the churches I visit. Now my heart was at peace and I could move on to whatever lay in front of me.

Is this the real life.... Queen's Day

Back in April, my daughter and I came over to The Netherlands to visit her new school and to find a new house. Our trip ended with a day in Amsterdam. This city, which sits on the North Sea, has many canals that wind their way through the tiny streets. There are thousands of bikes lined up and parked all over. I quite honestly have no idea how each person finds their own bike or remembers where they’ve parked their bike. I do know that bikes are stolen here all the time. I guess it’s a little give and take philosophy. I’ll take yours but I’ll give you mine, if you can find it.

On a normal day, Amsterdam is a busy city of over a million people. We happened to visit the city on the day the whole county celebrates the Queen’s birthday. This day is called Queen’s Day. We took a train into the center and couldn’t believe our eyes. First of all, no one sent us the memo that wearing orange is a must! It’s the color of the royal family and all of Holland wears it proudly. Second, this party was the party of all parties … EVER! The beer was flowing, the vendors were busy selling their wares, the children were in carnival ride heaven, and people everywhere were all over the streets, canals and literally hanging from the windows.

A day to party…. You bet! But I had one more quest in mind. I wanted to visit Anne Frank’s house. The line to get in was short. We entered knowing there were no photos allowed to be taken. I could not help the thoughts that were running through my mind. This was one little girl’s story. This one brave little girl, wrote down her inner most thoughts and prayers. Her courageous father, who had the heart to share her story with the world, not knowing what a huge impact his little girl would have on the world.  I couldn’t help but notice the sick comparison that I was in the middle of. Outside, there were thousands of people celebrating and going about their normal life. Inside, not one person was speaking. Not one person walked with heavy steps. Not one person dared to make a sound. It must have been like the insanity of Anne’s little life in that house before her death. This was one story, but there were many, many more that were left untold.

Tut Tut.. It Looks Like Rain

One rainy day, my friend Wendy invited me to her house in Venlo, to learn how to blog. She has a wonderful blog that I love reading. To me, she is so brave and adventuresome. Wendy has so many great stories! She’s an avid walker and is doing this walk through The Netherlands called the Pieter Padhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieterpad. She just hops on trains and goes to her starting point, walks her destination for the day and then stays the night with random people who are part of a biking group. She’s met so many interesting people. I just love listening to her stories!

 After Blogging 101 we had a delicious warm ham and cheese toastie and French Onion soup. Perfect for a cold day!

Venlo is located on the border of The Netherlands and Germany. I had never been to Germany before so we ventured out to make my first crossing. We found a rest stop area where there was a welcome to Germany sign and captured the moment on Camera! With that checked off my bucket list, we drove onto the little town of Kaldenkirchen. We were headed to a grocery store that sells a lot of American products but got distracted when we found a thrift store. We could not get enough into our bags. The prices were great and the money was going to help children in need. We are definitely going back there!

Canals, Chocolate and Lace... Oh My!

On a rainy day at the end of august before school began, we took drive to Bruges, Belgium.  This picturesque city is nicknamed "The Venice of North Europe". It was a wonderful day to take in all the beautiful lace, great beer and to die for chocolate. We wandered around shopping in the oval shaped city while people floated alongside us on boats in the canals.

The smell of chocolate fills the air outside the shops. There was no way I was leaving without  some melt in my mouth chocolate. Pretty lace, fills windows enticing you to come in and purchase something special. I found a few small pieces that were affordable enough to purchase one for close friends and family.

We were lucky enough to stumble into an art show that had items for sale. I had been looking for unique birthday cards and found an artist who was selling post cards. They are beautiful and when I send them to my friends or family I’m able to say I met the artist. We also bought a drawing of one of the canals. The artist was turning 80 that day.

Finally, we were exhausted from the day. We found a wonderful little Italian place right on the square in the Centrum. Blonde Leffe beer in hand… ahh good day!

A Little Day Tripper

's-Hertogenbosch or more commonly known as Den Bosch is one of the many close delightful cities near Eindhoven. The town’s name means The Duke’s Forest and is named for Henry 1, Duke of Brabant. The city dates back to1185 and has many historic buildings still intact.

Only about a half hour drive, we made the way to Den Bosch one day for a little shopping. We had heard there was a lot to choose from and were delighted to see the city the day a carnival was also in town. The city centrum was full of people, booths, games, rides and food. We made our way through winding streets, looked down at the beautiful canals with boats parked lining the edge of the canal. It’s one of the only places in Europe where the boats go under the buildings. We finally found an adorable little restaurant and sat outside sipping wine, watching the people pass… a favorite European pastime.

Lost in Translation

I’ve decided I’m going to add Dutch to one of the languages I know because when I call a company and I’m put on hold, I’m able to randomly push buttons until I get a live person to talk to me.

One of the many joys of moving to a foreign country is the joy of learning a new language. I’ve always been amazed and had the upmost respect for someone who can speak more than one language.  I am very proud of my English language and also so appreciative that around the world most people know how to speak English. In The Netherlands, most children begin their English lessons around the age of 10 and within a few short years are fluent. Everyone has been very excited to try out their English with me and they are so happy to be able to help.

The Dutch people by nature are very direct. Sometimes that comes across as rude but I usually laugh because it’s shocking and we all have our little quirks. When you ask someone from here if they speak English their answer is usually “Yes, of course!” Which to me means, “Who in their right mind would not be able to speak several languages?”  Sometimes when asked, they reply “A little.”  This means, “Yes I can, but I’d like to test the water slowly.” Then you discover that yes, they can speak English.

One day I was asking a very nice Dutch woman at the meat market if she had turkey. I was having a little difficulty getting her to understand my English.. until I said “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!” She started laughing and said “No, she did not have that!”

One of our favorite channels is The Discovery Channel (it’s in English). We are getting so much smarter.. but we’ve picked up a peculiar British accent.

So I have one final question… If your bills all come in a foreign language and you don’t know what they say, does this mean you have to pay them? Google Translate!

Eet smakelijk

I've discovered that shopping for groceries is a sport! Not only do I have to drive my cart sideways, I have to bag my own groceries! (yes, I know I'm a brat) but the worst part is the old ladies. If you're walking, they just plow right into you. After apologizing several times to several different people.. I thought WTH... Now.. I just plow them back!

Shopping for food is a great way to meet new friends and neighbors. The people in The Netherlands are always very kind and ready to help me translate the labels.  In the meat department.. there truly is mystery meat. My newest discovery was rabbit.. just laid up there right next to the chickens.

One day I did find a bunch of new snacks. Between the Chocolade Shooters and the Disco Bits, I'm thinking these may be good! But ya gotta wonder about Come and Get it though.

My daughter and I were looking for syrup for our poffertjes (little pancakes) and had found that it was basically sugary sludge. She said..I'm thinking that if it says "All Natural" that means it's disgusting! Where's Aunt Jemima when you need her?

Trying to Catch Up... and no not Ketchup

I'm getting a late start on this little story of mine as I've used the first couple of months of getting to know the area. One thing I learned very quickly is that in The Netherlands there are many food groups, not just four. There's meat, dairy, grains, fruits and vegatables, deserts and French fries. Yes, French fries could be their own course of a meal. They serve French fries with everything! When reading about coming to Holland, my daughter and I were laughing because one book described with delight the French fries served with globs of mayonaise. We thought, who would eat French fries with mayonaise. So when we came over to find a house we decided to carefully try.Well, it's wonderful!!! But after a while, an American girl has just got to have some ketchup to go with those fries. And yes, that's possible for .50c a pack. Are you kidding me?!

Hit the Road Jack

I don't know how it is for others that have to learn to drive in a foreign country, but for me it was very intimidating. Let's just get this out in the open.. I know how to drive and I do it well. I was born and raised near Detroit, the motor city. Cars were a big part of my childhood and being afraid to drive was not an option. But, take all of those life lessons, scramble them up like eggs, add thousands of pedestrians and bikers, a foreign language (that you don't speak or read) and plop yourself on the other side of the world and you have one confused little driver. But a few months under my belt and I’m doing just fine. Only 3 speeding tickets so far. I've decided the biggest inconvenience is the fact that they have speeding cameras, so there is no way to talk your way out of a ticket. They just mail it to you and say pay the fine.

The Trek to Holland

The Trek to Holland

Funny how life can be moving along one day, and the next, your life is packed into boxes and crates ready to be shipped around the world. After growing up in Michigan and then living in Texas all of my adult life, our family moved to The Netherlands. Usually around my age people go through a midlife crisis. I wouldn't call this a crisis, but life altering~yes!

We arrived in The Netherlands on July 4th, 2011. For my home country this would be Independence Day. For me, this would be Where Can I Find the Closest Bed Day. We arrived at Schipple Airport in Amsterdam with our luggage, two of our kids and our two dogs in tow. After we collected our luggage and Missy and Sugar showed the border patrol their Paw's Ports, we were on our way to Eindhoven where we would be living.

We were all so tired but drove straight to our new house. While everyone else was unloading our luggage, I took the two dogs through the house. We had not been there one minute when all of a sudden Sugar found a pond in the back yard that I didn't even know was there. It was a square cube and she couldn't get out because the sides were too steep. So I had to haul this 120lbs dog out of the water! What a mess! Not to be out done, Missy went in next. Again, I had to haul a cold wet dog out of the water! By this time everyone else was finally in the house just in time to see 2 dirty, wet, smelly dogs and me soaked to the skin! Welcome to Holland!