Pajama day has officially been canceled!

As I approached the daunting day of my 50^th birthday I wanted to do something special so that I would always remember. I did not share this thought with anyone. This is my own personal journey. To me, life is like a river. The river of life bends and turns, swiftly passing through time and sometimes drifting slowly enough to catch your breath and enjoy the ride.

With two of my children living in the states and my husband traveling on my birthday for work, I was beginning to understand that this birthday would just be another day. My daughter here in The Netherlands and I decided, no big deal we’ll just go to our favorite quickie Eindhoven restaurant, Soho. I had also decided on the day of my birthday I might just have a nice pajama day. No going out.. Just me, a cup of coffee and a book. The day was beginning to sound perfect.

The eve before my birthday, I was already geared up in my jammies at 6:30pm ready to give into the calm, when my phone rang. I missed it the first time because I was doing laundry. It was my husband asking for some help with something in the den. Ok, sure, not a problem. I went down to his office to get the papers he was asking about, chatting about my exciting day of laundry when he asked me to take care of what was in the papers. I opened the envelope and out fell a plane ticket and money and an itinerary of activities. Apparently there would be no pajama day; I was flying out in the morning to meet him in Budapest, Hungary.

As I sat there in shock, my mind a blur of what was happening, he carefully explained what was to take place. I was flying out in the morning. My daughter was already set to go to her friend’s house. Our wonderful neighbors were going to babysit our puppies. I was to pack very lightly because he already had a few dresses and shoes waiting for me in Budapest.

After we hung up the phone, I ran wildly through the house wondering why I had not done the laundry that day (oh yeah, I was out having fun with friendsJ). Packed a few things and then tried to sleep. Flying to Budapest from the US was never going to happen for me. That’s why it never entered my mind. But, flying out from The Netherlands for 100Euros.. You bet!

The flight the next morning was early. As I stepped off the plane in Budapest I found a man with a sign that held my name. He taxied me to the hotel all the while I sat in disbelief of where I was. I was in an area which kind of frightened me, an area that used to be behind the Iron Curtain. Luckily all that has passed and what has immerged is a country that people all around the world are now able to visit. I’m so glad too because the beauty of the city I was in was stunning! Cities like this were meant to share with the world.

I went to the patio outside for lunch to look out over the Danube River and Royal Palace across the river in Buda. I was apparently in Pest looking towards Buda. What I found as I toured the city was that Budapest was really two cities that had been combined. To me, Pest was a flat area bustling with busy people working and shopping. Buda on the other hand was hilly, calming and relaxing and meant to be enjoyed. But they had one thing in common… The Danube River. This river that divides the two cities has a strong current. Ferries, cruises, working and pleasure boats cruise up and down the banks of Budapest.  People of the city all flock to be near it as well. Restaurants filled, parks full of children, people just strolling up and down the sides. This beautiful river was meant to be enjoyed and it is.

As I settled in for the night after a wonderful dinner with my husband out on a boat, I looked out to the river. Budapest, the city where old mingles perfectly with new. Budapest, a city with two sides separated by a river as strong as the people who inhabit it. With the flat lands of Pest and the rolling hills of Buda, a perfect blending of harmony is formed.

Pajama day canceled, due to a better offer… You Bet!

Oh, The Places You'll Go!!!

In celebration of my new found intelligence and reaching the perfect midpoint to my life (yes, I intend to live till I’m 100) here are50 things I’ve learned about living in The Netherlands.. so far. *Remember, I’ve been here less than one year.

1.    Most everyone in The Netherlands speaks English so there’s no need to ask Rosetta for help. At least not yet!

2.    Shopping carts can go sideways and are designed that way to help give your arms a workout at the market.

3.    Always keep your change. Some of those are 1 and 2 E a piece.

4.    Knowing how to drive a stick shift is a good thing. Ya never know.. just saying!

5.    Pot is not legal (at least that’s my knowledge for this week)

6.    Coffee shops offer more than coffee.

7.    Saying hello or good bye to a friend.. pucker up! Right, left, right or is it left, right, left? Not sure just trying not to hit anyone on the lips.

8.    Let Op is a good sign to know when driving… especially if there’s a picture of someone on a bike below it.

9.    Drinking age is 16.

10.Taxes are up the ying yang, so get your ying and your yang on that city bus.

11.It was easy to find my Dr. I was assigned to the same Dr. as everyone in my neighborhood.

12.My dentist does not believe in Novocain … but he now understands that I do!!!

13.When looking for a house to buy or lease be prepared for the home owner to be home while you’re looking at their house. They also love to take you on a guided tour. Makes it difficult to point out the new blue carpet from 1950 is just not your taste.

14.When you walk into a Dutch home you will be greeted by a coat closet and a bathroom (usually with cold running water only).

15.Coffee is part of a balanced diet.

16.French fries with mayo is also a major food group.

17.Dutch stairs are like climbing Mount Everest. Take a flag with you and jam it into the ground when you reach the top.

18.Coming downstairs requires you to take off your socks unless you feel the need to visit the local hospital.

19.Driving age is 18.

20.I’m living below sea level.

21.The Dutch are ingenious at figuring out how to fit things into small spaces.

22.Biking is not only great exercise it’s a means for transportation. I can’t wait to get mine!!

23.If you are a Queen, the whole country will celebrate your birthday! Nice!!

24.Orange is not the new black it’s The Netherland’s color and they all wear it with pride!

25.Using a fork and a knife at the same time to eat. No fingers allowed.

26.Graffiti is cool if done in the right places. Love that Berenkuil!

27.There’s no getting away from the rain. You just have to embrace it and enjoy the green wonderful life it brings.

28.Listening to the radio or tv is difficult in Dutch but 4 letter words translate just fine and they are not afraid to use them.

29.It’s ok to pee outside, especially if the city provides you with the outdoor urinals right in the middle of the town centrum.

30.Lunches and dinners may take up to 3 hours or more.

31.Tipping is usually a very small amount if any at all.

32.Just because you are driving down a main road does not mean you have the right of way. Watch out for the shark teeth or lack of teeth.

33.While driving if someone taps their forehead with their fingers he’s telling you that you are a stupid driver and what were you thinking. I know this because I used this signal today when a man tried to back his car into my car and blame it on me.

34. Speeding tickets come in the mail and there is no way to bat your eyes and talk your way out of them.

35.Joining groups with women from all over the world has been one of the best choices of my life. These women are brave, intelligent and oh so much fun!!!

36.The hamburgers here are horrible! If you try one don’t say I didn’t warn you!

37.I’ve really taken an interest in art. I enjoy the history and learning about the different styles and artist. And… I’ve enjoyed picking up a paint brush and painting a few things myself.

38.The Doors here are amazing! Are they leading somewhere and calling to us to open them. I just want to open up and take a peek. They are all so unique and interesting.

39.The flowers and scenery are beautiful. It’s shocking to see field after field flooded with the colors of the tulips.

40.Watching the people skate on the canals when they froze over was amazing! I will get skates before that happens again! One area right by us someone had shoveled out into the snow on the canal…. WINTER 2012. There was not one other foot print around. Very cool!

41.For 2 E you can enjoy an afternoon of wonderful music at the Muziekgebouw in Eindhoven. Go with a good friend to lunch and then the concert and you have the perfect afternoon. Lunchpauzeconcert!

42. Within 20-30 minutes I can be in Belgium at one of my favorite places, Postel Belgium. A monastery with Monk beer and cheese! So enjoyable.

43.A canal ride through Amsterdam is a very interesting and enjoyable experience. I love listening to them talk about the city.

44.The beauty of a windmill still shocks me. The perfect blades, slowly moving through the winds of time.

45.Carnival is CRAZY but Fun!

46.Churches are closing all over The Netherlands. People just aren’t going to church like they used to. I find this incredibly sad. Church is a good thing no matter what religion you are. I’ve heard stories from people all over the world saying… I don’t have to be in a church to talk to God. That is so true. But God is asking us to give up one hour a week and come and put our prayers together and to be together to hear his word. Anyway, It breaks my heart the beautiful churches that are standing empty here.

47.My favorite place to view the flowers is the Keukenhof.

48.I cannot wait to go to the Kinderdijk to see the windmills.

49.Roundabouts are not ment to drive you crazy but to get you going in the right direction a little faster.

50.On a sunny day it’s perfectly normal to throw the windows open and air out your bed linins. I truly enjoy this and will continue to do this forever.

With the passing of midnight here in The Netherlands, I am now 50. That has always sounded really old. Now… I’m beginning to think I’m just getting started. To all my friends that are turning 50 this year. Congratulations! We're doing great!

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Stratumseind

Since the beginning of time or at least the beginning of time for me spent here in The Netherlands, Stratumseind has been a part of my life. When my husband took a job that would move us from America to The Netherlands, he moved immediately and I stayed behind to sell the house, close out our affairs and let my daughter finish out her year in school. He found an apartment about a block from Stratumseind. I liked to call it his bachelor pad or his man cave because it had no hint of girly in it. It had 2 bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, 2 patios and typical Dutch stairs. The man cave was 2 stories and I when I came over to visit; I actually had to hold on to the steps to crawl my way up because they were so steep. Descending the stairs was another joy all in its own. They were so narrow you had to position your feet sideways so that you wouldn’t scrape the back of your heel.

I’m not very good at adjusting to jet lag. All I want to do is sleep. Several people I know just go on like there’s not a problem. After my nap in the car on the way from the airport, all I wanted was a bed and to sleep for days. I closed my eyes, my head pounding and eyes glazed over. I could actually hear the thumping in my brain! Or at least that’s what I thought at first. As I emerged from the cold dark bedroom, climbed the mountain of stairs and stumbled my way to the living room I found my husband there calmly watching TV. Horror on my face…. Did he not hear this noise? Had he gone deaf? WHAT is that noise? …… Oh that’s Stratumseind.

Most of Eindhoven had been destroyed during the war. Stratumseind is a street in Eindhoven. It’s actually one of the streets that the Allies marched down after they had liberated Eindhoven. Thousands of grateful Dutch lined the streets to offer thanks to their heroes.

Now, thousands of people descend upon this street every week to relax and party. During the week, the street is relatively calm, but from Thursday through Sunday, Stratumseind is absolutely packed. Close to 35,000 people pass through the street of Stratumseind every weekend. The celebration begins on Thursday evening with student night. Collage age kids and also military from the local base like to come out that night. Friday and Saturday night are when most of the high school kids are hitting the street and on Sunday… are you kidding me? I’m definitely not in the Bible belt anymore Toto!

This past Friday night, my husband and I attended an introduction to night life on Stratumseind. It was an education night for parents of teens. We started at a youth center and then traveled in groups to three different bars and a police station. Each bar was basically empty as we began around 7PM. Most of the action doesn’t even begin until midnight. Bars stay open till 2 AM during the week and 4AM during the weekend. At each location we were educated on what the teens are being served in the bars and what to expect as for safety of the teens.

Stratumseind is the longest street in The Netherlands of its kind. There are around 55 pubs or clubs within a 300 meter area. Most of the pub or club owners are part of an association, working together to keep people safe and to keep them from being fined. If something goes wrong, like underage drinking or something like that, the club owner is fined not the child. Usually a letter is sent to the parents telling them that their child was on Stratumseind. But the police admitted that some parents tell them, yes they know that’s where they were!! Around 15 police are stationed to this one 300 meter area on the weekends. They are positioned on foot, horse, bike and some with dogs. They basically stick to the street. At the doors of the clubs are bouncers that go through training with the police on what to be looking for and keeping the people safe. One problem is that once a person is certified, they are certified for life. Hmmmm???

What I did learn is that like I said before, raising a teen here is very different. It doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It means a little adjustment and knowledge is needed. We did prepare her before we allowed her to go out. She doesn’t go out alone and she is never alone while there. We have a discussion before and after my daughter goes out. She does have a curfew but we’ve had to adjust that one a bit but there is no way she is staying out till 4:00AM. Keeping in touch and listening to your child and their friends is so important whether you are living in The Netherlands, America or wherever. Stratumseind is the heartbeat of Eindhoven. Like it or not, it’s the way life is here.  Informing myself and my child is how I will be able to keep her as safe as possible. Oh and this information from the Police… Pot is not legal. But it is seen through an open eye or as we call it..turning a blind eye. This American Girl’s eyes are wide open!

Neverland…. Raising a teen in The Netherlands

I’ve always thought of myself as a fun mom. I’m strict in some areas and ready to laugh and have fun in others. My children as they grew older have always had a certain curfew that gradually got later as they got older and were ready for the responsibility of being out safely at night. They were not allowed to date until 16 but group activities were ok. In America there are so many activities that involve the whole family, it just kind of worked.

My kids all swam competitively from early childhood and into high school. Many nights and days were spent at swim meets watching and cheering on my girls as they swam for their teams.

 And when my daughter cheered for her school we always went to every game to cheer on the different sports. I cannot tell you how thrilling it is to be a part of a community that is very successful in different sports and being there from the beginning to see how a season turns out.

Moving to The Netherlands we knew we were giving up that kind of intense bond with a community. But ready for an adventure we came with an open mind. Ok, well not open but slightly ajar. Who are we kidding? That lid was clamped down and tight! We brought with us our beautiful 15 year old daughter. There was no way I was letting her out of my sight!

Letting your teenager go to the movie with friends or to the football game on Friday night or even an evening of bowling is difficult enough when your child first comes of age to be a little independent. But we were bringing our child to a country where pot is legal (I think.. I’m still not clear on the rules), prostitution is around the corner and sometimes just smack dab out in the windows and the drinking age is 16. There is this whole “Free to let it be” attitude.

We were very lucky because we had brought my daughter over when we looked for a house and we took her to her new school for a day so she could see what it was like. She met many new friends. So, when the first day of school came she was already included into the group. I was so very thankful but wait… not so fast! Some of those kids were going out on Friday nights to the clubs. Some of them were riding the city bus all over town. And some were biking all over at all hours of the night. Not my little girl, not going to happen! Nope! No Way!!

Well, we’ve eased our way into the Dutch culture. We’ve discussed the situation with many, many people from The Netherlands and The United States. I’ve become friends with a few people who have kids my daughter’s age. We are all just carefully testing the water. They go out in groups and always stick together. They’ve all turned 16 now so I’m sure some drinking is going on. I just know my daughter has to get into the car with us at the end of the night (they can’t drive till 18) and would no way want to be drunk around us. My friends and I all wait for our teens at their curfew time together at our favorite pick up local, the police station! Yes, there’s a curfew! Yes, there are strict rules! Are you kidding me? They’re kids and need guidance and protection.

Moving to another country has been exciting and fun! But this area of our lives is very foreign to us. I do know that at home in the US, kids would go to parties and sneak around to drink. Here it’s just out in the open and no one is driving home. But I do feel their brains are still developing and when you drink you make stupid choices or others around you make stupid choices. The whole process is definitely a learning experience. I guess I’m happy to be able to walk through this whole thing together with her and know what’s going on. But still….  Very different!

Peter Pan never grew up but the rest of us do. So, this mom will be attending a presentation on how to keep a teen safe in our area. We’ll be learning the ins and outs of the area where our teens are hanging out, Stratumseind. Where is Stratumseind? I think… second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning.

Flowers and Sunshine and Swans…. Oh My!

Today I took a little drive a short distance from the Schiphol airport to Lisse. This is where Keukenhof Holland is located. This tiny little town is home to the world famous Keukenhof flower show. A short 1 ½ hour drive and we were driving our way through the gates of beauty. Experts were there awaiting our arrival and ready to help us get parked.

For a few weeks it had been rainy. I had kept putting off the visit waiting for a sunny day. With one not in sight and time rapidly running out before my daughter was to leave, we left for Keukenhof on a cloudy day. But the Bumblebee Gods were watching over us. On the menu for that day, Sun, the perfect backdrop for a beautiful garden.

With over 7 million flower bulbs planted by hand, the Keukenhof was ready to put on a display of magnificence. We wandered around the many gardens careful not to step on the grass. People were everywhere taking photos.

After a nice lunch and a swoop through one of the many gift shops we headed out of the park to see the tulip fields. They are literally shocking! Row after row, color after color. Fields lined with tulips of every color of the rainbow.

I was so happy we had a beautiful sunny day for our trip to the Keukenhof.  And as we drove towards Eindhoven the rain began to fall.

Gai Paree… Joyful Paris

With a population of over 2 million people, I don’t see how a city the size of Paris, France can still oooz charm from almost every corner of the city but somehow it does.  While my daughter was visiting me in The Netherlands from the States, I knew I wanted to get her out and about to see some new places. I looked around at some different options on how to get us ready and to keep costs to a minimum.

Anyone who lives near a vacation area knows how difficult it is to maintain normal life but also be ready to do some wonderful things when friends and family come to visit. It gets a tad expensive. So with this in mind and the fact that we had just paid to fly her over to us, I checked into bus tours. I had never done one but my in-laws had just done this while visiting with us in the fall. We were both so excited to be having a mommy/daughter trip all on our own.

Our bus left the Eindhoven station in the morning and by that afternoon we were pulling into the city of Paris. Along the way, we met others that were sitting close by, families, couples, friends, all ready to have fun. It was wonderful hearing everyone’s stories and getting to know them. They were very interested in the two American girls who were venturing out on their own, and curious as to why I was living in The Netherlands.

My first goal was to make sure we did not get lost and make sure our tour guide and bus driver knew we did not speak Dutch. I walked straight up to the bus driver, offered my hand and said “Hi, my name is Lisa. I don’t speak Dutch. Please don’t lose me.” He laughed and immediately assured me that he would not. When the tour guide arrived on our bus she immediately indicated that she would be doing both Dutch and English for us. Then we found a few people that only spoke Spanish so she spoke Spanish as well. What a wonderful gift. I was not expecting that at all.

Well, getting lost was no joking matter. As she explained in Dutch for several minutes and then briefly in English, we began to understand that we were about to be dropped off on our own. We were to report back to the bus in one hour at the spot he had left us. Ummmm…..I had no idea where we were! So we thought we would just stick close to the tour guide. No, she climbed back on the bus and off they drove. Ok, not a problem, we’ll just tag along with one of the Dutch groups. Where the Hell did everyone go!!! New mission: stay in a one block radius and be back to the starting point way ahead of time.

As we made our way through the thousands of Parisians to the Sacre’-Coeur Basilica, we were very aware of how touristy we looked. Not a problem, clench on to our purses and don’t lose each other. As we passed through the beautiful gates of the Sacre’-Coeur Basilica, we were literally swarmed by about 10 men/boys. All with a mission of having us look at a braided string thing they were all holding. Wanting to tell us about the string and distract us so they could pick pocket us. Now, having lived in Europe for almost a year, I was used to this sort of behavior. My daughter on the other hand was not. Even though we had prepped her, it’s a tad shocking when it happens. I pushed my way through and said NO firmly! They had my daughter surrounded and I grabbed her arm and said “Let’s Go!” Then one of the men said..”Aww, Momma, don’t be upset. I won’t steal your little girl. Come on Momma. I’m nice.”  I looked at him, grabbed my daughter and said “BACK OFF”, and he did. Funny, now that I’m thinking back… they were speaking English to us. Hmmmmmm!

New mission: find mommy a new purse with a strap to wear across my body and ditch the Coach purse! We promptly bought me a 10E little purse. The view and surroundings from the church were both relaxing and stunning. People were gathered all around the hill basking in the beauty and sun. But we carefully kept our eyes on the men who continued to harass others all around the area. Amazing how many people actually stopped to listen to what they had to say.

We made it back to the bus and then we walked as a group to our restaurant for dinner. Then onto our night tour of Paris.

We went to a building where we went up 56 floors and then a few more flights where we came out onto the roof. As dusk fell, there we were overlooking the city of Paris. A quick scan of the city and then all eyes fell on The Iron Lady. The Eiffel Tower was lighting up in all her glory. I can easily say The Eiffel calls people from around the world to gaze upon her beauty. As hundreds of us stood on the roof of that building from the four corners of the world together, I was humbled. This is the way the world should be. All people, together, working for a common goal, peace.

We continued our drive through the city looking at all the beautiful places glowing in the night. The funniest part (but I’m sure not to our driver) was when our tour guide sent us down the wrong road and we got stuck. Our bus driver had to back up two city blocks and turn around in a very tiny intersection. We all clapped and cheered as he narrowly missed a building, sending us in the right direction.

The next day, as we passed through the Chapel Gate to Paris, our tour guide explained which buildings where which and the history that went along with them all. Joan of Arc had stayed at the La Chapel Place. This was the name of the gate we had entered into the city.  It was very informative. We saw parts of Paris and were told stories that I knew I would have never known. I also knew there was a lot that went on under the city streets but to experience how to get down there and to walk among the people just going along with their normal everyday lives was exciting. The streets, the shopping, the catacombs, the underground 50 meter swimming pool and thousands of people just milling about three stories underground is shocking.

We didn’t get to see the catacombs but as I have a love for cemeteries, I’m thinking I might need to take a little peek one day. Apparently, in the l’Ossuaire Municipal, around 6,000,000 people’s remains are buried. But that will have to wait….

My daughter and I next took a cruise along the Seine River. We cruised past, Parisian homes and businesses, up to an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. Then back past the Louvre and on to Notre Dame. There is not a bad view in the city of this beautiful church. This was definitely at the top of our list of things we enjoyed the most on our trip. A beautiful day, floating on the Seine, stunning views… perfect!

I was saving the best for last. Our tour guide set us on our own for three hours. I knew we had enough time to walk to Notre Dame. We’d driven past it during the day and the night and even floated past it but I wanted to get my daughter into the church. I’m not sure how but when we got there we were able to just walk right in without waiting in line.

First thing we did was to go over and light a candle for my mom, my dad and a dear friend of ours who is fighting cancer right now. They were setting up the church for the Easter services that would be starting with Holy Thursday. Our trip to Paris had been wonderful and to end it at Notre Dame was just perfect.

A trip with my daughter to a beautiful, quaint city full of music, character and stunning places to visit…. Priceless! Gai Paree... Joyful Paris.. You bet!