An American in Enschede ([info]ninthphoenix) wrote,
@ 2006-07-30 15:01:00
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From the ashes...
As of 7/23/06 I have left The States and immigrated to The Netherlands. It's a whole new life, requiring a new effort to make sense of it all. I need a place again to speak to my friends that doesn't involve me waiting 8 hours til someone is likely to be up in a US time zone. I can no longer pop over to frogger and sputter's for a cry on the shoulder. I'm not alone here, but I am very isolated.

This journal may be a bit more serious, maybe more dull to some, as my challenges are no longer 'What the hell do I wear to club tonight?', but rather 'How do I be an insta-stepmom for a child who doesn't share my language'. I definitely need a place to share the bizarre quirks of Europe.

So anyhow, I'm back as much as time will permit...

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[info]catblade
2006-07-30 03:54 pm UTC (link)
Yay bizarrre quirks!

I am glad you are alive and made it safely to your new world.

You will make a fine insta-stepmom, especially since she is young enough to learn your language. Maybe you could just continue speaking english around and to her instead of attempting to speak a language you don't know... she is seriously young enough to pick it up and learn it so she can speak it as a native. Apparently that skill goes away when she hits puberty. A guy at work does this with his wife-one of them speaks english and the other spanish. It apparently works pretty well.

When is the wedding? Could you email me where to sent a present/money for it?

I really miss you and am sad that the time when I started to really get to know you outside of school was only right before you left, but I am very glad I had that time.

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[info]ninthphoenix
2006-07-31 08:32 am UTC (link)
Yes, that was rather odd timing, wasn't it? Yay for derby. Speaking of which, I've been looking around here and there are exactly zero skating rinks here. Zero! And the sidewalks are all brick. Meh. At least I have my first rugby practice on Tuesday, so I'm sure I'll have some way to injure myself soon. Woot.

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[info]squishyent
2006-07-30 04:03 pm UTC (link)
hooray! nice to hear from you (:

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[info]ninthphoenix
2006-07-31 08:35 am UTC (link)
Indeed. Now I don't have to go through Josh to get updates on you...I have to put up with the real thing ;)

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[info]psychoengel909
2006-07-30 05:09 pm UTC (link)
congrats!!! what part have you moved to??? I was originally in Goes (in a southern province near the sea called "Zeeland) but now I am living in Antwerp (Belgium)..heh..actually, right now I am sitting in Buffalo but I'll be back late August :)

lots of kids there are rasied bilingual (or at least get lots of English at school and watching movies/playing video games) so I don't think you will have any trouble speaking English...but if you ever want to talk with me about learning Dutch PLEASE let me know!!! I am seriously looking for someone to share the struggle with! I learned lots the first 6 months I was there but now after 2 years I have hit a major roadblock....

also, I wouldn't mind just talking about getting used to life in general. have you gotten a bike yet?? ;) there are lots of interesting little cultural differences and I always have lots of Dutch/Belgian people to talk to about it but not many Americans...

hope everything else is going well with you!
Carolyn

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[info]ninthphoenix
2006-07-31 08:43 am UTC (link)
I'm in Enschede in Overijssel...so quite SE, right by the German border. Yes, I've found a lot of people can speak English when they have to, which is great for me, though I am trying to be good and not rely on that too much. And I'm good about asking questions about the language all day long...but by evening my brain is just zonked and often I can't remember the specifics of things the next day :P I'm curious as to what roadblock you've hit. I've talked with a few co-workers of the Dutch Boi who are not native and they usually say it took them around 3 years to really be able to speak with ease. I do have to say that I'm having a better time of hearing the language. I was was here last here for a few weeks and I couldn't pick words out of sentences for anything. Now I can hear the individual words better....I just don't often know what they mean.

I do have a bike now. My Boi's ex's bike was still here, so I used that for the first few days, but then we went and bought some nicer used ones. Thank god for roller derby or my legs would

I'm definitely down for discussion of the differences and commiseration of what I can't find here...hello, fabric softener sheets? I'm preparing a mental care package for my mom ;)

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[info]_wirehead_
2006-07-30 07:02 pm UTC (link)
wow! congratulations, babe! and good luck with the culture shock! ^_^;;

/me envies ;p

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[info]ninthphoenix
2006-07-31 08:44 am UTC (link)
I think the worst of the shock came last year during my visit...so now it's not so much shock but the incorporation of weirdness in everyday living :)

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[info]aerolyn1
2006-07-31 12:47 am UTC (link)
EXCELLENT! Nice to hear from you, and congrats with the wedding and all! Can't wait to see what happens next!

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[info]ninthphoenix
2006-07-31 08:45 am UTC (link)
Good to hear from you too...I see you've been traveling, tho I haven't had a moment to actually sit and read anyone's entries yet. I shall get to it soon :)

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[info]froggergirliee
2006-07-31 06:13 am UTC (link)
Yay!

I miss you yo. So much so that I'm staying up late and signing on to AIM. You know me, I hate AIM.

Give T and L hugs and kisses for me.

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[info]ninthphoenix
2006-07-31 08:28 am UTC (link)
ohhh, I'll have start logging into AIM more. I was avoiding it in order to avoid getting asked work questions ;)

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[info]elegantdreams
2006-07-31 08:54 am UTC (link)
Wow! talk about some changes. I can imagine that your head will be spinning for awhile, but you will be amazed how quickly you start getting used to it...damn you have some guts!!
N

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