An American in Enschede

New journal thattaway

2007-05-17T09:45:15Z

I've started a new journal: lost_in_nl

I kept intending to post more to this journal. I would open it up and have things to write and just spend a little quality stare time and close it again. I guess I feel a bit boxed in and weighted down by old baggage associated with it. There are so many good things as well here, but those I seem to remember just fine without the journal. There's certainly no point in deleting it as it is indeed all part of me.

No one is required to follow me, of course. I've let a lot fall by the wayside in the adjustment process and have not kept in good contact with many.

Such a huge life upheaval as I've done is requiring a rebuilding of self and identity, and for that, I prefer a blanker slate.

Hugs to all who have been here with me in this chapter.

The wedding day approacheth.

2007-03-25T10:11:45Z

Less than a week to my wedding (March 30). Guests have started to arrive from the US. I've decided that I will start a new journal when the busyness has calmed down. I'll post why and a link here when it happens.

In the meantime, my friend jsallach is here visiting. He's posting daily with pictures and thoughts on visiting The Netherlands, so check out his journal.

I'll be back when I'm an old married broad. Or in about two weeks.

New reading material

2006-12-26T14:14:21Z

Just finished the first book of the Death Gate Cycle and loved it. Sped through it really, as the writing was simple and I was greatly entertained. Of course, I don't have any of the following books, and this being another holiday day, can't go rummage through the used section of the local bookstore. Not only do I now have to still look for the sci-fi/fantasy section as before, but now I have to look specifically for the English section :P

Not having anything else to read, the Boi handed me Blue Moon Rising by Simon Green. I'd highly recommend it for anyone looking for light fantasy reading whose main goal is to be humorous rather than serious.

That is all.

Better news...

2006-12-26T13:46:56Z

I realize I've been long out of contact with many of my friends, and for that, I apologize. I value every one of you...I'm just overwhelmed at times in this new strange place that doesn't want me to live here (damn you, Immigration).
Actually, we have some good news on the immigration front. The Boi called to check up on them since we were supposed to have had a reply by now. The ten day time frame they had given us that made us sure there was nothing we could do to remedy the situation during the appeal? *snicker* They told him they were backlogged three to six *months*. So yeah. Plenty of time for him to get a second job and make up the already small deficit in earning power. Better yet, he's just been promoted! Jan. 1, he'll be moving up to a supervisor position and more importantly, moving into another area. He'll be away from the complete idiot bosses that made his every minute there a stressful hell and be working for a longtime friend in conjunction with people he already knows to be fair and good workers. Huzzah!

So things are looking up and I finally have rested enough on this Second Christmas day to have the energy to try to reconnect with people. Yes, we get a Second Christmas day. Most holidays here are two days long. Fine with me :)

Happy Whatever to all of you. I hope to be in contact more regularly in the coming year. Please feel free to *poke* me if I am not.
Hugs,
Me.

Appeal Update

2006-10-25T12:03:33Z

So the Boi's request for a raise was denied. We'll have to send in an appeal that can't counteract the reason for denial. Hopefully, we can use other points and they'll give a damn. Now, I'm just too depressed to move :P

Appeal update

2006-10-16T13:06:11Z

Not much of an update...the Boi's work is inclined to give him the raise needed to help with my appeal for residency, but they're being all bureaucratically slow about it. Since we're up against a deadline, we're just going to send the appeal saying that his workplace is working on it and emphasizing that it would be cruel for Kiddo to have just another mom go away.

Finally, a great thing.

2006-10-05T09:26:05Z

The Boi has official, full, legal custody of Kiddo finally!! Yay, safety opposite The Crazy!

What de?

2006-10-02T12:54:58Z

We're watching Mary Poppins in Dutch and they actually changed the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious for the song....as if it were real word that needed to be translated :P

We're visible!

2006-10-01T20:41:44Z

Google Earth has just added the Netherlands, so if you want to see our town from the air (assuming you have the free program installed), search for "Enschede, Netherlands".

Photos of trip to Market

2006-09-28T17:19:02Z

Here's the first in what I hope will be regular photo essays of life here in the Netherlands.

So every Saturday, we walk to the market. There's a large plaza in the center of the shopping area that transforms from huge emptiness to a packed market area. There we buy a lot of our groceries for the week. Market also happens on Tuesdays, but it seems to be a smaller, more deflated version.
We took pictures several weeks ago of our foray, but I've been lax in posting them because I wanted to note a lot of details. So finally, here ya go.

Getting ready leave with Kiddo. I did not dress her in a bright yellow shirt with pink striped pants. From the big silver pipe to the red car is the Dutch Boi's parents' house where we currently reside on the upper floor. That's it. As you can see...no front yard. The 'back yard' is a medium-ish patio area. There are about 12 houses stuck together like this for our 'block'. The door on the other side of the silver pipe belongs to (one of the many, many) Aunt and Uncle pairs.

Setting off down the block next to the red brick street. The row of houses you see right in front of it...you'll see the other side of those later. This neighborhood is very new, the previous having been levelled after the nearby fireworks factory exploded. The Boi's parents escaped with their lives, but lost everything. You can see a video of the disaster here (opens in new window).

One of the largest intersections in town. The red lanes are bike lanes. Since these are major streets, they're paved.

Kiddo pressing the crosswalk button of the same intersection. You can see the two sets of lights next to each other. The left set with the usual circles is for cars. The right set is for the bikes. It's hard to see, but it's actually a little picture of a bike. They alternate...all the bikes go, then all the cars. "Let Op" means "Watch Out", reminding cars to look for bicycles, who always have the right of way.

The other side of the houses I mentioned. Just another view of how a block of houses looks.

Kiddo seriously likes having her picture taken. Just another view farther down the street. The buildings are businesses and houses mixed. Usage zoning can be of any size, so you often see single businesses in the middle of neighborhoods full of houses or a house in the middle of a block of stores.

Another view of the same, just shifted right so you can see the Timmerman bicycle shop. Bike shops here are like McDonald's in the US...everywhere. And poetically, there are only a few McDonald's here, only one of which has a drive-thru. The big arrow pointing to the drive thru entrance says "McDrive", I kid you not.

Leaving the street area into the town center. Both sides are lined with shops. Cars are only rarely allowed in. That big metal post with the red light? There's a buzzer and you have to be on the guest list that the person on the other end checks to be let in. Shop keepers have a passcard. The middle post lowers electronically to let you in. (The Boi pointed out that this one is technically exit-only, but it looks just like the other ones where you can enter). The line running down the middle of the street? That's the gutter. A note about businesses: Unless you are something like a restaurant, you close at 6pm and are closed on Sunday. People spend their evenings with family and friends instead of working til 10 or 11.

Mmmm. Bakery. We always stop here on the way to the market for breakfast. I just always love their front window so much, we had to take a pic of it.

The church in town center. Apparently it is totally common in Europe to have a church in the center of town, then a plaza around it, then, naturally, a ring of bars, with some cafes/restaurants.

A head-on shot of one of those bars across from the church. I don't drink beer, but Grolsch is a big name in Europe and is produced here. It's like Coke and Pepsi. Bars only serve Heineken or Grolsch, never both. There was actually a old Grolsch factory right behind our house that's in the process of being torn down.

Molly Malone's Irish Pub where we meet the Boi's rugby friends on Wednesday nights for Trivia night. This area always reminds me I'm in Europe because there are people sitting outside these bars/cafes/restaurants all day like some iconic image of Europe.

The VVV, the equivalent of Tourist Info. And they always speak English. If you are ever lost in Europe just look confused and ask "VVV?" of the nearest local.

Entering the market area. The big spire is 'art'. There are stalls that sell clothes and such, but a large majority are for food. People here don't hit big grocery stores and just get everything. You go to market, to the individual cheese seller, fish seller or whatnot to get your groceries for the week. Also, in this town, Saturday market business is around 70% German folk - the border is only 5 minutes away. So if you appear to not understand Dutch, the sellers will bust out in German next.

View down another aisle. There are also lots of vendors selling the America equivalent of 'fair food' - spring rolls, burgers, fries, and so on.

Vegetable vendors on the right, crowded aisles.

Me pushing Kiddo and heading to my favorite vendor, the snack vendor ;) Dried fruits, nuts, candied fruits, chocolate covered stuff. They always give Kiddo free raisins. Most vendors have a little treat ready for kids.

On the right is the vendor Tim's family has been buying cheese from for years and years. On the left is the stall where we always get sausages.

The fish market area. Quite smelly. Besides all the raw stuff, there are several stalls selling fresh fried fish.

Nothing but eggs!

Nothing but Cigarettes!

Another side of our cheese vendor, next to the greek food vendor.

Lastly, the whole market. We were trying to get a picture that showed just how enormous this whole thing is and got this. It doesn't do it justice by any means.

Still alive...

2006-09-28T16:23:22Z

Been dealing with new things...or rather a new realization on an old problem, which I don't tend to want to discuss here because I'd rather this not turn into a whinefest journal. It has unfortunately, been very consuming in time and energy.

We have a date!! We are on the official roster to get married on March 30, 2007. This still does not leave me the hugest amount of time. The Dutch Boi's cousin just announced that after 8 years of dating, she and her boyfriend are now engaged, surprising no one. It does mean I have a partner in planning crime. We'll be hitting a wedding event show in about 2 weeks. More importantly, it means that we're going to Italy for their wedding next October. :) Much to my shock, my dad has also volunteered to help pay for the reception.

I've actually driven myself to the gym a few times this week...the farthest I've driven by myself. Yes, we drive on the right side of the road. Unfortunately, there are about twice as many signs to learn (they have signs for all the things that you are...allowed to do, not just what you cannot do.) Also, a couple of the rules of the road are the opposite of what we are used to. So I've been a bit tenative, worrying that I would get into one of the opposite situations and not realize it and cause an accident.
All the roads are tiny and quite often bricklayed instead of asphalt. There's barely room for two of the tiny cars here to pass on most roads. There's always a large bike lane on either side...that's the major form of transportation. At major intersections, the bikes all have their own stoplight separate from the cars. Any other time, if you're turning right in a car, you have to make sure you check for bicycles in the bike lane beside you. It costs 71 Euros to fill the bois 60 liter car. That's about $90 US. Thus a good reason to continue to use biking as the major form of transportation.
Anyhow...I have photos to post, but I'd rather break it up somewhat than make a marathon post.

Eventually I will update regularly

2006-08-15T07:55:53Z

All day long I see things out of the ordinary. I compose entries in my head and giggle over things I want to share...but by the end of a day of chasing around a kid and having to concentrate on translating language in order to be able to buy bread...I just don't wanna. So I brought the kid upstairs with me this morning so that I could try to make an entry before the day wears me down. I'll break down larger topics into their own entries cuz I hate reading LJ novels myself.

Interesting point about copyright law here in the Netherlands...you are allowed to download *but not use* anything. Right now I'm downloading (but not using, of course) quite a lot of cool things. ;)

My first week or so here it was in the 90's with high humidity and I felt like I was melting because most houses here don't have any kind of air conditioning. Right after that, the country went back to its normal rainy self. It's mid-August and 63 degrees F outside right now with a light drizzle. People probably think I don't own any other shirt than my Dresden Dolls hoodie cuz it's too freaking cold for me not to wear a hoodie all the damn time.

The Kid and I are getting along well. She's started coming up to me randomly and giving me hugs and kisses and telling me she thinks I'm nice. In exchange, I have taught her how to disco dance while singing Shake Your Booty.

I've decided to wait on rugby for now. It's fun and it's my kind of game, but my knee had not healed sufficiently from roller derby apparently. It hurts and feels weak when I sprint, and well, rugby is constant sprinting. So the Dutch Boi and I are getting gym memberships this week. I'll get in better shape and strengthen my leg around my knee before I go back to rugby.

Tomorrow night we will have another couple over for dinner and drinks. It's an American lady who is getting married to another Dutch boi from this town soon. She's been really anxious to meet me and it makes me wonder if she thinks we're going to be best friends now based solely on the fact that we're probably the only two Americans in this particular town. I've only chatted a tiny bit with her online and thus far she doesn't really seem like someone I would be interested in being friends with anyhow. It makes me rather leery about tomorrow. We'll see. It does mean I need to do some heavy duty cleaning up here. The upstairs is ours and we've made a nice cozy place, really. The large bedroom we've split down the middle with a hugeass bookcase, filled to the brim with (98% my) books. On one side is the bed and computers/desks. The other is a sleeper couch, coffee table and all the entertainment stuffs. Dutch Boi has it set up so that we can also play stuff on his computer and watch it cozied up on the couch at the other end of the room.

Oh, and most importantly, I have finished applying for residency. So I have a temporary permit affixed to my passport allowing me to stay in the country up to 6 months while my application is being processed. We can also now make an appointment to start the marriage scheduling process.
Now, however, it is time to head out to the open air market downtown (more on that later). I seriously miss all my friends...my HoBots (go see them play this Saturday!!)...and sushi. God, I miss sushi.

A wedding, a loss, and movies

2006-07-31T12:17:33Z

So the wedding is pushed back again, for anyone who hasn't heard. The Netherlands has decided to crack down on people getting married for whatever color equivalent of the green card is here. Thusly, after we submit all my immigration paperwork at our appointment on Thursday, THEN I get to wait 2 more months before we can even start the marriage paperwork, reserve city hall (no church marriages here, yay), etc. Since my parents refuse to travel during Nov and Dec and Jan/Feb is too nasty here, it will be March or later.

Dearest moonsail, please keep me informed of when your new date is so I avoid psychically picking the same time. Again. ;)

If anyone knows anyone who wants a ferret, mine is still back in the US looking for a home. There's only one now, the eldest having passed a couple days ago after a few weeks on heart medication for her old age.

Following my promise to share the oddities here, I shall talk about the movie-going experience in The Netherlands. Movies used to come out here months after the US, but due to piracy, they are usually here a week or two later now. Score one for piracy. When you buy your tickets, you get specific seat assignments. There is a bar in the lobby and you can take your drink into the theater. The walls block cell phones calls. All movies have intermissions and L.E.D signs in the lobby let you know how long before the intermission is over. Unless the movie is Dutch-made, they show it in English with Dutch subtitles.
All plusses, IMO. The only minus is the severe lack of salty popcorn. They don't eat much popcorn here at all, and at the theater they have more sweet popcorn available than salty. *tsk*

My care package list now consists of Sweettarts, microwave popcorn, Lubriderm, and dryer sheets. Amazon UK needs to expand its offerings. Yeah.

From the ashes...

2006-07-30T13:09:45Z

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...

Derby pics

2005-10-29T16:30:32Z

Photos from our first Roller Derby bout are up:

http://www.dukecityderby.com/albums/FirstBout/

Roller Derby Exhibition poster

2005-09-28T18:51:33Z

New exhibition bout time

2005-09-12T19:35:52Z

So yeah, I think I forgot to mention the State Fair folks cancelled on us. But Midnight Rodeo will let us bout! Tenative date is October 22, prolly early afternoon rather than late at night so that underaged persons can enjoy our hot girl on girl derby action.

This is not our official flyer (seeing as how it is just a little biased towards our team), but it makes me smile:

Fairly warned be ye, says I

2005-08-08T13:54:14Z

So...this is only 99% set in stone, but it looks like the Duke City Derby will be having its first exhibition bout on September 11....at the State Fair....at Tingley freakin' Coliseum.
How cool (and intimidating) is that?

I have seen the future and it is....Europe

2005-07-21T03:22:09Z

So some big issues were hashed out this week and the short of it is that the Dutch boi (um, who I may have forgotten to mention is now my fiance) will not be able to come over here after all. Thusly, I will be joining him in the Netherlands, probably by the end of the year.

I'm in a bizarre state of mind, half euphoric, half depressed. I can't sleep well and I can't concentrate at work.
I mean...on the one hand, Europe, bay-bee! A whole new life. But...I leave great friends behind, no matter how accessible they are by internet. And I have to leave the dukecityderby (also check us out on myspace), which I just got involved with and love dearly. And let's face it, I'll be leaving some measure of comfort zone, trying to be employed in a place where I only speak the language minimally. Much sadness.

I know I'll appreciate the opportunities and challenges, but I can say, just from my 3 week vacation there that spending each day not understanding what is going on around you can be frustrating and tiring.

I'll still be flailing with the Duke City Derby until I leave (which makes the boi unhappy, but that's another story) and we hope to have more than one bout in the fall. If you're thinking about kicking some ass, hang out with us at a practice. Come skate Sunday night at Roller King.

As I get closer to moving, I will also prolly be giving away lots of shit, because, well, it's expensive to move stuffs. So watch this space, heh.

American History according to D.C. on The Peak

2005-07-01T14:16:06Z

So there's this radio personality that I like. He's funny, but vapid. Today, during the morning show discussion of the July 4th holiday, he showed just how vapid. Here are some things that he (American born, both parents in the US military) believed to be true:

1. July 4th became a holiday to celebrate the birth of The Firecracker.
2. The whole world celebrates July 4, due to #1.
3. Moriarty, NM, is the national headquarters of The Firecracker.
4. The US invented The Firecracker.
5. The US existed before China did.
6. The US colonies gained their independence from what country?
First answer: Iraq. Second answer: Vermont.

So sad.

Still here

2005-05-31T17:13:18Z

Status: Still kicking

Current: Just got promoted, barely passed the evil that was CS451 which almost made me drop out of school due to stress, unable to sleep due to the following...

Future: Leaving in 2 days to see the Dutch boi in Europe for 3 weeks. We'll hit Germany, Switzerland, and Paris. Hopefully I'll get a chance to post while there about my adventures. Or non-adventures, as this is mostly a trip to meet his (very extended) family.

After that: Joining the Duke City Derby (if they'll have me), the ABQ league of all-girl roller derby that is in its beginning stages. Anyone want to be a thrashin' Roller Girl with me? Short skirts, stockings, skates, and smackdown. Sounds like my kind of fun.

Counting down the hours...

2004-11-19T16:06:32Z

Yeah. Not that I've been posting that much recently, but I definitely won't be for the next two weeks as Dutch boi will be here (arriving at 6:21pm tonight, bay-bee). It's the equivalent of 2:21am his time, not to mention 16 hours worth of flight in an airplane his 6'8" bod does not fit in. I'm fairly certain he will crash immediately, so we made no plans for tonight. I'm also bringing a book. Hey, I ALWAYS have a book with me, just in case. It's like my brain gets bored in .3 seconds flat if I ever have to wait around for anything.

LJ should have a Reading Material field to go along with Music and Mood.

Current Reading Material: A Plague of Angels - Sheri S. Tepper

ninthphoenix @ 2004-11-13T14:00:00

2004-11-13T21:04:53Z

I'm such a pitiful geek, feeling sad because someone who said they'd wait for me to get EQ2 and start with me has already jumped into the game.

Pathetic. I hate being left behind.

Just a link....to lots of apologies.

2004-11-10T17:06:16Z

Pictorial apologies to the rest of the world for inflicting Bush on them for 4 more years.

There are craploads of pages of pics involved. Somewhat entertaining for The Bored.

We're not the only ones wondering...

2004-11-05T20:23:42Z

Ok, so I'm calmer about the election. I still snarfed when I saw this in mipplet's journal. It's the front page of the UK's Daily Mirror newspaper.

The Dutch boi says everyone over there is discussing it at length as well.