Patiently awaiting my first trip to Dublin..

Man, I have been a bad blogger recently. I've been trying to keep up but with the Holidays it proved to be more difficult than I imagined. Recap of my Christmas week.. Tuesday night, met up with the other au pairs at Marichen's house (her family is away in Belgium).. enjoyed each others company as always. I wasn't drinking much that night so I became the D.D which sometimes I really like, deciding when the group leaves, having a car to drive rather than biking in this snowy slush. Went to Tapuit aka the mancave with myself, Marichen (south african) Kristian (canadian) and Milly (australian).. needless to say we were representing a sample of the world. Spent the night catching up with my dutch friends, and having my au pair friends mingle with that crowd. It's really gratifying to realize how many different groups of friends I have been able to meet since arriving here. So thankful for my different relationships with them and that they are all able to enjoy each others company. Closed down the bar, and then brought back 5 or 6 of the dutchies back to the house for drinks. Red wine till 7am= massive headache on Wednesday.

Wednesday, went to dinner at the house of a good friend of mine, Jitse and his family. Jitse was one of the original dutch friends I made here who introduced me to all of the girls and guys I now I have in my life. I feel really lucky to  have a great friendship with him and I've spent plenty of time hanging out at his house, and spending time with his amazing, strong and intelligent Mom, Esther. I love his family very much. Delicious lasagna prepared by Jitse, then Frannie arrived, and we were back off to Tapuit. One beer turned into multiple ones, and then we were closing down the bar- yet again. Thursday was a regrouping day for me.. early bedtime.

Christmas Eve- the kids woke me up with my christmas present.. Lancome eye makeup set, YAY for new really nice mascara. Spent the last hour with them before they left for their grandparents house in The Hague.. I really think I'm going to miss those three this week.. granted there are times I'm ready to kick their butts, but after almost four months I have grown to love and appreciate them for their many traits. I love that I have formed a different relationship with each of them, and look forward to that bond growing during my time here. Went shopping with Marichen and Kristian for our Christmas Eve dinner at Vomar.. (a local grocery store). I LOVE that you can buy liquor inside of the grocery store- it makes for one less trip to the ABC store in the States. Pork tenderloin, pasta, and chicken on the menu- Southern Comfort, Vodka punch and Champagne to celebrate. Dinner around 8pm with 10 of us- Marloes and Frannie joined which is always wonderful, and met a new dutch au pair named Leyla, who made me feel a little less old at 28. :) Leyla drove us into the city center of Haarlem to go out, and to see the caroling in the town square. At one point, I had to pinch myself  that I actually live in this amazing little European country. Tons of people were together in the city square, there was a huge stage with a band playing dutch music, a giant Christmas tree all lit up against the glow of the enormous (Groot=big) Church. People were drinking cider and beer and all singing together.. it was a really beautiful sight. Ended up at Stielts, then Lift, followed by Murphy's and off to Marichens again for the night!

Christmas day.. woke up with the au pairs, had coffee together. Came home and skyped with my Mom, Grandma and Porter. Today I was emotional, seeing my family together- missing home (which I do occassionally, regardless of what my mom thinks) cried seeing them all together. Got myself together and reminded myself that it was okay to be sad, missing your family is okay, and Christmas is just a day to remind each other how much we love one another. So, that being said- I fixed my eye makeup and went off to Frannies house to have Christmas dinner. I am so grateful to have met friends, and their family that are willing to take me in for dinner or to spend holidays with them (I had Thanksgiving with Frannie as well). Delicious, lingering European dinner.. sat down at 7- didn't get up until 10.. 3 courses, wine, and lots of dutch conversation with a little interpretation on the side. The longer I am here, I am realizing that I am actually learning the language.. Granted I dont understand all of what is being said- but I can form a basis of the conversation. I really like that my friends and their family continue to speak dutch in front of me, it's so important to me to learn the language so that I can really get a grasp of the dutch culture. Language courses begin for me next month and I am really excited to start them!

Today I've packed, and am now waiting for my ride to the airport to join my cousins in Dublin. Ireland has always been on my bucket list, and I am so ready to get to there (man I love Irish accents). I'll make sure to try to blog along the way. Merry Christmas (belated) to all my friends and family in the States and all around the world. I miss you all this Holiday and hope that you have a wonderful New Year!! 2011 is right around the corner!

Detroit?

After arriving back to Bentveld after our 3 hour fiasco at the airport last night, I decided that I would go out with the "girls" since our London trip was cancelled. Got ready, went outside to get my bike, which I haven't rode since last Saturday night.. and it was not in the bike shed. But there was a new bike there.. hmm very interesting. I have the keys to my bike, but my bike isn't here- there is a new bike, but no keys. could I have possibly biked the wrong bike home in a drunken stupor? As I stand there puzzled, I decide I need to use Christiaan's bike, which is much nicer than mine anyway. Still very confused about where my bike is. Met up with Kristian one street over.. attempted gracefully biking in the snow and slush- fishtailing all over the sidewalk. Taking it nice and easy, my hands are freaking freezing but I manage to get to Tapuit without falling off my bike. Thank god. Marloes, Gwen and some of the dutch guys were already there.. good to catch up with everyone. After an hour or so, we decide to go to KV, two shots of tequilla later, we're off to Murphy's law in Haarlem. After an interesting conversation with a Dutch militia man who offered to hire me to "clean his house" though he didn't seem to understand that I take care of children, not clean, I was more than ready to leave. Note to all men: If you're interested in where someone is from, and you ask once or maybe even twice if you forget, that's okay. But asking four times, and then the fifth time saying, "Oh, you're from Detroit"- that just makes you an idiot, and you make me an idiot for standing there telling you four times I'm from North Carolina. What a moron. Kristian and I decide to head to Storing on the way home... closed down the bar at 4am and the rest is history. "Hey sexypants.." - Don't leave your cell phone unattended with drunk men.

Sunday I was able to sleep in, and by sleeping in, I mean 300 in the afternoon. I blame it entirely on the curtains that block out all sunlight, because you really don't have a realistic view of what time it is until you get up and look at the clock. Watched "Alone in the Wild", which is a show about a Brit who gets dropped off in the wilderness in Canada and he tries to survive off the land for 3 months. Don't want to ruin the ending for you Robert, but he only makes it 50 days.. :) http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/alone-in-the-wild

Seeing as though we were supposed to be in London today- we all pretended we were on Holiday. Although I was the only one to get up and get dressed, its almost 4pm and the kids and Jack have JUST taken off their robes and PJ's. Supposedly we're on London time at Groot Bentveld. Drove to the grocery store this morning to get supplies.. still cars are getting stuck on side streets in the snow, people are getting out of their cars and helping each other by pushing. I love that, seriously, in the States people will leave you in your car to freeze to death. Not in Holland, people helping other people. It was actually a beautiful day considering the amount of snow we still have on the ground- and more is coming the next few days. Off to take the kids into Haarlem to Christmas shop. Looking forward to a relaxing week before my trip to Dublin on Sunday!! 

Planes, Trains and Automobiles..

Longest. Day. Ever. And unfortunately I didn't even get a chance to make it to London. The verdict is still out on whether or not our 8:00pm flight will leave tonight thanks to the foot of snow Amsterdam has received in the past 48 hours. Let's back up to Thursday.. Woke up at 1am, couldn't sleep- so I blogged, took a shower and got ready for the day. I knew I had to go to IND (the Dutch government agency that determines if I can have a residence permit) so I got all of my paperwork together. By 8:45, the kids were at school and I was picking up Kristian to go since he still working on receiving a visa from ANY country- Germany was a no go. Off we go to IND- which isn't too hard to get to, minus the ridiculous traffic. With all the public transportation in this country, you'd think there would be much less people on the roads and many more people on the trains and out of my way. A 45 minute car ride and a ridiculously difficult parking garage, which resembled a prision for your car and bike- we were inside. In some parking garages you have to ring a bell, which then you have to attempt to tell the person on the other side why you are there.. or, you just hope they buzz you in. But then, you have to question how in the hell you're going to get out. It's all a very difficult concept. My appointment lasts about 15 minutes- I'm informed I have to go to the US Embassy in Amsterdam to have an Affidavit signed that states I have never been married, nor do I have any children of my own in the US that I left behind to move to Holland. Are you serious? I'm not questioning parenting skills, but who ups and leaves their own children (dogs excluded) to go take care of someone elses children. Anyhow, I leave with a 47 page packet I have to go through and have signed, a list of 10 items I need to bring with me, and very unclear instructions on whether or not if I leave the country before my visa is approved if I will be let back into Holland. Needless to say, Thursday was a very frustrating day- but anyone that battles with the Visa fascist knows this (thinking about you Kait in London!)

Friday, I'm off bright and early to go to the US Embassy in Amsterdam. Overnight, we have had a snow storm that makes Bentveld look like a winter wonderland. That's one interesting thing about living somewhere that has snow regularly, or perhaps not speaking the language- I NEVER know when it's going to snow. And I wake up to the feeling of a kid on Christmas. I've really grown to like how beautiful and peaceful everything is when it snows- especially since in Holland, the world doesn't stop like in NC. Unless you have to go to Amsterdam. It takes Eva and I two hours by car to get to the Embassy, and Amsterdam is 20 minutes by car usually. There, I am excited to speak with some Americans- until I realize that the man working the counter is an overweight American man squeezed into his little Embassy suit, on a power trip. Apparently you're not supposed to bring cell phones to the Embassy, and if you do then you're punished and made an example by having to stand in the red line, rather than the blue line which moves much, much quicker. Standing outside over an hour in the freezing cold of my own Embassy is bullshit. Which reminds me not to bring my cell phone ever again if I have to go- mission accomplished. Note to Americans: When you are in another country, can you please not wear your white sneakers, fanny packs, talk really loudly.. and smile like an idiot. It really is embarassing to the rest of us who try to fit in with the natives. After two hours, my paperwork is notarized and I'm off to Hoofddorp again to hang out with the IND. Much better trip, my paperwork is almost finalized, I know what I need for my last appointment. However, it's been snowing so much during the day- that the train is delayed, for almost an hour. Finally on my way to Leiden, where upon arrival, I realize that my train home is also delayed, for an hour. I left the house at 7:30am didn't arrive home until 5:30pm.. I had two appointments. One that should have lasted 5 minutes, and another that should have lasted 30 minutes. A complete waste of a day. Off to dinner with Jack and the kids- I eat hare, as in little rabbit stew, which was actually delicious if I didn't think of my pet Floppy that I had when I was five. More snow..

Saturday, slept in.. packed, went to Schipol airport, no problem through security until the woman had to frisk me, and I mean an absolute frisk. I haven't been felt up like that in some time, the kids are standing there laughing hysterically as she lifts my shirt up, stick her hands a little around the edge of my pants, grabs my top and kinda lifts my breasts, it was quite awkward.. nervous about my trip through customs, however they stamped me in and out (thanks cancelled flight) which means I'm guaranteed for another three months. Disappointed about cancelled trip to London, but if one of my trips in December is going to be cancelled I would much rather it be this one, then the one to Dublin and Paris! Monday off to Amsterdam with the kids to the Anne Frank house, Tuesday, shopping in Haarlem and Harry Potter. Maybe it won't be so bad afterall.

"So how did you two bump into each other?... "

Another eventful night in Holland. I started off the evening actually believing I would stay in, read one of my new english books "The Swan Thieves" by Kostova or "The best of times" by Penny Vincenzi that I found at a bookstore in Heemstede. Instead, Kristian- my fellow au pair had other ideas for us. First, we were going to have a relaxing evening at Cafe XL in Zandvoort, two glasses of wine, gossiping - early night. That, simply turned into mancave (Tapuit) at 945.. our typical spot, sitting on our typical stools.. talking about anything and everything. And tonight, I mean everything. A guy friend of mine from the bar who I've known a couple of months came to sit with Kris and I. For story purposes, he will be known as John. John works in I.T for his families company, and while I was trying to engage Kristian and John in conversation between all of us, the topic of John's work came up. Needless to say, unknow to me John is a coder for a huge international porn site that his brother set up years ago. He pulls out his ipad to show us his line of work.. we tracked where people were viewing the porn from (way to go America with the most views internationally), how many people have viewed the sites.. and then we looked at their #1 viewed website. The caterogies, were endless.. and as we looked at pictures & videos of porn, that my friend who at 28, helps set up.. it hit me. I am sitting at a bar, in Holland, with one gay man, one straight man- looking at categories like ladyboy (which reminded me of Ben in Thailand with his string of ladies? Don't worry.. they aren't his type).. My life is so completely unpredictable. But I suppose that's how life is, and should be. If you had told me December 16th, 2009 that a year later I would now be living in Holland, that I would have left behind my friends, my family, sold my car, my furniture, and left my beloved Weimaraner in the wonderful care of my mother- I would have laughed in your face. But yet, here I am. Life is full of surprises, whether it be a random but very successful job like I.T for porn, or coughing so hard after taking a hit of a joint that you throw up in your lap, and on John's Apple keyboard ( way to go Kristian!!!)..

So many hilarious things happened last night, I could never do them justice by writing about them. Thank you to "John" for being so absolutely laid back about the throwing up incident. I have never seen a guy clean up another guys throw up with such class. You were a wonderful host. Thank you to the bartender and owner at Tapuit, as always, for making sure 1. I am taken care of and I only make good decisions.. 2. Serving Kristian doubles of SoCo instead of singles so that I have something to laugh at all night.. although the vomit was another thing. 3. Putting me in my place by telling me that I shouldn't question his authority when I ask why a million times, and I should be in the kitchen cooking (in a loving way).4. Turning up Lenny K's American woman song as loud as you can- you realize it's saying I should stay away? And finally, thank you Kristian, for telling everyone we're engaged. That's a wonderful new rumor. For commenting on my puffy hair because by default, i play with it too often.. that's a freaking Smith gene. For making me laugh by saying things like "ohhh there is no bumping going on" and " Drew Berrymore looks like hell when I'm high"... MY HANDS, My haannnddss..! And for going to town on the ice cubes, bitching about how it hurts your mouth, but eating more.. I think thats so that you can get some practice in! :)

Back to work tomorrow/today.. ironing, quick trip to the IND with Kristian, and getting myself and the kids packed for London on Friday YAY!!!! So glad I was able to skype with my Mom tonight to see her and Porter. Technology is an amazing tool when you're miles away.. I've managed to persuade a few people to take up skyping lately. I can't wait to see some familiar faces...

I am so thankful everyday for all the unexpected things and people in my life.

Holland safari..

I have never, ever battled with insomnia. Ask anyone, I could easily sleep 15 hours a day.. since I've been in Holland my entire sleep pattern has changed. I blame majority of it on the late closing of bars and clubs on the weekends, which usually results in me sleeping in. But during the week, when I would really like to sleep like a normal person- I find myself up until 430-500am getting up at 640 to work. That makes for a really, really long and painful day. I blame the other portion of my irradict sleeping pattern on the fact that when it is midnight here in Holland, all my peeps in the States are getting home from work (600pm) and are trying to talk, skype, email.. etc. I wonder if I will ever get used to the time difference, or if I will just have to get used to my constant insomnia. I've had a few friends suggest that since I live in the land of marijuana, I should just self medicate. Don't worry Mom, I've opted not to. It's hard to explain the reefer smell coming from my studio apartment to my host family.

Today started off like any other Tuesday. Freaking cold, slept 2 hours, made coffee to survive, listened to the kids fight. We went outside to go to school and surprise, the gate was frozen shut. Plan B, off to the main entrance of the house.. shocker, the lock is frozen on the gate. At this point, I realize we are going to have to go up the huge hill, down into the valley, down by the lake, through the rows of trees to get to the third and final gate.  Literally, the sedan is bouncing over the hills, I'm shifting gears and the kids are laughing hysterically at the thought of zebras, lions and elephants running past us. My morning results in a version of a Holland safari when I look over and see the three dogs dodging the tall grass, and chasing after us. Plan C. The third gate. Thankfully, this one was able to be warmed up and opened. Just a thought, but why have this many means of security to protect the home, the art, and us if we can't even get out of the estate. Ironically,  I suppose this is top level security at its finest. If we can't get out, theres no way in hell anyone else is getting in.

Upcoming trip to London on Friday. My host family has a flat near Baker Street. I'm informed it's 5 minute walk from 221B Baker Street which every mystery fan should know that is the previous home of  Sherlock Holmes. More importantly, I will be having dinner with a good friend of mine, the beautiful Kaityln Harszlak and her adorable british boyfriend Ashley.I am so excited to see her and finally meet Ashley! I think it's been almost 4 or 5 years since we've seen each other and now we're both living in Europe!!! Dinner at a yummy American BBQ restaurant in London (thank god..I know Kait and I are both craving American food!!) http://www.bodeansbbq.com/ and lot's of catching up! Other excursions for the week: I hope to drag the kids with me to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park http://www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/ and we're also going to The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House http://www.roh.org.uk/ .. I'm so excited for my first of hopefully many trips to the UK!!

Off tomorrow for a short trip to the IND,the group of  government officals that decide if I can finally have my  au pair visa so I can actually leave the country! ha! We will see what happens, I might be living in Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park next Wednesday when I attempt to come home. Dream come true.

Well, I figured I'd jump on the band wagon..

Let's face it.. we live in a world of technology, thank god, considering I am currently miles and miles away from everything I know. Originally, I thought I would write in a journal, which I still am- thanks to going away presents from loved ones- but I thought with all the things going on in my life, people might be interested in following day to day routine, hilarious dutch encounters, and juicy au pair gossip. Not that I think my life is overly interesting, or that I am convinced that I will have dedicated followers (unless you count my mother, Hi Mom!), but I think anytime you can get a perspective from someone you know that is living an entirely different life than the one previously lived exactly 3 months and 7 days ago, you should.

Therefore, here I am.. blogging about my life in Bentveld, Holland..It's hard to believe that I've managed to survive  the past 3 months without my friends and family.. and even more amazingly, I am really enjoying my time in Europe and learning a lot about what I am capable of handling independently. Everyday is a new opportunity, something new I learn, and hopefully things I will take and carry with me the rest of my life. With the sacrifices I've made to be here, the payoff seems to be overexceeding my expectations. I am so happy I can share these things with you all.

So, as I end this blog for today.. I'd like to sign off by sharing with you some Dutch fun facts..
1. Wooden clogs are not at all trendy, nor do you EVER see them. I tried my first pair on 3 weeks ago. Fashion don't.
2. I have seen in the past 3 months, exactly 3 windmills.. So far, every possible stereotype of the Dutch I had crashes and burns.
3. Majority of the people here, don't smoke the herb. At all. And very much in Dutch fashion, there is a double standard that says- yes it is legal to sell in small quanity, but no, it's illegal to sell in large quantities to the small coffee shops that sell small quantities to tourists and locals. What the F?
4. Street shops: A drug shop that sells anything that you want.. Apparently, they are trying to shut down these stores because of lot of internationals come to Amsterdam, go to the street shop- buy mushrooms or other hallucinogenic drugs and jump off the bridges into the dirty, dirty canals. This can prove to be fatal.
5. The Red Light District is not at all what you would think.. for such a popular area, you'd think there would be at least attractive girls. I'd say that it is the Latino D squad, talking on their cell phones. Walking by, I question who in the hell is paying these women to take off their clothes.. I'd like to give them euros to put more clothes on. And get a real job, even at McDonalds. (Which I refuse to ever eat at, because they charge .50euro for a packet of ketchup, and no refills on drinks.. ever. Kiss it European Ronald)

Finally, Americans are viewed as very friendly, but narrow minded and often lazy. The Dutch want to know about Miley Cyrus, and Lady GaGa. Why are children so obese? How come there are so many fast food restaurants? But one thing remains universal.. American or Dutch, everyone loves Michael J's music. :)