Worldly Chatter

We had a guest over for the afternoon on Sunday and she brought up my little book that I had written last year during NaNo month! Because I completed my word count in that month span I was able to get a copy of my book in print, glances gleefully at bookcase, and quickly noticed there was much to be done on it! I printed out the whole thing from the computer and began the painful process of rereading and writing all over the thing, I even have my notebook to go with the pages, the book and my pen to aid in my quest for an edited, lovely book. Here is the thing though, since I started work I have not had much time to sit with it! But our guest got me thinking about it and glancing at it more and more since then. I really should do something with it! The other thing that has my brain going about is that I received an email from NaNo the other day! It is coming up fast and I want to participate again! I have not done much with the first thing I did but I want to do it again! Stretch my writing muscles to its max and make something great, potentially great, I should say! What would I write about this year, will I succeed as I did the year before and what would I do with it once I wrote it? The other one is still sitting awaiting my undivided attention!

The other question I have rattling in my brain about all this is if I do something with my book, where and how? Will it do ok in a Dutch country as I have written it in English? Should I try in American markets even though I live in Holland? Such questions! Any suggestions would be more than welcome! I am finishing a book I started a bit ago while on breaks at work. I hope that once I am finished with that I can get back into my own book.

I know, a most unusual post today but it was on my mind!

worldly chatter, NaNo Month, NaNoWriMo

You read the title right, there was a deal made between the US and the European Union that allows for Homeland Security to gain access to information obtained during reservations made when traveling to the US from Europe. This information would be placed in a database and stored for a period, for how long is still in negotiations, this information will aid in keeping track of habits, suspected individuals and will be able to detect pretty much anything they like!

Now, for years now, when you travel to America they keep a record of your name, flight, credit cards, where you are from and any travel partners listed. Dutchie must fill out a waver when she flies over and of course the information you use at the airport is used. What in the world does my sexual orientation and political opinions matter to national security!? US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff praised the pact as an “essential screening took for detecting potentially dangerous transatlantic travelers.” He further said that if the information was available on 9/11 they could have identified many of the 19 hijackers by linking their methods of payments, phone numbers and seat assignments.

Brilliant I say, do you think that the hijackers would have voluntarily said their religion, phone numbers and given ALL the information that would have linked them! No, I seriously doubt it! The article went on to say how the pact aid in establishing people with special needs who request wheel chairs and try to bring on explosives on board or warnings of a political gathering where there might be a chance of danger or even communicable diseases. Staffs at airlines all across Europe are urged to ‘push’ for information from its passengers.

What happened to a little privacy? Next they are going to want to know what I had for breakfast! All right, I understand wanting to know about communicable diseases. What does that have to do with my sexual orientation? What does any philosophical beliefs or trade union memberships have to do with any of it? America just wants to keep tabs on everyone comes in and to a point I can understand. Knowing who is coming in is serious and I completely get that but one does not need to know the most personal of information for me to be allowed into my own country! Oh yeah, this applies to us Americans living abroad too not just Europeans visiting. We all get the same treatment, scrutinized and slapped in a database for use of National Security!

Now there are a few who are not happy with this, civil rights groups, people who love their privacy and anyone who doesn’t see the point to any of this generally but if the EU didn’t America threatened to send less flights over to Europe. How do you like that one! If America wants it, America gets it I suppose. Though if you ask me, they have no business knowing I am gay. What the hell does it matter to them? I see no reason to fork it over and besides where would I give it, when the personnel checking me in ‘pushes’ for information? Please.

Homeland Security, Worldly Chatter, Travel News, Personal Data used when traveling

There are days where you go back in time to remember something you went through, something that you thought at the time was uniquely yours. Today was such a day heading back to the time of my struggles, the issues I clung to secretly thinking that I was the only one who bore their weight. I was only a teenager when I struggled with my own sexual identity. I hated myself, tossed around the concept of bisexuality to “fix” the thing that was wrong with me. I went through school believing I was the only one with such troubles and I carried them around secretly, never even letting my closest friends know how much of a struggle being gay was to me. I still play down high school and the everyday dramas I experienced. It was not until I sat with a person who is struggling just as I was, talked so openly, and asked such hard questions in hopes of having the answers solve everything for her.

I grew up in NY and dealt with the reality that I was gay; I was different and had the whole school know it. I walked through the halls as best I could but knew that the silent stares hated that I was different, that I walked among them and dared to take in the same air as they did. I got the silly questions such as, what is it like to kiss a girl, is it that different. Men wanted to watch and girls were repulsed and threatened, uncomfortable and conscious of my very existence wherever I went. I received the statement that I chose this and it is my own doing that I suffer so. I had parents who struggled with it and siblings who had to walk in my shadow and bare the same name that now meant lesbian in the eyes of the classmates of the school we shared. The ridicule and hatred that I experienced I never wish upon anyone. Being told by the very teachers and staff meant to protect and guide you threw me in a tiny room to eat lunch alone because it made the rest of the students uncomfortable. Teachers who looked at you with a peculiar glare students who loved you for being brave or hated you for going against the grain and tainting their school. I tried desperately to fit in despite the fact that I found women appealing. I dated boys to blend despite my own revulsion and discomfort to appease people around me and to make myself unnoticed. It never worked. It all went to shit and I was the girl who was gay, I was the girl who stood out in the crowd and paid dearly for it. Did anyone notice? Did anyone care that I hated myself for being different? Did anyone care that I beat myself up for the sorrow, pain and drama I caused those I loved most? Probably not, I was simply the girl who was gay and made my sibling suffer, my parents question and friends squirm and throw rocks and comments my way.

That is what I was in school and trying to make a life outside of school in the real world is never an easy one, gay or straight, but definitely tough when you accept who you are and feel that no one else can. You chose things in life that are not necessarily good for you and settle into a life that feels all wrong. People still glared, still made their comments and felt uncomfortable in your presence. Being gay in America is a bitch and I thought that once I left America it would get better, it would somehow be different.

Here I sit in front a Dutch woman who is in agony, in a fight with herself over her demons and sexuality. She is gay but does not want to be gay, does not want to admit it and would rather suffer in a relationship she runs from rather than accept it. Here is a Dutch woman who is afraid to be gay to her family and friends for what they say or what they might do. Will they reject her or still love her just the same? Those very same questions I tossed in my own head. What does it mean to be different? What does it mean to be gay and throw away any form of normalcy that you once knew? Ah, it all comes back to me! Yet here is Holland, Amsterdam being the home of one of the biggest gay prides. This is Holland, the first country to allow gay rights and gay marriage! She struggles just as I did.

When I walk the streets with Dutchie, we hold hands, giggle and even give a little kiss now and then in public. No one turns his or her heads and glares. No one comments or tosses anything our way. The atmosphere is greatly different from that of America and you feel it and see it the moment you step out into the streets. It is so different and you can actually take a deep breath and feel that it is ok to be you. You can easily forget that there is hatred and a high level of fear and discomfort towards gays here.

When I watched her in tears and hold onto Dutchie for any sense of direction, it broke my heart! It also reminded me that it does not matter where you are, it does not matter if you are in the heart of America and homophobia or in the middle of Amsterdam where it is perfectly acceptable to marry; there is still the pain and anguish of being different. It simply does not matter; you are still battling the fear of your own self-hatred and the disapproval of others. In the heart of homophobia or in the middle of acceptance, those same struggles of being gay are there and I guess it was a revelation, a reminder that we all struggle to be gay whether others know it or not or where.

gay and lesbian, worldly chatter, homophobia, acceptance, glbt life

Well, it seems that while I was writing about the weather and flooding that happened here and in England, the place I grew up at had a bit of flooding of its own a few days earlier! This is Long Island, NY. My step father sent me an email and I was floored at what I missed! I had never seen the Island like this. I have seen a lot there but nothing like this! Glad I missed this one! I just wanted to share a little bit of home with you guys! Though I must admit… with this weather, I don’t miss it all that much! Lovely weather we are all having isn’t it!

worldly chatter, 2007 flooding, Long Island floods

Ik ben zo moe! En ik weet het niet waarom! Ik denk dat het komt door het werk en al het lopen. Ik heb twee dagen in Bussum gelopen en het is pas Donderdag!

See, a little more Dutch, though I needed much assistance! It has been a long week and I cannot wait for Friday evening to be here! I walked two days this week and sorted two. I can’t go walking tomorrow because we have an appointment at 6 and if I go to Bussum or elsewhere there is no assurances I will be back at home by six. I hit 6:00 when I walked through the door today!

This is a meaningless post but I wanted to try some Dutch on you!

I want to sleep in Saturday! Thats what I am looking forward to! Sleeping in!

There was an accident with my bike and a car and yes, I was on the bike. Oh my goodness! My first accident with my bicycle, for that matter, it is the only accident with any bicycle! I was riding home from work; it was a long day, 8-5:45, so I was excited to get home. I was on the Koningstraat, our street is right off it. I had one more street to pass before my own and I was home. Now the street slants slightly and before I hit the street before our own, I start to coast so I can glide nicely into our street and on into home. Before I hit the street, I glanced down it and saw no cars coming so I continued my coasting and nearly made it across the street when I saw a car coming fast and about to turn! I prayed he would stop because I was more than three quarters across the street already but he did not. He attempted to turn when he hit me! He stopped and I stretched out my left leg to balance my butt and my bike.

I didn’t fall off so that was a plus. It was more of a hop I did when he hit and I tried to steady myself. I never saw him coming until he was nearly on top of me and apparently, he did not see me until he kissed my front tire. Now you see, according to the law if the car is coming from the right, he has right of way. I was going straight and he was coming from the right so he technically had right of way. I truly did not see him and he said he did not see me but in order for him to not have seen me coming, with absolutely nothing obstructing his view, he must not have even looked to his left. But I can’t split hairs on it because if I did I would still be at fault according to the law. He got a scratch or two because of the tire and I have to replace my front tire. The frame wasn’t bent so the bike itself is fine, thank goodness!

After we hit and I got off the bike he moved his car back, he was actually partially in the road when he hit me and my bike, I moved to the curb. I was only a foot and a half away from completely crossing the street when he hit me so I didn’t have to move it far. I called Dutchie because she was at home and that was about three houses and a corner turn away from where we hit. Since he was coming from the right if we exchanged info and involved the insurance companies I would be at fault and have to pay whatever was needed. Since it was only my tire and a few scratches on his bumper, he was fine so we all parted ways.

I was so shaken by all of this and the man who just hit me was so nice to me! He ran out of his car, helped me off my bike, and asked how I was doing. He hung around until Dutchie got there and knew I would make it home all right. He apologized and said he really didn’t see me and continued to ask how I was doing. He really looked worried and sorry for all of this. There was someone in their home across the street from the accident who saw it and ran out of his house to see if all was ok. Both men were very kind to me and I appreciated it greatly. He didn’t want to hit me any more than I wanted to get hit and he really was great. He could have been freaking out and bitching it was my fault and I fucked up his paint but he barely looked at his car, only when Dutchie asked him if there was any damage done. Sucks big time that I have to take the bus to work for the next few days until I can get the tire replaced on Thursday night and that I have to replace the tire in the first place but I am trying to look at it this way. It could have been my leg that got bent to hell instead of my tire so, yeah, I am glad it was just the tire.

Dutchie asked me how I was doing and if I was all right for a while after we got the bike home. I was worried about her because I called her frantically and had her come down when she has been so sick. Then I was worried about the man who hit me because I must have scared the hell out of him with all this! The only thing wrong with me is when I hopped trying to balance myself I must have put my leg down wrong or too hard because the top of me knee is sore and I pulled a muscle on my side. I will be going to work tomorrow so I can’t be all that banged up right.

My first accident on a bike… I love how Dutchies handle things and I love how kind they can be! Oh lessons learned! Lessons learned! When coming from the right, you have the right of way!!!!

Worldly chatter, Bike accidents

England is in a state of crisis and it sounds like the southern part of Holland is looking at the same thing. Western and northern parts of England are under water because of all the rain they have received. 15 centimeters in less than 24 hours is quite a bit of rain. However, there is another problem. Many parts of the country don’t have fresh drinking water or power because water treatment plants and power stations are under water. Now I have a co-worker who is British, her immediate family lives here in Holland but the extended family is still in Britain and the plan is to go to visit for a week starting Wednesday. A lovely way to start your vacation, especially since it is expected to continue raining in England for the remainder of the week!
That same storm is hovering over Holland has we speak because this storm is massive and is actually covering most of Europe! This thing is nasty! It has already started and should be steady through the night. We have at least three major rivers south near Limburg, Rotterdam, the southern part of the country and many minor rivers and canals. Plus there are parts of the country that actually sit on land that was once water and ground water levels that are higher than other parts of the country. With all this rain, there is a flood warning for parts of the country. Yet we Dutchies are more fortunate than the British are, we have better defenses against the water. Holland is known throughout the world as the people to take on the water. There is an interesting saying. ‘God created the world but the Dutch created Holland’. They have mastered land reclamation and have the Delta Works system to keep Holland nice and dry.

I like to think I have gotten used to Dutch weather but the truth is when there is a massive rain like this I remind myself that I am in a country that is mostly below sea level and I freak out a bit. Dutchie is used to it but I still get a tad tense over the thought of heavy rain. The other thing I have definitely not gotten used to is the wind that we get here! My goodness, it can knock you right off your bike if you aren’t careful! I was riding home from work, it did not matter which direction I rode in, the wind was constantly against me, and it is so heavy and tiresome on your legs when you are riding ten to fifteen kilometers to get home!

My co-worker was telling me she is from the southern part of England and it isn’t nearly as bad there as up north but getting to her town will be an adventure all on its own. I wish her lots of luck with her travels!

Europe Weather, England flooding, Worldly Chatter, Dutch Delta Works, Netherlands Flood Alert

I got to wear my wedding dress again! We had to be in Eindhoven to have the end altered to the proper length and it was the only thing that needed alteration; I love it when it fits like a glove! It felt so good to wear it; I couldn’t help but feel like the prettiest girl in the world! The assistant helped me into it and aided me with my shoes so that I might stand on the podium for a half hour or so while she folded and pinned away the fabric.

The last time I wore it was three weeks ago and since then I have been working and riding my bike twenty kilometers five days a week. It actually fit a bit different since last I wore it, better actually. Around my waist and rib area, I had a little more breathing room and it looked slimmer on me. A girl cannot argue with that now can she! I was just glad it wasn’t so much so that they would have to take the top in for alteration too! Since I started losing weight over two years ago, it has not stopped! I have had to buy new clothes every summer and even replace some stuff in the winter because the weight has not settled down yet. I was nervous about the dress having a little too much room by the time the wedding comes. I still am as the wedding is still six weeks and two days away!

Dutchie couldn’t help herself, she had to take pictures of the event. All I wanted was one but there are six now sitting on the computer. She sat in awe once again while the assistant was hard at work. I think she was trying not to cry again while she drank her coffee and patiently waited. What else is there to do but watch while you wait and when she watches, she cries! I wonder how much it took for her not to.

Now, normally, the bridal shop does not do fittings on Saturdays. It is one of their busiest days for women who want to try on dresses. Mon-Fri is usually the appropriate time but we are coming from Hilversum an hour and a half away, we would both have to take the day off to do this but we were willing. It is our big day we reasoned yet the woman who helped us decided that despite company policy she would do the fitting on a weekend for us! Amazing and so kind of her to do isn’t it! Then she does another wonderful thing for us! Normally when you have alterations done you have to come back another day to pick up the dress. They don’t do alteration that same day, especially on a Saturday but she said that because we are coming so far they could do the alterations now and have it done in roughly two hours all we would have to do is stick around town for the time being. This saves another long drive! So we went out to the center of Eindhoven and shopped around and took in some sights while we waited. Three hours later, we were paying for the alterations and putting my wedding dress in the car!

The women at Ann & John are so kind and accommodating! They did all that for us simply because we were coming from Noord Holland when they are situated in Noord Brabant! We have my dress and some accessories for it in the house ready for six weeks and two days to come already! We promised them we would send pictures so they can see how lovely their dress worked out. They got to see pictures of what Dutchie will look like on our big day and can’t wait to see some pictures of us together! Six weeks and two days!!!

Wedding planning, worldly chatter, wedding dresses, Ann & John in Eindhoven

Wat zeg je? Ik snap je maar heel langzaam praat! Ik kan, ik kan en ik kan! Ik wil nederlands leren en ik moet spreek meer! However, I don’t! What did you say? I understand you but speak slow! I can, I can and I can! I want to learn Dutch and must speak more! That is what I said to you in Dutch. Ik wil kop koffie en een brootje gezond. I want a cup of coffee and a healthy sandwich. (Yes, they call it a healthy sandwich.)

Why do I write all this… and none of it make sense? I write this because I have to kick myself in the ass. I DO know words darn it all and I CAN follow some yet what do I do? I get stupid and I get shy and fumble my words until I have spit on myself or have said absolutely nothing at all! Why is this? Why do I stumble? Why do I get so shy! I know there are people who will say I have always been shy so it is nothing new but it has to stop! Really, it does now! Therefore, I ramble to my readers. I put my shame and foolishness out there for all to see! Why do this? Because I have decided to do something and so here it is.

I write five days a week on my expat life and travel yet I rarely touch on language. I rarely tell you of my troubles and I rarely mention the language I am engulfed in everyday. I go to the store and when they tell me the total in Dutch, I fully understand and pay up. I know how to ask for stuff and I know how to read things at the store. I can read a menu and order for myself. It isn’t hard so long as you know the words right. Dutchie has seen me do it! She actually finds it neat the way I speak Dutch, with my American accent and all.

So this is what I am going to do. I am going to do one piece a week entirely on language. The Dutch language, how the Dutch use English or even the German language, Polish is also something I hear regularly now. I will devote one entry a week to language. This way I am forced to confront it, my foolishness, my shyness, whatever you want to call it, I will confront it! I will also use the Dutch language on it. (you are warned!) Show some progress and maybe even teach you a word or two! Hope you don’t mind now because this is the plan and I am sticking to it! Doei! (bye!)
Click HERE!

worldy chatter, Dutch language, Nederlandse taal

Edam and Volendam; Delft, Den Haag and Scheveningen. These are two days of touristy stuff for the family coming over for our wedding! Since Edam and Volendam are close together, tourist hot spots and Edam was mentioned as a must see we are making these two towns a one day trip. Same as Delft, Den Haag and are going to try and squeeze in Scheveningen. They are only here for a week and while Holland is small, it isn’t THAT small! There really is so much to see and we want them to get in as much as they can but I fear they will need another trip to get more!

They plan on staying three days in Amsterdam so that’s all set. Amsterdam is definitely a few days kind of town. Dad wants to go to Arnhem, more like a need, and that’s a bigger town with a lot of history and stuff to see so that will be a day trip all on its own. Dutchie has been home sick so tomorrow after her blood work is done she is looking up museums in Arnhem and trying to put together a rough sketch of what will happen when they land in a month and a half! She is so stoked about showing them her country and I can’t help it but be right in there with her on the excitement! I call this home and now I can show off all I know, and don’t know, and what I love about here! Its great stuff!

Imagine you have a friend coming over from another country, you would want to show off your home and squeeze in all you can right? Well, that’s what we are trying to do. Not sure it will work but we are determined to try! Dutchie is so excited about showing off Den Haag and I just want them to see all the neat stuff I saw! The palace where the queen is, the government and even the museums, there really is a lot to Den Haag!

They will stay four days in Hilversum when they arrive and that’s the place they plan on staying is around the corner from our home so it’s perfect. They will be at our wedding! I still can’t get over that part! Must plan! Must, must, must!

planning a trip in Holland, worldly chatter, Netherlands, Amsterdam

This is a serious question here; would you do a four day walk? You see, there are about 40,000 people who said yes to that very question and started their journey today in a town of Elst where they walk ten kilometers. From there they will walk Wijchen, Groesbeek and Cuijk where in total the distance is forty kilometers. It is called Internationale Vierdaagse Afstandsmarsen Nijmegen and it is tradition for the international community and Dutch alike walk to forty kilometers in four days!

Back in 1904 sergeants from the 6^th Infantry Regiment in Breda started a football club and this was such a hit that they created Field Army Sports Days. From there a Lieutenant proposed a four-day march, which makes sense since this is military, where there were 15 routes. Not all the routes were available for a variety of reasons and over the years, it turned into forty kilometers. It is the 91^st Nijmegen Four-Day walk and 40,000 people finished their first day!

I heard it on the news and Dutchie explained a bit of it to me. When she was a child she did something along those lines but on a much smaller, for children, scale. Dutchie found the site for me and in browsing the net found an old article on 350 US troops and how they were preparing for the walk back in 2003.

There is even a metal given out at the end of the event and it isn’t just any metal, this Vierdaagsekruis is a decoration that servicemen can wear on their uniforms. It is an official Dutch decoration! It is a show of marching ability and once owned it is a proud piece of the home and is shown off to friends and family. Wouldn’t you if you walked for four days? It is like running in a marathon, even though you didn’t come in first, you still finished it and hang it with pride.

I definitely find traditions fascinating. This one, I don’t know that I would do it but who knows right.

vierdaagse, Four-day walk in Neimegen, Dutch tradition, Worldly Chatter, Holland

4,000 people have joined a lawsuit against Germany for the atrocities that went on and how they still suffer for them but there is an interesting twist. It isn’t for money, it is for psychiatric care.

They want biweekly sessions for the individuals involved and this could run Germany anywhere from ten to thirty million dollars if they succeed. Should Germany actually pay out for the care of these people who suffer so because of the country’s history? Germany has paid well over fifty billion dollars since the fifties to survivors and their family’s for the atrocities of ww2. With all the money that is given to said families the people involved in the lawsuit do not want the money coming from the various funds and accounts set up for survivors and their immediate families, this is different and should be paid separately. Would this lead to a revolving door of people crying damages and psychological damages and demand Germany paid up? Is the current government and its citizens responsible for those who came before them? When does it stop? Germany, I think, will always carry the weight, always pay for what their families did before them. A hundred years from now, will that weight lessen? This is what I imagine the persons handling this in Germany are thinking. What, for sure, are they thinking or saying, I don’t know because they aren’t saying much at all on the matter right now.

I can completely understand why they seek the funds for treatment. Their government doesn’t have the means to care for them properly and their health care system, according to them, is inadequate. Stories, habits and fears can and do carry on from parent to child, especially something like this. There are many Europeans who grew up with the stories of their families, picked up the habits, mistrust and fears of their families who survived the war but is it so serious as to be in constant fear of running out of food or refusing to use public transportation because of memories, I don’t know but it has me thinking.

I can no more say for sure what the damage can possibly be to a second generation Holocaust survivor than anyone else my age. We did not go through anything like that and probably can’t even picture it right in our heads and hearts. I found the story and found it interesting. At first I thought they wanted money and it was some sort of scam. Maybe it is but why go through all that for psychiatric care if it is a scam? Should Germany pay up? I refuse to even guess or suggest because I would never have the right answer. Yet I do have a question, if it is for the Israelis who have such trauma, will this count for the Europeans whose families went through the war? Will there be something there or is another lawsuit in the future of Germany actually pays up? Something I am going to keep an eye on though.

Second Generation Holocaust Survivors, WW2, Holocaust children want lawsuit, Worldly Chatter, Germany, World War 2

There are days when the weather sets your mood. We all have them right? Well, I was working today, the sun was out, the temperature was hot, and I was in a chipper mood! I was grand and happy to be working and overall an upbeat mood. Around lunchtime I noticed I was a tad sluggish, I reasoned it was due to the hunger growing in my stomach and thought nothing more of it. I left work, went to the store and headed home. Dutchie has been under the weather today and stayed home. I chatted with her, had some dinner and watched television for a bit…

Now I sit here trying to figure out what to write. I read the news and ponder the topic for the day. Nothing, nada, zip! I reasoned I could write about the lawsuit going on between second generation survivors of the Holocaust and Germany or I could write about Unemployment tourism here in Europe but I wasn’t sure which or how to go about it. My indifference is driving me crazy! I then have to go and close the windows because a storm is amongst us! The rain pours down as if God was crying buckets and the thunder rolls. Is my mood determined by the weather? Sounds like rubbish to me but it beats blaming it on me now doesn’t it!

Nevertheless, seriously, the weather has gotten worse since this morning. The southern part of the country has already seen extensive flooding and up here in the north are going to be receiving it tonight. Goody. You can’t even say that it will cool the temperatures because it will be just as hot as it was today, this is the weather we are supposed to have in July, not wearing sweatshirts and pants like last week!

worldy chatter, Dutch Weather

What a day! Saturday Dutchie took me to the Efteling, was to be a birthday gift but due to a few factors, we were unable to go on my birthday. Just fine by me because for one, the weather was absolutely perfect for the trip and really, does it matter when you go so long as you have a good time once you do? The Efteling is a 55-year-old fairy tale theme park! The first thing we did was go through the enchanted forest where we saw Snow White, Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood and the story where the wolf eats all but the baby goat and so many more! You are walking through all the stories you heard as a child. There were a great many I had never heard of and had a ball learning about them, seeing them in action and having Dutchie shake her head that I didn’t know them! This is Holle Bolle Gijs! He is the bottomless pit who says “Papier Hier!” and then Dank je well when you feed him trash!

We stopped to chat with Momma Dutchie and send a post card to my mom. Dutchie bought a hat and we were off for the rides! The carrousel was the first ride, a water ride that left half of me dry and the other half a sopping mess! We went on the Volk van Laaf, (Laaf are much like dwarves) and it takes you on a journey of who they are and how they came to live at the Efteling. Vogel Rok, Bird Rok, is a ride into the darkness as he flies past the equator and over the rainbow! There was a wonderful 3-D show called PandaDroom, Panda Dream and see Mother Nature, her world, how beautiful it is, and how we are harming it. You see the animals alive, feel the water and wind and at one point, they even have a tree collapse over us to show even more effect as they chop down trees! We went on the hunt for the train station to take a train ride through the park only to find out there were two stops and we were actually near it before we set out across the park for the only one we did know of! There was a concert with Dutch bands and singers to entertain the kiddies, we went on a mini hike and went rowing! Now that was interesting! Aside from white water rafting, I have never actually rowed a day in my life and when I did go white water rafting I had three other people helping me with the direction of the raft. This time I had Dutchie laughing her butt off at me while I tried in desperation to get the boat to go in the direction I wanted! Whether it was one oar or two, I tried to steer it to see a building that had caught my eye. Dutchie filmed it on her phone and at some point actually decided to help only to bump into three other rowboats in the water! (don’t listen to her, she will tell you it was their fault!)

There were a few rides neither Dutchie nor I would go on such as Pagode; a viewing station that goes up, up, and up until you can see the whole park from the top! Not only does it go so high to see the entire park it also turns so you can get the whole 360 view! I do not think so! The other was a wooden roller coaster, Pegasus and I wasn’t going there. I remember going on a wooden roller coaster at Lake Compounce in CT and that was freaky. I hated it so I wasn’t going there again. There was however a ride I was going on that Dutchie wouldn’t because of her neck; the Python! Dutchie waited while I waited on line and went on this awesome ride that gives you such a rush of excitement and adrenaline! Whoa! You go through loops, actually go at an angle and feel as though you are sideways about to fall out! Amazing stuff! We checked out the concert for a minute or so, checked out the other sights and overall had a great time! There was one ride I was so stoked to go on however and this merits a bit of attention. De Vliegende Hollander, The Flying Dutchman; commercials here have been advertising it for this seasons newest attraction and I was gearing up for it! Now previously, three weeks ago, the ride broke down and was out of service for a few days, not a good way to start your first season but it was up and running and I was ready! It was later in the evening, after I had gone on the Python when Dutchie noticed the line had grown substantially. I didn’t want to wait on that line so we were going to go on the Carnaval Festival and go back to it, closer to closing time. Well, throughout the park, they have boards next to park maps that tell you how long the waiting time is for each ride and Dutchie notices that De Vliegende Hollander has broken, again! Well scrap that idea! In three weeks, this thing has broken down twice! I got to check out the décor for the ride, see how they made the ship and all that but the ride itself, not going to happen this time around. Bugger! The Carnaval Festival is a ride that takes you through all the these characters and scenes throughout the world! Holland, Germany, England, Scotland, Japan and more. I had a serious brain fart and made the mistake of taking Italy for Paris, huge duh moment I blame on the fact that we were on the go since seven in the morning and it was nearing ten. It was a relaxing ride to end the day! After the ride, we were heading back to the entrance when we saw that De Vliegende Hollander was open again but with a 55 minute wait. Maybe I will go next time; depending on how many times it breaks down. We had a ball the entire day! We were there from 11am until 10pm! We took the train in so Dutchie wouldn’t have to drive home which worked out great. We got a little figurine of Langnek, one of the original mascots of the park, for our home, I got a logbook of the Flying Dutchman. I wanted it because one, I love new books to write in and two, I need something to show for my sea worthiness! I rowed! I did fairly well and have earned the title fairly good sea worthy woman of the Efteling!

worldly chatter, De Efteling, Hollands Amusement park!

It is always interesting to talk with Dutchies about my country. The opinions vary so much and it fascinates me to hear them. A co-worker of Dutchies that is gay and has an American man and just as Dutchie has me, they live here in Holland, however, the difference between us is that her Dutch co-worker would actually like to live in America where Dutchie does not. Why would he want to live in a country that doesn’t accept who he is, why accept that when where you live right now accepts you and allows you everything you want? Dutchie and I do not understand it.

Today I was doing a run with a couple of co-workers in this small town Baarn. It was miserable and frustrating but the people were friendly and when we were done we met up and chatted while waiting for a few more workers to meet us. We got into America and how she thought it was interesting the news that is broadcasted there and how it is here. I have noticed the difference in the news and how they portray a story and it is scary, absolutely scary to me. I can just picture the American reading this saying, ‘what do you mean?! There isn’t anything wrong with our news! They give us the facts and it is in a timely fashion!’ Please, I was in the same bubble once and it sucks when you sit down to watch news here and its right there, no bull, can be harsh, and is definitely real. We knew about stuff that the American media didn’t report for a day or so later. I can easily recall chatting with friends and family in America and I would tell them what was on the news and they wouldn’t get the story for a day or two later. A week or more has happened but those are rare.

Other things that came up were the health care, food and its costs and much, much more. She actually got that things are not as they appear in vacation get a ways to Disney and fancy hotels in NY or LA. Things are real and they can be ugly. They are like that in other countries but its aggravating that people have a perfect picture of a country that they have either never been to or never left the theme park. They assume the role of expert, actually go to me, and say ‘no, that can’t be! I was there and I didn’t see any of that!’ Vacation and living are two different things people. I don’t sit there and say Holland is perfect, though admit there are definite perks, I admit that things suck here. The fact that I am fearful that my agent at the job agency will call and say they don’t need me anymore. I get aggravated at Dutch political policies just as I do with America and doubly hate the really small roads. Everything has its ups and downs and not one place can possibly be perfect.

Yet this co-worker actually admitted these things and didn’t lecture me on my own country or call me crazy. She listened, gave her opinion and it was a solid intelligent conversation. I had one two weeks ago that was more corrective in nature than conversational; I apparently being the one needing the correction.

Whatever I suppose. I am tired and had a long day. It was something that fancied my fast crashing brain. I am going to get me some good sleep because tomorrow is theme park time!

worldy chatter, America, expats, europeans, european opinions