A Touch of Dutch

Windmills: Wilpermolen

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:06:08 PST

The Wilpermolen in Wilp-Posterenk

Even after being in the Netherlands for as long as I already had been, I never become jaded by the sight of a windmill. They dot the Dutch landscape, and I hope they will for many generations to come.

Wilpermolen, is located in Wilp-Posterenk in the province Gelderland. Wilpermolen, also called “De mölle van de Posterenk”, is visible from the A1. The original mill at this location was first mentioned in 1360, but it was destroyed by a fire. In 1736 the Wilpermolen was built to replace that mill and four grindstones were fitted inside to grind different types of grains. In 1975 they added an electric motor for days when the wind doesn't create enough power. It is currently used to grind grains to make feed for animals and is open for viewing —

Click here for contact information to make an appointment.
Click here to view the location via Google Maps.

Here are a few links where you can find more information about Wilpermolen:

◌ Wilpermolen.nl
◌ Wilpermolen via The Agenda.nl
◌ Wilpermolen via Molens.nl

Wilpermolen - Photo: Groucho M | Wikipedia

To learn more about korenmolen [English: flourmill] like this featured windmill, watch this video [in Dutch].

It is great to see the windmills are all being well taken care of and have been or are being restored; however, some need help to keep many of the windmills running. If you would like to help, click here for a list of windmill foundations who will appreciate your generosity.

If you'd like to visit or learn more about a nearby windmill in the Netherlands, here are some extra links about windmills and locations:

◌ Molens.nl
◌ Allemolens.nl
◌ Molen Database
◌ Gemalen.nl
◌ Molen Educatief.nl
◌ Molen Pagina

Click here for more information about becoming a supporter of windmill restoration.
This blog post can also be seen here.

Rewind: Winter in Holland

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:15:39 PST

Rewinding back to when I lived in the Netherlands, every so often I want to pull some old photos off of my hard drive to share here of random events I had never shared about...

These few photos were taken during my last winter in the Netherlands, and since it's winter there now I thought it was a proper time to revisit.

Mutsen te koop in Nederland.
[Sock hats for sale in the Netherlands.]

This first photo: Mutsen. I never owned one of these hats in the Netherlands, but I did see a lot of kids/teens wearing them — Especially when they were riding their bike on the icy streets [seriously] or ice skating on a frozen pond.

Pronounced “moots”, muts is the name for one of these hats and mutsen is plural. A “muts” is also something you call someone who is basically an idiot — To learn more about that, you can read all about it here.

Een gans in de sneeuw.
[A goose in the snow.]

This goose — In Dutch, gans, seemed to be “camouflaged” in the snow. There is a park near where I lived, and on that day I had to stop and see because there were so many geese [ganzen] hanging out near the frozen pond.

Snert or erwtensoep.
[Dutch pea soup.]

This is possibly one of the best soups I've ever eaten — Snert. That name makes it seem... Unappetizing. But, really, it is good! Especially if you love pea soup, this one is a very thick version. It's very hearty and perfect for a Dutch winter day. I've covered about it here on my blog before, with a recipe.

Rood met witte stippen.
[Red with white polka dots.]

I saw this red van one afternoon — It was hard to miss, this vehicle parked in a snowy parking lot all bright red with white polka dots [Dutch: rood met witte stippen] next to the other plain blue, silver and black cars...

Een mooie oprit.
[A beautiful driveway.]

I had never seen so many beautiful things in the most unlikely places! This driveway [Dutch: oprit] was one of those things...

Deze fietser durft het wel aan.
[This bicyclist dares to do it.]

Every once in a while, I found myself having to ride my bicycle in some pretty uncomfortable weather. Since I did not own a car, I often found myself getting rides from others or taking the bus. Sometimes I also had to ride my bicycle to get to where I wanted to go. It rains a lot in the Netherlands, so I became used to those conditions. Riding in the snow or ice was something I never would've tried — Not until I lived there because, other than walking, sometimes it was a must...

In closing, a little video I made of some various things which remind me of winters in the Netherlands. Some of the images are my own — Some taken in my old neighborhood!

Catching Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:18:02 PST

I have been taking note of many things since I first landed in Australia, and I'm very observant so not much has squeezed past me. Here's a checklist of things I've done so far, just to shed light on how far I've come within only a matter of months —

If I haven't written it down here, I probably haven't yet experienced it:

View of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in Sydney from Mrs. Macquarie's Chair.

✓ Ate a picnic lunch at Mrs. Macquarie's Chair with a view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge [as seen in the photo above].
✓ Been to a few birthday parties — Birthday parties are nothing like those in the Netherlands. This, for myself, is such a welcome relief!
✓ I've already driven on a few long road trips up and down the east coast.
✓ Been to an Australian rules football match.
✓ I've surfed... OK, sort of.

Koalas at Symbio Wildlife Park.

✓ I've fed and pet kangaroos and koalas [at Symbio].
✓ Been to Bondi Beach. If you're in the Netherlands, do you watch Bondi Rescue on TV [op Net 5]?

✓ I've visited several wineries, including many in the Hunter Valley.
✓ I have played lawn bowling.
✓ I've had a sunburn down here so far this summer — Not good! I got it quickly too. The Aussie sun is definitely strong, just like they say!
✓ I've already taken the train and bus down here many times and alone... A small feat which took me longer than expected to do in the Netherlands.

Kangaroo crossing.

✓ I've seen families of kangaroos together in the wild.
✓ I've also eaten kangaroo meat a few times... It's good! They sell it at the supermarket with the other meats and loads of Australians eat it.
✓ I've been to so many beaches and more times than I can count. I rarely visited the beaches in the Netherlands...
✓ I've shopped at Kmart and Target... And a store identical to Walmart called Big W.
✓ I've eaten at the Outback Steakhouse down here — I had to see if it was similar! Same menu...
✓ I have visited many different RSLs and surf clubs for dinner...

Three Sisters near Katoomba, New South Wales.

✓ I've seen a few notable landmarks: Three Sisters, Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Big Banana... And these are just a few of the many things to see here.
✓ Visited the Gold Coast.
✓ Discovered a website for the Dutch living in Australia and a blog written by a Nederlander in Australia.
✓ I now put tomato sauce [it's just like ketchup and pronounced tuh-mah-toe sauce] on foods I'd never dreamed of putting it on...
✓ I've eaten more beetroot lately than I ever had in my life — And love it!
✓ I love burgers Aussie style — They call it with “the lot”.

Byron Lighthouse.

✓ Visited Byron Bay.
✓ Been to Paddington Markets and Darling Harbour.
✓ I've made stamppot and hutspot, and I have eaten bitterballen at a restaurant in Australia, all of which I'll cover more about in another blog entry soon...
✓ I visited a man-made glow worm cave at Tamborine Mountain.
✓ I've tried over a dozen different Australian beers. Note: They don't drink Foster's here. Ask any Aussie.
✓ I've done some volunteer work.
✓ I've taken a class at a college.

The National Museum of Australia.

✓ I've visited Australia's capital city, Canberra, where I also visited two museums: National Museum of Australia and National Gallery of Australia.
✓ I've cooked ~~shrimp~~ prawns on the ~~grill~~ barby.
✓ I also love the bacon and egg roll for ~~breakfast~~ brekky.
✓ Learning Aussie slang has been just as fun as learning Dutch — And sometimes just as complicated.
✓ Driven through a town called Woy Woy and another called Bong Bong.
✓ I've watched countless beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
✓ I have fallen in love with frangipani flowers.

Cars drive on the left side of the road Down Under.

✓ Driven over 100 times on the ~~wrong~~ other side of the road.
✓ Shopping malls in Australia are identical to American shopping malls.
✓ Some Australians really, really love Dutch violinist, conductor and composer André Rieu.
✓ I've seen and heard plenty of times the kookaburras sitting in the old gum tree.
✓ I've eaten Vegemite, Lamington, Pavlova and have even tried mint sauce on my peas.
✓ I love meat pies with mash and peas from Harry's Cafe de Wheels.

Redback spider.

✓ Found both a Huntsman spider and a Redback spider where I live recently...
✓ I've seen no snakes, but I did see a blue tongue lizard recently.
✓ I've visited a rainforest.
✓ I had a picnic lunch at the lookout at Saddleback Mountain.
✓ The way Aussies celebrate Australia Day [coming up on 26 January] seems almost like how Americans celebrate Independence Day or how the Dutch celebrate Koninginnedag... Except garage sales are not part of the party, like the Dutch. By the way, Aussies can have garage sales whenever they want, just like Americans.
✓ Visited the Dutch Club in Sydney.
✓ Worn my Havaianas [thongs/flip-flops] so often that they are already almost worn out!
✓ I say “no worries” often now without thinking about it...

So, as you can see, I've been quite busy — A lot going on since I arrived here, and I hadn't had much time to blog or go online even. Everything's been fantastic and I look forward to sharing more soon!

In the meantime, I'm on the hunt for things Dutch in Australia and have already found a few things that I will soon share. For now, ik wens jullie allemaal een prettig nieuwjaar [I wish you all a Happy New Year]!

On the Other Side of the World...

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:05:57 PST

With clogs of a different kind...

After sharing about what I do and don't miss about living in the Netherlands [thanks again to those who left feedback!], I took a month-long vacation away and also left the internet behind as well. But I've been basically absent from this blog for a year as well, leaving a few of you probably still wondering what on earth I've been up to. Where am I? What's repatriation been like for me? I'll get to all of that!

First of all, I missed going to a Weihnachtsmarkt [Christmas market] in Germany again this year. It was a tradition I had begun while living in the Netherlands. I'd go across the border from the Netherlands into usually a different city than the year before and, whether it was a good Christmas market or not, I'd just enjoy the experience. I'm so very glad I did that back when I lived in Nederland.

As for the holidays, I spent some time in the States with friends and family. Otherwise, I have not been living in the United States...

I've been living in Australia! It's taken a while for me to get to this on here because there is literally so much to share and I've had very little time to do so.

Living here is quite a contrast to living in the Netherlands because Australia, to me, is surprisingly like America in some specific ways. I wonder if I can easily sum this up because, of course, America and Australia are not completely alike. Something more along the line of Australia and America being cousins, I guess this is a good way to make the comparison. Australian culture, for example, is a lot more like American or Canadian culture than the culture found in the Netherlands. A recent example I shared in my last blog entry here: Showing up at someone's house without organizing to do so ahead of time is something the Dutch don't normally do, but Americans do. So do Australians. I'm still used to the way the Dutch do it. I call in advance or try to plan a few days in advance...

I find in many cases that Australians and Canadians have more in common than Australians and Americans. Healthcare in Australia, for example, is like the Canadian system.

What does Australia have in common with U.S.A., apart from speaking English?
A lot. A few of the easiest points to share: Australia features not only the same fast food joints [which I avoid] as what you'd find in both America [and in the Netherlands], but they also have Target, Kmart, 7-Eleven, Costco and... drum roll... Sizzler. Carl's Jr and Arby's are a few of the others which are coming soon to Oz. Supermarkets in Australia are also a lot like American supermarkets too...

Can I use the Dutch language in Australia?
I love speaking English to get my way around and learning Australian slang, but Dutch... I miss it and try to use it whenever I can, even if it means just thinking to myself in Dutch. Perhaps I could use it in some Dutch club or maybe I can help teach children and adults who wish to learn... Or write a blog in Dutch about Australia. We'll see.

Are Dutch foods available Down Under?
Yes. You can buy online here within Australia, but also I went out of my way to this Dutch Club in the Sydney-area recently [website] and bought a few treats for myself. They didn't have any Calvé pindakaas in stock, which is what I went there to find, but I did manage to pick myself up a pack of Douwe Egberts koffie. Lekker ― en de beste ter wereld!

Are people interested in the Dutch/the Netherlands in Australia?
Yes. Australians tend to travel abroad often and most are curious about other cultures, so I often find myself sharing with people what life was like for me in the Netherlands. I've met some people personally whose family came from the Netherlands. I enjoy meeting people who do know and/or care about their Dutch heritage, and I have met a few who would fit into this category.

Name one thing that you enjoy daily in Australia?

Vroooooom!
I can drive in Australia! Of course, I had to learn how to drive on the other side of the road [they drive on the left side of the road down here], but I could just go in and exchange my driver's license. This was not possible in the Netherlands for me to do so easily...

Australia with "a touch of Dutch"...

Has it been difficult getting used to living in Australia?
Not at all. Apart from learning how to drive on the other side of the road and understanding some slang, I find it much easier to get around and feel more at home here than I did while living in the Netherlands. To be honest, for a while I was afraid to leave my home in the Netherlands to do even simple tasks, like grocery shopping [seriously]. I haven't faced this at all Down Under. I went through a great deal of culture shock [twice!] while living in the Netherlands. In Australia, I've only been confronted by a very small number of small-minded people who have negative things to say about America/Americans, but that was the only "culture shock" I faced. Read here for more about the culture shock I faced while living in the Netherlands.

Do I regret having lived in the Netherlands?
Not at all. Although I had my days, I'll never regret it because I learned a lot ― especially about myself. Priceless. It's an experience that I think I'll treasure for the rest of my life!

What have I learned so far while living in Australia about Australia?
I've learned a lot. I could write a book, actually... But here is one fun fact that I'd like to share: Australia is roughly the same size as America in land mass, but the population is rather small. The population of California is larger than the total population of Australia! There are currently over 36 million people in the state of California vs. only roughly 22 million people in all of Australia.

Did the Dutch also play a part in Australian history?
Interesting! Australia was once called New Holland. Read all about it here!

I'll share more soon. For now...

Other tidbits:
· This is the 3rd country I've lived in whose flag is red, white and blue.
· I don't have any immediate plans to travel to the Netherlands again, but I'd love to one day.
· I don't plan on living in the United States for a long time. Perhaps for retirement?
· I have not grown homesick for the U.S.A. while living in Australia.
· I've found the Newport Beach and Avalon-areas of New South Wales remind me a lot of Newport Beach, California and Laguna Beach, California-areas. In California there is a Newport Beach and an Avalon relatively close to each other, just as in New South Wales. Avalon in California is located on Catalina Island, which can be reached via ferry from mainland Newport Beach, California.
· I still visit the United States for the holidays. I enjoy, most of all, road trips. I enjoy visiting places I once took for granted. My next trip to America might involve driving to Montana, for example.
· I feel living in the Netherlands and those experiences involved better prepared me for my move to Australia.
· Getting used to eating Vegemite has been similar to how I got used to eating the Dutch drop [or dropje] licorice candy. These both require for many an acquired taste...
· Australia in Dutch is Australië.

Now a few questions for you, Dear Reader ― Have you lived in two or more countries, other than your own? If so, did you find adjustment to the next new country easier than the adjustment you made to the first new country? Have you been to Australia? If so, what did you think?

I've been putting together bits and pieces of what all I'm learning and observing in Australia, and I'll share that here soon. Until then, ik wens jullie allemaal prettige feestdagen!

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One Year Later: What I Do & Don't Miss

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:08:06 PST

It's been nearly a year since I left the Netherlands and, remembering back on when I first read this one great list online, I feel it's time for me to share what I miss and don't miss about the country and the culture. I'll add to this list as things come to mind...

What I miss:

Calvé pindakaas. In my opinion, it's the best peanut butter on earth. My taste changed over the time I lived in the Netherlands, as I now find American brands of peanut butter to be far too sweet and/or processed-tasting.

Speaking Dutch. I didn't ever think I'd find myself thinking that way, but truly I do miss it! I practice it still whenever I can and even try to think in Dutch, so that I won't lose what I worked so hard to learn.

This was my refrigerator in the Netherlands...

Eating fresh foods. Simple, right? Well, there are so many conveniences when it comes to cooking these days, and the temptation to cook frozen food or food from a box is definitely there. I think because my refrigerator [above] was so tiny in the Netherlands and my freezer space was limited, I was forced to buy fresher foods constantly, and this of course was a good thing. Also, as you can see, I was forced to keep it tidy because of the small space. No rotten old leftovers could fit in that thing!

Having to have that “gezellig” feeling. On the colder evenings in the house with candles lit, some warme Chocomel, TV and hapjes [snacks] = Perfection! I would always buy the large 100-count bags of theelichtjes [tea light candles] from places like Blokker or Albert Heijn, keeping plenty on hand for whenever guests came over or if I just felt like lighting a few. I can recreate this “gezellig” feeling elsewhere in the world, of course, but in the Netherlands it simply was a must-do on a cold, winter evening.

Broodje shoarma met knoflooksaus en aardappelschijfjes! I loved ordering the shawarma meat in a pita pocket with garlic sauce and potato slices. I haven't found a place nearby me now who sells anything like it [yet].

Free gift wrapping of items. Available at the cashier in stores like Douglas, Etos, etc., just tell the cashier “Het is een cadeau” [“It is a gift”] and they'll most likely gift wrap it for you at no charge. Also there were always rolls of gift wrap, tape and often ribbon for customers to use as well at stores like Intratuin, Toys 'R Us and Blokker. So convenient! Just buy the gift and then go wrap it in the store.

Everything's old. I loved walking past a building and learning that it was built over two centuries ago. This is true, unless the town either suffered a massive fire or had been bombed during World War II. Comparing this to many parts of America, where things often were built later than 1850 [unless it's in a former colonial area], you might be drawn to think about the history of the building, who built it, with what and why...

Stained glass windows. Similar to loving the old buildings, I loved the stained glass seen in many windows of Dutch homes.

Two things in the windows. I loved seeing pairs [sometimes threes] of things in the windows. Whether it was candles, plants or small statues, I noticed in the windows of many Dutch homes items displayed symmetrically.

Ondertitels helpt altijd met mijn Nederlandse taal leren.
[Subtitles always helps with my Dutch language learning.]
This subtitle text says:
You're not doing it right, it's not perfect.
Get out of my kitchen.

Subtitles. While watching TV shows, I actually miss seeing the Dutch ondertitels. I learned how to read Dutch better with this feature. In the Netherlands, they don't dub over a TV show with Dutch. Instead they just add subtitles and allow you to enjoy the show as it should be.

Cows. The Dutch say that cows say “boe” [said “boo”], while Americans say that cows say “moo.” No matter what the cows are saying, I loved seeing them dotting the flat landscape as I whizzed past in the car or on my bicycle. Every once in a while I might shout out the window at them, speaking Cow Dutch, “Boo!”

Summer sunsets. Somewhere around 10pm in the summertime!

Planning get-togethers. The Dutch are organized people. They plan things in advance, even a lunch date. Spontaneous happenings like showing up at their front door out of the blue are usually unwelcome. I got used to this — And I grew to appreciate it! It's been difficult adjusting back after this. Friends call and want to invite me for dinner at the last minute, or someone is in the neighborhood so they drop by without calling me first... I've got to somehow infiltrate this Dutchism to the people around me...

De bioscoop. Going to the movies in the Netherlands was awesome. There is an intermission in the middle of each movie = People aren't getting up all of the time during the film — They wait for the intermission. You can drink beer or wine, if you please. Sweet or salty popcorn. Assigned seating, so no need to throw your coat over a few seats to save seats for your friends. Plus if you called to order seating in advance, you would know if the show was already sold out or not before bothering to get there. Movies are left alone — Only Dutch subtitles are added.

Shows like this. Especially when I could finally understand both the Dutch language and Dutch humor —

I not only liked watching shows like RTL Forens, but I also thought Chris Zegers was cool, so this clip from Koefnoen made me laugh. And I knew the Almere Muziekwijk train station really well too, so... I can remember when I first saw this on TV in the Netherlands and could understand about 70% of it. Thanks to the internet, I can still watch it — And I understand it all now as well!

The bakery. The plethora of choices of taartjes and gebakjes! I think I gained weight just looking at them, but — Yum-o!

Bicycling adventures. I lived very close to the German border, and I remember when I finally rode my bicycle across the border by myself one day. Apart from that, when the weather was decent and I felt like it, I had plenty of beautiful places where I could ride my bicycle. Bicycle paths in the rural areas of the Netherlands often lead you away from the busy streets, taking you to places where you might never venture otherwise! I wish I had taken advantage of that more often... So if you're in the Netherlands, get out there and try it!

Train trips. Equally, I miss going places on the train. I really should have done it more often! I loved when places like Blokker had specials for the train in the Netherlands, so I suggest that you ought to take advantage of any NS train ticket deals available too! Explore where you live.

Clean water. As long as they haven't already done this [I don't remember this taking over in the part of the Netherlands where I lived], the water from the tap was unbelievably clean and wonderful in the Netherlands!

Free coffee. Or tea. Good or bad quality coffee, it didn't matter. Wherever you go shopping in the Netherlands, or if you go to, say, a real estate agency or a car dealership, someone possibly will offer you free coffee. Even at the Albert Heijn supermarket, you can [or could] get free coffee while you shop around.

Douwe Egberts. Their coffee + the very clean-tasting water the Dutch have coming out of their taps = The best coffee I've ever drank! However I find Douwe Egberts does not taste so good with most American tap water, and — by the way — After living in the Netherlands, I notice the tap water in most American cities smells and tastes a lot like it's got too much chlorine in it.

What I don't miss:

The birthday parties. UGH! I once wrote about it here, and I still feel the same way about it.

Having to ride my bicycle in the rain. Sometimes it's OK. Or necessary. And sure, it's fun if you rarely do it or don't really have to do it... But it rains a lot in the Netherlands. Even with a regenpak [rain suit], I really grew to dislike it if I had to get on my bicycle to go somewhere while it was raining.

Not having a Dutch driver license.

Dear Netherlands Ministerie van Misery,

For those non-30 percent rule expats who come to Nederland and want to drive, after driving for at least 10 years of their adult life, holding a valid driver license in their home country, and without making expats pay an arm and a leg & jump through several hoops —

LET. US. [BLEEPING.] DRIVE.

Hartelijk bedankt,
ALL expats who come from countries other than Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Italy, [States of] Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Isle of Man, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland... Or Taiwan, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Andorra, South Korea, and Canadian Province of Quebec.

Bad manners in public. Not all Dutch people have poor manners in public, of course. And you could just chalk it up as me just having a bad attitude. And, honestly, I began to look around for people using bad habits in public for a while, during my culture shock-phases. I understand that how someone behaves often depends on their opvoeding [upbringing] because I did hear every so often “sorry” or “pardon” [“excuse me”] whenever someone bumped into me... But it was rare! Take for example the way that some people push their shopping carts in the grocery store in the Netherlands. As well as the number of stories I've heard from other expats, I can't even count how many times I had the back side of my legs crashed into by well-dressed, capable Dutch citizens. And then the look they'd give me, while I reacted to the pain, as if it was all my fault that I was standing there in the first place. [!]

Paying for things that I never paid for [or at least I think I didn't]. Water at a restaurant [we're talking tap water, folks] and sturdy plastic shopping bags at the supermarket are two things that instantly come to mind.

The customer service. I missed the over-the-top customer service I was used to in America when I first began to exit the “honeymoon phase” of my life in the Netherlands. I don't have a terrible customer service story to share, but I also can't count how many times the service was either dry, completely absent or both because I experienced it too frequently. One good experience I remember: A shop owner really impressed me when he went out of his way to go get an order book from the back room, after we learned they didn't carry the vacuum cleaner bags I needed. I didn't even have to ask! He placed my order and, within a week, I had enough vacuum cleaner bags to last a few years. On the other hand, I find that American customer service can sometimes be layered on far too thick. I would like, for once, to walk into a store and just see a smile and hear “hello” until I am ready for a salesperson, rather than being bombarded by several employees who are trained to chase me around with some plastic-like performance.

So, you see, there is not a lot that I can think of which is/was bad. Basically it's just cultural differences.

Woot.

Have you also left the Netherlands?
Whether or not you have, what are you certain you would miss?

Coming soon: When I get some decent time to write, I'll share what all I've been doing...

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Link Love and the View From Outside

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:09:23 PST

It has been far too long the last time I posted on here, and I will be posting again very soon. I've just been very busy and haven't had much time to get around to it lately — That's all. I sometimes keep myself up-to-date from abroad about the Netherlands, as I had lived there for so long and enjoyed it. Truthfully, it was one of the best experiences I've had in my life because I learned so much from it, and today there is not one single negative thing I can think of when I look back on it all. Of course I may have had my days while I was living there, but in hindsight I really am grateful I lived there and learned the language as much as I had. I was thinking about it all again today, so I decided to take some time to share with you all some great links I've stumbled upon:

· Stuff Dutch People Like — What a brilliant idea! This blog is something recently introduced to me by a Dutch friend, and I love it. It really nails those first impressions we all get when we begin to get settled in the Netherlands. One of my favorite posts is No.13 Going Camping because indeed the Dutch do this and with their own style.

· Dutch - English Study Group - This is an online forum on Yahoo where people can share about grammar and more. While learning Dutch, I found any learning resource to be very helpful. Of course, the best way to learn a language is to completely immerse yourself in it and try to not use any English whatsoever, so if someone Dutch insists you speak English with them instead, tell them you could really use their help. Also note that online translators often are not efficient enough for something important — Not even Google Translate is 100% effective. I remember receiving important mail in the Netherlands from the IND [immigration] and how those letters were only in Dutch. I felt so proud of myself the day when I could read one of those letters all by myself. Is my Dutch perfect? No. But can I understand and speak enough Dutch to get me by? Yes.

· Kleutergroep — This is one of many websites with free learning materials [lesmaterialen] and projects aimed at children, but it also could be seen as a helpful resource for even adults in the beginning stages of learning Dutch.

· Verbix — I still find this website to be an excellent help for conjugating Dutch verbs. And it's free! This was one of the areas I experienced some difficulty in while learning Dutch, so I felt it would be great to share here with you all again. Just enter the infinitive — See an example here of gaan [to go; going].

· A Touch of Dutch [webwinkel] — Do I miss Dutch foods? You betcha! Overall, I ate so healthy while living in the Netherlands. Dutch cheese abroad just ain't the same, herring from the fish monger [vishandel] also isn't the same abroad, and seriously Douwe Egberts is the best coffee I've ever had brewed at home. One thing in particular I miss? Calvé pindakaas. It's the best peanut butter I've ever had in my entire life. I used it as well to make pinda satésaus, that recipe here. Can I find Calvé pindakaas on the shelves where I live now? No. So my advice to you all who live outside of the Netherlands, if you can't get to a Dutch store near where you live, there are always the online shops [webwinkels]. A Touch of Dutch webwinkel is not related to me or my blog at all, but it is one of many good resources online where one can buy their favorite Dutch treats. I have featured on the sidebar of my blog here a list of places where you can buy these foods online.

I will update soon about what's new with me, as well as what to do if/when leaving the Netherlands for good. Until then, ik wens jullie allemaal nog een fijne week!

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New Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:47:45 PST

First and foremost, hello! and best wishes for a happy 2011 to you all! I hope you all had a very happy holiday season. I was away for quite some time and quite busy, but I am pleased to finally begin sharing about what all has happened a little bit at a time.

First of all, I am no longer in the Netherlands. Back in 2009 I visited with friends and family and shared a little on this blog about what I felt 2010 would have in store for me [click here to see that entry]. I wasn't actually sure what that would be when I shared that then, but I knew for sure there would be at least some change around the corner. I will share more soon all about the latest happenings [possibly in a brand new blog linked to this one], while I continue to maintain and update this A Touch of Dutch blog — So I'm not going away! I feel sharing about a lot of this anyway will be helpful as well for anyone who goes from being an expat in one country to repatriation or moving on to another country as an expat, so do stay tuned.

Coming soon, whenever I do have enough time and internet access, I will share here not only about the changes I've been going through, but also I will keep this blog updated as best as I can about life in the Netherlands. In the meantime, I encourage you all to read some of the great expats in the Netherlands blogs which I have featured about here before, and those entries you can find by clicking here. I will be featuring a few more blogs written by expats in the Netherlands soon as well.

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Will Be Back Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:10:27 PST

I've been extremely busy in America visiting friends and family for the last two weeks, also with very limited internet access for some of the time, but I'll be back in a few more weeks with an update & back to blogging. Overall, a lot of great things have been happening and a lot of traveling has been done so far and many changes too! I'm excited to share all about it! Until then, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season!

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The Scoop on Sinterklaas

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:25:28 PST

Revisiting an entry which I originally posted in 2008, again Sinterklaas is arriving. This year, he arrives on Saturday 13 November [click here]. But where is he from? What is he all about? What does he do? Who are those helpers of his? And how long does he stick around?

The Sinterklaas celebration is intended for children. For young children. But I don't think it's a terrible idea to get into the spirit if you are an adult.

Sinterklaas is also known as Sint Nikolaas or Saint Nicholas. The Sinterklaas feast "celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas [280-342], patron saint of children. Saint Nicholas was bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey and became the patron saint of children based on various legends that include resurrecting children from death and saving them from prostitution." [Source: Click here for the full story via Answers.com]. December 6th is traditionally Saint Nicholas's feast day, also called Saint Nicholas Day or even called St. Nick's Day. The Dutch children celebrate on Saint Nicholas' eve, December 5th. This is also called Pakjesavond ["presents' evening"]. On December 6th, the children in Flanders [Northern Belgium] celebrate. Some cities in the United States also celebrate St. Nick's Day, though it is rarely so.

We know him better in America as Santa Claus. According to... [Please click here to continue reading this blog entry.]

Insego - Smart Expat Network.

Favorite Expat Blogs: From Argentina to the Netherlands, For Love

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:34:03 PDT

Aledys Ver, author of From Argentina to the Netherlands, For Love.

“One day I found love, or love found me. Next thing you know, I was married and living on the other side of the world: the Netherlands.” This is the introduction of another blog I've enjoyed, the positive and fun From Argentina to the Netherlands, For Love, written by Aledys Ver. In her blog, Aledys not only shares about what she discovers in the Netherlands, but she also sheds a lot of light on Argentina, her home country, which I feel makes it even more interesting. I recently sent Aledys a list of questions to help introduce you all to her blog.

Where are you from originally?
I come from Córdoba, the second largest city in Argentina.

What city do you live in currently?
I live in Zwolle, the capital of the province of Overijssel which is in the central eastern part of the country.

What inspired you to begin your blog?
I wanted to share with others my impressions of life here in the Netherlands and to create a place where I could show the thousands of photos that I have been taking since I came here seven years ago. The Netherlands is a beautiful place to visit and I want other people [readers] to travel around the country with me, especially to those places that are less known and just as pretty as those that are very popular with tourists. I am also trying to bring my home country, Argentina, a bit closer to those who read my blog, by talking about Argentinean culture and featuring different regions of the country as well.

What brought you to the Netherlands?
Love! My husband is Dutch and we decided to settle here in the Netherlands when we got married.

When you first arrived in the Netherlands, what were the biggest differences you noticed from your own culture?
Though Argentina is a western country with more of a European than native Latin American influence, I found many differences between both cultures, mainly having to do with food, dress, habits, personal interaction… much in the same way there are differences between northern and southern Europe, I think. People in these parts are less open, much more reserved not as warm as they are in Argentina.

If you'd like to share, name 1-3 pieces of advice to anyone who comes from the same country as you to the Netherlands [eg: what to bring, funny differences, cuisine adjustments, tips, etc...]
Go as native as you can, but never lose the sparkle and the intense joie de vivre that we share back home. You will certainly miss the food, but you will discover new good flavours and new kinds of good food. They do not necessarily have to be Dutch! Travel around whenever you can by getting to see the beautiful old historic cities and small quaint villages in the Netherlands. You will fall in love with the country and it will make it easier to feel at home. Finally, try to go back home as often as you can to be pampered and kissed and hugged, for there is not much of that around here outside your home.

Name at least one of your favorite things about the Dutch culture.
Their practical outlook on life. The Dutch – very much unlike us, Argentineans - don’t make a big fuss about their problems. They rather sit down and discuss them and all together try to find the best solution. Determination and hard work are two more things I admire in the Dutch as a nation. As an example, I will never forget while visiting Zeeland, how impressed I was to learn that the dams that protect their cities had been destroyed during the war, flooding and destroying entire towns; but they had them up again within a year! A few years later, they suffered a major natural disaster when the North Sea flooded into the country in 1953, known as the watersnoodramp [English: flood disaster], killing over a thousand people. The tragedy made them even stronger and they have today one of the best flood protection systems in the world.

Name at least one of your least favorite things about the Dutch culture.
I still find it sometimes annoying how they stubbornly stick to the rules, no matter what. In general this is a good thing, but many times it makes interacting with them difficult because they are not looking at a personal situation but at a protocol that has to be followed to the letter. This can sometimes lead to funny situations, but in many cases it also gives pain and misery.

Do family or friends come to visit you since you have been in the Netherlands?
Yes, my mother came for a visit a few years ago. She liked it very much and would like to come again for another visit next year.

What do you like best about the city where you currently live?
I always say that I would have loved to settle somewhere to the south of the rivers, since there, people and lifestyle are closer to what I know from back home. But I love my city, Zwolle. It has a lot of green spaces – In fact, it was chosen the greenest city of Europe in 2006. It has a very nice old historic centre, excellent bus/train services, varied and interesting events all the year round, and outstanding restaurants, like the first Dutch restaurant to ever get three Michelin stars. It also still has a bucolic atmosphere, since it is in the middle of some of the best landscapes in the country.

Where would you suggest to someone else [from your native country] to search/shop for the same [ingredients for making] traditional foods and/or to buy decoration for the special occasions/holidays?
Someone from Argentina will find it difficult to get the same quality of meat [either beef, pork or poultry] that is normal to have back home. One of the biggest supermarket chains [Albert Heijn], however, imports beef from Argentina and Uruguay, so if you miss having your usual steaks, you should look there. As to other foods, like dulce de leche or typical Argentinean biscuits, can be bought online. I normally buy my mate tea and other goods from Mate-Tee, a German company that imports many things from Argentina and Brazil.

When it comes to learning Dutch, what do you find to be the most difficult: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?
The most challenging part of the learning process for me has been to understand when spoken to. There are many varieties of Dutch and too many dialectal differences in the language, which makes it sometimes difficult to follow a conversation or understand simple remarks, even, when you are interacting with natives.

Click here to visit From Argentina to the Netherlands, For Love.

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Favorite Expat Blogs: Presepio com Vista para o Canal

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 01:19:30 PDT

Presepio com Vista para o Canal is a beautiful blog written by Sandra, who is from Portugal and is an expat in the Netherlands [click here to visit her blog]. She enjoys sharing through her blog about living in the Netherlands, as well as her travels throughout Europe, sharing of her journeys through her writings and photography. As with all of the expat blogs I enjoy reading, I am intrigued by not only her positive attitude in adjusting to her new surroundings, but I also enjoy learning about her native culture and feel her contribution to the expat community is very helpful guide to those who are embarking on the expat journey. Today I’d like to share with you all a little bit more about her.

1. Where are you from originally?
I'm from Portugal.

2. What city do you live in currently?
I live in Almere, in the province of Flevoland.

3. What inspired you to begin your blog?
The Netherlands and Portugal are two completely different countries. I felt overwelmed with all the learning process, so I began with the blog to organize all what I was learning, share experiences and useful information for others.

4. What brought you to the Netherlands?
Since 2003 there has been a great economical crisis in Portugal, and we wanted to leave Portugal before the crisis would affect us. We were also very disappointed with the whole corruption, the lack of public organization and waste of public money in our country. Portugal has now a big external public debt and a 10% unemployment rate.

5. When you first arrived in the Netherlands, what were the biggest differences you noticed from your own culture?
The houses. When I began to look for a house, I realised the houses had no plastered ceilings and walls. When I saw the armed concrete walls and ceilings, I was in shock. For us Portuguese, this means that the house is unfinished [if you are not talking about social rented houses, of course]. In my home, I was also surprised to to not see a bathtub and a bidet in the bathroom. I pondered, “Where are they?!“ And the washing machine in the bathroom too?!” [Generally you’ll find the washing machine in the kitchen in Portugal]. I was also in shock when I saw photos of homes with cement floors. I couldn't believe it. I thought, “I will not rent a home with cement floors...” Looking back, it certainly was hilarious! It was a great surprise for me too, when I found out I needed to pay the makelaar [English: real estate agent] if I wanted to rent a home! We only need to pay two rents in advance in Portugal, but here we had to pay three rents. Ouch! At least we didn't need someone to vouch for us like in Portugal.

The geldautomaat [English: The ATM or cash machine]. This was another huge surprise for me. When I saw I could only see the amount available and get money from it, I was astonished. In Portugal, we can do many ATM operations: paying bills, money transfers, charging cell phones, money deposits, get checks, etc... We use internet banking too, of course, but our ATM offers more possibilities than those found in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Health System. In Portugal we have the public health system and also the private one which we can pay by ourselves, through insurances, or agreements with the public system. There are many private practice offices and clinics. Here, I only see them for dentists and psychology doctors. I cannot go directily to the gynecologist or the eye doctor, and I have no private clinics where I can have blood tests or other exams. Now, I go to the International Health Center in Den Haag because they have an expat focus oriented service.You can read about it in my blog. In my opinion, the Netherlands doens't have a great health prevention culture. My huisarts [English: house doctor or primary care physician] was very surprised when I said I used to make a cytology test each year [I'm almost 40 years old]. Now, I understand why Portugal has the lowest cancer deaths number in the European Union and the Netherlands is in the middle of the table [Eurostat numbers]. It also seems that Paracetamol is the medicine God... that is very annoying.

The weather. The coldness and the wind. Well, I'm coming from the south of Europe...

The living costs. I used to pay 60 cents for an espresso, 1 euro for a homemade soup, 10 euros for a complete lunch, etc...

The food. The lack of variety and taste. The butter in the soup. The very spicy meat. Argh! I was surprised too, with the lack of certain kinds of fish... The lunch habits are very different... We have many restaurants with a great variety of hot homemade meals for 7 or 10 euros at lunch time in Portugal. My first weeks here were very difficult because we were living in a hotel in Amsterdam, not with family or friends. It was November, it was very cold and we were looking for a house. We had no connections here to give us some references about nice and affordable restaurants. Yes, we were surprised with the great price differences. I was really hungry by then. I wasn't only used to eat snacks like kroketten, patat or hamburgers, especially in the winter. On the third day, we found a Portuguese restaurant and we paid 5 euros, only for one soup...I thought, “Wow. This is what we pay for 5 soups in Portugal!” Another strange thing to me was the 6:30pm dinner. It's better for the health, I agree. However, we begin to dine at 8pm, sometimes 8:30 or 9:00pm. At about 5:30pm, it’s a normal time to have an espresso or a tea and eat something like a sandwich.

The landscape. For me, it is monotonous because I'm coming from a country with a great variety of landscapes: mountains, plains, volcanos, glaciar valleys [the biggest found in Europe is in Portugal], etc.

The architecture. All the towns are quite similar with their red bricks. In Portugal there are big differences between them. If you go there, you will understand what I mean... I miss seeing more Baroque-style buildings. It is normal in the Netherlands, as most of the country is Protestant. I come from a country where almost everyone is Catholic.

The contact between people. We kiss more, we touch more. In Portugal, if I introduce a girlfriend to another girlfriend in an informal situation like a dinner, they give two kisses [one on each cheek]. Here, we shake hands. Now I'm getting used to it, but in the beginning it was strange [two women of the same age in an informal situation shaking hands...well...].

The agenda. This is another great difference. I wish my country was much more organized, but I would also like to say that the Dutch are a bit more flexible.

The store schedules. Once I went out on a Monday morning to do some shopping. Everything was closed! I was not yet familiar with the time schedule. In Portugal all the stores open at 9am on week days. We have also a lot [too many, in my opinion] winkelcentra or winkelcentrums [English: shopping centers]. I agree with the Dutch on keeping the Sundays as days to rest and to spend time with the family. Here in the Netherlands, I see the families on Sundays in the gardens, in the lakes, in the terraces enjoying the sun and the nature. In my country, most of the times, we see the families in the malls on Sundays. In my opinion, it is depressive. Here we have more winkeltjes [English: small shops] and traditional shops. In my country they are closing one by one because of the existence of too many winkelcentra. In Portugal, there isn't the balance that we have here.

6. If you'd like to share, name 1-3 pieces of advice to anyone who comes from the same country as you to the Netherlands [eg: what to bring, cuisine and other funny differences, tips, etc...]

• Bring an umbrella, a raincoat and a Dutch woordenboek [English: dictionary].
• Be prepared with many 50 cents coins, so you can use the public WC [English: short for water closet, also means toilet or restroom].
• Bring some Portuguese sandwiches, rissois, pasteis de bacalhau [a kind of croquette with cod], and water bottles [in the first months, I always felt thirsty when drinking Dutch water].
• Look for a doctor at IHCH.
• Read a lot about the country before you come.
• I think it's advisable also to do a previous trip to the Netherlands to get an idea in loco how the things are.
• Adjust your expectations and learn their culture.
• Open a blog and share your experiences!
• Learn the language.

7. Name at least one of your favorite things about the Dutch culture.

• The possibility that the women have to work in part-time in the Netherlnds. In my country, it is very difficult. I think Netherlands is more family- oriented in this matter. I see the parents spending more time with their children than in my country. They arrive earlier at home, not at 8 or 9pm of the evening each day as in Portugal. Well done, Netherlands!
• I also like the way they publicly share some family events: having a child, getting a diploma, turning 50 years old, etc.
• The bike culture and Sinterklaas. I’m a big fan of Sinterklaas.
• The organization. Here I have no stress with public affairs, like I had in Portugal.
• We have more opportunities to be an entrepreneur in the Netherlands.
• Life is quieter than in Portugal.

8. Name at least one of your least favorite things about the Dutch culture.

• The Dutch Health System.
• The ATM.
• Some lack of manners. To be assertive isn't the same as being rude. However, I have very good and polite Dutch friends. I think is very important that we have contact with the natives, if you really want to live here.
• Where I can get a cleaning service for the inside of our car... Does anyone know?

9. Do family or friends come to visit you since you have been in the Netherlands?

Yes. We visited Amsterdam, Delft, Zaanse Schaans, Marken, Gouda, Brugges, Gand, Aachen, Koln, and more.

10. What do you like best about the city where you currently live?

It is a quiet city. It seems that I’m living in the countryside. Almere has also many cultural activities, restaurants, woods, lakes and space...

11.Where would you suggest to someone else [from your native country] to search/shop for the same [ingredients for making] traditional foods and/or to buy decoration for the special occasions/holidays?

I think it's best to do a research on internet to look for the nearest Portuguese shop. I don't go to the Portuguese shops because my mother sends me some products by mail. She enjoys doing that for me.

12. With learning Dutch, what do you find to be the most difficult: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?

Listening and speaking.

· Click here to visit her blog.
· Sandra also has a blog about her native country Portugal here.

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Link Love: Other Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 01:49:34 PDT

I'm still on the topic of my favorite expat blogs, and today I want to share randomly today about a few, especially a couple from outside of the Netherlands. Because there are so many pros and cons which expats face while living abroad, it's great to find that there are others out there who are going through some of the very same phases and feelings we are, and that includes culture shock. These blogs are often an excellent source as well for those who either plan on living abroad or would like some insider tips on what to see while traveling abroad.

• Stu, English man and author of Invading Holland, is getting married! My congratulations go out to him and his lucky lady! His blog was the blog which originally convinced me to begin this blog, and I've covered about his blog before [here]. It's filled with humor, and I particularly enjoy the cartoons he creates and the Alex de Leeuw episodes.

• Jul at This non-American Life lives currently in Munich, Germany. She shares not only all about Oktoberfest and great tips like how to enjoy a day in Munich without spending too much money, but she's also got a great sense of humor and I really enjoy reading what she has to share! Especially her Dollywood blog entry [here]!

• Kristin is a military wife, and I think she's been all over the planet! Currently based in Ohio, she's traveling through Latin America where she's both learning and teaching Spanish, dealing with possibly the rainiest time ever in Panama [she shares some excellent tips for you]. She's also shared a lot of great tips for travel in Europe, and how not to always trust reviews/tips read online, but I also really love her story about wanting to be a contestant on The Price is Right. Check out her blog here!

• I've covered already about I'm Just Walkin', about an American man, Matt, who walked from Rockaway Beach, New York to Rockaway Beach, Oregon [approx. 3,100 miles or roughly 5,000 km], and he ended his walk successfully. It was great to follow him, and I was excited when he passed by the home of one of my relatives [who didn't happen to be in town]. In the end, I could strongly relate with what he shared in his final words, and I want to share that here today with you all.

“I’ll need months of contemplation and reflection before I can fully and coherently discuss everything I’ve learned on this walk, but I think the two most obvious lessons are these:

1) Have some faith in this world. Things aren’t as bad as they tell us. We may all have different political opinions and different religious beliefs and different cultural norms [I’m a liberal atheist Jew. Did you know that? Does it matter?], and many of us probably couldn’t stand to be around each other on a regular basis, but most of us would, as it turns out, extend a helping hand to a stranger in need. I walked 3100 miles across this country and didn’t encounter a single person who tried to hurt me, or steal from me, or damage my possessions. Maybe this isn’t a place that needs to be feared. Maybe it’s a place that needs to be explored, and appreciated, and celebrated.

2) There’s beauty everywhere. Keep your eyes open, and keep your mind open, and you’ll be amazed what’s out there, right under your nose, just waiting to be discovered. You don’t need to go to the Best This or the Most Spectacular That; just take a stroll around the neighborhood. I blindly followed directions from Google on my walk, making no effort to see anything special, and look at everything I found that I thought needed to be shared with the world!” [Source]

• In final, I do have a lot keeping me busy lately, and I am so grateful for that! I will try to stop by here at least once a week to keep things updated, but I wanted to review here a blog entry I wrote nearly a year ago, about one of my favorite expat blogs and the helpful expat book she wrote. Check it out here.

I hope you're all enjoying the beginning of autumn with the changes and the beautiful colors appearing on the trees!

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Favorite Expat Blogs: Greetings From Holland

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 23:09:51 PDT

The expat blog I'm featuring today in my Favorite Expat Blog series is Greetings From Holland. Anita is originally from Brazil, and not only has it been very interesting to learn about her native culture via her blog, and she shares good tips and photos of what she sees and experiences, but she also offers great advice to those who come to the Netherlands from Brazil. Today we'll get to know her more as she shares more advice through some questions and answers.

Where are you from originally?
I was born in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

Where do you currently live?
A village nearby Amsterdam.

What brought you to the Netherlands?
I was on vacation here and met my actual husband.

What inspired you to begin your blog?
The many travels I had made around Holland. I wanted to make a photoblog with pretty pics, small texts and some interviews. I thought with small texts the Brazilian could find it easy to read. But after Holland, it is most read by North Americans and Europeans. My blog is also very accessed from Japan - althought I have 0 followers and/or comments from that country. It seems Japaneses love accessing my post about bitterballs and kroketten. Americans visit a lot my posts about Dutch apple pie and musterd soup, among many others. It grew into something very varied and is permanently changing. I avoid the bad side of Dutch affairs [barbarian crimes, dirty politics, discrimination, weird immigration issues] but sometimes I feel like blogging about it, cause otherwise the blog would be very frivolous.

When you first arrived in the Netherlands, what were the biggest differences you noticed from your own culture?
Coldness and distance in the contact with people. Even a total indifference, discomfort and suspicion. But I have to say my parents-in-law were relaxed about me.

Name 1-3 pieces of advice to anyone who comes from the same country as you to the Netherlands [eg: what to bring, funny differences, tips, etc...]
1) Ladies: bring lots of Brazilian underwear. They do not have "normal" panties here, rather strings or something like shorts. Dutch warehouse HEMA has a small amount of those "normal" panties for good prices - but not always.
2) Enjoy every opportunity of vacation to Brazil to go to dentists and check up control. Dutch women do not go once or twice a year to a dermatologist or gynecologist for a regular checkup [Pap's exam or breast cancer control]. Here it is complicated. Only if you are already suffering from pain and can convince your family doctor of it you will get a letter to visit a specialist in the hospital.
3) Beauty treatments that are very common, affordable and reasonable price in Brazil [such as manicure, pedicure, brushing, waxing] are very expensive here or inexistent. Learn to do it yourself. And do not get so obsessed about always eliminating body hair - it is cold in winter. Invest more in makeup instead - Mascara does not melt down here!

Name at least one of your favorite things about the Dutch culture.
Commitment.

Name at least one of your least favorite things about the Dutch culture.
They do not praise others, they are very inexpressive in that. They are not very enthusiastic about what they like or admire. They think it is not "chic" asking for a recipe or a shop address, for example.

Has family or friends come to visit you since you have been in the Netherlands?
Yes, sure. And they loved it.

As for your children, did they also come over to the Netherlands with you [or were they born here]? Would you like to share a little bit about what it was like for them in this transition?
My children were born here and are like regular Dutch kids. They make contact with other kids quite easily. I love having their friends around and offering specialties from the kitchen [homemade small American pancakes, Brazilian desserts of chocolate...] and taking them to the playground or watching films on the couch when it's raining.

What do you like best about the city where you currently live?
The silence, security, lots of green, space - and relatively near to Amsterdam.

Where would you suggest to someone else from Brazil to search/shop for the same [ingredients for making] traditional foods and/or to buy decoration for the special occasions/holidays ?
Brazil has many regional dishes but is also a western country. We eat lots of Italian dishes [polenta, Italian sausages, parmesan and mozzarella cheese], Arabic/Middle East [kibe, esfiha, tabouleh, hoummous], Mediterranean, North African [couscous], Japanese... My Dutch husband tasted Japanese food for the first time in his life when visiting Sao Paulo. Brazil is a gastronomical feast. There are some Brazilian shops in the big Dutch cities. For the holidays, they are practically the same [Easter, Christmas, sort of Valentine's, Mother's Day, etc.].

With learning Dutch, what do you find to be the most difficult: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?
Reading is a piece of cake for me in every language I master. I find trying to write in perfect Dutch grammar to be something very tricky.

Click here to visit Greetings From Holland.

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Insego: The Place for Expats

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 02:51:10 PDT

I've been sharing lately about my favorite blogs, and today I'd like to share about Insego [formerly Inside Twente]. Insego is a very helpful and free online social community where expats can connect, share and offer advice related to expat living with a global perspective. Created by Bea Stanford, Insego branches out from the Twente region of the Dutch province Overijssel to the rest of the Netherlands, throughout Europe and around the world. Each of the over 500 Insego members come from different continents and discuss topics which offer relevant and supportive information about expat living and other related topics including activities [local and global], business promotion for expat-entrepreneurs and the prospect of forming friendships with those who share something in common. Insego is a great resource for those who plan on moving abroad to the Netherlands as well. It's free and fun, so I urge all expats to join today!

What to check out:

· GoDutch: informative articles about expatriation, learning Dutch and other realities [here].
· Discussions and groups which offer support and to share information [here].
· Popular This Month, featuring the most current in blogs, photos, videos and events [here].
· Insego Listings is a free and unlimited feature where expats can offer their services and/or products to the expat community and the general public. If you wish to always have your services and/or products promoted, purchase featured posting [here].

Insego website [here].
Follow Insego on Twitter [here].

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Favorite Expat Blogs: Orangesplaash

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:51:30 PDT

Photo: Provided by Orangesplaash

I realized recently that I ought to share more in my Favorite Expat Blogs category because there are a lot of great new expat blogs popping up all over the internet, and especially those written by expats in the Netherlands. These blogs are an excellent resource for anyone who is either curious about living abroad, for those who plan on doing so or those who are already living abroad, so to kick off the return of this series, I would first like to feature Orangesplaash. She is an expat from India living in the Netherlands, and she shares on her blog expat tips, her travel adventures and cross-cultural dilemmas. I gave her a list of questions to answer which I felt might help shed some light on her experience, and from this you might just find you have something in common with her too!

What brought you to the Netherlands?
We moved [from India] to the Netherlands because of my husband's job. It was also the thrill of discovering something new and learning about a new way of life that pulled us in.

Where do you live in the Netherlands?
I live in Rotterdam.

What inspired you to begin your blog?
Relocating to a new country offers a unique opportunity to broaden one's horizons, at the same time it brings you face to face with many challenges. My life as an expat inspired me to share my experiences and dilemmas with like minded people - those who were experiencing these changes, those who had already been through it all and those who were going to experience this life soon.

Orangesplaash thus became a platform to share, learn, understand and appreciate the issues faced by expats and the cultural differences they encounter. The blog also aims at offering practical solutions to these problems and provides useful expat resources and travel tips. Orangesplaash now has a Facebook Fanpage too, to help achieve the same goals and connect with its readers.

When you first arrived in the Netherlands, what were the biggest differences you noticed from your own culture?
There is a lot of difference culturally and otherwise between India and the Netherlands. The most glaring difference [and the one that affected us immediately] was in the working timings with respect to the supermarkets. The fact that none of the superstores and other shops are open after 5 P.M. came as a bit of a shock to us. In India, you can buy supplies even at 10 P.M.

Name at least one of your favorite things about the Dutch culture:
I simply love the biking culture in the Netherlands. We got a bike as soon as we settled down and have put it to good use since.

Name at least one of your least favorite things about the Dutch culture:
I am not sure if 'everything-needs-an-appointment' part of the Dutch culture resonates well with me.

Since you've been living in the Netherlands, have you had visits from family or friends? If so, what did you do?
Yes, we had family coming over to visit us in June this year. It was a fantastic experience. We also covered around 7 countries in less than 2 weeks - they had come for only a month and we wanted to show them around as much as possible.

What do you like best about the city where you currently live?
Rotterdam is the city of architecture, museums, art and culture. I love the many sights and places of this multi-cultural city, but a walk along the river Maas tops it all.

Where would you suggest to someone else [from India] to search/shop for the same [ingredients for making] traditional foods and/or to buy decoration for the special occasions/holidays?
In Rotterdam, there are not many places where you can shop for Indian ingredients. The best place however is the Middelandstraat [both 1e and 2e] - the shops there offer a lot of variety.

With learning Dutch, what do you find to be the most difficult: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?
The process of learning Dutch has been enriching for me personally. Learning while always discovering something new about the Dutch culture has been the highlight of the endeavor so far. I am not fluent in the language yet, and for me the weakest link has always been writing. It needs a lot of practice and I am improving on this aspect slowly but steadily.

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Dutch Living For Expats: Winter and What To Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:19:19 PDT

Recently I received two questions from readers. First question asked was about winter, wondering what winter in the Netherlands is like. Since autumn will soon begin, I felt it was time to finally cover this topic in a blog post, so here first is a list of what to look forward to:

• The Netherlands experiences all four of the seasons. In the winter, the weather is usually cloudy, often including rain showers, wind and sometimes snow, and when the sun shines it is beautiful. The lakes and canals also can freeze, though over the last decade this has not happened so frequently. During the middle of a winter day, the average temperature between November to February is about 3 to 4°C [38°F], but it can become as warm as 10°C [50°F] or as cold as -10°C [14°F] or less. In addition, there are shorter days. Beginning in the autumn, it gets dark earlier and remains dark longer. By December, at the peak of winter, the sun rises around 8:45am and sets around 4:30pm. Tip: If you plan on riding a bicycle around often when it's dark, be sure you have your bicycle properly lit. Ask at a bicycle retailer for tips.

• Gezellig. This is the word the Dutch use to describe what is called in English a cozy feeling or comfortable atmosphere. I notice it more strongly during the colder months, and it seems to me that this is how the Dutch adapt to their colder days. The feeling can be felt at home or in the enjoyable company of others, or it can be the feeling one generally has when they feel good, warm and comfortable. If you hear someone who is Dutch use this word, they're expressing something is very good. If they say they've had een gezellige avond with you, this means they had a wonderful time with you that evening. In other words, “gezellig” is literally like the icing on the cake when it comes to Dutch expressions. To achieve “gezellig” in your home during the colder months of the year for your guests, your home should be warm, clean and inviting. For example, good conversation over a warm meal, or dessert, served with a cup of coffee, tea or a glass of wine, plus perhaps candlelight to warm up the mantle or the windows and the coffee table, or a fire in the fireplace. It can be simply a nice gathering, an evening out on the town, or a quiet place to curl up and read a book. Overall, it's a matter of who you are and what you feel defines cozy and comfortable, and it's a term you'll learn quickly if you are surrounded often enough by the Dutch.

• Ice skating {Dutch: ijsschaatsen}. When the lakes and canals freeze, and when it's safe to do so, the Dutch put on their ice skates and away they go. One blogger covered about this so very nicely here. And, speaking of ice skating: speed skating, also done on ice, enjoys much popularity in the Netherlands. Most notable is the Elfstedentocht, the Eleven Cities Race, but it occurs rarely. Read all about it here.

• Pea soup {Dutch: snert or erwtensoep}, warm and hearty after being out in the cold. I wrote about this on my blog, including the recipe, a long time ago [here].

• Warme Chocomel or warme chocolade. . .

Either way, it's hot chocolate and delicious! Also a warm treat after being out in the cold, you can order it at a café “met slagroom” {English: with whipped cream}, or, if you would like to make it at home instead of buying it, here is a recipe:

1 liter whole milk
15 grams cocoa powder
40 grams white granulated sugar
50 grams dark chocolate, in small chunks

1. Stir the cocoa powder with the sugar and a dash of milk to create a paste.
2. Bring the rest of the milk in a saucepan to a boil, stirring often, then add the cocoa mixture and stir well.
3. Add the chopped chocolate and stir well, preferably lightly, with a whisk.
4. Once the chocolate is well blended, remove from heat and serve the hot chocolate in mugs alone or topped with whipped cream or marshmallows. Makes approximately 4 servings.

• Kruidnoten en Sinterklaas: I've shared all about kruidnoten here and Sinterklaas here.

• Oliebollen. These are traditional on New Year's Eve in the Netherlands, but you can buy them at stands throughout the holidays. These are something I look forward to, even to have a smell of them as I pass by the kramen {English: stands} in the parking lots of the stores. More about these here.

• Extra shopping times. In some areas, stores in the city center close in early evening hours and/or closed on Sundays, except for koopavond {English: shopping evening} and koopzondag {English: shopping Sunday}, and the scheduling for this usually depends on the city. Extra shopping Sundays during the holidays help shoppers have more time available to do their Christmas shopping. The best way to find out how it will be exactly in the city you plan to live in is to either visit the shops in person or online, or enter on Google Search “koopavond [or koopzondag] + [the city you'll be living in].”

Second question: A reader recently wondered what to pack for a visit, which would be for longer than a tourist stay and no longer than one year. Since there are others who have inquired about what clothing to pack in their suitcase, here is a brief list of what to pack in the autumn/winter/spring, especially for the first-time visitor:

1. Plenty of warm clothing, meaning especially sweaters, jeans and scarves. The weather can change often in one day as well, so do bring some shoes that will keep your feet warm and dry year-round. Bring T-shirts and light long sleeve shirts to wear underneath your sweater, in case it suddenly gets warm, and a windbreaker or hoodie for the not-so-cold/not-so-hot days. Bring especially a jacket with a hood because it rains often. A heavy winter coat is a must [especially one which is water resistant], along with a hat and warm gloves. Bring your sunglasses too because you never know when you'll need them!

2. What the Dutch wear: Dressy? Casual? Dressy-casual? Before I begin, I must caution my fellow Americans that the Dutch don't typically go grocery shopping in their sweats or workout clothes. I noticed shoppers often doing so in my last visits, but only because I'm used to how the Dutch seem to dress in a {I'm not quite sure what to call it, but it seems} “dressy-casual” manner, and I see it daily. They appear mostly decent or well-dressed and keep themselves decent or well-groomed, and this is the ordinary. You can choose to wear what you wish, of course, but I'm sharing this just as a simple guide if you want to go with the flow. Ladies: for dressy and casual, denim jeans are usually the last thing I notice on other women, though they do wear jeans. Shopping or at the office, women tend to pair either a pair of jeans, slacks or a skirt with leggings or tights with sweaters, blouses, layers of tops and a pair of warm boots, heeled shoes or a dressy pair of comfortable shoes. Lately, scarves are often worn draped around the neck to accessorize and to help pull an outfit together, and I've even seen women wearing a scarf with a T-shirt and jeans. Men: I notice how clean, well-fitting denim jeans are a nice addition to a dressy-casual look with a T-shirt or sweater and dress shoes or nice casual shoes. Business men will either wear strictly suits, or they'll a pair denim jeans with a dress shirt [top two buttons undone and no tie] and a blazer/sports jacket, along with dress shoes. How you choose to do it is all up to you. Of course, fashion changes over time, so for a good idea of what is current fashion for the whole family in the Netherlands, check the websites of V&D, M&S or De Bijenkorf.

3. OV-chipkaart. It is a card used for payment on public transport and this is how to the locals do it these days. Check out their informative website, in English, here.

4. Know where you will be living ahead of time. Find out the address, neighborhood or at least the town itself on Google Maps. Search for the places you're most likely to go, or how to get to the nearest town where those conveniences are instead located. The entire country is now available on Google Maps Streetview, so you can also take a closer look at where the local bakery and bank can be found, as well as what the parking and the environment around your neighborhood is like.

5. Money, money, money. The currency in the Netherlands is the euro. Unless you have a bank who will work with you while you are abroad, you might want to consider setting up a bank account in the Netherlands. ABN AMRO bank has special accounts designed for international students and expats, all in English [here]. Otherwise, when you first arrive to the Netherlands, it will be handy to have spare currency on you, so be sure to exchange for 20s, 10s, a few 5s and smaller change. The change is: 2 euro and 1 euro coins, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢ and 5¢. 2¢ and 1¢ exsist, but most retailers in the Netherlands round off the total price you pay, so you may rarely see these 2¢ and 1¢ coins in your change.

6. 1-1-2. This is the emergency number in the Netherlands. It's just like 9-1-1, the emergency services number in America.

7. If someone steals your bicycle, go to the police station with your spare bicycle lock key [you should get two keys for the lock when you purchase a bicycle]. Always lock your bicycle, no matter where you put it, and don't leave anything on it which you need or would miss.

8. Bring with you in your suitcase the over-the-counter things you normally may need. Of course, they sell typical drug store items like bandages and floss here, but your reliable cold medicine and other medicines like allergy medicine, often sold over-the-counter in America, are not sold here without prescription. So if you need a 'so you can rest' cold medicine, keep in mind the Dutch drug store equivalent possibly won't help you get your z's.

9. Ikea, Blokker, HEMA and Marskramer each sell a lot of the kitchen gadgets you may need to replace because there are voltage differences in electrical appliances. Some of your current appliances won't work here unless it is dual voltage. If it is, the product and/or instruction manual will say specifically so. My curling iron, blow dryer and sewing machine are all dual voltage, so I can use them in both America and the Netherlands. If you need to replace any appliances, a large selection of electrical appliances and kitchen appliances are found at both Media Markt and Kijkshop.

10. Bring along at least a pocket-sized book of English-to-Dutch phrases and keywords. The little Berlitz Dutch Phrase Book & Dictionary will surely come in handy at one point, and you can carry it in your back pocket or purse. It is possible to get lost in translation here, as I too have experienced, so carrying this along in the beginning could be helpful at the store or at the doctor's office.

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Dutch Living For Expats: Windows

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:10:19 PDT

This morning I went for a bicycle ride to enjoy a sunny, dewy late-summer Dutch morning, and I noticed in my neighborhood something which I've never completely shared about on this blog. . . As you see in the image above [click the image to view it larger in a new window], an image taken earlier this year in Hengelo [in the province Overijssel], it is a common suburban Dutch neighborhood. The homes are made of brick, each featuring clean windows [they wash their windows often, called ramen lappen], with typically each a nicely manicured front yard {Dutch: voortuin} and both the streets and sidewalks surrounding are made of pavestones or bricks. It's similar in America, but there the homes are more commonly built with wood, and the sidewalks are commonly concrete and streets are pavement. What also stands out to me in this image are the front windows of each home, at street-level. Notice the lack of drapery used in the large lower front window [seen on the left]? I see this to be quite common in the Netherlands, during daylight hours. Sometimes in the evenings as well, as you pass by, it is almost like little movie screens lit up in each home. Don't stare, but you might not be able to help but to notice when the residents are parked in front of their television with a cup of coffee, lamps blazing brightly, with the shades wide open. I barely notice it anymore, but I noticed it very much when I first came to the Netherlands. I wondered how someone could feel so comfortable in their home with strangers walking and driving by, able to see their every move. I've been told it is a sort of puritan-thing in the culture, where they have nothing to hide—In this case, they are not afraid to show what they have and/or are doing inside of their home. In other words, they are not doing anything wrong.

I only leave my sheers wide open once in a blue moon. I still have trouble adjusting to this because where I come from leaving the drapes wide open during the day, while no one is home, seems to some to be an invitation for trouble and/or burglars. Hanging sheers along with drapes, or simply using blinds, seems to be how this problem is solved overall in America. The drapes are opened and light is allowed in through the closed sheers during daylight, so the prying eyes can't see in. This is exactly how I have each window dressed in my current home because I enjoy my privacy. Although I am growing to know my neighbors and they've each been inside of my home at least once, similar to how I would behave in America I do not care for them to be able to see what I am doing in my home when they are not invited.

It seems to be weaved variously into the Dutch culture, as some younger generations of the Dutch I've spoken with about this also enjoy their privacy and will keep the shades turned at an angle or not completely open their sheers {Dutch: vitrage} during the day. Often large plants or décor in the front window will block out the view in and/or the window is dressed with glasfolie or raamfolie {English: window film}, a decorative cloudy covering which adheres to the window and allows light through.

I must note: I've noticed in urban areas or areas with a large number of college students, this trend of leaving the shades wide open during the daytime does not always apply. I've seen it in apartment building windows, but I've seen most typically within neighborhoods, away from the busier roads.

By the way, I am not sure what the blue waves on the street in this photo are there for. Perhaps an artistic theme in the neighborhood?

If you are an expat in the Netherlands, how did you keep your window in the culture where you are from? And have you begun to do as typical Dutch do in your home in the Netherlands?

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Mensen Kijken

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:39:24 PDT

Over half a decade later, I still take the time to practice and learn Dutch daily. I do so, whether for 15 minutes or an hour, and often I have a full day of using Dutch, whether I want to or not. My Dutch is still not fluent Dutch. . . But, oh, how I wish it could be. I make mistakes, still have trouble with sentence structure and sometimes make mistakes spelling with plurals, so it will take much more time before I could even dare to tell someone I can “speak and understand” Dutch.

However, Dutch does come a lot easier to me these days, or I may not even realize how well I understand what is being said around me until I stop and think about it. Recently I sat on a terrace with friends, while we had lunch and drank coffee, we did some mensen kijken [English: people-watching]. Sometimes while people-watching at a cafe or in a shopping center, it is not uncommon to overhear the conversations around you. I noticed what was being said around us sometimes and was amazed by how much I could easily understand! This reminded me of how little Dutch I understood when I first came to the Netherlands. In private conversations, I didn't know what people were saying around me or what they were laughing about. I remembered how strange it felt to not understand a lot of what was being seriously discussed or the entirety of their jokes. Often the joke had to be translated for me, which can make the joke seem. . . no longer quite so funny.

When I was beginning to learn Dutch, one of the most important factors I felt was necessary, as an adult, was to understand what adults will casually say to each other. I wanted to understand, just like those around me could all understand, because I didn't want to find myself confused or left out.

One of the books I bought, when I first arrived in the Netherlands, was this Hugo Dutch in 3 Months book/CD program. It was one of many books and programs I had. I used whatever I could get my hands on. As I began, I wondered why one page, a conversation titled “Mensen kijken,” had such a catty tone to it, but then I thought about how it really is a commonly overheard conversation. Not only will you hear it in the Dutch culture, but also in many cultures around the world, so it passes as helpful learning.

To share here, I've kept the root of the conversation from the book, but also I've slightly adjusted the conversation to something closer to what I recently overheard. Here Saskia, Karin and Ilse, three fictitious women who are drinking coffee at a café, are talking about two innocent women nearby:

Saskia: Zie je die twee vrouwen daar?
Karin: Bedoel je die met die broek en die met dat kapsel?
Saskia: Ja. Dat kapsel past niet bij haar.
Ilse: Zie je die met die broek?
Saskia: Ze is te lang voor die broek maar het kapsel is tenminste normaal.
Ilse: Die broek is te klein.
Karin: Nou... die broek is niet zo slecht—Zie je die hoge hakken?
Ilse: Die zijn veel te hoog. Het is geen gezicht!
Saskia: Bedoel je die met die broek of die met dat kapsel?
Ilse: Allebei eigenlijk—Wat jammer! Ze zijn al weg.

English:

Saskia: Do you see those two women there?
Karin: Do you mean the one with those pants and the one with that hairdo?
Saskia: Yes. That hairdo doesn't look good on her.
Ilse: Do you see the one with those pants?
Saskia: She is too tall for those pants, but at least her hair is normal.
Ilse: Those pants are too small.
Karin: Hmm... those pants aren't so bad—Do you see those high heels?
Ilse: They are much too high. It's not a pretty sight!
Saskia: Do you mean the one with those pants or the one with that hairdo?
Ilse: Both actually—What a shame! They're already gone.

If you are learning Dutch, here is some Dutch reading practice for you. It's an article on the Volkskrant website about “mensen kijken.”

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Learning Dutch Words: Part Ten

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:38:30 PDT

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

A few weeks ago, we visited a Dutch recreation park called Het Rutbeek for a picnic lunch and stroll with friends. It was very relaxing, and this park was a very nice place to visit. It's a man-made park/recreation area, which was not completed until the 1970s. You can learn all about it here, in Dutch. I've decided to share some of my photos here today from that park area, with more new Dutch words.

Above are wild flowers.
Dutch: Wilde bloemen.

Other words seen here:
• Pink: Roze
• Leaves: Bladeren
• Flower petals: Bloembladeren
• Silk: Zijde
• Flower bud: Bloemknop

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

A Winding Forest Path
Dutch: Kronkelend bospad.

Other words seen here:
• Branches: Takken
• Trees: Bomen
• Fresh air: Frisse lucht

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

Pasture
Dutch: Weiland.

Other words seen here:
• Grazing cow: Grazende koe
• Grass: Gras
• Green: Groen
• Tree: Boom
• Countryside: Platteland

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

Berries
In Dutch: Bessen.

Other usages:
• Berry picking: Bessen plukken
• Berry bushes: Bessenstruiken
• Berry juice: Bessensap
• Berry syrup: Bessensiroop

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

Bicycle Tour
In Dutch: Fietstocht.
A journey, viewing and enjoying the sights seen while bicycling.

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

Signs
Dutch: Borden.

Other usages:
• Paths/trails: Paden
• Park: Park
• Gebeid: Area

Top to bottom:
1. Fietspad: Bicycle path
2. Dus niet brommen: So no mopeds
3. Honden aan de lijn: Dogs on a leash
4. Opengesteld: Opened [for public]
{this sign contains a list of park/path rules, such as no entry to the grounds after sunset and before sunrise, etc.}
5. Bruine zone: Brown zone

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

Marsh
A moeras is Dutch for a marsh, swamp or bog. This sign says “Moeras niet betreden,” which translates to “Swamp do not enter.”

I wish you all a great week!
Dutch: Ik wens jullie allemaal een prettige week!

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Learning Dutch Words: Part Nine

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 06:57:54 PDT

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

I've been busy and haven't had a lot of time to share on this blog either, but I aim to keep it up by stopping by at least once each week with new updates. Since I haven't shared some Dutch words with pictures for a while, here are some words. Some you may already know, and some are quite simple, but I've always found it to be easier to learn Dutch words by associating them with images. Tip: Another way to learn new Dutch words is label what you have around you or take note of what you use daily. Knowing the Dutch word for these common items will help build your vocabulary!

In the above photo, nature in Dutch is natuur.
Flowers {bloemen} are found often indoors {binnen} in the colder months, and flowers are also found in great abundance outdoors {buiten} in the warmer months.

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

A birthday card in Dutch is a verjaardagskaart, and more than one are verjaardagskaarten.

This card above, which was for a friend, says:
“Hey hot stuff . . . another year added?”

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

An airplane in Dutch is a vliegtuig. More than one airplane are vliegtuigen.

An airport in Dutch is a luchthaven or a vliegveld.
To wish someone a nice trip, you say to them, “Goede reis!”

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

Candy in Dutch is snoep, pronounced like English “snoop.”
These are Jelly Belly jelly beans. I bought these in Germany at Karstadt, where they also sell them individually in large bins.

One flavor I don't suggest you try: jalapeño.

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

The Dutch call fries numerous names. Patat, patat friet, patatje, friet, frietjes, frieten, fritten, patates frites, frites. . . I think I might have missed something. What do you call them?

Do you eat your fries with a fork {frietvork or frietvorkje}?

If you order fries in the Netherlands, you are safe to call them patat. But then there are the choices of sauce you can choose to go with your patat. . . Check out this Wikipedia link for more information. What do you like on your fries?

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

Toys in Dutch are called speelgoed.
A toy store is a speelgoedwinkel.
Colors are kleuren.
Frogs are kikkers.
A window display is called an etalage.
A teddy bear is a knuffelbeer or a teddybeer.

© A Touch of Dutch blog and atouchofdutch.blogspot.com | All rights reserved.

A cow in Dutch is a koe. Cows are koeien.
Here is Paula, a Dutch rappin' yogurt cow, and here are the California cows.

To my fellow bloggers, who I have been following for already so long: You might notice I am not following your blog anymore via the Blogger/Google followers, but I am still following your blog. It seems there was an error in the system which removed me from some lists, but I have each of your blogs saved to my favorites and still follow when I have time. I will continue in the future following your blog via other methods, as I've noticed in the past how Blogger's service can sometimes be unreliable.

Ik wens jullie allemaal een fijn weekend!
I wish you all a great weekend!

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My Expat Life in the Netherlands: Pros and Cons

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 01:41:05 PDT

Similar to my last blog entry, My Dutch Top 20, this is a renewed version of an old blog entry from two years ago, featuring a summary of my own experiences living here in the Netherlands as an expat and the ups & downs. While I rewrote this, it was interesting to see how much my views have changed. Especially how much more positive I've become, as most of my 2008 was spent dealing personally with culture shock. My pros and cons list here is based upon a website I once found, created by someone else who lived for a while in the Netherlands. Many points she shared were and are quite similar to the thoughts I have myself. Some topics are inspired by her page, while some are my own personal additions.

Pros: Some points I enjoy about the Netherlands [click here to continue reading]...

Insego - Smart Expat Network.

My Dutch Top 20: Summer Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:45:50 PDT

There are some things which are common to the Netherlands, such as wooden shoes and windmills, but there are some things which you'll only notice if you've lived here for a while and venture out into the culture often enough. What I find interesting and observe might change often, therefore I call this my summer edition. You may notice these things differently or have an entirely different list, but this is my personal Top 20 of things I observe or learn living amongst the Dutch:

No matter what the weather, you'll see the Dutch bicycling. They also have and will don the gear to help fend off the elements. I also own the gear and have had to ride my bicycle through rain, hail and snow as well.
And despite the weather, riding a bicycle is how many people here get to work, school or how they get to the shopping center. It is a great and simple way of getting around in the Netherlands because everywhere there are special traffic lanes, road signs and rules for the safety of bicyclists. In urban-areas, bicyclists even have their own traffic signals.
Nearly every Dutch person owns a bicycle, and the ratio of bikes to car is 2:1. In Amsterdam alone, I think it's impossible to go without seeing a bicycle somewhere on the streets for more than 5 minutes. And check this out!
Are you a fan of bridges? I just learned that Amsterdam has 1,281 bridges.
You may hear some native Dutch in Amsterdam refer to their city as “Mokum,” and you may also hear some referring to other cities in the Netherlands with this term. Click here to find out why.
Amsterdam is great, but it is almost like a different world, when it is compared to the rest of the cultures found within the Netherlands. So if you visit and want to tell someone you've “been there,” you ought to discover further away from Amsterdam. Then you can tell them all about what else “there is.” Take the train to Den Haag [The Hague], Rotterdam, Utrecht or Maastricht. Visit places like Kinderdijk, Zaanse Schans, Giethoorn, Palace Het Loo or Alkmaar's cheese market.

I love to tell friends and family in America how I crossed the country within about 2 hours via a car ride. When there are no traffic jams, it should take about 2½-3 hours to cross the Netherlands in a car, depending on where you are headed and if there are stops along the way.

I was asked recently by a fellow American:

“Since you've lived in the Netherlands, have you changed your political views?”

My answer is not short, so bear with me: I still see things the same way, politically, and I also haven't been pushed or swayed further towards one side. But, on that same note, I guess it's easier to explain how much further I think about it all, like I've seen a movie, but then afterwards I read the book. Then I met the author, who invited me over for a long visit to explain in detail to me personally why they wrote the book, telling me more about each character, objects, places and inspirations.

This feeling I have comes from not only having to readjust my life and daily routines in multiple ways, but it also comes from being surrounded often by so many other cultures. I've made friends closely with women of many different nationalities, each coming from different continents. I once knew very little about their cultures, but now I know a great amount. We also share one thing in common: being an outsider living in a new land. Due to this, some become a stronger and more social due to the experience, while some become [more] reclusive. Another way to put this: when you remove a mature plant from its planter and plant it somewhere else, where the soil is slightly different and there are new elements surrounding it, it may take a while longer for its roots to adapt and grow.

I understand now just how different other cultures are from my own, and I understand better that just because they are different doesn't make them bad or wrong. I also appreciate my own nationality and my own culture more, and I find myself being much more resourceful about it. When I return to America one day [we plan on retiring there, if we are not living there again before that time], I know I will have some difficulty readapting. I experience it already whenever I return for visits, if I think about it enough while I'm there. In this case, when I return, I may need to first live in an area where it is more “international.”

There are some areas of the Netherlands which are considered to be a Bible Belt [Dutch: de Bijbelgordel] [about], similar to the American Bible Belt.

Although there are some who have or may disagree, The UnDutchables® is a book which covers a lot of interesting points about the typical Dutch lifestyle. Due to experiences I've had, and having lived in a few areas of the country, I find a lot of what they share to be overall precise. Click here to learn more about The UnDutchables®.

I've spoken to many Dutch people about this book, and most seem fascinated that there are so many things to discuss about their culture.

Handwriting. I notice often here how numbers and letters are often written differently. On official paperwork, I have visibly frustrated more than a dozen Dutch office workers with my handwriting. It's not because my handwriting is chicken scratch, but I believe it's because they rarely need to read American English handwriting. Here's a sample I found online of typical Dutch handwriting:

[This reads: voor je klaarstond, which means "was always ready for you."]

Here is a sample of the number 8, how it is written typically by someone who is Dutch:

[This reads: 8000 AP Zwolle, from an address]

Sometimes the 8 is written more legibly, but they are taught to write it differently than how we are taught in America. Also, I notice often the how number 9 is written like a lower-case letter g.

It is said that most Dutch people speak at least one language besides their own native language, which is very true, but I seem to often bump into those who can speak only ½ of another language or can speak only Dutch. Sometimes those who only speak Dutch also have the added bonus of a heavy dialect, which makes their “Dutch” more difficult to understand. I'm not complaining about it because it's helped me to learn Dutch more quickly.

Do you live in the Netherlands and not yet know Gerard Joling or Beau van Erven Dorens? How about Linda de Mol? If not, turn on your TV in the evenings. They are BNers [bekende Nederlanders, or English: well-known Dutch], and they are all over the place on Dutch television as presenters or hosts for various programming.

Dutch TV: Just like in America, there is a variety of programming to choose from. They even have their own version of those many talent reality shows which are also popular in America. One of the best parts about the programming is they leave programming alone, so if it's originally in English, they leave it just like that, adding Dutch subtitles to the program. There is programming for everyone, including their own version of Sesame Street [Sesamstraat], as well as Christian programming on the EO. In the evenings, note that most of the regular Dutch stations do not edit programming, so you will find a R-rated movie on TV is not edited or bleeped. They give fair warning before the program begins, using a system called Kijkwijzer, similar to the ratings system on American TV, but they also only show what is considered to be any form of mature programming later in the evening, when children ought to already be in bed and not sitting in front of the television. I'll admit I was shocked by it at first, but then I understood it that the Dutch leave the art form as it is, and it's nothing different from how we know it on HBO in America. In addition, the viewer is not being forced to watch it, so if they don't approve of it, they can just as easily turn the channel.

Did you know ¼ of the country rests below sea level?

The Dutch know very well how to build dams and levees. Click here to learn more.

It seems to me that the Dutch have had a large influence on every continent at some point in history. Here are some new things I learned: Australia was once named "New Holland," referred to as Nova Hollandia by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1644. Tasmania was named after Abel Tasman, and Tasman was also the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642. It was named after Zeeland, a province in the Netherlands. I learned all of this via Wikipedia.

Orange carrots. I learned this during the 2010 FIFA World Cup: As you know, while they can be purple, red, yellow or white, carrots in the western cultures are typically orange. Carrots are said to be orange in honor of the House of Orange, the Dutch Royal family. You can read more about it here.

Since I've been living here in the Netherlands, the best time come for a visit is May through October. You can witness all four seasons in the Netherlands, and the weather year-round consists often of rain and/or cloudy skies. They do get some snow here in the winter, but not typically it's not very deep. In the summer it is warm, often humid, and temperatures can even rise up to about 30-35°C [85-95°F]. You can learn more about the weather specifically here by entering in a date at “The weather on...” at this official link, on the bottom right side of that webpage. There are no mountains in the Netherlands, apart from the hills in the south of the country. The highest point in the Netherlands is at Vaalserberg, which has an elevation of 322.7 m [1,059 ft].

If you live in the Netherlands, what differences do you notice between the Dutch and your own culture? And if you live abroad here in the Netherlands or elsewhere, what changes do you notice in yourself? Do you feel living abroad has made you a better and/or stronger person, or do you feel more prone to do less than you used to? When you return to your home country for visits, do you feel like things have changed or that you have changed?

I'll be offline for most of the weekend and won't be able to reply until later, but I'll post your comments up as soon as I can.

I wish you all further a great week and a nice weekend!
[Ik wens jullie allemaal nog een fijne week en een prettig weekend!]

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He's Just Walkin'

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 22:32:20 PDT

Outside of topics about the Netherlands at this time, I want to share here about a blog I came across recently. I was so intrigued by it, and it seems to go hand in hand with my inspiration lately to do more traveling. It's called I'm Just Walkin', which is about a journey currently being made by a man, Matt, spanning respectively from Rockaway Beach, New York to Rockaway Beach, Oregon [approx. 3,100 miles or roughly 5,000 km]. The estimated amount of time that it should take him to reach his destination is 9 months [details about his trip here]. He's currently in Montana, which means he doesn't have much further to go.

“Moving through the world at three miles an hour, you can fully take in your surroundings. There’s nothing separating you from your environment. You notice things that go completely undetected by people zooming by in cars. It’s such a rich experience: you can see, hear, and smell everything around you, and even touch and taste things if you feel like it.”
—Matt; I'm Just Walkin'

I looked up in Köln and suddenly saw this.
I'm not sure why it's there. It is [or was] found between the Kölner Dom and the Dunkin' Donuts.

I'm sharing here photos of my recent spontaneous trip to Köln in Germany, rather than photos of Matt's journey, because I haven't asked for his permission to use his photos, but you can see his complete set of photos from his journey on his photostream at Flickr [here].

Comparatively, Matt's determination to cross America on foot certainly outshines my spontaneous train ride to Köln, but the decisiveness is similar. I really would love to see everything and all things surrounding me in Europe, enjoying it and not doing so in some fleeting manner. I appreciate the differences in not only the landscape, the culture and even the trees which I see around me, but I also appreciate the age and history of all which surrounds me. I would love to see so much more of it. Doing so by foot. . . This might not be a possibility for me, due to a lack of time, but by bicycle it is quite doable in short bursts and also enjoyable. Or I can go by car or train for longer distances where, at my destination, I can take my time.

View from the Köln Hbf.

Why I share more now about traveling: Traveling is something I'm trying to do more of lately, while the opportunities are easily doable, is due to the memory of my grandmother.

“I’m very drawn to the simplicity of this whole pursuit. Each day I’ll wake up, pack all my possessions back in my cart, and walk a little farther. That’s it. That’s the extent of my world. I’m just walkin’. I think everyone dreams about such a simple existence from time to time, when the worries and pressures of modern life start to accumulate.” —Matt; I'm Just Walkin'

All about the Kölner Dom here.

I'll share some tips from my own experience and knowledge here, if you'd also like to get a start in traveling more around Europe. For example, if you are looking to take the train through Europe, booking can be done online [try this website] or in person at your local central train station. Often there are deals and packages available for groups, including specials for weekday trips, so in the Netherlands do keep an eye open for these by checking Kruidvat and Blokker advertisements.

4711 Real Cologne Water. Seen in the Cologne central train station, Köln Hbf, after arriving via train.
More about this here.

A system of high-speed trains, which runs through Germany, is called the ICE [Intercity-Express], and it connects to other countries like Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. For other trains and trains elsewhere in Europe and further information, search here. Through the Netherlands, try NS, and in Germany try DB. These websites are both available in English.

The central train station in Cologne, Germany is called the Köln Hauptbahnhof [Hbf].

Hostels [Dutch: herberg or jeugdherberg; German: Herberge or Jugendherberge] and campgrounds will be your cheapest choice for an overnight stay, but you can also find inns and bed and breakfasts. One example I would like to share is the Köhlerhütte in Weixdorf [website], just to the north of Dresden in Germany. I once stayed at this restaurant/pension, and it is very close to the airport, suburban metro railway [S bahn] and tram network [Straßenbahn]. There you can have a hearty dinner and a Feldschlößchen Pilsner and rest overnight. Room prices start at about € 40 per night [nearby hotels offer prices which double this], but there are also various locations in the same region, called a Pension or Landpension [English: boarding/lodging], which charge at least roughly € 20 per night.

Yes, they have Dunkin' Donuts in Germany too.
This is the location found in the Schildergasse, moments away from the Kölner Dom and the Köln Hbf.

More about my photos from Köln: Not so very long ago, I hopped onto a train and made my way spontaneously to Köln [Cologne], in Germany. Although you should expect on this trip to make at least once a transfer to another train, depending on where you are coming from, it is well-worth the journey. Unfortunately my trip was very short and I didn't get to see very much, so I plan on returning again very soon for more.

Shopping galore in Cologne. Information here, only in German.

The [photos] from his trip are great to see, and one of my favorite photos that I've viewed so far is this, along with the tagline where he explains:

“Wendy saw me pushing my cart earlier in the day and, not knowing that I'm walking across the US, was very concerned for me. When she saw me again sitting on the curb in Pleasant Gap, she gathered up a jacket, a newspaper, and some food, and brought them over to me in the bag you see her holding [she apologized for its pinkness]. She was worried about offending me, and wanted to make it clear that she didn't think I was beneath her; she just wanted to make sure I was okay.

She also said she was very touched by the sign on the front of my cart...I haven't addressed the sign yet on this blog, so I think now would be a good time. I can't take credit for it; I stole the idea from my friend Bill Wetzel. It just seems like such a perfect reminder of the ephemerality of life. Make the most of each encounter; you never know if you'll see that person again. I also think it's kind of poignantly funny that the vast majority of people reading my sign are zooming past me in their cars, our one brief encounter in this world over and done in the blink of an eye. [Although there have been a surprising number of people who see me a second time and pull their cars over to talk to me.]” —Matt; I'm Just Walkin'

In Cologne, I looked up and saw this.

Where will you be visiting this summer? Anything which is inspiring you to get out and enjoy the summer? And if you have any tips or tricks you wish to share about traveling in Europe from the Netherlands, please feel free to do so in the comments. Because I am expecting to often be away or busy with work, it may take more than a day for your comment to appear.

I wish you all a nice week!
[Ik wens jullie allemaal een fijne week!]

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When the Travel Bug Bites. . .

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:48:55 PDT

Outside of work and a lot of those other very important personal things which have been keeping me busy, I've taken some time to think about the things in my life which I don't want to take for granted. This all comes about due to my grandmother recently passing away.

[From various visits to Germany.]
My grandmother was always and will remain always very special to me, and although her memory was fading as she grew older, the last time I spoke with her she suggested clearly that I should do whatever I could to enjoy life. One thing I'd like to focus on is how I'd love to see as much of the world as possible, and there are so many wonderful places just within reach in Europe.

[From various visits back to San Francisco.]
My grandmother saw a lot of the world when she was younger. While I was growing up, I'd visit often with her on the weekends, and she would share with me the stories from her many photo scrapbooks, which she had carefully put together over the years. She'd tell me all about where she had lived and visited, and with family spread throughout the entire United States, she traveled often to see them. Above all, my grandpa needed to travel for his occupation as well, so she and he lived and brought up their children abroad in foreign lands for a majority of the 1950s and 1960s, until finally they all settled down in California in the late 1960s. Therefore she could understood my travel bug. My need and love to live and travel abroad.

[From various visits to the Los Angeles-area.]
Of course it is not always affordable to travel about as much as I wish to, but I ought to be finding ways so that I can do it more. Even if it means hopping on a train and traveling 2-3 hours away, which I did recently to Köln [Cologne] in Germany.

[From my recent trip to Ireland.]
I wanted to share about some of those locations briefly here today in photos, as a special tribute to my grandmother. Within America, I've been to many states, but it would take me a long time to cover about them all. So far, I've yet to visit Alaska or Hawaii, and I'd love to visit more of the northeast and south, as well as into the provinces of Canada such as Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Of those states where I've been, a few of my most favorite are New York, Arizona and Louisiana.

[From a trip in 2007 to Grand Canyon West in Arizona.]
In Europe, I have also seen many airport terminals, but I can't yet count those as places where I've been. I would love soon to see so much more, to step outside of those terminals and train stations.

All photo collages in this blog entry were designed in memory of my grandmother.

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The Adventures of a Small Man. . .

noreply@blogger.com (Isabella J) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:05:24 PDT

[If you can't see the video above, click here.]

Above is a project I had been busy with lately. In America, some young children are yearly doing project for school featuring Flat Stanley. The children help create and send him in the mail to others so he can see the world, and my niece selected me to be a hostess for him. I took him everywhere I went. In the end, I needed to send him and the photos back to America to my niece's school, but there were some "outtakes" which I didn't or couldn't send back. Here, in this film clip, you'll see these outtakes, out and about in the Netherlands with typically Dutch items, and in Germany as well in especially Cologne, Oberhausen and the CentrO shopping mall in Oberhausen.

You can read more about Flat Stanley, who even once met President Bill Clinton, here.

I will have very limited internet access for approximately the next two weeks, but I've also been keeping up on my blog's Facebook page too. Since April, I've been sharing there little tidbits when I have a few moments during the week, so if you're curious I invite you also to check it out! Click here.

I wish you all a great week en tot de volgende keer!
[English: and until next time!]

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