Moving to Amsterdam
Trip Start
Apr 15, 2003
1
119
Trip End
Ongoing
Chicago,
United States
Monday, April 7, 2003
April 6 is a Sunday and, after a nap to combat the jet lag, I quickly learn that the rumors that everything is closed on Sunday in the Netherlands is really true outside of the center of Amsterdam. The corporate housing (which is very nice -- HUGE and very comfortable), is located on the edge of Amsterdam in a quiet neighborhood. There is a shopping center 2 blocks away, but everything is closed. I don't really know where I am (a driver met me at the airport and drove me to temporary housing), but I do know that I'm within walking distance of the ABN AMRO head office and that from there a tram goes to Central Amsterdam, where I am SURE there's a grocery store available. Luckily, when I walk to the main street I see head office and can walk to it. From there it's an easy tram ride to the Center and Albert Heijn (the local grocery chain). This really is a lucky break because I later learn that had I walked to the main street in the other direction I would not have been able to see head office. Being back in the Center makes me feel much more comfortable -- everything is familiar again.
After falling off the luggage cart in the Schiphol Venus spends the entire first 2 days behind the couch. After the 2nd night Milo persuades her to come out and explore and she is quickly back to normal. I've bought 50 tulips for 8 euro at the flower market and am starting to settle in as well. A coworker has suggested a very detailed map, which I bought, that has really helped me to figure out where I am living and how to get from one place to the other. That is a huge help!
Work is interesting. Everybody is very nice and helpful, but I think we're all a bit amazed at how much information and how many forms are in Dutch. 30 minutes of my first meeting with my boss was spent getting my mobile phone working properly because the instructions were all in Dutch. In America this is something I would be able to handle by myself. Thus, I am getting my first taste of the simple things that are much more difficult because the instructions are all in Dutch. Although the people all speak English, the telephone prompts and written instructions are all in Dutch. It is good that the bank will pay for Dutch lessons. I just have to schedule them! Another lesson learned: It is a waste of time to try to figure things out on my own. It's much faster and more efficient to just ask a Dutch person. I'll get a more complete answer in 1/10th of the time!
I've also learned that I have no sense of how long it will take to do something here. I opened all of my bank accounts, but am unable to deposit money into them until it is transferred from the U.S. Opening all of the accounts took 2 hours -- and I still don't have any money. I can use my American ATM card at any ATM here to get cash, but the whole way that bills get paid is different. Everything is a direct debit. When I sign up for the phone or the gym, I have to give them my account number and then they simply debit the account each month. So, I'm giving out this number a lot without any money there. This is something I would never do in the U.S., but there really is no choice here. The bank guy says it's ok for now. Meanwhile, other tasks that I had thought would take 30-60 minutes only took 5! Just part of the adjustment.
It is beautiful here right now. The daffodils are in bloom and the trees are all blossoming. It is amazing how there is farm land right in Amsterdam. I take the Metro train to work every day and pass a field with sheep and cows. One day there was a beautiful pheasant right beside the railroad track. It's amazing!
We've included some photos taken during an earlier trip to Amsterdam...perhaps some of these subjects encouraged us to consider moving here.
Click here to jump to more info on Amsterdam (feel free to come back though)
