Year One Complete - The Year in Review
Trip Start
Apr 06, 2003
1
41
69
Trip End
Ongoing
Amsterdam,
Netherlands
Monday, April 19, 2004
Julie and I just got back from a 6-day trip to Paris with Julie's parents last week. I don't really remember liking Paris when I was there with Julie as a student in '97 but this time it was amazing! The place is really special. It is so romantic...even with your in-laws =)
The weather is really starting to peak around here. Just a few weeks ago we had snow (see Pic 1) and now finally, the flowers are budding (see Pic 2). The days are beginning to last a lot longer and the sun is actually up when I go to work AND when I come home. And we've even solved our issue about getting a boat...Chris and Melanie bought one - and they even invited us out for a post-work put-put this week (see Pics 3-4).
01. View of snowy canal from apartment window
Things in A'dam have been going pretty well. We have been so busy I didn't even really miss the NCAA (or my showing in the bracket pool...309 out of 317 entries). Last week I went to see Robert Randolph, an amazing blues guitarist in the small room of the Paradiso. The room holds about 300 people, no more, but when the show began I counted 46 people in the room. It was awesome (see Pics 5-8).
Our friend Sasha is coming to town tomorrow. She works at the bank and we'll get a chance to see her a bit...yeah! After that, my dad will be in town for a long weekend before continuing on to Asia for work. I think we are going to drive down to Luxembourg for a few days with him. Sandwiched in between is Queen's Day! Wooohooo!
That's the plan for now. I am halfway through writing about our snowboarding trip to the Bavarian Alps with our Aussie friends Bruce and Ange from a few weeks ago and need to get goin' on our trip to Paris and our day-trip to Gouda but for now, here is a very personal t-pod I wrote on the train to Paris...
==============================
It is 9:15 on April 7th, exactly 1 year from the day I landed at Schiphol ready to embark on my adventure. I am on my way to Paris by train with Julie and her parents.
Over the last few days I haven't been able to get out of my mind many of the ups and downs that Julie and I have witnessed over the last 365
02. Flowers on bike ride to work - bank in back
. We have tried to keep you up-to-date on many of our travels and cultural interactions. We have seen amazing sights.As taxes are very complicated for an expat, the bank hired KPMG to file on my behalf. One of the things KPMG needed me to do was keep a calendar of where we were every day during 2003. This was quite an amazing task for me because it was at this point that it really set in how amazing this is. I mean, most people can't say they went to Belgium once in their life let alone 4 times like we did in the last year. Most people have longed to go to Germany. We were there twice this year. And how many people spend a week driving around southern Spain. Or a weekend in Copenhagen. I can continue...Switzerland, London. It really is remarkable.
And the people we have met along the way have added to this experience in a way that can never really be explained. From watching rugby with our Aussie friends Bruce and Ange and Tom and Meeghan. To learning about beer and, in general, having wonderful travels and conversations with Chris and Melanie - 2 people who I am sad to say we probably wouldn't have met back in our sheltered Chicago lives. How about hearing what growing up in Columbia is like from Alfonso, Sylvia, Nico, and Maria. Or participating in a coffee tasting with Nico, who is a coffee trader. Or discussing politics with my Frenchie friend Berryl at the height of the Iraq war. Or discussing stereotypes and Middle East politics with our Saudi friend Dania. Or talking about being a Jew in a Muslim country with our Turkish friend Dogan just hours after 2 suicide bombers attacked synagogues in your hometown. Or the scores of Dutch who have befriended us and let us in their lives. Or the Americans we have met either from my work or Julie's involvement in the American Woman's Club, most of whom would likely have run in a different social circle than us back home
03. Stephen and Chris on the boat
. I can honestly say that I am a very different person today than I was when I unloaded off of my KLM flight in A'dam.REMOVED
And while we have made tons of great new friends and seen amazing places, we have missed many important days as well. The number of weddings that we couldn't attend in person is sad. The number of babies we don't get to meet is also something that is disappointing - especially the new cousins in the family. And we were not there to grieve with our friends and families when Ruth died. Or Uncle Bob passed away.
But to those of you who have continued to invite us into your lives through the regular emails and pictures, sharing with us the excitement and struggles in your lives, you will never really understand how important you have been to us over this year.
One concern I had before we left was how we would be treated by all of you. We never left because of any unhappiness with our real lives but rather, we love to travel and meet new people and this was a wonderful way for us to accomplish this for a temporary time period
04. Melanie and Julie with the IJ brewery windmill
. But in 2 short years, we'll be back in Chicago. And many of you have helped us to feel as if we never left and will have an easier time readjusting to our lives back in Chicago as a result.On our trip back to Chicago in February, I was amazed how natural everything felt. It was as if we had never been away. Our conversations started right back up where they left off. It was such a wonderful feeling knowing that not only do all of you support us during this time away from home, but also that you have kept us involved in our life back home.
But I had a conversation with Mike during that trip that made me really sad. He made a comment to me about how his life is "dull compared to ours". I was really sad that he said that because I don't think that that is true at all. He has a new business and bought a new home...not very dull if you ask me. But each and every one of you are doing something special right now. It might be getting married. It might thinking about getting married. Maybe you recently started your own business or you made a career change. Possibly you're talking about school. Maybe you are having your first child. Or talking about having your first child. Possibly you're talking about making a geographical change. Or already did. Some of you have pets for the first time. Or bought a home. Many of you have done some traveling as well. We are all experiencing some exciting and confusing changes in some way. So please continue to keep us updated on those changes because it is not "dull". You are our friends and family and we care about you. We want to hear about you because on those really tough days, it is what keeps us happy.
But I must say, while missing weddings and housewarming parties and births has been tough, nothing can compare to what has been going on in my own home
05. Robert Randolph at the Paradiso small room
. This is a bit tough to write about but from day one I said that this was my journal and is written for me - you are all invited to snoop if you'd like. And unfortunately I have been unable to really express in this t-pod how I have been feeling about one of the most disappointing things I have ever had to deal with.Prior to our move, Julie and I went to LA to see my bro graduate from Arizona. This was Dec. 2002. It was a great trip. I was with my bro, my parents, my grandparents, my uncle Michael came into town. Some of my family's dearest friends traveled to share with Evan. It was a great trip.
But shortly after the house cleared and everyone went home, my mom and dad sat down with Julie and I to tell us that they were having marital problems. That after 32 years of marriage, they had hit a wall. They wanted to tell us in person, knowing that we were moving to A'dam soon, and felt it would be even more devastating in the event news had to be shared with us over the phone.
My father was not feeling well and initiated all of this. Rather than being his jovial and outgoing self, he preferred to bury himself in the bedroom. He did not want to be around people. This was very odd behavior since I always viewed my dad as "the life of the party". My immediate concern was not about the survival of my parents' marriage but that my dad was sick. I will always remember not being able to sleep that night, getting in the car in the morning to meet my dad in his office, having breakfast with him, and letting him know how I was concerned for his health.
06. Robert Randolph
From then, Julie and I left for A'dam. Shortly thereafter, he decided that he would begin talking to a therapist. Not long after, he decided to move out of the house to take a break. This was a tough time for my mom, compounded by the death of one of her best friends Ruth. Things continued to unravel to the point where my parents finally decided to divorce. I have told many people many times that my primary concern is that they both recuperate from this very difficult time and become happy again. It is clear that will not happen with one another but hopefully it will be independently.
But among the toughest thing for me was being away from home. Not because I needed help but because I was not there to help, specifically help my brother.
Evan was there all on his own, again. He was there when Ruth passed away and now again, he was there alone. He was there alone when he came into work 90-minutes later than expected because he didn't want to leave our frail and heartbroken mother crying at the kitchen table all by herself every day. He was there by himself as rumors and truths started to spread about my mom and dad. He was there alone to pack up the fucking house. He is 1 person. How can he pack up an entire 4-bedroom house? He should NEVER have been put in these situations but my brother did it. And without a complaint.
All the while, he was moving into his own apartment, maintaining a 24-year old social life, and running a new business. If Evan was a bit immature before, he has certainly caught up - and some - over this past difficult year
07. Robert Randolph
.But it doesn't bug me that Evan did all of this but that I couldn't help him. These are OUR parents. And these are OUR problems. And yet he did it all...alone.
And not only was he handling more than his fair share, I was spending my weekend drinking Belgian beer and visiting castles. I feel very guilty but I also know there was not much I could do to help from here. I was on the phone with everyone often. And it's not as if I should've been sitting Shiva in A'dam. That wouldn't have helped. But it still makes me sad that as a brother, and especially an older brother, I couldn't help Evan. I will never be able to forget this year.
It pains me now, even thinking about it. I am sad that my mom was destroyed this year. I am sad that the man I idolized is no longer the man I want to be. I am sad that all of my parents' friends and family have been thrown into this mess - that it will never be "Alan and Roz" again. I am sad that my mom was uprooted from LA and has to reestablish a life in Florida, although I am happy that she was welcomed by her parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and cousin. I am sad that my dad was not honest from the beginning about what this was all about although in a bittersweet way, I am happy that he is not ill
08. Robert Randolph
. I am sad that he is left with virtually no friends although I also understand that you reap what you sow. I am sad that my dad's business partnership was dissolved but I am happy that he is off to a great start in his independent venture. I am sad that my brother is put in an awkward position where he is dependant on my dad for his livelihood when there is all this personal shit flying around. I am sad that due to a 6-hour time difference to Florida and a 9-hour time difference to LA, I don't get to talk to my mom, dad, and brother during this tough time as often as I would like. I am sad that I view my parents differently now and that sometimes I feel uncomfortable talking to them about certain subjects. I am sad that I sometimes know things that I can't tell them. But mostly, I am sad that I couldn't help Evan.Everyone will heal eventually and have done what needed to be done to get on the road to recovery. Although I'm sure that sometime in life we will be faced with more troubled time (unfortunately) and I will get to help my brother then.
Anyways, this year has been one I will never forget for many reasons. Despite all of the tough times in my HOME, I would do this all again. What we have been introduced to over the last year can never be fully appreciate by reading a t-pod. It is the chance of a lifetime. And in a strange and almost self-mutilating way, the trouble in Northridge almost added to this experience.
Anyways, thank you all for reading these t-pods and being with us this year. Thank you continuing to email us and keep us informed of your lives. And please consider visiting us this year
09. Armed guards at the US Embassy
.==============================
Well, I hope you didn't feel uncomfortable reading that. Those of you who are actually still reading these t-pods have really been with us all year. You understand better than anyone else the ups and downs of this past year. And I plan on keeping this as a memoir of my time in A'dam and the shit going on with my parents is certainly a big part of this past year. Those of you whom I have emailed and spoken to over the year about this subject know exactly how much I have thought about this and how it has affected me. But thank you guys for helping me through this period but most of all, for listening. It is a very sad time but I feel lucky to have such a wonderful support system to help me through this, even if it's done long-distance.
Anyways, thank you all for listening over the year. And in the spirit of a Year in Review, here are some random T.T.M.M.G.Hmmm that I never got to mention over the year...
==============================
*** I was in line to use the ATM one day, about 4 people deep
10. Baricades
. The person who was first in line was about 5 feet behind the ATM user. As the people wore off the line, it was not replenished. So when I was next in line, nobody was behind me. I was on a busy pedestrian shopping street so I can understand how this guy didn't know I was "in line" but when he cut in front of me and I said "excuse me, I am in line", instead of just saying "sorry, I didn't see you there" he said "you're waiting in line wrong". Are you kidding me? I said "well, there were other people in line here". I'm almost upset that I even answered him but this is the epitome of the Dutch love of debate. I was waiting in line wrong. Since, I have checked this with some Dutch friends and to my relief, I have been waiting in line for the ATM correctly all year.*** I have noticed that almost every store in Europe checks the signature on the back of credit cards when charging something. It is rather refreshing.
*** When I got my first set of utility bills, I almost shit myself. I got a gas and electric bill for EUR 300. It took a moment for me to realize that the bill was for an entire quarter. Phew! They seem to be big fans of multi-month billing here without providing a clear description of what the charge is for.
11. Police guardsj
*** Julie once made the mistake of ordering her sandwich with "mayo on the side". As we have found many times over, the Dutch take EVERYTHING literally. When she got her sandwich, there was mayo on the side just like she asked...as well as smothered all over sandwich. "Mayo on the side" means extra mayo "on the side".
*** Since being here I have lost over 20 pounds. So if my banking career doesn't take off, I might provide a service to brides-to-be. It's called the Kantor diet...a couple slices of bread with cheese eaten with a fork and knife for lunch and regular 20-minute bike rides to and from work. It works.
*** Dutch man are total pretty boys! They wear very particular clothes and seem to spend hours doing their messy hair look. And yet they somehow don't notice that they have 1 eyebrow and their sideburns begin growing in their eardrums. Here's a tip fellas, get a hair plucker.
*** Since being here, we have not experienced a single good airplane landing. The airlines must send all of the new pilots to Europe to practice.
12. Tank
*** You can buy an individual beer at the super market. People regularly break open a six-pack and take just one. It's weird.
*** All work meetings, even very short and informal ones, end with drinks. The bank even has it's own bar. There is one tenant in the building and it is the bank. That means it's a bar just for the bank. The bank even subsidizes the beers for goodness sake!
*** The Dutch love to stand right in the doorway of the trams. It's like they figure they can't get off the tram at their stop if they are not right in front. It's really annoying. But I just pretend it is American Gladiators and play a little Break-Through-and-Conquer.
*** Motor scooters whiz all over town. And they get to ride in the bike lane too. I don't get what part of "bike lane" they don't understand but I think they feel that if they can fit in the bike lane they can ride in it. There are even these little handicap cars that are smaller than golf carts and are fully enclosed. I think a strong wind could knock them over but they are motorized and drive in the bike lane
13. Fences
. Personally, I would like to buy a small airplane and drive it in the bike lane.*** I feel so cool when I ride my bike through Museumplein or other highly touristy places and I get to ring my bell at those who wander aimlessly in my way. It's pretty fun. I feel like a real local.
*** The Dutch use biking hand signals. But they are not the ones we know - left arm bent forming an 'L' for right and right arm outstretched to the left to turn left. Instead they simply put their left arm out when turning left and their right arm out when turning right.
*** Streetpeople in A'dam are all fluent in English. It's amazing. You would look at them and swear that they are the bottom of society. And yet they are fluent. They even mumble in English. I think they are all from Madison originally and just got a bit too into the drugs. So here they are.
*** Mobile phones here have very distinctive ringtones. I'm not sure if this has occurred in the US as well but it is not usual to hear some MTV song play on the mobile phones
14. Relaxing in the rooftop garden
. It is like a part of your personality. And some phones even allow you to compose your own ringtone for those with musical ability.*** It seems like there is only 1 grocery store chain in the entire country. It's a true monopoly. And they must make a ton of money because the save on the cost of bagboys as you have to pack your own bags too. The strange thing, they have a system of tracking their customers by offering a Bonus Card. The problem is when you get a Bonus Card, you don't have to fill out an application so they never have any personal info on you so they don't know what type of person is buying what. It's a wasted opportunity to conduct a bit of market research.
*** If you have enjoyed reading these t-pods, you might want to consider reading the book "Undutchables". It is a book about all the strange things the Dutch do. Even the Dutch love this book.
*** They have reality shows here about everything you can imagine. One of our favorites is about Schiphol airport. All they do is tell stories about weird things that happen at the airport, like if a celebrity is arriving or a weird pet (like a bat) is being shipped or if there's a drunk guy roaming around
15. Julie relaxing in rooftop garden
. It's really entertaining.*** TV shows start at all different times. There is no consistency at all. On some channels shows begin at :55 and other channels shows begin at :20. How do you know when to switch from the Schiphol Airport show to Dutch Idol?
*** Bathroom stalls go from the floor to ceiling. This way I can stand without my head poking above the stall. It's like my own little office.
*** One load of laundry takes about 2 hours. It's crazy. And the loads are so small it takes about 2 days to do all of the laundry...although I don't really know since Julie does it =)
*** Ice cream here is so friggin good! I guess preservatives really make a difference.
*** It seems like every English-speaking show is on at the same time. And we love watching them even, those we never watched in the US like Fresh Prince.
16. Car being pulled out of canal
*** I was on the tram one day when 2 men got into an argument. Maybe one was blocking the doorway? But they yelled at each other in Dutch for a few minutes and ended the conversation with one of them yelling "fucking homo". I found it strange that they had an entire argument in Dutch and only uttered 1 English phrase and it was a curse word. I've noticed that happens a lot. I suppose there is no better word for "fucking homo" than "fucking homo".
*** I like how the Dutch pronounce things. They call IKEA eye-kay-a.
*** Urinals have a little black fly painted on them. It gives you something fun to look at while whizzing.
*** Trams cannot reverse. If a tram goes too far and needs to be backed up the driver needs to get out of the drivers seat, walk to the other end of the tram, drive the tram forward in the other direction, and then go back to the other end of the tram and continue driving. This is a 5-minute ordeal.
*** The stores outside of city center are closed on Sundays. This could be a real pain in the ass if you forget to consider that. So far we have only made that mistake once.
*** We bought a book about the canal we live on, the Herengracht. It's pretty cool. It's from 2001 and talks about the canal's history in general and discusses every building on the canal
17. Tow truck lifting car out of canal
. About our place it says "Cornice gable, 1783. Triglyph molding with fleurs-de-lis in the metopes. Louis XVI fanlight. Windows modified. Blue limestone stoop and base." I plan on doing some more research on our apartment at some point.*** There's a TV show called AbNormal that is a show that takes place in a bar and is hosted by a pink puppet that looks like Alf. I wish I could tell what the hell they were saying cause it looks absolutely horrible.
*** I am eagerly awaiting those temporary restaurants that are built along the North Sea beaches in the summer months. They are not there now but in a few weeks, full restaurants complete with electricity and refrigeration will be constructed.
*** When we first received phone service, we were given instructions to activate our voicemail. I don't recall ever having to turn on voicemail before, just simply recording a message. But in A'dam, we have to turn on our voicemail. Somehow we did it, considering all the instructions were in Dutch. Now, if you call us, you here a bunch of Dutch with a small break when you hear my voice say "leave a message" in English, followed by some more mumbo-jumbo.
*** In the Netherlands, there are strict laws which protect residents of apartments, even those who are illegally living there. As a result, developers who are renovating older buildings created something called the anti-squatter. These are usually students who pay a ridiculously small amount of rent like EUR 150 to live in a building as it is being fixed. The developers figure that it is better to get a little rent for a great apartment with the ability to get the anti-squatter to leave when they need them to whereas the squatters will put up a fight. It's a very unique and Dutch situation. The law protects the wrong people and in order to get a deal, the Dutch are willing to live in an incomplete home.
*** When I first moved here the war in Iraq was just starting. I was quickly introduced to the opinion of the people when I watched a compilation of one of the most famous renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner, Whitney at the Super Bowl, with bomb noises in the background and mixed in video of images of war and death. It was pretty obvious. In case I was in doubt of the feeling toward the US, I simply had to look at the way the US Embassy was being guarded (see Pics 9-13).
*** When we had the phone installed at our house, I asked the technician to install a line downstairs as well as upstairs. He told me I had ordered one downstairs but not upstairs. He said I could order another one, at no additional cost, but it was against 'policy' to install it until it was ordered. I asked him a few pointed questions and was somehow able to rewrite 'policy' because he agreed to install a line upstairs too. I'm not sure why but it seems that if you remain cool-headed and continue to ask slightly different questions, you many finally be able to get the answer you are looking for.
*** When arriving in the Netherlands, people say "welcome in the Netherlands" instead of "welcome TO the Netherlands". It sounds funny but I think it has to do with the translation.
*** Whenever there is traffic, people sit very patiently without freaking out or honking. They just sit. Whether the traffic is the result of an unposted and unexplained road closure or a delivery man who has double-parked on a small street to make a delivery, people sit and wait. Think about that the next time you honk at the car in front of you when it doesn't speed off immediately after the light turns green.
*** Every morning the TV is filled with infomercials. Selling air mattresses, classical CDs, even those vibrating abs things. We get all the rip-offs. It's just weird that that is what is on TV in the morning. Think about it, instead of Matt, Katie, and Al, you have that annoying Gazelle loser with the ponytail on NBC.
*** I saw the uncensored P.I.M.P. video. I don't know if you've seen it but based on the reaction over Janet Jackson's Super Bowl performance, I am doubting it. There are boobs everyone. It serves no purpose other than to show boobs. Nudity is not a big deal here, there is even nudity on soap commercials here but this video is bit ridiculous.
*** Bikes are a very important mode of transportation in the Netherlands. They are not just used to get from point to point but also to get things from point to point. It is not unusual to see someone riding a bike while holding a rolled up oriental carpet under his arm. This is not tough to do since everyone knows how to ride without hands. They need to know how to do this since not only are they riding their bikes but they also have to use their cell phones and/or their smoke cigarettes. I have even picked up the no-hands ride. I had to learned how to ride with an umbrella too, for those times when I have gotten caught on my to or from work in the rain. It isn't too hard once you figure out how slanted to hold the umbrella so that it shields you from the rain and also doesn't catch the wind and send for off like Mary Poppins.
*** You can buy canned water here. It doesn't taste that good to me. It kinda reminds me of when President Scroob sniffs PerriAir at the beginning of Space Balls.
*** A friend of mine who used to live in A'dam asked me to help him getting a wire transfer done. He had made a few attempts from Chicago but wasn't getting anywhere. So I went to the bank with his letter request. They told me that he would have to fill out and sign a special wire transfer form. I explained that he lives in Chicago and can't sign a form. They said this was impossible then. I suggested that maybe we could fill out their stupid form and simply write 'see attached' on the signature line. Again, it is simply about making enough suggestions and asking enough questions to get a solution.
*** De Beirkonig (The Beer King) is the best store in the world. It puts Riley's in Madison to shame. There is so many amazing beers we have even been able to keep up with some of those favorite Belgian beers we've discovered.
*** My friend Vincent's grandfather was a communist. And he wasn't just a minor card-carrying member, he was invited to Stalin's funeral for goodness sake! Isn't that nuts?
*** I can't wait for the summer to get here so that we can use our bbq. It only cost EUR 14. The problem is I haven't had much luck with lighting the coals so far. The coals are not briquettes but rather chard splinters of coal. It kinda sucks but that's all that they sell here. At least we can relax in the rooftop garden while we wait for the coal splinters to get warm (see Pics 14-15).
*** While my Dutch lessons haven't really been going well (you'll hear more about that another time), I have figured out how to communicate in Dutch...to say 'yes', simply grunt; to say anything, say 'oi'.
*** When calling someone, you can't simply ask to speak to that person. In the Netherlands, you must say "goede midag (good afternoon), Stephen Kantor phoning for XXX". If you don't introduce yourself, the other person on the phone will not help you. Even on private cell phones, the Dutch answer by saying their name. It's weird.
*** The canals are so gross. I saw a woman accidentally drop her ringing cell phone into a canal. There are empty cups floating along the top. There are often boats that ride around the canals with cranes on them that fish their ways through the water removing 100s of decaying bikes. But the most unique thing I have seen in the canals so far was the removal of a Mentos-looking car. I have no clue how it got in there but there was a small tow truck that itself looked like a Mentos car with a tow on the back holding the car high above the canal (see Pics 16-17). It was interesting to see.
*** Out of habit, I often say "how are ya" instead of "hello". One day Bertil questioned whether I really wanted to know how he was doing. I explained that of course I want to know how he was doing but that I was really just saying 'hello'. I have tried to stop saying this now. As we have learned, the Dutch take things very literally. This works to our benefit when we are finally able to phase a question in just the right way to get the answer we were looking for but I suppose it can also go the other way too.
*** I saw a woman walking along the street one day who looked like she could've been an extra in Pretty Woman. I didn't want to jump to conclusions but when I saw the same lady in the exact same outfit in the same location the next day, I was pretty sure I was correct. What kinda place do we live in where you see prostitutes walking around all over the place?!?!
*** If the US is the 'fattest nation', we do a good job of hiding it. But in the Netherlands, woman wear some of the most unflattering clothes. For the most part, Dutch woman are pretty fit...they just need to realize that it is natural to be a bigger size at 25 years old that they were at 15.
*** My friend Adinda used to make fun of me for wearing white socks with tennis shoes. She said that it was always easy to find the Americans walking around A'dam because they were the ones wearing those 'funny white socks' with their tennis shoes. I told her that back in Chicago, it was easy to tell who the Europeans were because they were the ones walking around town with the 'funny black socks' with tennis shoes. I have however started wearing colored socks though - when in Rome...
*** While I think the food here is pretty good and very fresh, I still am happy when Julie suggests we just have some Velvetta Mac n' Cheese for dinner!
*** The ATM cards here have a really cool chip feature. It basically has a computer chip right on the front of the ATM card. The chip has a 'petty cash'-type of feature. You withdraw money from the checking account and put it into the chip. You can then use the chip to pay for small ticket items rather than having to use cash. For instance, this is the only way to pay for lunch in the office since they will not accept cash. It's a pretty convenient function. The chip also allows you the extra security while using the bank's online service. You are sent a small thing that looks like a calculator. You enter the chip side of the ATM card into the 'calculator' and enter the PIN. You then enter the 8-digit code displayed on the screen of the 'calculator' on the www. This allows you to access the www. If you don't have the 'calculator', you cannot access the www. This added security allows you to even initiate wire transfers from your computer, however, you must enter another code from the 'calculator' in order to send the money. It's a very cool feature which will hopefully make it to the US soon.
*** I didn't realize that by moving to A'dam, we were moving to a tropical climate. But that is how it has been, especially when I compare the relatively warm A'dam winter vs. the ridiculously cold and snowy winter Chicago had. I think in the entire winter, there was only 1 day when the snow came down very heavy but because it was so warm out, it didn't stick. So by the afternoon, all the snow had melted. But then, it started to snow hard again, and again it accumulated. But again, as soon as it stopped, it melted. It was really pretty while it snowed but was gone before I even got a chance to leave work. I suppose that is a good thing, huh Chicago?
*** A few months ago, 500+ residents were evacuated from a town in the south of the country because there were concerns that a neighboring dyke had sprung a leak. You know what happened, a pipe burst. The dyke was unharmed, it is faulty plumbing. Pretty funny.
*** My work pass expired about 3 months after I received it. I don't know why this was since the bank knew I would be here for 3 years. I was asked to fill out new forms despite having done this once before. I have no clue why this was but it seemed like I had to have a temporary pass before I could get a permanent pass. This seems like a waste to me but I suppose labor unions are strong here and the bank is forced to employ all these people somehow.
*** I am trying to decide whether it is better to backpack through Europe on mom and dad's $ or whether is it better now that I am paying but am able to stay at, eat in, and visit nicer places. I remember having maxed out my credit card in Berlin where the only thing I ate in the 3 days I was there was when someone at the youth hostile felt bad for me and gave me a free candy bar. I do not miss those days one bit. So I suppose I am enjoying this time around a bit more despite the cost.
*** Alcohol levels are disclosed on all advertisements and beer menus. We have actually had the bar tender tell us how much alcohol is in the beer as a sales tactic.
*** I called to confirm my sea shipment delivery the night before it was to occur. For some reason, the bank gave them my temporary apartment address. It's those little details, huh? I don't know what I would've done had my delivery been made to the wrong apartment but it would've been a real nightmare carrying my couch on my bike =)
*** The phone number of my temporary apartment must be listed as ABN AMRO because the entire time I lived there, I got calls for the bank. This one old lady called me a few times a week and left voicemails in Dutch. I spoke to her a couple times and told her that this was not ABN AMRO but she never understood. I wonder if she ever got her shit taken care of.
*** I have not figured out our insurance yet but it seems as if I pay a lot of money a month for insurance and yet nothing is ever covered. Seems like a rip off if you ask me.
*** My American friend Tim is also taking Dutch lessons. I asked him how his classes are coming along and he said the only thing his Dutch lessons have done for him was convince him that he wants to learn French. Pretty funny.
*** As mentioned above, the Dutch love their bikes. So to help capture market share, Vodafone is offering subscribers a hands-free bike kit. Now you can hook the phone to your bike and talk on your phone while riding your bike and still have 2 hands left to hold your cigarette and carry your oriental rug.
*** I have requested my absentee ballot. But I am a bit concerned because all I had to do was list my old address and the address I want the ballot to be sent to. I wonder, what is to stop someone from requesting somebody else's ballot. It's not like they can confirm the signature. Maybe they would notice that many people with different last names are requesting absentee ballots to the same address but the image of those monkeys holding ScanTron ballots up to the light to determine whether it was a hanging chad or a dimple tells me that the administrators of the election would never even notice.
*** All employees of the bank that work in a branch have to wear a uniform. It is a tie with the ABN AMRO logo on it and a white button-up shirt with thin green pinstripes and an embroidered green ABN AMRO shield on the back across the shoulders. It's so ugly but I want one so badly!
*** The other day I was on the tram when an American got on. He was obviously visiting on his own but was talking to a Dutchie he got on the tram with. I started listening in on his conversation, although in typical American fashion, he was so loud you couldn't help but hear what he was saying. It soon became obvious that he was in the US Army and was on his way back to Iraq. He was telling this Dutchie how he has been so lucky to have gotten to travel so much with the Army - to Lebanon, Bosnia, etc. I started thinking how strange it was that he was happy to get to 'travel'. It's hard to imagine that he has been able to do sightseeing in the way that we have been able to. I was also waiting to see if anyone would approach him to let him know that they don't agree with the Americans. But in a very Dutch way, they chose to be non-confrontational and not engage in this debate with someone who might have something to say. Instead, they'd rather just complain to people like me. Anyways, as I exited the tram, the Army guy did as well. Maybe this is weird but I approached him to let him know that as an American, I appreciated him. While I don't completely agree with what is going on in Iraq, I support the troops it was important for me to get a chance to tell him so. He probably thought I was a real weirdo.
*** I recently lost my keys to my office. I looked and looked but couldn't find them. After searching all over the house for about a week, I told the administrator in the office that I needed a new set of keys. He told me that he would not give me a new set. I couldn't believe it. Why couldn't I have a new set of keys? He said that he had given me a set and I lost them so he wouldn't get me another key. It's not as if he couldn't get me a new set but just that he wouldn't. He was being such an ass. I started thinking, what if I was more senior and I needed a new set? Would I still not be allowed since I had been given a set and lost them? He was just being so difficult. His job is as 'support', this was not support. What a Dutchie.
*** Recently there was a lot of noise because an alderman was recently asked to resign because he told a "friend" of his who is a journalist "off the record" that he uses cocaine and has hired prostitutes. The strange this is the Dutch didn't seem to be upset that the alderman used drugs or that he hires prostitutes despite being married but that he hires drug-addict prostitutes. According to the Dutch, these prostitutes are below normal prostitutes and that is what is so horrible.
*** The queen was recently invited to spend Queen's Day at a local pot shop. I'm not sure what her official response was but it will be pretty amazing if she accepts the invitation!
*** The office has recently gone non-smoking. This was met with a lot of debate, as usual. The Dutch always enjoyed the freedom to smoke, even if they are non-smokers. It's like the pro-choice thing - not everyone wants an abortion but they think people should have the ability to decide whether to have one or not. Back to the no-smoking thing, since I've entered the workforce, smoking has never been allowed in the office. So the thought that it is now just becoming a rule is weird. In fact, when I came to A'dam to interview for this job, one of the senior guys I met with smoked during the interview. So weird. Anyways, now if you want to smoke in the office, you have to go to a small glass booth that looks like a bus stop shelter or a public phone booth. It's pretty funny to walk by them and see how many Dutch will pack into these places in order to get a smoke.
==============================
Only 2 years left Joey. Speak with ya all soon.
-Stephen
==============================
As always, feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might enjoy reading my ramblings. Also, you can either subscribe or unsubscribe at any time at the top of the page.
