Fall updates

On my to-do list is to seek out a camera battery charger that I can use here. My adapter is on the fritz and my camera is out of batteries…so here is another photo-less post.

Last weekend I was able to spend a bunch of time with Bram’s sister, Marieke, who is awesome! We had dinner together, went out with friends, and she and I put together the dining room table in the house. It was really a lot of fun and also much needed! I also went to dinner last Thursday with a friend Laura, had a great meal and also practiced speaking Dutch for about 10 minutes, she was impressed and I very much enjoyed feeling the energy of Amsterdam during dinner.

I’ve decided my training plan for the upcoming Amsterdam half-marathon will remain the same, and that is not training. I know, I know. I should train, but my exercise routine has been completely thrown off over the past few months…and it is going to stay that way for a bit longer. Oh well!

Bram surprised me and came back from his training on Sunday night, which was great!

The work is almost complete on the house, which just means more painting on our end, and then we’ll be done with the hard-ish part and can start decorating. I did buy two plants this weekend (amazing how plants can add so much to a home). Actually, the shop I went to gave me one of the plants for free.

Next week, I am co-hosting the first ICT4Drinks event in Amsterdam. ICT = information and communication technologies and 4D = for development. I’ll be meeting many people for the first time and talking shop, which I am very much looking forward to!

In less than two weeks I’ll be stateside…ahhh! I am so excited to hug the crap out of all my friends and family. Hugs all around.

And finally, it seems like going away for a weekend is a popular thing to do in NL.Bram and I have decided to go away the weekend before I go back to the US, to take a break and relax for a weekend. The first 3 places we inquired at were all booked, and they are kind of in the middle of nowhere, so I was a bit surprised. I ended up finding a little B&B that is way cheaper than any of the original places we were looking and also seems beautiful, quaint, and near nature. The guy that runs it even used exclamation points in his email to me…amazing!

I’ll take some fun photos soon and will post more. Until then, tot ziens!

I’m a Dutch resident!

A quick comparison of Dutch vs. American government bureaucracy….the Dutch win hands down. Not only was my ability to file for residency fairly painless (it helps to have a partner sponsoring you who is Dutch) (it also helps that I am an American), although not cheap, all of the appointments and meetings I had to set up happened right on time. No waiting forever at the DMV here. Also, it turns out, the Dutch like to give themselves a big window so that they always over deliver. This has happened with internet and with my residency. The internet company told us it could take between 3-5 weeks to get internet installed. Are you f*&%ing kidding me? Yes, they are! A week after we ordered a box had arrived with modem, etc. so we could install the internet. I don’t know if that is part of their strategy (make you really angry so that you can only become happier with their service), but if it is, it worked.

Also, my Dutch residency could have taken between 3-6 months to arrive. On Friday, when Bram and I were at our old apartment getting the final items and doing a walk through with the owner and other roommates, a letter was waiting for me stating my residency had been approved and I just needed to go pick up the card. Hooray! This took less than 3 months, which seems to be pretty fast. So far I have not met another expat/immigrant who has had to apply like I have. Most other people I know are here for work or for school, so it has been a learning experience.

Now, when I travel back to the US later this month, I’ll be telling customs that I reside in the Netherlands. It’s official!