The Hills Are Alive...

So today has been a chill morning around the house for everyone. The kids and I have just been playing board game after board game downstairs. And while we've had fun, I am sad that I have yet to go outside today since it is the prettiest day we've seen here yet. Of course it is still cloudy, but you can actually see the sunlight and blue skies!

The clouds that are out are on our level, so to say. We are so high up that they seem to drift along the ground. So if I wanted, I could go run through a cloud. If it wasn't for the fact I'd have to trek back up a mountain to get back to the house, I would... Heh.

Looking out the window at this very moment, I am seriously tempted to go grab Stefan's guitar, flee out the door, run through the neighbor's field turning ciricles, and then go sit by the little brooke and sing ''Doe, a deer, a female deer...''.

...If only I could convince my terrible sore (from skiing), lazy body to do so...

Conquering The Alps

So today was my official second day of skiing. I am ecstatic to say that I can ski the bunny slopes without falling! I can turn right. I can turn left. I can stop... And I have yet to pull a ''Faith Doster''.
So maybe tomorrow, I will muster the courage to try a real hill??
...And then after that, of course, a real mountain.
Slowly but surely, I am conquering these mountains... So bring it Swiss Alps!

My lovely Intro.

It's sideways, so just turn your head.... Haha

Picture Perfect

Great news!! For some uknown reason to me, I have actually started to figure out how to actually use my camera on this trip. ...And I have only had it for what? 6 months?!

Nonetheless (my incompetence for the past 6 months), I have now sucessfully discovered how to take panorama pictures...

So here, avid readers, enjoy a few of my latest snapshots:

The view from my bedroom window

Rahel and Barbara in the living room.

The view from the porch.

Riding the ski lift.

The bunny slopes I've been skiing.

(So much of that white on bottom is snow.)

Hasliberg

The Swiss (freakin') Alps in front of the holiday house.

Red, Red Wine

So every (night-time) meal I have eaten this past week has been accompanied by a bottle of red wine.

If you know me, it is no shock that I love this tradition. Aside from the fact that I am a lush, every thing is just simply better with wine: the food, the company, the not being able to understand more than a handful of the Swiss German words being spoken around you...

But serisously, though... New rule: My future man must be a wine drinker. Because in my house, we will enjoy a good selection of wine with our dinner. The end.

Speaking of Zurich and Showtunes...

So from what I can tell, much of the Zurich public transportation system consists of cable cars. To my delight, the cable cars are more commonly referred to as trolleys.

...That is to my delight because every time I hear one of the trolley bells, I immediately want to bust out singing Judy Garland's Trolley Song.

''Cling, cling, cling goes the trolley! Ding, ding, ding goes the bell!''

Is that completely odd of me??

...Ahh, it's just typical me,

(Yes, I do know I am a weirdo.)

Kick. Stretch. And Kick It.

So have I mentioned in my previous posts how we--the family and all the kids' Godmothers--went to see the Circus Conelli? ...Or maybe you'll better remember it as the circus I was completely hungover for--and that wasn't awkward at all*.
*Note the sarcasm.

Well, yeah... We went to the Circus Conelli Sunday afternoon. And aside from the fact that it hurt my head to just think, the circus experience was pretty awesome. I mean, you know it is going to be a good, inspiring circus (that Sarah H. Robison* would totally cry during) when they open with six African-Americans--wait, they are not American...African-Swiss?--singers performing High School Musical's We're All In This Together.
*Shout out to one of my fave cousins!

(And though you may think that there was sarcasm in my saying the circus was awesome after reading that last sentence, just remember that I am a girl that loves me some showtunes/musicals.)

So not only was I constantly wanting to sing along with the African-Swiss singers (whose musical line-up included songs from High School Musical, Hairspray, Dirty Dancing*, and the diva Tina Turner herself), but the actual acts of the show were awesome, mind-boggling, and thouroughly entertaining. From the juggler, to the male acrobats who were beautifully sculpted and chisled, to the high-flyers, to the contortionists, and to the uni-cycle-ist with a mullet... I kept finding myself wanting to say ''Holy Shit!!'' in complete disbelief that such gravity-defying acts were even possible.
*Yes, Faith, it was (Now I've Had) The Time of My Life... And the whole time, I just kept imagining that you were there with me, and we were dueting it... RIP Patrick.

(And on a complete sidenote referring back to Tina Turner, you do realize that she lives in Zurich, right?? So the whole time the choir of singers was belting out her songs, I was for real seating on the edge of my seat, hoping--just hoping--that maybe Tina herself would pop out into the center ring. Cause in my mind, maybe--just maybe--she had been wondering around the neighborhood that day, and wanted stop by Circus Conelli to help those other singers out with the last verse of Proud Mary... Cause we're rollin'. Rollin'... Rollin' on da river. ...But sadly, she never did...)

Since Tina never came, the best part of the show--and yes, I have been saving the best for last--was the dancers. You can't have a choir of African-Swiss belting out showtunes without some jazzy dancers wearing sequins in tow. And trust me, these were not just your average Liza-Minelli-wanna-bes... Oh no, these were so much more. They were real-life Sally O' Mallys. (Please tell me that you know Molly Shannon's SNL character, Sally O' Mally...) Well just in case you don't, here are the basics: Sally O' Mally is half a century old. She's a ''choo choo Charlie and a class act.'' And she likes to ''kick, stretch, and kick it.'' And dance... And these Circus Conelli dancers were no different. They kicked. They streched. And they kicked it... And they were (honest-to-goodness) over 50 years old. I kid you not. Just to prove my point, there was literally a part of the show devoted solely to the 50-plus year old dancers. The afforementioned choir of singers sang Hairspray's Welcome to the 60's but changed the lyrics from ''60's'' to ''50's'' in honor of these mature ladies. They introdced them one-by-one, announced their individual ages, and then let them take center stage...

...You know, as much fun as I am poking at those ''Sally O' Mallys'', I hope to look half as good as they do when I am that age. And I hope to still be doing what I love, no matter my age. So I guess, in a way, I admire them. ...But still, the better part of me just finds it completely hilarious!

If there is another thing I have learned...

...It's a few (Swiss) German words.

Seriously though, why am I studying Dutch?? The whole family here speaks Swiss German and it is practically all I hear at home--not to mention all I've heard over the past week with all the holidays!

Either way, to totally toot my own horn--yes, I did just use that phrase-- I know the (Swiss) German words for:
''No''
''Night''
''Good''
''Stupid Head''
''And''
''Super''
''Yes''
''Are''
...and maybe a few more scattered in there.

(I opted not to type those Swiss German words cause I have no earthly idea how to actually spell them.)

So... If you need to know how to say, ''Yes, and good night super stupid head.'' in Swiss German, I think I could totally hook you up*.
*Help you out.

If There Is One Thing I've Learned...

...I can't afford this city.
The Swiss Franc is essentially the same value as the American dollar, give or take a few cents...
I paid CHF 21 for a Long Island Iced Tea. That is over $21!! For one drink. ...I'd be flat broke in one week if I lived here!
For lunch--which was delicious, by the way--I paid about CHF 40. $40 for a lunchtime meal for just me?!
Oh, and I dare not even mention some of the prices I've seen window shopping... Unless you have thousands of dollars to drop on a new wardrobe, I'd shop elsewhere.

EuroTrash'n It Up

Single Catherine is back... And she is crazy. Craaaaazzzzyy*.
*To be said in Will Ferrell's Old School slow-mo voice.

Here's a taste of my Saturday night in Zurich.

(CHF equals Swiss Francs.)

Cigs: CHF 8
Beer tab: CHF 40
Meeting fellow couchsurfers and talking for hours: enlightening.
American pop culture/political jokes: endless.
LIT: CHF 21
Having a creeper constantly compliment my ''big tits'': flattering*.
Meeting ''Alan from the Hangover'' and inviting him to a Gentleman's club: epic.
Entrance fee: FO' FREE.
Last call beer: CHF 10
Kissing a Swede: Out of my system... for good.
Getting home after someone in the house was already awake for the day: awkwaaard.
Sitting through Circus Conelli with a raging headache: miserable, yet thouroughly entertaining.
Sufficiently being EuroTrash: priceless.
*Note the sarcasm.

:)

I don't know if it's the Christmas spirit...
I don't know it it's the dawn of the new year...
I don't know it it's the "new" me...
I don't know if it's the snow...
I don't know if it's the fact that we're leaving for Switzerland tomorrow...
I don't know if it's the kids being out of school...

...But I am totally and completely in love with life right now!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

I'm happy.
I'm excited.
I'm dancing.
My opputunities seem endless!

Wow! I hope I feel like everyday for the rest of my life.

Water + Vaseline = Nightmare Before Christmas

Water and Petroleum Jelly do not mix. I don't care what any German child craft book tells you! It is impossible.

...You can try mixing them both cold. ...You can try warming the water. ...You can try heating the Vaseline. ...You can try heating both separately and then mixing. ...You can try mixing them and then heating together. ...You can try to heating one, adding it to the other, getting a milky substance on top, removing that milky substance, and then adding it to even more water.

...But in the end, none of this will work! You're only going to get a sticky mess. And as with all other things in life, when you add glitter, it only gets messier.

So if you, too, have a child who wants to make a "Fish Bowl" for Christmas and conveniently waited til the last minute, I heavily advise you to avoid the any such craft that you may come across in a German craft book!

Example 2

So remember that post where I told you I was going to Hell because sometimes when the kids say one thing, I think another?...

Well, here is another example:

Today, Sara came up to me and said, "Do you have a rubber?"
She was referring to an eraser. I'm sure you can guess what I thought...

By The Way...

To all the readers who aren't [you], know that the previous post was not some indirect way to end certain relationship in my life. Those matters have already been taken care of. That post is an assertion of my feelings not only for [you], but also for me... Lord knows it I'll need (to remind myself) on the worst days when I miss [you] most.

Every Ending Is A Brand New Beginning

So readers, it is the holiday season. Christmas is around the corner and a new year is coming... All things considered, I have had a lot on my mind.

I've thought...
I've prayed...
I've cried...
I've slept on it...

And now, I've decided it is time to give myself an early present of my own for Christmas this year: independence. (I don't think that is the best fitting word, but that is the best I can come up at the moment. Feel free to let me know your better suggestions.) In light of the new year, I am choosing to let go of [you]--and "us"--to focus on me. After all, as a 21-year-old abroad, 4,000 miles away from [you], in Europe, I am convinced it is best for both of us.

This was not an easy decision, to say the least. Hell, part of me feels like I am just giving up. But the more I think about it all, the more I know I am making the right decision--and more importantly, the best decision for me. (Yes, you did read that right. For me. Is that selfish? No. A sign of a head-strong, smart young woman? Yes*.)
*I wish you could see the smile spreading across my face as I type that. :)

As much as I love [you], I can't say that things are good the way they are or that they even have been for the last couple months. To be honest, I can't even completely understand how things plummeted this far downhill at this point...

I mean, when I boarded that plane in Tennessee, I thought we were on the same page. I thought we were just going to take things as they came. And having no idea what the future held, I had every intention for holding out for [you] my whole time here... Was that silly? Maybe. But it is what my naive little heart desired. And even getting here and settling in, [you] were my one-man support system 4,000 miles away. The good things, the bad things, the trying times... [you] were the one person I wanted to share it all with at the end of the day. I still find myself wanting to share all these things with [you]... But then with one little disagreement over CouchSurfing, everything changed. Completely, total 360 changed and never got better... I just don't understand why something so trivial led to such a downfall. Especially when [you] "won" in the end and I completely gave it up for [you]...

All in all, I just can't seem to wrap my head around it all. I've made my mistakes. I'm not ignoring that. But just as I have made my mistakes, I have tried to grow from them. And to be better from them... to better for [you] from them. But it just seems that the harder I try to be better, and the harder I try to makes things right, I only ended up digging a deeper hole for myself. ...And it just doesn't add up to me.

I'm 21 years old. I am not perfect. I have a lot of room to grow. And I don't see that as a bad thing. It's only human. If anything, I find it exciting that I have so much life ahead of me--God willing*-- to blossom into the tender, loving, caring, honest, devoted, passionate, [insert better adjective here] woman that I'm suppose to be. I mean, do you--or better yet, did you not--see that potential? ...Cause I feel like the people that truely love you are suppose to be the ones who love and care for you--imperfections and all--because they know how truly amazing of a person you are underneath it all. ...Or as Nancy Tan would say, at your core. And they know how great of a person you can be at your best... And they don't forget it.
*Another great line from Tom Harrison

Either way, things have got to change. All I do is try, and yet I still can't figure out a way to improve things. Maybe it is me... Maybe I'm just not catching on to something that you need from me, that I need to change, etc... But I really think I've given it my all.

Things are to the point where they are taking a toll on me. An unhealthy toll. I'm giving up friends. I'm giving up traveling. I'm giving up passions. I've even considered giving up dreams and life-plans...
Don't get me wrong, I believe compromise is important in any relationship, but when you start to really change who you are and alter the things you love and that make you you, you're not being true to yourself anymore. And how can you expect to be true to others if your not first true to yourself?!

So I really think it's best to have my "alone" time in 2010. At the dawn of the new year, I need to take all the opportunities God has laid before me and see where all it takes me. I need to it all for me. ...To grow. ...To better myself. ...To blossom into the amazing person I can be! Because I need to grow and be secure in who I am before I can be my best for someone else...

With everything that has happened the past few months, I am not here to play the victim. Lord knows [you], as the closest person to me, saw me at my worst. And on those days, I can't imagine how I might have treated [you]... Looking back even now, I wish I would have done more for [you]. ...Would have been a better listener. ...Would have argued less over trivial matters. ...And would have let [you] know how very much [you] meant to me each and every day.

I'm not here to take the highroad. Yes, I have tried, but much of it was because of my own petty mistakes I made when it came to us. I took [you] for granted. I didn't show [you] exactly how much I cared ever chance I could have. I even played some of your opinions off as pure jealously... I should have listened more. I should have actually taken those opinions into account more... There so much more that I could have done...

And I'm definitely not here to point the finger of blame. We both know we weren't always at our best. I made mistakes, and so did [you]--whether you're at a place where [you] want to admit it or not. But no matter what happened, we still had something for the past year. We let each other into our lives. We were so much a part of each others lives. We loved each other. We cared about each other. And to some degree, we still do... So to just act like it never happened at all seems completely stupid. Maybe it is easier that way... But [you] still mean the world to me. And I'd rather have [you] as a friend then to completely lose [you]. Even if it takes time to get to that point...

In conclusion, I do want to say one more thing and I want to make it crystal clear:

I will not be made to feel insignificant.
I will put up with being belittled.
I will not allow someone who "loves" me to take me, who I am meant to be, and that I will be one day for granted.

I am Catherine Harrison. God has given my obstacles to make me stronger--head-strong and heart-strong--all my life. I'll be damned if I give all that up now at the ripe young age of 21. So before [you] continue "venting" some of that anger and resentment you've built up over the past few months (or maybe even longer), [you] better think--cue Aretha Franklin's Think here--about what it is [you] are actually saying, what it means, and how much hurt it causes... Is it worth it? Especially when considering how much we've loved and cared?!

So yeah, that is what I have to say for now... Who knows what God holds for us in the future.

No matter what, I still love you.
No matter what, I still care.
No matter what, I'll always cherish the times we shared.
No matter what, I'll always be thankful I had the chance to get [you]--such a wonderful man.
No matter what, I'll never try to harbor bitterness towards [you] or what has become of us. If anything, I will only try to learn from our mistakes...

This is as gracefully as I can bow out right now...



In closing, a line from She..., my high school graduation gift from MT.

"She said bye-bye to unhealthy relationships. Celebrate her happiness."

Logical and Sensible

Why is it so hard for me to be logical and sensible sometimes?!

I mean...

If I were logical, I would have just ended it before I hopped on that plane to Amsterdam...

If I were logical, I would have known that 4,000 miles is just too far of a distance to keep things up for the next year...

If I were logical, I would have gone on my merry way and never looked back...

If I were logical, I would have realized sooner that my life plans (i.e. this year, finishing school, Chicago, then who knows where...) don't line up with yours...

If I were logical, I would have seen that we are too different of people...

If I were logical, I would have taken into account how much we lack in common...


So why, oh why, is it still so difficult for me to be logical and sensible even now?!
...Can someone tell my heart to shut up for a while so I can actually make some practical decisions in life!

Walkin' In a Winter Wonderland

So, yes, I did just go out all by self and frolic in the snow. Trust me, frolic is the best fitting word here. I danced. I jumped. I threw snow balls. I made a snow angel. I accidentally fell into a ditch that I couldn't see because of all the snow at the exact same time a car was passing by. I laughed at myself. I wrote in the snow. And I took a million little pictures. And then I came in and treated myself to hot chocolate!!

Sheer bliss!

...Yes, I am a 21 year old woman and I did all this--alone. I'm sure the neighbors think I am special... But hey! All you need is an imagination and a love for snow!!

So without further ado*, here are some of today's snapshots.
*No, not Adele, just ado... (Do you at least get that, Nancy?!)

This is what you see when you look out the living room windows.

The view looking out the front door.

Outside the house.

Down the street of the Houtlaan.

The stream through the neighborhood.

Absolutely perfect snowball snow!

Bike path through the wooded area.

After realizing I could totally put my camera on self-timer.

The message I left you in the snow. Hah!

So the obsessed middle schooler in me came out, too. :)


It's snowing in the Houtlaan!


Standing outside with my mouth open wide... Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!
Anyone know that song?!


I'm no Angel*...
But I made one in the snow!
*That's for you, Faith.


Hot Chocolate!


Nothing says "I'm staying warm and sexy" like my 12 year old nephew's pullover, SV's old hunting leggings (complete with crotch "pocket"), and fuzzy pink socks!


Me, completely and utterly happy, after a day of romping in the snow!

P.S.

Did you notice the ratio of exclamation points to periods in that last post??

...Just does to show you how freakin' excited I am about this snow!!

Quick Update

So just a quick post while I wait for my camera battery to charge so I can go out and take a ga-zillion pictures of...

MORE SNOW!

Apparently while I lay dead to the world, snoring peacefully sleeping last night, it continued to snow. So this morning when I woke up, everything was covered in a white powdery blanket! It took us an hour and a half to make the 20 minute drive to school.... (But who cares! It was snowing!!) I think there was at least a good three inches, if not more, on the car. And when I got out of the car at school, it was above my ankles!

And it keeps continuing to snow at a slow, steady pace! What a wonderful, wonderful way to lead up to Christmas! Ahhh, I can't wait for Switzerland! The kids are out school for holiday at noon tomorrow and I hope there is still more snow--cause we totally have a carrot in the refrigerator just begging to be used as Frosty's nose!

So yeah... I'll keep you posted on all the Winter Wonderland details!

Cheers!

Right Now...

....Wherever [You] are, I want you to know that I am thinking about you. And I love you.

:)

That is all.

One Word. Four Letters.

SNOW!!!

Today we received the first snow of the year, and let me tell you... Snow makes everything in life that much better!

Who cares that I woke up this morning with some raspy, respiratory disease taken hold of my body... It's snowing!

Who cares that I just came from a Dutch class in which I probably understood only two words that were spoken the whole time... It's snowing!

Who cares that I am wearing Crocs in the middle of December and, thus, my toes are going to fall off... It's snowing!

I mean, picture it:

You're driving down the road, and you see a white flake hit the windshield. Then not even two seconds later, there are millions of them hitting your windshield. The child within you comes alive and all you can think is, "A week before Christmas and it is snowing!!" So you're as happy as can be driving down the road as the snow is just piling up. (Who cares that the powdery white mix is starting to seriously cover the road... It's snowing!--And you have winter tires!) And at the very moment when you think life is perfect, it gets even better. Tina Turner comes on the radio! Haha! So as you are driving along, now singing your heart out, and you look to your left... There's a windmill! The white windmill you pass everyday that stands out so much more in the backdrop of the falling snow. (It's the real-life scene on the Dutch Christmas cards I sent this year--minus the sleigh.)

So yeah, I reverted back to six years old again today. When the snow started falling, I just couldn't help it! Snow--especially the first snowfall of the year coincidentally a week before Christmas--makes everything that more magical. ...I can't even begin to tell you just how beautiful today was!

Oh, and did I mention we are expecting more snow possibly tomorrow?!

Why I'm Going To Hell

So some of the everyday vocabulary I am accustomed to using is just a tad bit different here. And sometimes when different words are used, I perceive a different version of the story...

For example, today Ian was telling me about how he played with a cat while visiting his friend's house...

...While I would call a cat by saying "Here kitty, kitty", Ian simply says "Come".
...And whereas I say "cat", Ian says "pussy".

Heh.

So the whole time Ian tells me these (like) stories, it takes my all to suppress the urge to say "That's what He/She said!"

(Actually, one time, I did say "That's what she said!" and was met with total confusion. "What? Who said what?")

Oh, and did I mention they call roosters "cocks". And yes, I have heard more than one reference to a rooster since I've been here. ...Truth be told, I've heard more than one reference to one today!

What a Way To Make a Livin'!

Today, on the radio, I heard a Barbershop-quartet version of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5.

...Just thought you ought to know.

Thinking of [You]

Yet another song lyric for you faithful readers...

Close To You
As performed by Frank Sinatra

Close to you, I will always stay
Close to you, though you're far away
You'll always be near as though you were here by my side
No matter where--in my dreams I'll find you there

Close to me, sharing your caress
Can't you see you're my happiness?
Wherever you go, my heart will go, too
What can I do?
It only wants to be close to you

Wherever you go, my heart will go, too
What can I do?
It only wants to be close to you

The Piano (Wo)Man

So as of tonight, I am now taking piano lessons from a 9 and 11 year old.

Sarah and Rahel have volunteered to help teach me the basics of piano from all their old beginner's piano books. I've always wanted to learn to play piano, and I can't wait to rock this shiz-nit with my awesome skills!! As of tonight, I learned how to play the simplest of songs with two hands. By the way, I am extremely proud of that!

Now I just have to practice my three songs of "homework" over the next week!

Eagle Motors

So remember how the family car doesn't have good radio reception, and thus I constantly sing to myself? Well, last week when getting winter tires--because we'll need them in the Swiss (freakin') Alps--we found out that it is because the antenna was bad. So we made an appointment to get it fixed...

...And today was that day! The day when I was going to get a new antenna! The day that the music would come back to life! The day that I was going to ride around and still sing at the top of my lungs but to actual music!!!

...Or so I thought.

This morning, after braving the worst freakin' traffic ever to school, dropping the kids off, and then battling even more traffic back to Assen, I drove to Jaap Dik to drop the van off. It was about 9 a.m. in the morning. As soon as I walked in, they knew me. I'm pretty sure they loathe me (and that is how they always know me). I am the American girl living in the Netherlands who can't drive a stick-shift. And they never have an automatic replacement car for me to drive while ours in in the shop. Therefore, they drive me home and then pick me back up. ...I'm almost certain that is not common routine.

Anywho, I dropped the car off as usual to get it's brand spankin' new, station-receiving antenna. And then I got my ride back to the Houtlaan. Like I mentioned before, that was at 9 in the morning.

So all morning, I busied myself with things around the house. I had a million things I needed to do in the city, but since I was car-less, I was forced to postpone them. I was so productive around the house today that I didn't even take my usual nap! ...And if you know me, that is saying something!! So I worked, worked, worked til about 2. That is point when I only had a half hour left before leaving to get the kids...

2 o'clock is also the time that the car has always been ready in the past. For routine maintenance: 2 o'clock. For winter tires: 2 o'clock. For a new antenna: 2 o'clock?? Right? I just assumed that there was always an understandment between Esther and the dealership about when the family car was needed during the week...

...But you know what assuming does.

So finally at a quarter past, I could wait no longer. So I called ole Jaap Dik. And I was the ass (for assuming). After a brief conversation, I was told the car would not be ready til 5.

Serisously?! How long does it take to change an antenna?!

Luckily--and I cannot stress that enough--Stefan, the father, had come home an hour or so earlier and was able to drive me to Groningen to pick up Sarah. (Ian was going to a playdate with a friend.) So all was well...

...Until 5 o'clock. (Or 4:30 p.m. to be more exact)...

About the time I was starting on supper, I got a call from Jaap Dik. Apparently, the car would not be fixed until tomorrow at noon. Once again, how long does it really take to fix an antenna?! I had no idea what to do. I was car-less... With a kid to go retrieve in half an hour... And then multiple kids to take to school the next morning!

My talking to the man at the dealership solved nothing. It only reaffirmed that I was S.O.L. I was told: 1) The car was not ready. 2) There was no way for me to pick it up now because it was "in pieces". 3) They had no automatics for me to drive. At that point, I was frantic. So Stefan stepped in and took the phone. Phew! And after his brief chat with the dealership, Jaap Dik magically had an automatic for me to drive! ...Go figure.

(See, that is why you always need a persistent, assertive man around!)

So finally, at 5:30 p.m., I had a replacement car to drive. If I had to describe this vehicle in three words, I'd say: "Tom Harrison special"*.
*For those of you who do not have the pleasure of knowing my father, you won't understand that reference, so see below for further details.

Upon giving us the keys to the vehicle, the man at Jaap Dik talked to Stefan (in Dutch) for a good ten minutes about the car. Though I couldn't understand exactly what was being said, I could tell by the man's tone and hand gestures--more specifically, tapping underneath the bumper-- that he was cautioning us of all that car's conditions. For example, the gas gauge. He just put some gas in it but the hand was on empty. If this car doesn't scream "Eagle Motors"*, then I don't know what does!
*Once again, that is a reference to the great Tom Harrison and his car business.

So I now have a car full of kinks, but a car nonetheless. And to be completely honest, I kind of love it in all it's imperfect glory. It is closest thing to home I have experience here yet! Not to mention that it is nice to seat behind the steering wheel or a car that actually has less buttons and levers than an airplane!

Dutch Radio Just Gets Better and Better

This morning on the radio, I heard a "rockapella" version of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean...

What is this world coming to?!

Finishing the Unfinished

So as you avid readers already know, I haven't posted since... Thanksgiving?! And being the aspiring blogger I am, that is just u-n-e-x-c-e-p-t-a-b-l-e. But in my defense, I didn't completely abandon my blog... I just started a few posts and never finished them. So to fill you all in, here are the posts I started--and have finally completed... The Lost Blogs, if you will:

You've Got a Friend in Me
Originally written on November 23, 2009

So today Ian and I got to have an adventure after school. Instead of driving home as usual, we got to take a bus to the station and then catch the train home to Assen. (Why? Because Esther and Sara were using the car.) Buses and trains are not how Ian usually travels, so he was rather excited about the commute home.

Sometimes I really wish I could see the world through that six year old's eyes... So much awe and wonder. I wish I could hop on a bus and be completely ecstatic about the ride ahead. Or even look out the train window in half of the amazement he did....

Anywho, while walking from our bus to the station, Ian had all of his school bags. Between his gym bag and his regular backpack, things were getting tougher for him to manage the more we walked. So he finally asked me if I could carry his backpack. My response to this was, "Of course, but only because you asked so nicely and you're such a good friend." When Ian heard this, he looked at me, eyes wide, and said, "I'm your friend? Really?". It was the cutest thing. Especially when I reassured him that he was one of my better friends here in the Netherlands and a coy little grin spread across his face.

It's the little moments like that make me so happy to be here. :)

F is For...
Originally started on November 30, 2009

..I'm F'ing F'ed.

This morning in Dutch class, I learned that we will have our first test on Wednesday, December 9th.

Shit.

I am so far behind in that class that I am beginning to doubt that there is any hope for me at all. Every Monday and Wednesday, it takes every fiber of being in me to go sit in class and listen cluelessly as my docent* teaches in Dutch...
*docent= teacher in Dutch

I don't know Dutch.
I don't understand (most) Dutch.
And many times, when Dutch is spoken to me, I can't even tell where one word ends and the next begins.

...So the fact that Berna De Boer is telling me how to speak Dutch in Dutch only confuses me and loses me more...

So yeah, I guess most of my weekend and next week will be spent listening to Dutch dialogues and making vocabulary flash cards...
(For those of you who don't know me, let me just say that the above statement is hopeful, but highly doubtful, thinking.)

So come that Wednesday at 9* o'clock in the morning, I urge you all to say a little prayer for me.
*For those of you in West Tennessee, that would be 2 a.m. And for those of you in East Tennesee, that would be 3.

A Holiday Song
Originally written December 1, 2009

So we are gearing up for the SinterKlaas holiday around here. And in honor of it, Ian taught me this song tonight before going to bed:

Sinterklaas kapoentje
Gooi watin mijn schoentje
Gooi wat in mijn laarsje
Dank u, Sinterklaasje

Twas the Night Before SinterKlaas
Originally started on December 4, 2009

And all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring.... Well, except for me blogging.

So tomorrow is the typical Dutch holiday SinterKlaas.

Thus, we have all left a shoe in the fireplace in hopes that Sinter Klaas and his Zwarte Peiten* will leave us some gifts and goodies...
*His black helpers.

The kids and I can't wait to see what we find stuffed in our shoes come morning!

And don't worry, I'll be sure to fill all you readers in on tomorrow's festivities!

We Wish You A Happy SinterKlaas!
Originally written on December 5, 2009

Happy SinterKlaas!!

This morning I awoke around 9 a.m.--which is a complete miracle for me on a Saturday morning. I guess it was the anticipation of seeing what Sinter Klaas had left in my red Converse!

When I went downstairs to the living room, this is what I saw:


Sinter Klaas and his Zwarte Peiten had indeed left us all some goodies!

The kids and I all got chocolate letters (for our names), which is a very typical SinterKlaas gift. We--Esther and Stefan included--also each got one small gift each.

Since my family here is actually Swiss, they don't celebrate SinterKlaas as much as the Dutch do. In a Dutch home, today is the done when all gift-giving is done. That way, Christmas is reserved solely for the celebration of the birth of Christ.

(...And that just reminds me of what Tom Harrison always says this time of year: "Remember the Reason for the Season!")

Thus, this not being a traditional Dutch home, we did not do as much for the holiday. However, we did spend the evening after dinner taking in one of my favorite Christmas movies... Home Alone! Oh how I loved that movie as a kid! "Keep the change you filthy animal!" Anyone remember that line?!?!

So though you weren't celbrating in America, I hope you all at least had a wonderful day!