First of all, as I write this we are waiting and waiting to hear if Chris will lose his job. His company is getting ready to do yet another round of layoffs, the 3rd since they moved us here. This despite a surging stock price. I swear, I will never understand how these things work. So, I feel like our life is put on hold: we cannot make any decisions, any plans, or even any dinner reservations until we know what is going to happen. If he looses is job, he has 3 months to find a new one and if not, we have to leave the country. We both love it here, and plus are stuck in a lease on an apartment for another year, so please keep your fingers crossed that this will not happen.
A few weeks ago we had a party to celebrate our one year “Amsterdamiversary” and it was really a good time. It made me really appreciate how lucky we have been. Primarily, we have met so many amazing people here! We were fortunate to have some pals from the states here (Laura, Marco and Grayson) who helped us land smoothly. Since then we have met all sorts of great people, from all over the world. I suspect Amsterdam is a magnet for really nice people! Also, all the dutch folks that we have met, so helpful in explaining the Netherlands, the birds, the environment, its been wonderful.
I have been extremely lucky with my job: arrived here and started volunteering at ZMA which quickly turned into a job packing the collection, which then became a job at NCB unpacking the collection. It has all come together so smoothly its really been quite amazing! It’s actually been a great career “next step” from my time at NCSM, working in a larger collection and a larger staff has been quite a learning experience. I am enjoying myself a lot, and it helps that I have some really fun colleagues.
A year ago I did not know what stampot was. Or Queen’s Day, or St Maartens, or Zwarte Pete. I didn’t know how to say “May I please have a cheese sandwich?” or ”Get out of the bike lane, you dumb tourist!” in Dutch. (Actually, I still don’t know how to say that, I just ding my bell). I didn’t know what a Green Woodpecker looked like, or a Bluethroat. I had no idea what Texel was, or Ijmuiden. I can also say, with confidence, that I had never had as many house guests, total, in my life, as I had in 2011. Its been really really fun to host everyone and show them this beautiful country.
In general, I think that Americans don’t really think about the Netherlands: to me before we moved, it was a small country to be confused with Belgium. But now that I live here I see how truly special it is. Not just Amsterdam, which is such a beautiful city, but out in the small towns. The forested area around Arnhem, the amazing beaches that stretch on a on. The history, the museums, we are so lucky to live in such an amazing country!
There are certainly things I really miss, people especially. Especially when I think about my family and my girlfriends, my heart just aches. When we moved last year, I cried so hard on the plane from Raleigh that the stewardess got up during takeoff to bring me a box of tissues. Also, life in the US is really easy and familiar, which I miss sometimes. When we were in Raleigh in May, Chris and I went to our favorite coffee shop. Right as I opened the door, I looked at Chris and said “I don’t have to order in Dutch!” and felt a weight just roll off my shoulders. And don’t even get me started on dealing with intricacies of the IND here, or the many rude things people have said to me in reference to my dutch or lack thereof. Finally, life in a city is so much different from in NC: there are people everywhere, all the time. You are truly never alone.
The ups and downs, the good and the bad, has all made for a truly amazing experience. Thanks everyone who has been part of this journey with us. And for those of you who have not visited yet, we have an inflatable mattress with your name on it!
Awww…nice to hear this, except for the nerves about Chris’s job, obviously. It’s a great experience you’re having over there. Keep us updated!