Europe

Our new TV has CNN International. Stayed up until 6:00am watching election coverage, hoping to see a trend in Ohio that would allow me to go to sleep with the knowledge that we would have a new president. Instead went to bed angry and frustrated and woke up to find Read more

This weekend we moved into our new apartment. Here are some of the highlights: Four appliances came Friday morning. I succeeded in getting them out of the packaging, but after that I reached the limits of my usefulness. Ann’s dad and Mieke came about around 11:00am to help us out. Read more

So we went to IKEA last night and dropped 1,100 Euros on furniture for our new pad. Couches. Dining room table. End table. Rug. Bed. Mattress. Bathroom rack. Entertainment center. Our place is goign to be an IKEA model home. The thing is, we were supposed to eat at the Read more

Ever since moving here Ann and I have noticed a certain distinct and pervasive sense of Dutch ‘style’. Simply put: the Dutch wear things that in almost all other cultures would surpass acceptable fashion limits. When put into the larger context of their country’s historically inclusive and tolerant culture it Read more

Our friend Mark Lorenc will love this. Ann called up the IND, the bureau responsible for processing our application for a residence permit, to check up on the status. The woman said it was still processing, but that she didn’t think it would be a problem since her husband was Read more

Just to give you a typical example: I called up the local school a few weeks ago to see what it would cost to take Dutch lessons. Immediately the receptionist said: “Do you have an inbeurgeringskontract?” To which I replied: “God bless you.” Apparently, if you have this unpronounceable piece Read more

Dinner tonight: rice cakes, smoked gouda cheese, a Coke. Just so no one got the impression that the Netherlands has changed me.

For those of you who don’t know, Blanca is one of the founding members of Smelly Pig, the world-famous two guitar, four singer, one plastic tambourine band whose appeareances at the Bucks County Coffee House are legendary. Blanca is originally from San Esteban de Gormaz, a small village in Soria, Read more

So let me tell you about bicycles. The bicycle is the main mode of transportation in the Netherlands. Bikes are so prevalent that most city streets have separate lanes just for bikes (adding to the confusion from the already numerous painted lines on the road). The Dutch bike in all Read more

We have found a place to live. After four weeks of looking, and two previous unsuccessful attempts, Brian and Ann have now signed the papers and put down the deposit to rent an apartment in Dordrecht. After having done this once already, only to have the rental company call up Read more