Boxing Day, randomness
First of all, it is the day after Christmas, which makes it Boxing day in the U.K., and according to Jake, it makes it little christmas here.
I don't know what one does on a boxing day anyway, (or little christmas) except that it is a work holiday. We are thinking of walking in the local park, which seems bigger in the videos online than it does on the map.
One recurring theme -- the sky seems to clear up at about 10:30, and remain clear for at least an hour. Yesterday, we had clear sky for most of the day -- and with our big windows there was amazing sunlight. Side note -- my skin looks amazing and I am not sure if it is the light or the humidity.
For Christmas, I made chicken for Jake (baked with vegetable) and a piece of salmon for me -- roasted potatoes and we even made corn on the cob. When we were exploring the city several days ago, we came across a store that sells American and British products: Jake paid way to much money for Welch's grape jelly. I am not sure what the grape jelly addiction is--In Cd. J. we had anywhere between 3 to 5 jars of grape jelly at any given time. He must have been going through withdrawl.
This week -- my goals are to learn some more dutch, explore dutch classes, send out job inquiries. I am also thinking about the Yeats Winter School in Sligo, Ireland. My friend Meg Harper is leading it and it would be a long weekend in January. I wonder if this is a school break period? It would be nice to use this as a way to jump start academic thinking and get some projects rolling. There is a writers conference coming up that Jake thinks I should go to, but I don't know if I am a 'writer' as much as a word grinder.
Different subject -- Money. ONe of the reasons that the consulate wanted us to do our bank account so soon seems to be that many stores do not operate on cash or credit and instead use money put on a chip at the end of your debit card. I tried to buy something at Lush and had no cash, and they would not swipe my debit card. When we were at the Dutch whole foods (can't remember the real name at the moment), we found out that they did not take cash. I am hoping I can transfer money from my Chase account to the NL account and vice-versa without massive fees. If I do get a job, I am wondering if paycheck would be deposited in NL account only?
Randomness -- I wish I had my camera at the ready: while walking around day before Christmas, we saw a salmon pink 1950's Cadilac (with tail fins and everything) cruising around the streets. We actually saw this car twice -- about 40 minutes apart. I think the driver was either showing off the car (in mint condition) or was still looking for a parking spot. Parking is next to impossible here, so an American car with tail fins. . .
But I supposed if one can afford such a classic, then one has his/her own garage in which to store it.
Other randomness -- I keep missing my friend Joyce (of Univ. Amsterdam) on FaceBook -- I see that she is on and send a quick hello message, and she responds, and then does not respond back. Beginning to think she is either avoiding me, or, that she is insanely busy, or, that FB does not work all that well.
more later.
I don't know what one does on a boxing day anyway, (or little christmas) except that it is a work holiday. We are thinking of walking in the local park, which seems bigger in the videos online than it does on the map.
One recurring theme -- the sky seems to clear up at about 10:30, and remain clear for at least an hour. Yesterday, we had clear sky for most of the day -- and with our big windows there was amazing sunlight. Side note -- my skin looks amazing and I am not sure if it is the light or the humidity.
For Christmas, I made chicken for Jake (baked with vegetable) and a piece of salmon for me -- roasted potatoes and we even made corn on the cob. When we were exploring the city several days ago, we came across a store that sells American and British products: Jake paid way to much money for Welch's grape jelly. I am not sure what the grape jelly addiction is--In Cd. J. we had anywhere between 3 to 5 jars of grape jelly at any given time. He must have been going through withdrawl.
This week -- my goals are to learn some more dutch, explore dutch classes, send out job inquiries. I am also thinking about the Yeats Winter School in Sligo, Ireland. My friend Meg Harper is leading it and it would be a long weekend in January. I wonder if this is a school break period? It would be nice to use this as a way to jump start academic thinking and get some projects rolling. There is a writers conference coming up that Jake thinks I should go to, but I don't know if I am a 'writer' as much as a word grinder.
Different subject -- Money. ONe of the reasons that the consulate wanted us to do our bank account so soon seems to be that many stores do not operate on cash or credit and instead use money put on a chip at the end of your debit card. I tried to buy something at Lush and had no cash, and they would not swipe my debit card. When we were at the Dutch whole foods (can't remember the real name at the moment), we found out that they did not take cash. I am hoping I can transfer money from my Chase account to the NL account and vice-versa without massive fees. If I do get a job, I am wondering if paycheck would be deposited in NL account only?
Randomness -- I wish I had my camera at the ready: while walking around day before Christmas, we saw a salmon pink 1950's Cadilac (with tail fins and everything) cruising around the streets. We actually saw this car twice -- about 40 minutes apart. I think the driver was either showing off the car (in mint condition) or was still looking for a parking spot. Parking is next to impossible here, so an American car with tail fins. . .
But I supposed if one can afford such a classic, then one has his/her own garage in which to store it.
Other randomness -- I keep missing my friend Joyce (of Univ. Amsterdam) on FaceBook -- I see that she is on and send a quick hello message, and she responds, and then does not respond back. Beginning to think she is either avoiding me, or, that she is insanely busy, or, that FB does not work all that well.
more later.