Mar's Great Adventure

I went to the Bioplein Friday evening and watched Sin City. I hadn’t seen the movie yet so was glad to be able to see it on a big screen. Being outdoors surrounded by the crazy Dutch was an added bonus. In actuality, I was more like the crazy American. I tend to carry around a lot of change with me. I still haven’t settled into the fact that I am carrying around one and two euros as coins. On Friday, I didn’t bring any coins with me or any money at all. Marijke and I ventured out to find the bioplein. We found it by following the mass of people off of the metro. When we arrived, we discovered you could rent chairs. I wouldn’t expect any less from the Dutch. Watching a movie outdoors with a bunch of people, I reminisced of my previous summer outdoor movie viewing experience in Washington for Screen on the Green in front of the Capitol.

Why a crazy American? Marijke wasn’t carrying any change either so we snagged a bar style table top and stood by the refreshment area. We remained standing for the remainder of the film. I didn’t mind too much. It started to get a bit chilly towards the end of the film and wished I had brought an additional sweater with the coat I was wearing.

The one thing that really shocked me about the experience was halfway through the film. All of the sudden there was a scratching sound and the film came to a halt. I was starting to get disappointed because I wanted to see the remainder of the film and I had thought the projector may be broken. I was incorrect. It was time for a break: typical Dutch. I should have known.

One distinct feature of the Dutch is the necessity for them to spread things out and take breaks. This includes numerous coffee and tea breaks throughout the day. In this case, it included a break halfway through the film. Go figure.

I didn’t do anything very exciting this weekend but had a good Sunday evening. Rink took me to see a Stevie Ray Vaughn Tribute Band. In addition to Stevie Ray Vaughn, I heard quite a few Jimi Hendrix tunes. Afterward, we went down to the city center and Rink showed me where Rotown is located, a place I am sure I will venture to before I head back to the states. On that note, do I have to come back? :)

We stopped and looked at a mini-Hollywood Walk of Fame. I took a couple of pictures which I will post in September when I have more room in my flickr account.

Saturday afternoon, I went on a bike ride to explore more of Rotterdam. I went through Delfshaven and found a market. I found a busy street of people walking around from store to store. It was quite nice.

The upcoming weekend includes Harbor Days. I have been told this includes a fireworks show. I have a spectacular view from my apartment kitchen window overlooking the harbor so the fireworks should be nice. I will take some pictures if all goes well.

Yesterday was my first Bloomerce Onion. A Bloomerce Onion is a company outing. This particular outing took place in Delft. We went kayaking through the canals of Delft. It was quite nice. Not surprisingly, I got quite wet. There were several kayaks to choose from including kayaks to hold one, two, and three people. I was in a kayak of one and was quite pleased. My time spent white water rafting in an inflatable kayak in Utah aided in my recall of maneuvering myself around. (After nearly being sucked under water by a strainer in Utah, my near-death experience, I learned to steer very quickly.) Constant water dribbling off of the paddle resulted in a very wet pair of jeans yesterday. Kayakers who weren’t very good and who kept bumping into me aided in wetness as well. (I didn’t take my camera for fear of it getting wet but someone at the office did and he will post pictures later so I will upload some of them for your viewing pleasure.)

We were supposed to fill out a set of questions along the way but my group was quite disorganized. We ended up roaming the canals following the other groups and really didn’t fill out the paper. Well, it’s safe to say we lost the paper by days end. Three people fell into the canal when getting out at our last stop. So, I wasn’t the wettest person.

I did enjoy viewing the architecture while paddling down the canals. Everything was so old and historic. City Hall was a really neat building with a crest placed high on the front of the building. We passed a church where royal blood is buried. I tried to absorb it all in.

After kayaking through a mini-Venice, we went to dinner at a very good restaurant. Dinner included a delicious crab cake over salad with beets, a filet of salmon with a potato and rice thing, a piece of chocolate cake, wine, and coffee. I was quite full. Afterwards, a group of us made our way back to Rotterdam and stopped by an Irish bar for about ten minutes before moving across the street to another bar. At dinner, Kees, the CEO, told everyone they could come in late tomorrow. I think everyone is really taking that to heart at the moment because the bodies currently at work are sparse. We had a very good time and I am becoming connected to Holland more and more each day. Already, I am dreading the day I have to come home.

Shall I look into pursuing a master’s degree in Holland or any other country other than the U.S.? My family in Arizona may lose me for longer than expected but I think that was expected. :)

Alles goed.

Guess who posted new pictures? I have pictures from the dance parade online in flickr now. I would like to say thank you to the Internet connection at work for allowing me to post pictures finally!

There was a ringing in my ears. I didn’t notice it until I lay my head upon my pillow and pulled my covers over my red shoulders. I was on an excited emotional high the entire weekend with eyes wide open, ears alert, and the perpetual movement of my feet scurrying front tent to tent and stage to stage from the front to the side and to the back. This weekend, my Chuck Taylors earned the respect and character they deserve. They took much abuse, much grass, much dirt, much water, and much sweat. A perfect description of my shoes can be summed up by saying my mom would disapprove of them telling me to wipe them clean much to my refusal.

I still have to overview the program from the weekend again to determine each and every band I watched and every site I saw. Not one show was poor. I know it was a fantastic weekend/festival because there isn’t a solitary highlight; there are several. From jumping with the crowd during the Pixies set, to singing with Marilyn Mason, stomping my feet in the dance tents during the early hours of the morning, and watching previously unknown bands like the Editors and Sons and Daughters all make-up one highlight: the entire weekend. The only disappointment was not having enough time in the day and overlap forcing me to miss some shows I would have liked to have seen. The one show I am very disappointed I missed was Polyphonic Spree…I will see them someday.

The Dutch really know how to throw a festival. About 53,000 people were in attendance. (or so I was told and I believe it.) Camping consisted of a massive sea of tents, flushable toilets, and showers with warm water: camping in luxury. The weather held out all weekend with only a sprinkle of rain but for the greater majority of the weekend my skin was kissed by the sun.

The camping was an experience in itself. I was in the section consisting of campers and tents. A couple of buses of people were placed about include the Frisian bus. Frisians mingled and played music at all hours for surrounding neighbors to enjoy. The bus was equipped with a full functioning sound system and its own Dixie attached to the back of the bus. (A Dixie is a toilet not a paper cup.) Here and there, I even spotted some Dutch comedically walking the grounds in wooden shoes.

I caught a ride home with one of the members of my group that attended the festival. When I arrived home, I talked to my roommate briefly before enjoying a very pleasant shower. I crawled into bed and the ringing began. As I drifted into a slumber, I dreamed of performances. I heard music in my ears. I blinked my eyes open on numerous occasions while my mind played tricks on me. It kept trying to inform me that a stage was located outside my window five stories in the air floating outside of the Stadswonen. I feel asleep to several melodies and awoke to some more before going to work this morning. I sang my way down the elevator before catching the tram and hummed a tune up the stairwell of the office.

Each time I stand, my feet begin to ache and my calves adamantly let me know they are still attached. My neck twinges with a quick twist in any direction. I look at my left wrist and find an accessory that has become part of me. It is a yellow cloth bracelet with blue writing. A Lowlands face stares at me and reminds me of the events from the weekend, a weekend I will never forget. I look back and sing to him.

Overall, my weekend was pretty good. As usual, it began Friday. I awoke, spoke to the parents, and set out for Almere. I had some relatives to visit. I managed to successfully find my way to Almere Buiten via Amsterdam and back without wandering the streets of Rotterdam and getting lost. I think a congratulation is in order. Congratulations Mar. Err, thanks.

After arrival in Almere, I found my cousins in the Albert Heijn. It began raining profusely; therefore, my hair turned into curly head of old woman. I had some of my favorite cheese at lunch: Old Amsterdam. Caroline always buys this when I’m around and I love it! I bought a different kind of cheese over the week just to vary it up a bit and try new things. This week, I think I will have to revert to old and purchase some Old Amsterdam yet again. So good! So, so good!

Tante Rees, Caroline, the kids, and I went bowling. This bowling alley was super-cool. It was like entering the bowling alley of a spaceship. The seats at the lanes were comprised of semi-circular red leather booths and the TV screen was controlled by a joystick. (I have pictures and will post them at some point.) After bowling and becoming completely frustrated with my lack of bowling game, we went to the game area. I beat Nick at a game of air hockey, my favorite. Nick beat me at a game of race cars. Rose beat me at a game of something similar to dance revolution. I was in shock from watching the people prior. Addicts. Wow, the seriousness people have towards this game is amazing. At one point while awaiting our turn on the machine, I was suddenly surrounded by kids not playing the game but imagining they were playing the game and moving their feet with the arrows. All I could do was stare at the kids and bear the thunderous stamping of all the feet while trying desperately hard not to bust up laughing.

I was forced to really hold in my laughter when at one point, the players started mixing up their feet shuffle while jumping in circles, touching their knees to the ground, and playing the game facing the opposite direction. Memorization of the games steps: addicts. I would like to see them pull out those moves on the dance floor on a Friday night at Hot Pink. I ventured home in the evening around 10:00 in the evening for Rotterdam.

I awoke Saturday to visit the Dance Parade. The dance parade consisted of about 40 “floats.” The floats were moving stages with people dancing, a dj mixing, and enormous speakers blaring out at the crowd. As the stages pass, people either keep waiting for other floats, or join the stage along the route and dance through the streets of Rotterdam. During the beginning of the afternoon, I enjoyed the Dance Parade from the center of Rotterdam. The bridge was closed to traffic so I was able to walk across it in the middle of the road. Since the floats move extremely slowly, I battled the crowds and made it back to my apartment in plenty of time to view the parade some more from the intersection at my apartment.

I went up to the 5th floor where I live and waited as the parade neared. My apartment was in prime location as you will be able to see when I finally post some pictures. I went back downstairs and enjoyed the parade from the street for a long time. Later, I went upstairs to take more pictures of the massive sea of people overtaking the intersection.

A party followed the parade. To go to the party, a ticket must be purchased. The party consisted of different areas playing different types of music. I walked down to see some of it during the evening but did not attend.

Next weekend, I shall attend Lowlands. I am sure I will write plenty about that. Today, I may go on a bit of a bike ride and explore and will by my groceries for the week at the Albert Heijn in the Centrum.

I played pool yesterday after work and I was awful. I think I may have to spend more time with my pool playing friends in Arizona to brush up on my skill…develop some skill. I officially have bedding and didn’t wake once last night from being cold. It was great. Tonight, I am debating going to go a watch a movie outside at around 9:30. If I remember correctly, movies are being shown outside for the next couple of weeks by the Euromast. Tonight, American Splendor will be screened. I have already seen this movie but why not? Why not get out and watch the Dutch people watch a movie?

I went to Zeeland over the weekend, specifically Port Zelanda. I had a bit of an adventure getting there. The difficulty about getting to Zeeland is that you can only get there by bus. You cannot take the train. I was told to go to Rotterdam Zuid in order to catch a train, so that is what I attempted to do. I looked up directions navigating my way through a Dutch website to find Rotterdam Zuid. The train/tram didn’t go there from my where I would get on so I found out how to walk there from the closest stop. I packed my backpack with the necessities for the weekend including my swimsuit, shoes, shampoo, contacts, etc. I was wearing my jeans, reefs, and a sweater. I left the apartment and headed downstairs to catch the tram…the one I needed wouldn’t arrive for twenty minutes so I ventured out on a walk because the distance I needed to travel wasn’t that far. It was a bit farther than expected when I got there but I was still content. So, I tried to walk from destination one to Rotterdam Zuid. I ended up walking around in circles for two hours. I did find the futbol stadion. That was quite neat and I will have to go back and explore more.

Finally, I found where the trains arrive at Rotterdam Zuid but there were no places for buses. With no one to ask, I looked at a map at the stop and it said the bus halte was around the corner. I walked some more and did not find a place for buses to pull in and out/transfer. Starting to realize that the directions may be incorrect, I waited at a bus station for a bus to arrive and spoke to a bus driver. He helped me out and told me I had to go to Zuidplein. Well.

I then took a bus to Zuidplein and asked for help from the Informatie person. I was told I needed to take the train to Spijkenisse and then take the 101 bus to the 104. When I was told Spijkenisse, I didn’t realize to ask to stop at Spijkenisse Centrum or the end of the line. I took it to the end of the line and then back the two stops to Spijkenisse Centrum. I found the bus. I got on the 101 and took it to a stop that seemed somewhat in the middle of nowhere and waited for the 104. I took the 104 to Ouddorp and Caroline and Rose picked me up at Ouddorp Centrum. I was very happy to arrive and now am able to navigate myself around the Netherlands a bit better via public transportation.

The weather was lovely upon arrival. It was sunny with a cool breeze. Nick bought a new kite because the wind was stronger on the beach than back in Almere. After purchasing the kite, we all made our way down to the beach. Nick and his friend, Tim, kited for the remainder of the afternoon and I went into the sea with Rose. The sea is quite different here. It felt very salty which aided in floatation and the waves are nonexistent. The sea was full of kiters on boards surfing around. It was quite fun to watch. The skyline of the beach was covered in kites.

We ate at a place on the beach and listened to music. I tried the krokket…I don’t know if that is spelled correctly. Rose rode horses in the evening and we were able to watch her pass us on the beach while enjoying the sunset.

The next day was colder and rainy. Caroline, Rose, and I visited a town nearby. When the rain subsided, we dragged the boys to the beach and they went kiting for the afternoon. Rose and I braved the water and froze after getting out. I initially planned to go home in the evening but stayed the night and awoke at six to catch a bus back to work in the morning. We went “midget golfing.” Yes, they aren’t politically correct here. It was fun.

I took a different bus back to Zuidplein in the morning. It was a great weekend. Each day I was bombarded with words from the kids in attempt to teach me Dutch. I believe I am also a source of entertainment when gracing them with my accent when speaking Dutch. They laugh and tell me I sound like I am from Turkey. I found a new person to wrestle with, Nick. It’s quite different than the wrestling at home. I can win now. I just wish I remembered how Oom Leendert always takes me down with the back of his leg so I can do it to Nick.

I taught the kids how to knock on their head and make it sound hollow. (No sarcastic remarks, please.) I taught them how to pop grapes into their mouths. I showed them how to sing songs with their nose. I flared my nostrils. I rolled my tongue three times. I showed them the pencil between the thumb trick. I made animal noises including my famous monkey imitation. Come to think of it, I may have entertained myself more than I entertained them. Shocking...