Monday, September 19, 2005
A Very, Very Good Weekend...Even the Weather!
Well, well, well…there is so much to write. My weekend technically began Thursday evening. Thursday was Marijke’s birthday. She had asked for an American cake a couple of days prior and I wanted to attempt to make one. I took a shot at going to Konmar, a large grocery store, and was able to find frosting. I was unable to find an American or American-like box cake. (Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, etc.) I could have made one from scratch but that would have involved the purchase of all the ingredients which I did not want to do. So, I found a Dutch box cake…sort of. I found Dutch flour for a cake. All I had to do was decipher the instructions in Dutch and bake the cake in an oven…a different kind of oven than I have ever used before. This oven also functions as a microwave and is dissimilar to any microwave or microwave oven I have ever seen in the states. I had to determine how this worked as well.
First, I picked up a bottle of wine for Marijke on the way home. She is a fan of rosé as they call it here; therefore, that is what I got her. I also bought her my favorite chocolate bar in the world; she happens to like it as well. When she came home, the bake was complete. She was quite surprised and happy. She didn’t expect me to really attempt to make an American cake. I call it a 50/50 cake like me, half Dutch and half American. It turned out quite well and had a bit of the boterkoek taste. (spelling anyone?)
We went to a place called Sarbone’s. I have been there once before with some others from my company after our outing in Delft. It is quite nice and was student night. As the night progressed, it got busier and busier as the music got louder and louder and the dancing increased more and more.
On Friday, I went to work around 4:00 for a “nicetoknow”. There are a bunch of new people so all of the newest faces introduced themselves. (This included me.) Afterwards, everyone hung around in the company bar for a drink as usual. (A typical Friday at work.) A couple of people went out to dinner but I head home for an early night.
Saturday, I met up with others from work for Asia’s Surprise Going Away party. (She was one of the old interns…from Poland.) She was really quite surprised! We hung around for awhile and I experienced my first Dutch party. This means there was much food to eat. Afterwards we went to what is one of my favorite places thus far, Rotown. All night I kept telling the people I was with, “I know this song. I saw this band in concert.” It was a lot of fun.
Our next stop was at Vibes, a place around the corner. We stayed there and danced for the remainder of the night until the place closed down. (5 am) Yes, the Dutch stay out much, much later. I rode my bike home as did most of the others.
Sunday, I slept in a bit and went to the city center for some groceries. Afterwards, I marched Marijke around in attempt to find Rotown. I didn’t know the name of the street it was located on but knew the vicinity it was located in. Marijke was starting to wonder where I was trying to take her until we found it. (We had a little help.) After we found it, we stopped and had a soda and visited for awhile before heading home.
For dinner, I made my garlic and mushroom chicken in wine sauce with sautéed green beans with garlic and lemon finished off with potatoes. It was good but I fear my breath may be abominable today. All in all, I had a lot of fun. Tonight, I am going to Rotown again to see a band play. (I really do like that place!)
First, I picked up a bottle of wine for Marijke on the way home. She is a fan of rosé as they call it here; therefore, that is what I got her. I also bought her my favorite chocolate bar in the world; she happens to like it as well. When she came home, the bake was complete. She was quite surprised and happy. She didn’t expect me to really attempt to make an American cake. I call it a 50/50 cake like me, half Dutch and half American. It turned out quite well and had a bit of the boterkoek taste. (spelling anyone?)
We went to a place called Sarbone’s. I have been there once before with some others from my company after our outing in Delft. It is quite nice and was student night. As the night progressed, it got busier and busier as the music got louder and louder and the dancing increased more and more.
On Friday, I went to work around 4:00 for a “nicetoknow”. There are a bunch of new people so all of the newest faces introduced themselves. (This included me.) Afterwards, everyone hung around in the company bar for a drink as usual. (A typical Friday at work.) A couple of people went out to dinner but I head home for an early night.
Saturday, I met up with others from work for Asia’s Surprise Going Away party. (She was one of the old interns…from Poland.) She was really quite surprised! We hung around for awhile and I experienced my first Dutch party. This means there was much food to eat. Afterwards we went to what is one of my favorite places thus far, Rotown. All night I kept telling the people I was with, “I know this song. I saw this band in concert.” It was a lot of fun.
Our next stop was at Vibes, a place around the corner. We stayed there and danced for the remainder of the night until the place closed down. (5 am) Yes, the Dutch stay out much, much later. I rode my bike home as did most of the others.
Sunday, I slept in a bit and went to the city center for some groceries. Afterwards, I marched Marijke around in attempt to find Rotown. I didn’t know the name of the street it was located on but knew the vicinity it was located in. Marijke was starting to wonder where I was trying to take her until we found it. (We had a little help.) After we found it, we stopped and had a soda and visited for awhile before heading home.
For dinner, I made my garlic and mushroom chicken in wine sauce with sautéed green beans with garlic and lemon finished off with potatoes. It was good but I fear my breath may be abominable today. All in all, I had a lot of fun. Tonight, I am going to Rotown again to see a band play. (I really do like that place!)
