Tot Ziens

This is the last post on Dutch for Beginners as my time as ex-pat wife in the land of tulips, cheese and windmills, has come to an end, and I am writing this from my home back in the UK.

I never learnt Dutch. We never fully immersed ourselves in the Dutch culture, although having said that I found the Dutch lifestyle, especially the emphasis on a work/life balance and the predilection for family based outdoor and physical activities, admirable and inspiring. As a European I found it much easier to fit into the Netherlands than I did in the crazy commercial/materialistic/car is king world of California, even with the addition of the language barrier (and let’s face it, the Dutch speak impeccable English and I wasn’t totally sure my American neighbours ever really understood me!)

One of the main reasons I was happy to take on another overseas assignment was because I was about to face the empty nest syndrome at home – however, the nest still felt empty despite the scenic surroundings of Haarlem and the Hague, and I am over the moon at the prospect that one of my little fledglings is about to return home, at least temporarily, now that I am back in the UK.

However, I did find the time to complete that novel – and fingers crossed there will be more news on that in the very near future. As for my attempts at writing a book based on my experiences of being a sane (well at least relatively) English woman in LA, current working title ‘Is It Just Me?’, sadly this is no closer to reaching an end, having now been superseded by the need to write a guide to ex-pat life in the Netherlands. I haven’t decided on a title for that yet – it’s a toss up between ‘On Yer Bike’ or  ‘Into the Wind’, or a combination of both!

To anyone ever contemplating a move overseas, my advice would always be to give a try, because if I can survive it, anyone can. At the end of the day the traumas and frustrations of being an alien in a foreign land pale into insignificance. For me, it will always be memories of the friendships I’ve made along the way that will linger.

Travel certainly broadens the mind, and my mind has definitely been broadened by being in the Netherlands (especially since I joined the health club!).  Even if you don't want to live there - at least go for a visit. It's a wonderful place, full of history and culture, and once you've finished taking in the sights and smells of Amsterdam, head out into the countryside.

And to finish, a picture which just about sums it all up - and there's even blue sky! 

Health & Safety

After nearly three years of living in the Netherlands I should be pretty au fait now with the Dutch psyche. I know, for example, that when the sun comes out - the Dutch stop whatever they are doing and grab some rays. There are plenty of dull moments over here and you have to make the most of that sunshine when you see it. Wednesday saw us on the beach with everyone else who was skipping off work early, overdressed I might add, in our shorts and T-shirts (why hadn't I thought to bring my bikini?) and Thursday it was back to coat, jeans, scarf and boots.

At least I’m ending my stay here on a high. The forecast for my final week in the Netherlands is warm and sunny.  

With the improvements in the weather Mr T and I have taken the opportunity to explore new areas of Den Haag. We finally made it to the Zuiderpark, a huge area of greenery in the south of the city, which besides several lakes and ornamental gardens, is also home to another ubiquitous Dutch deer park as well as an urban farm/nature reserve.  Also spotted in the Zuiderpark was Dutch dad teaching child to cycle down steps, despite child’s wailing protest (why would you?) The only saving grace was at least the child was wearing a helmet - not an every day sight over here. The Dutch are great risk takers. I still wince every time a parent cycles past me with a baby strapped to their chest, but that's what they do.

And talking of taking risks, choosing a chef’s ‘surprise’ menu when eating out makes for a decision free evening. We've done it before and not been disappointed. This time, after being asked if we had any allergens, Mr T did reply that although we were allergy free there were certain foods we did not like. Such as? asked the waiter. Knowing how much the Dutch love their carpaccios I had the good sense to hastily reply, Raw Meat. Well that was the ‘surprise’ starter rumbled but the waiter hurried away and confirmed that we could have a fish based first course instead. Phew! But the tastiest course in the whole evening - a very posh bitterball in asperagus veloute. Yes, I said, a bitterball. I'm finally going native!

To coincide with my last weekend, and not to celebrate my departure,  Mr T’s work had organised a family day out a medieval castle where we could partake in the olde worlde activities of sword fighting and jousting, and more total Dutch disregard for health and safety. For avid fans of Games of Thrones like me this was the ideal opportunity to show off my inner Arya Stark. (As it turns out I’m not bad with a crossbow but I’m pretty useless with a sword). For Mr T's Dutch work colleagues it was the ideal opportunity for them to demonstrate what they really thought of their overseas counterparts with a spot of one on one combat. Fortunately, Mr T didn't need stitches. 

The day was rounded off with a falconry display. Why wouldn't you want a vulture with claws the size of your hand wandering loose amongst the crowd? 

Back in the safety of town our feathered neighbours are far more docile, and celebrating the birth of quins.

Hills and more!

After nearly three years of living in the Netherlands, we finally found what we’d been looking for – hills!! For our final escape to the country Mr T and I set off for a weekend in Maastricht. Maastricht lies in the very far south east of the Netherlands in the region of Limburg, a Dutch peninsular landlocked between Germany and Belgium.  We could hardly contain our excitement as we watched the altimeter on the sat nav reach the dizzy heights of 120 m above sea level. Mr T was nearly overcome with altitude sickness – where we live on the west coast we’re lucky if we get above sea level, let alone into double figures. Triple figures was a cause for a major celebration!

Mr T had selected a hotel which had received very good reviews on trip advisor.  Personally, my idea of a 9 out of 10 hotel is one that doesn’t involve standing naked in a shower waiting 10 minutes for the hot water to kick in. I would have had a bath if there had been a working plug.

I liked Maastricht a lot – the flavour of the town definitely felt more Belgian or even French, but then you turn a corner, and you know you're still in the Netherlands when you find a sculpture like this in the middle of a medieval square!

We took a boat trip down the River Maas which cuts through the city, and after that, we climbed a hill. From our view point at St Pieters Fort we watched some vertical archery. I’d seen Michael Portillo do this on one of his great continental train journeys. You know you’re turning into your parents when you find yourself watching programmes about train journeys, but this happened to be a journey he did in the Netherlands, and he visited the Hague and Haarlem - that's my excuse anyway.  The idea of vertical archery is that you aim at a shuttlecock perched on the top of a flagpole. Of course the major flaw in this game is that having aimed, and missed (or even hit the target) the arrow then descends, rapidly, to the ground. Apparently the arrows do have rubber ends, but even so.  Not the sport for me - and I apologise for cutting the top off the photograph - another case of turning into my mother. Trust me, there are shuttlecocks at the top of this pole!

After Maastricht we headed even further east to the tourist spot of Valkenburg. Valkenburg is the only place in the Netherlands to have a castle on a hill. The castle is now in ruins, but beneath the hill there is a maze of tunnels created by sandstone miners, and in December, Valkenburg is famous for the Christmas markets held in these caves. Personally I found the caves totally spooky; we took a guided tour with a Dutch boy scout (or at least he look liked a boy scout) who pointed out the various highlights, including an underground chapel and lots of etchings and sculptures, and recounted the gruesome tales of various people who had perished in the catacombs over the years (including some who became lost as recently as 1993).  I made sure we kept within touching distance of him at all time. It was a relief to reach fresh air!

I have in the past complained that the trouble with the Netherlands is that wherever you go it all looks the same. Well it doesn’t. I’m man enough to eat my words. There's a very small portion of it that is different (but it's a very small portion!).