Owner: Worldly Chatter URL:http://www.worldlychatter.com Join Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:56:41 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: These are the thoughts and expressions in everyday life and travel of an American after trading in her homeland for a new and exciting place in Europe. The differences in culture, politics and global events as construed by the author; bringing the wonder Site statistics:Click here
New Job and my new bicycle 2007-06-04 01:33:08 Well, I left you all thinking I would be starting work in Amsterdam, a little Italian place on Damrak. That has changed completely. I went to this agency Olympia on Friday morning after receiving an email from Olympia about a job Dutchie had seen for me. I handed in the email and inquired about it. It wasn’t going to be right for me but there were other positions available would I be interested. Always inquisitive I said sure. She offered me a seat and began telling me about a position here in Hilversum with Selektmail. I would be sorting and delivering mail around Hilversum via bicycle
. It pays more, the hours are from 8 until I finish my deliveries which would run between 3 and 5 and I wouldn’t have to lay out travel expenses to get there plus I would get paid weekly and not monthly. It would have cost fifty euro a week just to get to work in Amsterdam! This felt right; it was something that would be better for me without a doubt. So I accepted and she offered me coffee;
Cycling or backpacking in Europe 2007-06-09 11:21:08 I was chatting it up with Dutchie after I received my bike on some of the things one can find in, let us say, Amsterdam for tourists. What could I recommend to those who are interested in vacationing it in Amsterdam? Well for one, stop at the one of many tourist booths throughout the city and two is get a bike or a strippenkaart. You could easily find a bike rental place; you can even make reservations for bike rentals on line much like a hotel, car or flight. A strippenkaart is a strip with slots on it for stamps. When taking a bus or tram in any city in Holland you bring this card and either have the bus driver stamp it or punch it on a machine available on the bus. Each destination can cost you one, two or three slots to get you on your destination. What I find easy is this: if you are not sure of how many slots, have the driver stamp it for you. This and a bicycle is much easier driving in Amsterdam, or any city in Holland for that matter. Being an old country the city and resident Read more:Cycling
, Europe
Delays in writing and inburgering beginning! 2007-06-08 07:02:41 Well it is Thursday and I have neglected my post! After having to wait on the Dutch government to allow me to work for so long my body felt like it was being run over after working 8 hours a day for four days. I know people do it every day; believe me, I did too but I was out of it for a while with this waiting game. I gather that after the middle of the week I will be fine and kickin’ butt all over! So I promise to write more frequently regardless of my hours. If others can do it, then so can I!
I have my first contract in Holland. It is through an agency but I have one all the same! I play with mail all day and its cool. I also got my letter from the sociale zaken, finally! Monday I am being ordered for an appointment at noon. Ik wil Nederlands leren! I am told that if I have any classes to let them know and bring the certificates. I am seeing them BECAUSE I need Dutch lessons, what certificate am I going to own, really now! In any case, that starts on Monday! I am stoked! Work Read more:Delays
, writing
Inburgering meeting and news of our wedding 2007-06-11 23:14:47 I had my appointment with the Sociale Zaken this afternoon; a mandatory appointment so I had to take the afternoon off for work to do this. I have to take the inburgering exam and it must be completed within five years because I am an American, apparently if someone comes from other countries not on a list they have to have it done in three and a half. This list applies for other conditions as well when it comes to the IND and staying in the Netherlands. I was able to bypass taking courses in my home country and waiting approximately 2 years before I would be accepted or denied my stay in the Netherlands. I was able to wait it out in the Netherlands once I applied, some countries listed you have to wait in your home country. Interesting stuff, I tell you but anyway. I was accepted on the 21 of February this year and received my permit in March so my five years starts from February.
If I finish my inburgering and pass the exam with a level two within 3 years then I can get 70% of what I Read more:meeting
, wedding
Smoking ban and coffee shops in Holland 1969-12-31 22:59:59 In past months, the Dutch government has been considering a smoking ban just as in many states across America and other countries in Europe. The Dutch have been able to smoke in restaurants, bars and other places for as long as anyone can remember that the idea has actually been a rough decision to make for some politicians. This will of course have an impact on hospitality businesses and coffee shops
throughout the country and many are wondering how much of an impact. The previous government had agreed upon a phase out of smoking in public places, the new government is going to hold to the agreement, and the phasing will start in July of 08. This is how it will work. In restaurants and bars there will be a closed off section for smokers where there will be no waiter to wait on them. In the coffee shops, a similar sectioning will take place. You will have the counter to purchase your weed and other products then another section, closed off, to smoke your purchase and cigarettes.
As a s Read more:Smoking
, Holland
Really strange roads 2007-06-15 14:38:45 Oh how I love Google and the things you can do on it! Today I had my first delivery! I have been sorting for the past two weeks now and today there was nothing to sort so we all have to deliver. Into our not so little yellow vans we went with our boxes of mail and bicycles to truck it all throughout the town we were going to. Two others and I to one part of Bussum, a town next to Hilversum, I have never been to Bussum. I know nothing of Bussum other than it is a really old town, a really small old town.
Now our postcodes are different from those of America. For example, I used to live at zip code 06810 in CT, now I live in 1211ND. See the difference? I had to get used to it myself. So, when we sort we go by number first, 1211, 1212, 1214 and so on. Then we sort that particular postcode into letters and after that we sort it down to streets and further still into odds and evens, house numbers. We write it all down, rubber band it together according to street and odd or even and stick it
Is er koffie? 2007-06-14 14:01:34 Goede Morgen! Hoe gaat het met jou? Of, hoe gaat het? Morgen! Is er koffie? Pretty much this is how my day starts. I hear chattering about, people saying morgen as the employees walk in and people going on about coffee. Today was slightly different. Is er koffie? Er is geen koffie! What do you mean there is no coffee! First thing in the morning, this is ten to eight, and there is no coffee! Our coffee machine is broken! We have this machine where there is like, five different kinds of coffee and hot water and some other neat features. A contraption is what it really is and it cannot give us coffee! So we were all going er is geen koffie! By ten this morning we had a pot brewing so we could have coffee on our coffee break. Someone bellowed coffee and we stared at him with an evil eye until he told us there really was coffee made. I tell you, I have never seen people move so fast up the stairs to the kitchen! The face of the machine was open and all of its guts exposed. I think we all gl
Money honey! 2007-06-13 12:19:27 Oh wow, today was my first pay day after starting last Monday and with it I was able to pay off two bills! It feels so good to be working again! I got home from work this afternoon and went straight to the computer to check the account. There it was, Olympia had paid me at noon today! Now I should see a pay slip at some point this week for it, probably Friday I am guessing. It feels wonderful to be useful, productive and actually contribute to the household again! I know that the government forced me to wait while they processed me but it didn’t make me feel any better. I work, I enjoy bringing in money and having a full and productive day. Maybe I am crazy but either way I am a happy camper!
And since we are on the subject of money there are a few things I should tell you my fellow American readers. If you ever plan to make a trip or permanent stay here in Holland or anywhere else in Europe there are a few things you need to know. I have to have a chat with my father next week o Read more:Money
, honey
3 September! 2007-06-19 09:28:44 That is the date of our wedding! I am actually going to be getting married! It is not a partnership, not a civil union but a full on wedding! Absolutely incredible! We had to go down to the town hall and were there for a half hour or so signing stuff and stating what we wanted. At 10 am on September
the 3rd I will officially be a Mrs.!
I remember growing up in NY, going to high school and doing all the things kids do around that age. I dreamed of growing up but not quite sure what I was going to do with my life at that moment. I thought about family and all the same stuff my friends thought of but I knew I wasn’t going to get married; my country simply did not and does not allow me the right to marry. I grudgingly accepted it and moved on, what else was there to do really? I left home and attempted to make a life for myself but some obstacles hit my way and slowly I was realizing that simply accepting it wasn’t working, yet there was nothing else to do. We all know the stat
Want some more roads with your chaos? 2007-06-21 15:17:31 Well today I had a run in a town called Vreeland and Nederhorst den Berg. These are two small towns, one is a fishing village and the other is a mass of farmland. I am not a girl who grew up with cows, coats and chickens all around me but today when I was delivering mail with a coworker in the van I nearly kicked a chicken because a bunch of them were moving about the front door! Yet my day ended with the cows sleeping alongside the road and goats eating while we drove to the next house. It started with the little village and these roads; tiny crazy loopy roads. Vreeland is a village in the province of Utrecht. It sits on a river and has farm land surrounding it. According to Wiki the village has 1600 inhabitants. This is a well to do area and the cars and homes are rather large in some areas. It is also a very old village. It received city rights in 1265 so you can imagine how this place was designed. The roads are curvy and strange and are very narrow in most places. While I was deli
Why don’t you bring her there? 2007-06-20 15:23:21 I am really beginning to hate that question and Dutchie is tired of the ‘why don’t you move there with her?’ You see people, I have said this before and I shall say this again. I cannot sponsor Dutchie and bring her to America. My country does NOT recognize my relationship to her, it’s just that simple. My marriage to her will mean squat to the US government. How then do I bring Dutchie to the US for her to live there with me? She can try to find work in the US and hope a company would be willing to put the time, effort and gobs of money to get her a work permit and a green car. Since this is highly unlikely so what else is there? She is Dutch; her family is Dutch so there is no one else to sponsor her. My government makes it impossible for us to establish a family in the country, they stipulate that my relationship doesn’t count under the laws of immigration therefore there is no chance, no hope and not a prayer that can be said so long as that administra
The American Consulate in Amsterdam 2007-06-26 08:08:45 Absolute madness! That is what I have to say about my morning in Amsterdam
. I had to go to the consulate to an affidavit of my single status in America. I need this so I can marry Dutchie, as you know. So, I take the 8:22 train this morning from Hilversum to Amsterdam Central and get there around 9:00. According to the site, I can take the 2, 5, 16 or 24 tram to get there. After going to two different money exchange places and an ATM on Damrak I saw the number 2 come in so I took that. I wanted to be there around 9:30 – 9:45 so I can actually get this done because the hours to do anything are from 8:30-11:30am.
I hop on, stamp my strippenkaart and take a seat. I go ALL the way to the end of the line! There wasn’t one stop for Museumplein throughout the whole ride! I get on the tram heading back and get off at Leidseplein knowing that Museumplein is nearby. This on its own has killed nearly 35 minutes of my morning mind you and I still had to head in the general direction of the Read more:American
My brain is starting to overload! 2007-06-25 09:43:34 Two months will be here sooner than I think and there is so much to do! I spoke with my father and emailed my brother. They both are wondering about lodging; where would be the best place to stay? We live in Hilversum and that’s about a half hour from Amsterdam. Should they stay where we are or should they stay there in Amsterdam? One thing that has come up in conversation is driving or train. I am a fan of the train; I have to hop on one tomorrow to get to the consulate in Amsterdam. Yet if I and Dutchie have to either meet up there or have them meet back here it is going to get mighty expensive on both our parts and we are not the richest in Hilversum! Brother is trying to figure out where to stay so he can book his flight, there are many deals with hotel and flight combos but one has to know where to stay so they can book right? I have to call him again as well as other family members so we can figure this out. Brother really wants to book now, its usually cheaper than waiting Read more:overload
So much to do, so little time! 2007-06-24 07:42:20 Oh my word, there is so much going on it is almost maddening! Today Dutchie called her father; both he and his wife will be attending our wedding making Dutchie giddy and lighter than air all morning long! Her mom, who cannot attend due to health reasons, still wants to be a part of it any way she can. As a wedding present to us both, she is paying for our car rental for our day. We have decided to go with the Volkswagen Beetle! Dutchie has made inquiries about it today and we should hear something soon. Next weekend we are going to Eindhoven to look at wedding dresses for me! This will likely be an all day affair and I cannot wait! There was a pantsuit that looked positively stunning on Dutchie that we are hoping is still available. That was here in Hilversum. If not we shop around until we find something perfect for her.
There really is so much to do! We have to go to Den Haag where we saw a few jewelry stores that had wedding rings we really loved! Prices were right and they were st Read more:little
Prepaid or not, just depends on where you live! 2007-06-23 11:30:14 So, I finally have myself a cell phone; neat little flip phone with camera and other such things. Its black and tiny and, well, cute! With my recent ventures all over Holland with work I was unable to call anyone to say I was done, come get me! I was unable to tell Dutchie I would be late on these days. So, Dutchie and myself were looking at it and playing with all the settings when something came to her mind.
When I was staying with my mother a few years back Dutchie would call my mother’s cell or house because it was incredibly cheaper for her to call me rather than me calling her. Even with an international plan, you simply cannot beat the fact that I can call the US for 1 cent to 4 cents a minute, depending on whether it is peak times or not. Now because Dutchie was calling I assumed that my mother’s cell phone would not be charged for any of the calls. What would it matter then how many times she called? After all, Dutchie reasoned, when someone calls her cell she does Read more:Prepaid
A brief update! 2007-06-29 15:28:00 It is the weekend and I am giddy! Today was a particularly long day for me. I was in Bussum again but in a different part that I was unfamiliar and it was pouring out most of the day so I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Of course we have had really strong winds this week and peddling with three boxes full of mail in it was an interesting experience. I learned a great deal about the winds this country can get and do not understand how Dutchies everywhere continue to ride their bikes in it!
But no matter, my ten hour day is over and Dutchie was so sweet to have coffee and dinner ready when I came home! Plus she booked us a hotel in Eindhoven so we don’t have to drive back to Hilversum then to Den Haag and back to Hilversum. It’s closer from Eindhoven to get to Den Haag so we are having a weekend away from home! She said it’s for my birthday and I am so happy! In addition, speaking of which, Dutchie gave me my birthday present yesterday! Well part of it anyway, it was a b
Scratch two off the list! 2007-06-27 14:09:55 Well, it is settled! We have a photographer for our big day and a car to get us there and back! Ok, technically, we have two photographers; they work as a team and get different angles and more pictures. They came to our house today to show us more of their work and discuss what we wanted. www.fotofrank.com is the site. It is in Dutch but you get the idea! The portfolio they brought with them was beautiful! They take great pictures in motion and still. They had one picture that was rather neat, a picture of the hubcap with a reflection of the couple in it. We picked our package and talked about how it was going to work that morning. When they would come and all that jazz. The car and they will be here at the house at 9:30 and the click happy couple will start taking pictures of our wedding then. After the wedding, itself we will have a photo session and the lunch we will have after. Overall, it was a really productive day! We chose the car and Alex talked to them today, a confirmation Read more:Scratch
Working in the EU 2007-07-03 14:58:18 I want to tell you a tiny story about a coworker of mine. I call her the little polish chick because, well, she is so tiny! That and she originate from Poland. She started working right around when I did and a week and a half ago had left to go back to Poland via bus. Today she was there again. I remember asking her two days before she left why she was here in Holland. To make money was what she said. Her and her family drove to Holland so they could make money. She works with me in a mailing depot and she drove all the way to Holland to do it. It sounds so crazy to me! Then Dutchie mentioned something to me. Poland’s minimum wage is sixty euro a month! €60! For you Americans out there, €60 is like $55 to you. Can you imagine living on that for a month! I spend €150 a month alone on food!
Now that Poland is in the EU that means they can go to Germany, France, Holland or any other EU country to work. You can find Polish workers on construction sites and the like. The pay is
My birthday! 2007-07-02 13:04:02 What a weekend! It was my birthday on Sunday and I turned 27 but that wasn’t the only thing that made my weekend! As you know, we went to Eindhoven to see about a wedding dress. Dutchie booked a hotel room so we could relax for the day and then head to Den Haag in the morning. We checked in and with our little map headed to the bridal shop. There is something giddy about trying on a wedding dress or two. You feel like a princess and feel as though you are the luckiest woman on earth! The assistant helping us pulled out some dresses out for me to try on according to the style we were looking for and our budget.
The first one I liked, I liked it a lot actually but it would have to have been altered at the waist because it was nice and smooth up top but out of nowhere my hips sprung out and it reminded me of those Elizabethan style dresses where its tight up top and flares dramatically at the waist. We put that aside because I stilled really liked it and tried on the second one. The
The American Consulate in Amsterdam part two! 2007-07-06 06:33:15 Thanks to handy directions on www.9292ov.nl and a little help from a Dutchman, I finally found the Consulate! Ik heb een vraagje. Ik zoek voor deze adres, waar is het alstublieft. Now my Dutch is a serious work in progress but Dutchies really do like it when you try, even if you do botch it up. Ik weet het niet maar… and he calls a co-worker who might know. He does! He tells me I am on Museumplein and to goes straight that way and it hangs to the left. Alles is Museumplein? Dat klopt. (that’s right) Hartelijk bedankt! (Thank you SO much!) I walk on and there was the American
flag! I love Dutchies! Yesterday I had to deliver mail on my own bike and as I road past an intersection I dropped mail and this older woman called me and helped me load it back up! She was in her late 60’s I would gather and in the middle of this busy road assisted me in putting my mail in my bags while I balanced the bike! So sweet she was, really! She went on to tell me how I needed to get bigger b Read more:Amsterdam
Un-American and Amsterdam 2007-07-05 09:30:58 It was strange, not hearing the fireworks and smelling the barbeque this year when the fourth but it is all right. Happy Fourth of July my fellow American
s! Well, belated but you will forgive me wont you? We lost power in the house last night and it can be quite a challenge to write on a computer in such circumstances! This is where my father would say it is totally un-American to work on the Fourth of July! He loves that saying, trust me! Seeing as I am in Holland I am not about to get time off for an American holiday. Totally un-American of me! Hah!
I am preparing for my second run to Amsterdam
tomorrow. I have detailed directions! These directions are so detailed its sick! I went to www.9292ov.nl and there I printed out directions. What train to take, what tram to take and I even have what stop both make and which stop is mine and finally, I remembered to write down the building number! Help me if I forget the directions on the desk! I hate missing a day of work but what can I do ab
Boosting US tourism 2007-07-10 10:53:40 An interesting news piece for those traveling to the US: According to the associated press, Congress plans to create a non-profit organization to help promote travel to the US. This organization would not only promote travel to the US but also clear up any misperceptions about US travel policies. It would work with other agencies on fixing visa policies and entry processes that discourage visits. Since 9/11 tourism has dropped, as was expected, however, it hasn’t stopped going down.
JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer “The global pie of international travel is steadily increasing, while the U.S. share has been slowly decreasing,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.
Visits from the six countries that provide the most tourists — Britain, Japan, Germany, France, South Korea and Australia — have dropped 15 percent since 2000 while travel from those six to other countries was up a robust 39 percent.
Interesting isn’t it that thes
Leiden & Amsterdam; we have arrived! 2007-07-10 07:40:22 As I said yesterday, because of the zomertoer through the NS, we were able to have a little adventure anywhere in Holland we wanted after our trip to Den Haag. Since we had to head back to Leiden, anyway we decided to stay a bit and take in some sights! It was a rather wet and dreary morning but that did not deter us from having our fun! We stopped to enjoy the views along their canals, I love windmills for some odd reason, so we had to stop at each one we came across! There is also the Marekerk, Lodewijkskerk, Pieterskerk and the Hooglandsekerk that we stopped at; kerk is church. I am fascinated with churches, I find them beautiful, moving in some cases and every time I go in one I think of my grandmother and light a candle for her. We only went into one, sad to say, but a couple was locked and another one was in the middle of cleaning and I didn’t want to interfere. There are more churches in Leiden, we just didn’t hit them all.
We stopped for some coffee and was a tad di Read more:Amsterdam
Ministry of Justice in The Hague 2007-07-09 13:46:33 Do you remember my little adventure into the Consulate in Amsterdam on Friday? Well the Civil Affidavit needed legalization for me to use it and that took place in The Hague, or Den Haag to the natives. Dutchie was born and raised in Den Haag so she thought it best she tag along because with my directional skills I was bound to get lost in the middle of the city! The office was open for legalization purposes from 8:30-12:30 and to get it done asap we opted to take the 7:59 train from Hilversum to Leiden where we transfer as to get to Den Haag. The Dutch railway system has this summer deal called Zomertoer (summer tour) where two people ride for 59 euro and you can travel anywhere all over Holland! For two days in a seven day span you can go absolutely anywhere in Holland so we bought one but for 69 euro because that includes buses and trams. We are planning on going to the Efteling, a theme park here, so if we used it today and this weekend it would pay for itself and we wouldn’t Read more:Ministry
, Justice
De Efteling! 2007-07-15 07:13:35 What a day! Saturday Dutchie took me to the Efteling, was to be a birthday gift but due to a few factors, we were unable to go on my birthday. Just fine by me because for one, the weather was absolutely perfect for the trip and really, does it matter when you go so long as you have a good time once you do? The Efteling is a 55-year-old fairy tale theme park! The first thing we did was go through the enchanted forest where we saw Snow White, Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood and the story where the wolf eats all but the baby goat and so many more! You are walking through all the stories you heard as a child. There were a great many I had never heard of and had a ball learning about them, seeing them in action and having Dutchie shake her head that I didn’t know them! This is Holle Bolle Gijs! He is the bottomless pit who says “Papier Heir!” and then Dank je well when you feed him trash!
We stopped to chat with Momma Dutchi
Opinions are interesting aren’t they? 2007-07-13 14:50:30 It is always interesting
to talk with Dutchies about my country. The opinions vary so much and it fascinates me to hear them. A co-worker of Dutchies that is gay and has an American man and just as Dutchie has me, they live here in Holland, however, the difference between us is that her Dutch co-worker would actually like to live in America where Dutchie does not. Why would he want to live in a country that doesn’t accept who he is, why accept that when where you live right now accepts you and allows you everything you want? Dutchie and I do not understand it.
Today I was doing a run with a couple of co-workers in this small town Baarn. It was miserable and frustrating but the people were friendly and when we were done we met up and chatted while waiting for a few more workers to meet us. We got into America and how she thought it was interesting the news that is broadcasted there and how it is here. I have noticed the difference in the news and how they portray a story and it is Read more:Opinions
Would you do a FOUR-day walk? 2007-07-17 15:06:52 This is a serious question here; would you do a four day walk? You see, there are about 40,000 people who said yes to that very question and started their journey today in a town of Elst where they walk ten kilometers. From there they will walk Wijchen, Groesbeek and Cuijk where in total the distance is forty kilometers. It is called Internationale Vierdaagse Afstandsmarsen Nijmegen and it is tradition for the international community and Dutch alike walk to forty kilometers in four days!
Back in 1904 sergeants from the 6th Infantry Regiment in Breda started a football club and this was such a hit that they created Field Army Sports Days. From there a Lieutenant proposed a four-day march, which makes sense since this is military, where there were 15 routes. Not all the routes were available for a variety of reasons and over the years, it turned into forty kilometers. It is the 91st Nijmegen Four-Day walk and 40,000 people finished their first day!
I heard it on the news and Dutchie ex
Holocaust Children in lawsuit with Germany 2007-07-16 15:22:06 4,000 people have joined a lawsuit against Germany
for the atrocities that went on and how they still suffer for them but there is an interesting twist. It isn’t for money, it is for psychiatric care.
The Israelis, calling themselves second-generation Holocaust
survivors, say the scars of the Nazi genocide on their parents have crossed generations. Many still live with an irrational fear of starvation and incapacitating bouts of depression, the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit marks “the very first time that the German government will be asked to take responsibility and to care for those of the second generation in Israel and indeed, worldwide,” attorney Gideon Fisher said before filing the suit at the Tel Aviv District Court.
CNN International
They want biweekly sessions for the individuals involved and this could run Germany anywhere from ten to thirty million dollars if they succeed. Should Germany actually pay out for the care of these people who suffer so Read more:Children
Moody weather 2007-07-16 13:37:10 There are days when the weather
sets your mood. We all have them right? Well, I was working today, the sun was out, the temperature was hot, and I was in a chipper mood! I was grand and happy to be working and overall an upbeat mood. Around lunchtime I noticed I was a tad sluggish, I reasoned it was due to the hunger growing in my stomach and thought nothing more of it. I left work, went to the store and headed home. Dutchie has been under the weather today and stayed home. I chatted with her, had some dinner and watched television for a bit…
Now I sit here trying to figure out what to write. I read the news and ponder the topic for the day. Nothing, nada, zip! I reasoned I could write about the lawsuit going on between second generation survivors of the Holocaust and Germany or I could write about Unemployment tourism here in Europe but I wasn’t sure which or how to go about it. My indifference is driving me crazy! I then have to go and close the windows because a storm is am Read more:Moody
Wat zeg je? 2007-07-19 14:01:31 Wat zeg je? Ik snap je maar heel langzaam praat! Ik kan, ik kan en ik kan! Ik wil nederlands leren en ik moet spreek meer! However, I don’t! What did you say? I understand you but speak slow! I can, I can and I can! I want to learn Dutch and must speak more! That is what I said to you in Dutch. Ik wil kop koffie en een brootje gezond. I want a cup of coffee and a healthy sandwich. (Yes, they call it a healthy sandwich.)
Why do I write all this… and none of it make sense? I write this because I have to kick myself in the ass. I DO know words darn it all and I CAN follow some yet what do I do? I get stupid and I get shy and fumble my words until I have spit on myself or have said absolutely nothing at all! Why is this? Why do I stumble? Why do I get so shy! I know there are people who will say I have always been shy so it is nothing new but it has to stop! Really, it does now! Therefore, I ramble to my readers. I put my shame and foolishness out there for all to see! Why do this?
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