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
Hindering integration made criminal? 2007-03-28 11:59:56 In Tilburg Netherlands Mayor Ruud Vreeman has been quoted as saying that imam Ahmed Salam ‘doesn’t belong here’. Imam Ahmed Salam, originally from Syria, has a reputation for being controversial in his sermons, telling the congregation to not pay taxes and other such things to bring aggravation to the Dutch state. While there isn’t much that can be done since the Netherlands hold the right of religious freedom in such high regard the Mayor has had police keeping a close eye on the family as well as the mosque, social services and tax authorities have been informed of the statement and are also keeping close watch. He is just one of several conservative imams who have been under investigation with the government and several of them have been deported. It is why conservative (VVD) MP Henk Kamp is proposing that hindering integration
deliberately be made a criminal offence. With religious freedoms as they are now there isn’t much to do on talk alone. While I
Trouwen! 2007-03-27 12:35:42 The perfect dress exists as does the ring that says ‘I do’. So Dutchie and I are on the hunt for that which screams perfection. September, while six months away, is creeping faster than I imagined and there is so much to do and consider that I wonder if I will forget something! The other thing I toss about my head while having a cup of tea is how my wedding will be different than what I thought it would be. I watched a DVD about a week and a half ago on the wedding of Prince Willem Alexander and now Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. Dutchie brought it home for me knowing I thoroughly enjoy submerging myself in this new culture and it gave me a perfect opportunity to see what my own wedding would be like. To say it was a beautiful wedding would be an understatement. Princess Maxima looked positively stunning in her gown while her Prince really did embody the handsome prince ready to scoop up his bride and ride off into the sunset. I found myself pondering the words spoken
Having a cold? 2007-03-26 11:30:54 You don’t realize you can’t have something until someone tells you oh no, not here, you can’t have that! Well, my head cold that I have had since Thursday is reminding me of the medicine I used to take in the United States and how I can’t have them anymore. With my first landing I brought with me Benadryl, I took it for my allergies and thought; it will be helpful there too so in it went. No, it didn’t help. The air and pollen is different, more potent and the Benadryl failed to ease my suffering like it did in the states. Yet on an entirely different note I learned that not only does it not work, it isn’t allowed. Sedatives are added to the mix, albeit small, they are still in there and a big no, no in the Netherlands. You see, the drugs that you buy over the counter in Holland are weaker than what you buy in America. For one thing, anything with sedatives in it of any kind is prescription only so that means stuff like Vicks NyQuill or Tylenol PM ar Read more:Having
To say sorry or not 2007-03-22 12:30:39 In both British and American news there has been talk of the respective governments officially apologizing for the slavery that went on two hundred years ago. Maryland’s Senate approved a resolution today apologizing for slavery, joining other states that have considered formal statements recently to atone for slavery’s wrongs just blocks away from a dock where enslaved men and women arrived in chains more than 240 years ago. Some Georgia lawmakers want April to be Confederate month or heritage month to honor those times and all who contributed to it but is under pressure because of recent talk of officially apologizing for their role in slavery. The British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been avoiding the topic by only expressing great sorrow at the cruelty the slave trade brought. In Britain talk of compensation is the main reason why they refuse to say they are sorry
. Some are still waiting to hear those words and some claim they are still feeling the sting from the acts
Is that New York minute gone? 2007-03-22 10:46:13 I went to the market yesterday to pick up some vegetables for dinner. All I needed was celery and peppers but since the market is only moments away from where I live I took the walk despite the cold and rain we were experiencing. It wasn’t a horrid time out so I thought about walking about the center of Hilversum. I was curious about coffee to go.I am sure my American readers can think of a dozen places to get coffee; Dunken Doughnuts or your favorite deli. My personal favorite was 7-11 coffee. The disposable cups with little plastic lids, for the serious drinkers there are the travel mugs ready to be used morning noon and night! I often got coffee at the deli on Sunrise highway in my New York town or the local gas station or Dunken Doughnuts in CT. When you are on the go it’s convenient and sometimes even better than the coffee you make at home. Yet I have to admit, I don’t see people around here with those little disposable cups like I did in the states. To be hone
Adaptation 2007-03-21 09:58:31 The act of adapting; it’s a hard concept to grasp for many and it is an issue no matter where you are. Expats have a reputation for being unable to adapt to the surroundings they find themselves in. Immigration and integration are issues so many countries face and have found the very topic in main stream news. In the US President Bush wanted to put into practice the Guest Worker Program enabling immigrants to stay in the country legally while also contributing to society. However much as I or anyone else likes the idea of slowing the influx of illegal’s into the country with this program it doesn’t solve the underlying issues that most Americans have. It isn’t just the fact that they are illegal, it is that they will not adapt to the country and its people they find themselves in. I can recall while living in America the increase of Spanish all around me. While the country is English speaking I still had to press one or press two on the telephone if I wanted Eng
Wedding bells 2007-03-20 13:11:09 I mentioned before that in September I am getting married. A day that is supposed to be joyous no matter how small or elaborate the day; it is meant to be special based on the couple marrying and the family and friends who attend. I can’t wait for my day; I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it and a smile from ear to ear. I know it will be here in Holland and that my family, living in New York, have quite a trek to get here but wouldn’t it be worth it to see their only daughter? I would like to think so. Yet my day has caused turmoil. Not something I have wanted but unfortunately expected. You see if you haven’t noticed dear readers in my previous posts that my marriage isn’t of the ‘norm’. I am a gay woman who will marry my Dutchie in September. I cannot marry her in America where my friends and family are and I cannot bring her there to stay. So here in the Netherlands where they are more liberal and open minded we will marry. I kno Read more:bells
Expats and side effects 2007-03-19 09:57:22 I never think to myself, did I make the right decision to move to another country, nor do I consider that I might have made a mistake in doing so. Yet there are days where I feel the side effects of such a decision. I spoke with my dad on Thursday and wasn’t expecting him to be so sad and inform me that he had news. Our dog was sick with lung cancer and the agonizing decision of putting her down fell on his and my brother’s shoulders. She came to us when I was only twelve and while I moved out when I was nineteen she remained a part of the family living with my dad and brother. For fourteen and a half years she greeted everyone at the door, was always under our feet and barking when she wanted back in the house. I missed a lot when I moved out, only seeing her when I came from another state to visit. I was only with her every day for seven years; my family however had her every day for fourteen and a half years. She was the first pet we had in the home. I remember falling i
Planning that trip to Holland 2007-03-16 10:28:40 In September I am getting married and some of my family will be flying here for the occasion. (Some happy dancing on my part at just the thought!) Since none of them have ever been they need a little guidance as to planning their stay and what is there in Holland
. So here I am going to give as many tips and websites as I can possible give to help anyone looking to plan that perfect trip to the Netherlands.
First you need a ticket right? There are so many places to get a flight whether it is an affordable price or if money isn’t a factor. Remember my suggestions for finding the best flights for your trip? Well here is the link to refer back, just in case. Might I also suggest Travelocity as well as the suggestions I made earlier. Now that you are on the path to your flight you need a place to stay. You can book a flight with hotel stay or you can go to hotels.nl for a few more suggestions. There is a little English flag to the right so don’t panic when you see all the Dutch
Watching from outside the bubble 2007-03-15 12:02:38 There are moments when I feel lost as an American. Maybe it is because I am far from the influence of the country. In either case I was having a conversation with Dutchie last night after watching the movie Shut up and sing. Such conversations start off with something that triggers emotion and a thought process that rambles on and gets your skin to tingle. I am no advocate for anything, I just voice what I think and feel and after finally watching the movie about what Natalie Maine’s said and what it did to them it stirred something in me and a detailed and passionate conversation ensued between myself and Dutchie. My ability to understand American politics is sometimes rocky but I do the best that I can and now that I am outside the bubble I see and hear better than I thought it possible. The band was banned from radio, people protested by burning their CD’s, DVD’s and they wore proudly on their shirts their distrust and hatred for the Dixie Chicks. One woman said th Read more:Watching
Dutch win over Slovenia 2007-03-29 13:34:53 Wow I am getting into this! Last night the Dutch
national team was in Slovenia
fighting for their chance to be in the European Championships next year. It was a great game to watch, Slovenia team is intense and aggressive while the Dutch were simply trying to keep up. They did a good job in keeping the Slovenians at bay but it was no easy task, especially when three of the players were rookies. The Dutch finally scored 85 minutes into the game with Giovanni Van Bronckhorst kicking in the only goal which was deflected twice before actually making it in the net. Now I am not a regular viewer of soccer as I was brought up with football and baseball on every weekend however, last year was the World Cup in Germany and I watched the Dutch try their heart out to take the cup. They ultimately lost but I watched and was finding it a good sport to actually watch! I didn’t know much about it but am now making headway when I watch but there is much to learn! Last week they played Romania and
Simple Reflection 2007-03-30 11:06:47 I am having a morning where I feel a little out of place; a morning where I feel the need to reflect and ponder the changes I have gone through. These past two weeks have been an emotional one for me; good, bad and simple reflection. I suppose with so much going on one cannot help but reflect, besides, it’s good for us to do every once in a while right? You see, I have come to accept that I change because of the environment I placed myself in. Not just in what I eat or habits but also in speech. I find myself being a little bolder than in the past. Saying the feelings I normally would have kept silent or giving an opinion that would have otherwise been kept within to save face. Mind you I know I still have my conservative nature in me that have kept much at bay. Living with Dutchie and talking with friends who are Dutch I have become more expressive and chatty with my personal side though there are parts I cannot seem to get out there much as I would like to. I am not sure what Read more:Simple
Broodje Haring 2007-04-02 09:55:50 There are things I have been hesitant to try here in the Netherlands. Not much is on this list but I saw them as huge hurdles to overcome. One such thing was haring. Oh how the idea of eating raw fish freaked me out! The first birthday for Dutchie that I was here we went to her mom’s house and her sister was there as well. She brought with her haring, chopped onions and buns. Brootje haring met uien. I didn’t dare have any that day as I was new to all things Dutch and raw fish was simply not going in my mouth! That was ten years ago and I hadn’t been bold enough to try this Dutch delight until this weekend. Now while you can find this virtually everywhere not all Dutch like the idea of eating raw fish. You can eat haring as a standalone, as a sandwich, broodje haring, and with or without onion, uien, also raw. I am not a fan of raw onion so I got a broodje haring zonder uien. We were at the market on Saturday, a beautiful day and we were in need of some fruit and vege
Oh Sweet Jesus? 2007-04-04 11:22:23 An interesting development happened in Manhattan New York this week with artist Cosimo Cavallaro and two hundred pounds of chocolate. Cavallaro, artist and Catholic, made a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus
Christ and had planned for it to be displayed at Lab Gallery in Manhattan. With Jesus’ arms outstretched on an invisible cross he is depicted just as any other religious art work except without the loincloth. Cavallaro stated he did it to show his faith and get closer to his faith and religion. Kiera McCaffrey from the Catholic League says by making a religious icon such as Jesus and having him made out of chocolate with his genitals exposed “They are digging the knife at Christians on this” and to say otherwise is absurd and is also hate speech. McCaffrey went further to state that they wouldn’t do something like this to Muslims; taking Mohammed and making him from chocolate with his genitals exposed on Ramadan, their holiest month. Cav Read more:Sweet
April 1st demonstrations 2007-04-02 15:32:48 Even though gay marriage has been legal and quite the norm here in Holland since April
first of 2001 there are still people who don't want it and try to do anything from having to participate in such laws. COC Nederland did a survey of 443 Dutch municipalities that showed that one in eight Dutch municipalities have officials in service who refuse to marry gay couples. Twenty municipalities said that they may continue in the future to hire officials who object to performing such marriages. It was at the demonstration In Amsterdam at the Homomonument that one of the leading organizations for the GLBT community in Holland read its results. Over three hundred showed up to protest against civil servants refusing to perform gay weddings. As a result representatives of political parties signed an agreement in which they state they do not support any legal acknowledgement for official's right to refuse to perform gay marriages. Political part PvdA Chairman Michiel Van Hulten agreed with So
The waiting game 2007-04-05 12:14:56 I sit here this morning after checking my mail a little dejected and impatient. February 21st was the day I received a letter stating I was granted residence in the Netherlands. From there I was going to have to wait four to six weeks to actually receive the permit that would allow me to go out into the work force and do all the things that other Dutchies do. This is week six and my lack of patience is getting the better of me I fear. When Dutchie and I applied for my residence permit back in October we were informed it had to be within three months of me landing in the Netherlands. We then spent nearly two hours in the office filling out paperwork and handing in nearly nine hundred euro for this. After that we were informed I did not have the proper paper work stating my single status in the US and was denied. Big scare at that moment; finding out they were denying my request because the paper work was in the mail and not quite at their desk, really scary. We objected to the decision
Clarification about Chocolate Jesus 2007-04-04 16:00:04 I had a comment about my piece ‘Oh Sweet Jesus
?’ and stated that I lacked conceptual depth; what was the intention of the artist in making the statue? She may be right; I was not entirely specific on the intentions of the artist and could have gone into more detail about what the controversy was really about. Let’s hope my second time around can answer the questions and add clarity to the story.
When announcements of the exhibit went out they stated it could be viewed from the street from midnight to 1am and 6pm to 7pm; starting April 1st and closing April 7th. According to the Catholic League news release on their website one title Naked Jesus-Genitals Exposed-Crucified dated March 29th Bill Donohue, head of watchdog Catholic League, wrote this about the statue. “As I’ve said many times before, Lent is the season for non-believers to sow seeds of doubt about Jesus. What’s scheduled to go on at the Roger Smith Hotel, however, is of a different genre Read more:Clarification
, Chocolate
Gay Conversion 2007-04-09 12:16:02 “What would you do if your child were gay?” That’s what Democratic presidential hopeful Chris Dodd asked some high school students in New Hampshire. I remember I asked my father that very same question years ago when I was just starting high school. I threw him for a loop when I asked that and he didn’t have much of an answer for me other than that he was adamant none of his children were gay. While it was not the answer I was looking for I was pleasantly surprised that when I did come out he was as open as any parent could be. Did that get him to thinking? I never asked but I do know that when he did find out he was prepared to ask questions and genuinely understand me and really get to know his daughter. I was a lucky woman as there are parents who are finding a different means to handle their child’s gayness. It is called conversion therapy, sexual reorientation therapy or reparative therapy; a means to turn the homosexual into an ex-gay as these indivi Read more:Conversion
Another daughter for Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima! 2007-04-11 11:20:08 Prince Willem Alexander
and wife PrincessMaxima
have done it again! Another girl added to the Dutch Royal family. The little cutie was born last night around ten and both mom and baby are doing fine. Prince Willem Alexander came out to the press room of the hospital to show off his new pride and joy to reporters this morning with a smile that wouldn’t go away. She came into the world weighing 4,135 g, measured 52 cm and as proud daddy said this morning, was born with the typical Oranje nose! Queen Beatrix was seen beaming as she drove away from Bronovo Hospital in Den Haag after seeing her newest granddaughter. This is Queen Beatrix’s 7th granddaughter out of 8 grandchildren. Princess Maxima’s parents were also at the hospital shortly after the birth. Prime Minister Balkenende made a formal broadcast late last night on both radio and television telling the Dutch public the news of the third daughter to the royal couple and fourth in line for the throne. Right now we Read more:Prince
1e en 2e Paasdag 2007-04-10 10:33:15 In Holland we have Easter just as everyone else does right? There is Goede Vrijdag (Good Friday) and 1e Paasdag and 2e Paasdag (1st and 2nd Easter); they do the same with Christmas, 1e Kerstdag and 2e Kerstdag. Well since neither Dutchie nor I are religious in any way we opted to go for a walk on Sunday through a meadow, Hoorneboegse Heide, a ten minute walk from our home. We packed a bottle of water and a couple of sandwiches and off we went. People with their dogs, people on horses, cows grazing the area and paths you can walk or bike ride through at the back of the meadow. A splendid day for a good walk and we weren’t the only ones who thought so. It started well, me and Dutchie chatting up a storm and walking a nice while. I had never been so close to a cow aside from a fair where they were in their little boxes eating hay while we walked around so I was marveling over how close I was! I am a New Yorker who didn’t take to nature too well ok. Just a few feet away were co
What’s in a name? 2007-04-13 13:39:51 Today Prince Willem Alexander headed to town hall to register the birth shortly before ten while reporters and well wishers flooded the town hall grounds of Den Haag; Ariana Wilhelmina Maxima Inez is her registered name and she will be referred to as Princess Ariana. So what is in a name anyway? My name means listener and because I am the only Samantha in my family I have no legacy in that name to carry on. My brother is named after both grandfathers so he has a legacy in his name. Royal families like to stay within family tradition; a new name here and there but usually carrying on a name of family members past.Ariana was chosen because her parents wanted to keep a theme of “A” within their children’s name. Maxima and Inez come from her mother’s family and then there is Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina Koningin der Nederlanden (1890-1948) was the first Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is where Princess Ariana gets her second name. Any royal family is particul
House boats or boat houses: New housing for the Dutch! 2007-04-12 11:28:32 Whether you get the concept of global warming or not; believe it’s just tree hugging people going to extreme or believe it is real the Dutch
see it as a serious concern and have been taking steps to ensure its country’s survival. Polar ice caps are melting and it is causing the sea to rise. It can be felt on the river Rhine and it can be felt along the Delta works as rising waves crash into the Dutch’s defenses to keep their feet dry. The Netherlands is known throughout the world as a low lying country, 70% of the land is either below or at sea level. They are also know for their ingenious ways of keeping back the sea with their dams, dikes and other defenses surrounding the coast and their knack for taking back land from the sea. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rainfall in the Netherlands could increase in the coming century by up to 25% and the sea level rise by more than three feet. While they would love nothing more than to keep thei Read more:House
, houses
, New housing
The Matthew Shepard Act. 2007-04-16 12:24:43 On Thursday Senators Kennedy and Smith introduced Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act or now known as the Matthew
Shepard Act. This act would strengthen the ability in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes against sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. It would give federal authorities the go ahead to help local law enforcement in such cases if they ask for it. It was introduced last month in the U.S House of representatives by Rep. John Conyers Jr. and Mark Kirk, R-Ill. For over a decade such acts have been introduced and dropped and introduced and dropped again. In some cases it has passed both Senate and House but never together. Why is that? Why not pass a bill that would protect all Americans? The Matthew Shepard Act was named after the 21 year old who was beaten to death in a remote area of Laramie, Wyoming in October of 1998 because he was gay. He was robbed, severely beaten, pistol whipped, crushing his skull, and then left hanging like a scarecrow
Emails, IM’s and those long distance relations! 2007-04-18 10:28:36 As some of my readers are aware, I met my Dutchie on-line. Goodness, it has actually been nearly seven years since we started speaking and six since the first time we met. It took five years to get my American bottom over on this side of the pond and during that time the internet and phone companies became tools for staying in touch. Once I moved here I was so pleased that hours wouldn’t be needed to write emails and IM’s, the phone bill wouldn’t be so painful to see at the end of the month. Then I did a little rethinking. I cannot isolate myself from friends and family just because we are an ocean away. It seems that once you start using the internet for communication it simply never stops! I call my mother about once a week, my father almost the same. Then the friends I want to stay in touch with. How did I ever think that the internet wouldn’t be an important part of my existence any more I just do not know? Delusions I suppose. I still look at the phone bill Read more:Emails
, distance
Virginia Tech shooting felt around the world 2007-04-17 11:17:10 I sat dumbfounded watching the news on CNN last night. Naturally it was all over CNN international but when I turned on the Dutch morning news they had the story going; a correspondent there on the scene relaying via phone. I get on my computer and read the story on Dutch newspapers. For the most part American news doesn’t hit headlines unless pertaining to the war or something drastic like this. The relevance to everyday affairs isn’t important on a larger scale to most European life.32 people dead in a school shooting
at Virginia
Tech, it shocks people and they can’t help but talk about it on forums and online sites where the news can be read, Dutch and expat alike all asking the same questions. Why wasn’t the school shut down after the first shooting? Why did it seem like such sloppy organization on the news? Why were these kids being evacuated right after the first shooting, thus minimizing the threat? So many assumptions on the part of law enforcement, they Read more:Virginia Tech
Tragedy at Virginia Tech 2007-04-19 20:50:07 Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund
April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia
Tech community and the world beyond.
To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.
The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:
Grief counseling
Memorials
Communication expenses
Comfort expenses
Incidental needs
If you plan to give, please click the link below:
Steve Shickles
451 Press, LLC
Read more:Tragedy
, Virginia Tech
US isn’t trusted internationally 2007-04-19 11:56:23 There was a multinational poll done on whether the US could be trusted to act responsible on an international level and majority of participants said either not at all or not very much. Just a couple stated overwhelmingly that they could. In the same poll it showed that 3 out of 4 Americans feel that the country has taken on the roll of global enforcer more than it should. A lot of the mistrust grew sharply with the start of the Iraq war. Apparently there was already some apprehension there. No surprise really, even the Americans are losing faith in the president and the conflict. Congress is at odds with the president and that isn’t going unnoticed by the international community either. It seems that the US has been placed under a microscope and the world is looking in trying to see what else to admire, pick at or simply stand around and watch the show.I found the article interesting because it shows how the world has been watching America and every decision it makes. How the wo
Let’s go Camping! 2007-04-20 11:18:09 Camping, I’ve done it on several occasions in my life. I have slept in a tent, having it flooded while I slept, and I have slept soundly and dry in a caravan. The Dutch are big on their camping. People love to go out camping for a week or six weeks. There are those die hard campers who have grounds that they call their summer home year after year. Yet for the Dutch, it isn’t with a tent. Let me introduce you to the world of Dutch caravans! Camping Jachthaven Uitdam is fifteen kilometers outside Amsterdam and has tons to offer. Walking, cycling or boating and the grounds come fully equipped for your caravan, grocery store and a place for the kiddies to go! Now, the caravan is particularly important to the camping life here in the Netherlands. Each park that has a lot for your caravan, big or fold-up, and a means for you to power it up and have gas and plumbing is a winner to the Dutch, they aren’t big on tents you see. Another park is Gaasperpark on the Gaasperplas (Ga Read more:Camping
Wedding bells, I can hear them getting closer! 2007-04-27 11:14:08 While it might not be the case all over the world, a lot of countries have strict policies about marriage; Holland just happens to be one of those countries. I, as a non-Dutch National, have no right to marry Dutchie unless the IND says I can so we have to ask permission to marry. Now that I have my permit in hand we can do just that. So last night we headed to the Publiek Zaken (public office) with our folder that contains everything we have on the IND and our paperwork. We were going prepared as we weren’t entirely sure what we would need to give them. We talk to the receptionist and she gives us a number and we take our seats in the waiting area. I am reminded of the dings that I heard Monday while waiting to pick up my permit. The dings are back! I hear them and watch the screen tell me what’s new in Hilversum all over again. Patience is the key when you are anxious to do something right away. At least this time I had Dutchie waiting with me. Then finally it is our turn Read more:bells
, closer
I am not in Kansas anymore, insurance galore! 2007-04-26 11:25:17 Last night I got a phone call from an insurance
company. I now have liability insurance. I have so much insurance its crazy! I have funeral insurance, liability insurance, dental insurance and health insurance. I have to admit I have never had so much before! I can recall working in America and having health insurance and I did have dental, though it wasn’t much. I can also remember how much it cost coming out of my pay check every two weeks. 40 dollars every two weeks for just the health, then there was the 10 every two weeks for the dental. After I was let go my insurance was going to cost me 300 dollars a month to keep it! My insurance including dental and psychological coverage will cost 150 euro a month. I take a deep breath just thinking about that number! My funeral insurance is going to cost 8 euro a month and my liability a little under 3 euro a month. I like those numbers! All this before I am working, how to pay for it all? Well, right now Dutchie is. The IND states th Read more:Kansas
Recommend Site To A Friend
