Time Flies

Golly gee wilikers, Bat Man, where does the time go? It's almost been a year since we first got to The Netherlands already! I honestly can't quite believe it. This time last year, we were furiously packing and trying to sell our house (and everything we owned) and making the plunge. whew. For not a lot of forethought, we lucked out!

Now, though, we have been around the block! I know where things are - and not just the grocery store either! I can sort of speak the language (though what language that might be, some people are wondering when I try ;) I have new friends! I have a bike! I'm not afraid of the rain anymore (well, when it's combined with cold and wind, a little, but who's counting?)

You know you've arrived when people start asking you for directions and you know what they're talking about (in English, anyway). Sometimes, I even know where they want to go! Not often, but it has happened. Also, I've started wearing scarves. They say you have to be born here to know how to wear them, but no one has pointed and laughed (to my face), so I'm just going to bite the bullet.

I can ask for simple things in Dutch, but then don't know what the people are saying in reply. Just nodding and smiling on that one still. But I can read a train schedule now. Baby steps, baby steps.

So, what do I think of the country now? Still mostly good. The weather this summer was WONDERFUL (sorry all Texans reading this blog), but I'm warned that it was by far the best summer in three years. Usually cold and rainy even in the summer. Well, one outta three ain't bad, right?

Dealing with the government has been a big pain in the ass, but we seem to have done everything wrong to begin with, so sorting it out has been fun. It's a very tolerant government, but the paperwork is a bitch. Oh well. Such is life.

What else, what else.....in the past year:
-We've moved once. Not bad considering the huge move we made between countries. What's a neighborhood or two?
-We've traveled to different countries - Italy, Belgium and Denmark (oh and the US!!!) so far.
-Mastered the Euro (not hard - just try not to convert to dollars in your head or you get a big shock of how expensive things are over here!)
-Tried the local food then quickly moved on to anything non-local (lots of meat and cheese sandwiches and tomato soup).
-Rented a car; not a great idea when you have no idea of the traffic laws.....enough said.
-Discovered all the parks in 5-mile radius - a necessity with a toddler.
-Made friends from at least 12 different countries! Germany, China, Surinam, Denmark, Italy, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, France, Hungary, America and The Netherlands! This place is so international. Used to be I thought California was as exotic as it got!
-Found a family doctor, but not a dentist yet. Still looking. I do have a massage therapist if that counts for anything (a lot with me!).
-Put Miles in a Dutch preschool. WHAT? When did that happen?

Okay, that will happen tomorrow. I'm excited about it, but sad too. The end of the full-time era. When did he get old enough for school? I'm actually probably the last person I know to be full time at home with only one child. Helps that I'm in a foreign country and not allowed to work, but you know what I mean. And really, he's SO ready. He loves other kids and playing around with them. I know that I am not stimulating him enough mentally/physically so that he's actually challenged. I thought about home schooling him for almost three seconds and then laughed......yeah, that's gonna happen.....

The hard part has been deciding what preschool to put him in! Dutch, International, American, Montessori, British, French, you name it they've got it! We went with the Dutch, because, well, we're here, we might as well try to blend in. I do seem to talk at a higher volume than anyone else around me (the Loud American), but that's a different story. Plus, once Miles picks up the language, he can translate! Keep your fingers crossed that it will work out with the language difference.

Anyway, the one thing that hasn't changed much is that we miss our family and friends from back home. I think of you often even if I don't make contact. Hope all of you made it through what sounds like a horrendous summer from hell. Think of us in the middle of a rainy, dark, windy, cold winter and know that it's definitely a trade off.

:p
love
Nicole

PS - these are just random pics that I've taken lately. Doesn't Miles look so big in the one before last? Like he's 12 or something! Crazy. That he can still fit in his closet reassures me that, no, he is not 12. Yet.