One of the things from my 101 List that I’ve been most keen to do is start riding my bike again. I’ve not ridden my bike in the last number of years because I never found it comfortable. To put it bluntly, I’ve been too fat and self-conscious.
We bought it about 5 years ago because [...]
Over the years I’ve had a lot of issues with seasonal depression. Not something I’ve ever suffered from in Canada, but it hit me quick and hard here in the Netherlands. I wasn’t expecting it but it happened, and it continued to happen for the past 10 years. Granted, for the first half of that [...]
There are a few cultural differences that become glaringly obvious when you move to a new country. For me, one of of them has been the issue of taking off shoes when you enter someone’s home. I would make a sweeping statement about how in Canada everyone takes off their shoes when they enter [...]
Last night on our way to the Film Festival I had to stop and just look at this for a moment. It’s the square at Schouwburgplein in Rotterdam. The photo doesn’t do it justice, but there were so many twinkling lights and on a cold winter night it looked really beautiful.
The red things that look [...]
Our other expat friends gathered together at our house for dinner on Christmas Day
The hardest part about life as an expat is missing your family and friends, I don’t think there is an expat out there who can argue that… and in the age of Twitter, Facebook, and instant messengers, it’s [...]
Years ago I made a post about people online and how they pretend to be something they aren’t, and I’ve been thinking about it again recently. I made that post almost exactly 5 years ago and this issue is still a bit of a thorn in my side, especially now that the blogging community has [...]
A recent article caught my eye about a teacher here in the Netherlands who faced losing her job because she decided, for religious reasons, that she didn’t want to shake hands with men anymore. Here is the article from DutchNews.nl:
A school in Utrecht was within its rights to sack a female teacher who refused to [...]
Ok, so as I mentioned in my post about my latest visit to the Doc the one thing he did agree to do was to send me to get x-rays of my foot. I’d stepped on one of the dogs toys months ago and my foot has been bothering me since. After squeezing around my [...]
A while back I blogged about some funny Dutch TV ads, and every time I’ve seen the above ad I’ve meant to put it on here as well but kept forgetting.
I just saw this at 7pm on a Sunday evening while sitting and watching some TV after dinner. Even after living here almost 10 years [...]
At least that’s what my doctor said the other day when in the process of telling me why he won’t help me. Nice.
One common theme among expats here in NL is their dislike and distrust of Dutch doctors. I’ve always sort of been on the fence because I’ve never had a truly horrendous experience like [...]
OK, about 42,000 people have tagged me on Facebook to do this ‘25 things’ meme, so I’m gonna do it here and not tag anyone. If you read this and want to do it yourself, by all means – meme your little heart out.
Since I’ve been in winter hibernation and feeling a little Fuck You [...]
Last night I crawled into bed and heaved a big sigh. Our new bed is so comfy and with the fleece sheets on in the winter it’s like crawling into a cloud. I was tired, it was almost 1am which is pretty late for us but not unusual lately since Xander has been working from [...]
Today while I was in town I took this photo of the Christmas decorations in the city center. Everywhere I turn there are people complaining about Christmas decorations and items being out already, but I honestly couldn’t be happier about it. I think here in the Netherlands we are slightly early as well because we [...]
Oh my god I can’t believe I’m finally saying this, but my parents will be here NEXT WEEK!! We’ve been counting this down for months and it’s almost here. Mom and Dad hugs, Canadian goodies, all my favorite people together again in one room!!
I’m excited! I’m freaking out!
I know most other expat women I know [...]
For the first time in my life I think I’d cheer if I heard those words. Where is the Grinch when I need him..
I haven’t been able to get my Christmas spirit back at all. I’ve not done any shopping, haven’t bought any cards and my tree is standing in a corner looking [...]
I’ve come to love the website www.Expatica.com because it makes me feel like my sometimes negative feelings towards live in the Netherlands aren’t completely without foundation. I just read another interesting article about a poll done on expats and their feelings about living in NL.
I appear to fit in among the 15% of [...]
Whoever says to think of a “Happy Place” when you’re feeling crap must be a fucking idiot. I tried that yesterday, which was an upsetting and frustrating day, and I just got more upset because I’m not in the happy place! I’ve been in the “Bad Place” mentally for the last few [...]
Today I got up and was checking my email before school. For some reason I decided to check this yahoo group I’d belonged to for ages but rarely read. It’s called Gone Dutch and it’s basically just a group of foreigners who are living in the Netherlands. I saw that they had planned [...]
Today is a good day, a VERY day! This morning we had our followup appointment with the specialist for our test results and everything is A-OK!!! All the tests came back fine! I don’t have PCOS like they suspected, according to the tests my hormones levels are perfect and I am definately ovulating. [...]
*Yawn* It’s 7:15am now and I’m still tired but I can’t sleep. Wow, see how long it takes me to get just this far, from “Time” in the list above to writing this. I’m such a multitasker. The last week or so has been strange for me. After speaking to this Dutch guy [...]
Tunnels of Blood (The Saga of Darren Shan)
by Darren Shan
