Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween to all you North Americans. Halloween isn't really celebrated here. By "really" I mean I've seen a couple Happy Halloween signs on the streets and they sell pumpkins in the grocery stores, but they don't sell halloween candy, no one goes trick-or-treating and half the people I talked to didn't even remember what day halloween was. So, they don't "really" celebrate it here.

Friday night >> Jaewoo and I went to a dinner party at Stefania's place. There were about 10 people there from my office, plus Jaewoo and one of my co-workers' boyfriend. Nice Italian dinner. I left my camera at Stefania's so no pictures from the dinner to post and I had to share Jaewoo's camera with him for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday >> Jaewoo and I ventured out to Almere which is about a 20 minute train ride East of Amsterdam. The area around the Almere Centraal Station is very new, which was a very odd feeling for being in Europe. Most of Europe has an old, historic feeling with lots of character. It was still a nice place nonetheless. 

So apparently Toy Story 3 hasn't yet come out in The Netherlands yet. I'm not sure when it's coming out, but there are posters everywhere - in bus shelters, in stores, in Albert Heijn - Albert Heijn is even giving out mini Toy Story figures with any purchase over 10 euros... I love the movie. I saw it twice this summer in Canada.  Really really good. It's very funny, touching and clever. I would recommend seeing it, if anyone hasn't already. It's by far my favourite Toy Story out of the 3 they've made. 

 And guess who I met at the toy store in Almere?! Toy Story 3 BARBIE!!

 
 

Lunch on the roof top!!

Then we did a bit of shopping. Jaewoo was looking for a new skirt. I think red suits him.

In the middle of the Food and Shopping Centre in Almere.

The building is falling down!!!!!

And I had to get one of these... I won't even start on how much I miss gymnastics <3 

 Mediamarkt Shopping Complex in Almere

Sunday >> Started out with Blessed Trinity Church attempt #2.

Attempt #2 = Successful!!

Didn't get lost this time!!

 

I was so sure I was going to get lost again that I gave myself an hour and a half to get there. It only took about 40 minutes, so I went around taking pictures to kill time. I wasn't the only one there early though - however those people forgot to set their clocks back an hour for daylight savings!!

I don't watch the show, but for some weird reason, this picture reminds me of Coronation Street. Mom - does this at all resemble the street of your favourite show?

 Inside Blessed Trinity Church. Felt so good to attend an English mass. And at the end of Mass they called up people who's birthday it was today, and then they called up everyone who was attending Blessed Trinity for the first time today. So I marched right up to the front, along with about 6 other people and we introduced ourselves to the entire congregation. Little scary, but fun.

My grilled cheese lunch. Check out the ultra cool ketchup package!!

 

While kids were trick-or-treating in Canada, Jaewoo and I were flinging ourselves 55 metres above the earth screaming with joy (and some of us, with fear). So fun >> the fair held at Dam Square =)

Click HERE to view a video of the swing ride on youtube >> As long as blogspot co-operates, I'll post videos directly onto the blog.


4 days until Prague. Monika - here I come!!!

55/55

55/55

Today marks my half way point of my journey through Europe. 55 days ago I was waving goodbye to Mom and Dad at Toronto Pearson Airport. 55 days from now I'll see them again at Pearson. Time goes by so fast. I can't even believe I've been here so long. Christmas will be here before we know it!

I've also decided to experiment with fonts. This is Georgia font. Don't get too excited - blogspot only offers seven different fonts, and five sizes. Why not try them though?

It rains a lot in Holland. People told me it rained a lot. But I don't think it quite sunk it until I got here. It literally rains like everyday. It doesn't usually rain all day but a day without rain is unheard of, especially in the fall; the rainy season. Haha, the time of year I'm here, of course it has to be the rainy season. 


Not too much to blog about today - life is the usual (amazing and wonderful). ONE WEEK until I leave for Prague to visit Monika!! My office is amazing - in the (just under) 4 months I'm working there I'm allowed to take 8 full days off work. I'm using every vacation day to travel. London, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Paris, Prague, Cologne... when else would I be able to say I visited so many exciting places in just 4 months? I'm so grateful to have this opportunity to see so many places and to be working in an office with such nice people who have been very supportive. 

So, I decided to post this picture. It's completely non-Amsterdam related. Haha it's from London. In Amsterdam (and just about all of Holland really) you have to pay at least 0.50 euros to use a public bathroom (I mentioned that in my last post about Paris and Paris' super awesome public toilet on the streets). Sometimes it's been 0.70 euros to use the bathroom, which is about $1 CDN. That's pricey... compared to FREE. London not only provides free bathroom use, but also has a system where if you text 80097 they will actually help you located the nearest (free) public bathroom. 

Brownie Point for London.

This weekend - not much planned yet. Jaewoo wants to "go somewhere." I ask "where should we go?" And he responds with "I duno, somewhere." 

Typical male? I think so.

Dear Santa...

... here is the first item on my Christmas Wish List:

Found it yesterday at work. I have no idea what it's called but it's cool. Saves time cutting apples, and quite frankly, prevents a mess. I somehow manage to make a mess when preparing both apples and oranges. Oranges are far worse. So if you happen to find one of these contraptions for an orange please let me know. After I peel an orange I usually am left with soaking wet hands, pieces of orange stuff that taste like orange and a puddle of orange juice. Don't ask... I just can't peel oranges.

I'm not as bad with apples. However this prevents any kind of mess. Again, don't know what it's called. If I ask someone at my office they'd give me the dutch word so it may not help. Although Santa, I believe you speak Dutch as well. For now it's the really-cool-apple-slicer.

And Santa, I would appreciate it if you would take into consideration the lovely photos I provided for you - I looked ridiculous bringing a camera with me into the kitchen at work. I was in the middle of taking pictures of my apple when someone walked in with a slightly puzzled look on their face. I bet they were wondering what in the world I was doing. And to make things even better, it was the new intern who I hadn't even met yet. Haha, first impressions are the best.

Hope you're doing well Santa.
                                                     
         Best wishes, 
                      -Jennifer

Worlds and Paris

 Stop #1: Rotterdam, Holland for the 2010 World Gymnastics Championships

 World Championships in Rotterdam was amazing. I still get shivers when I think about it. Definitely one of the coolest experiences ever.

Warning: Long post =)

My weekend started on Wednesday morning. I packed up all my stuff and headed to the train station to go to Rotterdam to watch the Women's Team Finals at worlds that evening. On my way to Central Station I passed through Dam Square, which has a giant ferris wheel and a lot of fair activities going on. I would have stopped to check out the excitement, but I had a train to catch, so I took a few pictures and keeping marching.


















It was raining in Rotterdam when I first arrived. In fact, it hailed for a bit. I took a video - the chunks of hail were HUGE and were so loud on the train station's glass roof. Crazy!

I stayed at the Bilderberg Parkhotel - it was very snazzy =)

Wednesday evening - it was off to the World Championships at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam!!

And I met up with Team Canada in the restaurant before the competition! They weren't competing in the team final, so I had a chance to talk to them for a bit. They're awesome! From L-R: Jessica Savona (Ontario), Dominique Pegg (Ontario), Charlotte Mackie (BC), Me, Coralie Leblond-Chartrand (Quebec), Kristina Vaculik (Ontario) and Emma Willis (Ontario).















The arena... sold out for team finals!

Team Romania and Team USA getting ready for bars

















Team USA after their first event

One of my favourite gymnasts - Alicia Sacramone getting ready for beam

British acrobat team performing before the awards ceremony

Gold: Russia (2010 World Team Champions)

Silver: USA

Bronze: China

  

Stop #2: Paris, France to visit my wonderful friend Laura

Friday afternoon in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

In front of Notre Dame Friday night

Wine, Cheese and Baguettes by the river with Laura =)

French toast for breakfast Saturday morning! - And yes, I eat french toast with ketchup. It's not that weird. Don't say it's weird unless you've tried it!

 Eiffel Tower!!

There's Laura and I with our STAIRS tickets - we walked up the Eiffel tower - all 1021 steps!

 On top of the Eiffel Tower!

Okay, so as weird as this looks, I had to get a picture of me with these public toilettes. Everywhere you go in Holland you have to pay at least 0.50 euros to use the public bathrooms. Here, not only are they free, but the toilet seats and the floors are cleaned after each use. Pretty high tech, eh?!

And we happened to pass by an "art show" with a topless man running around in high heels. It was... odd to say the least. I imagine he had more clothing on at the beginning of his little show. I don't even know what to say... it's Paris.

Saturday night: candle light, wine, pasta and salad for dinner. Movie afterwards. Good night!

 The American Church in Paris. Beautiful Cathedral!

 

On our way back from church we picked up some strawberry tarts and ate them in the park. They were good tarts. In fact they were really good tarts. In fact, they were so good...

 ...we went back to the bakery and bought more and ate them (with some wine) back at Laura's apartment :)

And now I'm back in A'dam. Had a GREAT weekend but I'm glad to be back! My laundry is in the washer right now... preparing for my next adventure. Prague. 10 days from now. I can't wait!!

Thanks for a weekend I'll never forget Laura. I love you :)