Worlds tomorrow!!

I can't even tell you how excited I am about Worlds. 19 hours from now I will be sitting in the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam watching the best gymnasts in the entire world compete for the title of best team on the planet. It's gonna be a wild night!

In the almost 7 weeks I've been in Holland, I've been trying to learn about their culture, trying different foods and attempting to learn Dutch. The most impressive sentence I know to date is "please pass the cheese" - I don't know how to spell it but it sounds like "Mack - A - De - Kass". I know this because I get to ask someone to pass me the cheese everyday at lunch. It's actually been really hard to learn Dutch because everyone speaks English so I haven't had many opportunities to practice Dutch - except when asking for the cheese at lunch (I've mastered that one) =)

Albert Heijn - the big grocery store. They're everywhere in Holland - not just in A'dam. 

I've also tried some Dutch dishes. One really popular snack is to butter bread and put sprinkles on it. Sprinkles on bread? Don't know why it's so popular. Today I tried it for the first time at work. I don't think I'll have it again. I took a couple bites and ended up scraping the sprinkles off, adding peanutbutter to my bread and eating it that way.Everyone probably thought I was weird. Although people think I'm weird for eating ketchup with french toast. Try it. It tastes good! I think sprinkles belong on cake and ice cream. Not bread.Well, at least I tried it.

World Gymnastics Championships, women's team finals tomorrow!!! The competition starts at 5pm Rotterdam time (11am Toronto time). After the prelims (which were Sunday evening), Russia is ranked 1st, China 2nd and USA 3rd. Canada didn't make team finals (top 8). They placed 13th. At least they qualified to 2011 Worlds (top 24 teams). I'll be rooting for the Americans, however I have some favourite gymnasts from Russia, China and Australia. It's going to be amazing!

WORLDS!!!!!! I'M EXCITED! I'M EXCITED! I'M EXCITED!

Church or Oosterpark?

Today I left my apartment with the intention of going to Mass at Blessed Trinity at 12 noon. I was really looking forward to going to Blessed Trinity because they have Mass in English, and I'd prefer to understand what they're talking about when I go to church. But you see, in Europe my plans have this tendency to not work out the way they're supposed to. At least not on the first try.

I had my directions written out. I set out (on my new bike) but somewhere between my apartment and the church, I got lost. I couldn't tell you where I got lost, otherwise I wouldn't have been lost. I had 2 maps with me - though one was the public transit map which didn't have street names (not all that helpful unless you're taking the bus or tram) and the other was only a map of the centre, and didn't cover the area where the church was. SO I had to rely on the directions I had written out. Well that didn't go as planned.

Below are pictures from Oosterpark. This is where I was at 12:15, after Mass at Blessed Trinity (wherever it was) had started.


Gorgeous water

















So quiet!

My bike!

By the water

So calming

And this is the zoo. I passed it on my way back from "church." I knew when I was approaching the zoo. Let's just say, it has a very distinctive smell. 

I have come to think that Europeans are quite smart in the little everyday details. For one, they use the 24 hour clock which avoids any confusion with am and pm. You have no idea how many times I have set my alarm for 7:30pm and then woken up in a mad panic and been late to school. Also, most of Europe uses Euros, which makes it extremely easy to travel. Right now I have Canadian Dollars (from home), American Dollars (from my stop over in New Jersey), Swiss Francs (from my stop over in Zurich), British pounds (from my trip to London) and Euros with me. Now what am I going to do with all of this? If I am not able to spend it I will have to exchange it and probably lose money on commission. Even if it's only a little. But when I go to Germany and France (or any of the many other countries that use Euros), I will not have to worry about exchanging my money. Easier!

However, I'm not sure if it's all of Europe or just Amsterdam but roads are confusing!!!! In the centre of Amsterdam the roads curve around centraal station:

You can start out walking south, remain on the same road, and end of facing north on the other side of centraal station. And roads like to change names. Randomly. The road that I took to church, or at least attempted to get to church, changed names 6 times with a 10 minute bike ride. No wonder I got lost so easily!

There was also a marathon running through Amsterdam today and a lot of the roads around the church were closed. Might have also contributed to my confusion. So once I had realized I wasn't going to find this church, I headed back to Sint Nicolaaskerk (stopped in Oosterpark on the way back) and went to the 1pm Mass in Spanish. The next Sunday I'm in Amsterdam (weekend after Paris) I will find this English church. I am determined!

3 days until Worlds!!!! Can't wait =) Rotterdam - here I come!

New wheels

BIKE SUCCESS!!!! WOOHOO!! Attempt #6 and I walk (ride) away with a bike - 65 euros for the used bike, bell, lights and lock!! I stood in the cold and rain today down at Waterlooplein for almost an hour and a half waiting for my bike to be fixed up (they were extremely busy). It was worth it. When I wasn't waiting in the wet and cold, I had a bagel and hot chocolate at Bagels Beans. It was interesting - my hot chocolate came as hot milk with a dish of chocolate chips. It was cute - you put the chips in the hot milk and stir away. Different.

Meet my new mode of transportation:

Then I went for a walk to do some errands. Yes, this is the beautiful Amsterdam I get to walk through every single day =) (I got the picture idea from Benny)

My errands included a trip to the grocery store, Albert Heijn. We needed toilet paper so I bought this especially for Jaewoo. Do you think the flowers and butterflies are too masculine?

Yesterday I saw, what I call, the Dutch Mounties! There were two policeman in neon yellow ponchos riding huge horses down the streets of Amsterdam. Aside from the fact they were wearing bright yellow (and they weren't in Canada) you could have mistaken them for Canadian Mounties!

Next week I am off to Rotterdam to watch the women's team finals at WORLDS!!!! SO so exicted!! And I am Germany bound - Adrienne and I just booked our trip to Germany for the end of November! :) Never been to Germany. Should be fun!!

Guest blogger =)

Tonight I'm taking a break from my blog, and letting a guest blogger, my loving and wonderful Dad, post for a day =)

Back here in the Great White North, we anxiously wait for each day’s blog so we can feel like we too are in Amsterdam. Now we know Jen has had a very busy time in Amsterdam, with shelters, apartment hunting, bike hunting, visiting London, getting lost and walking (with a sore back and ankle) more than she needed to (because she was lost). So, today Jen gets a rest from blogging and her dad is blogging for her.


Jen has lots of friends in Europe: Jaewoo, Adrienne, Benny, Anshul Tony, Laura, Matt, Sarah and Monika just to name a few and it’s great to see pictures of them together laughing and enjoying Europe. And she has quite a few fans back here at home so I thought I’d let you know how life back at home is doing and let all your readers in on some trivia.

Now, Jen has been in Europe before: London and a Mediterranean cruise. So, she has had a little preparation for the Continent. Here is Jen and her Auntie Lyn (as in Jennifer Lynda Beggs) at St. Peter’s just after the climb to the cupola and back. This was just after we had an audience with the Pope (look hard for the halo).

And it was HOT, HOT, HOT, in Europe that year. Upon visiting Dubrovnik, Jen succumbed to the heat. Poor kid. So, Amsterdam rain ought to be a cinch

But Jen recovered by the time we returned to the Trevi Fountain. See, you threw in a coin which means your would return – AND YOU WILL!












 

So, how is Europe now? Well, Jen has had her adventures at Bob’s (ever see the movie “What About Bob?” – well, think of a place filled with Bobs). Registering many times over for many things, getting lost, taking trains, planes, trams, and aeroplanes. Yet, we’re green with envy. So, Jen, just so you don’t forget all us Canucks, here are a few things to remind you!

First, your Dog. She sends her love (and would really appreciate a cookie in return – she hasn’t had one in about 15 minutes).












 

And speaking of cookies, I hear you are on the search for cookies to be found at Lanskroon. Singel 385, Amsterdam. Well, here is a map so you don’t get lost.



 

Now we hear it is wet over in Amsterdam and we see your Canadian umbrella in your pictures. Well, it’s Fall here and getting cooler. Here’s a view of the sun going to bed.







 

Now, everyone who knows Jen knows her favourite pastime is gymnastics. Jen is an Elite gymnast herself (gymnasts are always gymnasts) and her back, ankle, wrist, neck hurties all attest to the things gymnasts do that mere mortals cannot do. And there’s the odd hurtie that has to do with falling down the stairs (twice).







Anyway, Jen is going to “Worlds” in Rotterdam (for those who are not gymnasts, “Worlds” is the World Gymnastics Championships – THE place to be). Now you are in the know. And so, when you are at Worlds we will watch your competition tapes and look over all your accomplishments.

And, for Jen’s friends, if you are out and about with her, be aware that at any moment, Jen might see a curb, or bar, or some object that could be construed as a beam or uneven bars, vault or floor, and she will feel compelled to execute a routine. And Jen, admit it, this is true. We have photos. Most would see the following picture as merely a set of stairs, but you, no. Most would merely walk down the stairs on their feet, but not for you.






And after Rotterdam Jen will visit Paris to see Laura and her mates there. Oh-la-la! So, where else is Jen off to? Prague to visit Monika, Cologne and London (for Les Mis) with Adrienne, Brussels (just because), and Cirque du Soleil in Amsterdam =).

And we back home are busy too! Mom went apple picking today but I think really just for the lunch. And I am off to Winnipeg (probably snowing), Halifax (likely wet), Vancouver (surely wet), back to Vancouver (still wet), then Ottawa and Edmonton (certainly snowing). It is so windy here today my pumpkin blew down the street! So those of us left behind are having exciting times too.


I think.


Jen has also had other excitements such as burning soap, using Photoshop in Dutch, discovering the office stocks Nutella and hot chocolate, the bicycle vendors are, well, not all there, the beauty of Amsterdam and the people, and making memories.


Well, this certainly has been a ramble but hopefully it gave Jen some time off to rest up and write her blog tomorrow night.


G’night all!

Another day in A'dam

Loving Amsterdam. What more can I say? One week from today I will be in Rotterdam to watch the 2010 World Gymnastics Championships. Click here to view the official website (in the event you would like to follow the excitement too).

Last night there was a soccer (or rather, football) game held here in Amsterdam between Holland and Sweden. Go Dutchies! We won 4-1. Living right in the centre of the city, there were people everywhere watching the game on giant TV screens. This picture is from Nieumarkt, just down the street from my apartment.

Albert Heijn is like the Dutch version of Loblaws. It's the big Dutch chain grocery store. Here's my apple-mango-grape salad from Albert Heijn:

My bed from the balcony =)


















 View from our balcony


 














I went to get a bike today. This would be attempt #4. Unsuccessful. This is Amsterdam people. Why is it so hard to find a bike? I waited until I got an apartment before buying a bike and now I can't get one. I either go on a day when they're closed, or they're not open yet for the day, or (like today) they don't have any that don't require "work." *Sigh* Luckily Jaewoo let me borrow his bike to go to a dinner tonight with some friends from work. We went to a squatters party. Apparently squatting is not forbidden by law in Amsterdam. But I've read recently that it is illegal, as of Oct 1?! However, "illegal" in Amsterdam isn't usually the same as "illegal" in other cities. Weed for example. Technically it's illegal. But it is tolerated, and people smoke it everywhere.

I still have to register with city hall since I will be here for over 3 months. You must register in person, however you must call and make an appointment to do so. Of course, when you call, the recording is in Dutch but if you wait long enough you get the option "press 2 for English" but what happens?! The recording keeps speaking in Dutch and eventually disconnects your phone call. I thought I chose the English option?! Guess not....

Tomorrow I will try, yet again, to get a bike. Now, it is time for some shut eye =)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Netherlands don't celebrate Thanksgiving, so I worked today. This is the first thanksgiving I haven't spent at home. I think when I get home I'll have to celebrate Thanksgiving, Halloween, Remembrance Day and Christmas all in one. Imagine a place not celebrating Halloween!!! Maybe I'll try going trick-or-treating and see if anyone gives me candy!!

So far (in five and a half weeks) I have over 7GB of photos. If I keep this rate up, my computer will fill up before I get home. I did bring an protable hard-drive, but I wanted to use that as more of a backup, rather than moving photos off my computer.

ANYWAY, here are some more shots from the weekend (these are pictures I stole from Adrienne's camera - thanks Adrienne!!)

Weekend in The Hague

Saturday morning it was off to Den Haag (otherwise known as The Hague to us English speaking people) to visit Benny and Adrienne. They were our personal tour guides for the day. It was a really good weekend - the city is very different from Amsterdam. Den Haag (population: 500,000) is quite a bit smaller than Amsterdam (1,000,000) and is a lot quieter on the streets. There are definitely a lot less touists wandering around.

Here's Jaewoo on our train ride to Den Haag. 

Den Haag City Hall by Richard Meier

Jaewoo and Adrienne eating waffle cookies in downtown Den Haag

Arriving at Madurodam!

Madurodam is full of models of Holland at 1:25!  And there's big monster Benny...

Here is Dam Square at 1:25. My apartment is about an 8 minute walk from Dam Square.

I tried to make a "realistic" perspective of this church. Success? Maybe...

Lying along the streets on "Mini-Holland"

A mall downtown Den Haag, near Benny's apartment...





















...which reminds me of the BCE place in Toronto (below)

Benny and I at Scheveningen Beach =)

It was such a beautiful day =) And I got to walk in the ocean... felt the sand between my toes... unforgettable!!!

Benny, Adrienne and I at the beach!

Someone bungee jumping over the ocean. I wanted to try it soooo badly, but it was so expensive.

Benny and I enjoying the evening by the ocean =)

We treated ourselves to a nice dinner for thanksgiving weekend. Holland doesn't celebrate thanksgiving so we all have to work on Monday. BUT we decided why not celebrate on our own? I had steak tenderloin. It was delicious! (Picture is a little dark)

After dinner, we went to a club and danced all night. They actually played a lot of songs that I knew - and of course there were some Dutch/European songs I didn't recognize. It was a late night, then I stayed over at my wonderful friend, Adrienne's place. Really, really fun weekend =)