tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-116599422024-03-20T01:29:21.860-07:00Only PlanetOne Child, One Year, One Planet.
A family of three traveling around the world...Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-36346244214913879492015-06-16T06:16:00.002-07:002015-06-16T06:16:50.735-07:00What A Difference A Decade Makes.<div class="MsoNormal">
We last visited Tokyo August, 2005. It was the first
city on our epic trip around the world, and while it’s been a decade since
we’ve been here, most of Japan seems exactly how I remember it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a week here though, there are some
changes worth noting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So, i</span>n the spirit of
David Letterman, here are the Top Ten changes we’ve noticed while in Japan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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10. Technology. Since this is one of the most technological
countries on the planet, advances are a given, but when we last traveled here,
we didn’t have iphones, texting was something that was just starting to happen
here and not even seen in the U.S. and there weren’t data plans. We had to
figure out everything the old fashioned way, with guide books and paper
maps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have even been leaps in technology in the
past two years since we lived in Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our apartment here in Tokyo came equipped with this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>amazing invention called the mobile wi-fi
device.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s smaller than my phone and
lets me access wi-fi without having to figure out an overseas data plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps us use all the technology that we take for granted. Genius.<o:p></o:p></div>
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8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Less smoking. Seems
like there are either fewer smokers or there are more rules against it, but we’re
seeing a lot less smoking this time. There are dedicated smoking areas now and
signs on the street forbidding smoking while walking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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7. Guys wearing shorts. We barely saw men wearing shorts on
our last trip here, but now, especially on the weekends, Andy is no longer the
only guy flashing his bare knees on the subway. Still, don’t see women wearing
shorts, but they do wear short skirts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. More Asian tourists. We’re seeing more tourists from
other parts of Asia now. Maybe they were here before, but if there were, we
didn’t pick up on the different behaviors of the Koreans and Chinese from the
Japanese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More ice!! Maybe
someone got the memo I sent in 2005, begging for more ice in drinks, or maybe
it’s the influence of Starbucks, but there seem to be more places that offer ice
in drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Spending power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dollar is stronger than the yen right now, so that 800 Yen (about
$7) lunch isn’t such a bad deal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Facebook. Thanks to our ever-growing connectivity around
the globe, I can wake up and see what everyone else is doing and feel like I’ve
never left home. That is, until I walk out the door. I can also post updates which
for better or worse, allow me to share in the moment how our trip is going. I’m
glad we didn’t have Facebook when we did our year-round trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s something to be said for virtually as
well as physically casting into the wild blue yonder without a trace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Tsukiji Market. Back in 2005 it was possible to show up
at the largest fish market in the world, wander the stalls and if you were
lucky, attend a tuna auction, without having to camp out the night before. Due
to an insane amount of tourists, like us, the market has had to crack down and
limit access to everything. Now tourists are only allowed after 9 am, when most
of the action is dying down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Us!! The biggest change we’ve noticed on this trip to
Japan is us! Not only have we traveled to over 30 countries since our last
visit here, and have also lived abroad, but we’ve had much more experience
traveling through Asia. While things don’t intimidate us or scare us as much,
we are also no longer constantly wowed by all we see. Are we jaded, or just
wiser? Dylan is no longer a pliable and impressionable eight year old, but a
fully formed adult with her own thoughts, ideas and fancy camera, so she’s
giving us a level of feedback we didn’t have before. We have a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>greater level of comfort diving into different
situations, and inherently “get” how things operate in Asia.<o:p></o:p></div>
Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-28136829044948284782013-09-16T11:20:00.000-07:002013-09-16T11:25:52.607-07:00Going Amish.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I did it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Managed to
stay off Facebook, away from news sites, TV and even the radio for five
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a snapshot of my week.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Day 1:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Today
is the first day of my one week self-imposed media fast and all I can say is
what the hell was I thinking? I forgot about <a href="http://www.npr.org/">NPR</a>! I usually have NPR on while working
at my desk, but I realized that even listening to NPR is distracting. Why couldn’t
I have planned this during a NPR pledge week? My usual habit of getting up,
grabbing my computer and reading mail, then reading Facebook, then reading
Daily Mail, Huff Post, Salon, NY Times, etc. had to be abruptly stopped, so
instead I got up, fixed Dylan breakfast and then peeled peaches. 7:30 and the
house is quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going to figure out how
to work Final Draft again, and start the screenplay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I can start with Fade in….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0e0e0e;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0e0e0e;">Just
wrote 7 pages and it’s not even noon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Walked dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was so tempted to get
on Facebook and see what the rest of the world is doing, but am going to go to
<a href="http://www.miloscitycafe.com/Pages/default.aspx">Milos</a> and see the real world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Managed
to complete 10 pages of the new screenplay on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was grouchy by the evening because I couldn’t watch
TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read a couple of magazines instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Day 2:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Got
off to a slow start writing-wise. I managed to get an article and a query
letter written between some batch cooking for us and friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5:37p.m.
Twenty minutes before book group and all I wanted to do is check my Facebook
page. It’s not an issue of how much time it could take away from writing,
there’s no more writing getting done today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m realizing how much this has become a habit, I feel like a smoker
really needing a smoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so glad I’m
going out with friends tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
miss NPR, but a lot of the other media, not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Day 3:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks">12 years ago today</a> I became obsessed with the news in a way that I (formally a
journalism major) had never been before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The terrorist attacks on America left all of us feeling angry, scared
and vulnerable and for me, part of dealing with feeling vulnerable, was having
as much information as possible. After all these years checking the news at
least twice a day has become more habit than necessary for survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It’s
interesting the conversations that crop up when talking about not being on
Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people hate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to talk to their friends for real,
or find the constant barrage of updates overwhelming, and/or often
uninteresting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as one of my friends pointed out, she has
so many friends that have recently moved far away and it’s the only way she can
feel in touch with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to check
it out because I’m home alone so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
like stepping into a virtual coffee shop, a chance to see what’s going on with
others and the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the people
I read about,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei"> I don’t really know</a>. We met once at a class, or used to hang out
30 years ago. Or I get information from businesses I “liked” at one time, it can feel like more online noise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Everyone
has a bad Facebook user story. The person who picks a fight and keeps on going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person who posts pictures of every meal they eat, and the person who has a million posts a day. I guess I’m
not missing much on Facebook, but it’s still hard to not check it out…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">On the
work front, I wrote out 15 cards for my screenplay today and went to
my writing group, so I felt pretty productive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Day 4:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It’s
Thursday night. I’m tired and there’s nothing more I want to do than to sit
down and read some news. I really HATE watching the news (I find the news on TV
superficial—30 seconds for a complicated nuanced story—and the 24 hour CNN news
cycle borders on idiotic when there is nothing new to report.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read my news, or listen to NPR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My problem is that reading news stories, like
potato chips, are hard to stop at one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Writing
didn’t go as well today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly because I’m
having some big plot issues and I always try to figure out plot before anything
else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise I could end up writing
some vignettes or something that has nothing to do with a story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I know what my problems are, I just
not sure how to fix them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Day 5:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Just
saw<a href="http://zenhabits.net/seven-productivity-tips-for-people-that-hate-gtd/?utm_source=The+SoulPancake+SPoonful&utm_campaign=8316c3dc48-SPoonful_0912138_14_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4cc4caf8cd-8316c3dc48-133737"> this article</a> on Soul Pancake that is especially relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about getting rid of the stuff that
doesn’t work and how to make space for the stuff that does. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Verdict:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It did
work! I was much more productive subtracting media from my day, and so I think
I need to try to limit myself to surfing the web, research and Facebook to
after 5:00 p.m. I did miss out hearing about the floods in Colorado. Huge
damages, much pain and so distracting, especially for the people who are actually
affected by the floods. But for me in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">relatively</i>
dry Portland, there’s nothing I can do to help. I’m not affected, and I could
let the images and stories distract me. Taking control of my time is going to
be a deliberate and difficult process, but the feeling of actually getting some
writing done really does outweigh the distractions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-52869353849675013512013-09-08T15:32:00.004-07:002013-09-08T15:32:54.788-07:00Media Fast
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bloggingraul.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/no_social_media1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bloggingraul.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/no_social_media1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m suffering from adult onset
A.D.D. Ask me to complete a thought, and the little train carrying information inside
my brain derails somewhere between Miley Cyrus <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twerking">twerking</a> (I knew it was only a
matter of time that my name would be adopted into something totally crazy) and
the <a href="http://www.nbc.com/upcoming-shows">fall line up on NBC.</a> One thing about writing, no matter the genre, is that
putting words on paper takes a sustained effort and concentration; two things
I’ve lacked in the past six months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think one of the many reasons for my epic fail
(writing-wise) is that I’m constantly seeking out distractions. Between
Facebook, the Huffington Post, Netflix (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2372162/">Orange is the New Black </a>is the latest
in must-see-tv) and other various forms of media, there are many sirens
beckoning my attention. In order to get back on track I’ve decided to go on a
self-imposed media fast. No online websites, (not that any single website is
bad per se, it’s just that once I open one, it’s hard to stop) no TV, and
definitely no Facebook for at least the next five days—Monday through Friday. I
wont even be able to post a blog entry since that would entail being online.
I’ve got some great article and story ideas going through my mind and I hope
that this media fast will help me land them on paper. That said, if you need to
get in touch with me—phone, email and texts will be answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-2658465257381008382013-08-16T10:47:00.003-07:002013-08-16T10:47:49.249-07:00Turkish Delight
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The sun was setting as we landed in Istanbul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After negotiating a bus and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>taxi to our hotel and finding a quick meal, we
watched the sky grow dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we sat in
the restaurant munching our kababs, we noticed a never-ending stream of headlights; cars driving past, heading up the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner we wandered up the narrow streets past our hotel, tangled
with cars and pedestrians, past families carrying bags of food and
watermelons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rounded the final corner
and ran into thousands of people sitting on the grass, milling in the square
and wandering amongst booths enjoying the warm summer night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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We had
landed during Ramadan and it seemed all of Istanbul was out celebrating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locals were enjoying <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftar">Iftar</a>, the meal that
marked the end of the daily fast, which is the most well-known aspect of
Ramadan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, I uttered the
oft-worn expression, “guess we’re not in Kansas anymore.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLAjo4-eBTdN-4OrnU0T0CdOigWg3uUsvOGvl5DKovEZey_FNoPzg61KYdQWggn6uZu9XD4fjXacExNdQcdtogSwJTJiqXd0iKN0tu1qgP7ueAmDQo4apsD4cLuUoH92G3lqF/s1600/iftar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLAjo4-eBTdN-4OrnU0T0CdOigWg3uUsvOGvl5DKovEZey_FNoPzg61KYdQWggn6uZu9XD4fjXacExNdQcdtogSwJTJiqXd0iKN0tu1qgP7ueAmDQo4apsD4cLuUoH92G3lqF/s320/iftar+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Ahmed_Mosque">This is the Blue Mosque</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0DINkPGdXfEbVUDMj1f96Nx7NKFISjnUS125NinxSDIv9JT1_mt-QU39CdGFiGOtQmREiI1hQGJbqh3kzKvRCCFH-mk5-P4zuQWD0K_1Z6sqdgtMnqZ1t3z6h2WNYAN8xhX1/s1600/iftar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0DINkPGdXfEbVUDMj1f96Nx7NKFISjnUS125NinxSDIv9JT1_mt-QU39CdGFiGOtQmREiI1hQGJbqh3kzKvRCCFH-mk5-P4zuQWD0K_1Z6sqdgtMnqZ1t3z6h2WNYAN8xhX1/s320/iftar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here is the <a href="http://www.hagiasophia.com/">Hagia Sofia </a>(Aya Sofya)</div>
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Here’s how I feel about
travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m going to get into a
flying metal tube and sit there for fifteen hours, when I get out I want to
feel like I’m somewhere different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
more exotic, the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Istanbul filled
that need for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Women
covered from head to toe in black, herded children running around the
plaza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men selling everything from corn
on the cob, to huge chunks of watermelon, to hand spun candy were providing food
and entertainment to the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
grandeur of the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofya<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>behind it, were backdrops to a temporary lane of stalls selling
everything from rose-flavored lemonade to brass lamps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Speaking of
shopping, one of the most amazing shopping experiences is an afternoon in the
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Bazaar,_Istanbul">Grand Bazaar.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Described with superlatives,
such as the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, it covers 61
streets, holds 3000 shops and sees 250,000-400,000 visitors a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Grand Bazaar is the Bazaar that all
others are measured against.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQidoavyEdg_8P5natsWBKE8-AtRisHEFGMV7vHQNtqn7Apw97WQyLVQD47knHGLB8BLwpChsTE0Iw6495so8l190MPSfTrDUyMgyJe-SezJFe3vTsHwhsi_tKDZjv6Vrgx1h/s1600/loey+with+lamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQidoavyEdg_8P5natsWBKE8-AtRisHEFGMV7vHQNtqn7Apw97WQyLVQD47knHGLB8BLwpChsTE0Iw6495so8l190MPSfTrDUyMgyJe-SezJFe3vTsHwhsi_tKDZjv6Vrgx1h/s320/loey+with+lamps.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Istanbul is
at a crossroads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a smash-up of east
and west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having spent a considerable
amount of time in both Europe and Asia, it was easy for us to suss out what
seemed European and what seemed Asian, but in many ways it felt like we were on
neither continent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time and time again,
with the exception of the monuments and grand mosques, Istanbul felt more like
Cairo to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat, the crowds, the
calls of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muezzin">muezzin</a>, the ever-present fountains for washing, and a culture
deeply steeped in Islam, rather than Christianity or Buddhism, has allowed
Istanbul to develop its own flavors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1185QsuiblsjH28pfVRwtvjf1HCITyGDjHujw1qr_vdV9XK17NgiKCUxeXWl5NwdYYvRRVpz0loECkhXuVtqsHiH5K5D_QDszJ9IMyiwEtj-UQT3j3XIinb5LwQScSTEUaJZe/s1600/blue+mosque+in+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1185QsuiblsjH28pfVRwtvjf1HCITyGDjHujw1qr_vdV9XK17NgiKCUxeXWl5NwdYYvRRVpz0loECkhXuVtqsHiH5K5D_QDszJ9IMyiwEtj-UQT3j3XIinb5LwQScSTEUaJZe/s320/blue+mosque+in+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsZK3pXzr31TGIK01nT2YslISW5iHQNjB-7aFJjIAADBErbYt9w97kYS3Vd6HcMd8lX6AqJ6CE7pRf0kGZLgDlE92J2W7oI7qiwXtSsUGHhiqNVGl0RWPS3Papeb_aCsXQfn/s1600/dylan+with+scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsZK3pXzr31TGIK01nT2YslISW5iHQNjB-7aFJjIAADBErbYt9w97kYS3Vd6HcMd8lX6AqJ6CE7pRf0kGZLgDlE92J2W7oI7qiwXtSsUGHhiqNVGl0RWPS3Papeb_aCsXQfn/s320/dylan+with+scarf.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This sweet lady who was selling scarves outside of the Blue Mosque helped Dylan fix hers. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN15wTsRpNEVjgdZYyHyGvDi3CpR49uCX8nSMQEZqxvXVksy3VxhkSKZRgAwYQnUbqvx4kCetpQdhWPsou4YXaIP73UF1Y4M2GCcunyTUtdfxgxpT0AC9uVrXtX16tidVAh8E/s1600/inside+blue+mosque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN15wTsRpNEVjgdZYyHyGvDi3CpR49uCX8nSMQEZqxvXVksy3VxhkSKZRgAwYQnUbqvx4kCetpQdhWPsou4YXaIP73UF1Y4M2GCcunyTUtdfxgxpT0AC9uVrXtX16tidVAh8E/s320/inside+blue+mosque.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inside the Blue Mosque</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ5iiUK3bEwsYwt7_zqHuQv4j-weNP4T-AHaTWlOiEYSyWbvdSm37gWGdjf0G-pZbfVo330ZT_BlELORxJP7cXzk7U75DfiTavepEYTevbCBZIOLRqzXImeo9pAZZTLCKL9FV/s1600/viking+graffiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ5iiUK3bEwsYwt7_zqHuQv4j-weNP4T-AHaTWlOiEYSyWbvdSm37gWGdjf0G-pZbfVo330ZT_BlELORxJP7cXzk7U75DfiTavepEYTevbCBZIOLRqzXImeo9pAZZTLCKL9FV/s320/viking+graffiti.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Loki was here" This is honest-to-god graffiti left by the vikings inside the Hagia Sofya </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghof3xwQaGjSwdpdAE1o0n0hSv6Yw_EVssyKZH937ov3PwWXXQ5fZNaaJGEaAKkrt-MVVH6P2dTD2YnaWzoaTTelJvOwwyk77LrlJTQV-zcCa7PS49ZCUzrDBXiyr8w3t16uHi/s1600/washing+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghof3xwQaGjSwdpdAE1o0n0hSv6Yw_EVssyKZH937ov3PwWXXQ5fZNaaJGEaAKkrt-MVVH6P2dTD2YnaWzoaTTelJvOwwyk77LrlJTQV-zcCa7PS49ZCUzrDBXiyr8w3t16uHi/s320/washing+feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wish
every westerner could visit a Muslim country, just to see that Muslim countries
are not all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda">Al Qaeda</a> and radicalism, like the United States is not all the
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/westboro-baptist-church-arizona-firefighters_n_3537291.html">Westboro Church</a> or <a href="http://www.celebuzz.com/nicole-snooki-polizzi/">Snookie</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Lohan">LiLo</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People shop, work, and take their kids to school just like we do here in
the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, maybe there are some
jobs we don’t see in the US, like those of the urban porters who navigate
streets too small for trucks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDz1eIwM8Hs3nzsLboM2OU41Andccn-8Eh0jOldvBhqgJ7ONk9OPOoQrazLFahCyvas_UaQUNjn169EkRntVEfiiUSaEg2WrV_yYLITd8Kw3QbPqMGkCzQk3CtWQNqm51tJwzz/s1600/better+urban+sherpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDz1eIwM8Hs3nzsLboM2OU41Andccn-8Eh0jOldvBhqgJ7ONk9OPOoQrazLFahCyvas_UaQUNjn169EkRntVEfiiUSaEg2WrV_yYLITd8Kw3QbPqMGkCzQk3CtWQNqm51tJwzz/s320/better+urban+sherpa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNRGnSPGCdDh7aNsyrS7eGkoPXQQa50o5gMeTb5FbpdHzyFig5g0OTtwmlpNz27nnoEwQmlmNhtZYKX5Sv2cy1CWy6b9XqR57oPMwE9t0v-KbXi0OaTgigVeyKRHOboXvZqSX/s1600/carry+a+load.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNRGnSPGCdDh7aNsyrS7eGkoPXQQa50o5gMeTb5FbpdHzyFig5g0OTtwmlpNz27nnoEwQmlmNhtZYKX5Sv2cy1CWy6b9XqR57oPMwE9t0v-KbXi0OaTgigVeyKRHOboXvZqSX/s320/carry+a+load.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZO5vqj0VOHzvp5_25ND84MmCxxzibNynNs_UGI7Ed5-3K-UIMy5J_Aj4fWolYLyh1ep_J-8ujxt_8BjLMz9Q6rELEL5nvx3l4m3PCjZASr_MTi-ZRTNJiWEsDp3_lb7Yr6gR_/s1600/turkish+carseat%3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZO5vqj0VOHzvp5_25ND84MmCxxzibNynNs_UGI7Ed5-3K-UIMy5J_Aj4fWolYLyh1ep_J-8ujxt_8BjLMz9Q6rELEL5nvx3l4m3PCjZASr_MTi-ZRTNJiWEsDp3_lb7Yr6gR_/s320/turkish+carseat%3f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
My first thought, that's a weird car seat. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the point is,
despite the concerns and warnings about traveling to Turkey, especially after
the protests in Taksim Square over the razing of Gezi Park, I’m glad we went
and hope to return, except maybe when the weather is cooler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8F1M5QKwsYRrEt6MUjxnhFxycGW4zCMWJGJPBXv6TGwHEXOUvfD9sIl3lLHv7U0tdP06CeMuOB6Zammp7DZjx4exiWpEDaFjhDo30Hxex5nBIVFwcKW85LiRRNDloxvSJ4Mae/s1600/dylan+with+baklava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8F1M5QKwsYRrEt6MUjxnhFxycGW4zCMWJGJPBXv6TGwHEXOUvfD9sIl3lLHv7U0tdP06CeMuOB6Zammp7DZjx4exiWpEDaFjhDo30Hxex5nBIVFwcKW85LiRRNDloxvSJ4Mae/s320/dylan+with+baklava.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Turkish delight was sold here, but we were buying the many awesome baklavas. The guys at this store waved Dylan behind the counter so she could snap some pictures. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-7836401877783613492013-07-19T14:48:00.001-07:002013-07-19T14:48:56.497-07:00A Star Studded VisitThought we'd share some of Dylan's photos of the the more famous visitors (and one local) we saw in London. Dylan was able to bring her camera into the concert which is how she got such great shots. That, and the fact that she stood for over 11 hours in the mosh pit for two days, enduring record heat, sunburn, and 60,000 other fans. But she was in the fourth row!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_dsnyX8AWBchanhF6xiTNva7E7uejs_XRZIxhKLnSU9yyzTEVP-vOltM2sCaV1d_g0YB9i0kUA0sMix14SjK2fy6TIS5YXTf_HkcaH34XiOii0N71lcWDaHr84u7bPDnEW5b/s1600/John+Legend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_dsnyX8AWBchanhF6xiTNva7E7uejs_XRZIxhKLnSU9yyzTEVP-vOltM2sCaV1d_g0YB9i0kUA0sMix14SjK2fy6TIS5YXTf_HkcaH34XiOii0N71lcWDaHr84u7bPDnEW5b/s320/John+Legend.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Legend">John Legend</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dudZ8DEX83RP05CZyqlAn8qV8SPlAEqLN9nd7S4-HOPd216qeJjozbOiLhXSxdAwkVNILW3E53X8sIHKXEeg7Ot02ndmVI-zolmkPaZ_EmFB-iqTSdhKDdBqpeM4aDFRhyphenhyphenLG/s1600/Snoop+Dogg:Lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dudZ8DEX83RP05CZyqlAn8qV8SPlAEqLN9nd7S4-HOPd216qeJjozbOiLhXSxdAwkVNILW3E53X8sIHKXEeg7Ot02ndmVI-zolmkPaZ_EmFB-iqTSdhKDdBqpeM4aDFRhyphenhyphenLG/s320/Snoop+Dogg:Lion.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=11659942#editor/target=post;postID=783640187778361349">Snoop Lion</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnCgU_P0n3Z96kHZhYnvwGvQhNNftsHqXAkYoR-6adnE2ICGZAkz8lLrVSgd0I6q7NjdSR-gKYzcwT71f3m0N_MWjRm0RsP3nCCzzm5OwQAdPqby-DvPqcbs2xnEmCrMxzN3r/s1600/JT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnCgU_P0n3Z96kHZhYnvwGvQhNNftsHqXAkYoR-6adnE2ICGZAkz8lLrVSgd0I6q7NjdSR-gKYzcwT71f3m0N_MWjRm0RsP3nCCzzm5OwQAdPqby-DvPqcbs2xnEmCrMxzN3r/s320/JT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://justintimberlake.com/">Justin Timberlake</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pJZk9gzLayMLuMSa1AlvLrY1MytjlPm9u_N-_1EWF0i-1JtLk_6OQIvQFKq2qIQsXnhuhvy64FDm7XQPLwbV2BvP21xdO58DtDc-x7PJG26PVjZRGxidpc-ldobbnjlvj6I5/s1600/JT2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pJZk9gzLayMLuMSa1AlvLrY1MytjlPm9u_N-_1EWF0i-1JtLk_6OQIvQFKq2qIQsXnhuhvy64FDm7XQPLwbV2BvP21xdO58DtDc-x7PJG26PVjZRGxidpc-ldobbnjlvj6I5/s320/JT2.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The guy has moves</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JtgXpztzwREJQteP-W4j3dqj-9FFLLOGzYfupFPmoHqXKlrLgx4nIpzq10B0yjkZwSS240rbGcWXVuN5uRbX1wMgrHnB7JCyzlepbnVIUGyY3AzayKGdDVUkOLN00RsMU5dq/s1600/JT+&+JZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JtgXpztzwREJQteP-W4j3dqj-9FFLLOGzYfupFPmoHqXKlrLgx4nIpzq10B0yjkZwSS240rbGcWXVuN5uRbX1wMgrHnB7JCyzlepbnVIUGyY3AzayKGdDVUkOLN00RsMU5dq/s320/JT+&+JZ.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/07/18/jayz_and_justin_timberlake_deliver_the_mammoths_hits_review.html">Justin Timberlake and Jay Z</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jul/19/jay-z-drops-hyphen-from-name">Jay Z, no longer has a hyphen</a></div>
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I love this shot Andy took of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macklemore">Macklemore</a>. </div>
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We stumbled across Hugh Jackman at the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/celebrity-news-video/10184088/Hugh-Jackman-steps-out-for-London-premiere-of-The-Wolverine.html">Wolverine Premier</a> in Leicester Square</div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000463">Famke Janssen</a> is also in the movie.</div>
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Daniel Radcliffe signing autographs after we saw his show, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jun/23/cripple-inishmaan-daniel-radcliffe-night-alive-review">The Cripple of Inishmann</a>. Photo by Loey. Dylan managed to get his autograph! </div>
Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-76051856399738529632013-07-19T14:16:00.003-07:002013-07-19T14:16:48.806-07:00Blame it on LondonA few months ago I made a goal to visit <a href="http://only-planet.blogspot.nl/2013_02_01_archive.html">50 countries by the time I'm fifty</a>. I'm worried that I set myself up for failure and if I do, I'll blame it on London. There's only so much time and money for travel, but instead of going somewhere new, I keep wanting to return to one of my favorite places--London. Dylan and I just returned from a week there (Andy joined us over the weekend) and even though it was my fourth visit (Dylan's third), we still haven't seen everything we've wanted to see. <br />
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We spent two days at the <a href="http://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/">Yahoo Wireless Festival</a>--I'll blog about that in a separate entry--three hours at <a href="http://us.topshop.com/">Top Shop</a>, five hours at <a href="http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/">Warner Brothers Studio Harry Potter exhibit</a>, two hours at <a href="http://www.westminster-abbey.org/">Westminster Abbey</a> and a leisurely afternoon at Columbia Flower Market, Brick Lane, and the <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/">Victoria & Albert Museum</a>. We also had tea at <a href="http://www.fortnumandmason.com/">Fortnum and Mason</a> and trekked out to Highgate Cemetery. All of these (with the exception of Top Shop) were new experiences for us. <br />
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All the gorgeous flowers at the Columbia Road Flower Market</div>
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Like the flowers, I'm desperately trying not to wilt in the London heat.</div>
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From what we later read, these are supposed to be incredible bagels. We were too hot to eat. </div>
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Finally got some relief at the wading pond at the Victoria & Albert Museum</div>
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Maybe I could conjure something frosty with Voldemort's wand.</div>
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After reading Her Fearful Symmetry by <a href="http://audreyniffenegger.com/">Audrey Niffenegger,</a> a haunting novel set at <a href="http://highgatecemetery.org/">Highgate Cemetery</a>, I had to visit. It was an extra treat to be able to visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams">Douglas Adam's</a> grave where I left a pen from <a href="http://www.miloscitycafe.com/">Milo's,</a> a fitting tribute, since that's where I've done a fair share of my writing.<br />
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Forget what you've heard about English food being bad. This was delish.</div>
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So, I'm okay if I don't reach this goal, especially if it means I get another visit to London. But who knows, maybe I'll succeed--tomorrow we're off to Turkey, Greece and Spain.</div>
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p.s. Photo credits go to Dylan (which also explains why she's not in the pictures). She's been lugging her fancy camera around and getting great shots. Just wait till you see what she did at Wireless!</div>
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Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-35992703374778079352013-07-09T12:44:00.001-07:002013-07-09T12:46:24.732-07:00My European Brain<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surprised to hear from me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it’s been long overdue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can barely call myself a blogger anymore given how infrequently I’ve been
posting, but there are reasons—okay maybe excuses—for not updating Only
Planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>been in a funky mental place thanks to a
long-term separation from Andy, helping Dylan transition into a new school, and
figuring (again) what to do with my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not very pretty or interesting for the average viewer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I’m back, and in Europe and seeing more new things I
want to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s hope this blogging
hiatus is over!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know it’s a bit of an understatement to say we travel a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compared to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_State">Secretary of State</a>
or the <a href="http://www.dalailama.com/">Dalai Lama</a>, we don’t get out much, but compared to the average person,
we’ve covered our fair share of ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So much so, that on our 5<sup>th</sup> non-stop flight from
Portland to Amsterdam since 2010 it’s getting so that I’ve come up with a term
to describe what happens to me when I land in Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s called putting on my European brain.*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, kind of weird—right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there are things that I never need to
think about unless I’m hanging out on the Continent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things like:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> * </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Moving slower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Epically long lunches, 70 km speed limits in the Netherlands, shuffling
behind hordes of tourists, lines for almost every attraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yup, my usual mode of moving in 4<sup>th</sup>
gear stalls out in 1<sup>st</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
those of you who like to move slow, it may seem like heaven, but I’m a "more on
the plate, the happier" kind of gal, so unless I take a mental chill pill—it’s
kind of a bummer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This rule does not
apply at train stations, the tube and any place locals are trying to get
somewhere fast!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> * </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Different bathrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Full doors, tiny spaces, stiffer toilet
paper, paying a euro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All lead to a
claustrophobic experience, and my first one—usually found at Schiphol--a bit
of a reminder that I’m not home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> * </span></span></span>The AWE meter will go into overdrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Massive churches, ancient stones, famous
settings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things you’ll never see in the
rest of the world, all together, sometimes laying haphazardly in a heap, coexist
in Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best thing about putting on the European brain is after
a day or two (usually when jetlag subsides) it’s easier to navigate the
European way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what to look for, can
predict how long something might take and will hopefully look the right way
when crossing the street—especially in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve only been here since Saturday and already we’ve
travelled to Bruges, Belgium, only because Dylan and I love the movie <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/">In Bruges</a></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We zoomed over to Koln (Cologne), Germany
and Liege, Belgium on Sunday, zipped over to Antwerp on Monday, hung out in
Eindhoven Tuesday and are going to Amsterdam tomorrow (Wednesday) to see the
newly opened <a href="https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en">Rijksmuseum</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thursday we’re
off to London for a week and will post pictures those once we return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In the meantime, here are some photos from our last few days. Dylan's already taken over 500 photos!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNAo7x0MiQBuvOrPSpnmt353WIYxDI400QyoGqGmS24VkdNvysjvo8CBsSNn5n7suS4HAxF0qsXGGkN-gMhV2277kgZUBYo6e22C4XysgbtPsTraI-WjTn1Z_UBXXoFVAwgPJ/s1600/shiny+eggplants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNAo7x0MiQBuvOrPSpnmt353WIYxDI400QyoGqGmS24VkdNvysjvo8CBsSNn5n7suS4HAxF0qsXGGkN-gMhV2277kgZUBYo6e22C4XysgbtPsTraI-WjTn1Z_UBXXoFVAwgPJ/s320/shiny+eggplants.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Are these not the shiniest eggplants you've ever seen?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ss4Uh8Dw0PfOkeeTn26UbJUnZM8q0VgT6EN7E1_KXFwiLlyZPVy6nNsWDkuL55HLDHBxkBvqVs0sDEM1wR45NQ1bRrF1VRS-c6LqCGwXXrbKwJeu6_jex09RN9Q6ZXxAfbK6/s1600/duck+duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ss4Uh8Dw0PfOkeeTn26UbJUnZM8q0VgT6EN7E1_KXFwiLlyZPVy6nNsWDkuL55HLDHBxkBvqVs0sDEM1wR45NQ1bRrF1VRS-c6LqCGwXXrbKwJeu6_jex09RN9Q6ZXxAfbK6/s320/duck+duck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Duck, Duck</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9VgWBZmsZvvQzo05BdCVfE678WXA4Fc0-Er5BrSOt9KsUpG61eXkEI5RcmnHDGOo1yrj7NDAIp4kmBieVI38t8KTKN-zAp8sUIl8TKYqRqEdzx3rkP641l63QzGHbzKgZAqJ/s1600/chipmunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9VgWBZmsZvvQzo05BdCVfE678WXA4Fc0-Er5BrSOt9KsUpG61eXkEI5RcmnHDGOo1yrj7NDAIp4kmBieVI38t8KTKN-zAp8sUIl8TKYqRqEdzx3rkP641l63QzGHbzKgZAqJ/s320/chipmunk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Chipmunk! Saw these at the Liege market</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGWmjQNEONFLfyCbrHfdB-3PKXo6js3EkcKhKKbnMWD8akxAtT0Z05rUhbNbllIO0ZgHvlUmdp_PnKlt3y0O-fS2v5LLNFofJ6cYOh_HlI0r8SfgEBzxue-YRVwxuQyrdpMhZ/s1600/chickens+for+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGWmjQNEONFLfyCbrHfdB-3PKXo6js3EkcKhKKbnMWD8akxAtT0Z05rUhbNbllIO0ZgHvlUmdp_PnKlt3y0O-fS2v5LLNFofJ6cYOh_HlI0r8SfgEBzxue-YRVwxuQyrdpMhZ/s320/chickens+for+sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">These lovely chickens were right across the street from...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YXA_U1xeOJ80ZAbrWw9bDlurR2YzZgYsynidxmPxvXVz61GloCbWTgEjDb05ZTW1I671t9qKLEcChmK9US_mhXf2HWVybYm-K-BzQjeTVAl6nb_KBkLnSr-QO4Nh_Ib-AboN/s1600/cooked+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YXA_U1xeOJ80ZAbrWw9bDlurR2YzZgYsynidxmPxvXVz61GloCbWTgEjDb05ZTW1I671t9qKLEcChmK9US_mhXf2HWVybYm-K-BzQjeTVAl6nb_KBkLnSr-QO4Nh_Ib-AboN/s320/cooked+chicken.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">their unlucky buddies. That's a roasted chicken stand behind the confused looking woman.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsC-npXt5Tt-rwkx4ofa0YOftZNuJwEBtIeYKoYe4Hb-loor0iI60e9PaQOr28GTl3Ge5C3_qnjxYm51-lRW2TVV1WbqAF2L5-yyUbGkEVKBPyzPVfs2P21wduHDoz74ctvVc/s1600/Roman+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsC-npXt5Tt-rwkx4ofa0YOftZNuJwEBtIeYKoYe4Hb-loor0iI60e9PaQOr28GTl3Ge5C3_qnjxYm51-lRW2TVV1WbqAF2L5-yyUbGkEVKBPyzPVfs2P21wduHDoz74ctvVc/s320/Roman+gate.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Talk about ancient. Dylan and Andy are in front of a Roman gate that was built in 50 AD. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1R28EKhMgyyvzk_Qud8LqGP5zQD_tZZzbUXiC_6pA8ZH3_U2prqNmOW1PZ2DWlpKwm39aRxMUqbrS2ODhgNKW38udUkPBTldpFUl9O7i2esbT5ILw4Ccabs5brHBesGIyH-U/s1600/gay+pride+Koln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1R28EKhMgyyvzk_Qud8LqGP5zQD_tZZzbUXiC_6pA8ZH3_U2prqNmOW1PZ2DWlpKwm39aRxMUqbrS2ODhgNKW38udUkPBTldpFUl9O7i2esbT5ILw4Ccabs5brHBesGIyH-U/s320/gay+pride+Koln.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I love the juxtaposition of the old and new. It happened to be Gay Pride in Koln on Sunday. I don't know how we do it, but we've managed to be at Gay Pride Parades in Antwerp, Amsterdam, and now Koln! </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AvTxmnzkqJD7Z-eVMZEIXiXpDuvNgEkz9AT5FvVvVw9hWz6-Mem1zJp3MsZpu5Zt9VdfCi8N8y1K6XzMhuzSXLmqlt-bFAeuHV96cMZWMHDd2ahz2abCDSZ86u65RwL_hKvh/s1600/Indonesian+boys+at+pride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AvTxmnzkqJD7Z-eVMZEIXiXpDuvNgEkz9AT5FvVvVw9hWz6-Mem1zJp3MsZpu5Zt9VdfCi8N8y1K6XzMhuzSXLmqlt-bFAeuHV96cMZWMHDd2ahz2abCDSZ86u65RwL_hKvh/s320/Indonesian+boys+at+pride.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Here I make a few new friends. Aren't they adorable? Indonesian in Germany--unite. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">* My English friend has experienced the same phenomena, but for her she has to put on her American brain. After living in the US for the past ten years, she's far more adept than I. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-78200167656836972382013-02-05T11:35:00.001-08:002013-02-05T11:35:58.736-08:0050 by Fifty
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<a href="http://www.poorlittlerichgirls.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/fifty50_logo_final1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.poorlittlerichgirls.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/fifty50_logo_final1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I like to set goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Specifically</span>, I like to set goals that I’m pretty sure I can
meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, sometime during the
spring of my third year of law school, I made it pretty clear to everyone that
my goal was to graduate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I observed
lent, I'd probably choose something to give up that wouldn’t be too difficult, like
intravenous drug use, or sleeping till noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which I guess kind of defeats the purpose of goals, because as much as I
like them, I really hate watching myself fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That's</span> one more reason I should never publicly declare that I’m giving up sugar. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So lately I’ve been pondering the role of travel in my life,
how I’d like to celebrate turning 50, the state of affairs in Syria, how I can
exercise my writing muscles, and…needless to say, I’ve had a lot of time to
think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve come up with a big, audacious plan/dream/goal to have
visited 50 countries by the time I turn fifty—give or take a couple of
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve talked to Andy and he’s
game for the challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we get
desperate, we may even combine the number of countries we’ve both visited to
reach an average of 50 countries by our fiftieth birthday—which we both
celebrate in 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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As of today, I’ve visited 35 countries, and Andy’s been to
40.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, I’m planning on
writing a blog entry about each country I’ve visited, because while I’ve
written about travel in general and some places in particular, I’ve not
featured every country in a post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
worry, there will be nothing encyclopedic about this, nor any rhyme or reason
to my entries. But if we can manage this, it will be awesome, maybe even worthy
of a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if for some reason, we
don’t succeed, I suspect it’s a challenge where we’ll enjoy traveling as far as we can, even if we don't reach the destination. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-33569637927278150872012-12-03T11:17:00.000-08:002012-12-03T11:17:24.389-08:00Living on the Frontier
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://greencouple.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/water_pump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://greencouple.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/water_pump.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t believe
we’ve been back in Portland a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
feels like it’s been a year, which is how life can seem living on the prairie, harvesting
acres of quinoa, felling logs for the sauna and fending off hordes of zombies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oops, I guess that’s another blog entry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since returning,
I’ve unpacked a 53 foot moving van (six crates) worth of our worldly
possessions, put a 1000 miles on our new prius, driven to Seattle to get
Wasabi, driven Dylan downtown each morning for school (hmm, guess that’s where
the miles come from) and started working two days a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also rewritten a short story and am in
the process of making drastic changes to my book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had my friend Holley—<a href="http://www.puttogether.net/">the stylist for non-celebrities</a>—over to figure out why I have a closet full of clothes and
nothing to wear (this will be a later blog entry), and have started all the
work the holidays entail, including finding and decorating a new tree, shopping, and hanging up the front porch lights (backwards at first).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yawn, I think I’m ready to take a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wait, I still have to bake something for
book club.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m not
complaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But since Andy isn’t here
I’ve been feeling a lot like <a href="http://www.whatwouldmaingallsdo.blogspot.com/">Ma Ingalls,</a> where taking out the trash is akin to
rushing frozen laundry into the house during a blizzard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always said that without Andy I’d be
sitting in the cold and the dark, which is almost true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a light bulb burned out in the
hallway and I can’t reach the fixture…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What I’m
imagining as my own private living history experiment, is actually the plight
of single moms each day, but add in huge financial worries and all the acrimony
and stress that usually goes hand in hand with a divorce or separation. To my
single mom friends, or friends whose significant others are away most of the
time, I raise my glass to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually
I’d rather we raise our glasses together, but I know how hard it can be to hitch
the horses to the wagon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can make
it over, please bring a blanket…and a light bulb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-47142958004086520262012-11-08T06:14:00.000-08:002012-11-08T06:16:01.705-08:00Giving Thanks<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.arikhanson.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ThankYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://www.arikhanson.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ThankYou.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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It’s been difficult to blog lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only have I been overtaken with a storm of emotions throughout our move to the Netherlands and back, but also I’ve been
following the adage, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffice it to say, lots of bad was going
down, and not much good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the shit storm we endured, I’d have to say in
many ways I learned I was the richest woman in the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For if a person counts their wealth in
friends, I realized that when it comes to the people I have in my life, I’m
richer than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump">The Donald.</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since November holds Thanksgiving—how cool is it that we
have a holiday to just be grateful, and pig out while doing so—I thought it was
appropriate to give a shout out to the many people and things for which I am
grateful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here they are in no particular order:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Sam and Dan for taking care of our second child
for nine weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did Sam quickly
offer to take Wasabi, but he and Dan drove down to Portland and enfolded Wasabi
into their loving home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Anne, Mike and the gang at Three Dogs who
continually assured me that Wasabi was doing okay and rolled with all the
changes we kept throwing their way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to April, who not only picked Dylan and I up with our
six enormous bags, but fed us gourmet meals and sheltered us until we could get
into our home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Bob and Susan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They not only took amazing care of our home, but they made it possible
for Dylan and I to move back right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They did not have to do this, and yet they still did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are forever in their debt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Kerry, who was my proxy through all of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She dealt with the bills, the mail and taking
care of things I couldn’t do while overseas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She also made me feel missed and loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Bernetta who talked me off the roof during the
worst night of our entire time in Eindhoven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only did she give me excellent advice, she stayed on the phone with
me for hours as I muddled my way through the latest crises.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Ronda and Declan, who thought of me when they
needed some help and offered me a job—I start next week!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Rhonda in D.C. who picked me and Dylan up at the
airport, fed us and let us stay with her for a whirlwind 22 hours before we had
to return to the Netherlands. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Lauren, Elena and the team at St. Mary’s who made
a space for Dylan and were wonderful during this transition with their
excellent communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to the many girlfriends who I emailed and called, all
offering loving, and kind support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
know who you are, but not everyone else does: Lili, Athena, Luann, Suzanne,
Starla, Rachael, Paula, Linda, Kara, Nancy, Moira, Laura, Lora, Amy, Amanda, Daksha,
Ruby, Susi, Ro, Heidi W., Wendy Z., Anita, Jenny and Shannon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Marianne, Redd, Mychal, and Steve who welcomed me back
at Milos with hugs, iced tea and benedict before I could even slide into my
seat at the counter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to my friends on Facebook who still “liked” me, even
when I whined about being in Paris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to our folks, who endured a very bare, sullen and
cold European existence with us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Kathy and Megan who befriended us while in
Eindhoven and helped make things much easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I must say it wasn’t people who made things difficult for us
while overseas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, maybe there are a
couple who stand out as a pain in the ass, but it was more the system and
circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there were Nick,
Lydia, Remy, and Walter, all Dutch, and all who made things a little nicer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to wrap this up, but I must say that I’m most
thankful for two others in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are Dylan and Andy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While there were horrid moments together that I think Dylan
and I would rather block from our memories, I am thankful that she is motivated
to learn and wants a lot out of a school which is a “problem” many parents
would gladly trade in a New York second. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She not only went into this move, more game
and optimistic than 99% of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> the kids her age</span>,
she adapted to many things in Europe far better than her mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What can I say about Andy that you didn’t already know
except for his integrity and devotion to us as a father, husband and provider,
stands strong as he works his ass off in Eindhoven without his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The visits home will be too few, the weeks
too long, but unlike millions who must endure time apart from a family member (military,
migrant workers, prisoners, people who must leave their country for years
before the rest of the family can join) we know Andy is doing challenging and
exciting work and that there will be an end to our separation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many times throughout these past months I’ve been told that
this experience will provide great writing material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I may or may not ultimately write about
our time away, I am thankful that I have writing as an outlet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I don’t know what people who don’t
write do when life is a struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do
they process the images, the hurt, the disappointment, if not through
words?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing helps me sort out my
feelings and provides a shelter, though it is one I usually seek once the storm
has passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, I understand
that I have much I owe to my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think of it as a gift from the gods, and the words come through me, not
necessarily from me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these words
above are definitely mine; thanks, grazie, danke, and merci.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-4830383161730130612012-10-10T01:50:00.000-07:002012-10-10T01:55:10.019-07:00Weekend Road Trip<div style="text-align: center;">
I have to say, one of the coolest things about living in Europe is that your weekend road trip destinations can be Germany, Luxembourg, and Brussels--which is where we spent the last few days. Thought I would post a few photos of the visit with my folks who finally arrived, despite their cancelled flight. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6CJg5WIILvitOBjm9s4xJGGn4abGao3-2EaY3yx4k2K2JYiX9-ALaXY86LxJY6aPzhsX932Hm4oEahdx1jnVbpSq0kZVqsOuRm_1raFFB5QfmLLkDlpt99aTgTQwDbBhfeLN/s1600/IMG_5216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6CJg5WIILvitOBjm9s4xJGGn4abGao3-2EaY3yx4k2K2JYiX9-ALaXY86LxJY6aPzhsX932Hm4oEahdx1jnVbpSq0kZVqsOuRm_1raFFB5QfmLLkDlpt99aTgTQwDbBhfeLN/s320/IMG_5216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the cathedral where Charlemange is buried. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD2qJHEV8OmEwTTKtcJfVX12GU03Jc7y_eUPUUpEHWZO0jCep1pHPLyKN0XmfHmE7PcE2Bub01z34c7UIewYahGXAOf0YNVtUBTHFNZcrYTfpqMSc_4aMjfPOIl8dUUdkaF_J/s1600/IMG_5213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD2qJHEV8OmEwTTKtcJfVX12GU03Jc7y_eUPUUpEHWZO0jCep1pHPLyKN0XmfHmE7PcE2Bub01z34c7UIewYahGXAOf0YNVtUBTHFNZcrYTfpqMSc_4aMjfPOIl8dUUdkaF_J/s320/IMG_5213.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The cathedral ceiling. It was less gothic on the inside, and inspired more by the Ottomans, looked almost Turkish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij4S4YVimQRXbj1iUfy_o8yn-Flfld-3ryOrI07Yn1LYRlWxg0kde3RzI7zzN4k4uUygsTP9oWSx2PsBHuhFft0DkWZUdbJibgzX3o3hPurM1Yxr2gV2MgT2CNTWwomUUT9uE/s1600/IMG_5195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij4S4YVimQRXbj1iUfy_o8yn-Flfld-3ryOrI07Yn1LYRlWxg0kde3RzI7zzN4k4uUygsTP9oWSx2PsBHuhFft0DkWZUdbJibgzX3o3hPurM1Yxr2gV2MgT2CNTWwomUUT9uE/s320/IMG_5195.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Check out the emblem above the door, for all you illuminati fans out there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-JZ7YCeTJEiaBiU-mas8Vu0y9f_MeZncGmEbWyO8hVgLHkzZ0pWbqApcdmCzE6IUAMvnQXOplefmMiq-EAYODcrND06sYUVqa_7VN4aUGMY97ksFqWU84OSQz6cUKmpbyvzg/s1600/IMG_5232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-JZ7YCeTJEiaBiU-mas8Vu0y9f_MeZncGmEbWyO8hVgLHkzZ0pWbqApcdmCzE6IUAMvnQXOplefmMiq-EAYODcrND06sYUVqa_7VN4aUGMY97ksFqWU84OSQz6cUKmpbyvzg/s320/IMG_5232.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Cold, wet but not too miserable in Luxembourg City.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wsfNdZ1jjR_gHfB1ljhG_numhXnzuL-wb4g32Fvhx7BVMyC_hZFcGRQwoWlIwxJvjlPO3MafnBk6ic-DwkcHGb8C7HORoZaYY9uZWFkadpQvyjwAFf8mSGq_5bi3QrozL4a-/s1600/IMG_5283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wsfNdZ1jjR_gHfB1ljhG_numhXnzuL-wb4g32Fvhx7BVMyC_hZFcGRQwoWlIwxJvjlPO3MafnBk6ic-DwkcHGb8C7HORoZaYY9uZWFkadpQvyjwAFf8mSGq_5bi3QrozL4a-/s320/IMG_5283.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The next morning dawned bright and beautiful. Luxembourg City feels like a charming mix of Switzerland, Italy, Germany and France with its architecture and great hills.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wdY55gtW80DXhkbE8lTgHztlmmhIU2xxzv3cJtgwjnP_XFnabCzkYEmSIeiIWNwAqIMW0d3BIyTIGhGmw6uPoNaP2ZzESta3YBIcu3akIGe9ITU7mubVoQI8aKbfWsnJX4il/s1600/IMG_5286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wdY55gtW80DXhkbE8lTgHztlmmhIU2xxzv3cJtgwjnP_XFnabCzkYEmSIeiIWNwAqIMW0d3BIyTIGhGmw6uPoNaP2ZzESta3YBIcu3akIGe9ITU7mubVoQI8aKbfWsnJX4il/s320/IMG_5286.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu0PIVqRdzmvvBa2zC8QYwj_MnQerK-_JQkEZtC3wCOv8fV5NYvEewneUN6eftAjDv3mDxAJSlg87xKXFRIoPlDc6SNyo3fHaJ5GhoFH_JntqVrpTV8hiSkIZsjryEfchjunB/s1600/IMG_5287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu0PIVqRdzmvvBa2zC8QYwj_MnQerK-_JQkEZtC3wCOv8fV5NYvEewneUN6eftAjDv3mDxAJSlg87xKXFRIoPlDc6SNyo3fHaJ5GhoFH_JntqVrpTV8hiSkIZsjryEfchjunB/s320/IMG_5287.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last week we went to Venlo in the Netherlands to see the once-every-ten-years-horticulture show called <a href="http://www.floriade.com/">Floriade</a>. Despite the crappy weather, it was a great place to take flower-lovers. </div>
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Bug people on stilts</div>
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Is it me, or does this orchid look like Jay Leno?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvql6fSClN5EMHwKE_DGvXv0fAX9V6C58lfZNJuujViGnBQySARyPxh50H357CuWVz0BkkHIw_o3Wy_ZggLWKiPyVuXReZGFGyuUxMAdwNQrugQj-s7ziH864yC2TxGDZoGrrb/s1600/IMG_5190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvql6fSClN5EMHwKE_DGvXv0fAX9V6C58lfZNJuujViGnBQySARyPxh50H357CuWVz0BkkHIw_o3Wy_ZggLWKiPyVuXReZGFGyuUxMAdwNQrugQj-s7ziH864yC2TxGDZoGrrb/s320/IMG_5190.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Yes, that is all orchids.</div>
<br />Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-7929297429555481952012-10-01T11:37:00.003-07:002012-10-01T11:38:34.815-07:00This is not what we wanted.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">We left the States full
of optimism and excitement about living in Eindhoven and now Dylan and I are moving
back to Portland at the beginning of November so that she can get an
appropriate education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We are hoping that</span> Andy
will be allowed to stay in Eindhoven for the remainder of his contract, or at
least a major chunk of it, but that part is still under negotiation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">While we've had some weird, odd and crazy things happen (crack shack
apartment, living above a porn shop, and finding out we are subject to all of
the Dutch laws) while we’ve been here in Eindhoven, nothing has been terrible
or too unexpected until we finally got to spend some time at Dylan’s school, which
for us was a disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The details are complicated, long and probably not interesting for
anyone but ourselves, but in short, the curriculum at the school is aimed at
people who want to do an International Baccalaureate diploma, yet since Dylan
is not 16, the hard IB work doesn’t begin for another year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discovered that during this academic year,
the classes she would take were ones she’s taken before, and that she would
essentially be repeating a combination of 8<sup>th</sup> and 9<sup>th</sup>
grade—which we believe would make it difficult for her to progress as a Junior
next year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Once we realized what staying at the school would mean for her
education, we scurried to look for solutions: investigate other international schools
in the Netherlands which seemed to be more of the same, plus they were horribly
expensive, find a boarding school in Europe, send her to live with a friend in Washington
DC to go to a public high school there, or what we thought would be the best
solution—homeschooling until we returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Simple, right? It turns out that it is illegal to homeschool
in the Netherlands. Yup, didn't expect that one. The only way the Dutch allow
homeschooling is for a religious exemption or if the family philosophy is such
that there is no school in the area that teaches to the family's needs. After
hours of research and talking to a lawyer, we’re still not sure how the Dutch
define a family philosophy. However, this exemption can only be used as long as
the student has not attended a single day of school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Oops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We sent Dylan on the first day because we didn't understand and were
confused by the rules. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ever</i>
sent a kid to a school, or just to a Dutch school? It was unclear. Normally
as Americans we'd give the school a try, see if we could talk to the
administrators and work something out before doing something drastic, but the
law--which we are now subject to as Dutch residents--is so punitive that we
couldn't even start a dialogue if we wanted homeschooling to be an option. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We hired a lawyer to plead our case to the mayor of Eindhoven and
the education ministry, who are in charge of enforcing this law. It’s not
like we can fly under the radar, because as Dutch residents the government
knows we are here, where Dylan is schooled (or not), and that we are
essentially breaking the law. These are not issues we expected to run into as
expats. We knew that murder, drug dealing and starting a kiddie porn ring were
frowned upon, but home schooling our kid? The (il)legality of home schooling is
not just a Dutch issue:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=11659942#editor/target=post;postID=792929742955548195"> the laws change with each country, and are quite literally all over the map</a>. Upon advice from our lawyer, we have kept Dylan
home since mid August. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Our lawyer could not guarantee that we would be granted the
exception. If we lost, we would have to either force her to go to this school,
or get fined 50 euro a day for every day she's out after the decision comes
down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just found out this past
Saturday, after six weeks of waiting, that she has been granted an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>exemption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Frankly, we weren't expecting or wishing to homeschool and really wanted
her to be at a school to meet people and gain a foothold in expat life, but
there is no way that we’re going to make her go to this school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only because we seriously question
whether she will get what she needs, but because we don’t want her to spend a
good chunk of her time in the Netherlands in a miserable school situation,
which could just poison everything here for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">While the Netherlands itself is a pleasant country, without a school
there’s nothing for Dylan and me to do in Eindhoven. Fortunately Andy is happy
with his job and working so much he doesn't have the chance to get as bored as
us. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In the meantime, we’ve come to the realization that while
homeschooling may be a good option in our situation, it’s by no means perfect.
We are not teachers and we respect the job too much to think that we can give
her what she needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time we
tried homeschooling she was a third grader, and not a college-bound sophomore, which
is much harder and with higher stakes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Socially and academically Dylan needs to be in a school, so when we
returned to Portland in September, we visited St. Mary’s Academy, a parochial
all-girls school in Portland which is famed for their academic rigor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dylan had been accepted this year and last. We
passed up the opportunity during her freshman year because of her overriding
desire to take Japanese, which was offered at our neighborhood school, and had
to pass again when Andy’s job transfer happened. After talking to some
administrators at St. Mary’s, we have decided the best option is to enroll
Dylan in early November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We’ve spent the past couple of weeks unraveling the strings of our
life that we have been weaving in the Netherlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did we bring home nine bags of our
stuff during our Portland visit, but we cancelled bringing Wasabi to
Eindhoven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know that it costs
$14,000 to ship a dog round trip from Portland to Europe?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At least that’s one of many costs we’re saving Andy’s company by
returning. A few weeks ago our friends Sam and Dan who live in Seattle picked Wasabi up from
boarding (where he’s been since July) and will keep him until
we get settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Know that we are heart-broken that this happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t what we wanted or expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we are confident that for the sake of
Andy’s job and Dylan’s schooling this is the best course of action, it’s not
ideal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve only begun to imagine how
difficult it will be when we’re separated, but we really want Andy to continue his job
here in the Netherlands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Before we return we will have a crazy month. My folks and Andy’s
will be visiting, Dylan and I have just returned from a week in Paris, and the
three of us will be in Italy in mid-October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have racked up serious mileage this year. Just counting from July
till November we will have been to Berlin, Copenhagen, Malmo Sweden, London,
Antwerp, Amsterdam (6 times), the Hague, Utrecht, Portland, Washington D.C.,
Paris, Aachen, Luxembourg, Milan, Genoa, Cinque Terre, and possibly Brussels. It’s
hard to believe that this is the same year we started in Hawaii and made our
way east to NYC, Boston, and Denver. Andy has also made three more PDX to AMS
trips than us since May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">No
wonder we feel so wiped; we’ve managed once again to make travel, and this
whole expat experience, into an extreme sport!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we are doing okay despite the major change in our plans. The next
items on our to-do list are to get a car, find a temporary place to live if
necessary, reconnect with our friends in Portland, and, we hope, learn how to
put together a long-distance family life for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment-->
Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-37355290183431693682012-09-04T03:14:00.003-07:002012-09-04T03:14:34.728-07:00Life Above The Porn StoreWe've finally moved into our semi-permanent digs here in Eindhoven, a very nice house in a subdivision north of town. Before we post any pictures of our new place, I thought you, dear reader, might want to see where we made our home for the first month in the Netherlands. <br />
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Our <i>first</i>, first house---which we dubbed the "crack den" was scary bad. Non working toilets, lights exploding out of sockets and copious amounts of mold and mildew. We didn't even spend a night there because it was so uninhabitable. Two days later we moved into a sweet little apartment above a porn store. I like to say it was the cleanest place in town, but it too had some little quirks. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vUl0BSUzW-pbKXWpecdHTDo_n5bjzKauI49WZ-1SCjFAZZRx7AoTjDqnaT8TIoiu3emzwZUj_vTViPOuMFBPJKIlv8DLRsFA33UzL2lslzrs1pG5gFiPffLaf4eWVsW5BX2-/s1600/front+of+PS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vUl0BSUzW-pbKXWpecdHTDo_n5bjzKauI49WZ-1SCjFAZZRx7AoTjDqnaT8TIoiu3emzwZUj_vTViPOuMFBPJKIlv8DLRsFA33UzL2lslzrs1pG5gFiPffLaf4eWVsW5BX2-/s320/front+of+PS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here it is, home sweet home. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPE0j01Gs0nJ8_Z_BfDQMOE58ucEm3s_J3udT3ZyRSJfhLDTp4tYbHkOdoIWsacnlvEsOlC3BVK1im4KvLo1s5TpyOY8YLVfXEUIMb1LeMZW1HWIM71r7WAujP0GrYvs6cGnv/s1600/front+door+at+PS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPE0j01Gs0nJ8_Z_BfDQMOE58ucEm3s_J3udT3ZyRSJfhLDTp4tYbHkOdoIWsacnlvEsOlC3BVK1im4KvLo1s5TpyOY8YLVfXEUIMb1LeMZW1HWIM71r7WAujP0GrYvs6cGnv/s320/front+door+at+PS.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This view was far more tame than the one at the back door where we had a full-on frontal nude poster!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh4XfvPBS-FNhNEze8qHusmQgjnLkIwK8k31QdfG9h6Cd20GqASSysbfCm2c0jTiWy0JMLrwZwENT_hJ-VcY9yXtCKN3JLnvpwfGr2KZs5g-zCxIn42g8419lzmp4RcdBh4ni/s1600/bike+path+in+front+of+PS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh4XfvPBS-FNhNEze8qHusmQgjnLkIwK8k31QdfG9h6Cd20GqASSysbfCm2c0jTiWy0JMLrwZwENT_hJ-VcY9yXtCKN3JLnvpwfGr2KZs5g-zCxIn42g8419lzmp4RcdBh4ni/s320/bike+path+in+front+of+PS.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the view out of our front window. The red path is the bike lane. The nice thing about bike paths in the Netherlands is that they are a different color which helps us remember where to ride, and where to watch out for bikers.</div>
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For those of you who haven't been to the Netherlands, these dutch stairs--going down in our place--are as ubiquitous as gouda and tulips. Teeny tiny narrow stairs, that have a steep pitch. They would probably be illegal in the US, given our building codes, and for good reason. These are not very safe, especially for the elderly and clumsy. </div>
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Here are the same stairs going up, which is a much safer trip than coming down.</div>
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One thing that I've become resigned to in the Netherlands--which is probably common in most of Europe--is that a second bathroom is a rarity. In all the places we looked, only one had two bathrooms. But a second toilet is common. Ours was right NEXT to the kitchen. This bathroom was about the size of one in an airplane. I'm not sure how these super tall people survive with such tiny spaces. See the sink, it only has hot water. Toilets rarely have hot water plumbed into the sinks.</div>
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This is the weirdest thing about our apartment. See the pole. That attaches to a hook in the attic door.</div>
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Pull on it and down comes a ladder.</div>
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Where does this ladder go? You may ask.</div>
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Why to the dryer--of course! That wacky Dutch design. The washer was in the bathroom. </div>
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So there it is, our first place in Eindhoven. Quirky, but comfortable for the month we stayed. I'll post some pictures of our newest digs soon--I promise.Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-71842299357274475532012-08-27T23:23:00.000-07:002012-08-27T23:23:38.316-07:00Humble Pie
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/e8/52/e85296_231076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/e8/52/e85296_231076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years back, during a period when I was saying “yes” to
every invitation that came my way, I agreed to provide weekly English tutor
sessions to a recent Somali immigrant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My only qualification was that I could speak English and had time on my
hands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her husband had six kids
under the age of eight, the youngest had serious health problems that required
them to visit OHSU on a weekly basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The tutoring sessions would consist of me holding one or two
of the babies, while going over the oldest kid’s homework and explaining to
Howa (the mother) the many sheets of paper in his backpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to spend more time with her, but
that proved difficult given her situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She told me that she wanted to learn English so that she could get a
license and drive a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drive a
car?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought and probably said out
loud—though not to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was more
to driving a car than reading a STOP sign!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The test itself can be highly complex, even for some native English
speakers and wouldn’t she want to be learning English for higher pursuits like
reading her child’s school notices or David Sedaris essays?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been driving around Eindhoven for the past few weeks
and let’s just say I’m eating a bit of humble pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Howa, I’m sorry for even questioning your desire to drive
and I can’t imagine how you got/get around Portland with six kids dependent
upon your husband, a bus or the kindness of friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And from what I’m learning, reading the
language, while helpful for actual driving, is not necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know this because I’ve already driven through construction
zones closed off to cars, mistaken 70 km per hour to mean 70 miles, and gone
the wrong way down a street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there
is a universal pictograph sign language where many signs don’t have words, somehow
in the States I’ve never seen them, and so am having to learn the sign language
as well as Dutch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this might be
self-evident to most, but all the signs in the Netherlands—or at least the
important signs—are in Dutch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m proud of myself for getting around Eindhoven and I can
almost get from our temporary rental to our “new” home without our GPS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I just say that our onboard navigation
system has not only enabled me to brave driving in a new city, but has gotten
us into downtown Berlin, Copenhagen and Antwerp, where I’m pretty sure we’d
still be without her assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
dubbed the GPS Lola, short for Dolores Umbridge, because she has such a bossy
tone about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I’ve never been anti-immigrant, maybe because I’m one
myself and I believe that the awesomeness of the United States arises from the
contributions of so many different nationalities, I know that I’ve wondered how
someone who has lived in our country for years hasn’t mastered the language, or
clings to the ways of the “old country.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If nothing else comes out of our experience from living in
the Netherlands, it will be the full understanding—not just the intellectual
bit—but the visceral ability to get what it is like to be an immigrant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To not read, speak or even understand the
rules of the country you make your home, whether for a year or twenty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have to wait, and wait some more for
things that citizens take for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Want to sign up for a cell phone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bank account?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your parents probably helped you with that
one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rent a place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money helps, but you probably know what steps
to take to find one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is
slower for an immigrant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mind you, we’ve
had the help of Andy’s company getting us appointments to the Expat center,
hiring lawyers to deal with our paperwork, calling relocation specialists to
assist in our home search and even having a Dutch woman who has lived and
traveled extensively overseas take us down to the City Hall so that we can
change our address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even with her help, we get overwhelmed with the cultural
differences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the mistakes we made
was thinking because most of the Dutch speak excellent English (the few who
don’t are over the age of 60 or very low skilled workers) and since there is a
terrific infrastructure, that we’d be moving to the Euro Disney version of
America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An, “awww, aren’t those
differences cute, now let’s go get Starbucks!” kind of place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And color me stupid, but I didn’t realize
that in order to stay in the country for more than 3 months we’d not be
traveling Americans with nothing but our passports to guide us, but full-on
Dutch residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Residents who will pay
the taxes, but not necessarily get the benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait, no paid vacation from the government,
but we do get to visit the community pool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m learning from this experience one very huge thing about
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make a much better traveler
than expat—may be some commitment issues there—but there are some very big
differences between the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with my
humble pie, I’m being also served a healthy dose of the immigrant experience
and finding they’re dishes difficult to swallow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-64956518727840412082012-08-20T02:06:00.001-07:002012-08-20T02:06:17.505-07:00London's Calling<div style="text-align: center;">
I could live in London. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know I can Keep Calm and Carry On.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm all about Minding the Gap.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And being called "love" as in "the loo is down the stairs, love" makes my day. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQki5_TIeCQ2NO77j7uxP8ueP6-y0-PjbxEtwFKpFM71SBAL2jNfvq7Zacy7rm5zRMjvvxG3LqVdmEASiVlwnFIb09z3CP6Wm4sDly3PZW0wgBj8E6eH9pQBv6c4lhMkL9agt/s1600/crapper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQki5_TIeCQ2NO77j7uxP8ueP6-y0-PjbxEtwFKpFM71SBAL2jNfvq7Zacy7rm5zRMjvvxG3LqVdmEASiVlwnFIb09z3CP6Wm4sDly3PZW0wgBj8E6eH9pQBv6c4lhMkL9agt/s320/crapper.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yes, I've been known for being a bit of a travel slut--meaning I'd do any trip, but I'm also finding that a single city can not be my one true love. Tokyo I admire for her surreal exoticness, Paris for her beauty, New York for her energy and London because you'd have to be daft not to enjoy her mash up of past and present. The Olympic Rings may hang off the top of Tower Bridge, but it's not hard to imagine Henry VIII staring at the bridge after he condemned another wife to the chopping block. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So sue me if I seem loose with my devotion. </div>
<br />
Dylan and I found a bit of a lull in our schedule. Kind of a limbo land really. No school till this week, our house isn't ready for move in till the 24th, our official Dutch residency cards (entry to a full Dutch life) were still in the mail, no Wasabi to worry about, and we'd exhausted most of the major shopping and sites of Eindhoven. So we did what I imagined would be possible living in the Netherlands, and booked a last minute trip to London! <br />
<br />
We arrived Thursday around noon and left Sunday morning and in that time managed to cram in:<br />
<br />
Visiting Platform 9 3/4<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAWmeKXG0lawRcF7ipc3SRI_OfU9M82uoI7tAiGr9Alim2HJHyIRRp4rbQTv9mlzO8yKXSTzJ11MEkLxPRiauYR3jDLEcojzQWa7H0mRqNtfokK_CJSPgo9cDhJAoMe6ZIyWQ/s1600/muggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAWmeKXG0lawRcF7ipc3SRI_OfU9M82uoI7tAiGr9Alim2HJHyIRRp4rbQTv9mlzO8yKXSTzJ11MEkLxPRiauYR3jDLEcojzQWa7H0mRqNtfokK_CJSPgo9cDhJAoMe6ZIyWQ/s320/muggle.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It sucks to be a muggle.</div>
<br />
Watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchmW56lTY1eIiAA4vkpHefhWya2JQ3LJwAcWy04lRoFxDUslY-UW0tAnrqknxvxSh_x4kLgVPYQs-x59SVVLWzfyg3ItMTqGqwglUN_8d7H-SUWFzo5tLp66f08x3bO6Yi-Xb/s1600/changing+of+guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchmW56lTY1eIiAA4vkpHefhWya2JQ3LJwAcWy04lRoFxDUslY-UW0tAnrqknxvxSh_x4kLgVPYQs-x59SVVLWzfyg3ItMTqGqwglUN_8d7H-SUWFzo5tLp66f08x3bO6Yi-Xb/s320/changing+of+guard.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Walking from Parliament and Big Ben through St. James Park to Buckingham Palace<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAY2AovEBZRawhLjLoh-1Wv8Q-4tOXKCinqgzHneuUHfJTNlT0_Dnx20z1cLrLT4AxE6KRzV_GwyaIRheveuFmUSKBVYCoG7nV6DHAcetsZ1iaO2SgE0mndLsgrlUCbGhReVH/s1600/big+ben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAY2AovEBZRawhLjLoh-1Wv8Q-4tOXKCinqgzHneuUHfJTNlT0_Dnx20z1cLrLT4AxE6KRzV_GwyaIRheveuFmUSKBVYCoG7nV6DHAcetsZ1iaO2SgE0mndLsgrlUCbGhReVH/s320/big+ben.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Window shopping at Harrods<br />
<br />
A evening stroll to Hays Galleria where we got great views of Tower Bridge<br />
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A proper fish and chips lunch with my Portland friend Rachael and her daughter Amy. <br />
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At a pub that looked like this one--kinda.<br />
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And then a visit out to Greenwich. We didn't straddle east and west, but it's nice to know it's there.<br />
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Wandering Borough Market, which had the best brownies I've ever eaten and the biggest english muffins I've ever seen. Talking to the seller about his muffins reminded me how much I miss eggs benedict and then I began to miss <a href="http://www.miloscitycafe.com/Pages/default.aspx">Milos</a>--where they have awesome benedicts--and then I wondered why I haven't seen Hollandaise sauce in Holland, which put me into a bit of a funk. <br />
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The last/first time Dylan was in London she was nine. Sadly she doesn't remember much about that trip except for the tube stop at Southwark and a theatre in Leicester Square. Random, but I guess that's the downside of taking a kid traveling when they are younger than ten. Don't do it for what they remember but how it forms them. <br />
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Dylan, Tina Needham and I at the Hop Exchange, 2006.</div>
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Dylan and some random dude, at the Hop Exchange 2012.</div>
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Even though she no longer loves rats, for old times sake we had to get this picture of a Plague rat hand puppet sold at the Globe gift store.</div>
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All in all, it was a great weekend. </div>
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Meanwhile back at the ranch...the highlights, or memorable bits of Andy's weekend was stumbling upon the owner of the porn shop (for those who haven't kept up with us on Facebook, we currently live in an adorable temporary rental above a porn shop) sunbathing nude by our back stairs and biking to Belgium. I think we can guess who had the better time.Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-60591763781620358922012-08-05T14:53:00.001-07:002012-08-05T14:53:40.305-07:00I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle!<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the things we looked forward to during this move was buying Dutch bikes. Today both mine and Dylan's arrived! Andy picked his up on Friday night--picture to follow. </div>
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We went to the bike store in the town center. It took a few visits, but we were able to get the exact bikes we wanted and it only took 3 days for them to special order and customize them. </div>
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Yes, mine is the largest kid's sized bike available. Now we get to feel like real Dutchies as we ride around town for all of our errands. Jealous?</div>
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Oh, we also got this for opening a bank account.</div>
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Lime green and big enough for half a slice of bread. And it toasts the bank's logo onto the bread!Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-3573279249361277882012-08-01T12:02:00.000-07:002012-08-01T12:02:49.199-07:00Parting Shots from Berlin, Copenhagen and Malmo<div style="text-align: center;">
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Here are just a few parting shots from the end of our vacation. </div>
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Our one picture at Checkpoint Charlie</div>
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After a long hot day, nothing beat the heat like this wonderful dinner at a Singaporean restaurant in Berlin</div>
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I am so digging the satay and crab patties.</div>
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The dogs travel in style in Copenhagen.</div>
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A highlight of Copenhagen, a canal tour.</div>
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This was one of the sights of Copenhagen that I really wanted to see. Charming if you took away the hordes of tourists and ugly restaurants.</div>
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This is the same view that Hans Christian Anderson enjoyed during his 20 year residency along the canal.</div>
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Yes, we had to eat a Danish in Denmark. Not bad, but not alone worth the trip.</div>
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Dylan and her viking troll friend.</div>
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Our "intimate" moment with the Little Mermaid. Ugh.</div>
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At the Taj in Tivoli.</div>
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The Danes do a great sandwich.</div>
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A sweet afternoon in Malmo Sweden.</div>Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-79708641894823018092012-07-29T11:57:00.002-07:002012-07-29T11:57:59.592-07:00It's The Small ThingsYou don't have to leave the USA to yearn for the simple things from home. A perfect bed, your favorite TV show and a clean bathroom. I know I've been gone too long when all I want--monuments be damned--is a bathroom at least as tidy as my own. <br />
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You can imagine how thrilled I was today when I discovered the public bathrooms in Sweden. I know it's kind of weird to write about it, but for 10 Swedish Kroner (about $1.42) we not only had an attendant assign us our own stall, but it was spotless. Eat off the floor clean. <br />
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It looked like it had never been used</div>
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You can see polished floor</div>
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If only I knew I could take a shower, I would have brought my towel</div>
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While $1.42 seems outrageous in Scandinavia it was probably the best deal we've seen. Everything is expensive here, and while Copenhagen has certain charms, we feel that we need to rush out of town before we are entirely broke. In Denmark, Norway and Sweden I feel like I could be in Minnesota except I'm paying triple what a burger and fries would cost in St. Cloud. The people, the scenery and the stores are all similar. With the exception of some beautiful architecture, which I'll post some pictures of later, it doesn't feel that far from home. </div>Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-79907030020560868032012-07-27T16:02:00.001-07:002012-07-27T16:02:05.333-07:00Tragedy and Triumph<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are times when we
explore the world, that we fail so completely as travelers, I’m certain if having a passport required a
competency test, we’d be asked to return ours.
And then there are the sublime moments, where luck, chance, serendipity
or just good planning remind us how much we rock. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today we experienced both the
highs and the lows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The low was not much of a
tragedy, but it sucked nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had bought tickets for the ferry crossing from Rostock Germany to Gedser
Denmark and carefully timed our tickets so that we would leave at 1:00pm in the
afternoon and arrive in Copenhagen at 5:00pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day took a downturn when
we had to figure out where to get lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would we be able to get food on the ship—we weren’t sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after passing by a McDonalds, we went to
two other places that we thought were restaurants, only to find that they were
glorified duty free shops and had to U turn back down the freeway to McDonald's.
We consider it a personal failure anytime we have to resort to a meal at Micky
D’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After basking in the stifling
heat of the world’s slowest McDonald's, we made it to the ferry landing with 15
minutes to spare, only to find out that we had purchased tickets for the
sailing two hours EARLIER.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we
bought and printed tickets for the 11:00 am sailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know full well that 1:00 pm is 13:00 hours
and are still baffled as to how we missed something like a two hour time
difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we parked in an alternate
lane and watched hundreds of cars drive onto the ferry, eventually resigning ourselves
to wait till 3:00 pm for the next crossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, I trudged
under the hottest sun northern Germany has seen this year, back to the Ferry
Office that stood at least half a mile back down the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason my phone started playing
Christmas carols and I was too teary and tired to even try to speak German to
the poor <i>Scandlines</i> official who drew the short straw and had to talk to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was told that we had an 80%
chance of getting on the 3:00 pm ferry, but if that failed, I could try for
5:00 or 7:00 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wondered if we should turn around and just
start driving to Eindhoven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, I
was ready to drive to Portland if that were possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All the while I wondered what
the hell we were thinking trying to take a vacation now—after a stressful and
exhausting two weeks that included packing, traveling and saying goodbyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was emotionally drained and wondering if
the whole damn move was an undertaking we had no business making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dylan was threatening <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to leave because she believes that she won’t <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have decent phone service while we’re in
Europe and we all were missing Wasabi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needless to say, we were a
morose group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ferry eventually
arrived and we were the second to last car to be loaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A car had jumped the queue in front of us and
we were cursing the driver with an infestation of a million bedbugs, when it
was turned back by a German ferry official.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My faith in German orderliness was renewed and I was so thankful, I was
ready to kiss him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The car made it on
the ferry, but not in front of us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Karma’s a bitch,” I yelled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once we landed in Denmark
things turned for the better and we had one of our better travel moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we were, our first visit in this city
and country and we not only navigated our way to our apartment but found a
bank, a place to stow the car AND negotiated a grocery store where we bought
tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast in a language we couldn’t talk, let
alone read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This we did with no
arguments, no getting lost and not one hard feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It truly was a small triumph after a lousy
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lest you think our time on the road is all magic—unicorns farting
rainbows made of skittles, that sort of stuff—please know that like anything
done with passion: parenting, sports, and art—there are good days and bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you are like us, you can experience
all of this in a matter of hours if not minutes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. It’s well past midnight here in Denmark. The kids are still outside playing soccer
and we are watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. I think the only thing shorter might be the
actual Hunger Games! The uniform
designers for the Parade of Nations have been especially creative.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-42641941870657102542012-07-25T15:35:00.001-07:002012-07-25T15:35:32.386-07:00Visual BerlinRather than drone on about how different Berlin is from 1990 or wax philosophical about how Germans stand in lines, I thought I'd post some pictures. Have fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXA_ze-x4-8pxWm6w2u26M_HT8FEIM3IRcyZjaD_766cZLkYbQu1Qt0ctWdDDcT0n6aoE8cq202UHIsKolQKb21YdQQ76Z9KWfSCBuCg1xf4oZYr_LRrD-VJ5Jwt_hqPvaz0Qa/s1600/berlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXA_ze-x4-8pxWm6w2u26M_HT8FEIM3IRcyZjaD_766cZLkYbQu1Qt0ctWdDDcT0n6aoE8cq202UHIsKolQKb21YdQQ76Z9KWfSCBuCg1xf4oZYr_LRrD-VJ5Jwt_hqPvaz0Qa/s320/berlin.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sweet place in Berlin</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymXc_m-SAaXm0sm7XCT0PvFSUPhT9bZ-HiTbvKXgIvJwYtpCIydy4niS1wXIg4exmAI0ft_Ici1l9lEcb3bZ1vK3UWvOctBu1W8eqgNyC2kU-P-Tll8fim3ZCHrPesw7IC3YX/s1600/Berlin+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymXc_m-SAaXm0sm7XCT0PvFSUPhT9bZ-HiTbvKXgIvJwYtpCIydy4niS1wXIg4exmAI0ft_Ici1l9lEcb3bZ1vK3UWvOctBu1W8eqgNyC2kU-P-Tll8fim3ZCHrPesw7IC3YX/s320/Berlin+9.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andy and Dylan at the Pergamon Alter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2B1A9TVauFYkmjHVMdqCzb2HxUPB9_61gJO3EKCCI2aqiNiSbrAz1N0T8INr72sWz6bEozicN7cAGzdZUF0P6JLm8JoALlaTC6LGGeg0TUwHH0YE4FsET5CbadKTg_DtwVlq/s1600/berlin+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2B1A9TVauFYkmjHVMdqCzb2HxUPB9_61gJO3EKCCI2aqiNiSbrAz1N0T8INr72sWz6bEozicN7cAGzdZUF0P6JLm8JoALlaTC6LGGeg0TUwHH0YE4FsET5CbadKTg_DtwVlq/s320/berlin+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Gate of Ishtar at the Pergamon Museum</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n0YCyzzUWXDaZk5gzAeHryTC3jsBhydZ8Nb6US_yBh1vCBe9RiTjHrSCVMQiy7lha7ZVJZuzYMVPunygNuIZWlGd6MtMZXmu9kRQyzOj1Td-dWzO0BdYS4WCbcbFJ1ya6wNA/s1600/berlin+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n0YCyzzUWXDaZk5gzAeHryTC3jsBhydZ8Nb6US_yBh1vCBe9RiTjHrSCVMQiy7lha7ZVJZuzYMVPunygNuIZWlGd6MtMZXmu9kRQyzOj1Td-dWzO0BdYS4WCbcbFJ1ya6wNA/s320/berlin+11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dylan in front of a section of the wall</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pzCKrvlVkxjKHvl_1Z2Ivfw0TZuquKX-aM9_fZpRd4LBKgYyRmjcSn2nNgC2rg4cbEtTeudmkFUev3XUff6PkbQdTUJq2CYP5pf3rCI43CVtmzqYyR3VTa89Q5yGvu3RhP20/s1600/berlin+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pzCKrvlVkxjKHvl_1Z2Ivfw0TZuquKX-aM9_fZpRd4LBKgYyRmjcSn2nNgC2rg4cbEtTeudmkFUev3XUff6PkbQdTUJq2CYP5pf3rCI43CVtmzqYyR3VTa89Q5yGvu3RhP20/s320/berlin+13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Loved this dude's portable wurst set up!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHckQVPQMewyrLOVRROXXYiNcMJwV3M66LCep4HJfp5M-ChGXXBd2O93MicGvUKCOm6UXavjF5cNypegD5DIuXNV204aeeO4SA_G86PsyfuKW7RXJkFS1UwVLfw1237Hcq0Inl/s1600/berlin+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHckQVPQMewyrLOVRROXXYiNcMJwV3M66LCep4HJfp5M-ChGXXBd2O93MicGvUKCOm6UXavjF5cNypegD5DIuXNV204aeeO4SA_G86PsyfuKW7RXJkFS1UwVLfw1237Hcq0Inl/s320/berlin+14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This sign was in front of the Reichstag. Of course, grilling in front of the German capitol is the first thing on my to-do list--not!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7gu5aBbfqGRU4f2WWSf6L_DaMW9D38SM9oj8WW4Zbf3bRfBOqEzi4YD0efctxb54j3i-TVzmf-0a47UmcJfkMA5glnRhs2eM9UOE7s-mF5Inng1w62SBVBKW8nGXyJuWruGe/s1600/berlin+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7gu5aBbfqGRU4f2WWSf6L_DaMW9D38SM9oj8WW4Zbf3bRfBOqEzi4YD0efctxb54j3i-TVzmf-0a47UmcJfkMA5glnRhs2eM9UOE7s-mF5Inng1w62SBVBKW8nGXyJuWruGe/s320/berlin+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Dem Amerikan Visitors in front of The Reichstag</div>
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At the Holocaust Memorial</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A straightforward title for the monument</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Cool world clock at Alexanderplatz--not far from our hotel</div>
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Berlin nightlife</div>
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The Berliner Dom</div>
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Brandenberg Gate</div>
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Dylan's birthday is a universally important date</div>
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At San Soucci, Friedrich the Great's digs</div>
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I often have the same reaction around screaming babies</div>
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The lovely chinese tea house at San Soucci</div>
Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-81245289448577143242012-07-22T13:40:00.000-07:002012-07-22T13:55:57.804-07:00Ich Bin Ein Berliner<br />
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<a href="http://krikor.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/dscf2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://krikor.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/dscf2486.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
They landed almost thirty years ago, during a long Montana winter--a couple dozen high school students from Berlin, Germany. Dropped from the skies like the infamous <a href="http://www.trumanlibrary.org/teacher/berlin.htm">Berlin Airlift,</a> they brought instead of food and supplies, a first glimpse of anything European to most of my fellow students in Columbia Falls. The Berliners were hosted by many of us in Herr Brod's German class and I begged my parents, with the fervor that Dylan begged to get a puppy, that we too "get a German." They relented, and for a month, Ute Spielman was my German sister. We borrowed each other's clothes, went out on double dates and had an epic food fight that resulted in mustard being thrown on the ceiling. After she left, there was nothing I wanted more than to visit her in Berlin and see what kind of country would produce such a sophisticated, worldly 14 year-old. <br />
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It wasn't until 1990, due to a number of circumstances--mainly having no money--that I touched down at <a href="http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/index.php?airport=TXL">Tegel Airport</a> in Berlin, the first stop on my first ever trip to Europe. I had saved $800 and had less sense than money, but was determined to "See" Europe. Ute's parents hosted me in her tiny bedroom for almost a month. By that time, she was living on her own and working with her boyfriend, a concert promoter who took me to work one night. Work being backstage at a <a href="http://archive.org/details/gd90-10-19.dsbd-matrix.dieter.12892.sbeok.shnf">Grateful Dead concert</a>. My only memory of that evening is hanging out with the Rock Doc, (the band's doctor) and seeing the band walk by. <br />
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For a kid whose hometown considered a <a href="http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/opinion/columns/article_effe16d4-fff8-11e0-a0c8-001cc4c002e0.html">new stoplight on Nucleus a top-fold headline</a>, Berlin rocked my world. Trains, trams, <a href="http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/kadewe/index.en.php">department stores</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanssouci">palaces</a>, an entire <a href="http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/museumsinsel/index.en.php">island of museums</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiser_Wilhelm_Memorial_Church">bombed out church </a>were all beyond my ken, but what was even more exciting was the sense of possibility and promise that permeated the air, since it was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall">less than a year earlier that the Berlin Wall came </a>down. I remember standing with Ute as we stared at a chunk of the wall, and she shook her head in amazement saying she never thought her hometown would be without the wall. Mind you, she was no crotchety 40-something old lady, but 20 year-old, who had only known a divided city. <br />
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Berlin continues to hold that sense of promise and excitement. Though Frankfurt, Munich, and Dusseldorf are all very nice and pleasant places to visit, for me they don't hold up to Berlin for arts, entertainment and nostalgia. I like to think of Berlin as the Paris of Germany and when I'm not humming the tune <a href="http://german.about.com/library/blmus_nena99luftb.htm">99 Luft Balloons</a> or songs from<a href="http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/cabaret/cabaret.htm"> Cabare</a>t, I'm saying<i> Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></span>fast because it's a fun mouthful. <br />
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Today we head to Berlin, my first trip back since 1990, and Andy and Dylan first visit ever. I'm not sure if I will remember much from before, but that's okay. It will be like wandering through the setting of a past life--seeing some things will evoke nostalgia and memories and others will only confuse and possibly disappoint. And while my Deutsch is pretty rudimentary, at least I can say as much as John F. Kennedy, who famously stated, <a href="http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/jfk_berliner.htm">"Ich bin ein Berliner"</a>--which urban legend claims he said he was a jelly donut--but really means, "I am one with the people of Berlin," which I can embrace.Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-40389103491131320772012-07-18T11:32:00.000-07:002012-07-18T11:32:56.980-07:00500 Pounds<br />
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The tune <i>I'm gonna be (500 hundred miles</i>) by the Proclaimers has been running through my head all morning because that's the magic number we've been dealing with around here for the past week. <br />
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500 Pounds. <br />
<br />
That's what we're taking to Eindhoven. Actually given the six 50lb bags of luggage we're checking on the plane and the 3 roll ons, it's going to be a bit more, but 500 lbs is what we get air shipped to Europe. Don't worry, we're not wearing the same three shirts for the next two years and sleeping on a bed made of grass pulled off the side of the canals. FEI is giving us a furniture budget in lieu of shipping all of crap to Europe in a 20 foot container. Believe me, it's a better deal for them by a mile. <br />
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What has been pretty theoretical for the past couple of months, "oh cool, we're moving to Europe" has now become a box-filled, paper strewn reality. We've been in serious packing mode the past couple days, never mind that I've been packing since the end of May. Most people would say I'm kind of a minimalist and don't have a lot of stuff, but given that the majority of what we own has been accumulated since 2006 I have to wonder, where did it all come from and why?! I've always imagined that if the Zombie Apocalypse happened it wouldn't take much to get out of my house with what I needed, but I now realize I'm very wrong.<br />
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Despite the stress level cranked up to 11 these days, dare I say the move is going well? So far only one thing has been packed that shouldn't have--a small alarm clock--and Dylan's still sticking around. Once the mover load up the van(s) it's just a couple days till lift off.Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-55107026272511524262012-06-23T22:14:00.001-07:002012-06-23T22:14:50.822-07:00The NapsterI've got a bit of a secret I want to spill. Okay, maybe it's not a secret so much, but a guilty pleasure born out of necessity. <br />
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I'm a napper. <br />
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Ever since we've been dealing with the impending move to the Netherlands my internal alarm clock has become discombobulated and I no longer sleep in till 9:00 or 10:00 am which is my preferred wake up time. Nope, I'm now up at the crack ass of dawn. 7:30 a.m. seems to be the latest I sleep in and often I find myself wide awake at 6:30, 6:00 and on really bad days at 5:30. Eyes wide open and a million things running through my head. <br />
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It's not the worst side effect of moving, but it's changed my daily routine. I still need about 12 hours of sleep a day, so to compensate I nap, and nap hard. Come 3:00 pm I see Wasabi all stretched out on the bed and say "That looks pretty good right now. Scoot over pup." <br />
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This picture had to be staged, given Wasabi's general inclination to sleep on the end of the bed.</div>
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So there we are. Nothing much. Probably more disturbing, than earth shattering or interesting but this is where my mind is these days. Happy napping, it's nice work when you can get it!</div>
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<br /></div>Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-1102335138406008642012-05-22T11:15:00.001-07:002012-05-22T11:28:09.349-07:00Same Same, But Different<br />
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I’ve been here before. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Standing in front of my bookshelf making calculations, what
to pack and what to bring. Some things
are easy. The antique vase found in a
shipwreck off the coast of Vietnam, pack into storage.
The books about parenting a pre-teen, toss. The Lonely Planet on Ireland, bring. We could easily spend a weekend in Dublin,
right? The Lonely Planet featuring
Japan, the jury’s still out on that one.
It never hurts to be optimistic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Seven years ago it was much easier. Whatever didn’t fit in a 10x10 storage unit
or wasn’t important enough to carry around in a small backpack for a year, had to
go. Life right now is feeling like one
of my favorite Thai sayings, “Same Same, But Different.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, I’m dismantling
a household again, which is an opportunity to do one of my favorite
activities, declutter. But now I have a
whole new calculus to consider. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Will we need this in the next year or two, or even three? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Is it important enough to add to our small packing
allowance, 500-1000 lbs shipped by air?<o:p></o:p></div>
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This may seem generous, especially given that we’ve traveled
a year with less than a total weight of 100 pounds, but now we have to stock a kitchen, feed a dog
and Dylan has way more stuff than her eight year old self. (I can’t believe we forced her to bring a
piece of string, a small plastic rat, a journal and a<a href="http://www.amazon.com/SPIROGRAPH-33248-Spirograph/dp/B004YHETHA/ref=dp_cp_ob_t_title_1"> mini spirograph</a> as her
only toys—for a year!) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXQuVd-q1Q7ilF0cOApdd8-CBMnfDs2vzAwbZqIXygkWOpZWi8rdZZ4UXl_Fb8GpV_D3xtr1qUZ_iRgW1HhLfFDilWDF6LElazn514u1d0U9i2IUYJZEL9LbvLdX1ordicw8Y/s1600/DSCN030520050813-101530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXQuVd-q1Q7ilF0cOApdd8-CBMnfDs2vzAwbZqIXygkWOpZWi8rdZZ4UXl_Fb8GpV_D3xtr1qUZ_iRgW1HhLfFDilWDF6LElazn514u1d0U9i2IUYJZEL9LbvLdX1ordicw8Y/s320/DSCN030520050813-101530.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The company is giving us a furniture budget and we’ll pick up much of what we need at couple trips to
Ikea. It’s cheaper for them than
shipping a container of our stuff overseas and frankly, I don’t have that big
of an attachment to my furniture. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Before it was easier to make the decisions we needed to
make. There wasn’t a companies expat
policy to follow. Andy didn’t have a job
and there wasn’t the important decision of Dylan’s high school. Which is huge for a 15 year old. For however long we are there, we want to
make sure it’s a school where she would thrive, which is hard to tell on a
website, or a half hour visit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So while this entire disengagement process feels the same;
the half packed boxes, the ever-growing to-do list, and the tearful goodbyes to
loved ones, there are more factors to navigate that is making it feel different
this time. Sometimes I sit paralyzed,
stare at the dog and wonder where to start. To get through this, I need to keep my eye on the prize.
Biking on idyllic Dutch lanes sans helmet, three day weekends in Frankfurt or Paris and if we can find a dog sitter, Christmas in Morocco. Yes, the Thais understand it. Same Same, but Different. Which makes the flipside just as true, “no
matter how much things change, the more they stay the same.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS7KjRUFisQN5gHHqXOdrWc7-ShzSfPdk73cPG5C0jyEyp99WC8qWAS7getLabtLev43s9gy7oFafU-DWeZFnktOGVLMgi1PQPydQJrA61cwIPcg3fmq0lnQ4LNNrFnKh5KNO/s1600/DSCN031120050813-110310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS7KjRUFisQN5gHHqXOdrWc7-ShzSfPdk73cPG5C0jyEyp99WC8qWAS7getLabtLev43s9gy7oFafU-DWeZFnktOGVLMgi1PQPydQJrA61cwIPcg3fmq0lnQ4LNNrFnKh5KNO/s320/DSCN031120050813-110310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Andy turns 45 today and with the exception of a *few* more grey hairs, I think he's looking the same!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659942.post-63519358974949014102012-05-10T13:14:00.001-07:002012-05-10T13:14:19.364-07:00Going Dutch!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://www.eurovisionary.com/files/images/dutch%20flag.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.eurovisionary.com/files/images/dutch%20flag.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a tumultuous few months here at Only Planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In early February, at the urging of
management in the US and the Netherlands, Andy applied for a Mechanical
Engineering management position with FEI in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a week his company had decided not
only to fly him, but Dylan and me to Eindhoven so that he could interview for the position,
and we could look at housing and schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Through the interview process, we thought it was very likely
we’d be moving since during one interview the VP of R&D, who would have
been Andy’s boss’s boss, said “Let’s make this happen.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right before leaving the country Andy was
informed he wouldn’t get the job because they were worried that 1-he hadn’t
managed a group this large, 2-he was an American, and 3-that he would only give
a 2-3 year commitment to the position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These were all things that he made perfectly clear or were pretty
self-evident before we even left Portland.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That could have been that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nice all-expense paid trip to the Netherlands and a good story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there were still people who wanted Andy
to work in the Netherlands, and so he stayed in conversation with the Dutch
managers and received a job offer in early March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t for the job he applied for, but
after considering it for a couple of days, he told them that he’d be interested in
exploring it further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Then he waited for a written offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, the important bit; with salary, benefits
and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He waited and waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile back here we felt pretty sure in
spreading the news to friends and family that we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might</i> be moving, and started to disengage from things like making
future plans in Portland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet the longer
we waited, the more unsure we felt, and reverted back to making plans for
staying here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We left for the East Coast in early April and still hadn’t
heard a word from FEI, except that “they’d have something Friday, or next
Tuesday or in a week.” After our return from the East Coast, Andy flew to the
Netherlands to sit in on meetings concerning the new position but kept his
message clear; while he was happy to attend these meetings, he was not
officially in the position until he saw an offer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, finally this Wednesday he received a written offer and
after a few negotiations, it looks like we’re moving!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to be an expat somewhere,
one of my fantasies was working in
Africa in the Peace Corps or Geneva for the United Nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he Netherlands, with its central location in Western Europe and
fabulous infrastructure, seems as good a place as any to be based.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you know, travel is kind of our
hobby/addiction/life mission so living overseas will meld nicely with a whole
slew of different types of trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are some answers
to some FAQ:<o:p></o:p></div>
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When is this happening?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Andy should start his transatlantic commute in late
May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dylan will finish her school year
at Grant and we’re aiming to leave around July 21<sup>st</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to leave before the last Batman
movie (<a href="http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/">Batman: The Dark Knight Rises</a>) comes out on July 20<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A girl’s got to have her priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Wasabi is not allowed to fly between May 15<sup>th</sup> and
September 15<sup>th</sup>—it’s a safety measure, protection from hot tarmacs
& extreme weather—so we’re planning on coming back to Portland in early
September to attend a couple of important events and escort the dog over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately there is no quarantine necessary
for the pooch. We are open to having a family that would want to care for
Wasabi from July 20<sup>th</sup> till September 16<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a daycare/boarding option but would
also like him to have a quiet home and family to care for him during that
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Email me if you are interested. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How long will we be gone?<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are committed to at least two years abroad, and if Dylan
loves her school and Andy’s happy at work, then three.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please don’t tell us you’re going to try to home school
Dylan?<o:p></o:p></div>
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God, no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dylan will
go to the<a href="http://www.isecampus.nl/Flex/Site/Page.aspx?PageID=&Lang="> International School of Eindhoven</a> where she will be in a middle year
program for the international baccalaureate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once she’s 16 she can take classes and study for the IB Diploma. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So where is Eindhoven?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eindhoven is located in the south-central part of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an hour and a half south of Amsterdam,
15 minutes from the Belgian border and half an hour from the German
border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can make it to Amsterdam,
the least we can do is meet you at one of the charming Dutch cafes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Is Eindhoven some tiny village or something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it like Portland?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eindhoven">It’s a city of a little over 200,000 people</a>, and is the
fifth largest city in The Netherlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The tiny state where Eindhoven resides has over two million people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Netherlands is a country the size of
Maryland and has 16 million people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_Community_Forum">2011 Eindhoven was named the WORLD’S most intelligent community.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope our dog isn’t
ridiculed on the playground for being dumb! Eindhoven is where <a href="http://www.usa.philips.com/">Philips Electronics</a> was founded and the city remains a hub of technological innovation.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The only thing Eindhoven has in common with Portland is that
half the year, the weather is absolutely shitty and grey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As hard as it is to believe, it’s less sunny
in Eindhoven, than in Portland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
where the trips in December and February to Barcelona and Italy will be a
life-saver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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What are you looking most forward to?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Travel, baby!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given
our central location, weekends in Paris (we’ve already bought tickets to see
<a href="http://www.ladygaga.com/bornthiswayball/">Lady Gaga in Paris on September 22<sup>nd</sup></a>!), a few days in Spain, a week
in London or a trip to Turkey or Morocco are definite possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, we look forward to our US friends and
family visiting and hope to see most, if not all, of you sometime during our
expat years!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Are you going to sell your home?<br />
Probably not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure yet. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, what next?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve got a serious to do list: pack stuff for storage and
stuff for Europe, figure out the best way to get the dog overseas, start a new
blog, work on a website, finish the 4<sup>th</sup> revision of my book, spend
as much time with friends as I can, and the usual tasks like walking Wasabi twice
a day and working out at the gym.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Loey, Andy and Dylanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249289512777389568noreply@blogger.com0