There is never a dull moment in Den Haag.
Yesterday as I walked home from the supermarket with my groceries, I was suddenly caught in the midst of a large number of protestors. On hindsight I could have seen it coming and taken a different route home, but I was too amused at the sight of Dutch protesting at the time to think of it. I wonder what they were protesting for? Gay rights? No, ...they already have that. Legalisation of marijuana? No, no, they already have that too.
Anyway, I managed to get a snap of the crowd after I was released from their clutches (below).
Okay, so on another note:
Things that Melbourne does better than The Hague
1) Food.
Glorious food. If immigration brings nothing else to our country, it brings a wide selection of delicious food.
2) Hair.
Don't get me wrong, people here have nice hair, but Melburnians definitely take the cake for interesting and great creations of the hairy kind.
3) Recycling.
Atrocious! There is so much stuff I could be recycling. It pains me throwing away glass bottles and cardboard milk ("melk") cartons.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Some bike rider guy muscling in on my picture of the protestors. Pfft typical.
The protestors off to who knows where.Maybe these retailers should just stick to Dutch
Our new favourite pastime is spotting funny store names. This one above for instance says "silly food here" underneath the big restaurant sign. I think this one was on purpose but funny nonetheless.
Nick shows us da hip hop moves outside Biggie Best, some kind of haberdashery store. Perhaps P. Diddy owns the place.Monday, November 27, 2006
Spot the odd one out
Please note I am in Holland and the lollies are shaped like clogs. Strangely, there were also coke bottles in the same packet.What is the Dutch equivalent of 'Today Tonight'?
Today I went to go see a rental property.
On my way there I met a lovely Dutch old lady who decided she would walk me the whole way there. Turns out her neighbour is a Melburnian who loves watching Neighbours (as do I since moving here).
Once there, I waited outside for the real estate agent to arrive, at which point a 4WD pulled up next to me and asked if I was waiting for "DirectWonen" (the real estate) to see apartment 454. While I wasn't there to see apartment 454 another guy next to me was. So anyway the agent said he would go park the car and come back. While he was gone to park the car, another real estate agent from "DirectWonen" showed up.
Ah, what's going on here?
The guy in the 4WD turned out to be a real estate agent phoney. A guy that tries to muscle in on other agents' business! Anyway, he had some nerve - he actually came up to the apartment and pretended he was the owner (which he was not). It was a bit tense, but highly amusing!
I might send an email to Naomi Robson.
On my way there I met a lovely Dutch old lady who decided she would walk me the whole way there. Turns out her neighbour is a Melburnian who loves watching Neighbours (as do I since moving here).
Once there, I waited outside for the real estate agent to arrive, at which point a 4WD pulled up next to me and asked if I was waiting for "DirectWonen" (the real estate) to see apartment 454. While I wasn't there to see apartment 454 another guy next to me was. So anyway the agent said he would go park the car and come back. While he was gone to park the car, another real estate agent from "DirectWonen" showed up.
Ah, what's going on here?
The guy in the 4WD turned out to be a real estate agent phoney. A guy that tries to muscle in on other agents' business! Anyway, he had some nerve - he actually came up to the apartment and pretended he was the owner (which he was not). It was a bit tense, but highly amusing!
I might send an email to Naomi Robson.
Weekend snaps
After wandering the streets and doing grocery shopping we took a break. Chilling out on a bench in this square we enjoyed the tranquil scenery. Check out the really modern buildings behind the traditional style - what a contrast!
Oh my gosh. I had to hold back from diving into all this chocolate. It was piled so high, and all different kinds...
Gloriously ugly casino and restaurant out at the beach. What an eyesore!
Ze beach. This beach area is called "Scheveningen". Apparently during WWII being able to pronounce this word correctly was the test for Dutch soldiers! (Germans would infiltrate and learn the language easily but apparently this word is very difficult to pronounce correctly).
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The first weekend
Our first weekend in The Hague included sun (amazing I know! Don't get carried away - it wasn't much... and it definitely wasn't warm), surf (well, we looked at the surf), and supermarkets (I've had to re-evaluate my position on the supermarket - it's not that bad).
Great Saturday
Yesterday we went for a walk to the UN International Court of Justice (the Peace Palace - pics below) and then caught a tram to Scheveningen (aka the beach - pic above). It was so windy and so cold, but still surprisingly busy and pleasant!! We had us some hot chips with curry sauce (as the locals do) which were delicious. We also walked past the UN Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and the Organisation Against the Proliferation of Chemical Weapons. Mama mia, what a place The Hague is!
Gollywog Sunday
Today was spent exploring the town centre and just takin it easy acting like a local. The town was ridiculously busy and there were these freaky children dressed up like gollywogs chasing people around. Apparently that's part of the "sinterklaus" festival. Mmm, yeah ok sure. I was too freaked out by them to take a picture - perhaps another day!
Grumpy local
Anyway, now that I am a local I feel I can complain about the local culture and tell you the two most annoying things about living here:
1) Cigarette smoke - EVERYWHERE
Australia has excellent anti-smoking laws. This place is like a free-for-all. People smoke anywhere and everywhere. We try not to choke as we eat our foodstuffs.
2) People are PUSHERS
People are not as polite as Australians about personal space. They just don't care if they knock into you! So, as a small person, you can imagine I have had a few knockabouts today. Sure, I am exaggerating somewhat about the level of knocking, but this phenomenon does exist. Nick says I should push back. Can you imagine?! I'd look like an angry gremlin.
Okay, other than those things everything is great. We feel pretty settled and are enjoying ourselves. Feel free to come visit.
Lotsa love
Great Saturday
Yesterday we went for a walk to the UN International Court of Justice (the Peace Palace - pics below) and then caught a tram to Scheveningen (aka the beach - pic above). It was so windy and so cold, but still surprisingly busy and pleasant!! We had us some hot chips with curry sauce (as the locals do) which were delicious. We also walked past the UN Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and the Organisation Against the Proliferation of Chemical Weapons. Mama mia, what a place The Hague is!
Gollywog Sunday
Today was spent exploring the town centre and just takin it easy acting like a local. The town was ridiculously busy and there were these freaky children dressed up like gollywogs chasing people around. Apparently that's part of the "sinterklaus" festival. Mmm, yeah ok sure. I was too freaked out by them to take a picture - perhaps another day!
Grumpy local
Anyway, now that I am a local I feel I can complain about the local culture and tell you the two most annoying things about living here:
1) Cigarette smoke - EVERYWHERE
Australia has excellent anti-smoking laws. This place is like a free-for-all. People smoke anywhere and everywhere. We try not to choke as we eat our foodstuffs.
2) People are PUSHERS
People are not as polite as Australians about personal space. They just don't care if they knock into you! So, as a small person, you can imagine I have had a few knockabouts today. Sure, I am exaggerating somewhat about the level of knocking, but this phenomenon does exist. Nick says I should push back. Can you imagine?! I'd look like an angry gremlin.
Okay, other than those things everything is great. We feel pretty settled and are enjoying ourselves. Feel free to come visit.
Lotsa love
The Peace Palace (UN International Court of Justice)
Nick with the Australian rock on the "Peace Walk". Look at that national pride.
Me. Oh, and the Peace Palace in the background.Friday, November 24, 2006
This old love is going down the hard road
The title today reflects the song I am currently listening to (‘the hard road’ by hilltop hoods) and the very first tune I have ever downloaded from the iTunes music store today (‘this old love’ by lior)! That was a very exciting experience… maybe because I have done nothing else today. Or maybe, because it really actually is exciting. Either way, it’s a great song.
Today has been largely uneventful, meaning, I haven’t left the house. Nevertheless, my run of bad dutch luck keeps on following me! Today the phone card I bought to call Oz didn’t work (and I was so excited to be calling home) and I am currently in the process of negotiating with some woman in the US via email about getting an exchange for another card to a greater value (they wont do refunds).
I complain but good things have also happened today (but how boring to talk about). Actually I just got an email informing me I will get a refund! Hoorah.
The most interesting thing of the past 24 hours was Feast last night:
19-Day Feast in Dutch
For those unaware, Feast is a gathering held for Bahá'ís every 19 days. Not so much a physical feast (though the food is usually plentiful also), but more a spiritual one!
Anyway, Nick and I were very warmly welcomed by all the Bahá'ís and it’s wonderful to go to a strange place and know you have a second family!
When the devotional section started we had to hold back our laughs as:
1) Grant Hindin-Miller CDs seem to have penetrated every Bahá'í community on the planet
2) Prayers in Dutch sound a bit made up (as does the entire language most of the time.. I guess someone did make it up, but you know what I mean)
Anyway, don’t stop reading yet because the funniest part is coming now. When we were having a cup of tea and cake I was chatting to one of the young ladies about a friend of hers that moved to Perth after getting married. When I enquired as to whether she is enjoying Perth she promptly replied something along the lines of she must be having fun because she’ll be having “lots of sex”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Um, ok, I just met you like one minute ago, but that’s cool. There goes that Dutch directness again.
Okay, that’s enough for now. Hubby will be home in a minute from saving humanity.
Today has been largely uneventful, meaning, I haven’t left the house. Nevertheless, my run of bad dutch luck keeps on following me! Today the phone card I bought to call Oz didn’t work (and I was so excited to be calling home) and I am currently in the process of negotiating with some woman in the US via email about getting an exchange for another card to a greater value (they wont do refunds).
I complain but good things have also happened today (but how boring to talk about). Actually I just got an email informing me I will get a refund! Hoorah.
The most interesting thing of the past 24 hours was Feast last night:
19-Day Feast in Dutch
For those unaware, Feast is a gathering held for Bahá'ís every 19 days. Not so much a physical feast (though the food is usually plentiful also), but more a spiritual one!
Anyway, Nick and I were very warmly welcomed by all the Bahá'ís and it’s wonderful to go to a strange place and know you have a second family!
When the devotional section started we had to hold back our laughs as:
1) Grant Hindin-Miller CDs seem to have penetrated every Bahá'í community on the planet
2) Prayers in Dutch sound a bit made up (as does the entire language most of the time.. I guess someone did make it up, but you know what I mean)
Anyway, don’t stop reading yet because the funniest part is coming now. When we were having a cup of tea and cake I was chatting to one of the young ladies about a friend of hers that moved to Perth after getting married. When I enquired as to whether she is enjoying Perth she promptly replied something along the lines of she must be having fun because she’ll be having “lots of sex”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Um, ok, I just met you like one minute ago, but that’s cool. There goes that Dutch directness again.
Okay, that’s enough for now. Hubby will be home in a minute from saving humanity.
More pics.. this time of people (us)
Just because Nick gets all glamorous in his suit everyday doesn't mean he should steal all the limelight. This is me as I write to you.
Nick, thinking he's a dutch homeboy
Me again. Doin' nothin'.
Now Nick thinks he's a dutch model. Can't blame him, the suit does look good.Thursday, November 23, 2006
More pictures of scenery.. i know i need to get a life!
A typical dutch street lamp. joy.
This is Rod's street... oh my gosh so gorgeous. We live just before that red thing.
More from my walk home yesterday
Duckies swimming all in a row! Isn't it amazing?!Well, that's what I thought until I realised they are fake! How embarrassing.
Weird and wonderful things about The Hague
Ok, these things are mostly just weird, but I liked the alliteration with wonderful:
1. Seagulls
Yes, this IS a coastal town. Slightly different to the ones we are used to in Oz (insert meter maid picture here).
2. Pedestrians, bicycles, and cars all using the same roads
Everyone and everything walks, cycles and drives anywhere (note: this is a slight exaggeration). While I am starting to get the hang of looking to the right side of the road instead of the left when crossing, this other fact bewilders me.
3. People continuing to speak dutch to me
Do I look dutch to you?
4. Advertisements on TV don't occur at short regular intervals.
They occur maybe twice in a program and go for about ten minutes. Often the adverts consist of those horrendously annoying interactive crosswords and stuff.
Okay, I think that's all for now, but I'm sure there will be many weird things to come.
Other than my reflection on strange things in this land my day was pretty uneventful. However, it did include my computer crashing at the end of me writing a job application, and getting hung up on by an immigration officer after paying about 3 Euro's for the call (it was an accident I assure you).
lots of love
1. Seagulls
Yes, this IS a coastal town. Slightly different to the ones we are used to in Oz (insert meter maid picture here).
2. Pedestrians, bicycles, and cars all using the same roads
Everyone and everything walks, cycles and drives anywhere (note: this is a slight exaggeration). While I am starting to get the hang of looking to the right side of the road instead of the left when crossing, this other fact bewilders me.
3. People continuing to speak dutch to me
Do I look dutch to you?
4. Advertisements on TV don't occur at short regular intervals.
They occur maybe twice in a program and go for about ten minutes. Often the adverts consist of those horrendously annoying interactive crosswords and stuff.
Okay, I think that's all for now, but I'm sure there will be many weird things to come.
Other than my reflection on strange things in this land my day was pretty uneventful. However, it did include my computer crashing at the end of me writing a job application, and getting hung up on by an immigration officer after paying about 3 Euro's for the call (it was an accident I assure you).
lots of love
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
A Dutch battle
Today I had my first heated discussion with a person of Dutch persuasion. Talk about a tough crowd. I was just trying to return 2 vodafone pre-paid sim cards without a receipt. Let me set the scene:
the time: 4pm
the place: vodafone shop in the city
the staff: 3 men, including the one who sold me the sim card yesterday (and he did remember)
They were all very friendly until they discovered I didn't have a receipt. Then, their faces turned an ugly shade of grey and they became monstrous and ogre-like. The temperature in the shop dropped to freezing and people ran away shrieking.
I pleaded that I hadn't been given a receipt (it was all a very quick transaction yesterday and I have kept all other receipts), but that it should be ok because the staff member remembered me AND there would be a record in their computer. While the manager in charge acknowledged all of this, he said he would not look at the computer records without my receipt ("but my receipt is right there in the computer!" I cried in exasperation). He would use comments such as "I am stopping this discussion now" (ahhh, no you're not), and I left after informing him of his "poor management" and customer service skills.
We had dinner with a couple of locals tonight and when I relayed the story they nodded their heads in sympathy and simply remarked "welcome to Holland" (before hearing the end of my story one person exclaimed "you actually managed to return something in Holland?!").
Anyway, I took photos of pretty scenery on the way home to cheer my spirit. To further cheer my spirit feel free to share your vodafone horror stories and/or never buy vodafone utilities or accessories. ever. never ever. Ha, just kidding. not. no I am. no really I'm not. Okay I'm pretty much over the whole experience so you can do whatever you want. Anyway, back to the photos:
the time: 4pm
the place: vodafone shop in the city
the staff: 3 men, including the one who sold me the sim card yesterday (and he did remember)
They were all very friendly until they discovered I didn't have a receipt. Then, their faces turned an ugly shade of grey and they became monstrous and ogre-like. The temperature in the shop dropped to freezing and people ran away shrieking.
I pleaded that I hadn't been given a receipt (it was all a very quick transaction yesterday and I have kept all other receipts), but that it should be ok because the staff member remembered me AND there would be a record in their computer. While the manager in charge acknowledged all of this, he said he would not look at the computer records without my receipt ("but my receipt is right there in the computer!" I cried in exasperation). He would use comments such as "I am stopping this discussion now" (ahhh, no you're not), and I left after informing him of his "poor management" and customer service skills.
We had dinner with a couple of locals tonight and when I relayed the story they nodded their heads in sympathy and simply remarked "welcome to Holland" (before hearing the end of my story one person exclaimed "you actually managed to return something in Holland?!").
Anyway, I took photos of pretty scenery on the way home to cheer my spirit. To further cheer my spirit feel free to share your vodafone horror stories and/or never buy vodafone utilities or accessories. ever. never ever. Ha, just kidding. not. no I am. no really I'm not. Okay I'm pretty much over the whole experience so you can do whatever you want. Anyway, back to the photos:
The walk home
One of the many shopping laneways in town
long tram
Parliament building
random picture of town. note bicycles. this is a small bike parking area... they are everywhere
the walk home (Parliament to the right of this pic)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
A persian coincidence, supermarket tragedy and cold fingers
I miss the sun.
But that's not what this post is about.
A persian coincidence:
Yesterday at about 4.30pm I finally dragged my bottom off the couch and went to explore the neighbourhood. I bought some expensive fruit and delicious donuts. And as I meandered the streets checking out the menu's at various cafe's and restaurants I was fobby spotted! This is a new term I made up right now to describe the phenomenon where persians always spot other persians. As I looked at the menu of this "mediterranean" restaurant a dark figure enquired as to where I'm from and when I replied Australia he remarked "then why are you so dark?"! And no he did not mean my rapidly-deteriorating-barely there tan. Anyway, next thing you know he is speaking to me in Farsi and I am responding in Finglish (is that another word I just made up?). I was invited in for a cup of coffee (actually I had a hot chocolate) and was fed a delicious spicy seafood pasta. We chatted about various things, and "Reza" was terribly upset upon finding out that I am diluting the pure aryan race by having married a caucasian [good]fellow. Anyway, that was an interesting experience.
Oh, and Nick had a great first day at the ICC.
Supermarket tragedy:
I was so thrilled at the idea of going to the supermarket today... finding out about all the goodies available in this country! Before I went, I warned myself not to get too caught up and stay there for hours.
Ha! Un-bloody-likely! I was so disappointed!
The fruit and vege section was poor to say the least! And everything was packaged separately - what is the deal with that? Talk about wastage (for example an eggplant would be wrapped in plastic and the price would be per each one). Argh. It was tragic. The spinach looked so sad. And the meat section, so depressing. The fish, so lacklustre. Needless to say, I spent little time in there. To think I used to put down our Piedemonte's in Fitzroy! That was a heavenly slice of heaven compared to this. I moved on to the cheese section thinking I could score some brilliant cheese for cheap as this is the land of cheesie goodness. Ha! Wrong again! A slice of what I think was camembert (can't read dutch) was 16 Euro!!
To add salt to the wound of the supermarket experience they didn't use regular sized bags at the checkout and I had to pack the goods into those small bags you use for vegies... u know the ones? Not that I mind the no bag policy - good for the environment - I just wasn't prepared. So then I walked home in the freezing cold with my fingers going gangrenous from the bags slicing into my fingers and cutting off circulation. It's a miracle that I am typing this right now.
Anyway, I plan to put the experience behind me and move on with my life.
The rest of the day was great - busy city centre with lots of fun shops, oprah and avocado for lunch.
But that's not what this post is about.
A persian coincidence:
Yesterday at about 4.30pm I finally dragged my bottom off the couch and went to explore the neighbourhood. I bought some expensive fruit and delicious donuts. And as I meandered the streets checking out the menu's at various cafe's and restaurants I was fobby spotted! This is a new term I made up right now to describe the phenomenon where persians always spot other persians. As I looked at the menu of this "mediterranean" restaurant a dark figure enquired as to where I'm from and when I replied Australia he remarked "then why are you so dark?"! And no he did not mean my rapidly-deteriorating-barely there tan. Anyway, next thing you know he is speaking to me in Farsi and I am responding in Finglish (is that another word I just made up?). I was invited in for a cup of coffee (actually I had a hot chocolate) and was fed a delicious spicy seafood pasta. We chatted about various things, and "Reza" was terribly upset upon finding out that I am diluting the pure aryan race by having married a caucasian [good]fellow. Anyway, that was an interesting experience.
Oh, and Nick had a great first day at the ICC.
Supermarket tragedy:
I was so thrilled at the idea of going to the supermarket today... finding out about all the goodies available in this country! Before I went, I warned myself not to get too caught up and stay there for hours.
Ha! Un-bloody-likely! I was so disappointed!
The fruit and vege section was poor to say the least! And everything was packaged separately - what is the deal with that? Talk about wastage (for example an eggplant would be wrapped in plastic and the price would be per each one). Argh. It was tragic. The spinach looked so sad. And the meat section, so depressing. The fish, so lacklustre. Needless to say, I spent little time in there. To think I used to put down our Piedemonte's in Fitzroy! That was a heavenly slice of heaven compared to this. I moved on to the cheese section thinking I could score some brilliant cheese for cheap as this is the land of cheesie goodness. Ha! Wrong again! A slice of what I think was camembert (can't read dutch) was 16 Euro!!
To add salt to the wound of the supermarket experience they didn't use regular sized bags at the checkout and I had to pack the goods into those small bags you use for vegies... u know the ones? Not that I mind the no bag policy - good for the environment - I just wasn't prepared. So then I walked home in the freezing cold with my fingers going gangrenous from the bags slicing into my fingers and cutting off circulation. It's a miracle that I am typing this right now.
Anyway, I plan to put the experience behind me and move on with my life.
The rest of the day was great - busy city centre with lots of fun shops, oprah and avocado for lunch.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Another picture of the street we are staying on. That yummy deli on the corner is also in this pic. Actually I have never bought anything there and have no idea whether it is yummy. But it looks delicious. Sorry the picture is a bit blurry as I battled holding the camera, an umbrella and freezing temperatures.
Okh. Look at Nick in his spiffy suit below. First day of work getting the baddies. And another pic of our quaint surroundings. I know it all looks pretty much the same to you, but I shall continue to post more pics...
Aha! This time it worked. This is a picture taken about 9am this morning - it's the view from Rod's apartment. Isn't the street beautiful? That's a yummy deli on the corner.
Our first day in Den Haag
Gidday there.
This is my first blog. ever.
I don't have anything to say as I just spent all my energy writing emails about our first day in The Hague.
A picture of the view outside the apartment window shall suffice.
Okay, it seems the picture does not want to attach. This has turned out to be a really boring first entry.
This is my first blog. ever.
I don't have anything to say as I just spent all my energy writing emails about our first day in The Hague.
A picture of the view outside the apartment window shall suffice.
Okay, it seems the picture does not want to attach. This has turned out to be a really boring first entry.
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