Day 118: Thanksgiving, Giving Thanks

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Today I’m thankful for all 98 of you who choose to follow my blog with me every day. It’s exciting to think that you’re interested in what I have to share and hopefully my life story connects with yours in some type of positive way.

I’m thankful for those that check in once in awhile and like what I have to say, and for those that send me personal emails and facebook messages too. You make me smile. It’s so nice to be loved and liked.

I’m thankful for my husband who had the crazy idea to go on this journey in the first place. He works so hard to support our family and I appreciate all that he does to provide for us. Sounds so old-fashioned, but it works for us. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom (and go on Wheel of Fortune or Price is Right) and because of him, I get to live my dream. I wonder if I’ll ever get on TV??

I’m thankful for my kids who are such cool people, with loving spirits and funny personalities (and BIG opinions!) I enjoy their company and am so lucky that we get to live together and play together. I love hearing their stories at the dinner table, watching them interact with their friends, and seeing them mature and grow up in front of me. I am blessed.

I’m thankful for my parents who have been staying with us for a month already. They left tonight to stay with relatives for a couple nights and I already miss them. My dad has been busy in the kitchen making bread and cookies and helps our oldest with math homework every night. My mom makes dinner for us and cleans up and magically makes the laundry disappear. We play cards, shop, cook, eat french fries, explore Europe, drink coffee together in the morning and drink wine together at night. What could be better? I’m so lucky that they enjoy being with us and we enjoy being with them. What a gift to move to Holland and have them be with us for 1/6th of a year! It will be weird when they leave us next month, but let’s not think of that just yet.

I’m thankful for my friends and sisters and family back home that keep in touch and call and text and write and send me cards and packages in the mail and let me know that they are holding my spot back home. I long to hug them, and play tennis, volleyball, paddle and hike with them, and drink coffee!!

I’m thankful for the new friendships I’m making in Holland – that make the transition to a new place so sweet. It’s nice to come to school everyday to pick up the kids and to see familiar faces and to chat. Today the kids had practice until 5 pm and it was actually a joy to sit in the cafeteria, drinking coffee with the other mom friends and sharing stories. I’m excited to celebrate a Thanksgiving potluck dinner with a few of them!! I’m looking forward to more shared experiences that help to build friendships too.

I’m thankful that the sun peeked out today. I realize how much I love and need the sunshine and when it shines, I’m beyond thrilled. Today I sat in the parking lot before going indoors to play tennis so that I could feel the sun on my face. I didn’t even want sunglasses on. It’s strange how when you don’t have something, you feel it and want it more!! I’m hoping for more days like today.

Happy Thanksgiving! Love, Adriana

19Nov2012

Day 117: Zwarte Piet Came to Our House!!

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Zwarte Piet came to our house last night. I have no idea how he got in, but magically he did! I bet he used the golden key that the mayor gave Sinterklaas. He must have known that Charlie had written a letter and left out treats for Sinterklaas’ horse.

Boy, was Charlie surprised to come downstairs to find that Zwarte Piet had left pepper noten and candy in our Dutch Wooden Shoes!

He was so thrilled that after school today, he wrote a thank you note and left more food for the horse, hoping that he’ll come again.

18Nov2012

Day 116: Sinterklaas and the 1000’s of Zwarte Pieten

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Today we celebrated an old, Dutch tradition from the 1930s of welcoming Sinterklaas to town from Madrid on his steamboat. He arrived with huge fanfare and docked his boat on the Amstel River next to the Het Scheepvaartmuseum. The Zwarte Pieten were entertaining the crowds, singing and dancing and repelling from the rooftops, excited for Sinterklaas’ arrival. It was such a site to see and a day to experience true, Dutch culture.

We got up early on this Sunday morning to take the tram to Amsterdam Central Station, and walked over to the “best” spot to see his arrival.

My favorite part of the day was people watching. Everyone was in such a good spirit and were happy and were together with family and friends. Kids everywhere were dressed up in Zwarte Piet hats and painted faces and costumes.

Not having experienced this celebration but once when I was a child, I was in awe and didn’t want to miss a thing. I don’t know who was more excited – me, my mom, or my kids!! I guess it was a good day for all.

Zwarte Piet means Black Peter, and there are several different explanations as to what he symbolizes. There is some controversy over his being, which I’d rather not discuss here because I think it takes away from the true intent and context of the original celebration. Literally thousands of people are dressed up as this character with their faces painted black. They run around and tease the crowds, play tricks, ride scooters or roller blades and hand out pepper noten – small, miniature ginger/cinnamon like cookies and small candies. They also gave out post cards and flags to wave along the parade route.

The story is that Sinterklaas arrives in town on his steamboat, and then parades through town on his white horse with his helpers before St. Nicholas Eve on December 5th. This gives him time to visit all the good childrens’ homes before the big event.

He received the golden magic key from the mayor and can now magically get into the houses to deliver small presents. Children leave letters and carrots in their shoes, and Sinterklaas replaces them with gifts.

It was really exciting to experience this celebration today with so many people along the parade route. The spirit in the air was truly friendly, warm and jovial, despite the cold and sunny weather. I think it’s a great way to bring on the holiday season. To learn more about Sinterklaas, you can visit wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas.

Watching Charlie’s excitement today at the parade, and seeing my mom help him write a letter to Sinterklaas in Dutch and drawing pictures on his letter was pure joy. I wish that everyone could feel the magic and spirit of being a kid, filled with wonder and curiosity and a touch of fear, waiting and anticipating when Sinterklaas and the Zwarte Pieten may come and knock on our door, throwing pepper noten inside and filling his shoes with candy and toys.

Happy Holidays!! xo

17Nov2012

Day 115: Celebrations

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Good News: all three kids had birthday parties to attend today.

Bad News: all three parties were in different parts of Holland.

I am thankful that the kids have all made good friends and were invited to celebrate good times together and were spoiled. I just wish they didn’t land on the same day and overlapping times and in three different cities . We spent at least 30 minutes coordinating logistics, and several hours driving! But it was all worth it.

If the kids are happy, mama’s happy!

16Nov2012

Day 114: My Mama and the Marketplace

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Watching my mom at the marketplace today made me happy. She was in her glory.

She was like a kid at Disneyland, going from ride to ride, excited by what she might see next, and oblivious to the cold weather. She walked ahead and smiled and waited for us to come join her. She shared what she fancied and spoke in Dutch to the sellers. She tasted the cheese samples and was excited to buy some warm frites! I think she gasped and giggled when she saw the dead fish on display, sharing how her mom used to love mackerel like the fishmonger was selling.

She stopped at the candy stand and picked treats to bring back home with her. Bread and fruit was purchased, as well as roasted chickens for dinner tomorrow night so we don’t have to cook. I like the way she thinks!

When the organ cart music player started to play, my mom started to dance. Her eyes were smiling and she was visibly happy.

My dad and I just admired her joy and passion. We were happy just seeing her BEING happy.

She was happy just being there, at home, with her people, with us, her culture, her language, her food, and entertained by the movement of the marketplace. So simple. She was happy just being. And afterwards, she was filled with gratitude – for her life and her blessings and being together.

She IS content. We should all be so lucky to feel what she felt today.

Life is good and I love her so much. I’m thankful that she and my dad are here with us for still another month.

I hope you fill your weekend with joy and passion, and I’d love to hear about what makes you happiest. xo

15Nov2012

Day 113: Being Still

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This is what my morning looked like. Foggy and still.

Yesterday Jeff and I had to sit in a quiet airport, in an empty restaurant seating area that was closed with the lights off. We sat there for 3 hours. Foggy heads from being tired and still.

But the funny thing is, we weren’t bored. We didn’t really care, except that we really wanted to be home. We were thankful to be together and away from protestors. We were thankful that our flight wasn’t cancelled and that we had food and water, even if it was from McDonalds!!

And the funniest part was that Jeff agreed to play cards with me. If you know my husband, he hates playing cards or any games for that matter and I’m always begging him to play with me. So he agreed and that made me giddy and laugh which made him smile. But the funniest part was that when I brought out the new deck of cards from Madrid that I had bought as a gift for my mom and dad (we play cards every day) – the deck of cards only had 48 cards!! There weren’t any Queens!! What’s up with that? So Jeff got out of playing cards with me, but still won because he even agreed to play in the first place. That made me happy. Instead we played tic tac toe and another dot game. He’s not so bad!! I’ll keep him.

We were thankful that the plane took off as planned and that we got home earlier than expected.

The thing I learned after traveling to Italy, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands in a period of less than a month is that it’s tiring to travel!! ;-). I also learned that I’ll find joy wherever I go, even if its just sitting in the airport waiting for time to pass.

14Nov2012

Day 112: Fear of Crowds

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I don’t like crowds. They make me claustrophobic and anxious, and I feel fearful that someone might touch me, or steal something, or start pushing and I’ll get hurt or that I will lose my kids or spouse. Yes, I have a hyperactive imagination, and usually don’t let fear take over, but today I did feel vulnerable.

Today the protesters were swarming all around our hotel. The helicopters were buzzing over head. Police vans were lined up, 5-10 vans long with flashing lights. Motorcycle cops were buzzing around. Police officers with riot gear were prepared to fight and protect people and businesses.

The place we got lunch our first day in town was being attacked. Luckily they have metal sliding doors to protect the glass, and Starbucks and Pan closed down. Most of the shops were closed down on the street where we had breakfast yesterday. It was very eerie. People were swarming and chanting and yelling and littering and were generally upset.

As I was getting ready to leave the hotel, my Spanish phone sent me a text message saying I was out of Euros. I had bought a prepaid sim plan so I could communicate with Jeff via text. Luckily the Phone house was still open and the lady that helped me 2 days ago was there to help me today to top it off and reconnect me again! Phew – one less stressor!

I was very uncomfortable and just wanted to leave but feared the trains wouldn’t work. Luckily they did, they were just running less frequently than usual and were packed. We decided to get to the airport quite early, before rush hour, just in case. Luckily our flight isn’t cancelled (yet). Jeff was at his conference this morning and left a bit early too. We were able to meet up at the final tram stop at the airport. I was so happy to see him and to feel safe again.

At the airport, the protesters have blanketed the departure area with large stickers, everywhere. I’m glad they aren’t here now, but the mess remains. And it’s eerily quiet here. Most flights have been cancelled. We still have 2 1/2 hours to wait for our departure. I’m praying we can get out of here!

** We made it home safely!!! So happy.

14Nov2012

Day 111: Wanderlust

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Today was a another sunny day in Madrid, which made me smile. I didn’t have much of a plan but more of a sense of direction to begin the day. And then I wandered and just enjoyed the journey.

I started the day with Jeff at Valor, trying the infamous chocolate y churros, which didn’t disappoint.

Next we wandered over to the cloistered monastery and took a tour in Spanish. It was amazing! To think that some people choose to live a lifestyle where they never connect with the outside world. It was incredibly ornate and religious!

Afterward, Jeff went to his conference and I wandered to Chueca. I found the Mercado San Anton and enjoyed an empanada from the marketplace, along with a glass of cava, which was very tasty.

Next I wandered through the gardens of Retiro, and ended up at the Prado museum. I wasn’t planning on going there, but ended up having enough time and spent the next couple of hours admiring the art, amazed by the talents of some people!

I wandered back to the hotel in time to meet Jeff and to do a tapas crawl for dinner before 10 pm.

Life is good!!

13Nov2012

Day 110: Date Night in Madrid

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My life is seriously crazy. Jeff had a business trip in Spain and asked me if I wanted to go with him. Of course, I said yes. My parents are excellent babysitters and who wouldn’t want to see Spain? I’ve never been and am always up for an adventure, even if we had to leave before the sun rose this morning!

After checking into our hotel, Jeff went to his conference. I haven’t toured a major city by myself since my consulting days when I used to explore the Boston Commons and the streets of New York with big eyes. Today was much of the same and I loved wandering and getting “lost” in the city. I eventually wandered into the tourist information office to charge my phone and to recharge my feet. I wore high heeled boots today, which was a stupid choice! While there relaxing, I read some of the Madrid pamphlets and discovered a 2 hour city walking tour for 6€ that was starting in an hour. So I went. I highly recommend joining a tour wherever you go. Tour guides bring to life the details and context you might miss by just reading a guide book. They know the alley ways and rich history and lead the way. I’m hooked, and for 6€, it was cheaper than a drink.

Jeff came back from his conference around 7 pm and had a conference call with the States at 9 pm. No problem. I took a late siesta and we left for date at 10:45 pm!! When in Spain… Dinner doesn’t usually begin until 9 pm. By 11:30 pm we had strolled down Cava Brava and found a nice tapas place for a late dinner. The metro system runs until 1:30 am so we had plenty of time to get back to our hotel.

The best part of my day was enjoying the sunshine that was bright and warm all day. I miss the California sunshine and now living in Holland makes me realize how much I appreciate this simple gift.

I really liked the vibe and ambiance at the Mercado de San Miguel. I was curious about the cloistered nuns who live in a convent and never leave or see people from outside the convent walls. I also enjoyed the history and architectural influences from the Arab world. I liked the difference in timing that I’m not used to, like watching the stores close midday and seeing people out for dinner past 11 pm.

Today was perfect, except for my sore feet. Tennis shoes tomorrow for sure!

12Nov2012

Day 109: Happy Veterans Day!

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We celebrated Veterans Day by visiting Metz, France and Bastogne, Belgium. Here are some pictures from our visits. Jeff’s granddad was in the Metz area during WWII when he received word that Jeff’s mom was born in the United States.