Day 37: Tennis Love

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Today I got to play tennis again, with a great group of new women. Tennis is very different here than it is in the states. And the organization and process to find a court and to play is quite complicated, as I learned today. After I found out how complicated it was, I was especially thankful that Claire and Karin extended the invitation to me to join their Friday lesson.

You see, we played indoors since it was raining outside. There are limited amounts of indoor courts in Amstelveen and to reserve a court or to become a member of an indoor club takes some work too. And once you figure it out, all the forms and instructions are in Dutch – so add another layer of complexity. So that they would share their court with me was priceless. And that they sat and had a coffee with me afterwards to share and explain and to introduce me to more tennis players just made my day. I have to now find a partner to signup for tournament play that supposedly starts next month. Once you’re in the tournament, then you can play every other Friday. I sure hope I can find a partner this week. Wish me luck. I think tournaments are more like league play, and I’m not sure yet how the tournaments are judged, if they are judged at all. We’ll see… just have to get a court and partner!!

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Tonight Dorine and Nadja came over for dinner. I made my Thai Yellow Curry with chicken and vegetables, Jasmine rice, cucumber salad, kroeproek, and chicken satay with peanut sauce and brownies and petit little cream puffs for dessert. Yum! It’s really nice to have family come to visit and to spend time together. Seeing my kids give them big hugs before bed, just cemented that feeling. I keep hearing stories about how hard it is for expats after the honeymoon stage passes and that I should expect a dip in my positive feelings. I can believe this to be true, yet I’m hoping this doesn’t happen.

I think one of the keys to success might be to find what makes you happy and do it! Do what you love, love what you do. And that’s what I’m trying to do. And I know what makes me happy. Working out. Hanging out with girlfriends. Time spent with family. Playing on Facebook. Exploring new adventures. Writing my blog. Playing Words with Friends. Chatting with friends and family back home. Eating Dutch licorice. Cooking and entertaining. Having friends over and going over to their houses. Drinking coffee and wine. Helping Others. Eating Chocolate and cheese. Pretty simple, right? So IF and when the time comes, and you notice a dip in my positivity – please poke me and remind me that life is good, no matter where you are and even if it’s cold and wet, and to re-read and do the list above. Right? I sure hope it’s that simple. Bring on Day 38… and 68… and 98… Namaste.

10Aug2012

Day 16: SUPed the Amstel and Amsterdam Canals!

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I’m sitting on a kitchen bench in our living room with tired arms. The rental furniture was picked up today and our new furniture arrives tomorrow. We bought a few mattresses and blankets and sheets last week so we are able to actually sleep in beds, so that’s good! We went shopping today to buy a few more linens to cover the mattresses too. We also had fun walking around the Friday market place. On Friday’s, vendors fill the city center selling all sorts of things from cheese, to produce, to household goods, toys, linens, candy and other things. We are slowly (or quickly) getting familiar with our surroundings and making our house more homey.

As the movers were moving stuff out, the kids were exploring the canal in front of our house on our neighbor’s inflatable canoe. They had so much fun splashing around, and making new friends. One of the girls only speaks Dutch and the other little girl speaks English and Dutch. So between the three they found a way to communicate and play. It was fun watching them bond through play.

After “working” today, I got to go for a Friday evening paddle with 50 of my newest “friends!”. I found Morene on Facebook and have been following her since before we moved. She posted that she had rentals available for a Friday night paddle through Amsterdam and tonight I was able to join her. I was so excited!! It was awesome and peaceful and a workout! The weather was gorgeous and the water was warm. It was fun navigating the narrow canals and paddling with a “team” of other SUP-ers, under bridges and around boats and over wakes. Can you see my perm-a-grin???

Jeff and the kids drove me to the drop off location and then I paddled for two hours down the Amstel river and through several canals including the Herengracht. I love being on the water and seeing things from a different perspective. It was fun to watch the tourists taking our pictures and watching us as we paddled by.

I can’t wait to go again!

25Jul2012

Here I Am

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Well, we made It through security and just finished a very late lunch at 4 pm! Our flight is delayed and we learned the hard way that we were only allowed one carry on item each and personal item weighing up to 12 kilos total! $800 later and 11 checked bags and 5 rearranged carry on bags with 4 lap tops included, I think I deserved and needed a beer!! I am drained yet ready to board our plane soon for our next adventure.

Leaving our home, our neighborhood and friends and Oma and Opa was so hard for me. The tears kept falling and I tried to stop but I think it also felt good to relieve some stress. Plus going to bed at 1 am and getting up at 6 am pretty much for the last month has left me more emotional than usual and 10 pounds heavier!! Ugh…

So I’m excited for new beginnings and this adventure we chose to take. Thank you for your kind words and support and visits. We won’t forget you!!

Tomorrow I’ll start a new Day 1 – and count the beautiful days in Europe, documenting and sharing with you our journey and my personal scrapbook. I hope you’ll share your stories as well and stay connected – for the friends and family and relationships I have with you make my life meaningful.

Oh, and before I go, did I tell you that my parents are the best people on the planet? They drove my dad’s truck with 11 suitcases and Jeff’s car with us and our carry on items to the airport. They then drove to a local town and waited for us to be sure we got through security and all and didn’t need to send anything back or if our flight got cancelled. Oh and there’s more, they are headed back to our house to change the sheets and clean up after us so that our “guest” house is ready to receive loved ones! I love you mama and pops! Thanks for everything and we’ll see you in October!!

With love,
Adriana

11Jul2012

Day 14: Transitioning

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In two weeks and a day (due to the time change), we’ll be living in Holland. A big change for us as we’ve never lived overseas. And we’re excited and nervous and overwhelmed and anxious and want to go and wish we could stay. Yin and yang, all mixed together.

So much to do and today was the day to push through as many tasks as possible so that I can play freely tomorrow! I got several errands done since I was awake and out of bed by 5:30 am! C went on a playdate all day and the other two are off at camp. I arranged for a (mini) bus to pick us up from the airport and began to discuss furniture rental plans for the new place. I returned stuff all over town and shopped for our going away party this weekend. Should be fun!

C had a playdate at Adventure Land in Berkeley, which was a magical place for kids to build forts with real hammers, saws, nails and wood, in a dusty playing field with recycled materials. They didn’t want to leave!

It felt like his birthday today, because his friend came over after the play date to watch a movie and rest before they headed out to a night time game of mini-golf. On C’s bucket list was to play at night with all the lights and it being dark. We sure had fun and he won a free game for hitting the little ball in the tiniest of holes at the end. He was so proud of his effort and very happy.

And on a different note, I felt a bit sad today for a couple moments. Like when I went to buy milk and the expiration date was past the date that we move. And when I was shopping at Costco, seeing the same faces I’ve seen for 10+ years, and enjoying the comforts of big shopping, I kept feeling that it’s going to be different. And driving by our church and really missing it and the people. Just a couple tears for 15 seconds – just feeling the transition and ok with it but feeling the separation and change. It’s what we want but it’s still an a adjustment. But, its all good…

Are we there yet?!?!?

5Jul2012

Day 21: 3 Weeks Until We Move!

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So 3 weeks from today we’ll be on an airplane to the Netherlands. I think it was about 4 months ago that this crazy idea began to germinate. We’ve done so much to prepare and most of the big items are done. When I agreed to this idea of being expats, I told my husband that I am happy to go and that I wanted to do everything I could beforehand to enjoy all the goodness that surrounds me. The crazy thing is I think I’ve packed more excitement into the past 4 months than I have in years. I’m thankful for this amazing gift of appreciation and time and awareness and for my supportive family and friends. I’m awestruck to say the least!!

When I started this blog 100+ days ago and called it: Here I Am, it was to commit to being fully present and living life in the moment. I like this feeling. I feel fulfilled and wish everyone the same joy. Remind me of this if I ever falter.

Being here and being the Fourth of July and attending the USA gymnastics Olympic trials this week and playing outside makes me aware of how much I love being an American. I love the flag, our patriotism, our national anthem, even our money. I’m aware that I will miss our American Holidays even though I look forward to the European ones. I’m excited and accept the changes that are to come and know this is an amazing opportunity yet I’m aware of the costs even though I know I’m coming back one day. Ying and yang. It’s all good.

The kids and I took all the coins we’ve been saving around the house and brought them to the Coinstar machine to be sorted and counted. We had over $200 in random coins! It was fun for them to feed the machine and watch the ticker count away. They were happy because they got to divide up the proceeds.

So with that, I hope you celebrated with BBQs and watermelon, friendship and sparklers, fireworks and dessert and had an amazing day!

P.S. I’m taking a fitness vacation over the next few days and may not have internet access, so will catch up again as I can. xo

25Jun2012

Day 30: One month from today!!

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Really? Only one more month? I can’t believe it. Times moves so quickly and so slowly at the same time.

I’m amazed at all that was done today to prepare for this move and to enjoy life in the process.

We literally came home late last night, only to wake up early to go to the DMV at 8:00 am this morning. If you’re headed to the DMV – only go if you have an appointment. Otherwise, you’re not going to be happy. The line was wrapped around the building whereas we were able to walk through the side door and see someone right on time at 8:10 am. The lady was so helpful and knowledgeable. I was quite impressed, which is not the normal feeling when visiting a government agency. We both had to be there since both our names were on the title of our car that we plan to export. We had to file a certification of exportation before the moving company will move it for us. Details.

I was so sick this morning and then started to laugh at this DMV line of geese! There were 11 of them walking down the street for quite awhile and then up the sidewalk to the grassy area to look for food. Too funny!

Santa Clara DMV line before 8 am when it opened. Crazier than the geese line, I think!!

After the DMV, I fed the kids a healthy breakfast (PopTarts and Chex Mix) since we had nothing in the house and 10 minutes to eat it!! Then I showered quickly and rushed them to their summer camp before I headed off to my Doctor’s appointment for a physical and all that good stuff! I want us all healthy and checked before heading off to another country. I had a tetanus shot so my arm is still sore late tonight. Should be ready for a packing marathon tomorrow!

After the doctor visit, I took J shopping for groceries and filled up the fridge with healthy and easy snacks and meal options. I don’t have time for cooking right now, not this week! Did I tell you the movers will be here on Friday and I haven’t been home to even pack?!?!

Once the fridge was full, I finished filling out all the documentation for the move – the Pre Departure form, Insurance Forms, Copies of Passports, Original Title for the Car, Valuation of the Car, Import forms, blah, blah, blah – you get the point. Once they were done an hour or so later, I rushed over to pay FedEx $23 to send them overnight to San Leandro. I guess that’s easier than driving them over there. They should arrive by 10 am tomorrow. Amazing!!

After FedEx, it was time to shop a little for our family friends who just lost a loved one. I can’t stop thinking of them more than my own move and I had to stop to pay respect and to be still to honor them. I put together a little care package and had it ready for a late visit. But first, I had to go pick up the boys from camp.

I got to pickup the boys a little bit early to get CJ to an orthodontist check up appointment. We’ve been waiting for braces for about a year, but his teeth have their own agenda and are not quite ready for braces. One more relief of anxiety as I was afraid of his dental care once we moved. Luckily, she said to just keep up with the cleanings and that he probably won’t be ready for braces for another 3 years! He’s slow to lose his baby teeth, but that’s just how he is… on his own timeline. I love it.

On the way home from the Ortho, I talked with Stacey to coordinate our play date this weekend!! My FAVORITE is coming to town and I get to see her and her kids! I can’t wait!! And she’s taking care of me – staying in a hotel as I move and bringing me dinner on Thursday!! How cool is that? Maybe she’ll even help me pack!! I have something to look forward to after all this is over and a weekend to play if I work really hard! YAY – goodbye stress, hello happiness!

I dropped the kids off at home to rest and picked up my gift bowl of fruits and chocolates and went to my friend’s house to just be with her. While there, several other friends and her family members came and went and I just felt the love of this community – the family feeling that was ever present. We are lucky to live in such a great place, where everyone is pulling together and supporting our friend, our family from our local school. There is something intangible and priceless that I felt today – I saw it in their eyes and felt it in their spirit – that we all wanted to lift some of the burden and just share in the grief knowing that there is nothing we can really do to alleviate the pain, but just knowing that we were all coming together in different ways was touching and meaningful. Hearing her story and listening to her speak was healing I’m sure – just a little bit and I wish there was more I could do. *big sigh*

And then finally it was time to come home, to make dinner and have April and Steve over. We’ve hardly seen each other since before Hawaii and I was missing them all so much. My mama sent home a frozen container of her “liquid gold” spaghetti sauce with meatballs and sausage and I just had to share it. We all love it so much and can’t get enough of it. I swear, there is something magical she does to build that savory and rich flavor that I just can’t replicate. It is truly comfort food, and was so needed tonight. It was so nice to just be together and share a meal and conversation with family… My family in Sunnyvale. 😉

And now I’m tired, can you imagine that?? And I didn’t even get to any packing today, but heck – I still have 3 days! I can do it, right?!? I work well under pressure! Wish me luck…

I hope you had a fabulous day and wish you a good rest of the week.

xo Adriana