Monday, June 24, 2013

Becoming Dutch





I am officially a working woman! I successfully made it through my first week of this 9-5 deal, and for the most part, enjoyed it. Through this process of starting work, I think I also became more Dutch. I now have a Dutch social security number, a colorful Dutch stamp that takes up a whole page in my passport, Dutch health insurance (its mandatory, them socialist),and I now know what the average Dutch man eats for lunch everyday.


But what has made me most Dutch is simply, a bicycle. Starting work meant starting to bike to work everyday. The bike paths are incredible, and everywhere.  Think of "Finding Nemo" and the scene of the ocean highways with fish swimming in every which way, but in an organized manner. Or think thousands of NYC drivers, just on bikes. The bike paths even have their own lights, so when they are red, a load of bicyclists/mopeds builds up. And when they turn green, its like the start of the Kentucky Derby, and we're off! My entire ride to and from work feels like a race; everyone is trying to pass each other, and they are always on the offensive. I've seen moms with a wheelbarrow on the front of their bike with rather large children in them, in addition to another kid attached to the back in various ways. I've seen infants attached to the front of a bike as a mom wizzes by. I've seen tiny little cars that use the bike paths, along with mopeds that think they are bikes, but just go way faster. I've seen girls bike past with 4 inch heels, men in full suits…nothing really gets between a Dutchman/woman and her/his bike! I've even seen a littler motrorized wheel chair 'put' down the path.


My path to work is quite pleasant. A little bit of busy roads, a lot of paths through parks, and I even cross a bridge that retracts when big boats come through. I've only got caught in the rain once (the guys at work have educated me on all of the radar websites), and didn't get lost at all after my first day. I have yet to talk on the phone/text while biking as many people do, but I have mastered the "hold your phone in one hand and use it as a GPS while biking" technique to get to different places thorughout the city.

I don't think I'll ever take public transportation in Amsterdam again.


The company I am working for is called NLR (http://www.nlr.nl/ if you're curious). I'm working on a project that is basically putting a brain on a parachute. So when the military wants to deliever materials to a base or a humanitarian site, all they have to do is plug in a target point, throw the parachute out the plane, and the device NLR is developing will direct the parachute and payload to land on target, while calcuating the wind and its own mass in the air.

To perfect this, a lot of testing has to be done. And since planes and fuel and parachuets are not cheap, they have created a simulation of the whole process on a computer program. But it has lots of errors and is basically unfinished, so my job, is to do some finishing. I'll be doing lots of coding, problem fixing, user-manual writing, testing etc.

The office I work in is great. I guess my biggest fear coming in was that it would be stressful, terrifying, and impossible work. Its quite the contrary, and one of the most stree-free environmnts I've ever had to work in (aka NOT MIT). People get their work done, but on their own pace. There is unlmited cofee/tea/hot chocolate, and people are always at the machine taking breaks. I've got a fancy two-desktop set-up and share an office with one other guy who is pretty legit. He's told me all about his paragliding adventures across the world. He's already helped me a lot so far, taught me some Dutch, and eats lunch with me every day! My advisor is also very nice. I think he enjoys showing me around instead of working, and likes to talk about his house and dogs and the touristy stuff I should do in Amsterdam.

It's actually pretty hilarious I am in the Aircraft Systems department. All of the other departments have younger student interns/women. My department is made up of about 25 men at least over the age of 50, if not older. Most of them are a little nerdy, have been working here since I was born, and talk about coding languages with each other and then laugh how I've never heard of them. If you looked in our cafeteria at lunch, you'd see an entire table full of old guys, with me (I am also the only woman), stuck in the middle. There are 3 men's bathrooms and 1 women's bathroom in our division, and I'm pretty sure I am the only one who uses the women's bathroom. Sometimes I wish I was working with some younger people...but most of the time I enjoy standing out, and getting to hear all of their crazy life stories. It's almost like I get to hang out with a bunch of Opa's each day :)


The Dutch love bread and milk, more than I ever would have thought. When they told  me the mlik was free in the cafeteria, I didn't realize that was because the workers would go broke if it wasn't. Every single man eats 2-4 sandwiches a day, with regular bread, with baguettes, and with big rolls (usually one of each), alongside 2-3 glasses of milk, and a cup of soup. The sandwhiches usually consist of butter (always), and then a slice of cheese, or some kind of liquified meat (liverwurst?). And depending on the type of bread, they eat it with a fork and knife. My peanut butter sandwhich, piece of fruit, and WATER bottle is quite shocking to them.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

falling in love with my Savior

Sunday did not go how I planned at all, and yet it was spectacular.

I had planned to wake up early, take my own little adventure on a bike for the first time to church, and then spend the rest of the day exploring Amsterdam on my own. But when I went to look for the bike my 'landlord' had said she dropped off for me, I couldn't find it anywhere. So I frantically headed to church by foot/tram, and arrived 30 minutes late (missing my stop didn't help). Annoyed with my situation and myself, I decided to just sit on the canal for an hour and a half until the next service started. Surely my Father knows how to captivate my heart - all I need is some water and warm sunshine and I could feel His peace, His love. 

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" 
-Psalms 46:10


He wanted my heart, my attention, and He changed my plans in order to stop my busyness and get me to fall back in love with Him. To see Him in Amsterdam, His hand in everything thats happened and will happen in my life. To pray (for many of you!), and to listen. That's what my heart needed before I walked into church.

Like in most other countries I've been too, church ended up being the favorite thing I've done so far. The people were inviting and friendly. The worship was powerful. The message, about being present in each moment, was exactly what I needed to hear. Please pray I can get connected to a weekly small group Bible study from this church soon! 

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


Since I didn't have a bike to go exploring on, I just went grocery shopping, and back to my apartment. But, I enjoyed a relaxing day with the Lord, blogging, and getting ready for work!

Rotterdam

My first Saturday in the Netherlands was spent where I truly originated from - Rotterdam - the city Oma grew up in (and without her I wouldn't exist!). It's a pretty modern city, since most of it got bombed during WWII. The day I went also happened to be the day of an international carnival - so the city was packed. The carnival was interesting, loud, and longgggg. It was quite impossible to escape the blaring music of it or the crowds, but definitely added to the excitement of being there, and resulted in some crazy pictures! 

Centraal Station


My favorite part of the day was going through the market. It consisted of hundreds of tables selling anything and everything. A fruit stand next to an antique seller next to a table full of iPhone cases next to clothes next to fish. The girls I was with bought SUPER stroopwafels, one even had chocolate on it! All of the fruit and cheese stands gave out free samples, so obviously I was pleased ;) It was exhilarating walking through! 

The city hall - Oma and Opa got married here!! 
fruittttt ;) 

yummmmm
I also really enjoyed the harbor full of boats, which you could go on for free! I've always liked boats. 



Another note on the familiarity of Holland - the smellsssss. The poignant smell of raw herring when you walk by many food shops, the smell of cows/cow manure that permeates everywhere except for the center of Amsterdam, the sweet smell of fresh, hot stroopwafels, the smell of fries (with mayo of course) and croquettes, the smell of canal water (almost like the Charles)...

one of the few Dutch traditions I will NEVER take part in!

Monday, June 17, 2013

back.to.my.roots.



After having such an amazing start to the summer - it was hard to believe that the major part of my plans hadn't even started yet. But before I knew it, I had safely landed in Amsterdam, and begun the adventure of living in the place where I originated from. I've been here less than 36 hours as I am writing this, and I could already talk about so much! I'll try to start from the beginning…

Saying goodbye!
I left Boston June 13th at 9:30 pm. By this point, traveling and airports felt too comfortable. After an hour of journaling, reflection, praying for a daring heart, safety, and a greater ability to trust God to get me to my house in Amsterdam safely, I then fell asleep for the remainder of the flight (no surprise there). After a quick layover in Iceland - a country a definitely want to visit again sometime - a slept the rest of the way to Amsterdam. The only think I remember from the entire flight is "We'll be landing in 20 minutes."

Landed, got my bag, got some euros from the atm, and then headed to find a train. Had to ask the information booth twice how to buy a ticket and then which train to get on, but made it to the right one relatively easy. I almost missed my stop because I didn't realize you have to push a button for the doors to open (#stupidamericantourist). I then got on a tram, but couldn't figure out how to pay for it, so took a free ride to my stop. Guessed a direction to walk in (only had to turn around once), while praying I'd end up on the right streets somehow…and 2 hours after I landed in Amsterdam, I was home safe in a beautifullllll house. My roommate Carolyn, another MIT student, had already been here for a week. But, she left me the upstairs room, with a big bed, a sunny room, and an attached shower - welcome home ;) 
My street!
View from my window. 

My wonderful abode. 
Balcony attached to the kitchen.


After settling in a bit, I headed to the grocery store. Was tempted to go crazy and buy a couple boxes of hagelslag, stroopwafels, dutch candy etc…but contained myself, for now. Absolutely nothing in that store was in english - so had some fun guessing what I was buying! 


:D :D :D :D

After being in the Netherlands for only a few hours, it already felt very comfortable. Things were surprisingly familiar from when I was here 11 (?) years ago. I was aware of more of the customs/food than I thought I would be (I guess my family is pretty authentic). And I don't stand out as much as I did in Kenya/Israel. Most people even start speaking Dutch to me first! AND I went for a run, and other people were running! Not as much as in Boston, but people didn't look at me like I was crazy. I even found my own little Narnia through a sketchy gate...




One out of the many things in the kitchen that are exactly the same as things  in my moms/Aunties/Omas house.



hello summer 2013!

Here I go - back to this whole blogging thing! Before I start talking about my current international adventure, I'd like to recount the first few weeks of my summer. 

Shortly after taking my last final on May 25th, I headed home after some frantic packing. The next two days I spent at Oma's house down the Cape, with Antuan, complete with kayaking adventures, chipotle-seeking, a yummy lobster dinner, a run in the rain, and finally watching Les Mis. T'was quite delightful - a summer started at the Cape can never be a bad one (even with rain). 

The following Saturday, Antuan and I joined over 30 other students from Boston and around the country for a two week Cru summer project. Cru is an international Christian ministry that I am involved in on campus, which is passionate about connecting people with Jesus. I had an amazing two weeks, getting to know a phenomenal group of people, getting to know myself more, and getting to understand the Bible and God's calling for my life to a whole new degree. The project was filled with deep conversations, but lots of silly shenanigans as well (see pictures below). I'd love to tell you more about it - ask me sometime! ;)

I then had a few good days home to catch up with people, pack, spend time with my family, and prepare for the next journey awaiting me...







 "Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
-Psalm 103:1-5