She's here!

Arrived this morning. With love notes from the in-laws. Last chance before our trip to Barcelona starting tomorrow. Phew, happy morning indeed!

Coming soon: Amateur Photo Hour (s).

Expect next week to be all about Barcelona Birthday Bextravaganza!

I love the Sunday-Morning-Breakfast-Guy

Sven, are you stupid?

This week I've been smuggly walking around Rotterdam, loving this cozy little city and very happy with what the Netherlands has to offer to me. But last night we had a little fight, and I'm still fuming.

Sven Kramer is supposedly one of the most famous athletes in the Netherlands. You have probably never heard of him until now or, if you were watching it, yesterday. And you probably will never hear of him again, or recognize his name when you do. But he apparently thinks he is pretty damn special and couldn't fathom anyone not knowing him.

Well today the Olympic watching world does know him. Maybe not as much for what he'd like you to: winning the gold medal in the 5000 meter speed skating race (and setting a new Olympic record) but more for being a bit of a jacka**.

Yes, he accomplished something not many of us ever will. Pretty impressive, definitely worthy of recognition and a slap on the back. Does not make one worthy of being an imbecile.

The characters: Sven Kramer-famous Dutch athlete, speed skater, douche. Unnamed US NBC reporter. Dutch bimbo reporter.

The story: Sven Kramer wins gold medal. US reporter interviews him immediately after. US reporter asks him to give his name, country and repeat what he just won. Sven has tantrum. "Are you stupid? Hell no, I'm not gonna do that." US reporter does not flinch but continues interview in professional way. Boy-child switches gears and puts on his charming face for the portion of the video he thinks will air. Later, boy-child gets interviewed by Dutch bimbo reporter, who tries to seduce boy-child w hearty laugh and a shake of her hair. Ends interview by giving him that knowing "it's us against them" look while attempting to play footsie under interview table.

I've been following comments on this story, many Dutch of course are soooo insulted and are having a field day getting a chance to insult Americans. Sorry to see a lot of Americans are agreeing too.

One such Dutch was saying "Furthermore, if you were a bit more educated you would know that Dutch people are blunt when need be, do not confuse that with arrogance, which is why after that outburst by Sven he could have carried on with the interview politely - no hard feelings."

Really. The rest of the world is supposed to be educated about one small countries' finicky character traits but Dutch "celebs" are not supposed to know about how the rest of the media world conducts an interview? Really?

I love how refusing to ID yourself because you think the whole world will now recognize you until the end of time does not make one arrogant. And blunt means what, that you can insult someone? I've had another Dutch person identify the Dutch personality as blunt. So yes, let's say this is true. But her description of blunt was more along the lines of: honest, straight forward. Could have been "ID myself? did you not just see me win the gold?"

Amateur much? Let me explain media to all those siding with this chump. Let me explain media to said chump. Anyone holding an interview, be it reporter or producer, will ask the subject to ID him or herself. It helps the producers, it helps the editors and it's an immediate fact check. I've seen/asked A-list celebs do it, brand name politicians do it, Hall of Famer's do it. They know.

It also gives the editors a chance to create a nice sound byte of interviewee, great for that persons PR. You know, those clips you see leading into a show or hear on the radio "I'm such and such and I just did such and such!"

Bravo to the US reporter for continuing on and not responding by putting him in his place. "Umm, oh, is this your first interview?! Awww" (that would have been me). Total professional. Of course she knew who he was, she's an NBC reporter. You don't get there by publishing an article in your school paper.

What gets me more is the smug looking Dutch reporter who interiews him about it later. (See clip link below). She is barely able to spit out her own question but then chuckles w her buddy Sven about those stupid Americans. Know much about your own profession babe? Too gaga over this much yonger than you jock to respect a colleague? Very sad to see, it gives women a bad name and just makes her look like a ditz.

Because you were embarrassed you now have to take it out on an "easy target", that it?

Right back at ya you two, Are you stupid?!

Favorite Dutch Commercieel

Have to share my (so far) favorite Dutch commercial.
Need to introduce it first with this video, (you may have seen it, it's been showing around the world)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1ZZreXEqSY

And now the new follow up is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOvoO6eQDms

Enjoy!

Acceptance Letter

This is an acceptance letter to the classes I will be starting today. Of course I don't know that for sure being that this letter is written in Dutch and is for the class "Dutch for beginners".
Happy Monday!

Happy Valentijnsdag!

Valentine's Day on a student budget.
We had a nice little spread thanks to our weekly trip to the Saturday market. We picked up some cheeses (the aged goat cheese was our favorite, great w a drizzle of honey), nuts, dried fruit and pickled veggies. The pickler threw in a couple of rolls for free. R chose a beautiful bouquet of roses (our big splurge) and we still had a small bottle of champagne we'd received for Christmas.
Delicious.
After our appetizers we went on our movie date: An Education. (Liked). Not all that hungry we ended up skipping dinner but made sure to end the date at home w some hot cocoa. This week more than one couple had (on separate occasions) mentioned that they often play boardgames together. So, inspired, we decided we'd buy ourselves a boardgame as our valentine gift.
Recommendations welcome!

Detour: sledding slideshow

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Detour: and now for a real mountain

I've been on a brief hiatus thanks to a little trip I took to visit the fam in Austria. I was there for over a week and returned to Rotterdam two days ago. When I left Rotterdam had no snow but Austria had tons of it. So, while here I was able to do one of my favorite things ever, mountain sledding! (a(sometimes)ka drunk sledding)

This is something I highly recommend to all of you.

Here's how to do it:
1. Find a mountain with loads of snow.
2. Carefully select sledding companions. I took along little brother (for comic relief to get oneself up mountain) and brother's lady friend (also fun but more importantly, easy competition...smoker girl was already out of breath within first 5 steps uphill)
2. Hike up mountain for about an hour (or if offered jump on a horse-drawn hay buggy)
3. Rest in charming little rustic hut on top of mountain. Eat some local Austro-grub and warm up with some Glühwein (mulled wine), Schnapps or other beverage of choice.
4. Try to understand what drunk local mountain guy is saying in v heavy Austrian dialect.
5. Choose not to stay for second round after realize man mentioned in #4 is giving marriage proposal and is trying to get little brother to tell him exactly which house in local neighborhood you live in.
6. Rent a sled for 2 Euro.
7. Assume your position. I chose head first, way quicker and way more fun.
8. Sled down mountain, racing sledding companions (this is the best part). Aim for the guy from Jersey walking down mountain. Jersey guy will not know what your screams of "Achtung" mean. Jersey guy will jump out of way in last second, keeping his legs.
9. If available, stop at the snow bar at the bottom of the mountain and have another cup o Glühwein. (only available at my mountain of choice on Saturdays, so no Gwein for us)
10. Leave rented sled at bottom of hill and go home. (this is the sad part)

For number one I chose the Hochsteinalm. It is just a 10-15 minute walk from my parents house and one of my favorite stops while in Austria, be it summer or winter. Walk up is an easy hour. Views are gorgeous and it has a cozy hut at the top, serving great Austrian food and drink.

Enjoy the corresponding slideshow!

Ice mountains of IJsselmeer

One of the Netherlands distinctive characteristics is its flatness. So, now that one of its lakes has coughed up ice mountains, the Dutch finally have their chance at "mountain climbing".

The IJsselmeer (international spelling: Lake Yssel) is Western Europe's largest lake but has only been around since 1932, when the creation of the Afsluitdijk dam (more on this beast later) split it off of the Zuiderzee (a former inlet off the North Sea).

Thanks to this winter, the lake has been creating ice mountains up to 6m high (which is also as deep as this shallow lake gets). This happens when ice sheets break and are pushed into each other by the wintry wind, creating a nice big pile of ice. Perfect for a game of king of the mountain.

Many are making their pilgrimage here to take advantage of this rare height. Hopefully we'll have time to go take a peek ourselves and take in this wintry phenomena.

More photos can be seen here.

Take two