Dutch Communication May 11, 2012 I was considering joining a course offered through the church where I work called Werk en Balans (Work and Balance). Guest speakers from professional job coaches, successful businessman-gone-minister, psychologists and others would be giving lectures on seeking this coveted balance. Seeing as my residence is attached to my workplace, you canContinue reading “Dutch Communication”
Author Archives: kristininholland
Once
Have you ever talked to a kid who has never heard of The Red Hot Chili Peppers or The Beatles for that matter? You look at the kid as if maybe all is not right between those little ears and wonder how their exposure could be so incredibly narrow. Last week I had to lookContinue reading “Once”
zomerafdwingers (summer enforcers)
Although this post is mainly about the sun, I must first take a little trip down memory lane: On December 31st, 2010 we arrived in the Netherlands to the surreal experience of Dutch New Years on jetlag–every man, woman and child for himself launching legal and illegal fireworks into the air, the neighbors, nearby automobiles; people of all ages standing onContinue reading “zomerafdwingers (summer enforcers)”
Dutch headline news can really break through the ice
Tonight, I joined Arie Jan on the couch to watch the 8:00 news to catch up on world events. Something serious must be going on inside Holland, I thought, as there on the screen was a somber looking Dutch man speaking before an expansive collection of brightly colored microphones. His countenance, continuously lit up by flashes of light,Continue reading “Dutch headline news can really break through the ice”
Rommel Piet that Black Friday
As you were perhaps paging through a Martha Stewart magazine mid November for a little inspiration on a Thanksgiving centerpiece or savory side dish, we were gearing up for the steamboat arrival of Sinterklaas and his zwarte piet collective. As you were unfortunately pulling another late night at the office to meet that pre-holiday deadline, we were singing Sinterklaas liedjes in front of our son’s carrotContinue reading “Rommel Piet that Black Friday”
Fathers
When a friend recently shared that she had lost her father 10 months ago, my tears surged so quickly that my tear ducts ached. After listening quietly, I shared that I had gone through this as well. I could feel a shift, as if she knew she was not just experiencing that uncomfortable pity thatContinue reading “Fathers”
Beach Days, Sex Crazed, meditation and Jellyfish
I spoke to my sister-in-law in America last night and she reported having just thought of me while flipping through a sportswear catalog. Among the image laden pages of must-haves was a pair of sleek thermal running pants for extreme climates. She figured I was probably in need of such an item, poor thing, in the miserable weather of Holland. Yet, to herContinue reading “Beach Days, Sex Crazed, meditation and Jellyfish”
Yelling into a crowd
Sitting on a raised basement, our living room is positioned a half story above street level. This provides us with a tree lined view of the urban bike paths, street and busy tram lines just high enough to be seen by passersby, and just low enough that the branches don’t obscure our view. The first few months ofContinue reading “Yelling into a crowd”
A bite into consciousness
Yesterday morning I put on my sweats and raincoat and headed to Den Haagse Bos. As my feet left the pavement and landed on the gravel path leading between the leafy green trees, I inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of nature. Usually this transition from the built environment to a more natural one creates a sense of calm, as if I’ve left the pressures of modern life behind. ButContinue reading “A bite into consciousness”
Sex and other language learning tips
While my friends back home in book club are reading The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, a heady young adult work of fiction about death and other things, I am reading O, O, Olivia, chick lit about a wild, confused young woman in her twenties who has a one night stand. I have a worthy excuse for myContinue reading “Sex and other language learning tips”
kristininholland 