Where I've been going, what I've been doing

Picnics - the easiest location for me is Vondelpark, since it's so close to home and everyone knows it. But this past weekend I went for a Sunday night picnic at Beatrixpark, and it really seemed like me and my friends were the only people there. This park is in the south east of the city, near the Rai station. I got a little (okay, a lot) lost on my way there, and once I got tired of consulting my map I just stopped and asked people for directions. When I rode home with a friend, I found a much, much more direct route. I love picnics in Amsterdam parks - there are no rules about where you can or can't sit on the grass, dogs run around all over the place, and no one kicks you out at a certain time.

Bars/Cafes - places I've gone to recently include Soundgarden, OT301, Studio K, DeBalie (of course, for free wifi) and the Kriterion. Look those places up in you're in Amsterdam; they all have a really great vibe. The Soundgarden has this ideal back patio right next to a canal, and while I was sitting back there I felt that wonderful I've-left-the-city feeling, even though it's off a major street in the Jordaan. And DeBalie was a lifesaver for me before I started working - they have tons of room, incredibly cheap prices for food and drink, and no one ever minded that I would often stay there for 5-6 hours at a time in order to use the wifi.

I went to the Hope Box offices recently for a Friday night screening, in the north of Amsterdam (I took that picture just outside the office). I'll go do anything if it means I get to take a ferry to get there, so I didn't even really mind that the film was in Serbian with Dutch subtitles - actually, I was happy to find myself in the situation where I was the only non-Dutch-speaker in the room - the more this happens, the more motivated I become to learn the language. This cultural center is a global project - I think the best way I can sum it up is bringing people together from all over the world through visual arts. Visit their website to learn more. If you're interested, come along to their event this Saturday, the 21st of June at the GO Gallery (Prinsengracht 64) - I'm planning to attend, so say hi if you're there!

Speaking of learning the language, no, I haven't learned Dutch at all. I mean, I certainly know more than I did 2 months ago, and I'm getting better at reading menus and hearing the names of streets and whatnot, but I really, really don't know Dutch, and I would like for that to change. I'm going to start taking classes in September (they're offered for free by my company), but I think before I start that I may sign up for a month or two of private lessons. It's really easy to get around using English, but the thing that frustrates me is not being able to pronounce the names of the roads and streets, or even worse, the fact that I can't hear it right when someone else says it.

Tonight is another big game for Holland, and I still haven't found my inner football fan, so I'm thinking that a picnic in the park sounds like a nice way to spend some time while the rest of the city is at bars and cafes, going completely insane. And if Holland wins, that means a city full of happy people, so hey, I'll go ahead and root for Holland too. From a distance.

Quick catch-up post

I wanted to update with some specifics about the IND appointment, the bank account, the whole registration issue - but I'm going to hold off on that until next week. Hopefully it will help someone else out if they're planning a similar type of move.

I had a busy week with the legal issues and starting a new job. Just getting back into the mindset where I have to wake up at a certain time every day and leave the house is a pretty big change. I'm really, really happy that I had enough time to enjoy unemployment - almost two months. Not bad at all. My first day of work was kind of insane and I didn't end up leaving the office until 9pm, but even though I was exhausted, the very fact that it was still bright and sunny outside motivated me to keep my plans for the night. I met up with a group of couch surfers in Westerpark for a picnic dinner. Now, this is what I love about couch surfing/hospitably club/etc. When I went out that night, I only knew one guy. But as soon as I showed up, I was offered wine, veggie spring rolls, quiche, cheese, etc. I had so much fun with my new friends that I lost track of time - we ended up sitting on my (new) friend's roofdeck, listening to music and drinking, and enjoying the sounds of the city celebrating from a distance (Holland had just won a football game that night). So on my second day of work, I showed up even more exhausted, but got through it. It was worth it to hear a Dutch guy sing the Canadian national anthem after a few beers and a glass of tequila.

The Big Thing going on in Amsterdam right now is football madness. I'm not really a football/soccer fan (or a fan of any kind of spots-on-television), but I admit that I get a kick out of watching everyone get all worked up about it.

Kind of a weak update, I know, but next week I'll get back into the blogging spirit. At least two posts - one about logistics, one about all the fun stuff. And I'm sure I'll find some way of bringing up how much I love my new bicycle every time I post something. One of the best things about working in Amsterdam is my commute - riding through a beautiful park and along the canals. There really is no better way to travel (I haven't had to commute to work in the rain yet, obviously).

And thanks for all the comments on my last post, I appreciate that you're all reading!