Meet our new neighbors: The Squatters

Geen leegstand meer in dit pand!

How is possible for someone to 'legally' break into an apartment or house, that they don't own, and call it their new place of residence? Well anything can happen in the Netherlands! But actually, it is no longer legal to squat apartments/houses, but apparently it's still happening. Here's proof of that. Haha! The idea that you can do this is and not get arrested is absolutely ridiculous to me. 

Behind our apartment complex is a row of houses, some of which have been sold, bordered up, or knocked down. Enter the squatters and our new neighbors! One day when Jaap came home from work he told me to come look out the balcony and see the squatters in action. There they were, knocking out the cement blocks that cover the windows one by one, which by the way took them many hours. The pictures that you're looking at were taken from our balcony. 

Here is a little progression of how the squatters made this place their new home. First you have to break in with at least one chair, bed, and a table to claim residency. Jaap says that once you're in the apartment or house, you have to notify the local police. Haha. Sometimes an arrangement is set up to pay rent, but I don't know how this works and if it actually happens at all.

The sign that they hung next to it says, Geen leegstand meer in dit pand, which means, No vacancy anymore in this building. 

You're probably wondering why squatting was even legal to begin with. Hmmm...me too! According to Jaap, squatting can help alleviate a housing shortage crisis by allowing people who need housing to move into vacant buildings. I still don't get it, but it was fun to watch someone break into a house in broad daylight. FYI...squatting is now illegal in the Netherlands, so we're still trying to figure out how this happened.

Here is the finished product! Tah dah! Poof you have an apartment!

Happy 60th Mom!

Christmas tree-cutting: November 2010

First of all...Happy 60th Birthday to my fabulous mother! We wish that we could be with you to celebrate this great milestone with you. You're a wonderful woman! We'll make up for it in Paris! We love you.

Pardo family picnic: August 2010

Friday afternoon walk by Onze Lieve Vrouweplein

Busy, busy, and more busy! I feel like I'm getting back into the groove that I was used to in New York. I'm starting to get more settled into the job, my second Dutch class at the university started this week, and I'm beginning to find my balance between work and home again. It's been a busy week, but I'm starting to feel like I actually live here and not just visiting. I took a walk this afternoon into the city center and it was one of the more enjoyable times I've had walking around on a Friday. Where are all the tourists? The city was not crowded and it was wonderful.

Before my busy week, we had a nice and relaxing weekend. We attempted to go to the movies last Saturday and try out a Thai restaurant we heard about. Black Swan has finally made it to the Netherlands and we were excited to see it. We're quite the movie critics and Jaap has turned me into a movie buff. As for the Thai restaurant, several people recommended this place on Boschstraat and we finally got to test it out for ourselves, unfortunately we had to wait until Tuesday. Bummer. 

Our date night was detoured when we realized we needed to have a reservation for the Thai place and the movie was sold out. Although, seeing that the movie was sold-out gave me that New York feeling again. We showed up to the restaurant at 6 and were rudely turned away. I thought nobody would be out for dinner on a Saturday night at 6, but then I forgot that we're in the Netherlands. Saturday night dinners in New York don't happen before 8. Oh well. Just another thing to get used to. And now I sound like a New York snob. 

We got to relive date night on Tuesday. Thai food and Black Swan take two! The food was very good. It doesn't beat my favorite places back home, specifically Song in Park Slope, but it was yummy. I am relieved to know that there is good Thai food in Maastricht. I finally got my pad thai fix. Very lekker!

These pictures are from my afternoon walk today. I love how the cafés in Onze Lieve Vrouweplein are putting the chairs back outside. I think there was a good solid three months where the plein was empty. But the sign of outdoor chairs eventually means that spring is coming!

What's with all the line cutting?

What's with all the line cutting? 

Okay, this is one of my issues with Dutch life and I suppose European life in general. Line cutting, pushiness, and standing so close to each other. I don't get it. It was the same in Vienna and perhaps even worse. I don't understand all the pushing, shoving, and line cutting that happens pretty much everywhere. I know. I should not make general statements like this. So my thoughts on this subject are just my personal experiences. :)

My trip to Albert Heijn today ended with an elderly man (who had to be at least 75) cutting me off at the checkout. It was clear that I was approaching the conveyor belt before him, but he felt the need to make a mad dash to the cashier and beat me to it. The question is...why? I don't get it. It wasn't even busy! I could see this happening at the station where people are running places to catch a train. Or even at the airport if you're in a rush, but why all the time? It happens every where.

I called my friend Shannon in New York afterwards. Mostly because I miss him and I'm experiencing a bout of homesickness right now. He shed some comical light on the situation. "He's in rush because he's old and dying. He has less time than you do and he needs to get things done." Good point Shannon! Haha.

Here we are at our favorite NYC restaurant, Angelica's Kitchen. :)

A few weeks ago when I was at the post office a woman clearly tried to cut in front of me because I moved six inches to the left to put my purse on a shelf while I stamped my envelopes. It was ridiculous. She tried to make a swift move by moving around me on my right side, but I held my own. I felt like a six year old child trying to not left this woman cut me in line. When Trees and I took the bus to Aachen, I couldn't believe the disorder that took place getting on the bus. It was just a mob. No line, no organization. Every man for themselves! All I could do was laugh. I've literally scene fights break out on NYC buses because people cut each other in line. No joke.

The thing that bothers me the most is that I find myself becoming more pushy. I've learned to be seriously aggressive at the open market on Fridays. It's just survival. And if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em. Okay, enough Dutch bashing for now. I love the Dutch and I love the Netherlands. I love how they are so organized. But that makes me wonder why lines and personal spaces are not the same. Hmmm.... Moments like this make me miss NYC. Yes. It's crowded, busy and people are always in a rush. I'm still amazed by how many millions of people live in just those five boroughs. But there's still a level of respect and organization when hundreds of people are cramming there way into a subway car. :)

Ik spreek een beetje Nederlands

That's right. I speak a little bit of Dutch. I've come to terms with the fact that I will be studying Dutch for many years to come and perhaps the rest of my life. I must say, I have much more sympathy for people moving from another country who don't speak the language. It's been a humbling experience. Even the smallest tasks like buying groceries or ordering a cup of coffee can be a challenge. On top of that, we live in Limburg and the native Limburg dialect can be very different from Dutch. Fun for me! Luckily, the Dutch speakers that I encounter most often i.e. Jaap's friends and family, do not speak dialect.

So, to begin... I enrolled in a course at a small language school in early October, which meets once a week. I've met some nice Americans in that class who live in our neighborhood. Added bonus! And this week I started my second course at the university. It meets twice a week for six weeks and moves at a pretty fast pace. I'm enjoying both classes and gradually things are improving. I think I've already surpassed my knowledge of German from when I was living in Vienna, which doesn't necessarily say much.

I've had to develop a tough skin because of my teachers' directness. (The Dutch are known for this). As it was so kindly pointed out to me, "Americans are not familiar with learning languages." Thanks. I already knew that, but thank you for being brutally honest. That's the Dutch way! I'm learning not to take moments like these personal. But in my defense, let's not group Americans all together okay? It's a big country!

In addition to the two courses, I meet with Jaap's mom, Trees, once a week for another lesson. She's a retired teacher and knows how to teach beginning Dutch students and understands the learning process. It has been a huge help. Getting three different types of instruction is giving me a well-rounded introduction to Dutch. Not to mention my previous instructor Mari from NYC. She was my Dutch teacher last year while I was still living in New York and was a tremendous help. Thanks Mari! But if it wasn't for Jaap, I'd be completely lost! He helps me fill out all my paperwork, practices with me each day, and corrects me when I'm wrong. I'm lucky to have a Dutch partner.

But even when you are a native speaker things are lost in translation all the time. Just the other day I told my father (in English) that Jaap and I went for a walk and had a slice of pie at a café. He thought we ate pizza. Hmmm? That's a New Yorker for you. Love you Pop!

These pictures have nothing to do with learning Dutch, but why not enjoy some more views of beautiful Maastricht. :)

Vrijtof

Sint Janskerk

Sint Servaas Basiliek