Goodbye for now.

It's been a slice.

One last post.

I'd been putting this off for the last few weeks, always thinking I'd get to it eventually. Knowing that as more time went on, the less relevant a final post would become, also provided little incentive. I'd more or less resigned myself to the fact our blog had ended without that symbolic last post until we discovered this when we woke up today:



For those astute readers out there, you can probably guess where it's filmed: our now beloved Den Haag.

In the flurry of everything that's happened I never really had any second thoughts about leaving. I had always wondered how I would feel, whether I'd have some sort of cultural crash or whether I'd be ecstatic to be home, but the truth is I didn't really have any feelings on the matter. In a way it just felt like we were heading out on another small trip (the kind we had grown accustomed to) and would return back within a few weeks.

Of course, I was certainly happy to be home and spend a couple of days with family. More than anything I was excited to begin building on the incomprehensible experience I'd had inside and outside of school. Still, when the inevitable question would arise and people would ask "how does it feel to be back", I'd give my typical shrug and reply that apart from some small differences (the size of a coffee; the fact that the waiter interrupts you constantly when eating out), it doesn't feel like much.

I have slowly started to regain some time to myself (we finally have internet in our home!), and in due course, small moments of reflection have set in. Maybe these sentiments are a result of the slowing pace of things, or perhaps they stem from the fact that I'm currently in another new country, flat-broke and without any real prospect for a job.

I'm not a huge Coldplay fan, and know relatively little about Anton Corbijn (the video's director), but for both of us this morning this video was perfect. Without getting too sentimental, suffice it to say that it was a nice treat to see so many scenes that had been part of our daily life for one year. For the most part, they were all there. Even the timing was something we could relate to (those orange flags are a dead give-away that it was filmed in June during the height of Euro Cup madness).

There was so much we enjoyed about living in Holland, just like there is about living in North America (yes, I'm doing what most Canadians shun: generalizing Canada and the United States as one place). While I will always try to replicate a bit of the European pace of life, I have to admit that I'm constantly amazed by what a Cosmopolitan city like San Francisco can offer.

And so, one last time:

Doei!

Paris to Calgary in 24 hours

We flew out of Europe from Paris. In order to get to the airport in time, we had to spend one night in Paris. Obviously, we didn't complain. Weight is a huge issue when you're moving across an ocean. It is so expensive to bring your stuff, so you have to be certain that what you pack is worth it. We shipped three boxes, and then brought everything else on the plane.
Obviously, weight is a huge issue on a plane, too, so we used every last gram, without going over, and our carry-on bags were like bags of lead (cause the airlines never weigh those). Hauling around this crap was not easy. In fact, it was exhausting and we had to stop for breaks everywhere.

In Paris, we had to gets this stuff onto the metro. A major problem was the elevator was broken, and we had to get all this stuff down three flights of stairs into the depths of the earth. We had too much stuff, so Ross couldn't lift his huge suitcase, and my backpack was so heavy, I physically couldn't bend over without falling. In other words, we were like the epitome of tacky tourists. Ross had no choice but to drag his suitcase down the stairs.

Out of nowhere, this man picks up the suitcase to help us out. He must have seen the Canadian flag on my backpack, because he started talking to us (in French) about Canada. He didn't know any English, but I was able to determine that he was in Canada about 20 years ago, it snowed and he saw a grizzly bear. Every time he said "Grizzly" he would claw up his hands, hunch his shoulders and bear his teeth. This considerate stranger saved the day.

Paris was stinking hot. We weren't really prepared for it, but it was nice.



We walked through Luxembourg Gardens which is so, so nice. Everybody was just hanging out and enjoying the heat. Eventually we made our way to Napoleon's resting place. Not too shabby, Nap B.

Later we met up with Berton & Yuko, our friends from The Hague who were there with Berton's parents. We sat outdoors at a café, drank lots of French wine, and sadly said goodbye ... for now.

The next morning, we were homeward bound. I'm including this photo because I'm almost positive I left my wallet at this seat. :(

And then next thing you know we were in Calgary in all of it's pre-stampede glory. It was quite the shock. Literally we were in the fashion capital of the world one day, and then 9 hours later we witnessed a Western-wear fashion show. Surreal.

I think the expression on Ross' face says it all:

Last look at The Hague

Moving from The Hague was hard. Everything happened so fast in the end, it is now a blur. I know that you can never have enough time in a city, but I really didn't feel we had enough time in The Hague at the end. Abi was visiting, and we weren't able to hang out with him without putting him to work (and he was so great about it.) Thank you, Abi.

The same goes for Ross' parents. They were there to see Ross' graduation, and be on a holiday, but they also got put to work. Thank you, Jill & Gordon.

Maybe it was because we knew we were leaving, but the city seemed especially charming. The annual sculpture festival was starting, and many strange things were popping up, like the sandcastle cityscape of The Hague, and a gigantic Styrofoam iceberg floating in the water outside the Parliament buildings.

I don't think we ever took the beauty of the city and the country for granted; it was always beautiful to both of us; but in those last few days and weeks, it was almost painful.













I know one day we'll be back.

Breda

The final day trip we took in Holland was to Breda, a beautiful city in the southern part of the country. We went with Ross' parents and rented bicycles and toured through the gorgeous and immaculate farmland in rural Holland for about 3 or 4 hours.

Amidst the farms would be small towns, a castles and the odd chapel. It was so pretty, and tranquil and ... perfect.

The town of Breda itself is really nice. If I was to live in Holland long term, I would probably consider setting up there; it's small, but lively with amazing restaurants and shops. It also doesn't seem to be as crowded as The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The Museum of Graphic Design just opened there, so if you're in Holland and care about design, then you might end up in Breda.

If you get a chance, rent a bike!

Dooi Holland

Okay, this is going to be quick ...

Ross & I have left Holland. It was a ton of work, and a tearful goodbye, but the time came. We do plan to do a final post, but now is not the time.

Then somewhere between Charles De Gualle Terminal Three in Paris and Calgary International, I lost my wallet containing every important piece of information pertaining to both Canada and Holland. You name it, I lost it, as well as a totally rad Frietag wallet that I scored in Rotterdam. So, those first few hours on Canadian soil were not spent relaxing and enjoying my family, but on hold calling several Lost and Found departments on both sides of the Atlantic. (This even included speaking in French (!!!) to an employee in Paris.) No luck, but I have taken all appropriate measures to protect against identity theft.

We're in SF, and house hunting is way harder than expected. To get an apartment here, you have to provide all information about yourself, short of your fingerprints and names of childhood friends. While I'm at my new job (which is great) Ross is pounding the pavement and checking out very expensive tiny apartments.

Once we find a place and get internet, then we will update.

Also, I was kind of toying with the idea of continuing blogging this next adventure ... we'll see.

June

June's blurry. Here are some of the more memorable events.

The weather is not-so sunny, but it's warm.


The new season of herring was celebrated with a public festival at Scheveningen.


Dutch people love black licorice candy (drop).




Tanya and Abi visited for a few days. Abi just moved here for school, and Tanya lived here for a semester a few years ago, so she remembered her way around. It was really fun.

The Euro Cup was (still is) on. Holland was doing amazing, and this city was cra-zy! They've since been eliminated, but there are still remnants of the fever.





Everywhere there are backpacks hanging off the flag poles of houses. I thought this was connected to the football games, but I was wrong. These backpacks mean that someone in that house just graduated highschool. As in, "I don't need this anymore!"


There was a celebratory BBQ with Ross' classmates on the weekend.

Guess what the Italians made:

P-A-S-T-A
Guess what type:

G-N-O-C-C-H-I (that is a truly amazing 'H')

My younger brother Colin was here this last weekend.





Among many activities, we went to the beautiful and un-Dutch-like Maastrict in the very south of the country. It was so hot when we got there, and then it wildly stormed in the early evening. It was so warm, though.

Waiting for the first storm to pass.

Waiting for the second storm to pass.

Waiting for the third, and largest summer storm I've ever been caught in, to pass.

We only have a few more days left in June, and this country. It's going so fast.