Seb's skating party, Dutch lessons, seeds
March 9, 2007 at 10:16 AM
by Ashleigh
Seb's skating party
Plus points: The kids had a great time (once they stopped falling over) and it was a wonderful experience for them. I drove through Amsterdam without creating brown stains on my underwear. Most of the kids did pretty well and want to go skating again, which means I succeeded in exposing them to a new activity. Which is good, right?
Minus points: Skate hire cost 25 euros more than I expected. Got a parking ticket for 50 euros when I parked in an area that had no signboards to say that it was paid parking. Joe cried the whole time because he found it hard to skate, which I had expected and had organised a playdate for him but he didn't want to go and wanted to come with us instead! It rained. Eight kids were about four too many.
Dutch lessons
Plus points: Practicing speaking in a non-confrontational situation. Only five people in the class. Interesting lecturers who actually want to help us. Realising that my Dutch is really not bad at all. Finding out the rules for why sentences in Dutch behave in the way that they do.
Minus points: being asked if I was expecting by a Japanese lady and then having to experience her dismay at her social faux pas. Believe me, making that kind of social faux pas is incredibly shaming for a Japanese person. Then, in order to make her feel better, revealing far too much about why I look pregnant. That it's twice a week from 7 to 9.30 and I can barely stay awake. That because my Dutch is better than I thought I spend a lot of time staring into space. I haven't been bored in a classroom for 15 years!
Seeds
Plus points: the peas are coming up. Can't say the same for the sweet peas which appear to be mouldy. The basil and tomatoes are showing no signs of anything. I got a propagator and I've planted sweet peppers and beans. The propagator is much nicer than my poor little egg cartons. I realised planting peas in egg cartons is not a good idea. The seeds push themselves to the surface requiring replanting.
Minus points: the frikking cat wants to fiddle in the egg boxes all the time. Yesterday she was so anxious to get into them that she leapt on the computer desk, knocked over Seb's money bank (Blue Box from Postbank for the Dutch readers) which is full of coins. It fell down the back of the computer, disconnected the power supply, gave her such a fright she launched herself into the air and used me as a springboard to escape. Cue one blood streaked arm and one cat in disgrace.
Now I must go prepare myself to ensure that the man from the kringloopwinkel* actually takes the cupboard that he's coming to look at.
More pics of Seb's party here.
*Like a charity shop or an op-shop.
Comments
Well, I am just going to focus on the positive when I say it is so great you are working on this new language. Such a talent!
Help! I can't keep up with you.
What a great picture you have there. Absolutely enlarging-hang-on-yr-wall to be-remembered & enjoyed-forever. Like Barbara said: given time, you will look at this picture and think of how well it all went, the hectic and expensive will fade.
The picture is great, but it sure looks tiring.
After having *one* organized kiddy party for our 6yo we decided to take the lazy option and go for indoor playgrounds like TunFun. It is topsport, entertaining a bunch of kids.
For the Dutch lessons: kringloop actually means recycling. Are they picky in Amsterdam? Our Haarlem one says that they prefer to decide in the shop, because they can fix lots of things - so in case of doubht we should still take things/call them.
I encountered your blog on one of those internet searches where you keep on being distracted by other things too look at. I started searching about rules for dual nationality for Brits (I married one and we have three kids) and ended here ;)
Dear sir/Madam,
please check our cahrity website
Dutch/english
www.bgm.org.in
Thanks lot.
Mr.K.wilson
Oh Ash! What a week you've had! No wonder you're tired!!
Tell me, where are you taking actual Dutch lessons? I can't find anything around here unless I actually go into a HBO program.
Seb's party will be remembered by the kids as a great time - only you will remember how hectic and expensive it was. Is that any consolation?
Ash: Hi Barbara! I'm taking lessons with Nova College locally through the Bureau Opvang Nieuwkomers (BON). BON is now open to everyone, even 'oldcomers'. I'm doing the NT 2 Staatsexamen Deel II training.
March 9, 2007 12:44 PM