tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441026373802490921Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:40:21 +0000American ExpatExpatAmsterdamTravelChristmasbicyclesItalyChinaMaastrichtDutchFoodBelgiumCaliforniaCanalDe PijpBrusselsBudapestLanguageLos AngelesParisArtFamilyGermanyQueens DayTrainApartmentBerlinFranceLondonNetherlandsfootballAirportsBostonChinatownChristmas MarketsCornelis TroostpleinDam SquareMusic FestivalNieuwmarktPhotographyRestaurantRomeSchipholTrain StationViennaVincent van GoghstraatVisitorscarnavalAntwerpBoatBusChristmas TreeDe BijenkorfDogFlorenceFlowersHaarlemHeineken BreweryHolidaysHong KongHungaryJoordanLouvreMuseumpleinNew Years EveOeteldonkSailingTechnologyTramVeniceVondelparkbeermuseumAlbert Cuyp MarketAlbert HeijnAmsterdam ChinatownAmsterdam HatAntiquesArchitectureBroek in WaterlandCanoeCheeseChinese New YearCologneEiffel TowerFestivalFireworksFlyingGrachenfestivalHet ParcoursKLMKeukenhofMonocleNaplesNew YorkRembrandtpleinRijksmuseumRoosendaalRotterdamShawsSkypeSomervilleSt.MaartenStockholmSwedenUtrechtWaterlandWindmillcarnivalAmerican footballAnne Frank HouseBeachBelgium Comic Strip CenterBelvedereBookstoreCafe de PijpCiclo RijwielhandelCopenhagenDenmarkDick BrunaEnglandEurovisionFarmaceutica di Santa Maria NovellaFilmhuis CaviaFlea MarketsFrisbeeGay Pride ParadeGoogle TranslateGraffitiGrocery shoppingHemaHomeHotel CrayonHotel DroogHula HoopIJsselmeerIce SkatingInvaderIstanbulKispestL'Atelier en VilleLa JollaLe Grand SablonLe Pain QuotidienLiberation DayMaltaManneken PisMickey MouseMoveMuseumnachtMusikvereinNoordOccupy AmsterdamPrinsengrachtProperty of...Restaurant de KasRolls-RoyceRooftopSarphatiparkSchipolSchonbrunn PalaceScuba DivingSelexyzSigmar PolkeSinterklaasSkateboardingSpanischen HofreitschuleSpanish Riding SchoolSportStarbucksStefantiekStoreSuper BowlThe MoviesTintinUKUitmarktUmbrellasVW BeetleVenice BeachVincent van Gogh MuseumWaffleWeatherWest'ivalballetchocolateddatingdelftdrivingfashionmapsmusicoperarugby103 Weeksof stories in Amsterdam from this 28-year-old American export.noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441026373802490921.post-5321129390407354277Sat, 25 Jul 2015 06:24:00 +00002015-07-25T08:24:00.157+02:00American ExpatAmsterdamExpatEnd of Week 103: Final Thoughts<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">103
Weeks started when I first moved to Amsterdam in 2011. My indefinite, two-year
contract from work, an agreement with understandably confusing terms, set the
time period for this blog. Started after my first week, 103 Weeks represented the
two years I was certain about living in the Netherlands. Needless to say, the
"indefinite" part of my contract became the driving term in the deal
and I am still happily living in Amsterdam.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I
intended my blog to be written within those weeks during late nights, train
rides and weekends. My pace a year and a half in promised the realization of
this intention, however those last weeks somehow became absolutely
impossible. This feeling extended those last weeks into years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Let
me explain. Other activities and interests emerged - hiking, writing, website
building, sailing, traveling and moving – that occupied my time and finite mind
space. It was not until I cleaned absolutely everything I owned, from books to
clothes, hard drives and computers, that I then felt ready to complete the
task. With my psyche clear, the remaining project stood more its size – doable
– and I was able to finish those last four weeks of the blog in only two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This
blog gave me the motivation to practice writing and photography without clear
expectations of where it could lead. Fortuitously, good did come out of the
constant endeavor. My blog presented other opportunities such as writing
articles for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unseen Photography Fair</i>,
photographing events, becoming a music journalist for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GLAMCULT</i> and starting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TREFF
Magazine</i> with a group of talented friends. The events that followed affirmed
that dedication to a project, and also talking about it, gathers interest from
others along with tangible results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Like
the final inspection on a newly bought apartment or the last minutes of a gym
class that could have killed you if it were legal, finishing 103 Weeks felt rewarding.
I look back at written posts like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">End of
Week 06: Thank you for Sharing</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">End
of Week 78: The Four Standard Expat Questions</i> with a soft smile. While my
writings might suggest a distant observer, my photos tell another story. Whether
it was jumping on a beer-fueled vehicle in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mid-Week
Moment 46: Amsterdam by Beer Trolley</i> or heading to ‘s Hertogenbosch for my
first ever carnival in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Weekend 28: In the
Crowd</i>, I always looked to forward to heading right in the middle of happenings
to capture lost moments. The experiences of 103 Weeks seemed to occur so long ago
that I feel fortunate this blog served as a living journal for one of the most
formidable periods of my young adult life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now
with this project closed, others can be considered. My mind is constantly
searching for new developments and opportunities to grow, where my list of
goals nearly intimidates my free hours. <i>TED Talks</i> and other motivational
broadcasters agree that making your goal known to friends, family or the general
public increases their likelihood of fruition, so here it goes. First, Dutch. I
hope to one day be fluent enough in the language and culture to pass the exam
and apply for a permanent residency. Secondly, dreams of small side businesses in
graphic design, textiles or product keep my mind busy outside of the 9-5. And
thirdly, one day - one day - I intend to travel the world by boat or by other
means before my fortieth birthday. Needless to say, I will be busy for a while
even with 103 Weeks finished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Stay
in Contact and Keep Exploring:<br /><a href="; target="_blank">Emilyvernon.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Emily
(at) emilyvernon.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></div>
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2015/07/end-of-week-103-final-thoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0Amsterdam, Netherlands52.3702157 4.895167899999933152.2151142 4.5724443999999327 52.5253172 5.2178913999999335tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441026373802490921.post-2388562848764987324Thu, 23 Jul 2015 14:20:00 +00002015-07-23T16:20:00.062+02:00American ExpatExpatIstanbulTravelWeekend 103: The Patterns of Istanbul<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topkapı Palace: The patterns of the palace overwhelm anyone who walks through the numerous rooms. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Bazaar: You can find many interesting products in the Grand Bazaar, including the famous Turkish rugs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat Nap: Animals cherish tapestries in a different way then we might. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hagia Sophia: The mosaics of this celebrated sacred building inspire many with its beauty and intricacy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Loom: In numerous shops, experienced weaves show visitors how it is done. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2015/07/weekend-103-patterns-of-istanbul.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0Istanbul, İstanbul, Turkey41.0082376 28.97835889999998940.6247881 28.332911899999988 41.3916871 29.62380589999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441026373802490921.post-4587312268463146957Sun, 19 Jul 2015 15:04:00 +00002015-07-19T17:04:00.273+02:00American ExpatExpatTravelMid-Week Moment 103: The Colors of Innsbruck<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the Inn: The view over the river shows not only mountains but also cheerful houses. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />2015/07/mid-week-moment-103-colors-of-innsbruck.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0Innsbruck, Austria47.2692124 11.40410240000005647.0968724 11.081378900000056 47.4415524 11.726825900000057tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441026373802490921.post-6686081804751540134Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:34:00 +00002015-07-17T13:34:00.415+02:00American ExpatAmsterdamApartmentExpatNoordEnd of Week 102: Living in Amsterdam Noord<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;">Just beyond the lit overpass of Amsterdam
Centraal, the metallic waters of the IJ, a bay-like lake above Amsterdam, gently
lap against the city's edge. My front light beams as I follow its curving path,
looking for clues to determine if the night ferry to Amsterdam Noord (North) had
already arrived. My wheels turned with vhh-vhh-vhhs as I peddled toward the two
sizeable groups lining an invisible path in front of the ferry landing for Buiksloterwegveer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">For many Amsterdammers, Noord raises questions. "Oh
Amsterdam Noord," many would start "without a bridge over the water
you have to ride a ferry to get there, right?" To some, it could be in
another country. Last Saturday over brunch, I looked up from my Danish open-faced
sandwich, proceeding to explain my move to Noord. I could not deny the response
my friend had that afternoon. Breaking his coffee concentration with
"that" Bas smile he began, "Amsterdam Noord right," <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I knew what was coming</i>, "should we
have a going away party? I mean it's practically like moving back to the
States."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> No, my passport was not required then and definitely not
needed for my journey to Noord tonight, but it would not be the first time I
heard that remark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Four minutes remained on the countdown clock
over the ferry landing. Unlike other types of public transit, the night ferry
does not feel like a privilege. A drawn out wait for a bus, tram or train
stimulates I-just-want-to-get-home irritation, while appreciation floods any of
these thoughts when the ferry approaches. As the crowd from Buiksloterwegveer
siphons onto the mainland from the just-arrived ferry, our group shuffles
onboard. With its meep-meep-meeps and flashing red light, the ramp engaged and
the ferry labored forward, pushing aside the water in its path before fully
pulling away from the pontoon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Night after night, the same ferry runs on
routine, maneuvering around the IJ's traffic comprised of tankers, sailing
vessels, canal buses and cruise boats to successfully deliver its passengers. Everyone
onboard, if they realized it or not, over time identifies more with Noord than
Amsterdam. The cross-water journey and overall mystery surrounding our
neighborhood instigates conversations, like my one with Bas, suggesting our
unique status. When you look at mainland Amsterdam from across the IJ, you
cannot help but feel partially like an urban trailblazer.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">At the sight of Buiksloterwegveer, everyone's composure gives
way to anticipation. Lights of the scooters click on, bikers kick off their
kickstands and, like the rush before a headliner act comes on stage, everyone
begins to rumble forward. All of us moving toward a common goal: getting home.
I might not personally know each individual on the ferry, but I do feel we belong
to a distinct community. One that stands incomparable to other Amsterdam
neighborhoods for its genuine quirks, diverse mindset and largely unvisited
terrain by mainland Amsterdammers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">We all
wish we could go back in time and make that last witty remark in a
conversation. Standing amongst my Noord neighbors as we stepped off the ferry,
I imagined this scenario for my brunch with Bas. After taking a sip of my
coffee, I would say, <span style="background: white;">“Bas, I guess we should
have a going away party. But let’s make it a long celebration, as - from
experience - I know the night ferry to Buiksloterwegveer runs all night. “</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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