Driving Stick

I had my driving lesson this morning. I can't read the street signs (except stop), and the rules are very different in the Netherlands-- if someone is coming from the right, they have right of way unless there are "shark teeth" painted on the street. So Franklin people, think about the intersection of congress hill and pone lane; if I'm pulling out from congress hill (like from the firehall towards bully hill) people on pone lane have to stop for me. It's quite the change. People here bike EVERYWHERE, also. It's a really well organized system for safe riding, as long as there aren't any stupid Americans on the road. So I have to worry about the other cars, the bus lane, and the bike lanes, while also following these new rules without being able to read the stop signs. The dutch also seem opposed to posting speed limits; apparently they are strongly enforced, and tickets are very expensive, but there is some type of formula to it I haven't worked out. It is boring to explain, so I won't, but just trust me; I don't really know what's going on as much as I would like to.

Also part of the driving lesson was learning to drive stick. His (the driving teacher's) was like a cheater 4 speed; he had access to all the pedals, so he could put it the clutch if I forgot to. So then I didn't know when I was doing it wrong because I didn't noticed I was getting help. I did learn about about all the previously mentioned tricky rules, but then he just gave me a book in dutch that I can't read and made me drive around a hundred traffic circles, which I do feel confident about now. His car also had a screen that told you when you should shift up or down, which I won't have. 

My twingo-- Dad has pointed out that it's like a little old french woman.

After my two hour driving lesson (I just kept thinking that I could have driven home from Cleveland in the time I spent in a car) I tried to get my own car to move, and it took me another hour just to get it turned around in the driveway. I was fussing with the stick shift, and texting dad, and looking online, and after lots of trial and error I finally found the stupid collar on the stick shift to get it in reverse so I could turn it around in the driveway. That was my only goal for the day, but it still resulted in a lot of weeping and panicking. 

Tomorrow, I will practice starting and stopping in the driveway and down the road. Vanessa also mentioned she can try to come home earlier and drive me around so I can continue to learn the rules of the road. Wish me luck! 

My favorite way to learn Dutch

Sure, Rosetta Stone is great, and immersive learning is efficient, but having google translate open and watching cop shows is the best. They have everything in subtitles so you can type what you're hearing into google translate, and it's always conversational dutch rather than the formal stuff you learn. You're hearing people speak casually and quickly, which is the real hard part, and cop dramas are so polite here that they just make me smile. 

As a bonus, I watch a lot of people break driving laws so I can learn what NOT to do!

Hup Holland Hup!

At the grocery store we go to, these little guys are everywhere celebrating the world cup. You get some when you go, so there are quite a few floating around here. I even have two now, because the girls had double of so many.

They're just little plush hamster keychains, very small. Mine is hanging from my doorknob. Hup means Go in dutch, and they have a song, Hup Holland Hup. It's like a song version of We Are- Penn State. Today I watched with the family as Holland beat Mexico, so that was exciting! I even cheered when they won. Of all the ways I will change this year, my disinterest in sports seems least likely to altar. But who knows!? All sorts of craziness could happen.

Afterwards we all sat at the table and I explained my rules and the parents translated for me. It seemed to go well, the girls understand my expectations, and if anything they seemed excited. I asked them if they wanted me to write it down, and so now we have the rules hanging on the wall for them and I can reference it if we have problems. We're also going to make a mailbox for fun ideas they want to do, and a mailbox for things to say when they're mad at me so they have a way to communicate without yelling. I also explained that this will be hard because we don't always understand each other, but I promise to practice my dutch if they promise to help me, and I will help them learn English. All in all, I think it went well, and in 2 weeks we will sit back down and discuss if there are any problems. 

Wish me luck tomorrow! I have an appointment with a driving teacher, which I was hoping to never have to do again. Stick shift, here I come. 

Dutch Culture of the Weekend

Weekends I have off, so hopefully I will be traveling and not blogging. Today we did some shopping to make my room more comfortable, and eventually I think we'll even paint it (turquoise or gray, of course) because they want it to really feel like my room. It's a lot like freshman year of University, where everything is new and you're lonely, but with more responsibility and way more comfortable living arrangements. And this time, I get a family!

Anyway, since there isn't a lot of exciting stuff to report for my day, I'm here to tell you about Joppiesaus.

Joppiesaus is the ranch dressing of the Netherlands. I had it the first day I was there; I don't even remember what Marie-Louise was eating, but when an 8year old offers you a taste of something on her plate, you take it. But they put it on everything. Cheeseburgers, french fries, chicken. It's the flavor of their potato chips. When I make popcorn for them, I'll probably find a way to put joppiesaus on it.

It tastes a lot like a mustard (I've actually never had mustard, but it tastes like how it smells and that's how the Maes family introduced it to me). You can find a recipe here and try it (if you use google chrome it will translate it for you). I can already tell it will be one of those things that I will go home and miss. I don't think I would like it if I was at home, but at this point I'm trying everything. I ate a cherry tomato yesterday! I enjoy riding a bike! I read subtitles! All this in less than a week. 

I believe in embracing change. 

5 Things today

1. I gave instructions to Anne-Rose and she listened and understood! Often, this is not the case (ok, always), but it happened today finally and it felt good. I feel like dead weight most of the time because Oma always has to help me speak to the girls or drive or do basically start anything. I don't feel like I'm able to do my job, which makes me feel like I'm wasting their time, and I'm still so tired in the morning. But today I could tell the difference between when I started 3 days ago and what I understand now.

2. I rode a horse today! It was also nice, because the girl at the horse riding lessons place spoke english so I got some basics I could understand. The Maes family offered to send me to riding lessons, and then they bought me all the gear I need. It was insanely generous, and I am so thankful for the experience. We are also going on vacation to Italy in August, so there's another. Maybe it would be fun to keep a list of all the things that I got to do or experience every month as a project?

Marie-Louise with the picture we drew together of today. She asked me if I knew what a luftballon was so I could draw it. Thanks Nena, every word counts. 

3. We had pannekoeken for dinner today. Essentially dutch pancakes, with (sometimes) meat in them. Holy yum. A culture that has a designated breakfast food that is meant for dinner is alright with me.

Mine didn't have mushrooms in it, but this is what it looks like. 

4. Everyone here that speaks English speaks British English, so even without being in London I keep picking up British phrases. When I come home and say bloody hell, people will think I'm joking, but I'm not. I remember going to Italy and thinking that nowhere else I could say" "ciao!" sincerely, and this will be the same thing.

5. Oma's boyfriend, Hans, who is my kindred spirit. He speaks pretty good English, but he also knows some spanish, so we just use whatever language we know. He tells the best stories, and gives great advice. He also told me he could immediately tell I was a "good one" because I have dark features that reminds him of Italians. So there's that. He wants to take me to an art museum because we both love art, and he can tell me about it. He is only here to visit though, so I'm not sure how much he will be around for things.

Practicing English

I spent several hours with the girls yesterday, and we have quite the language barrier to get over. I bought them these coloring books that also have worksheets in them, which I will start making for myself soon. This is Anne-Rose, the youngest, with her picture of our family. I'm turned around so you can only see the back of my head (and also much shorter than everyone else), so in another picture she drew me in a bikini.

Still trying to adjust to basically everything, so I won't have long blogs right away. There's a lot happening and a lot to figure out, and all my free time is spent learning Dutch. Still pretty homesick, which I expect will probably always be true, but I keep reminding myself that it will only get easier. 

Getting settled

Here is my room! It's downstairs, and the rest of the family is upstairs, but the house is divided strangely to me-- I have a bathroom across from my room, but my actual shower room is through the kitchen and dining room, and in the laundry room which is also a little like their sun room. It will just take me a few days to figure out the best way not to scandalize anyone on my way to the shower- I am thankful I brought my zip up hoodie at the last minute. 

This morning I woke up and the cleaning lady was here, but she speaks no English so we mostly just mimed to each other. It worked fine, and it's the easiest way to learn Dutch so far. I had breakfast and the two of us listened to Michael Jackson. It was a moment. 

I also realized that I have been using my lotion as face wash (I could tell something was weird about it, but then when I opened my lotion this morning I realized they were switched). Silly problems, easily solved. 

Less silly problem, the car they want me to drive is a stick shift and they don't seem nearly panicked enough about wanting me to drive their children in it. Luckily, school isn't far, and the girls like to ride their bikes, so maybe I can buy some time to learn. They also go on summer break July 11th, so as soon as I get into this routine it will just change anyway. I want to take them on outings though, and get myself around, so this is just going to be something I have to relearn how to do. Hopefully it's an easy clutch.

I keep reminding myself that so far, I haven't come across any problems I won't be able to solve with a little practice/effort/bravery. They haven't asked me to hold my breath for 4 minutes or run across lava, so I think I will be fine.

 They have asked me to read to their children, which is more my thing. So, for a 6 and 8 year old, what would you suggest? What were your favorite children's stories growing up that I can help them practicr English with?