Day 2 - 5

Day 2 – Admin time…

Our first mission for the day was getting bank accounts; going to Deloitte ect.  We (me and Carien) got lost a FEW times!!  For instance – Sloterdijk (where our office is at) and Slottenmeer, are two very different places J  We quickly learned that when we took the wrong trem!  A trem is like a bus that runs on a trainline.  We ended up at a park, instead of an office building…

Amsterdam is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!  Everywhere is waterways, trees; bloemen (flowers) and really beautiful architecture…  See this picture below.  It really reminds me of Stellenbosch a lot!!

Something which I ALSO realized quite quickly, is that I am EXTREMELY short!!!  1.53m…  Carien, my friend is 1.87m and she is short when compared to the Dutchies J  It is really funny!  Still having the time of my life though J

First day @ work…

The new work chapter has begun!  We had an introduction day in Utrecht.  We left the apartment quite early – 20 minutes to 7.  The introduction day only started at 09:30, but after getting lost so much on Wednesday, we decided, rather get there early, and go and chill out with a coffee.   Something I can say about the people living here, is that they are EXTREMELY friendly and VERY helpful!  And if you try to speak some Dutch, they help you even more J 

 

Got to Utrecht just before 8 and then went for a coffee at Starbucks.  The first day was very cool – we met up with awesome South-Africans, and had a good few laughs, as the WHOLE introduction day was in Dutch!! 

We went for an early supper with all our South-African friends.  It felt like home being with some SA people J

Friday

We spent the whole day just loading software, and installing our new i-phone 4 J  On Friday evening, we went to Leidseplein for dinner.  That place is REALLY beautiful at night time!  It looks like an enchanted city J  We went for dinner at Wagga Mamma – and had some Chu Chung Chicken curry and wine from Spain.  I attempted eating with the chopsticks, and it was not half bad J  After Wagga Mamma we went for a drink at the Heineken beer garden and sat there chatting until one o’clock!   We had such a nice time, that we did not keep track of the time. When we decided to go home we realized that the trems stopped running at 00:30.  We therefore had 2 choices – take a taxi – R120 for 2 kms, or walk for free J  We chose the latter option J  And it is something I will remember for the rest of my life!  Got lost, laughed a lot and got to our house for this first month an hour later. 

Saturday

We went shopping for some groceries at Albert Hein (like Woolies) first thing on Saturday.  We got lost (again) on our way there, and then got some things for our new house. 

After this we went bicycle shopping!!  I got myself a TRUE AMSTERDAM bicycle!!!  It was a mission and a half to find one small enough J  The saddle is set at the lowest possible point, and I still struggle to get up J  It is also a back-paddle bike – which means, if you stop paddling, your bike comes to an automatic stand-still.  I also have a basket and a bell J  Very cool!!!  Feels like I am starting to be a TRUE Amsterdammer J   It’s the best way to travel, and experience the best things this city has to offer.  For those of you thinking of Amsterdam as “the red light district” or “a place to smoke weed” – it is SO MUCH MORE than that!!

Sunday

Today, we went shopping for some clothes!  And I bought almost NOTHING!  EVERYTHING IS WAAAAAYYYY to long or big for me!  I tried on a few jackets (which is supposed to come to just above your knees, and it came to my ankles J  I had a pancake to eat at the Pannekoeken kelder, and afterwards met up with SA friends and had a cool drink at Rembrandtplein and afterwards we had a quick outing to the DeB'jenkorf J  It is a big department store.  After I said goodbye to them, I walked past a band playing in the street.  It is just AMAZING, and such a blessing being in this unbelievable place!!  I am feeling truly blessed!!

Photos to follow soon!

Chat soon!