Cow poop

When the weather is nice, the girls love to play with water. Preferably in combination with sand. Which makes mud, as everybody knows. Today, the weather was nice and Emma and Janne had lots of fun making mud cakes (or cow poop, as they called it ... ) in the back yard. Some of the 'cow poop' also ended up in the kitchen, as that is where the water tap is located.

Home made cow poop

Even though they regularly have fights, in general Emma and Janne play very well together. And now that Janne is getting a little bit older as well, it is not always Emma anymore who determines what game is being played. I'm happy I was able to have them so close together, because now, they'll always have someone to play with. Once they reach puberty, I may regret this, but for now, it's great!

Today, I also had lunch with several of my former ASML colleagues. Even though I didn't miss work or my colleagues in the part couple of months, it was really fun to talk to them again. And get up-dated on the latest organizational changes and gossip :-) Apparantly, this is not a good time to go look for a job at ASML. Maybe next year. Pieter already found a job posting for me that sounds interesting. I'll contact them and apply for the job. The job is partly quality assurance, partly IT. Will keep you posted on outcome :-)

Weekend sleepover

Our house guest Flip, cheering for the Dutch soccer team

Last weekend we had our first house guest. It was Flip the Bear, the teddy bear from Emma's class. Emma was as proud as could be when she brought Flip home on Friday, saying that he was going to spend the weekend with us. Flip was going to join all our activities over the weekend and we were supposed to write a story about it in Flip's Sleepover Book. The most used sentence that weekend was 'let's not forget Flip'.

Flip at Albert Hein

By adding mundane things like grocery shopping, going for ice cream and playing at the playground across the street to the list of activities, our weekend ended up sounding pretty busy :-) Emma and Janne were constantly asking me to 'take a picture of me with Flip'.

Flip is cool in the convertible (with the top up ...)

Flip even joined us un Sunday, when we went to the Noord-Oost Polder for a meeting and tour with the Chrysler Le Baron Club Nederland. After a 2 hour drive to the Noord-Oost Polder, a 2 hour tour in the region and another 2 hour drive back home, we had seen pretty much enough of The Red Baron. Next tour a little closer to home, please! Monday morning, the teacher read about Flip's adventures to the class, another proud moment for Emma.

Our most favorite mode of transportation, with Emma, Bas, Janne and Flip

Also school related; I had a meeting with Emma's teacher last week, about her going to group 3 (grade 1) or spending another year in Kindergarten. Because her birthday is before the cut-off date of January 1, she can go to group 3. Usually, the school looks at every child individually though, especially the ones who have their birthday close to that date. We knew this decision was comming and had been giving it a lot of thought. Still, it's difficult, with Emma being so young (she will be six end of December). We ended up going with the teacher's advise and Emma will go to group 3 in the next school year. Part of me is proud that the teacher seems to think she's doing so well and she's really smart. Part of me worries, becauses she'll be the youngest in her group, with 11 out of 22 kids more than 1 year older than her. We'll all (teachers and we) have to keep an eye on her, to see if she is feeling ok in her new environment.

This morning, I had a first appointment with my beautician again! She used to live across the street from us in Geldrop, which was very convenient. Since we both moved, I have to drive 20 minutes to get to her place, but it's still worth it. It was so great to talk to her and have my facial again after 7 years! She said she kept me in her files all that time, because she knew I'd come back :-) Another step taken towards re-integration!

1 - 3

The Dutch soccer team lost in the quarterfinals against Russia, 1-3. They were definately the stronger team; Guus Hiddink did a tremendous job in coaching the Russian team. For the 22 members of the Dutch team, the 80,000 Dutch fans who traveled to Switzerland, ass well as the millions of supporters here, the dream of the European Championships is over. In a few days all the orange will be gone from the streets. It was fun while it lasted. It was extra fun, because we actually seemed to have a chance at the cup. I guess my favorite now is Russia, with their Dutch coach :-)

Holland - Russia

On Saturday, the Dutch soccer team will play against Russia in the quarter finals of the European Championships. The country will be devided; the coach of the Russian team is Guus Hiddink, one of the Netherlands' best coaches ever. He is the one who took the Koreans to the semi finals of the world championships a few years back. The Russians have been playing extremely well so far and apparantly their game is very similar to the Dutch way of playing. It makes for a very interesting game on Saturday and not much else will be going that night in this country :-)

We had another little set-back with the house. The floor guy said the concrete floor and walls of the living room are still too wet to put the maple floor in and it will take at least two weeks to fully dry out. By then, he'll be on holiday which means the new date for the floor to be put in is July 29 ... As the rest of the house should be done by mid July, we should be able to move our things to the second and third floor around that time. We'll probably store the living room and kitchen itmes in the garage until the floor is done and we can move them into the house. We planned to take a short trip to Austris early August, but I guess we'll be moving into our house instead. Trying to look at the bright side; the garden will most likely be done as well by the time we can move ...

I couldn't find any recent pics of the house. Time to go back in and take a few more, I guess :-)

2-0

The Netherlands - Romania ; 2 - 0. Next, the Dutch team will face either Russia or Sweden in the quarter finals.

Fathers Day in Alblasserdam

On Sunday, we celebrated Fathers Day together with Pieter daughter Charlotte and her family. Of course, Emma, Janne and me first brought Pieter breakfast and gifts in bed. The enthousiasm with which Emma and Janne handed over their hand-made gifts to their dad was very funny and very sweet. Both the school and pre-school put a lot of creative thinking and effort in making those gifts together with the kids.

Mills of Kinderdijk in the background (yes, I know I have to loose weight ...)

The weather was a bit cool, but we were fortunate enough that it didn't rain when we were in Alblasserdam, so we could take a walk to see the famous mills of Kinderdijk, which are almost in Charlotte's back yard. The mills at Kinderdijk are on the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites and is briefly described as follows: The outstanding contribution made by the people of the Netherlands to the technology of handling water is admirably demonstrated by the installations in the Kinderdijk-Elshout area. Construction of hydraulic works for the drainage of land for agriculture and settlement began in the Middle Ages and have continued uninterruptedly to the present day. The site illustrates all the typical features associated with this technology – dykes, reservoirs, pumping stations, administrative buildings and a series of beautifully preserved windmills.

The 'polder' is a good place to fly a kite

We also had a look at Charlotte's latest project; a health center which, when finished, will house a pharmacy, a psychologist, several family doctors and physical therapists. Charlotte is one of the four initiators (and owners) of the center. Needless to say that Pieter is very proud of his oldest daughter!

We are also very proud of our two little girls. Today, they had their first swimming lesson. I had hoped that it would be more of a fun-and-play type lesson, but it was really a swimming lesson. For 30 minutes, Emma and Janne, together with 7 other kids, swam back and forth in a 15 meter pool. It looked a little boring and not much fun to me, but Emma and Janne were very enthousiastic, so we'll give it a few weeks of months. If they start complaining, that's early enough to go look for another place.
Janne doing her best

Emma already had swimming lessons in Hsinchu (through school), but there they with freestyle. Here, kids first learn breastroke. (Which, by the way, makes much more sense from a practical point of view. Breast stroke allows you to keep your head above water, which helps enormously if you're trying to escape from water you've fallen into. And we live in a country with a lot of water after all ...). Emma did well, arm and belly floaties and all; she even managed to do a few correct strokes. Janne didn't do much more than splash back and forth. Most important though, they had fun!!

Emma having fun in the pool

The latest finish date for the new house is now mid July and the move is scheduled for the last two weeks of that month. Hopefully we'll be fully moved by the time school starts in mid August ... Yesterday, we also welcomed a few of Holland's modern foreign workers in our house, painters in this case. Where Asia has Philippino and Thai workers, the Netherlands nowadays have Polish workers. Pieter already experienced that it is very difficult to get workers for the TPV factory in Gorsow, Poland. Now we know why; they're all in the Netherlands, making a lot more money than they would make at home. Just as in Asia, there are job agencies specialized in intermediating for and hiring Polish workers and the number of Polish cars driving around in Holland is amazing. The two painters in our house are doing a fine job, for less money and they work longer hours, so we're happy to have them

Two Polish painters supervised by Pieter :-)

4 - 1

The Dutch team did it again; the match between the Netherlands and France ended in a 4 - 1 victory for the orange team. A few seconds after the match was over, at 10.30 pm, a few crazy fans were running through our street, waving a Dutch flag, shouting and hooting a big horn. At this very moment, cars are driving through the neighbourhood, honking their horns. The Orange Soccer Craze continues :-)

All checked, all well

On of the many differences between Taiwan and the Netherlands is the level and number of health checks for babies and toddlers. In Holland, you go to the 'consultatiebureau' on a regular basis during the first four years of a child's life. Especially in the baby's first year, you make a lot of trips to this office. When the child turns four, the consultatiebureau hands over the files to the GGD, to which, among others, the school doctor is connected. He or she keeps adding to the file, as your child is checked by him/her in group 2 (kindergarten) and in group 6 (grade 4).

In the past weeks, both Emma and Janne were checked by the school doctor and the consultatiebureau doctor respectively. Nothing but good news, they're both in perfect health. Their vision is excellent, which is a relief (for now), as both Pieter and I have been wearing glasses from a young age. Their hearing is fine too, although we regularly get a different impression ... Height and weight are right on schedule, Janne a bit higher up on the charts than Emma, as we expected. Although we had no real concerns, it is a relief to get a formal confirmation that all is well. Emma and Janne are now officially 'in the system' and big brother is also watching (over) them.

Another little news item; Emma and Janne will start swimming lessons next week! Fortunately, not all swimming schools have a two year waiting list. Today, I found one in Eindhoven at which they can start next week Tuesday. They're really looking forward to it and I hope they'll have lots of fun. Maybe I'll look for one more sport for them, like dancing or gymnastics. As I really have to start excercising as well, I checked out a few gyms in the area. Hopefully we (my friend Mya and I) can start working out soon. Pieter started taking piano lessons at the local music school and registered for next season, in preparation for his starting at the music acadamy in the fall of 2009.

Our moving date to the new house is still moving further into the summer, which is quite frustrating. But, once it's over and done with, all will be forgotter soon. Or so we are told.

As for the European Championships, Holland is playing France tonight. There are approximately 45.000 Dutch fans in Bern, Switserland and hundred times that number here in Holland. For all these people and for the team I hope we'll win and will have at least a few more days of soccer fun!

3 - 0

Altough I'm not a big soccer fan, I'd like to share the following information with you. The Dutch soccer team won it's first match of the European championships tonight: 3-0 against Italy, the reigning world champion! If nothing else, it's a very nice start :-)

Efteling

Today, the teachers at Emma's school had a 'study-day'. This means all the kids have the day of, while all (or so we thought) other schools in the children have a normal school day. The perfect day to visit one of Holland's most popular theme parks, de Efteling. It's a combination of fairytale park and amusement park and even for Janne and Emma, there's plenty interesting attractions. Thanks to the splendid weather, we had a great time and the girls 'moved some borders'.

The must-have family mushroom picture

Even though Emma is not very fond of dark theaters, attractions and such, she let us take here into three (!) pretty dark attractions. In only one of them, she got really scared, the even liked the other two. Big applause for Emma!

The also must-have giant couch picture

Janne decided to join me and Emma in the big swing boat. It's really big and the swimming motion causes your stomache to jump quite strongly in your belly. Halfway, she got a bit scared and started complaining about her stomach hurting, but she didn't give in and finished the ride without throwing up or crying. She even decided she wanted 'to try it again when I'm a bit older'. Another big one for Janne is the walking. Despite the fact that we walked the whole time from 11 am until almost 6 pm,(minus a lunch and dinner break), she never complained! That's a big one for her, as the normally starts complaining about being tired after about half an hour ... So, also to Janne, well done! We had a great day and will definately do it again next year. At the next teacher's study day.

Too smart for her head?

Busy weekend!

This was our first 'typical Dutch' weekend. That is, our first activity filled weekend since our return. We are becomming very Dutch, very fast :-) Saturday, we spent several hours choosing curtains for the new house. I am very proud to say that we managed to select most curtains for the living room, as well as the curtains for the master bedroom. We also narrowed down the selection for Emma and Janne's room. In only half a day, I think that's quite and accomplishment.

On Sunday, we went to our old house in Geldrop, to tidy up the back yard a little bit. Since the last gardener's visit was about 5 months ago, it looked pretty bad. And comming Tuesday (tomorrow), we will have an open house for potential buyers. We want the house to look as good as possible and the garden is definately part of that. After several hours of weeding and sweeping, it looks a lot more presentable than before. Hopefully the open house will result in an offer.

Cleaning up the back yard together

After all this hard and boring work, we thought Emma and Janne deserved a reward, so we took them to the parrot park. This time, they mostly enjoyed the various play areas in the park, more than the parrots. And they loved the tame bunny rabbits! I wonder how long we can stay away from having to buy a ginny pig, bunny rabbit or dog ... Oh, and they also enjoyed the ride to the park very much, in Pieter's Le Baron convertible!

Are we hot or what?!

Weekend at oma's

The weekend before this one, when Pieter was in Gorsow, my mom invited me and the girls to spend the weekend in Hoogerheide. Although oma's place is intended for elderly couples and singles, it has two bedrooms so Emma, Janne and I had our own bedroom. It helps if the weather is nice, so we can spend most of our time outside. The living room and kitchen are not very big, especially with two wild (and loud) little girls ... Fortunately, that weekend the weather was wonderful, so we strolled through town, took a walk to a small forest nearby and to tante (aunt) Elly and oom (uncle) Kees. Emma and Janne took all the toys outside and played in oma's tiny (and paved) back yard. We only were inside to sleep and eat. Emma and Janne enjoyed spending time and playing with their still very energetic oma.

Emma and Janne running with oma

Oops! Sorry oma!

Orange street

I promissed to post a pic of the Orange Street in Eindhoven. Well, here it is. It must have taken those people hours and hours to decorate their street like this. But with great result; it's the most orange street in the region that I've seen.

Last weeks before the move (we hope ...)

Pieter came back from Gorsow yesterday, so I can post a (few) blog(s) today. He will be home for 10 days, before he has to leave for the Tjech Republic, Hongary and maybe Gorsow again. He's having lots of fun now, making the factory work better and supporting the European sales team in acquiring new customers.

One of the workers in our new house sent us a couple of pics from the situation at the beginning of the construction. I hope we will still be able to get hold of the pictures from the brochure, as the house was when we bougt it. With those pictures added to the ones we have already, we can make a nice 'documentary' of the whole reconstruction process.

Kitchen at start of construction
Sitting room at start of construction

In the living room, we took the beam ceiling out, as well as the support column (on the left). The door will be replaced by a more modern version. In the kitchen, the bar is being replaced by an island with a sink and we took out the storage cabinet (closet?) on the right, to be replaced by a 'cabinet-and-appliances-wall'. Hopefully, in a few weeks time, we will be able to show you the 'after' version of the kitchen (and the rest of the house).

The kitchen is the area which has caused me the biggest headaches. The builder who is doing the kitchen for us, has a lot of experience building kitchens, but not as much actually designing them. So, we basically designed our own kitchen. I'm quite happy with the design we (or better, Pieter) came up with, but I'm stil not confident about the color. It's pretty hard to decide which color to choose for a kitchen that's actually part of the living room (a so called open kitchen). We opted for white, but I was not 100% sure that it was the right choice. With white cupboards and white walls, we were worried it would be too sterile. Too much like our bathroom-house in Hsinchu :-) Rather than putting a color on the cupboards, we finally came up with the idea to paint the walls. Most likely red. And replace some of the plain white cupboard fronts with white-wash glass ones. With these changes, I'm much more confident that the kitchen will be to my liking.

Both bathrooms are halfway finished and looking good. The next two weeks, the last ceilings will be put in and the 2nd and 3rd floor will be painted. Doors will be put in, radiators will be installed and light switches and other remaining electrical jobs will be done. The week after next, the floor in the living room will be put in and one week later, the floors on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Even though we have emphasized from the beginning that the floors were the crucial items to be finished on time (being mid June), the last work in the house to be done is ... the floors! Hopefully the container with our belongings will take a few weeks to get through customs or maybe we can delay their arrival in Veldhoven by a few weeks. If not, we'll have to find a place to put the contents of a 40-foot container for a period of two weeks. Anyone with a few spare rooms in or around Veldhoven?

In the meantime, Emma and Janne are enjoying themselves living in our temporary house. There's a little playground across the street and plenty of kids to play with. That will be a bit different in the new house, where they'll have to play more in the back yard. Fortunately, they seem to adapt to life in Holland without any problems. Emma has several friends from school, whom she likes to invite to come play. She also likes to go on a playdate at their houses. This week, we had Aylene, Elliott and Tyler (friends from Hsinchu) over on Wednesday afternoon, and Elke (Emma's friend from school) on Friday afternoon. Once Emma and Janne will start going to some clubs, it will be a little more difficult to arrange play dates, but we will try to leave them enough free time to just play :-)

This week, I also started looking for swimming lessons for Emma and Janne. I was shocked when I found out that even for swimming lessons there is a 1,5 to 2 year waiting list .... Holland, the country of waiting lists. I think that is why Dutch people are so good at planning and looking ahead. We have to! You have to register your child for day care the moment you find out you're pregnant. When your baby is 6 months old, make sure to register it for your favorite kindergarten, otherwise you might be too late. And please, don't try to move house until the kids are grown up, or all your planning will have been to no avail.

Besides these surprises, we're doing fine :-) I survived my first reversed culture shock dip and can see the bright side of the whole move again. Maybe the warmer weather helps a little bit. Although it still is 10-12 degrees at night, day time temperatures regularly go over 20 degrees C. Which is quite comfortable. And I don't want anyone to tell me they've been having 30 degree weather for the last two months in Taiwan, because all my happy thoughts about the Low Country will go out the window ...