Canadian Thanksgiving & A Tour of Amsterdam

Saturday, October 13th

Thanksgiving Tree

I celebrated my first Canadian Thanksgiving, in Holland, naturally. We invited members of Claire's family over to share our Thanksgiving feast. In preparations, the boys made a "Thanksgivng Tree," where throughout the week, all of us hung leaves with what we're thankful for written on them. I also spent time that week riding around on my bicycle to do some grocery shopping. On Tuesday, I went across town to order a turkey from the butcher (something that I'm surprised they trusted a vegetarian to do). On Thursday I spent around $100 at the market and various shops buying spices, vegetables, spreads, cheeses, and whatever else could fit into the bicycle's pannier bags. Friday night and Saturday afternoon - more shopping and preparing the food. I took on mashed potatoes, stuffing, and the primary steps in making a pumpkin pie (buying, gutting, and pureeing the pumpkin). Alex took on the challenge of cooking the turkey in a roasting pan which we didn't have, with a thermometer which we didn't have, and an oven, which we didn't really have, but in the end, I heard rave reviews at dinner. He also finished making the pumpkin pie, while Claire spent hours perfecting cranberry sauce, roasted root vegetables, a dish of brussels sprouts with gruyere cheese, and an elegant arrangement of appetizers.

 

 

Sunday, October 14th

I put the "t" in "I amsterdam"

A few weeks ago, I received an invitation from Claire's cousins to join them for a full day of exploring Amsterdam and dinner. They thought that it would be a welcomed opportunity for me to hang out with people older than 6 and younger than 40. Brothers Tycho & Tashi met me at the Amsterdam Centraal train station, and from there took me on a walking tour of Amsterdam. We chatted over coffee in a cafe that was once a hotel for sailors, but had to close due to a flea infestation. From there we wondered quietly through hidden gardens in convents, stopped for croquettes and fries at a snack shop, checked out Rembrandt paintings at Rijks Museum, and made it back to Tashi's flat for dinner, where more cousins and friends joined us. After dinner and dessert, they put in a movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? Unfortunately, I had to leave half way through the movie so that I could make the hour and half journey back to Delft at a reasonable hour. The entire day left me wondering if the situation were reversed, would I or any other American be so willing to host their cousin's nanny with the same amount of zealous generosity as Claire's cousins.

Thank you, Tashi, Tycho, Bob, Toom, Bo, & Gabbi for a wonderful dinner!

Bob, who is Thai, made me a special dish of Thai noodels and shrimp

Deja Vu in Den Haag

View from my bicycle

I had the house to myself while the Horner-Devines drove to Belgium to visit family. There wasn't any room for me, but having already been Belgium, I wasn't too disappointed that I had an entire weekend in solitude. I got to spend lots of time at the gym (including the relaxing sauna), check out the library, update the blog and facebook while tipsy on wine, and go on a long bike ride to Den Haag. 

Parking a bike with no kickstand is a challenge

Den Haag (The Hague) is the seat of the Dutch government, the Supreme Court, and the Council of State, home to the Queen, host to the United Nations, and is where the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court is located. It took about 45 minutes to bike there from Delft, and what felt like another 45 minutes to find a parking spot for my bike - a problem that I never thought that I would complain about before moving to Holland. Even though I was in Den Haag 5 years ago, I didn't recognize any of it. But then I turned a corner suddenly a feeling of deja vu hit me. Wait a second, I thought, if I just keep going down this way, I'll find the Royal Palace... and there it was!

My photos of the palace from separate trips (2012 above, 2007 below)

Then I tried to retrace my steps from there to find a little cafe where Margot, my mom and I had lunch 5 years ago. I remember it so well because I had made such a fool out of myself. First of all, I had to order something vegetarian, but that's not really their thing in the Netherlands. I thought that the simplest thing would be to order a sandwich, but request if they could just not include the ham when they make the sandwich (awfully confusing). What I got was a mound of veggies and cheese with a spear through the middle decorated with fresh fruit. It took me a minute of strategizing before I realized it was an open faced sandwich. Then I just had to order fixings to make my own Thai iced tea (something that I was really into when I was 20). I ordered a  black iced tea, milk, and sugar. The server was so perplexed that he almost refused to fulfill my order because he thought that this was a very bad idea. "Trust me, trust me," I reassured everyone at the table, "I know what I'm doing." Famous last words. When the waiter brought us our drinks, he stopped and told Margot that he was going to watch me assemble my concoction. With false confidence, I added sugar and milk to the glass of black tea, and watched in horror as the concoction exploded before my very eyes. It overflowed quickly, making a huge mess of the table. The black iced tea, unbeknownst to me, was carbonated Lipton tea, so I had essentially created a science project with my ignorance. I think that might have been the end to my Thai tea making days...

Den Haag, 2007

When I returned back to our home in Delft, I found my photos from a previous trip to Holland in 2007. It was quite amusing to see that I had taken similar shots of the same things, so below I have paired them together.

Delft Fish Market, 2007 & 2012

Travel Update: We are IN Scotland!

At Schipol Airport

At the dark hour of 6:30 AM Thursday morning, I set off on foot with my backpack to the train station. 90 minutes and two trains later, I was the Schipol Airport, waiting at the curb for the rest of the family to pull up in the car. Together we checked into our flight and were invited to the front of the line at customs (thanks to Annika). The flight from Amsterdam to Edinburgh is only an hour long, confirming my opinion that the United States is just too big of a country. I read that the United States is about two and half times the size of Western Europe!

Where are we going?

Once we landed and rented our van, we made the hour long drive through the countryside to Sally and Roy's farm (Geographers, Claire's friend from school). Alex did a commendable job of driving on the left side of the road, on the left side of the car, which was a manual, so using his left hand. As we drove, I took in the sweeping landscapes of Scotland. It didn't take long to leave the city of Edinburgh (capital and 2nd largest city of Scotland) and enter rural countryside. It was overcast and drizzly, but very beautiful. There are many rolling hills and even mountains covered with pine trees - something you don't see every day in flat Holland. And hundreds of grazing sheep speckle every pasture.

Sally's farm is home to 3 horses, 2 pigmy goats, dozens of chickens and ducks, a neighbor's flock of wondering sheep, and a young labrador named Bramble. Oh, and two boys, Thomas (9) and Ben (7). Because they're English, they have accents which make everything sound intelligent and extremely polite. When I asked Thomas if the pants he was wearing were for riding horses, he corrected me in his proper English accent: "They're called trousers, not pants. You're in the U.K. now, so you have to speak English." It is my hope that I will add many English words to my vocabulary after this trip. It is so hard, by the way, not to slip into using an English accent when you're speaking with a Brit.

Located in the kitchen, this stove is the water heater!

Last night, for dinner, Sally prepared us a dinner with traditional Scottish cuisine - haggis with neeps and tatties (mashed parsnips and potatoes), and cobbler with custard for dessert. Haggis is minced sheep liver, tongue, heart, and lungs with onions, oatmeal, and spices encased in the animal's stomach. This sounded so appealing that after 14 years of vegetarianism, I decided to cast my dietary principles aside and try a bite of haggis, smothered in hp sauce (British condiment). If you don't think about what you're actually eating, haggis isn't all that bad. My vegetarian diet has taken a real blow since my arrival in Europe. In August I tried herring, a staple in Holland. I can't say that I prefer one over the other (herring vs haggis).

So far, I love it here. I love drinking tea by the pot-fulls, listening to the BBC, and falling victim to British sarcasm. To my surprise, I also love being on a farm. Growing up on a farm with animals and muck boots, all I ever dreamed of was living a cosmopolitan lifestyle. But after a few years of living in small apartments in densely populated cities, I find that I have a change of heart when I'm back in the country. I love looking out the window and seeing chickens pecking the ground and in the near distance, mountains hidden behind a cloak of fog. I actually am saddened when I think of how I wasted so much of my childhood in apathy towards our rural upbringing. It makes me reconsider the rural vs urban debate - which is a better place to live?

We will be staying on the farm until Monday, then we'll really put my patience to the test when we embark on a 5 hour car ride across the country to the Isle of Skye, which is sparsely inhabited. There, we'll spend a few days exploring hiking trails and castles, then slowly make the journey back to Edinburgh. We'll leave Scotland on Friday, October 26th, but instead of going home with the family, I've booked a trip to LONDON!!! I've been invited to stay with an old friend, Ryan Goeden, and his wife Christine. I'll spend the weekend there, then head home on Monday on a ship. I will sleep in my own cabin and arrive at the Hook of Holland Tuesday morning. I'm so excited!

Cheerio!

Their front yard

View of their house/goat shed from woods

Also on their property is not a treehouse but a treecastle

"The Flying Fox" zipline

Their property, facing their house

Thomas, climbing over their fence to see their horses

"Eggs for Sale" mailbox that Sally brought back with her from the states, now serves as an egg shop

Their pasture and animal brood, viewed from their front yard

Neighbor's house. Many fences are old rock walls

Another view from their house

My Birthday: I ate my heart out

Love, Jasper

I have had a lot of happy birthdays, but the year that I turned 26 in Holland will be one of the most memorable. Living with children makes all holidays and birthdays seem just as magical as when you were once that age. Admittedly, I was not looking forward to turning 26. When you turn 26, you're cut off from youth discounts and insurance policies covered by your parents, so basically I was prepared to say goodbye to my precious youth and hello to boring ol'-responsible-back pain-full price-crummy adulthood. I start thinking dramatically, "I'm so old and have nothing but butter thighs to show for it. Just wheel me away now to some retirement living condo where I'll die of loneliness..."

But on the day that I woke up 26, there were no wheelchairs or papers that I had to sign, writing away my youth. Instead, I was greeted by two young boys, bearing gifts. They crawled up on to my bed and asked if I could start opening up my presents (with their help, of course). I asked if there were any cards that I should read first, and Jasper said, "Oh yeah!" and handed me two green cards. One was made by Jasper: "Chelsea Happy 26 Birthday." And the other was from the family: "Welcome to 26!" Inside was a birthday itinerary. And there was nothing in the agenda which said, "Congratulations, you grew up." No, it was the best birthday itinerary of all time. 

 

My Birthday Itinerary = Best Day EVER!

After opening a package of Koffee and another present from Oliver - a home made kite, the boys summoned me downstairs where more surprises awaited me. As I came down the stairs and into the kitchen, my senses were awakened to colorful streamers and the smell of home made pannenkoek (dutch pancakes which I similar to crepes). I walked around in amazement - the whole house was decorated with beautiful streamers and green banners (I'm sure the boys made certain that everything was in my favorite color) with sweet messages: "Happy Birthday Chelsea." "We Love you Chelsea!" "26!!" and one that alluded to an inside joke, "ChelseaChelseaChelseaChelseaChelseaChelseaChelsea" x100. When Oliver and I play and build things while everyone else is working and at school, Oliver begins every single sentence with my name. Claire thinks that it's hilarious, and one day said, "I wish that there was an app that could detect your name and how often it's said in a day." Now everyone repeats my name as a joke whenever they'd like to talk to me. Anyway, at the expense of very little sleep on the family's part, I felt incredibly special, pampered, and loved on my birthday.

Love-graffiti on the wall

How many times Oliver addresses me in an afternoon

Pannenkoek filled with nutella and bananas!

Jasper, NO! NOT THE NUTELLA!

He only got crazier throughout the day

After breakfast, I hung out with Oliver for a little bit. As I got ready to go to my facial (!), I sang, I'm singing in the rain (what can I say? it was raining out and I was happy). I noticed that Oliver laid across the bed on his belly with his chin resting on his hands and watched me. Knowing that he loves to sing and perform (his favorite musician is Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. Wait, correction, Oliver thinks that he is Eddie Vedder), I asked him, "Would you like to watch a video of Gene Kelly singing this song?" Oliver jumped up on my lap and together we watched several songs from Singing in the Rain. Then I was off on my bike in the rain to enjoy pampering to the extreme. My hour long facial was so relaxing, that I left the dermatologist's office a little dazed and disoriented. That kind of sums up how I felt all day, actually.

"Happy" tea

Next on the agenda was meeting Claire, Alex, Annika, and Oliver at Leonida's Lunchroom, a restaurant known for its Belgian chocolates and High Tea. Upon arrival, we were told that we were going to get the "surprise" tea, because Claire had informed them that it was my birthday when she had made the reservation. We were served three pots of thee, all with different but all delicious flavors. Next came the savory snacks on an etagere (elegant shelves), which were filling. My favorite was the mushroom soup. 

The big finale was the arrival of the dessert. On more etagere were plates of cakes, chocolates, and yogurt, complete with a roman candle sparkling out of a crumpet. The staff delivered it while singing the Dutch version of Happy Birthday to You! It was spectacular. Once the flame went out, we dug in! 

Mushroom soup, kroketjes (croquettes), quiche, cream cheese and something wrap, crackers, tuna, and, oh yes, caviar. CAVIAR!

Annika dressed up for the occasion!
And yes, I've totally held a baby before

Ever the queen of proper 'n fancy, I had to teach Oliver about pinkies up when drinking tea

Almost...

Nailed it! Serious tea drinkers, kind of.

Satisfied.

Feast your eyes on this, ladies and gents

I'm considering re-titling my blog to:
"What I've consumed today."

It even came with a small gift! A small box of Leonida's famous Belgian Chocolates and a pair of Delft clogs!

So Happy!

Dessert with a firework show! They must not have
sensitive fire alarms in Holland.
Or any, for that matter.

No one tell Jasper about this!
The poor guy had to go to school :(

I was thinking, "hahaha!...oh my god, are they expecting me to blow this thing out?"

Well that answers that question

I walked out of there stuffed and ready for a nap. It just couldn't get any better than this. But wait, there's more! Back at home, the family had made my traditional birthday dessert: chocolate cream pies. Earlier, I had stupidly told them that every year I make two chocolate cream pies for my birthday - one for me, and one for every body else (why. why did I tell them that?). Because the boys have a reputation for going completely berserk after consuming chocolate, the parents thought it best to serve my dessert before dinner. They placed a whole pie dish in front of me as they sang Happy Birthday, and I wanted to cry a little bit. Good thing I signed up for that gym membership! But the pie was the best, most unique chocolate cream pie I have ever had in all my years. To make the crust, they blended up stroopwaffles (two thin waffers with caramel in between), and Claire searched high and low to find baker's chocolate - ironically, it doesn't seem to exist here in Delft. I guess the Delftians figure, "Why bake when you can buy the best French pastries just around the corner?" Luckily, my mom brought over a huge bag of chocolate chips when she visited, so Claire melted those down with some heavy cream, then topped off the pies with whipping cream, chocolate sprinkles, and red berries. It was heavenly, and a little bit painful.

As I was served my death by chocolate, Claire announced that it was time for videos. She placed her computer screen in front of me, and the whole family surrounded me with our plates of pie. They had surprised me with birthday videos from friends. First was a video from the sweet and adorable Saltmarsh-Learner Family, singing me happy birthday. Then was a video montage of Oliver saying, "CHELSEA." In different locations, on different days, and in varying tones (some natural, and some dubbed by Claire's computer), Oliver is captured repeating my name, and it is indeed, hilarious. And the final video was the biggest surprise of all. It began with a black screen with the words, "Happy Birthday, Chelsea!" Then it opened up to a classroom of children huddled on the floor and they began to sing, "Happy Birthday to you..." It was a video from UTCS, and nearly every child and co-teacher that I have had the sincere pleasure of working with over the years was in it wishing me a happy birthday. I burst into tears, as I am doing now as I write this! My dear best friend Mindy took the camera around the school on a sunny fall day, and ended the video in the office where she, Jill (school director), and Anne (business manager) sang me the unique UTCS birthday mash-up song. Jasper looked over at me and asked, "Why is your face all wet?" and I could hardly say the words, "because I'm crying." I was truly overwhelmed. How could one person feel so loved? How did I get so lucky? With all of the treats and pampering and hoops people had to jump through to make my birthday a special one, I almost felt sick with undeserved indulgence. 

After pie and videos, the table was filled with my favorite foods - tapenade with thin rosemary crackers, salad with arugula, avocados, pecans, pine nuts, with a delicious balsamic and olive oil dressing, bread, cheeses, salmon, and pinot noir. It was all so lekker, but my tummy, head, and heart were all too stuffed to eat much more. Everything seemed to swirl around me, and I didn't quite know how to process things. I felt like I was already drunk, in a happy but unstable way. Meanwhile across the table, Oliver was feeling the effects of all the chocolate and week's long excitement. He pulled out a neon green stick, stood up on his knees and cried out into the stick, "SPEECH!" followed by utter nonsense a.k.a. his own Dutch language. He then altered from making these "speeches" on the living room carpet and falling to the ground, to running and flinging himself around me to give me heartfelt hugs while I ate. At one point while this was happening, I looked over at Alex and whispered, "I feel like I'm on drugs or something. Seriously. What is happening?!"

While the parents tried to get a grip on the kids, I decided that it was time to put myself to good use. I floated to the kitchen and began to tackle the dish-pit, but Alex caught me and shooed me away. I put the plates down and went up to my quiet room, sat on my bed, and cried. It was only for a moment, but I felt like I could have really let myself go. Experiencing a day in a whole lifetime where kindness, generosity, and enduring love is given to me freely, I am humbled beyond words, and all I can do is cry. Feeling like whatever I have to give in return would only be insufficient, I am overwhelmed. In my 26 years, I have been fortunate enough to have had this happen to me more than once, and each time I choke down my tears, I appreciate the quote by American writer, Washington Irving:

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief

...and unspeakable love.

I stepped out on my terrace to breathe in some fresh air. Even though I was feeling emotionally drained and ready for bed, the night was young. I looked at the clock tower and saw that I only had ten minutes to catch tonight's premier at the filmhuis, "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Luckily it's just down the street, so Claire and I threw on our coats, thanked Alex for staying in with the crazed kids, and made it to the show with time to spare. The movie was stunning, and if you have the chance to see it, do. After the show, the filmhuis was hosting a discussion about the movie with free drinks and hors d'oerves, but Claire and I had other plans. Our neighbor-friend, Nan, who lives literally 10 steps from the theater, had invited us over for a drink. She met us at the theater and escorted us to her darling home where she had Surprise! CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES baking in the oven. Good thing I grew this extra stomach since I've been in Delft, I thought as I smiled in disbelief. 

We curled up on the couch, visited about our time here in Delft, and my spoon quivered as I enjoyed the millionth act of kindness given to me on my birthday. We also had the pleasure of meeting Nan's son, Liam, who is 14 and a huge fan of plutonium,  isotopes, and all things science (but not physics because it's too much math and not enough science). What an adorable nerd. 

Sitting in the presence of Claire and Nan, two beautiful women who have led full, meaningful, and interesting lives, I thought, "To hell with youth! Give me a life with friends, good food, and some sight seeing and I will look forward to growing old with my good life." With a heart that is overflowing with love, I am excited to see my life unfold. At the end of my life, I hope to have kept all of the friends that I have made, been good to my family, and obedient to my heart.  So far, I can say that I have led a beautiful life. Thank you to all those who have made that possible.