‘Merica Bound

In one week, Job and I will be making our way to America for some East Coast summer fun.

We initially planned this trip as a fun surprise for my parents, however, time was not on our side, and we ended up booking our trip for the same dates that they are traveling to Australia for a wedding.  In my defense, I thought that they would be going to Australia in May (officially they took off for Australia  yesterday so it technically is May that they are traveling there) for the wedding, but alas, they are there from now until June 18th-ish, which is when we fly back to Amsterdam.

Jammer bummer! (this sounds like yummer bummer. Jammer is the dutch word for bummer…)

I honestly haven’t been looking too forward to this trip until about three days ago.  Over the last few weeks I’ve been getting increasingly happier about it (it’s definitely time for a vacation) but we hadn’t planned anything for our time in the states… and we haven’t really been able to figure out exactly what we wanted to do while we were there.

Lucky for us, some plans are finally starting to take shape.

We are getting picked up by our fabulous friends Ayla and Chauncey who are driving all the way to New York City to pick us up.  We’ll spend only one night and a bit of a day there, getting to see my sister (I think?) and my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. We’re going to make the absolutely necessary stop at Dominique Ansel’s bakery for an early morning cronut and from there, maybe spend a little bit of time in the city and then hit the road to Rhode Island.

On the third, I will have the distinct pleasure of accompanying Job and Ayla to their first every Boston Red Sox game. Chauncey is coming too. This will also be Job’s first baseball game. Since the game isn’t until the evening, we’ll have some time to check out some other fun sights in Boston as well!

On the weekend, Talya will be coming to Rhode Island to meet up with some high school friends and go out on a shopping date with me.  The pool guy will come over and show us how to maintain the pool while we’re visiting so we can stay cool in the humid June heat.

And somewhere in the middle, I’ll be visiting Camy and Poppy, my grandparents!

After that point, we really have no plans.  We will be spending most of our time in Rhode Island, and have to plan our return to New York City to catch our plane back to Amsterdam (and hopefully see some beautiful Tri-State friends!!!).

Job has talked a lot about barbecuing which will be super fun if we can get that going, and of course, I want to be able to see as many people as I can.

So! If you’re in the area at any point in time and want to see us, let us know! Come over for a swim, we can go to the beach, grab a meal, plan a day trip!

Let us know!

Can’t wait to see you all!

Hustle and Bustle and Holiday Cheer

We returned from America about two weeks ago.  It was probably the most hectic vacation I’ve ever been on.  It’s so crazy to have to fit in seeing all of your friends and family that you haven’t seen (or only briefly saw) all in the span of two weeks.

I would say we were pretty successful at seeing many people who are important to us. We landed on a Sunday evening around dinner time and my best friend Ayla, along with her boyfriend Chauncey, picked us up at the airport. Job and I were slightly delirious and excited to go home and get some food. Originally we were going to get some Mexican food, but by the time we got through security and I had to forfeit all of my rookworst which I had brought for our special Sinterklaas Dutch night with my family, all I wanted to do was get out of the stinking airport and go home.

We arrived about an hour later in Cranston to home sweet home and were happily greeted by my parents who had dinner waiting for us. We “unpacked” and I use that term loosely here because the majority of the stuff we packed were fun dutch foods like Stroopwafels, Schuimpjes, Pepernoten (well… kruidennoten) taaitaai and stamppot jus… and some liquor. We said our hellos and ate and later on Chauncey and Ayla went home and we (being extremely exhausted) went to sleep…or tried at least

We didn’t sleep much our first night because I think we stayed up a little too late…falling into that 24 hour all nighter phase where your body somehow finds energy and then you just toss and turn. We slept for maybe three hours. Once we gave up with sleeping, we had to figure out a plan to get a car to go and get some coffee. (Job has a coffee addiction, and ever since moving to the Netherlands, I have adopted one as well.) The lucky thing for us is that we were in the United States, where coffee shops open up early… like 6am early.  We decided to go by Seven Stars, a pretty well known bakery in Providence (with multiple locations. We went to the one on the West Side of Providence) to enjoy a cappuccino and an espresso macchiato (the real kind, not the Starbucks kind) as well as some baked goods. We had just enough time to drink our coffees and then go back and meet my dad to return his vehicle.

Later in the day, we were able to stop by and see our good friend Margaret of Follow the Sun Apparel, her four month old and her two year old. It was really nice to get a chance to catch up with her, see how big her son got and how beautiful her new baby girl is.  (I’m sure she enjoyed it too because she didn’t have to entertain them as much and gave her a few minutes to relax.)

The next few days we spent prepping for thanksgiving dinner and kind of trying to relax and adjust to the time change.

On Thursday morning, we were blessed with the presence of yet another friend, Yas.  She flew in all the way from Arizona to make sure she could get some time with us. It was fun to go shopping and joke around and pick up right where we left off. We also watched some thanksgiving day parade and the Purina Dog show to laugh at how ridiculous the whole thing is.

Dinner was amazing. I waited all day to sink my teeth into the turkey, mashed potatoes, kugel and squash that had been prepared, and they did not disappoint. We visited with my grandparents from my mom’s side as well.

On Friday, we obviously went Black Friday shopping, but not like the crazies you see on television. We woke up at maybe 8 and left the house around 10ish to hit the stores. It wasn’t even too crowded. Job scored four pairs of shoes and I didn’t do too bad myself. After all of the shopping, we prepared for our mini dutch night. We played the gift exchange game with dice and made Boerenkool Stamppot (kale) with our make shift Rookworst (smoked sausage) which ended up being kielbasa. We played the game well into the night and snacked on all of our dutch treats.

On Saturday, my mom threw a party for us to try to make it so we were able to see all of the people we really wanted to see in the short time we had. It was full of old friends, good food and fun times, laughing and sharing stories of the past and the past year.

On Sunday, we high-tailed it on up to New York City. I wanted to make sure I got to see my close family and friends there too. Ayla and Chauncey came with us and we were able to go and explore the city together. On Monday morning, we woke up early to get in line (which there amazingly was none) for a cronut at the Dominique Ansel bakery. The were a heavenly mouthful. We quickly made our way to Everyman Coffee (and I might have to say that it was the best coffee we had on our whole trip in America). From there, we headed uptown to a comic book store and then split from Ayla and Chauncey to meet with Edith. We had yet another coffee with her and then headed back to 30 Rock to meet up with Ayla and Chauncey to see Jimmy Fallon. It was a crazy, fun and hysterical afternoon. The taping lasted almost two hours and from there, we had to quickly get uptown for our New York Party at Dallas BBQ (some real american food!). Although it was extremely brief, it was super nice to be able to see some really great family, family friends, and just plain old good friends.

On Tuesday morning, it was time to go back to Rhode Island. We basically spent the rest of our trip running around and picking up some other things we wanted to bring back to the Netherlands and tried to fit in a few more people.

On Thursday, we ran what felt like 10,000 errands and attempted to pack up all of our belongings.  Needless to say, I forgot almost all of the things that I wanted to bring back with me to the Netherlands. (Ice skates, menorah and pickles)

We landed safely on Friday afternoon and made our way back to our apartment to try to adjust to normal life.

On Saturday, I got to experience my first Sinterklaas.  We played a fun trivia game that I tied in last place with Bram. We spent some time with Moos who enjoyed the festive spirit and of course all of the cadeautjes (gifts), and exchanged poems from Sinterklaas.

This week, we will be getting our christmas tree (a first for me, which I’m really excited about because I love Christmas time). Job’s parents lent us some ornaments since we have none, and gave us these cute little ornaments to start our new collection.

It will be a little sad to not be able to be with my side of the family during this time and also a little sad to not be able to participate in my yearly Christmas (which I usually spend at Ayla’s family brunch) and New Years traditions (where we go to New Amsterdam aka New York City) , but this year is the year to start new traditions.

I’m really excited to see what New Years is like in Old Amsterdam and also really excited to go into the city and marvel at all of the beautiful light installations for the Light Festival.

Although the year has definitely not been the best year and had many ups and downs, I’m so happy to have been able to share this experience with all of the amazing people in my life who have been around to support me.

Baby snuggles with Madeline

Thanksgiving Dinner

With mom and Yas

CRONUTS

Everyman Cappuccino

Sinterklaas gifts

Our cute little ornaments!

Lights in the City

And in one month from today, I will have lived in Amsterdam for a year.

I’m Back! (Just in time for our holiday)

So it’s been a bit since I’ve last written… As a matter of fact, a few days after my last post, I decided it was time to enroll in a Dutch Course. Job and I found some a course that looked nice at the Vrije Universiteit. Maybe three days after my last post, Job and I went to the Vrije Universiteit to speak to the organizers of the courses. At the VU, they break it down into six levels. (0-A1, A1-A2, A2-A2+, A2-B1, B1-B2, and B2-B2+) I was not sure which level I should start in, and they told me they had a placement test that I could take.

A week later we went back to the VU and I took the exam. I waited a week for the results. I’ve never had a formal Dutch course before.  What I’ve learned is mainly from what I’ve heard around me and a little bit from the first level of Rosetta Stone (that’s the most formal training I’ve gotten.) I also spent a few days driving to work listening to some pimsleur disks…

Anyways, I waited for my exam results with baited breath.  I didn’t feel too confident (the placement exam was pretty tough) and was really hoping to have just scraped into level 3 (I really thought I wasn’t going to make it out of level 2).  I received my results and miraculously, I made it into level FOUR!!!!

I couldn’t believe it! I started the week after, meeting two times a week, once on Monday and once on Thursday from 6PM until 8:30 PM. The class was full of diversity; people from all across the globe! Our teacher Lijn was also very sweet and really it was a fun class to go to. After my first class, I came home only wanting to speak in Dutch with Job.

The course was eight weeks long. I just finished two weeks ago, taking another difficult test. There were two parts to the test. A reading and writing portion and a listening and vocabulary portion. The reading/writing was pretty easy. (Although my grammar is pretty awful, I’m alright at spelling and at least using the correct words.) The listening and vocabulary was difficult. Most of the vocabulary we either barely used or didn’t even go over. I waited almost a week for the results and finally found out that I had passed. After taking the exam I was really nervous that I wouldn’t pass due to the vocabulary portion.

During the eight weeks that I was in the course, I made some new friends, but I had no time. It was so exhausting working and also going to Dutch class. There was a lot of homework. I know for sure I have learned a lot though. I understand many conversations or can at least follow along. I even understand some jokes now which makes life more fun 🙂

Next Sunday, Job and I are going to America to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family and to see my friends that I haven’t seen now for almost a year! I’m so excited for this vacation. It feels very well deserved after these past two months. I’m also really excited to be able to spend some quality time with some good friends and family.

Other things I know we’re both excited for in America include all of the tasty “murican” food we’re going to get to eat, the black friday shopping so that we can stock up on our spring wardrobes, and just having some time off to relax (although our schedule is pretty packed with events ranging from seeing people, going to appointments, dinners, parties and shopping!)

I’m also excited to share some Dutch things with my American family and friends and to bring some of America back with me when we return to Holland.

Hopefully I’ll be back to write soon, and if not, well, just stay tuned! I’ll be back!

Life Goes On

After some sadness and tears, joyfulness and fun, and a lot of family time, we are trying to get back to real life and finding our new “normal”.

We have been to Germany, Belgium, and France.  We’ve seen lots of family and spent some time together bonding and have tried to enjoy some moments to ourselves.

Here are some photos to enjoy from these last three months.

 

Flowers in Leiden

Breaking Tradition: April Holidays

There is nothing more peaceful and relaxing than biking home from a long day of work and reflect on my day and think about the next coming days.  I’ve been talking a lot lately with my mom, my sister, and my best friend, Ayla.  Ayla has just gotten a new apartment, my sister is going on a quick holiday to Prague, and my mom is excited but tired from all of the construction work going on at the house in the states (which is finally almost finished!).

Talking with Ayla, we really realized that this is the first year that we will not be completing our normal April Holiday traditions…

Ayla and I…since we were about 8 or 9 years old have been best friends.  Each year we have a holiday exchange.  Once in the winter for Christmas and Hanukkah, and once in the spring for Passover and Easter.  We are honorary family members in each others families.  This will be the first year ever that we are unable to attend the spring celebrations with each other.

Next Monday marks the first evening of Passover.  Ayla would always come over to my house and help us prepare our meal and then she, my parents, my sister (sometimes via Skype) and my mother’s parents would sit down to a glorious meal with multiple courses.

The Seder Plate in all of it’s glory

Salad

Matzoh Ball Batter

Matzoh Ball Soup (I don’t know what April is going to be like without my mom’s amazing soup and my matzoh balls)

Veggies

Kuggel (one of my other favorite passover treats, and in the background, my mom’s amazing chocolate/caramel covered Matzoh…TO DIE FOR!)

Chicken (or salmon for my grandma)

Matzoh (Specifically making Hillel Sandwiches with charoset and maror)

the crazy story my sister and I tell of Passover (We like to modernize things and have fun basically outlining the story of the DreamWorks movie Prince of Egypt… otherwise it’s a pretty long seder)

and last but not least, finding the Afikomen and my grandfather paying us for it.

Passover, although you can’t eat real bread or anything leavened is probably one of the most fun holidays to celebrate with my family.  (And if you’re lucky, someone will get in a fight…me and my sister, my sister and my grandma… it’s always entertaining!!)

Celebrating Easter with Ayla is just as fun.  We go over to her Aunt Sara’s house in East Providence.  Sara lives at the end of a cul de sac.  We usually arrive to Sara’s, help a little with setting the table/ prepping a few things, talking in the living room, and then it’s time to eat.

We get to eat an amazing ham with pineapples and cherries, lots of mashed potatoes, carrots, asparagus, cream of corn soup, green bean casserole, and for dessert, usually some fruit salad and an amazing Trifle that Sara makes! Before we start the meal, there is always a game also.  Sara fills a random jar full of jelly beans.  Everyone must make a private guess as to how many jelly beans are in the jar and submit it.  At the end of the meal, Sara announces the winner and they get all of the jelly beans.  I’ve won before and it’s amazing. I love jelly beans.

After the meal, we have an easter egg hunt in Sara’s yard and the eggs are filled with amazing little easter candies.  

After the easter egg hunt, we open all of our eggs to find our candies and then play a big game of catch at the end of the cul de sac.

Writing about these two days we spend together really is making me miss home a little.  I can’t wait to be reunited with my friends and family over a big meal.

Lucky for me, I get to experience a new fun holiday in just a few weeks…King’s Day!

Do you celebrate Easter or Passover? What are your favorite foods from these spring holidays? What are your favorite traditions?

21 Things You Need To Know About Providence Before You Move There

Welcome to the smallest state’s capital—while it’s small in stature, this city is huge on culture, art, food and… puppets?

I’m from Providence, and this city is so full of fun, culture and good food! I honestly can’t recommend it enough to people visiting the United State… especially the East Coast.  It’s a 1 hour train ride from Boston and a 3 hour train ride from NYC!

If you see my previous post I talk about a lot of my favorite restaurants which are some amazing 5 Star places in Providence!

So proud to be from this little state with a big personality!

21 Things You Need To Know About Providence Before You Move There

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So It’s Been A While

So hey everyone…

It’s been a while.  I’m sure you all have noticed that we haven’t updated in a really long time, but hey! We’ve been super busy.

After traveling to China for two weeks, Job then ventured on to London for a few weeks, I went to Israel, we met up in America in the summer, we both went back to work, I went to Amsterdam in September, I surprised Job in Amsterdam for our anniversary in October and made him a scavenger hunt throughout the city that led him to me at the airport, he visited me for Thanksgiving, and then came back again at the beginning of January… and well, now we live together in Amsterdam as I have moved there!

So lots of super exciting stuff! And yes I know, there were so many many food stories we could have blogged about but didn’t…

And after our move, a few friends visited and there was some good food then as well… so now we have a lot things we have to make up for… but for now, I’m going to try to update when I can and show you some of the great stuff we’re making and eating now!

Thanks as always for reading and let us know if you have any questions or suggestions!

China Part 1. No Communication? No Food.

The first day had come. After a really long flight we land at Beijing airport and the first thing we noticed coming out of the airplane was, It’s hot. It’s really hot. But we were well packed and only carrying summer clothes. Everything was going well so far. We were then picked up at the airport and after a little drive, we arrived at our hotel in Beijing.

So our first little adventure started a little after that. We were settled at our hotel but we were starting to get hungry. Our hotel receptionist didn’t really know anything to eat around there and TripAdviser wasn’t helping me either. 

So we went to find something on our own. That, as we found out quickly, wasn’t that simple in our area of Beijing. We had been walking up and down a street near our hotel in the hope that we would find a restaurant with a picture menu or at least someone who spoke English. We didn’t find any. So after a while we decided we should just give it a try and sat down at a restaurant. They gave us a what I think was a menu but there was no way to be sure. But we were lucky. There was one person in the restaurant who was able to speak a little bit of English and he was kind enough to pick some things for us that he thought we might like. 

We did. 

We got some really good steamed dumplings, one with beef and one with veggies and egg. We got some beers for drinks and finally we could sit down and relax. All together it cost us a little over 6 dollars. 

I would be lying if I said that not being able to communicate with anyone didn’t discourage me a little bit for the rest of the trip. Thankfully that lasted for only a little bit and soon we continued what was going to be an amazing trip through China.  

More soon. 🙂

 

Job