My everyday life

I am right now sitting with a bit of extra time to spare. Sandra has gone to the gym so I thought that I might catch up on some emails but instead decided that I would like to begin my post on things that I have been thinking about since I got here. I have not yet really talked about the house or the area or really what I do. So here I go....

I live in a beautiful neighbourhood with woods, trails, and heather (hiede???) fields all around. It took me about a month to discover the beauty of the area. I knew that there were woods but never really looked at them (you see I have this problem where when I walk I tend to block the outside world out and just focus on thinking). Anyway then I started running. One day as I was running through the woods I was struck by the wonderful smell of pine so I had to look around me to see where it came from. What I saw was beautiful...I can't explain it with words but just picture woods in the morning when the air is still a little bit crisp and the sun is trying to peek through the branches making a haze...I know you've all seen it before. After noticing that I remembered my walks with Elaine and how she would always point out the smallest little things in nature and I thought I would try the same...I don't think I've ever been on a more enjoyable run! (Thanks elaine;)). So I have some pictures of the area. I will take more but I am going to post some now. Most of them will be of a snow storm that we had last week (very uncommon here) but it still shows off the area.

Gag... so I am here a complete week later and as I read through the beginning of my post I think I was in a fairy tale mood that night as I wrote it...sorry guys I don't usually talk in that "oh life is wonderful and beautiful ways"...haha...like I said...gag! anyway I'm keeping it in there:D! And I really do thank elaine for helping me to notice things...and it really is nice...just ask Deanne and Albert...although they saw it in the afternoon and it loses some of it's mystic charm by that time.

So my everyday life consists of waking up and helping get the girls ready for school, drive them to school, do some shopping (groceries or market), coming home and cleaning up a bit, doing some ironing, having some free time (emailing, biking, reading, having coffie with a friends; really whatever I feel like), picking up the girls from school, driving them here or there (friends houses, ballet, field hockey etc.), coming home, cooking dinner, eating, then cleaning up. I don't know if I already mentioned this but people seem to ask so I'm giving the whole schedule. Sounds like fun hey? hehe. If you want to learn culture though being an au pair is the way to do it. I am becoming a part of the community. People know me at the school , in the stores, and on the streets.

I think I will fill the rest of the blog up with pictures...that will show you best! Sorry I have not yet figured out how to make the pictures the right way up...they are saved in the computer the right way but do not come out the right way...I guess you'll all just have to get up on your desk and lay sideways to see them correctly;D!

This is a sunset that I noticed one night when i was closing the curtains...I see these a lot. It is taken from the front door.

This is the front of my house.

My car!!!! The thing I like best are the speakers...hehe...but it drives nicely too. When there are problems it's all because of the driver;) although I am getting better.


The heide...there are wild cows in this field.

Bussum...This is the town that the girls have ballet in. I also go here for shopping and to go out.

This is Meyke, Henk and Carlijn sledding!!! It was a fun day!



Oh and one last thing...I feel bad for anything that I said about the teacher (Juf I think they call them here). She is really quite a sweet lady. I realize why some people knew so much more dutch than me! It turns out that some people have been in the country for a long time...one girl has been here for 5 years! I'm curious as to why they waited so long to take the lessons but considering she has very little english (but 5 other languages) it is difficult to have a conversation with her. I'm doing pretty well though. The Australian looks like he wants to run from the run everytime the Juf looks at him. We actually have a system...if the teacher is asking questions and we don't know what she is saying just don't make eye contact...she's catching on though. I actually know slightly what she is saying and even contributed by suggesting some dutch verbs!