Journal 2 a Amsterdam / 2nd Journal in Amsterdam

Saturday, September 17th 2005

Flight is 40mins. Not getting any sleep. Also gotta freshen up before I see Jan-Kees. Wow, this was a long passport check. Where’s Jan-Kees? He was supposed to pick me up. Just called him, he’s home, he tought we missed eachother. Well, I’ll wait for him. I’m in his appartement which is in a nice neiborhood. I’m glad to be here but very tired. He’s nice and I’m scared to be too much of a hassel. He takes good care of me (feels really good) but he doesn’t have too.

OK! We’re going to his mom’s house tonight. I think it a bit soon to meet his mom and as I don’t speak or understand Dutch. Well at lease, I’ll get some home cooked meal. His mom is sweet. She made a salad with fries. Can’t go to the Nederlands without eating fries. He’s like a 37 year old mama’s boy. He goes to his mom to do laundry. So cute and funny at the same time. Mama’s boy!! It felt a bit weird being there and I felt a bit uncomfortable. Didn’t know what to say, hard to get into a conversation when they’re speaking dutch. Ah well, that’s life! Feels good to be back to his appartment.

Sunday, september 18th 2005

Today his sister’s bringing one of her kids to babysit this afternoon. We strooled around the neiborhood looking at houseboats along the canal. Jody (his nefew) doesn’t speak english. He’s a good kid. We brought him to a park with animals (roosters, chickens, ponys, rabits, goats, etc.) and kidy rides. He’s done a couple of rides as Jan-Kees and I watched. Well, I got to eat some Netherlands traditional junk food (fries, kroket and frikandel), it was good.

Monday, september 19th 2005

Jan-Kees is working today, I’ll do some groceries and cook dinner for when he gets back. I called Isabelle and spoke with my mum. It was nice! I bought a SIM card as well which makes me reachable. I walked around for a couple of hours. Just saw a carrige pulled by horses carrying tunels of Heineken beer driven by man dressed in traditionnal clothes. There’s a side walk sale but there’s notting for me to buy (can’t afford to buy anything). I feel Jan-Kees is alwready fed up of me. He seems to be thinking all the time. He’s taking care of me too much and he’ll soon get tired of it. I don’t need to be taken care of that much (tho I appreciate it). I almost feel like I’m his daughter he’s trying to make up with all those years we haven’t seen eachother. Cooked some poutine, that was nice! Got a dutch music class.

Tuesday, september 20th 2005

I have to figure out what I’m going to do soon as I think my welcome is wearing thin. I’ll have to leave really soon. I was thinking about getting a job here in Amsterdam but it would be a bad idea. I watched the Queen on TV and ate some lasagna I bought at the market yesterday.

It’s 4:30pm and I haven’t left the appartment, I should go out as it is a beautifull day today. Attempt one to get to the Van Gogh museum - Failled! I didn’t get lost, I just got there 10mins after the box office closed. On my way there, I saw a shop that sells rollerskates, rollerblades as well but I’ve been looking for rollerskates for a long time. I’ll go back another day to see how much they are and if I can treat myself to them. I feel ashamed to not have a dutch phrase book with me I never go to another country and start a conversation with "Do you speak english?" I always start with something in their own language. I’m sitting in a "park" between a couple of museums. I think I’ll just take a stroll. Just crossed somekind of an open mall and got myself into an area filled with restaurants and stores. There’s loads of panels along the streets with light bulbs around them, a statement of the amount of light it produces when dark.

Jan-Kees just text me, he got home and I’m obviously not there. It’s 15 past 6 and we’re goin to see a swing band tonight (8pm). It’s happening in a Diner about 20mins from Amsterdam. It’s so nice of him to take me there. He’s been doing so much for me, it’s starting to be overswelming. I can’t shake that feeling that he pitties me and that’s awfull. Got to the Diner, ate basterdized american junk food and got to the "club". This band had 15 musicians and most important of all, I got to swing dance. I haven’t felt so good in awhile. This girl came up to me and introduced me to a couple of dancers, it was very nice of her. This was a good night, wish I could’ve stayed untill the end as I usually do but I couldn’t let Jan-Kees endure this too long and he wanted to leave.

Wednesday, September 21st 2005

I still don't know where I'll be goin from here. Gotta figure that out soon. My welcome is more than worn out. I know Jan-Kees would argue that but I still think so. I'm goin to ride around the city on Jan-Kees's bike. Yeah! Seeing Amsterdam the way locals do. Jan-Kees just called, I'll be goin to his office to go on the net, almost feels like when I used to go to my mother's boyfriend's job to go on the net. Well that was nice, I just fell trying to ride his bike which's front wheel moves. Will be goin to his office by tram. The guy in the tram was very nice and somekinda flirting with me. Well here I am, Jan-Kees's office, no suprise just as cold as his appartment.

Later, we're goin to Margo's place to watch the pictures they took in Corfu. Great! Fun it's going to be as they'll most likely speak dutch all the time and ya'll know how fluent I am in Dutch. I know 3 of his friends which will be there but still. In some ways I feel like I have to go, tho I know I'll be left out and bored to death. Ah well that's life, gotta suck it in! It's his working time and he keeps on taking care of me. Well, got back to his place in about 15mins and he says there's always lots of trafic. Saw my first Nederlands windmill. Yeah!

Got a chance to change as we waited for his friend to come, we're car pooling. Everyone arrived at Margo's place about the same time and we left for Mikonos, a greek restaurant near her place. Great! I don't understand the menu, might as well let Jan-Kees decide for me. Wow, they ordered all sorts of stuff with entrees, ect. I feel like in that episode of "Friends" when on Monica's B-Day, they all went to an expensive restaurant and Rachel, Phoebe and Joey couldn't afford it. I know Jan-Kees just lied to me by saying my share was 6 Euros, I'm sorry but 172Euros/7 is not 6 I can assure you of that. I guess in some way, I understand as these folks have money and I, don't. I feel I don't belong in this 38ish, carrer oriented, dutch, singletons group. That's because I don't! I'm what's wrong with the picture. I knew it would be like that but I also knew I had to go, elsewise it would've been a sign of disrespect for Jan-Kees and his friends I met at the Pink Palace.

Once in awhile, they'll pop some english or talk to me but most of the time, I just sit there frozen trying to keep a good front as we're now at Margo's place looking at pix. Wow, I can't believe I was capable of sitting there for 2hrs without falling asleep. They're nice people but I'm so appart from all of them. I really don't belong!

Thursday, September 22nd 2005

Wanted to go to the Van Gogh museum today but I didn't feel good so I stayed in. Jan-Kees is so good looking in his suits. I feel he underestimates himself. I'm glad to cook for him, it's the lease I can do for all he's doing for me. I find it hard to accept him paying for me at the restaurant here and there. He's being very nice and I appreciate everything he does for me, I'm just not used to being taken care of that much. Seems to me Gouda is a very popular cheese here.

Friday, September 23rd 2005

Well, I've decided to go to Barcelona and see if I could get a job teaching there. I have a friend there and he'll host me for a it. It's gonna be interesting. I have to find a job there or else, I'll be going back to MTL -lack of money-. My mother asked me to go back home yesterday but I don't want too, not yet. I've been away for a little more than 3mths now. Jan-Kees just booked a plane ticket to Barcelona on wednesday morning for me. That's good! He claims the price of the ticket is 65 Euros tax included but I have a feeling it's a bit more. I'll put it on my credit card and you can pay me back he said. Of course!!

Going to the Van Gogh museum today, try #4. Some of the streets here reminds me of MTL, I really like this city. All buildings here have their staircases indoors, covenient! I'm starting to love this city, it's very nice. People here seem to be better dressed than what I've seen in Italie. Fashion is nicer here. Here I am! Van Gogh museum. Hello!!! Approximately 200 paintings. This is great, gotta luv Van Gogh's work. It's just a bit too big and at this point, my feet are killing me so I'm going thru the paintings faster and I don't appreciate them as much. 3 leves of paintings, Wow!

Left the museum and I'm now sitting in the park behind it where some firefighters are playing football (soccer). It's peacefull out here! Jan-Kees's meeting with his friends tonight and I'm not goin. He invited me but I don't really think he wants me there and I don't really want to put myself in that position again. Where I don't understand anyone and they don't speak to me, can't really jump in a conversation where I don't understand a word.

We went to eat at a chinesse restaurant where he goes often and it was good. There's a reason why I'm here. It's funny 'cause my path was not pointing to Amsterdam, there's a chain reaction that happend to make me meet him and then, end up at his place. I feel loads of things that didn't go the way it was supposed to or differently than normal went that way for me to meet him. I'm really glad I meet him. Well, he's gone on his bike to meet with his friends and I'm watching the end of the Gladiator.

Saturday, September 24th 2005

I've been here one week now. He just left for band practice, he plays the drums. He's such a teen! We're going to check out a used car he intends to buy today. Picked up his mum on the way. She's sweet! I'm starting to have a big headeach. Cars! He's got some loud "pop" music on just to help. (And he calls 'ME' the bubblegommer! I think he's trying to reflect the perception he has of himself on me.) Not my car, I've got notting to say, just tag along. Well, can't say I haven't seen the Amsterdam suburbs! Loads of farms with cows, goats, horses and sheeps. It's nice! Have the same in Canada. Got lost. Ha, ha! Not suprising! Man! They have a hard time asking for directions. His mum offered to go for him. Hi, hi, hi!

Finally, we're at the dealership. The sales man is looking at me as well as Jan-Kees when he's talking as if I had a part in the final decision and understood what he's saying. I love how beautifull this country is. Now, I'm stuck talking to his mom while he's gone. What have I done to deserve this. It makes Jan-Kees happy that I socialize with his mom. He decided not to buy it today, he's gonna think about it first.

We got outselves to a beach not far from the dealer. It's a beautifull, clean beach by the sea tho it's nice out, it's too cold to take a swim. There's some brave surfers out there. This dog is having fun fetching a ball in the water as he's pushed by the wasves. Fell like Gidget when Moondoggy brings her to the beach one last time as it began to be too cold to swim. We took a little stroll and then headed to one of the boardwalk restaurant where his mother was eating a soup while waiting for us. It's a beautiful day today. According to Jan-Kees, I've been very fortunate with the weather, it's been nice since I Got here.

Roundabouts, there's something with Europeans and roundabouts. Jan-Kees says that it's faster and safer than trafic lights. He also says that the dutch wouldn't be patient enough with trafic lights. He's pretty impatient himself, reminds me of my uncle Gerard. I guess it's a man thing. Got back to his mum's place where I got a home cooked meal and time to go on the net.
Sunday, September 25th 2005

We sleeped in this morning which made Jan-Kees very happy. We took some chairs and strolled to the Amstel park not far from his place. It’s quite windy. We played freezby for awhile. Wow, that dog is cute, there’s a dog playing fetch and he has the longest hair I’ve seen on a dog, it’s funny to see him run and his hair floats backwards. Oups! This old man just fell. Jan-Kees was quick in seeing it and ran towards him. This old man was lucky there was a tree bhind him. We got him ready to go. We went to this hotel to drink tea at their bar on the top level but it was closed. Ah well, some other time I guess! We ate some krokets and frikandel (a sausage made of all types of meat: horse, pig, cow.... fried and served with mayo and ketchup or curry sauce). I love frikendel!

I sometimes get on his nerves and we see life in a completely different way. We took a nice stroll around the neiborhood and now we’re back at the appartment. He went out to get a pizza. I think he was glad to go and be alone for a bit.

Monday, September 26th 2005

Jan-Kees just left for work and his mum is comming to pick me up soon. Yap, you heard me right, his mum! We’re going to visit this touristic village with windmills?! It’s funny how Jan-Kees and his mum sometimes remind me of The mother, the way Jan-Kees often forgets his glasses or that he invents his own expressions as for his mum, it’s the way she talks to everyone and that what she says don’t always make sens. I guess I might say they make me feel at home. Luv my mom, miss her. I know she’d love this country as much as I do.

This town is made of old houses mostly from th 18th century that were moved here. These houses are all green. They have beautifull gardens and you often have to cross a small bridge to get to them. There’s a cheese factory, cheeeeeesseeeee mmmmmm. Of course, I couldn’t have lived without goin in, taste all the samples and buy a piece. There are many shops and museums here without forgetting a couple of windmills and some barnyard animals. There’s not alot of tourists here today which makes it enjoyable. We ate some pancakes and then, we went to a clog museum. That’s unavoidable! Loads of wooden shoes enough to make any woman cry! Hi hi! Japanesse tourists! How could I’ve missed that! Part of the experience is seeing a big group of Japanesse with big cameras. Well, that’s it for this village .

Jan-Kees’s mum and I went back to Amsterdam to do some shoping for diner and a gift for Jan-Kees. We’re at a sidewalk sale which I walked thru last week. I want to get Jan-Kees somekind of a boll in which he can put his watch, keys, pen, wallet, glasses, sunglasses, cellphone and earphones when he gets home so that he doesn’t forget anything in the morning. Hard to find on he’s like! Gotta get some food as I’m cooking tonight, again and we also have notting left for breakfest. We stoped at her favorite cafe to get some tea and I saw a store that seemed interesting across the street so we went in to look at what they had. As we left the store, I saw in the window the perfect gift for Jan-Kees, a clock with a 50’s drawing of a girl on top of a sail, it reminded me of the pictures i saw of him on top of a sail. God knows how much he loves boats (except for his ! J). I’ll give it to him tonight after his mum leaves. The woman at the store gift wraped it (free) for me. His appartment is so cold (decoration wise) that this should help. He doesn’t have a clock in his kitchen, it will look good there.

Cooking for 3 tonight! I’ve never cooked so much before, I cooked almost every -night since I’ve been here. Jan-Kees kepts on asking me how it feels to be a housewife. He’s doing so much for me, this is the lease I can do. Jan-Kees finally decided to take the car we saw Saturday, he made an offer and he’s waiting for an answer from the dealership.

We’re going to the Red light district tonight. We were supossed to go last night but he just felt like staying in. Can you imagine that I’ve been in Amsterdam for more than a week now and I haven’t seen the Red light district. The first thing he shows me, is the square where I took a picture last year when I first came to Europe then, he shows me a memorial statue in the middle of a square known to the locals as “penis square”, nice! It’s night and the shops as well as cafes and restaurants are still open. There’s quite a few people down the streets. We walk by a cafe and the distinct smell of pot runs thru my nose. Hello Red light district, or street! Well, it’s all that should be expected, window doors with woman dressed in neglige waiting for men t come in so they can put the curtains and do some work, sex shops here and there, an erotic museum and shows of live sex performances just like the Pink Palace but without clothes on and with penetration. Live porn shows, yeah! Yeah, sure! (in my lovely sarcastic way) I think most of these girls customers are tourists. Well, that was nice!

As we look down on the canal that goes thru this street, we think about doing a tour of the canals. We first stoped at a cafe on “penis square” to take a hot chocolate. They’re all closed for the boat tours of the canals the only one open, canceled the last tour, ‘cause we were only 4. Sucks! That’s life! It was not ment to be. We’re goin back to the hotel we went yesterday to take a drink at the bar. This is a fancy smutchy 5* hotel. The view from this bar is magnificent, we can see Amsterdam in it’s entire and that’s mostly because they’re not allowed to build sky scrapers or very tall buildings which makes a big difference and is part of it’s charm. With my tea, they served me a wallnut covered with chocolate, a cookie and a piece of chocolate (from Godiva if I rely on the Godiva stan in the lobby downstairs), it was delectable. Jan-Kees is very romantic. I feel I’m getting a bit on his nerves as I eat the mixt nuts on the table. Ah well! This was a very nice day. I will really miss Jan-Kees when I leave this place. Tomorrow’s my last day.

Tuesday, September 27th 2005

Last day today! Made some banana sandwiches for breakfest. Off he goes! Time to make my luggage. It’s raining for the first time since I’ve been here. I’m stroling downtown looking for a watch as mine is completely broken. It was holding on by tape now, tape is gone. Jan-Kees has been wanting to buy me a watch since he saw it. His wish is granted! He’s the best! He’s way up there with my mom, Isabelle and Gabriel. I’m alwready sad about leaving and it’s the first time I’m sad about leaving a city other than Montreal. I’m soaking wet but I don’t mind it much, gotta go back to the Red light district to take pictures with the daylight. Last night, the prostitutes were young, thin and pretty today, they’re fat and older. I know it’s what some men like but are those men horny daytime only? I wonder??? Last day in Amsterdam!

Gotta go on the net to see if my friend in Barcelona is picking me up at the airport or if I have to get to his place on my own. Goin to Jan-Kees’s office to check my e-mails. That was bright of me! I took the tram the wrong way and I have to go back. The guy at the ticket booth, is the same one as when I took this tram to switch, he asked me if I was sure this was my stop. So nice of him. Everybody’s been so nice and smilling to me here, what is there not to love about this country, I wonder!?! Love what he’s wearing today. I usually like what he wears but this suit has to be my favorite. He’s pretty upset today, the dealership sold the car he wanted to someone else without letting him know so he could make another offer on it. Ah well! Notting he can do now, the only problem is that his car is breaking down on hm and he needs to either invest in getting this car repaired or find another used car he likes. I’m in Roger’s office (one of his coleagues) using the computer.

The situation with the car really pisses him off, understandably! You know, Jan-Kees kept on telling me how trafic is horrible but I haven’t seen a bit of trafic since I’ve been here. I think he’s overly exagerating! J I’m still wet and I’m freezing. Took a hot shower to heat myself up and tonight, Jan-Kees is cooking. Cool! He’s soo sweet, he got some olives ‘cause he knows I love them tho he forgets stuff, he’s toughtfull. I don’t see anything wrong with him tho he’ll enumerate his faults, I don’t see them as faults or bad things. He underestimates himself. I’ve never met a man who takes care of someone, a woman the way he does, there’s so much good in him, he’s sincere, true, caring, sensitive, toughtfull, romantic, soft, lovable, honest, respectfull and I could go on. Never met someone that became that important to me in such a small period of time. I think he doesn’t realise it how special he is. I’m very fortunate to have met him and I can only hope that we’ll keep contact and try to see eachother as often as possible.

Well, diner was good! I bit more classy than the mac and cheese I had planed to make tonight. I’m tired and we’re waking up at 4am tomorrow so I’ll go to bed now. Good night!