Bikes, Trains and Automobiles

One week ago today I arrived in the Netherlands. Which seems to be more commonly referred to as Holland back at home, but here it's the Netherlands or Nederlands of you're truely Dutch. Which, one week in and I'm feeling more and more like the little dutch girl I am. The first weekend here was just getting used to the city. Lots of little adventures which lead upto today heading into Amsterdam for the day.

The bikes are crazy. They are everywhere. Below is just one of the areas to park your bike near the trian station. Though there are bikes on every corner not just these huge lots.

You'd think the expression, just like riding a bike, is an expression for a reason, but learning the road rules for bikes around here is a whole other challenge. I got on the bike for the first time to check out a near by international church. It was pretty good, so I'm sure I'll head back there. It's so close and such a nice ride there from my place.

This is my bike, but unfortunately, the chain broke off the first day, so I have been riding my other bike. It has a kid seat behind the handle bars and behind the seat. Pretty heavy with two kids on it. But a sweat ride all in all. I was able to feel comfortable with two kids on the bike just a few days in. I'm told my Dutch relatives would be proud. Between that and a ride in the rain to take the kids to school, I'm really get the full dutch experience.

Everyone seems to ride their bikes with the seats so high. Once I lowered the seat I was much more comfortable. Patricia, the mom of the house, took me for a longer ride later that day to show me the downtown shops and train stations. For those of you who have never been around here before, there are shark teeth all over the roads. Now that you have that visual, they are just rows of triangles painted on the roads. But these shark teeth as they are referred to, are very important. Which ever way they are facing has to stop or yield to other traffic, whether it is pedestrians, bikes or cars. There are many major intersections where cars have to stop for bikes. Bikes get the right away a lot. Though I am just getting used to riding through and expecting cars to stop. It just doesn't feel right. I have really liked taking the bike out and exploring the area. There are some amazing paths through the woods and wide open planes.

I am already thinking I would like to get a bike back home, but Abbotsford is a lot more hilly than it is around here, so I may have to test that out before I commit to anything.

The trians seem to go between every city around here. I took my first train ride into Amsterdam today. So fast and easy. I think I will be doing that a lot more. There are some interesting characters in Amsterdam, that's for sure. I must have seen 10 bachelorette parties in Amsterdam today. The dutch seem to celebrate like we do in Canada. Embarass your friend with costumes and humiliating tasks is the name of the game.

I took a canal boat tour to see the city. What a beautiful place. So many amazing old buildings and hundreds of bridges over all of the canals.

Amsterdam is a great city and there was so much to do and see. I will have to post again with all the details of this and any future trips, I am sure there will be many. I seem to attract all the creepers but I saw some great sights and checked out the Van Gough museum. I feel so cultured now.

Now that I have a handle on the bikes and trains, I just need to master the cars. I just started learning to drive a standard car before I came out here. The family I am living with got me a few driving lessons to get used to rules of the roads out here, but I am working moslty on mastering the stick shift. I am getting better, but the car I will be driving is so much harder to shift than any other car I've drive. I am told that once you are comfortable driving standard you'll never want to go back, but from where I am sitting, it seems like a whole lot of unnecesary work. Like I mentioned earlier, the road rules are crazy. I haven't seen a stop sign yet, and barely any lights in Hilversum. But I guess it makes sense, kinda.

The first week has been a good one. The family I am living with are great. They have been really supportive and helpful with everything. The three kids are fun and their english is great so that helps. They each have their own very strong personalities which is...fun, but challenging. The first few days here, it really started to set in how long a year is. The lonliness set in early. But now that i|"ve started working during the week and now getting out and seeing the cities, I am remembering why I wanted to do this in the first place. I am deep into the adventure now, and loving it.