Jacquie vs. Dutch Pancakes Part II

So, you know since there was a part one that a part two had to follow.

On the advice of a dutch friend, I decided to be ambitious one morning and attempt to make Dutch pancakes - after all, I had the mix, how hard could it be?

I should stop a moment and remind all of my readers that this semester is the first time I have ever really cooked without a microwave. I regularly have to look up how to do basic things, including but not limited to cooking broccoli, making grilled cheese, and all ways to prepare an egg (I'm still trying to get the burnt-on egg white out of my pan after trying to poach eggs this morning, cause I'm tired of cooking with oil all the time).

Still, I was feeling confident, and figured it couldn't be -all- that hard....

Pancake 1: Far too thick. As I've mentioned in my previous post, Dutch pancakes are supposed to be pretty thin. My first attempt was honestly closer to an American pancake...which was odd considering the mix is pretty different. This one also got a bit broken up from when I flipped it over (using a plate, not actually flipping), and I accidentally let an edge get folded under

Pancake 2: Too oily. I got it to be thinner, but somehow ended up with FAR too much butter, which made me want to pat the pancake down like I would pizza...if only I actually had paper towels.

Pancake 3: I thought this one would be the winner...but nope. It was thin to be sure, and not oily...but I didn't compensate by reducing the time, so it ended up becoming a bit crunch-cracker-like in parts.

Pancake 4: Never happened...I gave up that day, then forgot I had a little mix left until it went rancid. Fail.

Throughout my attempt to make pancakes, I also managed to:

• Drop a pancake on the floor (not telling which one!)
• Burn my hand on the pan
• Get butter in my hair
• Fling a knife with butter on it against my chest because I burned my hand (second time)

All in all...the pancakes won. Again. (If you remember, I could not conquer the pancakes at the pancake bakery, finding myself bursting before finishing their sugary goodness).

Current Score: Jacquie: 0, Dutch Pancakes: 2

Jacquie vs. Dutch Pancakes Part I

For those of you who don't know what dutch pancakes are, you are really missing out. They are actually a lot closer to crepe than what Americans view as pancakes, and in my opinion, are much yummier.

When Andrea was visiting me last week from England (aka, going to watch tennis in Rotterdam), she and I went to the Pancake Bakery. Needless to say, Andrea had picked well. The place was quite small, so when we got there we had to wait outside a few minutes before we could even get a table. (There wasn't really room to wait insides even, just a little foyer where we could pretend not to be cold). Luckily we were seated pretty quickly, but being right next to the door we could see that there were people waiting throughout our entire meal. We didn't even go at a prime food time - maybe 1pm on a Friday? We sat at the table in the bottom right corner.

There were WAY too many pancakes to choose from, both savory and sweet. Andrea and I both ended up getting one with banana, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup, though I do definitetly want to go back and try the savory ones some time. The pancakes were HUGE! I wish I had had my camera with me (sorry Dayna!), because they were definitely picture worthy. (You'll have to settle for the one I stole off the pancake bakery website). Neither of us were even able to finish our pancakes, though I'll brag a little and say that I finished more...though I was in sugar overload the rest of the day...always a good thing for me, but maybe not so much for everyone around me!

How I Fail at Really Simple Tasks: The Dutch Edition

For those of you who know me pretty well, I imagine you have figured out by now that sometimes, really simple tasks completely confound me, strange when I have little problems with complicated tasks. Here in Amsterdam this has largely involved me getting lost, or at least, ending up weird places on public transport. I'll update this list as I come up with more amusing tales.

1) Failing to Open the Laundry Room Door: Yep...its pretty much what it sounds like. We have some sort of weird keypad on the door you have to punch a code into. I have the code, and can turn the knob...but for some reason the lock still doesn't open. Yes this means I have been doing a lot of handwash.

UPDATE: Apparently I had to turn the lock the other direction. Thanks Andrea...

2) Completely Missing my Bus Stop and Riding to the Very End of the Line: Try to go over to Jantien's for dinner on Monday (one of my ISN orientation leaders), I got a little turned around. Which wouldn't really be that sad...except as I was sitting on the bus, I saw another group member walk by and thought "oh look, there's Bence." You would think I would work out that I should have gotten off when the bus went straight, and he walked right. Not entirely sure where I ended up, but I had to get off the bus, wait for the driver to get coffee, and then get back on again. Everyone at dinner got a kick out of this.

3) Washing Dishes in Sinks Meant for Tall People: At the same dinner, I was trying to wash the dishes to help out. I ended up needing to use the little step stool just to stand at the sink, because it was awkwardly too tall.

4) Not Realizing I Have a Breaker Box in My Room: My bathroom light is burned out, it's completely dark... (one week passes)...wait, what is this box on the wall? Hey look, one switch is flipped down...let there be light!

5) Not Knowing How to Cook: This is again, exactly what it sounds like. I managed to make a somewhat real dinner last night though...only 2 weeks since I moved in to my room.

6) Waiting at the Wrong Night Bus Stop for An Hour: Since the night bus comes every half hour,you'd think I would have realized sooner...but no. I ended up waiting for that bus for total of an hour and half in the cold.

7) Walking in A Giant Loop Looking for Ikea: Andrea and I went to Ikea Tuesday night, and when we got off the metro we should have turned right and not left...so we walked a huge loop through a financial district, that didn't have real sidewalks on all the roads. Again, not fun when cold. Probably took us about an hour to find Ikea...sad since if we had turned the right direction, we would have seen it immediately.

8) Grocery Shopping: Since I don't know how to cook, I don't know what to buy when buying food. This is stressful enough when in English. Try doing it when everything is in Dutch.

9) Not Knowing How to Wash/Cut a Head of Lettuce: Again, from helping at Jantien's. We buy all our lettuce at home pre-washed, and in bags. Denice handed me a head of lettuce and said "cut this"....and I had to just give her a blank stare. But I know now! On a similar note, I had to google how to make grilled cheese. Doesn't help when you apparently bought diet cheese (again, grocery shopping is stressful).

To be continued...

10) Getting Lost..Again: Yep, I already have more to add. I got hopelessly lost today, trying to walk from the university doctor to my class. What should have been only a 15min walk ended up being almost an hour. It was cold. It was not fun.

My Return...and a Few Words on Academics

Hello blog readers! If you haven't stopped checking this out of despair that I would update, never fear, I am back! I took a short hiatus due to being busy with getting settled, and then promptly dropped out of the world for about a week as my dog got very ill and had to put down (while I was in class no less). But, I've taken some time to myself to process, and I return to you, if not as good as new, at least as spastic as usual.

I'm abandoning my attempts to chronicle in logical fashion my time here. Beyond the fact that I have just too much to catch you all up on, my brain just doesn't work in that logical, linear fashion. So, you'll be getting random cultural tidbits as they interest me. I have settled into my container, am going to classes, and have not yet frozen to death (though, maybe thats just because I'm being a wimp and taking public transportation everywhere and NOT biking).

Classes so far are going pretty well, though I have a TON of reading. Never thought I'd say that after taking a Boesche class, but jeez. Also, my classes through CIEE are MUCH easier that my University of Amsterdam classes (here on out referred to as UvA).

Beginning Dutch (CIEE): Just like any other basic level language class, where the professor has a sadistic love of randomly calling on you to read even if you don't have any clue how to say the word in front of you. I mean, come on...I'm still learning how to pronounce Stavangerweg (my dorm). Don't even ask me to pronounce my bus stop, Spaarndamanstraat.

Dutch Social Policy (CIEE): Basically what it sounds like, a class on all of the liberal social policies typically associated with the Netherlands. Probably my most laid back class, but still a significant amount of reading/writing. Pretty interesting overall, though I think I need to respect speaking space and talk less.

Sexuality from a Cross-Cultural Perspective (UvA): This looks like it will have significant overlap with my Queer of Color Critique class from this past semester. I'm a bit disappointed that the vast majority of the students are American, but I guess that can't be helped. Still, the discussion is good, but I feel like I am on a different level with the theoretical knowledge. That's not to say that the class is going to be easy mind you, its just odd feeling comfortable after jumping off the deep end last semester.

Regulation Religious and Cultural Diversity in the Netherlands (UvA): So far my favorite class...but also going to be my hardest class for sure. It is a political science class, which maybe means I can count it towards my major, but I have no idea if i'll be able to pull an A. (The conversion of grades may be not super beneficial). The way this professor leads discussion is..different, though I'm not sure how to explain that. I am looking at things from a different angle which is fun. I'm not sure I appreciate him saying "this week's presentation will be hard, you should do that one!" but we will see what happens.

Well, that's all for now. Good night folks!