Pass the Peanuts!

For those of you who don't already know..here's the link to the new blog!

http://passthepeanuts.blogspot.com/

For Those of You Who Enjoyed Reading...

...I am considering creating a new, more permanent blog. I enjoyed keeping this far more than I thought I would, so I feel that I should just keep rolling with it. While I have not fully decided, it will probably be some sort of commentary on politics and pop culture. Since this idea isn't fully formed suggestions are of course welcome. (Yes Isaac, this is largely directed at you if you are still reading).

Keep checking back here - I will post a link to the new blog if/when it is created!

And So It Ends...

Well folks, my semester in Amsterdam has drawn to a close. I am now back in the US, having flown home on the 5th of June. I'm not completely done, as I still have some work to turn in via email, but I am back home in NJ. (Besides, I'm sure those of you reading are really not all that interested in my ramblings on immigration and homonationalism). As such, this is going to be my last real post on this blog - hope you all enjoyed reading it! (I will post once more with pictures from my last trip to the pancake bakery once I find my camera cable).

I feel like I should be writing something incredibly witty and insightful here about my experiences, but for that I am drawing a bit of a blank. While I did enjoy living in a foreign country for a semester, I believe that any revelations that I had were more to do with my personal development and independence than with any expanding of my view of the world. I suppose that makes sense - I lived in England as a kid, and my dad is currently living in London again, so living in Europe was not something entirely new to me.

Still, I have already noticed some things that I will miss/am missing about the Netherlands. First and formost? Strong coffee. Before I went over in January I used to enjoy the Dunkin Donuts beans my mom used to use at home. Now that just tastes watery and weak to me. This is going to be a problem, as I tend to drink a good deal of coffee.

Another thing I'll miss is the variety of sweet dairy products. I have already posted about my love of vla and kwark so I will not repeat myself, but I will be seriously trying to find a recipe for vla at the very least...one can hope, right?

I have definitely appreciated the Dutch's tendency to be very blunt, especially after living in Los Angeles for the last few years. I always talk about missing the NYC attitude...but the Dutch are even more direct. It is usually awesome, though I will admit I was less than pleased with how some topics in my classes were handled without any sensitivity. (Showing Geert Wilders' political film "FITNA" which includes slow motion footage of 9/11 requires at least a warning before showing it to a bunch of American students, especially when the group contains students from the area, who knew people who didn't survive. No, I am not referring to only me). The flip side of this experience is that I have become more blunt myself, and less tolerant of evasive answers. It should be interesting to see how that works out for me back in Los Angeles.

Other things I will miss
Stroopwafles

Pancake Bakery/Dutch Pancakes
Kilimanjaro (Ethiopian restaurant that was AWESOME)
Good public transit
Smog-free air
Green space that is readily accessible
Hoegaarden Rose (The first beer I have ever liked)
Real whipped cream being served everywhere with hot chocolate
Being able to walk pretty much everywhere easily

Being able to walk home at night and feel safe

Hearing at least 2-3 languages spoken everyday, and not finding it unusual

Fries served with mayo, usually in a paper cone (especially from Burger Bar)

Going to artsy movies with Jantien

Gay bars that make killer cocktails

The feeling of superiority of being able to laugh at the tourists who don't know to not walk in the bike path

The concept of gezellig

So long Amsterdam, and thanks for the fish.

(Actually, not really. I never did try the herring, nor did I have any desire to do so. Maybe someday when I visit again).

Because I Haven't Talked About Food in a While..

...I found a new flavor of vla I am in love with! It must have been brought out as a summer sweet - apple and pear. It seems to be blanke vla with apple and pear pieces in it...which suits me just fine, because I'm not a huge fan of the artificial taste of some of the flavored vla.

I seriously am going to have to figure out how to make vla when I go home...which is in six days. Ah! More on that to come at a later time, right now I need to go back to writing papers :(

(I will include a picture of said vla later when I need a study break)

Parisian Mickey

A few weekends ago I caught a plane and headed to Disney Paris for the weekend with my Mother. "But Jacquie," I hear you say, "You are in Europe, and you spend a valuable travel weekend going to what is essentially an American attraction?" Yes, I did, and while I know many of you might be cringing at that, I had an excuse. Back when I was ten, my sister graduated from college (we are twelve years apart), and as a graduation present, my mother took her to Disney Paris. The trip had special meaning to my sister, as her thesis for her International Business major was on Disney Paris, and all the problems that the Disney corporation faced opening its first part outside of the United States. As it was a special present for Nicole, I was not brought on the trip (and I think I was in school). My ten year old self was NOT happy - I mean, how do you do to Disney, and not take the actual child in the family?

Disney Paris is MUCH smaller than Disney World, or even Disneyland - there are only two parks, and the second park is still under construction, making it rather small at this point. Unlike Disney World, Disney Paris is definitely designed to be done in a weekend, not a week+. Still, it has a lovely atmosphere, and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, even though I would not recommend Americans flying over to Europe specifically to go to Euro Disney.

Major Differences from the American Parks (At least, the ones that interest me!)

1) Sleeping Beauty's Castle

I may be wrong on this one, but I seem to remember that the castle at the American parks is associated with Cinderella. In constructing the castle, Disney had to be careful since Europeans are used to castles - I'm not entirely sure what this means, as the final result still looks fantastical to me, but I'll take my sister's word on it. You can also go upstairs in the castle, and walk through a display telling the story of Sleeping Beauty. There is not a restaurant in the Castle like in Orlando.




2) Alice's Curious Labyrinth

I LOVE labyrinths. This was a pretty small attraction in the back corner of Fantasyland, but I had a blast running around it. The maze essentially has two parts - Cheshire Cat (statues of various characters, small doors, etc) and Queen of Hearts (card soldiers and the Queen of Hearts, leading to her small castle which you can go up in). This was pretty much my favorite thing that is not at other Disney Parks.








3) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril

Basically a souped up version of a wild mouse coaster, this was unique in that it had a loop. Sort of similar to the Race to Extinction ride at Animal Kingdom in Orlando.



4) Skull Rock etc.

There was a period of time on the last day that I ended up wandering the park alone. Besides getting harassed by the cast member standing at the entrance to the Swiss Family Robbinson Treehouse (He seriously wouldn't let me by for about 5 mins, I have a feeling he'd have a blast working Knotts Scary Farm), I spent a long time just wandering in and out of the caves connected with Skull Rock. I don't remember something like this at the other parks, though I could be wrong. If I am right, I'm not surprised - the network of semi damp caves is just a pile of lawsuits waiting to happen in the U.S. I loved it. I can also see where its nice to have something that might appeal more to boys/tomboys than all the princessesy stuff.

Outside of the complex

Inside Skull Rock!

5) It's A Small World

This was basically what I expected...except for the American room! It was fun to see what Europeans apparently think of our culture. Cowboys/Indians, Hollywood dancing girls, football...always fun.

...look, tulips!

6) Crush's Coaster

Definitely a ride that should be brought to the States! Located in the smaller of the two parks at Disney Paris, this is sort of a cross between Space Mountain and a wild mouse coaster. The train is two cars that seat 4 people facing away from each other, and each car spins freely as the train goes through a dark coaster. The coaster is pretty tame, if it wasn't for the spinning cars - that makes it pretty fun (though unlike space mountain, it doesn't go upside down). There was no fastpass, and because the cars are so small and don't load super fast, there was a pretty long line..but I'm ok waiting at least once for anything that is Finding Nemo themed!

Other Comments

Compared to the American Disney parks, there are very few nice sit down restaurants in the parks. Now if by myself that wouldn't bother me, but when with my mom we obviously are not going to just eat counter service for every meal (Or any meal, if you know my mom). Mom said that when she and Nicole came to Disney Paris after it first opened, there was maybe 1 sit down restaurant in the entire park. That seems to be getting better, though most of the nicer restaurants are in the hotels...and they weren't necessarily open the weekend we were there. Also sort of irritating was that every bar/restaurant in the park had the exact same drink menu. This worked fine for me, but apparently their wines by the glass were not very good.

Overall, Disney Paris is much more understated than its American counterparts. Their version of Downtown Disney is literally just one street with maybe three restaurants and a few stores. Still, it is a pleasant park, and just about the perfect size to accomplish in a weekend.

View from the back balcony of Sleeping Beauty's Castle!

Tulips Galore!

I am about to leave my room to start heading for the airport to spend my weekend with my mother at Disney Paris, but I have just enough time to post up some of my beautiful pictures from my trip to Keukenhof! As part of an ISN (International Student Network) trip, Laura and I went to Keukenhof yesterday to tour the fabulous flower garderns. Open only eight weeks of the year, Keukenhof is about as sterotypically Dutch as you can get, complete with thousands of tulips and a windmill. Unfortunately it was bit cold and overcast, but we were still able to walk the majority of the gardens in the time we had without being too uncomfortable! Here are some of my favorite pictures that I took - I may add more once Laura posts hers, as she took some funny ones of us!



Me, if I were a Shetland pony!

Trash Day is Long Overdue...But Enough Streakers, Thanks

I know, I know, I haven't updated in a month, I am SO sorry. I promise I'll post a bunch of updates soon to catch everyone up!

In the meantime...Amsterdam stinks. Yes, right now I am speaking literally. The garbage workers have been on strike for about a week now (I think, my concept of time is not awesome), and as such, the garbage is just piled everywhere. Dumpsters are surrounded by a few feet radius of trash bags. Trash cans have little piles of trash under/around them because they are so full that they are just overflowing. So...Amsterdam literally smells in parts. The main touristy areas are the worst, there's just litter EVERYWHERE. If I remember I'll take a picture tomorrow and update this post.

As for the streaker...well, I was over on the square on Spui by the Aetheneum, and there were a bunch of guys dressed in ridiculous outfits, with one running around naked waving a neon green flag in the air. I would have said it was a frat stunt, but they don't really have frats here as we think of them in the US, so I don't really know. Also, they really weren't very smart - with Ascension making today a national holiday, the square was pretty quiet with most of the businesses closed...making the streaker's presence only visible to a few tourists.

Not that I am saying that I -want- to see more streakers (because I certainly don't, thank you kindly), but I always see the awkward ones that never really took streaking 101. You know, the class that points out that the point of streaking is to be seen by people? Streaking on a religious holiday when there is no one around is almost as sad as the time a streaker at a college I was visiting ran past my tour group...with us being the only people on campus as it was spring break. Fail streakers, fail.