Let the construction begin!

Woohooo - today was the transfer of our apartment. The boyfriend is now a proud owner of his own apartment, including a tenant. There's a lot of work to do. A LOT. I can't wait to get started this afternoon.

Dutch class

I've started a Dutch class at the Goethe Institut in Amsterdam. I get up at the buttcrack of dawn and get on a train with loads of Dutch people who have no idea of personal space and early morning conversation no-no's. So far, my English works well and I have avoided speaking my few words of Dutch I've learned so far.

Two weeks, every day from 9am-3:30pm, hardcore brain usage. It's a curse and a blessing all at once that my native language German is so close to Dutch - some words are the same, others are false friends.

The monsters in law are impressed after the first week - I can talk back in Dutch. Oh yeah.

Just need to ensure that the boyfriend and I talk more Dutch than English - just sometimes time is of the essence, and it's still easier to speak English than Dutch.

My life

....is great. Mostly great, that is. I enjoy all the challenges I have to face - but sometimes, let's face it - I just want to scream, then hide under the sheets and let someone else face the tough tough world for me.

Unfortunately, I've been raised to be independent and able to stand up for myself. So - this independence thing has been spiced with a bit of control-freak and short fuse. I'm well behaved, unless you annoy me. Or I'm hungry. Or tired. Or both.

In the last 6 years I've moved roughly 10 times - within four countries. I've now landed in the Netherlands to live with my boyfriend who is the love of my life and the reason for quite a few blowups on my side. It's great, I love it but sometimes I want to hit him repeatedly over the head. Isn't love great?! Woohooo.

In this blog, I will write about all my lovely experiences here in the Netherlands.

Enjoy!