Saturday, August 21, 2010

Where have I been




Norway. This is where I went for a summer holiday. It's funny because it was my second summer holiday and one of many this year. The trip started in the Netherlands (of course) and no the transportation was not a jet. It was a car so it took a while to get to Norway. The first and second night was spent in Lund Sweden. In Lund there was this wonderful water hole to swim in, best of all there were not many other people swimming in it. Was really one of the ones out of a film. Sweden was very nice, even got to spend some time in Malmo. The joys of freedom driving. After sweeden it was on to Goteborg and then over to Norway where the next night was spent in Tonsberg. One of the older cities in Norway. So nice to be back there and seeing friends. To bad it was so short but I will be back to Tonsberg sometime. The next day was again another long drive over to Bergen. But what a spectacular drive it is. It looks so much like NZ but different. The advice was to take road number 7. What road number 7 has to offer to to travelers is breath taking. The images in my mind will last a life time. In bergen the rain did not come down at all. The last time was perfect sun and this time also was perfect sun. Which is very nice since it may be one of the dampest cities in the world. Bergen is such a good place to visit and the people there just make the trip all so worth it. After Bergen the direction of the trip was to Stavanger. One night there and a good look around then back on the road to Kristiansand, with a short stop then a stones throw over the sea, the trip took a landing in Denmark. A night spent and an evening stroll. Kiel was the last night, in Germany before being back home.
What a great trip. Over the ten days over 3000 Km were clocked on the speedo and 26 was clocked on the number of friends visited. Traveling to see people is something you have to do, after all it the people you encounter on the way that make the trip a success.

The adventures continue, already there are cards on the table, places to be people to see.


Friday, May 21, 2010

Spain

Went to Spain in the weekend and it just happend to be the biggest festival in 100 years.

This is what the main street of Madrid looks like covered in Blue carpet. Later that day there thousands of people watching the shows that were scattered all down the street. I really mean hundreds of thousands of people. The locals had never seen someone as tall as me either. Turns out being tall has a great advantage when in crowds.

On the extra day we got in Spain since the flight was cancelled back to Holland, we went to a small city just out of Madrid which is also a world heritage city. Well this is a stork bird. They make nests on top of churches and towers. The nest is the size of hay bails. Sometimes they even fall down. They even fly back with snakes in the beaks to eat.


What is interesting in Spain is the way people eat, which we joined in on. The food is more or less snack form and is eaten rather late. For most of our meals we would order a few little bite size snacks. After a few of these you would be good.
Crazy Spanish. Met these guys in a bar that we got told was our home by the bar tender. Anyway they were really call to hang out with and learn some Spanish from. There English wasn't very good but good enough for us to have fun. We were pretty much speaking Spanish after that night.

There are many busker's in Spain. I think it reflects the social economic of the country. They were sort of interesting from a distance. This guy didn't even own his own act. Some other greasy guy that was watching him from far owned his act and this guy only gets paid a commission. The greasy guy owned about four acts in the main square from what I could see.

So we did much more and saw so much in Madrid. It was such a great weekend. Very warm too, about 30 degrees. One high light was the Egyptian temple and seeing some real tombs.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

What a time

What a good time the past few weeks have been. Here is Paulien on the train heading for Utrecht. There we celebrated Queens day in the city center. Holland is full of crazy people and on these particular day the town closes the pubs open and everyone stands on the streets listening to the live bands all over the city.


This is the Giro Bike race which was on the 9th of May from Amsterdam to Utrecht. I was invited for lunch by work to watch the race. This was the front bunch that was 6 minutes infront of the group. There was one Dutch guy here who wanted to finish first but the others didn't want to help out so the pack ended up catching them.

Here is me at work. I put together and fix anything with bikes all types and sizes. Its a nice job to get me going and its a bit of fun too. I talk dutch to the customers and get to take home all the newest bikes to test them. At the moment I have a folding bike which you can take on the trains for free. I might buy it but still thinking about it. I even get hot chocolates brought to me at work by my boss.

Here is Queens day again. Also on this day is a free market, where anyone can sell anything. So the streets were filled with useless junk for sale.


Last week was Liberation day of Europe's greatest event. World War 2. We are watching the series Band of Brothers at the moment to remind us what this day means. I thinking about reading history books on this event so I can be in lightened a bit more of what happened. Then I will visit some of the places these big events took places.

Going to Spain this weekend. Woo Hoo.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Working and learning Dutch

Well I have a job now. Its not an engineering job yet but I've made a start in the Netherlands. I am a bike mechanic in Bilthoven. It's a nice job and easy going. I mainly assemble new bikes out of their boxes and sometimes fix the odd problem of peoples bikes, like needing air in the tires or a seat that is loose. Apart from work I go to university where I attend a Dutch course, its in the morning at 9 so work gives me the time to leave for it. In the class I think I'm the only person who is learning there second language. Everyone else is learning there third or forth. The course is a good way to learn, having it 4 times a week for 2 hours each. This week I have to speak only Nederlands. So the week is pretty busy. I'm still having interviews for engineering companies and its still going slow.
This weekend we have been out to Utrecht for dinner with Pauliens year club which was nice to catch up with everyone. We have Emma a friend from NZ staying with us and today we are going to Pauliens work to have a tour of KPMG. So another big week coming up. Will have to work hard and talk more Dutch.
Tot Ziens

Monday, April 12, 2010

Still here doing my thing


Rotterdam


Hello everyone. Well there have been some pretty fun times here in the Netherlands. Ive been to Amsterdam a few times now and every time I go I see and do something new. There are so many bars and restaurants to choose from. Its very enjoyable to hang out and catch up with friends. Paulien and I were in Rotterdam just this weekend which was very nice, I even drove there and back. Anyway on this day the marathon was on so we got to see some of the worlds fastest marathon runners. there were not many dutch guys in the lead.

I've been looking for jobs still and have had a bit of luck as I have got my self a nice part time job fixing bicycles. The work is 13 Km away so I ride my bike. Its usually my mountain bike I ride but the owner of the store lent me a Nice light carbon fiber road bike so getting to and from work is quite fast. Not to mention it was fast anyway since the roads are all flat.

I have some opportunities coming up now. I am enrolled at the University of Utrecht for learning dutch. So will be talking more dutch. Its helpful at the bike shop since everyone is speaking dutch.

Pauliens birthday this Saturday so we are having a party. I have to make a cake and prepare some things but I can't say what. In fact I'm not really sure myself.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Looking for a Job

Looking for a job is like a full time job. There is so much you can and should do to get your ideal job. Just sending a CV to a company doesn't work anymore because thats what everyone does and taking no for an answer doesn't work either because that doesn't get you in the door, does it! What gets you in is being assertive and explaining why you fit the job description in a way they want to hear. That maybe the hard part, having to change what you say and write in order to sell similar experience from what the company does. For example, you could go on about how you worked at a burger factory for three years and explain all the details of bread, but the cheese factory you are applying for want to hear about your experience with cheese. So picking out your experiences to suit the company is important. Lucky for me there are a lot of people around to help. Being clear and tough is another point. This is done by setting times and dates, getting names of people you talked to and saying exactly what you want. If its a job you want and you want a meeting, well say that. To often its just your very interesting but we are not hiring at the moment. So more to do to day. People to talk to and hopefully people soon to see.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Living in the Netherlands

Oh this me in the suit I always wanted!


Well its been a good week. It started off in Oostende, Belgium at the end of last week for a quick get away. Its a nice town full of bars and restaurants, the beach is right there but is freezing cold. We took a trip to Brugge as well. Its a very nice town. It old but has a fancy look to it. Good beer in Belgium I'll give them that. Back in NL I attended a Careers event to give me direction on what I want to do with my time. Sunday and Monday I had a nice time in Eindhoven with Sjoerd and Irene.
Back in Baarn I found the mountain bike track. Its about 11 Km long and has the terrain like the Pukete track in Hamilton. I'm hoping to find some other people to go mountain biking with so I'm not all alone in the woods. I'm going to Amsterdam again tomorrow, so will be fun to see a bit more of the big city. Paulien's Been in France the last few days, she should be back sometime today.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Last weekend in Utrecht watching a statue being moved! A heavy one! It took two mammoth cranes and a whole day.

Well another week has pasted and the whether is slowly changing (getting warmer). I have been a busy person trying to find a career for myself and learn dutch as well. It's all going nicely and today I got a bank account so I'm all sorted now. Paulien and I went to Ikea on Wednesday to get some furnisher. That was an experience. Its a mega store for everything in your home. You can even have dinner there. The next day I assembled everything, yes everything comes as a kit-set. Next week it's over to Belgium for a small holiday and I,m hopping to get some chocolate there too. More to tell but off to watch some Volleyball.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

A Busy Week

This is me eating haring, it's raw fish. I went to the Anne Frank Huis later.


What a busy week it has been. They have good public transport here in The Netherlands and Ive used it everyday to trip around the country for meetings, see friends, go to career expos and to get home. Well I'm working hard at getting a job, it's like a full time job trying to get one, with all the emailing phoning and making meetings. It's just a matter of time before I'm stepping in the door of a company to have a chat. Thats the next stage.
Well I'm of to Utrecth now with Fons (Pauliens Dad) to see the Rabo bank building that he is in charge of being built.


Monday, February 22, 2010

This is a new wind mill that mills flower. Thats Pam.

This is inside the wind mill. We are looking at the grinding stone housing.

Liz, Me, Paulien and Pam being cool!

This is having a good time at carnival.

This is also a good time.


What a week. It started off last weekend in Oeteldonk with carnival which was one big party with one whole town. we all dress up in the town colours and dance to some great Dutch music.
On Monday Pam turned up at the Baarn station where I was waiting. We had a fun time touring the streets of Utrecth and Amsterdam. On the way I got more Paper work done, which is an on going process to live and work in The Netherlands. Liz came on Friday and on the Saturday we went on a Dutch adventure to a mind mill in the area and to a Porffertje cafe which are mini pancakes. Then in the evening we had a Kiwi BBQ. I cooked outside in the cold. It was worth it though. The Kanes left on Sunday and I picked up my bike, if only it was that easy. I had to go to three offices and take numerous amounts of paper before I could actually get my bike. Got it now though. Today Monday, more paper work to do, but that should just about be the end of that. Well fun times in The Netherlands.

Doei.

Friday, February 12, 2010

The Netherlands

The back yard



A Dutch dinner

On Tuesday morning Europe time I arrived in the Netherlands where i was greeted by Paulien and her family. It was a great relief to be off the plane and on some firm ground. The first week has been good but a little different as there are many things that I have to get use to. For instance they speak Dutch here, so I got some children's books out from the library and have been learning as fast as I can. The temperature is very cold here too, thats something to get use to. This weekend we have carnival Den Boosch which is big party, but I'm going to find out more. Pamela my sister is coming over on Monday and Liz my cousin is coming over next Friday. So many things to do. Will be on the hunt for an Engineering job next week too. ok so far so good. Oh and I got a hair cut, it's short.



Saturday, February 6, 2010

Last day in New Zealand


Well its been a fantastic week catching up with friends and a good last day helping Dad build a deck. This week my adventures had me going to one of the biggest concerts in NZ ever, AC/DC. It was a blast, it couldn't have been better. Well worth the trip up to Auckland. It was even better being able to hang out with my cousin mark. So anyway this is it, I'm leaving tomorrow to live in Holland. It's the start of a new beginning. I'm moving out of home, I going to find a new job, I'm going to learn a new language, Meet new friends, Catch up with old friends, probably one thing that wont change is that I'll continue to have fun where ever I am and share it on this blog each week.

So see you in The Netherlands.