Welkom Thuis

Typically, employees from Jack's company who rotate to Amsterdam have a very busy first week.  They are helped to open a Dutch bank account (a requirement to shop at many stores here), buy their bikes (the #1 mode of transportation by far), and get formally registered as Dutch residents.  In their first week or two, they also begin their permanent apartment hunt.  Though his company puts everyone up in a temporary house for (up to) ~1 month upon arrival, you eventually transition into an apartment of your choosing.  It's encouraged to spend your first few weeks exploring the city as much as possible to identify what neighborhood(s) you'd like to hunt in for your permanent digs.

 Since Jack and I arrived from the US, a high-risk country for COVID, we've been adhering to a recommended 10-day quarantine following our touchdown in Amsterdam.  Aside from a brief, masked-up dash into a Jumbo for groceries our first evening (after discovering our online order wouldn't arrive for several days), any time we've spent outside of our apartment has been in the form of a quick daily walk.  All of our registration appointments and apartment tours will kick off once quarantine ends, the week of Sept. 14th.  Though we can't yet buy our bikes, get our Dutch phone numbers, or enjoy our local cafes and watering holes, we are doing our best to scout out the different neighborhoods on foot!  Anyone who knows me can only imagine how much it's paining me not to pop into one of the hundreds of adorable restaurants, shops, or wine bars we've passed, but rest assured I'm keeping a thorough list. 

Of the many sights we've absorbed in our hour-a-day adventures, the canals, architecture, and sheer amount of bicycles certainly are the most noteworthy.  I knew to expect all of these elements in my new home, but to see them in person is nothing short of breathtaking.  I had pictured Amsterdam as this grey, dreary, moody place - and while I know that's coming in the fall and winter, I had no idea how absolutely GORGEOUS it would be this time of year.  Trust me when I say that the photos do not do it justice!

I also cannot properly express how many bikes there are here.  Again - I obviously knew this was a bike-heavy city.  I fully anticipated having to buy a bike, use it as my daily form of transportation, and hop on it no matter what the weather is doing that day.  Heck, I even lugged a helmet from the US in my carry-on, not that anyone here uses them.  (And you wonder why we checked 10 suitcases....) 

But WOW, there are a LOT of bikes here!  It's actually pretty challenging to be a pedestrian in Amsterdam, as you have to stop and check every sidewalk several times before you cross, lest you get wiped out by a careening cycler.  I am not the most coordinated person out there, so I definitely am eager to buy my bike and have a few test rides before taking it onto the crowded pathways. 

 In addition to gawking at our gorgeous city, we've also enjoyed spending time in our temporary apartment.  We have a canal-facing unit with both a front and back balcony, which is just as dreamy as it sounds.  As we're not able to leave too much yet, I am so appreciative that our place is clean, bright, and comfortable. I easily can spend a whole day indoors and not feel stir-crazy. 

We also both successfully completed our first days at work last week -- Jack at the Netherlands branch of his company, and me in the same remote therapy role I held back in Chicago.  It's a bit strange being in a drastically different time-zone than my West Coast colleagues and clients, but with some adapting I know it'll work just fine.  Although I'll be working a little later into the evenings, I'm loving that I'll have my mornings off to do yoga, run errands, and enjoy een lekker kojpe koffie.  I also know my flexible schedule will work great for traveling -- whenever that's a possibility! 

above, our temporary apartment // below, our balconies

While I'm truly loving my new city, there of course are some things that are taking some getting used to.  

First up is the eggs.  This is something shared by most of Europe, but I was shocked to discover that Dutch eggs aren't refrigerated.  You'll find them on the grocery shelves just like any other packaged item.  After researching, I discovered the main difference between eggs here and in the US is that in the States, eggs are washed and chemically treated before being sold.  Eggs have a natural protective membrane that helps preserve them; when washed, that membrane goes away and they need to be refrigerated.  Here, the eggs aren't washed at all, making them safe to keep at room temperature.  The "downside" of this is that you need to wash the eggs yourself before you eat them, and I've already encountered some feathers and bits of poo that are less than appetizing!  Unfortunately I am very committed to my breakfast routine, so forgoing eggs is not an option.  Six days down and I'm still kicking, so I guess I'll keep it up.

The second challenge I've encountered is that 99% of food labels are in Dutch.  Although I took several months of Dutch lessons, I still can't understand every single ingredient on the packaging.  Though this usually would be no big deal, I have a serious peanut allergy, so it's important I'm able to read everything on the label.  The one time we went in a grocery store it was EXTREMELY crowded and there wasn't much opportunity to pick up and scan every item for "pinda's" (peanuts) or "noten" (nuts).  Until I learn what brands and items are safe for me to eat, I may stick for a bit to online grocery ordering, as all the ingredients are listed on the website and much easier to pop into my browser's Google Translate. 

Because of my allergy, I've also been hesitant to order restaurant delivery.  Normally when we eat out, I am able to speak to a waiter or the chef to ensure my meal is peanut safe.  It's harder to assure safety when ordering from an Uber Eats (or Deliveroo, a NL alternative).  I'm getting a little tired of cooking every single meal, so I am counting down the days til our quarantine "release" next week!  Jack already caved and had his first delivery from "Poké Perfect" yesterday, and reports it exceed expectations.  That said, when you've had bland meat/grain/vegetable dinners for a week straight, the bar is pretty low. 

The last and biggest thing that we're adjusting to is how Amsterdam is handling COVID.  In Chicago, we've grown accustomed to wearing masks everywhere, being constantly armed with sanitizer, and keeping 6 ft. distance at all times.  Here, it feels like nobody has even heard of Coronavirus.  Though you'll see signs posted that encourage 1.5 m distance, due to the density of the city that's impossible to uphold, and masks are not a thing (except for on public transportation).  When Jack and I wore them on our grocery run, we were the only people in the store in masks, and definitely got some strange looks.  In the coming weeks, we'll have to assess our comfort level as we work to balance enjoying our new city and seizing what is has to offer, but also doing what we feel is safe, especially in light of the rising case counts. 

Next weekend, we're excited to (socially distanced) meet up with some of Jack's colleagues and a friend of a friend I know in the city.  I'm also looking forward to enjoying a glass of wine not at my house, buying a European hairdryer, and finding Jack some waterproof shoes.  It's the little things.

Doei, 
- Lou