Reflecting on History.

Coming from the U.S. it is easy to forget about history.  Not to say America doesn't have a lot of history, it does.  America has lots of history, it is just most of our history happened along time ago and Americans tend to forget it.  If you live in the north, you are surrounded by the history of the Revolutionary War, in the south it's the Civil War or Civil Rights Movement and the west, filled with the expansion of America and the exploration for gold.  Since moving to Europe, I have discovered that I am constantly reminded by the history that took place here.  As I walk around my neighborhood, it is not uncommon for me to see a house that was built in the 1600's and still occupied by people.  Rembrandt is buried near my home, Van Gogh lived here and the Anne Frank house is just down the street from my house too.  It is the Anne Frank house that makes me think of history the most.  Everyone knows who Anne Frank is, but as a reminder, she is a Jewish girl who's family went into hiding during the Second World War to escape the Nazis.  They were able to hide for a few years before being discovered on August 4th, 1944.  It made me think, "surely Nazis have been in my house looking for Jewish people in hiding right?"

Recently I went to Cologne, Germany.  While I was there, we visited the National Socialism Document Center.  What is that?  A place that kept documents?  No, this was the headquarters of the Cologne Gestapo.  The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe.

Behind these doors people were tortured for information and most people didn't leave here alive.

It is in this prison where 400 people were murdered between 1943-1944.  Now unlike our history which happened along time ago, this history happened just 70 years ago.  Seventy years ago isn't that long.  Some of us have grandparents that fought in this war, my grandfather did.  It is hard to image that someone thought this type of action was acceptable.  It's amazing that all this type of stuff happened just a stones throw from where I live now.  I cannot image what it was like to live during a time of constant fear.  The point is to never forget about history no matter what kind of history it is.  The next time you pass a historic marker on the side of the road or the next time you pass a state/national historic site, take time to stop and reflect on the history that help form your country.

Who Can Afford to Drive?

One of the things I miss since I have moved here is driving.  I know that sounds crazy to most people, but for me I love to drive.  Most people find it stressful or a pain in the ass, but I see it as relaxing and a form of freedom.  Since moving here, I have only driven a hand full of times and in a city like this it can be a little stressful.  You have to watch for cars, bikes coming at you in every direction, people crossing the street at random times and you have to watch for trams that run in the middle of the street, all while driving a manual transmission.  Now luckily when I was growing up, my parents had manual transmission vehicles and I learned to drive on that.  In Tallahassee, that is no easy feat.  Tallahassee is very hilly, so having to stop on a hill and then go in a manual can be very challenging.  None the less, I learned how to drive a manual but only owned automatic cars.  Now in the Netherlands, almost every rental car is a manual transmission which is completely the opposite of that in the states.  Now why is this an issue?  It really isn't an issue for me, but I just thought it would be easier to learn how to drive on an automatic vs. a manual.  So why bother getting a drivers license since I don't own a car?  Well, my U.S. drivers license is only good for six months here.  After that I have to get a European drivers license.  If we rent a car to go somewhere, I will need to have a valid drivers license.  Plus the idea of having a foreign drivers license was really appealing to me.  I went to driving school's website to see if they teach driving classes in an automatic vehicle I found something interesting.

Like most Americans, I either have motor dysfunctions or have developed a fear of driving.

I was surprised to see how European's view driving an automatic.  I have been driving 24 years and never realized that I was either afraid of driving or had a motor dysfunction.  I called to get pricing on driving classes and was a little shocked.
     

                                                     -Driving manual:          € 99,00

                                                     -Theories class:          € 24,50

                                                     -Theories exam:          € 31,00

That isn't too bad, but that is just the start of it.  Now for the real cost.

                                                     -10 hours of  practical driving:   € 459,00

                                                     -Physical (really?):                     €   29,00 

                                                     -Driving exam:                            € 235,00

That is € 877.50 to learn how drive/take test (that is $1,124.87)  Who can afford this?  I wonder if they have a layaway program here?  We'll just have to see if it is worth it or not.  Maybe I ride dirty for a little while and if I get pulled over, play the stupid American card.  

Always Carry Change.

For those of you who know me, I mean really know me, you know that I don't carry any cash on me. In fact, 95% of the time I don't have a wallet on me.  Recently I've had to carry my wallet since I don't have a car to keep it in, but I still don't carry cash.  My advise to people traveling to Europe is to always carry some type of cash or change with you at all times?  I suggest this because when nature calls, you might not be able to find a free bathroom to use.  Access to public restrooms (or Water Closets (WC) as they call them here) are very few and far between.  You just can't walk into a McDonald's and go to the restroom.  Most of them  required an access codes so you have to make a purchase.  Some places charge you use the restroom.  You better have correct change or they will not let you in.  Last week we were in a train station when I had to find a restroom fast.  We found a restroom, but it cost € 0,50 to use them and if you don't have enough money they won't let you in.  My wife was short € 0,02 and they would not let her in.  She had to have them make change for a € 5,00 just to use the restroom.

Today I was running some errands and came across what appears to be a boutique restroom place.

My kind of store.

This place charges you € 1,00 to use the restroom, but it is really clean in there.  And if that isn't enough, it even has a gift shop in it for all your restroom needs.  They sell toilet brushes, toilet paper and books to read while you sit and think about things.  Maybe I should open up a place called "The Porcelain Palace".  It would have high end toilets in it, "spa" type music playing in each stall and urinals with flat screen TVs above them showing the news or ESPN.  We would also have someone in there dressed up like a butler to offer you with a variety of soaps, lotions and hand sanitizing gels.  We would even sell T-shirts in our gift shop.  "At the Porcelain Palace, we never treat you like #2".

Summer is Here!!!

It is officially summer here.  How do I know, cause it is 28° C here (84° F).  This normally isn't hot, but when you live in a house that doesn't have ceiling fans or air conditioning, that is hot.  It will be interesting to see how we handle this new "challenge" in our life.  Is it too late to add an air conditioning unit to the list that I posted in my prior blog?  Maybe we can start a sponsorship program.  People can donate money and "sponsor" various parts of the air conditioning unit.  When all things are said and done, this will look like a NASCAR car with various names on it.  The more you "sponsor" the larger your name or your company's name will appear on this unit.

"Your Name Here"

Just to give you an idea of how warm it is here, as I write this blog there is a guy next door working on my neighbor's roof.  It is so warm out, the worker has taken off all his cloths except his underwear.  Can you picture a guy in his underwear working on a roof?  Neither can I, so I tried to get a a picture to post so you all could see that I wasn't lying,  but I got caught taking a picture.  He probably thinks I'm some kind of pervert and will warn my neighbor about me.  I guess in the meantime, we will have to take some cool showers.  It will be interesting what the rest of the summer will bring and the winter too (at least we have heaters).

The List

Since we have moved here we have missed some of the "luxuries" of the states (I use the term "luxuries" loosely).  We have actually started an "import" list of the things we miss and want to import when we come home to the states.  We've have received some requests from people wanting to get some stuff for us, so I have decided to publish the list or a registry if you will (since Publix doesn't have one):

• Kraft Mac and Cheese (We know it's fake, but we love it).
• Irish Spring Original Soap (I have used this for years and it's only sold in the US).
• A bag of large marshmallows (Carmen is really needing some).
• Box of graham crackers (Can you guess what is next on the list)?
• Hershey bars (My wife is having serious s'mores withdraws). 
• Jiff Peanut Butter Creamy and Crunchy (The peanut butter here is a little gritty and not as sweet).
• Boxes of daytime Cold/Flu medicine (Apparently they really use pot here for medical purposes, which is the only reason I can come up with as to why they don't have cold medicine here).
• Hunt's Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce (This is for me).
• Coffee-mate Hazelnut Creamers- Singles (My wife will kill for this).
• Sweetened Condensed Milk (If you don't know what snowcream is, you won't understand).
• Stevia in the Raw packets (See hazelnut creamer reason).
• Anti Bacterial Hand Gel (Apparently they are pro bacterial over here).
• Betty Crocker Cake mix Yellow and Red Velvet (If you know my wife, you know her love affair for cake and all cake products)
• Betty Crocker Cream Cheese Icing (You can't have Red Velvet cake without out that).
• Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Squares (Don't ask).
• Bisquick (For pancakes and biscuits, duh).
• All the plastic bags you can send (They make good packing and they are like gold over here, although we use them for cat litter).

I know this is an odd list, but we are really craving these things.

Now for the scam, that is right a scam.  If you decide to send these things, send them via the United States Postal Service and claim a "low" value.  Do not send them via UPS or Fedex cause you will need to send a commercial invoice with them and we will have to pay a tariff (an importing tax) on them and it is not worth the hassle.  Your donations can be sent to the Sean and Carmen Withdraw Foundation, care of:

Sean and Carmen Allen

Prinsenstraat 11 II/III

1015DA, Amsterdam

Netherlands

In exchange, if you need some wooden shoes, stroopwafels or anything Dutch you would like we can send that to you.  Although I don't think the Dutch are really known for anything other than wooden shoes.

   

I Really miss Wal-Mart

Of course I miss my family, friends, my car, Mexican food and air conditioning, but the one thing I really miss the most (just because of convenience) is Wal-Mart.  In some ways, I feel like I have stepped back in time.  There is a shop for everything here and that is where you need to go to get everything.  The grocery store only sells groceries (you can get pet food there) and that is about it.  I literally go the store everyday.  I know Carmen though we went everyday back home, but I really go everyday sometimes twice a day.  For one reason, you can only carry some much with you.  For another reason, it appears that everything here is packaged small and has a short shelf life.  Where do you go for medicine?  You have to go to the drug store.  Oh, did I mention that they don't even carry cold/flu medicine?  That's right, they don't have cold/flue medicine here.  You can get pot here, but not cold/flue medicine?  We asked our local what do people here take when they have a cold and he responded with "Nadda".  I went to the drug store and they only give you stuff with aspirin and vitamin C in it.  Great, I get to add another thing to my "import" list when I come to visit.

Say what you want about Wal-Mart, how evil it is, how they exploit foreign workers, how they run mom and pop stores out of town, but the things they do offer is great.  Low prices and convenience, and as an American that is what I love.  I love being able to go to one place, at anytime of day and get everything I need under one roof.

Oh how I miss thee.

The other thing I miss is having someone bag your groceries.  They don't do that here, you have to do it.  You have to put your items on the belt, bag everything up and pay before the next person is ready.  And if your aren't fast enough, you end up getting in the way of the next person's items.  As a result of this affect combined with the fact that I can only carry so much, I make multiple trips to the store.  Add to that, not every store carries the same thing.  Earlier this week I decided to make Rice Krispy treats for my wife.  I had to go to two different stores in two different parts of town just to get supplies.  The first store didn't have anything I needed.

Because I am so used to Wal-Mart, I don't know where to go to get other things.  I don't know where to go to get Command Strips to hang pictures.  No one here knows what they are, so we have had to reach out and have them "imported" to us.  No one here knows what a door stop is.  Where do I go to get Drano?  I do know, but I know were to get beer and pot.  Oh well, I'll learn.

Does Publix Have a Gift Registry?

We have decided when we come back to the states, we are going to bring an empty suitcase back with us just for food.  Before we moved here, I thought of a business that would cater to Americans or "Expats".  It would be a store with nothing but food from the U.S.  We would have everything from cereals, cake mixes to candy bars.  Everything over here tastes a little different, but a store like this would be great for American's who were missing that "taste from home".  My wife of course thought that I was crazy and thought that I was dumb.

After we got here, we took a walk around the town and found the store I was thinking of.  A store that caters to Americans.  Did we find American heaven?  This store had everything little thing you wanted to remind you of home.

Apple Jacks, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Froot Loops and Oreos.

Jiff Peanut Butter, Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce and Kraft Mac and Cheese.

I didn't even say a word, I walked right into the store to check this place out.  No need to get use to the food here, we have our own little taste of America right here and that taste comes with a price.  Here is an example of that price:

                                          Kraft Mac and Cheese: € 2,99 = $ 3.87
                                      Apple Jacks/Froot Loops: € 7,49 = $ 9.68
                                    Reese Peanut Butter Cups: € 1,99 = $ 2.57
                                         Betty Crocker cake mix: € 4,99 = $ 6.45
                                               Aunt Jemima Syrup: € 6,99 = $ 9.04
                                     Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate: € 5,99 = $ 7.74
                                                                    Oreos: € 6,79 = $8.87
                                                   Jiff Peanut Butter: € 4,99 = $ 6.45

Those prices are out of control.  Time to go on American "detox".  I bought some local stuff here and you quickly realize that it isn't as good as American food.  Peanut butter tastes different, there isn't American Cheese here (my wife is having a hard time with this) and the Cool Ranch Doritos (called Cool American) taste different.   So for Christmas, rather than gift cards (which we can't use there as they are in dollars and they use Euros here) I have decided to start a gift registry at Publix.  We will register at Publix for birthdays and Christmas.  I can't wait to open up my first Christmas present to discover a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese.  And don't forget, Charmin with Aloe makes a great stocking stuffer for me.