What Are You Doing in Netherlands?

Recently I have reconnected with a number of people from my past, "old" friends, co-workers and students, as well as made some new friends. Two questions are most often posed and also by and of fellow expats/immigrants upon meeting.

This post answers the most popular, "What are you doing in the Netherlands?"

Here goes:

Living a simpler life in a smaller living space located in a "disadvantaged" neighbor in Rotterdam.

Enjoying life and love.

Learning the Netherlands--language, country, Rotterdam.

Trying to remember English words!

Integrating into a new culture.

Watching my dollars fly away, waiting for a better exchange to get them all into Euros where I can earn much better interest at my bank here and stop seeing them vanish into thin air.

Seeing the Netherlands, US, Europe, Africa, the world with new eyes.

Praying more knowledgeably for the Netherlands.

Eating new foods and finding I like cauliflower, though still not raw, and will probably never grow to like haring/herring!

Eating an occasional hagelslag broodje...chocolate (or fruit flavored) sprinkled sandwich.

Walking--lots of walking.

Frequenting public transportation and loving it.

Experiencing freedom from an auto.

Mystery shopping throughout the country.

Visiting lots of different cities and towns.

Loving and being loved.

Spending more time at home.

Maintaining a sense of humor and appreciating more Dutch humor.

Going to the market once or twice a week, if just to check prices as grocery store sales are often cheaper.

Volunteering at Karel Vogelklas...the bird rehabilitation facility on the street next to us.

Participating in the American Women's Club of Den Haag.

Taking lots of pictures.

Using my Princess House glasses as everyday glassware. Love 'em and would have never done this in the US. Arjan even likes them!

Trying to find out where exactly I fit in here, realizing that may never really happen.

Did I say enjoying life? Here there's plenty of time for that, which is why some Netherlanders have no desire to move to the US.

Enjoying a cooler, moister, more temperate climate.

Then there's the usual reading, writing, attempting to keep in touch with friends via the internet and Facebook, while making new one's as well.

Think that about covers it.