After all these years of my Dutch obsession, I actually visited the REAL Holland!

When I was young, my grandparents took me to an IAPES Convention (International Association of Personnel in Employment Security) in Minnesota. They decided to drive from New Mexico, and stop at numerous interesting tourism spots along the way. The one that forever gave me my love for the Dutch culture was a stop in Pella, Iowa. Their website advertises it as this "Pella has it all - cultural heritage, business opportunities, recreational abundance, and more!. Whether you're here to learn about Lake Red Rock, our Dutch heritage, manufacturing in Pella, Central College, relocating to Pella, economic development or just to experience 'A touch of Holland,' you are sure to find plenty of things to admire about Pella!" This is all very true, it's a beautiful town with lots of shopping, some windmills and fields of tulips! And this is where it all began...

Senior year of high school we were required to choose a country and do a semester long project on it-- researching its people, culture, food, government, and so forth. Naturally, I chose The Netherlands. Luckily my group obliged the idea, and we all jumped in  feet first. Each individual in the group gave their all (which rarely happens in group projects) and we even made a replica of a traditional Dutch house out of my brother's duck blind. Pretty redneck I know, but we bust our tails and didn't purchase a Tuff Shed so I'd say we did quite well. My parents were incredibly helpful throughout our endeavors, while my dad let us use his tools to build the house and matching windmill, my mom helped us perfect our recipes and costumes. The judges were very pleased with the outcome, and we took 2nd (although we all felt like we got 1st with how great it all came together). With that amount of research work put into the project, my curiosity for The Netherlands increased.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a huge advocate for dairy products. Ik hou van zuivel, I love milk! Many of New Mexico's dairies are actually own and operated by the Dutch, and why not?! They're great at what they do! So with my two loves, The Netherlands and dairy products, I had this grand idea to learn Dutch in hopes of receiving a career in the world of dairy marketing and working with the Dutch people. Thus far, I've been in contact with some people, but none-the-less, I've enjoyed my journey to getting where I am, so even if I don't land my dream job, I've had a blast trying to!

And finally, the beautiful pictures of Holland (Amsterdam and outskirts). I'll most definitely be back to cover all 12 provinces!

It was freezing in Zans Schans

Huge Wooden Shoe!

Amstel Beer, brewed in Holland. Quite tasty!

This building is literally IN the water!

Lonnie couldn't figure out why she kept hearing her name, Holland in Spanish is Olanda!

Gettin' ready for our canal cruise

Delft!

Horse Drawn Carriages Galore

Steven's prawns and friten

Delicious tiramsu!

Traditional Dutch meal with different vlees (meat) on bottom with puffed pastry, then puree (mashed potatoes) and slaw (cabbage). Delicious!

The best milk I've ever drank, I think it came from the cow that morning....mmmm

My friend, the goat...

Steven totally purchased some, booze with cocaine

Ten slotte, ik studeer Nederlands in Sint-Pieter-Leeuw (Finally, I'm studying in Dutch in Sint-Peters-Leeuw

Greetings from Belgium!

Hallo iedereen, aka howdy ya'll! So much for blogging daily, my apologies. The first week in Europe, Lonnie, Monique and I were so swamped with reizend (traveling), so we barely had time to slapen (sleep). And since I've begun my lessons, I've been heel moe (very tired). You wouldn't believe how much pressure is put on the brain when learning a nieuw taal (new language) in such a short amount of tijd (time). Luckily, my instructor and those who work here at the Green Park Hotel are very kind and understanding when I say "Ik spreekt en klein Nederlands" (I speak little Dutch). And they know a good amount of Engels (English), so between the twee (two) languages, we're able to get things voortreffelijk (accomplished).

I'll give the highlights of London and add Belgium and The Netherlands photos and bog the end of the week...

LONDON
Visiting London first really made the switch to being overseas much easier. The Big Ben was beautiful and could be seen from most of the city. The London Eye (the large ferris wheel looking deal) was pretty awesome and offered a beautiful view from the top. We saw a couple of Broadway shows including In a Forest Dark and Deep (with the hot, bad guy from Vantage Point) and Wicked, a twisted prequel to the Wizard of Oz. Lonnie also took me to see the Crown Jewels (what a treat!) and Buckingham Palace. Getting to see many celebrity and popular figures at Madaam Tusseud's Wax Museum was also really exciting! And I can't forget about the food (check out pics below...)

Right when we got into London, Lonnie spotted this Bob the Builder toy ride. Yay! 

We saw Buckingham Palace. Visitors were not allowed inside because the Royal Family was there.

















The Crown Jewels were amazing! Ginormous diamonds and sapphires even celebrities could never compete with....

 ...And guards to protect them.

















When in Rome.... EAT LOCAL FOOD! 

"Bangers and Mash"- Sausage and Mashed Potatoes

Cold Cuts

Traditional Fish and Chips (Fries)

Finger Sandwiches and Tea

Dim Sum

Lonnie, Monique and I at the Dim Sum Restaurant

Broadway Show- In a Forest Dark and Deep

Broadway Show- Wicked

< The bum that called Lonnie "daft" (British word for dumb). Hahahahaha




Lonnie after getting pooped on by a pigeon>

The Girls heading into the London Eye 3D Movie

London- A view from atop the London Eye

London Sunset (doesn't compete with NM's,
but pretty nonetheless)

Looks like London Fog, but is actually flash
on the window but shhh.... hahaha

Lonnie and I during ride at Madam Tussaud's

Lonnie and I in yet another funny hat picture

Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum 

The story of Madam Tussaud's

Big Ben

                                                                     

 

The London Eye at Night                                 

Adios and Vaya con Dios... I'm Leaving G A

Howdy all! My trip begins!!! I leave Atlanta this afternoon, flying into London. I'm so very excited and for some reason, kind of looking forward to an eight-hour flight. Mom was sweet and bought me crayons, Lonnie bought me a journal that can be scribbled and drawn in, I've got lots of books, and a couple of movies on my computer. I'll have plenty to do, so this ADD kid will most definitely stay entertained. Not to mention, we'll be flying throughout the "night" so will be able to sleep through most of it and arrive in London in the morning.  Please jet lag, be kind to me.

I'll be sure and update each evening, and chronicle my journey! Wish me luck!

Where in the world did the last two months go!?!

So, when I arranged my dates for lessons in Brussels, I was a tad panicked. It was my first semester in 17 years without classes and the only to-do was work part-time. How in the heck was I going to waste away two months, I worried. Well, success, I did it! January is totally gone and I haven't a clue where it went, and February is on its way out the door, while I'm trying my best to slow its pace as it takes off.

As you can see, the countdown is to the right of the screen and I'm within two weeks! WTH!? Where did all that time go? What have I done? Rest assured, it wasn't all spent goofing off. I've been reading numerous tour books on Europe, cleaned out my house numerous times and found lots of items to put in garage sales (another money making venture to accumulate some spending money), made plenty of necklaces, created a web site to sell them, marketed and sold them at feed stores, and visited with the folks and Tres a lot. I guess that isn't all too bad, knowing that two months goes by MUCH faster than it did when I was in high school.

My sister and Monique are stinkin' awesome and have taken on all the difficulty of planning an international trip, allowing me to be the tourist and say "Oooo, look how pretty!" without realizing what went into it all to get there.Thanks girls, I owe you! A belgian waffle dinner and a couple of beers are on me! We're going to get to see REAL Delft glassware, Dutch windmills, watch cheese being made, go to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, and on a river boat tour! YAAAAAYYYYY!

I am so excited! Please check in often, as I will try to update this nightly with pictures and more details once I get there. Thank you very much to my mom, my sister, Monique, my grandpa and Dialogue Language courses for allowing this all to be possible!

PS. Also be watching out for my pictures on Facebook, as I enter to win a new pair of Anderson Bean boots, in the "Where in the world have your Beans been" contest. I'll submit some cool pictures of my Anderson Bean boots in Europe, and please tell your friends to vote for them! Voting ends March 15th and I'll have pics up by the 12th.

Bad Weather, Necklaces, and Itineraries... AKA RANDOM!

Well, I haven't written in a couple of weeks although I originally planned on posting more often. A HUGE storm came through New Mexico and severely threw a lot of people off keel. Below zero temperatures, frozen pipes, rolling blackouts, and inability to bathe, wash laundry and/or dishes caused many people to cancel travel plans, not go into work and just be plain flat out bummed. Instead of being productive, I bundled up, suffering from cabin fever (Tres did also). When the storm passed, and everyone was back in business, Las Cruces had ONE beautiful day of 70 degree temps and lots of sunshine... then the wind moved in. The only good that came of it was a beautiful sunset because of the light reflecting off all the dust in the air.

I finally got back into the swing of things and am getting back to priorities. I've continued making more necklaces and was saddened  to discover that none of them had sold at the couple of feed stores I was doing consignment with. I went ahead and did a Valentine's special on them. I'm more so excited about seeing someone wearing a necklace I made and telling her girlfriends about it, than I am about pocketing the money (but believe me, I do NEED to start getting some income. My costs are totally outweighing  my profit, and it doesn't take an economist to know that that isn't a good thing!)

I know once I target the exact right market, at the exact right location, at the exact right time, I'll be in business. As a marketing and advertising major, it's exciting to put my education to work, but sadly, when the large sum of money needed to invest in the venture isn't there, Marketer X is left with lots of trial and error. Thus far, I am tackling Ebay, Etsy, and Facebook advertising. It isn't necessarily difficult, just time consuming and somewhat expensive. But as the saying goes, "It takes money to make money".
Below are some of my favorite necklaces I've created thus far...

As for "prepping for Belgium", it's time to admit that having a sister who loves to travel and tour interesting places, is great when you're planning a trip to study abroad. Below is a quick overview of how my month overseas will be spent:

Thursday March 10, 2011

Depart Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport         5:40PM

Friday March 11, 2011

Arrive London Gatwick Airport                        7:00AM

Check into Holiday Inn Express London Earls Court

        

Saturday March 12- Monday March 14, 2011

London

Tuesday March 15, 2011

Check out of London Hotel

Easyjet Flight 8875
Depart London Gatwick Airport 1:25PM
Arrive Amsterdam Schipol Airport 3:40PM

Wednesday March 16- Thursday March 17, 2011

Amsterdam/Day Trips around Holland

Friday March 18, 2011

Train to Ghent Sint Pieters Leeuw

Check into Green Park Hotel B&B

        

Saturday March 19- Sunday March 20

Day trips to Paris and Brussels

Monique and Lonnie check into Brussels Airport Hotel Sunday Evening

Monday March 21, 2011

Begins classes

Monique and Lonnie Depart Brussels National Airport

Saturday April 9, 2011

Depart Brussels National Airport                      10:30AM

Arrive Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport          2:20PM

Post-Travel Arrangements

Tuesday April 12 2011

Depart Houston Intercontinental Airport            1:25PM

Arrive Albuquerque International Sunport          2:25PM

Its like I have my very own personal travel agent. Lonnie has done SO MUCH research and is really putting a lot of time and effort to assure this trip goes as planned. If I don't get lost or stolen, it should be a success! For now, I will continue reading my tour books, and working on my introduction to Dutch. Time is flying and I can't believe I will be leaving at the beginning of March! Then I'll come home and graduate in May! Where is all this time going? Do I have proof that the way I've passed it has been worthwhile?