Where Stuff from Airport Security Goes

Security is tough at the airport.  No liquids, nothing sharp, and forget about your nail clippers (what if you threatened to cut too much nail off a hostage/passenger– that would really hurt!).  I’m surprised I’m allowed to keep my collar stays in my dress shirts. 

Keeping with the transportation theme, Central Station in Amsterdam

Ever wonder where all those dangerous items go? You have to figure that there’s dozens of nail files, wine keys and pocket knives confiscated at every security gate.  I found this pot of gold at Waterlooplein Market in Amsterdam, and picked up a nice wine key that says Norway on it for a Euro. 

I also picked up a brand new brown wool scarf for five Euro.  Not sure who that was taken from. (Anyone know the shortcut for a Euro symbol on an American laptop?)

Bicycle = Fiets

We got bikes finally.  Here are the quick stats http://www.ibike.org/library/statistics-data.htm

16 million people in the Netherlands and 20 million bikes!  A million new bikes are bought and 800,000 bikes are stolen every year!  Excluding people that are too young, too old, too incapable, or too lazy, that’s nearly 2 bikes per person.  I hear many people have a nice bike for Sunday rides or to commute to work.  They also have a second bike that’s a P.O.S. to run errands and ride drunkenly between bars. 

One of our friends that’s lived here all his life (~30 years old) has said he’s on his 33^rd bike!  He said he gets one stolen once every 9 months on average.  These stats convinced us to buy clunkers on the Netherland version of craigslist, http://www.marktplaats.nl/.  

The bikes we got seemed good during the test ride.  As the days went by, we found out otherwise.  One bike has been working out great except that the front tire goes flat daily.  Pump it up once in the morning and it’s good for the day.  Not too much of a problem considering how cheap we got it. 

I had to bring the bike home somehow!  This was a lot harder than it looked.

The other bike is a road bike, 21 speeds, adult size, probably about 10-15 years old.   This is the interesting one.  I’ve never owned anything with more problems.  I didn’t realize how bad it was until I let a friend borrow it.  I had to give him a list of warnings:  Don’t change the front gears.   Don't be surprised if the gears change by themselves, it does that.  Take it easy when changing the rear gears.  Don’t torque the pedals too much, especially up hills, the chain skips or may come off.  Give yourself plenty of braking distance, the brakes are poor, especially when wet, which is all the time.  If the chain pops off the sprockets, it’s pretty easy to put back on.  I almost felt compelled to call him to make sure he got to his destination safely and without incident! 

How to carry a passenger (Wim) by Allen Grabo.  

Twice while Hanson was riding, the back wheel came off.  I can’t even count how many times the chain has popped off.  Another new phenomenon started one week into ownership, sometimes when I’m pedaling, the rear sprocket gets disconnected from the rear wheel and it does not go anywhere.  Shifting gears fixes it, for whatever reason.  The other day the kick stand just broke off the bike. 

The straw that broke this bike’s back was caused by easy pedaling out of our neighborhood.  Less than 20 ft from my building, I thought the chain had popped off again.  No biggie, except my brother was laughing way too hard.  The chain hadn’t just popped off.  It had broke in half and the chain was laying on my street.  Bikes were returned to my apartment and we resumed commuting on foot.  I’ll look into replacing it, but I’m betting the repair may cost more than the bike did! 

A bike is definitely the best way to get around in Amsterdam.  For the two weeks the bikes worked, we were able to get across town in 10 minutes.  The other day we were riding down a street and got stopped by a cop.  We were on retail street that we’ve rode on dozens of times.  The cop walked up to us and politely told us we couldn’t ride our bikes on that street.  That was the end of the story.  How amazing is that?!  In the US, we may have been detained, ID’d, checked on terrorist lists, potentially beaten up and our bikes confiscated.  The cops here have all been super friendly.  We never get stressed about seeing one because: 1) They’re cool 2) There’s very little that’s illegal here so we never stress about getting caught in the act of breaking a law! 

Having a beer while riding may be illegal, but only if you get caught!  This is the bike that works.  

Next trip: Hamburg and Frankfurt Germany.  Add "er" to the cities' names and you know our meal plan.  There’s four of us going in a rented car, should be a great road trip . . . 

Being American

Every other Dutch person I meet loves to talk politics and hate on Americans.  It usually starts off friendly enough, but I must seem open/nice enough to take on harsher criticism without doling out physical consequences.  Some examples, “How can you be proud to be American,” and “Aren’t you ashamed to be an American?”  Man, what did I do wrong?  Don’t get suckered into having this conversation with your fists.

Sunrise from our apartment.

I’ve mentioned this on a prior Indian blog, but it’s worthy of discussing again.  We need a department in our government that monitors the American media that’s sent overseas.  Perhaps someone in the FCC.  A woman told me specifically that many Dutch people got their poor impression of Americans by watching TV shows like Jerry Springer.  Jerry Springer and his trashy guests have become our ambassadors to other countries.  Paris Hilton is still in the news here for whatever dumb thing she’s doing.  The news also does come off bad with our involvement in other countries.  It’s easy to see how we appear to be Team America: World Police. 

“What do you think of the actions of your military?”  “Why is your health care system so bad?” 

For the record I am proud to be an American and I valiantly defend everything we do.  But don’t judge me as a person with contempt!  These conversations are all civil and interesting, but I don’t like losing an argument.  My trump card is this line, “I would hope that anyone I meet would be able to judge me as an individual and not as a representative and supporter of everything the United States does.” 

“Well, we’re not talking about you.  You seem like a great guy.”

Peeing on one of these in the middle of the street?  That's freedom!  

I’m just the tip of the iceberg.  Americans, keep being cool when you go overseas.  Hopefully we can change our reputation one person at a time.  It’s unfortunate the media that depicts us in a good light doesn’t make it overseas. 

They love Obama here.  It seems he’s been helping our image internationally as well.

Late addition to this post.  This link doesn't help the American image: The World According to Americans

First Two Weeks

Not counting my hometown of Rochester Hills, Michigan, I’ve moved to five different places.  Four of them I’ve never even visited before I rolled in with a moving truck (or in the case of Amsterdam, suitcases)!  Sounds crazy to do, right?  I’ve had to leave everything I know and have become comfortable with to put myself in a new place, with new people, culture, lifestyle, weather, food, cost of living, transportation, time zone . . . the list goes on.  And I love it every time. 

I’m here with my brother for work.  We have an apartment, cell phones, go grocery shopping, becoming familiar with our local businesses and in general getting settled in.  If you haven’t been here, it’s hard to picture.  There are canals everywhere. The buildings lean forward.  Everyone is on a bicycle.  The roads are brick or cobblestone.  Every one of your senses get to have new experiences.  What you see is unlike any other city you’ve been to.  The sounds of Amsterdam are also different.  Bike bells, church bells, tram bells, all unique to this place.  Even what you smell is novel.  Bakeries, bars, “coffee shops,” cigarettes and unfortunately dog poop are some of the more common scents. 

View from our apartment.

Nearly everything we see is different than what we’re used to seeing.  With one exception.  Our friend Kevin Graham has been here just a few months longer than us and calls this phenomenon, “Bizarro World.”   He’s experienced the same thing.  On How I Met Your Mother it's called a "doppelganger."  We’ve seen more Dutch clones of people we know in the United States than anywhere else we’ve been!  So similar in fact that I’ve nearly approached them, until I heard Dutch being spoken.  Nearly every day we see someone’s twin.  I bet if/when you come to Amsterdam you’ll see some people you know too!  Some examples that pop up are Josh Bier, Mike Jennings and Shana Jarvis. 

I must be part of a couple people’s Bizarro World as well.  Two locals on separate occasions have come up to me positive that they know me.  It took me a fair amount of persuasion to convince them I’ve never been in Amsterdam before nor likely have no other way of knowing them! 

Off to a local bar, Tabac, on Princengracht.  It’s always slammed on weekends, so Tuesday night seems to be a good day to check out what the commotion is about.  Whose twin will I see tonight ?