Author Archives: Niki

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About Niki

I run the blog http://www.lifeinthehague.com

Browsing (Or: European and American shoe sized compared)

On my last trip to the Netherlands, I quickly found out that the sneakers I bought for the trip just weren’t going to cut it. I go through shoes pretty fast, unfortunately. So Roger took me to a few shoe stores in the Hague, but not before I looked up my shoe size in European terms.

Since I wear a 7 1/2, I figured that I should probably look for a 38. After a few shoe stores, I was able to find a basic white sneaker that didn’t seem too horrible for my feet. Of course, the pair only lasted a week or two after I got back to the States, so it wasn’t the best quality in the world. But I think I only paid €15. (Incidentally, I went clothes shopping with Marco later that week, though I didn’t know my shirt size at all. I ended up with another 38! Bought the shirt at V&D in the Hague.)

Also a random fun memory from that shoe shopping trip: Roger and I went and got Burger King and brought it back to eat. It was nice and quick to order, so that won out.

But back to the shoes… I went to the mall yesterday to get new sneakers. I was pondering getting more black sneakers for my work outfits, but decided against it for now. Marco recommended that I get some new pairs and bring them over unworn to NL so I know I have something that fits. I am starting to think it’s not a bad idea at all.

For the record, I hate shoe shopping. Anything that takes more than 5 minutes of browsing and trying on shoes annoys me. But there’s really only a few styles that won’t kill my feet, so it shouldn’t take that long at all.

Categories: Everyday purchases, Friends&Family | 4 Comments

Underfoot (Or: Neighborhood cat)

I finally got a good picture of the neighborhood cat that I see hanging around.

Just like his yellow coat, he has dark yellow eyes. He doesn’t seem that shy.

The first time I saw him, he was on the nearby sidewalk in front of this house. Half his body was on the grass, facing the house. Most of his tail was on the sidewalk, out straight. I think he was stalking something, since he didn’t move at all. I almost tripped over his tail before I noticed something “yellow” on the sidewalk.

The second time, he darted in front of me from the road across the same sidewalk towards the house – not even a foot away from me. Yeesh!

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: | 4 Comments

Alterations (Or: Dutch for dummies book)

A few years ago, long before we decided that I would move to the Netherlands, Marco got me a Dutch study aid. It was from the popular “for dummies” book series.

Of course he felt a bit weird calling me a dummy, so he decided to alter the title a bit…

It makes me grin every time I see it!

Categories: Marco&Niki | Tags: , | 6 Comments

Freshman (Or: T-Minus 1 day)

I… am tired. I have been running around the campus like a maniac most of the day. The freshman come back tomorrow. I wish I had a few more weeks to work on my projects before they do! But c’est la vie.

In the morning, I hijacked my coworker’s computer (thank you Amy!) as it was connected to the color printer and I have to do at least 325 tri-fold brochures before Saturday’s scavenger hunt.

Somewhere in between my print jobs (25 copies in each group) I got called away to look at the new furniture that was being delivered downstairs in the Learning Commons. It is coming along beautifully after the stupid, heartwrenching flood in June.

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Handmade (Or: A Dutchie’s jigsaw puzzles)

Back in late October 2009, when I had only lived in this current apartment for a few months, Marco had to buy a birthday gift for a friend’s young child. While searching for a gift in a store, he came across blank puzzle pieces.

On a whim, he purchased four jigsaws and drew some images and phrases on each. He then had the bright idea to mail them to me a few at a time! So it was a while before I could complete the puzzles, though not forever.

“ik ben van jou” -> I am yours.

Funny story about the phrase above – he taught me two phrases back before I really started studying Dutch at all. “ik ben van jou” – I am yours – and “jij bent van mij” – you are mine. As I had zero grounding in Dutch, he was teaching me to remember it based on memorization, so he said “jij BENT van mij”, while making a bending motion with his hands.

So for whatever reason, that phrase reminded me of driving a car, with your hands on the steering wheel. So for a long time I could only differentiate between the two (ben vs. bent) by thinking of which one was where you were driving.

And this second jigsaw puzzle is proof that we have always been counting down days until we see each other again. At the bottom you can see the “80!!’ for 80 days. That would have been the Christmas trip where they visited my new digs for the first time.

By the way – it is 28 days and about 20 hours until we see each other again.

Not that we’re counting.

Categories: Marco&Niki | Tags: | 5 Comments

Replacements (Or: Dutch bicycles

Random picture of the day. Here is the replacement bike that Roger bought last month:

Here’s hoping this one doesn’t “wander off” for many, many years!

Categories: Culture | Tags: | 2 Comments

Reflections (Or: College conferences, past and present)

Today was the fall college conference. We always have one the week before classes start in August, and one in January before classes begin. In addition, the month of May brings a “service recognition luncheon”. At some point I realized that this was my last college conference, just like in May it was my last service recognition luncheon.

Odd, how time flies. Odd how I see others being introduced for the first time, and I can still remember being introduced myself, and the joke that was cracked to me in front of everyone: “Your predecessor served for 30 years. Did you know that the contract you signed stipulated you would stay for 30 years as well?” There was a chance back then, however small. But there is no more chance. But this is by no means a pessimistic post.

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Categories: Moving | Tags: | Leave a comment

New drink (Or: Coffee cubes and milk)

It had been about a month but I finally decided to try Trpana’s idea about milk with “ice” cubes made of coffee.

Not nearly as pretty as Trpana’s coffee cubes!

Actually, last night was my 2nd attempt. The first time, I only put four coffee cubes in, and the coffee doesn’t melt that fast in milk. This time I put the rest of the ice cube tray in – about 7 or 8. It took about 75 minutes and a glass and a half of milk before they finally melted all of the way.

Amother thing to consider is that even though I normally like my coffee black with no milk or sugar added, this experiment could have done with a bit of sugar in the coffee itself when being brewed. A straw is also pretty handy, to stir it up occasionally.

It was an interesting drink… I am not sure if I will have it again right away, but it definitely had its place.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: | 2 Comments

Speculoos (Or: Chopped Grill Masters)

Earlier today I was doing some work for Avatar MUD (closing loopholes people were abusing – what else is new!), and I had Chopped Grill Masters on my TV as background noise. On Chopped, four different chefs compete each week to see who is the best. There are three rounds: appetizers, entrees, and desserts. One chef is eliminated each round. Grill Masters is a special version of that, with 4 episodes – 16 chefs competing for a spot on the finale (the 5th and final episode).

Anyway, at one point I thought I heard something, but I wasn’t sure. I glanced up from my work and listened. It was as I thought – one of the required appetizer ingredients was speculoos!

Speculoos (speculoospasta) is basically a paste made from speculaas cookies, both Dutch treats. According to Marco it was first marketed in 2007. Thankfully Marco had recently mailed me another two boxes of speculaas cookies for my coworkers and I, so I have enough to last for now.

So yes, I saw something Dutch (or Flemish, or Belgian…) on my TV today. Pretty cool.

Categories: Food | 5 Comments

Fridays (Or: A welcome day off)

I took today off, after having night shifts the other four days this week. How nice! Though of course Marco commented to me later about how I was still up and out the door by 8AM to get to the laundromat… but at least I don’t have to do that tomorrow.

Work has been kind of crazy, with various coworkers on vacation. I have spent more time covering the front desk in the last two weeks than the last half a year prior. And it’s less than a week to go before the students come back – eek!  There is always so much to do, and never enough time.

I probably should be somewhat pensive today – since it was my choice to stay in the States until December. You see, if I had gone with the earlier option (leaving at the end of the yearly August-August contract rather than extending it one more semester), I would be leaving for the Netherlands in the next day or two. Admittedly things would have been easier if I had, but that wasn’t information I had at the time. But, tomorrow is 4 months to go (tentatively). So we are almost there.

On a different note, here’s some more local news from New York City. Check out this scaffolding.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Some areas of NYC now support artwork on their scaffolding. You can read more abut it and local law 11.

And on a final note I must add – because it might never happen again! – The Hague looks like it will be warmer than New York this weekend. Tomorrow New York won’t even hit 80F.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , | 2 Comments

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