tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73930732009-12-18T15:44:40.158+01:00BlondebutBrightBlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.comBlogger402125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-76605623669138377942009-11-10T19:17:00.003+01:002009-11-10T21:05:09.798+01:00The teacherHet hoofd van een Leeuw is harig. The head of a lion is hairy.On the journey home tonight, I sat stoically in the aisle seat. I refused eye contact as she slung her violin overhead and squeezed by me with a sigh. I shrunk deeper into my book and pushed my headphones into my ears, willing out the grating chatter from three teenagers in my vicinity.She drew out a stack of papers and began reading. BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-12750527558969777032009-11-05T07:30:00.002+01:002009-11-05T07:44:24.632+01:00Cultural differenceYesterday I had the privilege of meeting a fellow academic who was originally from Nigeria. Well, from Nigeria, but he had been living in the Netherlands for 20 years. That meant a passport, perfect Dutch...but still a frustration with what he saw as a somewhat stilted culture. The conversation went something like this:Him: Yes, I like it very much in Holland! But sometimes - well, people don't BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-90699745456995772422009-10-04T15:27:00.007+02:002009-10-04T16:53:55.079+02:00The Leiden escapeThe people of Leiden conquered the Spanish in 1574, and the Dutch never seem to tire of celebrating. The victory has resulted in a rowdy festival, held annually from the afternoon of the second of October until the last drunk has passed out on the fourth. I recognize that the vast majority do not see this as a problem – after all, who doesn’t enjoy winning large stuffed animals, stuffing BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-38570325728658968802009-07-28T18:16:00.006+02:002009-07-29T21:46:39.449+02:00The Uneasy Alliance <!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Courier New"; panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-73402338939583881042009-07-14T23:04:00.001+02:002009-07-14T23:10:57.621+02:00The resurrected bicycle helmetIn the mid-90s, the concept of bicycle helmets appeared on the national stage. Americans all over the country were being told that peddling without a helmet was unsafe. The media scared us with statistics and told tragic stories of lives lost – if only she was wearing a helmet!My dad recognized the importance of this argument, and in August 1993 purchased four eighty-dollar bike helmets with the BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-82108416938822839152008-11-13T21:11:00.001+01:002008-11-13T21:13:52.659+01:00The Roomba test driveRoomba entered my life recently. The addition was not my doing, and at first I looked at him with a deep suspicion. I spent several years of my life cleaning houses and I feel doubtful of anyone - or thing - that thinks he can do the job better than me.I got home from work tonight and decided to experiment. Seemed simple enough: I hit the "clean" button. At first Roomba spun in circles and BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-17395994141616062482008-11-09T06:38:00.005+01:002008-11-09T13:19:12.434+01:00Blog roundupI haven't done one of these in so long that it's truly a treat. Since Obama's the flavor of the moment, let's stick to related news:Bicyclemark recently wrote about the difficulty some will now face with Bush gone. It was so easy to staunchly oppose everything about the Bush administration, but now we've elected someone different, more positive. What will happen to those "entire systems of BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-32568752465592635342008-11-06T16:11:00.002+01:002009-07-29T11:56:20.883+02:00Dear Mr. BushDear Mr. Bush,I know you are technically still President Bush, but now, like all of your predecessors you have taken on that frustrating title of Lame Duck. I wonder how it feels, after eight years of such power? No matter, the point of this letter is not to ask about your feelings, but to tell you about mine.I've been an expat for almost the entirety of your presidency. I came to the NetherlandsBlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-82595397586793104472008-11-05T12:44:00.001+01:002008-11-05T14:00:05.910+01:00RevivalYesterday’s election results have revived this blog. I haven’t felt this inspired to write for months! Here’s something I wrote yesterday morning before the drama of counting the votes had begun. More soon.I am an expat and have lived in the Netherlands for almost the entire Bush administration. I voted early in this election, carefully following the procedures set by my home state of Minnesota. BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-71955127784448121092008-03-09T04:44:00.002+01:002008-05-06T11:59:50.768+02:00HiatusTime for a hiatus.BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-4242272842726935552008-02-14T16:48:00.003+01:002008-02-25T08:30:31.972+01:00Valentine tidbitsHey, it's Valentine's Day! Although I am hardly a fan of commercialized love, there are a few things I've come across in the past few days that have made this Valentine's Day memorable.* I was thrilled to see that Jarod, the quirky history buff behind Jarod's Forge is back from a hiatus. He chose to return with a delightful bit on the history of Valentine's day. Read it!* My all-time favorite BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-83947286599918724742008-02-12T16:40:00.000+01:002008-02-12T16:47:07.257+01:00A part of historySuper Tuesday is ancient history. I voted, and felt that thrill of participation and a nice warm fuzzy of assurance that I made the right choice. But I'm still debating how to best participate in the campaign. I really want to do something. Maybe I'll live in a bunker in some far away state for a few months later this year, licking envelopes and making calls. Maybe I'll use my SkypeOut balance upBlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-34572135649640273672008-02-04T19:52:00.000+01:002008-02-04T19:56:06.258+01:00Mac or PC?Is Obama a Mac and Clinton a PC?Hmmm. Guess who I'm voting for tomorrow in the Super Tuesday Global Presidential Primary...BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-77464354371307373652008-01-31T16:28:00.002+01:002008-12-10T22:25:37.869+01:00Must maintain the required safe temperature!Ever stay in a hotel where you feel like they really don't trust you? Below is a tidbit from a recent Holiday Inn stay in the UK. I had purchased a yogurt from the supermarket (breakfast at the hotel was about $25, no thanks) and went to open the mini bar to keep it cool overnight. It was locked, and this is the sign that greeted me (click on the photo to enlarge):My favorite part? "This bar is BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-25060492539346643832008-01-24T16:16:00.000+01:002008-01-24T16:18:37.583+01:00La PlaceToday I’m a reluctant café blogger. I’m finally on a working streak and to uproot organization and exit my warm, cozy home seems counterproductive. But I’m committed to living the motto that variety can only stimulate creativity. I hope I’m right.I’m in La Place, one of the many in Leiden and one of the (no doubt) thousands of La Place sites in the Netherlands. It’s a buffet-style eatery, but BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-30135605129545019022008-01-22T14:59:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:25:38.055+01:00The birthday weekendBack from Paris.Mona Lisa? Check.Climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower? Check.Soaking in the essence of Notre Dame with the Christmas tree still on display? Check.Stuffing myself with croissants? Check.Observing the culture, fashion, language, and hum of Paris?Feeling very content about turning 30? Check.BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-3521529358255073942008-01-16T14:18:00.000+01:002008-01-24T16:19:05.854+01:00Café bloggingIn an effort to maintain my sanity in this last year of dissertation writing, I am taking a few hours a week to write…for fun. That means forcibly removing myself from my home office, finding an inviting Leiden café within walking distance, enjoying a store-bought latte or Chai and writing about whatever I observe.The introductory session took place today at Bagels & Beans on the HaarlemmerstraatBlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-37961149682307153862008-01-14T13:51:00.000+01:002008-01-14T13:54:41.823+01:00Pee emergencyIt was an evening full of promise. The sun had set long before and we were on our way back to Leiden after a quick Amsterdam jaunt. Traffic was heavy but predictable, and we both had high hopes of making it back in time to visit a furniture store before its closing time.Then something strange happened. GPS told us that the A4 motorway was closed. Closed? I muttered my confusion and then watched BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-12482954451220578672008-01-11T15:23:00.000+01:002008-01-12T15:07:26.816+01:00AdulthoodWhat is adulthood? Is it turning 18 and realizing the privileges and responsibilities that come with being of legal age? On my 18th birthday I celebrated by purchasing cigarettes and a lottery ticket. I didn't behave any differently, other than in my confidence to pursue certain vices.Is it living on your own? Since leaving my parent's warm and cozy home, I've counted eight apartments as a BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-15218022829640764272007-11-27T13:41:00.000+01:002007-11-27T13:42:57.268+01:00An announcementNo surprises here...I'm on hiatus.Enjoy the holiday season. I just might be back in 2008.BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-7920592933561924682007-10-26T21:31:00.000+02:002007-10-26T21:32:27.066+02:00The flight backAlmost two weeks ago, I found myself in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport waiting for a connecting flight back to Amsterdam. I entered the food court in the international terminal, and the symphony of human experience delighted me. First, it seemed like a typical airport - people rushing here and there, grabbing a bite to eat before their flights, checking departure boards, doing BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-83135130206236952102007-09-20T13:11:00.000+02:002007-09-20T13:20:22.140+02:00Fooling the DutchI've taken up salsa again, only this time in Leiden. The night of the first class arrived, and I entered the room filled with nine others. Even though I suppose I'm an adult, I still get that first-day-of-school sensation. Will we get along? Will they like me? Of course, my anxiety now is heightened by the fact that I am an outsider. I am different. And although I would do my best to blend in, IBlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-15547539712539477152007-09-14T14:37:00.000+02:002007-09-14T14:43:50.735+02:00The anti-photographerI straightened my hair, checked my appearance for strange abnormalities, and more or less satisfied, settled into the plastic stool. The photographer positioned me and then himself behind the camera. "Ready? One...two...Oh, no, you can't smile!"The alluring half smile I had formed froze, and my brow wrinkled as I looked at him. Was this some sort of twisted flirting game? "Why not?""Well, if it'sBlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-45633834197063950412007-09-11T13:58:00.000+02:002007-09-11T14:00:30.616+02:00Rearranging furnitureThis weekend, we moved the furniture. Nothing major, really. Just flipped the television to the other side of the room, and the couch and coffee table followed. Moving stuff around as a couple is great, since each member can focus on the appropriate personal skills. In other words, he took charge of the cable management, while I busied myself with dusting and vacuuming every newly revealed BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7393073.post-51147171856039501462007-09-07T11:28:00.000+02:002007-09-07T11:38:09.831+02:003 random thoughts1. The best thing about being a famous would have to be that other people make your CV for you, like on IMDb. No more searching through old files to figure out what to put on that list of professional accomplishments. Same goes for Wiki. Once others have deemed you Wiki-worthy, everything is right there to reminisce about, and you know that those that love you and hate you will do their best to BlondebutBrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13904674688810897258blondebutbright@gmail.com0