Mid-October

I know it has been a while since I have updated my blog, but thankfully things have been busy. On the Sunday after Scott’s birthday we headed to Amsterdam, to find mozzarella cheese to make pizzas for the birthday party we were planning. We also ordered a large birthday cake for the occasion. See it just took a while, but now we have figured out this whole kosher food situation. We were also fortunate to spend time with some of Scott’s fellow American expat coworkers and their families. The wives have been so friendly and helpful to me, which has been great. So now back to birthday celebrations. On the 23rd, we had a big party at our house in honor of my birthday, Scott’s birthday and Diego’s birthday. (Scott’s coworker’s husband who also just turned 30). Diego came over the Thursday before to help Scott make the pizzas. Now he is an expert pizza maker. We also filled him in on Diego from Dora the Explorer. He had never heard of him. I guess they don’t show Dora in Argentina, where he is from. The party was so much fun. We had Argentinean friends of Diego, our friends from shul, some of Scott’s coworkers, some friends I have already made while here and our neighbors. Everyone had a great time eating homemade pizza, and the big birthday cake. (pictures posted above) This was the first time I felt like we were settled here and things will be ok. It was so nice to see in such a short time all the people we have met and can share happy occasions. It was great that the party was so multicultural because then happy birthday could be sung to us in three languages. It was also great to spend time with our neighbors, an expat from Canada and a young Dutch family, renovating the house next store. Good thing I am used to construction nearby from my NYC days, so doesn’t faze me. Our neighbors are really friendly, which is very nice.

Now that we are also more settled we have been able to host more shabbos meals. Last weekend, we even hosted Friday night and shabbos day. People are so happy to know they can trust our kashrus and eat in our house. And on the flip side we are happy that we can have people over to celebrate the Sabbath with us. We have also been hanging out socially with some of the people we have met here. Just last Sunday we went to Amsterdam and met up with a nice young couple whom we had met weeks before at the Jewish learning weekend. We ate in a kosher Mediterranean meat restaurant. Food was great. We have decided this is our new favorite Amsterdam kosher spot.

Recently I started knitting lessons with my friend Sasha, who is stuck at home in bed after an unfortunate carting accident, led to two broken ankles. Word to the wise, try and avoid carting. We had a teacher, who owns a cute knit shop in the town center come to Sasha’s house. She gave us basic lessons and now we are off knitting. I can tell you here that I am planning to start with a scarf for Scott and as he doesn’t read this blog, it will still be a surprise.

Scott and I also started Dutch lessons. We go to class twice a week at night. There are 6 students including us in the class. They come from Poland, Ethiopia, China and Israel/South Africa, so we are a diverse bunch. Has been an interesting experience. Many words are similar to English, it is just a question of getting pronunciation and grammar, which can be difficult. We need to memorize the words we don’t know and practice, practice, practice. Hopefully next time we are home to the states, we will be able to speak to you in Dutch.

So that’s the latest for now dear friends . . .