MR. WORLDWIDE

OH, and this little gem was playing as we were meeting with our fella at the IND. We later learned he celebrates a birthday on May 5.  Not much of a personality, but what he lacks in that dept we hope is made up for in clerical skills as we hope to be made legal residents very soon.  

DANNYZ FILMS GO DUTCH.

For those visiting for the first time, Welcome/ Welkom.  Let me give you a little background on DannyZ Films.  While living in Ireland I began messing around with iMovie, an incredible program that makes video editing a snap for idiots like me.  So I put together a few funny videos of some of adventures my wife and I experienced this past summer.  I refer to my video producing alter ego as “DannyZ Films.”  Enjoy.  There’s plenty more where this one came from.  

(Video Shot on January 16, 2013)

Want to Move to the Netherlands? This Wizard May Help.

Who would have thunk it; a liberal country would require SOOOO much paperwork.  If you’re interested in moving to the Netherlands, be sure to do your home work and triple check that all your I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.  We had an outside company help us through my wife’s company and we still have/had some hiccups along the way.  Fingers crossed everything gets approved. 

Thiinking of moving to the Netherlands, use this helpful tool first.   IND Residence Wizard

PHOTO BOOTHS & TRAIN DELAYS

PHOTO BOOTHS & TRAIN DELAYS

After we were somewhat settled into our apartment in Oss, my wife and I visited her plant site to obtain some of the paperwork her company prepared for us so we could continue  the residency permit process.  

Once we had obtained that documentation our next task was to get professional photos taken.  You know, we needed those oh so flattering type of passport pics where they tell you not to smile.  The Dutch requirements for an acceptable photo were crazy.  My wife received a 100 page (slight exaggeration) document on the correct way to pose for the picture.  It was also suggested that we should “have our passport photo made by a professional photographer who is acquainted with the Dutch passport requirements.”  Unfortunately, it was getting late, and the photo studio in town was soon to close.  But we needed the picture for our appointment with the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) the next day.  Then something caught our eye in the Oss train station, a photo booth.  You remember them right?  You and your grade school friends would pile into them and make goofy faces and it would print out a sheet with 4 small pics.  You know, the same things that are now all the rage at wedding receptions.  Anyway, we spotted the photo booth and decided, what the hell, let’s give it a go.

After successfully navigating the all Dutch menus and inserting two crisp €5 bills into the machine, Vicki and I had two sheets of “stunning” photos ready to go.  We made sure we packed our precious prizes with us as we prepared to catch the train from Oss to Den Hague for our early morning date with the IND.    

The snow backdrop upon our arrival sure made for some beautiful scenery but not beautiful train travel.  What should have been about an hour and forty-five minute train ride took us close to four hours due to a “defective train.”  We eventually checked into our hotel, the Hotel Des Indes after 11pm.  This hotel was definitely worth the 4 hour trip, absolutely stunning.  You can read my TripAdvisor report here.  After a cocktail in their beautiful lobby bar, we passed out in bed and awaited tomorrow’s adventure.  (15 January 2013.)

ROOM WITH A VIEW.  Some of our first glimpses of our new town in the middle of a short snowstorm.  Not even the snow can stop the Dutch bicyclists.  

SNEEUW!

Just so happened our arrival to the Netherlands coincided with the area’s first “major” snowfall.  It was by no means a Snowmageddon or a Snowpocalyspe but it was enough to snarl some of the major infrastructures.  Lucky for us, our ride from Amsterdam to Oss was uneventful and we arrived safely at our new home.  

The snow made for some great picture taking opportunities.  This was the bike parking lot at the Oss Train Station.

HERE WE GO AGAIN...

My wife, Vicki, and I touched down at Amsterdam Airport (midst the snow) on January 15th, 2013; ready to begin Chapter 2 of Temporary Expatdom.  

For those just joining in the fun, my wife and I spent last summer living in Ireland   She took a temporary assignment with her company’s site in Swords (just north of Dublin.)  Given the fact that I was in between jobs her assignment came at a perfect time; in addition, we looked at this temporary move as an opportunity to experience life in Europe, something we both regretted not taking advantage of while in college.  We spend a fabulous summer living in a beautiful seaside village (Malahide, County Dublin), traveling to 9 other countries, hosting family & friends and experiencing life outside our comfort zone of Norristown, PA.

At the tail end of our time in Ireland my wife was recruited again to assist with another of her company’s sites in the Netherlands.  So, here we were faced with the decision to uproot (once again) and spend a few months living in the Netherlands. Something, even as I type, I still can’t believe.  It was all thrilling and scary at the same time.  To be honest prior to our European excursions this past summer, I knew very little of the Netherlands; I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I might have even had trouble identifying it on a map.

Here we are; one week later, settled into our apartment in Oss (about an 1:30 southeast of Amsterdam) and adjusting to a new language and another new culture.  GULP!