Jacinta's Web Space

Some things turn out to be easier that initially expected:  I have received a call from Travel.com.au confirming that they will indeed arrange to refund me, for the flight that I missed out of Frankfurt.  This was an error on behalf of both Malaysian and also Lastminute.com.au.  They are not sure how this error occurred - i.e. who stuffed up.  However I am most pleased that with relative ease, I was able to arrange remediation and I expect a refund from the airline agency shortly.

 

In hindsight though, the refund will amount to about 400 euros.  The cost to actually arrange new flights home cost 1200 euros.  Therefore I think at this point in time, its best to make a claim with my insurance agent for the additional 800 euros of 'out of pocket' expenses that I incurred due to the airline error - or do I enquire with the airline agent also?

Sunday 21^st December

Oh my gosh, I had not prepared myself for the turmoil of Sunday 21^st of December. My boyfriend thinks that I should have, but....... well you live and learn!

The week leading up to my vacation was busy, and ironically I had a number of dreams about missing plane flights. Well then I guess they were not dreams but rather NIGHTMARES. But I allowed myself time to dream and think of finally returning to Australia – to the sun and the warmth. Oh and one must not forget the family too! At no time did I think it was time to worry or double check my flight plans or schedule.

I was already 85% packed at 2pm on Sunday 21^st of December. I decided to do the responsible thing and check my flights for Monday. Silly computer, the internet was so slow and for some reason the airline was not showing my flight. Ah, its a new website, perhaps there are some problems with the information and the flight is indeed fliying. I double checked this with the Frankfurt airport website and this website also showed no flights even remotely looking like mine. Ooh bugger!

Time for international customer support phone calls – on a Sunday (Heaven help me!). I reached the Malaysian Airline customer support line and found a very polite person to talk to. It appeared that my flight scheduled for 22^nd December had indeed departed on the 21^st of December. Yes, I had completely missed my return flight home for Christmas. First thing to do – panic! Have a hot flush, start shaking both with rage and fear. Start pacing tthe house. Call an SOS – they dont have them here in Holland so forget that. Call someone who cares – they had all left on their own vacations and the ones left had not even bothered to call to wish me Merry Xmas. Look for your closest confident – who ironically had gone out for some shopping........

So who's fault is this? Well I was initially inclined to blame Lastminute.com. Clearly they had failed to notify my of a change to my flight and also a change which meant the flight departed one day earlier rather than later.

Now I may sound like a goose here, but let me attempt to assure you that with a Masters degree, I am indeed half-brained!!! I went to the wonderful budget website known as Lastminute.com on July 20^th 2008 and booked return flights from Frankfurt back to my home, Perth, Australia for Christmas. The itinerary and booking clearly shows my flight is dated Monday 22^nd December. Lovely ! I arrive home on 23^rd December, in time to surprise my family for Xmas. So given that I live in Amsterdam, I knew that I needed to make arrangements to get to Frankfurt and also stay overnight prior to my flight. Train tickets booked 5 months in advance – TICK. Hotel booked 5 months in advance – TICK. So you see that I knew my dates, made plans well in advance and therefore sat back for 5 months relaxing and dreaming of returning home.

Saturday 20^th December, I knew that it was wise to check flights and progress for my departure. I went to the Malaysian airline website and checked my departure. The airline showed no information for my scheduled flight for 22^nd December, but they did show a flight scheduled for 21^st December. Strange I thought. But I also knew the website was very slow, and also quite new so I ignored this item. In any event, I felt confident that if a change had been made, that I would have been advised – after all the airline had all my contact details – whats would stop them contacting me. I decided to follow this detail up with the Frankfurt airport. It also showed nothing for my scheduled flight. How strange again! OK, time to check my booking with Lastminute.com. I noticed that I had a link to my personal travel itinerary, Jacinta hovers her mouse over the link and clicks the link to view her itinerary. Jacinta notices that the link does not work, tries the link again. Still no luck. Lastminute.com have provided me with a bodgy link to my itinerary, bugger. I was having problems with the browser and I thought that my flight would remain unchanged. I also went to the Malaysian airline shedule and it seemed to show that there is a flight every day leaving Frankfurt at 12:00pm for Kuala Lumpur. As this was my flight and path for Monday, why would they abandon a flight on a Monday? So I ignored the 'worry' voice, admonishing that “this could not possibly happen to me”. Good night and bugger off 'worry' voice.

Yes, it happened. I still dont know why nor if my flight every really existed. Clearly Lastminute.com sold me a flight for Monday 22^nd December with Malaysian airlines. Malaysian airlines operates its own schedule. I wonder if Lastminute.com sold me a fair that it could not honour. This is not a problem with Malaysian airlines therefore, but more a problem with the people I actually gave my money to. Why sell my a ticket for the 22^nd if it does not exist? And why would such a change to my itinerary (yes MY itinerary that I paid for) be made without notification to me. Im sure there is some legal aspect to this, something to do with contract law Im sure! Particularly for a flight that leaves a day earlier. I would not have minded if the flight departed a day later, at least I could have ensured that I arrived at the airport. But sitting in your lounge 24 hours before the flight, and checking the flight itinerary in your house only to find that your flight is already 2 hours in the air is just absurd.

Anyway, I have an instinctive urge to always get on with things. It was clear I had missed my flight – that's lost. There was no point calling all around the world to airlines and service providers to ask them the proverbial “wtf”. It was Sunday so most of them were not available and at this late moment I highly doubt they could or would help me. The point is that I wanted to get home. My focus turned to this precise mission; look into the next available flight home before Christmas. “Wednesday 24^th December is the earliest we can arrange for you Madam.” said the Malaysian Airline representative. Too late. I know the airlines that travel to Perth so I went straight online to their sites for availability of one way flights to Perth. To my absolute delight I could get flights from a choice of locations. Okay, at a cost but nevertheless I was able to get home – YES! Lets ignore the fact that Singapore Airlines refuced both my Mastercard and Visa, but you gotta love alternative flight providers like ebookers.nl – my christmas saviours and happily accepting my Mastercard – wait, was it my Visa card? Oh I forget and who cares at this point!

Initially I was prepared to fly out of Amsterdam and abandon my itinerary in Frankfurt. However I noticed that flights were also available out of Frankfurt, and slightly cheaper. I already had train tickets booked to Frankfurt. I also already had a hotel booking in Frankfurt. So I decided to use what I already had, and booked flights ironically with an even nicer airline (Singapore Airlines) at almost the identical time as my original booking. So at 5pm I very hurriedly three in my semi-dry clean clothes, shut my suitcase and kissed my beloved boyfriend goodbye and dashed into Amsterdam to catch my 18:34 train to Frankfurt. I went to an internet cafe and printed out my hotel and flight itinerary and I walked around Amsterdam Centraal for 15 spare minutes somewhat numb. Yes, I had made it to the train. Yes, I had rearranged flights to Australia. Yes, I was going HOME! Credit cards maxed out, but I was going home....I cant say it enough! I could have burst into tears but why do that when you are in Holland, they are so dry here that they probably would have thought I was an addict or psycho. I did a little souveneir shopping before hopping on my train to Frankfurt. I now had the chance to have a coffee, absorb my day and look forward to spending the night in a 5 star hotel in central Frankfurt. Ah, crisp linen and modern decor here I come!

Monday 22^nd December

I didnt sleep a wink last night. But I guess that was becuase I was afraid on missing yet another plane flight. The bed was lovely, the room was quiet – but I just simply could not wait to get to the airport, check in and get on the plane.

I arose at 6:30am, just about the time that I had started to relax and get to sleep. I had a shower, got dressed and by 7:15am walked out of my hotel. I was only two stations away on the subway when I realised i had left my mobile phone at the hotel – rats! So I had to turn around and go back to the hotel. Annoying but the other alternative was to call the hotel and ask them to post my mobile phone back to Netherlands. I thought 5 euros extra in subway tickets was worth it compared to an exhorbitant fare for the hotel to post the phone to my home.

I managed to check in to my flight at 10am, for my 12 noon flight. I was so delighted that my booking was perfect and that it was confirmed that I was going to get home. You have no idea how relieved I was to get my boarding passes and proceed to the gates. I had not come to Frankfurt for nothing! Everything is so expensive in Frankfurt. I was not able to connect to wireless internet at the airport, and so I had to use a internet kiosk at a ridiculous 5 euros for 10 minutes. That is the most expensive internet in Europe that I have come across – shocking. I was also mortified by the expense of buying simple toothpaste (4euros) and earplugs (6euros), I am almost choking at the thought now. I called Erik prior to boarding my plane and from there said goodbye to Europe.

Tuesday 23^rd December

Is it Tuesday? I really didnt have a night time at all. I flew out of Frankfurt at 12 noon and then arrived at 6am in Singapore. Hmmm. Oh yes a brief dark period when the cabin lights were dimmed – yes I did have a night time!

My flight was quite pleasant. I say this with a comparative and impressed tone as i was assigned an aisle seat. The beauty of such a seat, as I discovered was that i could easily dash to the toilet and also grab the hostess on her way past with orange juice and not disturb any of my neighbours. The only downside is that I had a really annoying guy behind me who consistently kicked and knocked my chair, therefore halting my moments of slumber. Then there was the rude woman in front of me who immediately tilted her seat fully back so aas to restrict my leg and head space. Perhaps you through selfishness or ignorance I guess, she wanted comfort even if it was at my expense. Clearly her comfort was more important than mine. The food was average, with my steak resembling some knotted knuckle of 6 year steer meat that was overcooked and tough. The inflight entertainment was average also. I had seen most of the new movies so there was a lost cause there. The TV programs were so yesterday and the music selection was basic and lacked some serious cracking tunes. If only they had Muse, and I would have been fine! Singapore Airport had free wireless internet which was super so i was able to follow-up a couple of emails and update things. Why cant all airports rock like Singapore (hello Heathrow, Schiphol and Frankfurt!!).

I arrived in Perth without any problems and the plane touched down on time. I then proceeded to the taxi area and enquired about transport services into the city. It seems quite expensive, but $20 will get you into the Perth city, from the Airport, provided you are happy to totter in a shuttle bus that goes about picking up and dropping off people aside from yourself. I found a very friendly and genuine taxi driver who took me to the nearest station in half the time. A kind train ticket inspector pardoned me for not having a ticket on the train to Perth city. Fortune was also with me when I arrived at Perth city in time to catch my train to Bunbury. My only problem now is cash – I have not had enough time to get some cash out. So I have to hope that the traiin offers atm/eftpos facilities. Looking at the train (predating eftpos times) it appears I will have a rumbling stomach!

I arrive in Bunbury at 8:30pm and Chelsea picks me up. We head to her house (and my brothers) and I settle in. My brother is not home, as he has a night shift out at the sand mine.

Wednedsay 24^th December

Ashley arrives home from work at about 7am and we head out to the town for breakfast. We catch up and it really is good to be back home! Bunbury is unchanged and the weather is great. I finish some Xmas shopping and then catch up with my close friend Alison for a beer. Later in the afternoon Ashley calls mum and dad to convince them to come to Bunbury a day earlier. They clearly have no idea that I am here in Australia as they decline in coming up to Bunbury on Christmas eve and instead stay home at the farm. Unbeleivable that they have no idea!!

Later in the evening, we head to Chelsea's mums house on Dalton Ave and watch the Christmas lights and street party. My thoughts are 'gezellig' but no one has heard of that word in Australia. We meet the neighbours, chew nibblies and have a glass of wine. Its warm and comfortable here on a fine summer evening.

Thursday 25^th December

Today is the day that mum and dad arrive for Christmas. The plan is that I hide when they arrive. Mum then unwraps a gift which is a pair of frilly knickers and also a box of tissues. This, after discussing with my brother, is in preparation for my mum bursting into tears and wetting herself when she sees me.

Mum and Dad arrive and I go into hiding. Ashley insists that Mum unwraps the present. After unwrapping the present, Mum is confused and thinks that Ashley is suggesting that she has a dirty weekend.... I walk into the room and surprise them. Ofcourse I start crying, and Mum and Dad stare in amazement. They think I am a ghost or some kind of apparition. After a while they realise it really is me and the decide to greet me in the customary way.

We settle down and then together with Chelsea's Dad (Sam) and also brother (Russell). We have Christmas lunch outside under the patio is lovely warm summer weather (I cant say it enough nor can I get enough of the warmth!!). A cold leg of ham, cold roasted meat, steamed corn and beans, spinach salad and dinner buns for lunch followed by trifle, pecan pier and pumpkin pie. We later retire for a midday snooze and then get up – yes to eat more!!

Work becomes increasingly challenging as I take on new challenges.  I am starting a role as a programme coordinator for the Marketing school units.  Nice reponsibility and its interesting for me.  I am now teaching 4 different classes and they are all challenging and rather time consuming.  I love the Bachelor level units, however the Pre-Bachelor classes are frustrating.  I teach pre-Bachelor until November, so I will not have to tolerate the classes for much longer.  Now, I must finish the semester and work hard to help and teach the students.

 

Life
I like life here in NL.  Food is ok, wine is cheap and the entertainment is super.  Even better is that with the world economic recession, the Euro is even stronger against the Aussie dollar.  I can now send E900 and its worth ~ AUD1900.  Even better is the fact that Erik and I have our own flat, making the cost of housing even lower.  Should I stay or go home?  After reading today's online news in Australia, it would appear that I may stay.  Interest rates are still too high, and housing prices are far too high.  I have recently read that skilled job vacancies have decreased in the last quarter, meaning that Erik & I (both skilled) may find it tough to get our dream jobs in Australia.  So, I stay for now.  Erik is looking at career prospects and if he finds one, we make trade up to an apartment in Amsterdam.  We will see.  We are making hay while the sun shines here in Holland though :-)

Oh - its Tuesday afternoon, and I have just finished 6 hours of teaching.  3 of these hours has been with immature post-puberty students that sap literally all my energy and test my patience.  They are a post-highschool group, with attitude and maturity issues.  I have come to the conclusion that I did not study a Masters degree in teenager scolding - and do not want to teach 'kids' anymore.  I studied my arse off in Marketing and Research, in order to pursue an advanced career in this field - not babysit children. 

I am focused and committed to teaching motivated and focused students with a professional attitude (Bachelors level).  If I still like that style of teaching, then perhaps I can conclude that teaching is made for me.  Otherwise, to be quite frank, I am starting to doubt if I can be bothered with teaching.  So much energy and time needed, for virtually no thank you's or reward. 

Well, I am now half way through teaching in my first term as a 'docent' (teacher).  This term I have been teaching English to both pre-Bachelor and Bachelor level students.  I enjoy teaching both, however they are both very different styles of student and teaching.  Pre-Bachelor students are much more playful and mischevious.  The Bachlor level students are contrastingly more ambitious and professionally oriented.

 

The spin-off from teaching Dutch students is that we also exchange vocabulary Dutch-English.  I have faced many challenges during the semester so far.  MBO Students attempting to plagiarise and cheat in exams.  Students offering wimpish excuses for non-class attendance and refusals to pay attention.  In essence I am finding a number of students have a 'spoilt child' syndrome and this is transferred directly to their work and study ethic.  Its really their choice to step up to the plate and apply themselves in my class, and I will lead them to 'water; but I feels thats as much as I can do.  I have also come across a number of 'illegal student' situations where students enrol in the class, get their residence permit for The Netherlands and then disappear into the abyss of the black job market.  They lie to you about their absence - funny how they are always sick!  They ask you to arrange housing for them, contact IND for them and then (low and behold!) sign their attendance even when they have been absent!  After all of this, I think you have to develop a tough hide and I am developing a no-bull attitude.  If I suspect any devious excuse with the students, I will instantly look at them firmly and outline the consequences of their actions.  There is a line that I walk along that is bordered by the equity that I owe the rest of the students that are dilligent and professional. 

 

I have to say, that I do not like teaching my mother-tongue.  Its just not what I have been studying at university for 5 years for.  However next semester brings new challenges and I will commence teaching Marketing Research and Consumer Marketing.  I am very excited about this, as these are my two favourite subjects.

 

I have just finished an extra-curricular Dutch course (twice a week in the evenings).  This has helped a great deal and I have really enjoyed chatting and discussing the articulation of Dutch.  I will self-study for the next month, as I found the extra-curricular pressure of a language course was too much work on top of teaching and preparing for 4 classes myself.

 

I have also made plans to fly to Ireland for another SIUC reunion with my international study buddies.  This is in November and I really hope that all my friends can make it!  Dublin here we come!

Well, after little more than a week of arriving back in Holland, I am officially employed.  I dont quite know what to think.  So sudden, and yet I hope this is a good beginning.  I am now employed by a business school, and my role is a teacher of marketing, english and vocational activities.  I work a regular 40hrs a week, the location is convenient and the school is a growing and expanding institute.  I am unsure if it is an appropriate consolidation of my academic studies, however I also feel more strongly that this is an aspect of my life that I must pursue.  I do have a strong nurturing spirit and have a great desire to mentor and teach, so lets cross our fingers and toes, and hope that this works out.

Flew into Frankfurt, Germany.  Caught ICE train to Amsterdam, then connected to Zaandam.  Het is heel goed to be back!  I unpack, do house cleaning, and check my emails.  I look on Monsterboard for jobs, and have arranged a meeting (interview) with a manager of a business school - this could be interesting.  Time to catch up with family and friends here and then hop to finishing my thesis, graduating and earning some money :-)

I have arrived in Oz - at Perth on Thursday, with no hassles.  They let me back in - can you believe it!  The only mishap was that my Delft Blauw plate, that I purchased as a gift for my mother, broke and was crushed in my suitcase - jammer!!  Otherwise we have been eating dropjes, stroopwafels and chocolate from NL!

Yesterday (Friday) was my first full day back home.  My brother is staying with us at a resort, and so its very much a family get-together time (gezellig!!).  My brother talks an awfully large amount of troep (rubbish) but we have had some chuckles.  Today we visited some markets and had lunch at a restaurant that specializes in steak (rundvlees).  I am happy to be home, but SO SO excited to see Erik tonight when he arrives.  He will be tired (and probably a tad bit smelly! no shower for 18 hours!)  But we will have some Rum and Whiskey ready to celebrate and my family are staying up late to meet him.  It is my brother's 27th Birthday tomorrow, so we will have a very casual BBQ, with Black-Forest cake (a bit of Europe with us!).  I have bought Ashley a nice Amsterdam shirt and lollies from Holland like dropjes, Haribo and stroopwafels.  The sun has come out, here in Perth, and Erik has also told me that it was 27 degrees in AMS - jammer!! Just when I leave!  Otherwise, I am happy to be home but missing NL too - I cant wait to come back and continue my life with Erik in Dutchie-land.  And I will be starting formal Dutch lessons in September and I cant wait to improve my language skills.

 

I picked Erik up at the airport on Saturday night.  I was so so excited that he arrived!  AND he brought duty-free alcohol with him!  We drove from the airport, to the resort (hotel) that my parents were staying at.  It was 2:30am when we arrived there, but my parents and brother were up (awake) and we chatted and shared some drinks to celebrate Erik's arrival.  It is funny - my brother uses such strange "aussie" words that I fear Erik has trouble understanding what he means. i.e. Brekky is a word that we use to say that we are having breakfast (ontbijt).  On sunday erik slept in, and we all joined together for a big lunch to celebrate my brother's birthday.  Later, we went for a swim in the indoor heated pool, spa and sauna (a nice treat after working and studying for a year!)
 

Monday 28th July
On Monday, Erik and I went winkeling (shopping) along the Mandurah foreshore.  We are currently staying at a resort with my parents in Mandurah.  We also drove around some of the houses - they are very big and I think Erik likes them!  Rested during the day at the resort in Mandurah, swim in heated pool, spa and relaxed in saunan (HEAT - FINALLY). Drove up to Cottesloe (like Zaandvoort) and had dinner at my favourite restaurant.  Lots of rain, lovely meal, erik ordered pizza (can i EVER convert this boy?), lovely night.

Last night, we also drove up to Perth (1 hour drive) and had dinner on the beach.  Now this may sound nice, but it was pouring with rain and very dark, so you could not see much.  Erik ordered pizza (argh!) and I had fresh mussels.  Tonight we go to the Greyhound races, which will be fun and we will place some bets on the dogs to enjoy the night.  Rest at the resort again, swims, relax in the sauna - we could get used to this!  In the evening we went to the Greyhound races, erik placed a few bets and won a couple.  But betting on dogs really is a mug's game (betting is really a game for foolishness!).  Nice night, nice food at the Grehound restaurant, Erik tasted his first Aussie beer on aussie soil - he seemed satisfied (ish!).  Tomorrow we will travel up to Perth (again) and visit a close family friend and do some more driving around our beautiful city.  I think Erik is having a wonderful time so far.  i am so so blij that he is here, and we are having a lovely time together with my parents.  Dad says that he is a very handsome fellow and that I have chosen well (i already knew that!!!)
 
Wednesday 30th July
Together with our parents, we drove up to Perth and had lunch with a much-loved and close family friend.  Drove home in the afternoon and then went to the movies to see "The Dark Knight". Bugger, its still cold and wet!
 
Thursday 31st July
Erik and I drove up to the Swan Valley (1.5 hours) and drove around the vineyards and semi-rural setting.  We went to a wildlife park but did not see much wildlife.  We drove around the housing areas, and decided we definately could live there, but not sure if we could afford it.  We visited some water rapids, water falls and some hills with really nice views - see Oz is a nice place Erik!  Drive to my old home and met my old landlord Phil.  Had fish & chips with him, drank a bit and had a lovely time just chatting.
 

Friday 1st August
Erik and I left the resort in Mandurah, and drove 1 hour north to Fremantle.  We have traditional coffee and then went on an underground cave tour at the Fremantle Gaol. This was a lot of fun, and we met three fellow-Dutchmen.  In the evening, we had dinner with my good friends Tim & Dresden.  This involved lots of yummy food and lot and lots of red wine (at least one bottle per person).  Erik went to bed early but I can remember going to bed at something like 5am - it was a good night.
 
Saturday 2nd August
This day, Erik, Tim, Dresden and I shared an aussie style breakfast together, and then went to a local pub/bar to watch the Rugby.  We then went into Fremantle for dinner at a lovely Thai restaurant.  Once again we drank lots and lots of wine, and I must say that we probably drank too much (2 bottles of red wine per person).
 
Sunday 3rd August
Ah! A day for detox!  Today Erik and I had lunch with a family friend of mine in Claremont (drinking water only!!).  We then caught up with one of the girls that studied with us at SIUC, Carbondale USA in 2005.  It was a cold chilly night so we went home to Dres & Tim's for an early night
 
Monday 4th August
Erik and I left Dres & Tim's home, drove south (3hrs) to my family farm in Boyup Brook.  We arrive in time to coffee in the afternoon, and then enjoyed beautifully cooked snapper for dinner.  The fire place was roaring and it was echt gezellig!!  I was very tired from driving so much, Erik was a little sick with the flu.
 
Tuesday 5th August
Late breakfast and then Erik and I went for a very big walk around our farm.  We saw lots of native birds, wildflowers and some kangaroos.   It is beautiful weather at the moment, with the sun out, and very pleasant to be outside.  Erik fixed an old bike (fiets) and I did some gardening (wat leuk!!).
 
Wednesday 6th August
I continued to do gardening and Erik relaxed and read his book, while relaxing on our verandah.  We went for another walk and then had a relaxing evening watching TV with my parents.  Erik is feeling much better and now I feel a little sick. 
 
Thursday (today) 7th August
Erik & I are on a day trip to the timber country-side of Manjimup and Pemberton.  We will visit many trees, forests and antique shops.  Erik is well and liking his holiday so far.  I am feeling better and really enjoying my time with Erik.  We cant wait for you all to also come to Australia on holiday! You would all have a wonderful time.

tbc

Checked my luggage in at midnight.  The check-in personnel had trouble placing my booking, as my travel agent had not assigned a e-ticket number to my reservation.  So you can imagine I was nervous - but most certainly not going to leave without getting my tickets!!  Finally I got my tickets home to Perth and proceeded through customs and immigration (easy)

I found the airport Transit Hotel, and manage to secure their last room - and how wonderful it was to have a hot shower and curl up into a bed and sleep horizontally.  I will stay there again as the facilities are excellent and very very cheap.  It took me a few hours to actually fall aslepp but I was determined to rest and eventually fell asleep.

 

I have now had a nother shower, a cup of Dilmah tea and checked out.  It is 7am and I am fresh and ready to fly home.  I will have a look around for a hair salon to do my hair perhaps while I am waiting.

 

IM GOING HOME - HOORAY! But I do miss Netherlands already.

This is a 12 hour flight - so it can be both good and bad.

 

Had to wait 6 hours at Heathrow airport to catch connecting flight - shit

 

There was a group of young children travelling together on the same flight.  A rather chirpy mob, but as it turned out they were also lovely children and very bright indeed.

 

Got onto the plane and a man and his son had taken my window seat.  So I was upset.  But I decided that the child probably wanted the window and I didnt want to be selfish.  Nice boy, Dad was not so friendly - kept elbowing me.  Next time I think I will be a bit more assertive - as I did not sleep so well and it was rather annoying to have to get up everytime the boy or dad wanted to go to the toilet.  But - truthfully - I was blessed as the child was terribly polite and well mannered, I admired him for having such respect and sweetness.

 

I listened to Muse on the Radio section for a few hours - what therapy and this was perfect for me - just sitting in a trance like state to the tunes of Matthew Bellamy and the awesome base notes of Chris Wolfenstein.

I also watched "Out of Africa" and Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.  I must say that the TV and Movie sections had brilliant selections.

 

The service, although polite (in traditional Aussie style) was also a little slack.  It took 2 hours for any form of refreshments to be offered.  I was only offered alcoholic beverages once - bummer I needed MORE!  The staff were also not so quick to clean up or collect dirty trays so this was a little disappointing.  Still it was with a tear in my eye that I felt at home, and the warmth of my nation whilst on the flight - oh how I love Australia

 

I arrive in Singapore and check through Customs.  Singapore airport has a strict policy of holding luggage for long periods of time.  Therefore, they refused to hold my bags or the 15 hour period between my connecting flight to Perth.  Therefore I had to collect my baggage, and enter the arrivals lounge which is public area.  Then wait 6 hours to re-check my bags in at midnight for my Perth flight.  I now hope that I can get a bed to sleep in for 6 hours in the Airport terminal before my flight tomorrow morning - I am rather tired and badly need a shower.

Left home on time, nearly left without my passport -what a goose!

Airport went fine.  Qantas could not check my bags all the way to Perth, meaning I have to go thru customs at Singapore, and re-checkin for my flight to Perth.

 

Perused the souvenir shops and GOSH everything in Schiphol airport is twice the price as the markets and street prices.

 

Plane trip was fine - coffee, snack, Dutch company and humour all the way - lovely

I fly back to Australia on Tuesday 22nd July.  I am so excited!  I am going home - finally!!

 

POINT 1: I will catch up with my old friends and colleagues and it will be wonderful and merry!!

 

POINT2: Erik is coming with me, so I cant wait to show Erik around and introduce him to everyone.

POINT3: Its going to be cold and wet, which is nothing different to the weather in Holland!!

POINT4: I am having a stopover in Singapore and that means lounging by the pool drinking cocktails!

 

POINT5: Ummmm... what was point 5 again?

 

Now, thesis - just dont go there! I hope to have the final draft completed by this week.  My supervisor has left on vacation, without telling me and therefore leaving me to figure out statistical analysis all on my own - what a pannekoek!  I am quite angry about this, but I know that I have the support of my loving boyfriend Erik and that if I apply logic and common sense, that I will be fine!

I have all of my grades in now for my Masters degree, and I am ralther chuffed that all the stress and late nights resulted in good grades :-)  All I have to focus on now is finishing my Masters Thesis.  Progress is not going too bad.  I sent the questionnaires out 3 weeks ago and will collate all the date this week.  This will take about one day.  Then I will be able to perform data analysis and investigate the results and test my hypotheses.  This should take me about a week and I feel pretty confident about this part as I have completed all other sections of my Thesis, and this is the last part.

 

The ironic thing is that when I should be studying the hardest, the Dutch weather turns on the heat and I keep thinking I should be in a park sunbaking and basking in the sunlight..... hm! There is a thought!

Well I also head home in 4 weeks to Australia on 22nd July, and holiday there for four weeks.  I then come back to Amsterdam 20th August to settle in and start work.  The PhD "situation" has taken a bit of a tangent track, as a new sponsor is now interested in dunfing my studies, but in the more broader area of food and beverages.  Its a global business and a chance that I will be able to work for them for a number of months as a Marketing Strategist (hmm fun!).  Anyway I need to meet with my supervisor about this, as I am eager to work and earn some money - if the PhD can bring the goods - great, and if not I will find a normal job (interesting juxtaposition!).

I am most relieved as I have waved goodbye to examinations - sitting my final exam EVER yesterday.  Having said that, I do realize I will have exams in the future for language classes, Dutch citizenship exams....

But - I studied really hard over the weekend, and pretty much planted myself infront of the study books for a full week, absorbing as much as possible - then attempting to regurgitate it all in the exam.

I wont go into how frustrating my class experience has been and how we were given no clear directions on the exam - nor the fact that the questions in the exam were not worded clearly at all.  But what I will say is that I am sure that I have done well enough to pass and I hope it will sustain my Cum Laude mark average !!

From here I am reading more articles and enhancing the theoretical depth of my thesis.  I have to send the questionnaires out to a massive sample group, but I am really looking forward to getting their response back and analyzing the data.

I am also starting to get excited about going home to Australia at the end of July and then also visiting Scotland later in the year.

There has been an amazing transition from Winter to Summer in the last 3 weeks.  Gradually the need to wear a woollen coat has disappeared and even jumpers/sweaters are rarely needed.  It really dawned on me that summer was here, when I realised that I had to take my T-shirt off, because is was too hot, and started to contemplate waring a boob-tube or tank top.

 

Activity 1: Bike riding in the tulip fields near Beemster

       Sunday 4th May went on a long bike ride with Erik, Rineke and Theo around the Beemster/Midden-Beemster tulip fields and farm country-side.  We pulled up at a  

       farmers field and had a picnic of cheese and white wine.  Erg Gesellig!  This is the life, sunshine, family, food, wine and relaxation!

 

Activity 2: BBQ in Purmerend

      Saturday 3rd May we had our first BBQ out in the garden of Erik's Mum's house in Purmerend.  Good times, nice food aaaaaah!!!

 

Activity 3: Day at Het Twiske, Zaandam

     A bike ride to Het Twiske in Zaandam which is a water park/reserve where you can chill out, swim, sunbake etc.

News 1: I have left my job, working for the American toy company.  Nice money, but the job is not for me.

 

News 2: I have successfully readministered my residence permit so that I can live and work in NL without restriction - YAY!!

 

So now I am back to life as a student, studying each day and enjoying free-time to be human and catch up with friends.  The weather is so so nice here also, so its perfect for shopping or sitting outside with a BBQ and friends.

Ok

Option 1: Work for a publicly listed company.  Handle the marketing material for a major trading card game product.  Be given ridiculous deadlines to work to and be continuously asked to perform the impossible.  Be surrounded by angst and frustration, as people transfer their stress onto you and then refuse to help you because they are too "busy".  Wake up on a daily basis hating your job and not caring at all about the company you work for.  The money is great but you have no life.

 

Option 2: Accept a position as a PhD Student, the position of a lifetime.  Study about things that fascinate you.  Become an expert in your field. Contribute to higher knowledge and teach & mentor students and your peers.  Wake up every day inspired and motivated to learn more, read more and break new ground.  Care about your career and the university that you work for.  The money sucks, but you have a life and you are living your dream!!

 

Which option would you take?

Easy decision for me - I take option 2: come on down PhD!!

Hoi Alles!

I am so happy because I attended my IND interview to renew my residence permit and it went smooooth as :-)
I now have residence for another year, and have full rights to work and reside without hindrance in The Netherlands!
AT LAST I am given the rights of a respectable human being rather than an illegal immigrant!

I am currently facing a decision for my Career.  I must make the choice between a professional marketing career or an academic marketing career.  In simple, I am being offered a position as a Brand Manager for an exciting company here in NL, and also being offered a PhD position as a Marketing Academic at UvA in NL.  There are pro's and con's for both.  I will think on it over some days.  I am passionate about research and marketing theories.  However there are lucrative incentives for work in the Marketing profession.  What ever choice I make, I will put my heart and soul into it, as I am committed to life in The Netherlands, and setting up a life here for at least the next five years.

I have the best boyfriend

 

When I am down, or weary, he is there always to cuddle me, tickle me and make me smile.

 

When I am tired or sore, he is always there for a warm hug or massage (anywhere i want!)

When I am stressed, he is the one that lets me do my homework and tells me that he believes in me.

When I am busy, he is the one that say - "no problems, I am here for you always"

 

When I am lonely, he is the one that calls up so tell me he loves me.

 

Im so so lucky! Erik is the BEST!!

I started work at Upper Deck Entertainment this week.  My first projects this week involved putting together a staff newsletter and also administrating the production of material for one of the company's product lines.  I really like the way that most of the staff are multi-lingual and people from all over Europe work there.  The office is open plan, and very modern which is so refreshing.  I have my own computer and log-in so for most of my tasks, I have access and the ability to communicate and operate without hindrance.  They have a D&G coffee machine which is lovely - just press a button and voila you have Capuccino!  I have a 2-month contract at this stage, working 4.5 days a week, so you never know if I will be there longer, or whatever.  At this stage I am excited about going to work every day and Erik & I travel together which is really sweet!

Sunday - I receive an email from Monsterboard about an Assistant Marketing job available.  The conditions are good, and meet my situation.  So, being opportunistic, I apply.

Monday - I get a phone call from the recruitment firm, wanting to confirm my details, qualifications and skills.  They forward my information to the client.

 

Tuesday - I get a call to schedule an interview on Wednesday.

 

Wednesday - I go to the job interview, receive immediate notice that I have been hired.

 

Thursday - I sign my contracts, and officially I am employed as a Marketing Assistant for Upper Deck Entertainment company in Weesp.

March 5th - I start working, its a 2 month contract with a possible extension.

Wihoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...Hallelujah!

Ok so I had a lucrative job offer at Hard Rock Cafe - 2 days, 2 nights with a regular wage and huge tips.  But, Erik says "Oh Im not going to be happy, and you wont be able to do it!" So I buckled and declined the job offer.  Then the lovely babysitting job in the afternoons 5pm-8pm was not to Erik's liking either! So I had to decline this job offer also.  I wonder if Erik will ever be happy with any type of work that I do.  So he says for me to keep doing nanny jobs.  Well just today I have received a call that my saturday nanny position is not going to go ahead, and that my other one is going to decline also!

Now Im pissed.  No one will give me an office job, because I am from a non-eu country and they discriminately choose locals over me, despite the fact that I have oodles of experience and skills.  I feel like I should have told Erik to like it or lump it, and taken the Hard Rock Cafe.  At least I would have enough money to pay my way.  Now Im penniless, broke and just bloody pissed off.

I am now doing casual nanny and babysitting roles.  Yesterday I received a call from a family that needed a babysitter that night.  Sure - Im keen to earn a bit of extra cash to get by! So I went all the way to Amsterdam Noord, and arrived to help this family out.  Both mum and dad had to work and little daughter needed care.  Both parents were smoking a joint when I arrived, and then left on joint for me to smoke if I wanted (no thanks!!).  I had to feed, bath, change and entertain the daughter which aside from a very messy nappy was not a major problem.  Nearly 9 hours later, the parents arrived late and half boozed.  They gasped with fake exclamations that they had forgotten to get money out to pay me - ohhhhhhh no here we go!  Then the mother had enough gall to say that she only paid 25 euros for the entire night. Umm you do the sums - 9 hours divided into 25 euros is near slave labour!  I doubt that these people will every pay me, they seem like users and it is clear that they have had more than a few nannys come and go - now wonder when they are forced to be surrounded by drugs, long hours and never get paid!

The husband is a chef, and the wife a waittress.  So they offered to provide dinner for me.  I got nothing, and the daughter didnt fair much better with the best thing in the scarce cupboard being a cup of two-minute noodles, cucumber, cheese and a cheese burger.

I am dis-heartened, and somewhat bemused the way that people could be so false and use me (or anyone) like this.  I offered to help them out of the goodness of my heart and also offered kindness to their daughter who by the end of the night was calling me "mama".  I vacuumed their lounge, washed their dishes, cleaned their kitchen and took care of their precious bundle a great deal than they already appear to do.  Im struggling to make ends meet, and they have the gall to claim poverty despite the fact that they both work full time!!

Lesson learnt is that for any future instances, I will be more upfront about payment and will seek payment on the night.  I still have a pain deep down inside at how these people can be "users" like this.  It just goes to show that their are good people in the world and then their are bad people like this couple who use and abuse everywhere that they go.

It seems that job offers are a bit like rain/hail.  You have a drought, and you dont know if you are going to get any, and then it just completed poors with job offers here in The Netherlands.  This week, after much angst, I have finally received two job offers, both of which are rather nice.  So now I am in the opposite situation of having to juggle and consider offers.  One job offer promises lucrative pay, a contract, 30-40hrs a week and would be quite demanding but also rewarding.  The second job offer is very casual, well paid, comfortable easy work and would entirely compliment my university study hours at 10 hrs a week.  So what do I choose?  The job with the money but the contractual demands, or the freedom and limited remuneration.  I would like the money for a bit of comfort, as I am sick of being a poor student, but perhaps my time of earning big dollars is not quite here yet, and I may need to be a little bit more patient before finding greener pastures.