A Visit 'Home'

Again, I must send my apologies for not posting in over a month! It is amazing to me how fast the time passes. I write this post somewhat laden with jetlag, but feel the need to recount our experiences visiting Seattle for the first time after eight months living so far away.

I knew even before I boarded the plane that I would feel strange returning "home." I emphasize the word home because lately I have spent a great deal of time pondering the meaning behind this word. Good ol' Merriam-Webster gives the following defintions of home:

1. one's place of residence
2. the social unit formed by a family living together
3. a familiar or usual setting: a cogenial environment; the focus of one's domestic attention; habitat
4. a place of origin; one's own country

Though admittedly strange, all four of these definitions seem to fit my current reality. Seattle is where I was born and raised. It is where I spent my childhood and where my fondest memories lie. It is, without a doubt, my "place of origin." Yet, when I also think of home I think of Ryan. When I got married (many moons ago!) we became a unit and a team - forming a new family. I have never felt this bond more profoundly then after living over here where have had to rely on one another so intensely. He is definitely my deep sense of home.

However, Holland has also become my 'home.' It is our current residence and over time has become our "usual setting." As I mentioned in an earlier entry, the unknown has indeed become quite familiar. For me this is unbelievable; I never believed that I would I find myself putting down roots and feeling comfortable in this new place. But as time has gone on, I have formed lasting friendships that I don't think I could easily give up. The way God works is still a great mystery, but I am grateful he has given me more than I could have asked for or anticipated! In our own way, we have made a "home" in The Netherlands.

I had felt a sense of longing to be back in the States so long that once I arrived I didn't quite know how to feel, but I knew there was a reason I needed to be back. I cherished the time with my mom - a visit to a botanical garden, enjoying a movie while the rain fell outside, savouring a piece of coconut cake (our favourite treat!), coffee in the morning - these things will not soon be forgotten. I also wanted to visit my dad, who I know has had some difficulty with my being away. We were able to spend some time together and I know that even in my absence he is being watched over and cared for. I was able to reconnect with some very special people that I have the privilege to call my friends. Perhaps it takes making a long distance move to realize the special connections that have been made and that will endure. To be honest, this is exactly what I needed. To know that no matter where you go or what happens in life, those you love and those that love you will always be within an arms reach.

Though this blog cannot really articulate what I feel in my heart, to our family and friends in Seattle, it was truly lovely to see each and everyone of you! We hope all of you will consider a journey across the water to experience Holland and the rest of Europe. Until we meet again, may God watch over you and surround you with his everlasting peace. And don't you worry, we'll be back for another visit very soon. After all, home is most certainly where the heart is.

Postcards from Keukenhof

A Prayer in Spring

-Robert Frost 

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

To which it is reservered for God above

To sanctify to what far ends he will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Don't you just love Robert Frost? It is officially Spring and the tulips are in full bloom. Ryan and I and our friend Matt who was visiting, made a trip to Keukenhoff, Europe's largest flower garden located 30 minutes north of us in the small town of Lisse. The garden is a sea of color everywhere the eye can see with an astounding seven million bulbs planted inside its grounds every year. The garden has a theme each year; this time it was Poland - Heart of Europe featuring traditional music and dancers, as well as a mosaic of composer Frederick Chopin and his piano keys created completely from brightly colored bulbs.

The history of the tulip is actually quite fascinating. When people think about Holland they typically think of tulips. Although technically the tulip's origin can be traced to Persia and Turkey, it was eventually brought over to The Netherlands and introduced to the Dutch sometime in the 17th century. It soon became a much coveted and popular trading product with bulbs being sold for unbelieveable prices, sometimes more than the amount of an average Amsterdam home. Thus began an era that is referred to in history as "tulipmania."

As the story goes, tulipmania reached it's height in 1637 with some bulbs changing hands some 10-15 times a day. Many can guess that within a few short years, the hysteria surrounding this phenomenon suddenly came to a screaching halt, just as mysteriously as it began. The tulip bubble had burst, leaving in its wake an oversupply of sellers with no buyers. Even with the market crash of this prized bulb, the Dutch still have a passion for flowers. I have heard it said that "for many Dutch people a home is uninhabitable unless there is at least one bunch of flowers on the table."

We heard that Keukenhof was a must-visit destination in the Spring, so it was high on my list of things to do while we are here. We spent a leisurely afternoon walking around and enjoyed a picnic lunch that I packed, including a bottle of wine (the Dutch don't seem to mind this!). We lucked out for the most part with the weather and before the rain decided to fall, I managed to snap some decent shots of this amazing, magical place. Here are my postcards of our day at Keukenhof. If this isn't a good enough reason to come visit us, then I don't know what is!

Mother's Day

Mom and I during her visit to The Hague last December

Today is Mother's Day and it will be the first one in a very long time that I am not able to be with my mom. This is, indeed, very strange. It is a tradition of ours to spend the day together - we attend my mom's church, have a special breakfast at the Pancake Huis in Edmonds (my treat!) and then usually take a drive somewhere, which is one of our favourite pastimes.

The relationship between mothers and daughters has always been complicated. I know when I was younger I was quite a handful and didn't always appreciate my mother as much as I should have! By the time that I moved out and into the dorm at my university, my mom and I started talking on the phone weekly. After graduation and entering the "real world" our calls increased. Once I got married, it seemed that we began calling each other daily - sometimes twice a day if we'd forget something during our first call! Slowly without hardly noticing it, my mom went from being just my "mother" to being my friend. One of my best friends!

Now that I am many thousands of miles away, I often have a homesick feeling for my mom. I have never lived more than 30 minutes from her and so this has been a big change, one that I am still trying to get used to. It is true that sometimes you just need your mom!! Before her visit to see us over the holidays, I sent my mom a message telling her I  missed her. She mentioned in her reply that she understood because sometimes she still misses her own mother. It had never occured to me before that my mom would miss my grandmother. Of course! There is a special bond between mother and daugther that cannot be broken, even by death.

Since I cannot be with my mom today to let her know how much I love and appreciate her, I thought I would just write a few things that we enjoy doing together. My mom and I share a love of gardening. We like to go to plant sales, look through gardening magazines and visit all kinds of nurseries. As I mentioned earlier, we love to go on drives. When I was younger we'd often get in the car on a whim and drive into the night out of the city lights to view a spectacular full moon and the stars. More often, we like to take a drive to the mountains, but have taken longer trips to places like the Oregon coast, a winery tour in the Yakima valley, or up north towards Bellingham. My mom and I also love literature! Because I am no longer close by and we cannot attend Kindlings Muse (a lecture her former pastor gives on his all time favourite novels), we have been choosing books to read together and then talk about them. This has been a special blessing.

And last but not least, my mom and I always feel there is time for a cup of tea. I am not exactly sure when this tradition started, but for some time now whenever we are together we drink at least a cup or two. My grandmother used to say that tea always tastes better in a thin cup. When I am over at my mom's house, she pulls out two china tea cups (some of which were her mother's), boil some water and select a tea of our choice. We then sit inside or out in the garden and just chat and enjoy eachother's company. Sometimes we look at the clock and can't believe our eyes at how much time has passed! I usually dash out and drive home, promising another visit very soon.

Sundays are now a new tradition for us. This is the day (or evening for me) that we set aside to call each other and catch up. Thank goodness for Skype. It is so great to be able to see each other and talk without either of us spending a dime. Fantastic! So although we are not enjoying pancakes together today or a visit to a garden nursery, I still want to wish my mom a very Happy Mother's Day. I love you so dearly and am so lucky to have such a thoughtful, faith-filled, intellectual and supportive mom in my life!  I can't wait to see you in June. Only one more month!

XOXO, Laurel

Six month update

We have reached the six month mark living overseas. Where has the time gone? When I think back to the moment when Ryan first approached me about moving to The Netherlands, it seemed so far out into the distant future like it would never come. We then spent months getting the house in order for renters, packing up and storing what we didn't sell on craiglist or at the yard sale, tying up loose ends, and looking ahead into the mysterious unknown. And now, after living in Holland over six months, the unknown has become quite familiar.

I thought I'd never learn my way around this city. Ryan was born with an instinctive sense of direction; I on the other hand was not, and am a bit more challenged in this area. Yet, as time has gone on, I have adapted to my surroundings and seem to be flourishing in some ways in my new home. I have never considered myself very independant. Even while living in Ballard, I rarely went out by myself when Ryan was traveling to just explore. Here it is a different story. I regularly take the dog out, ride my bike leisurely through a park, attend dinner parties with colleagues, ride the tram to work and take the slow walk home. I even plan to do some volunteer work - without Ryan! I can barely believe it. I guess I am becoming more courageous as each days passes, trying to supress fear and doubts, and just let go and get the most out of this experience!

A few people have remarked that we have become "quite Dutch." What they mean is that we no longer really appear like foreigners or tourists. We've assimilated into the culture. We ride our bikes everywhere - to the market, out to meet friends, and evening Mass on Sundays. You can regularly find us on our bikes riding through the city with bags strapped to our handlebars. After purchasing a new laptop, Ryan made his way back on his bike carrying an enourmous box while dodging pedestrians, other cyclists, strollers, trams, buses and the occasional car. Now that is truly Dutch!

We've also grown to really appreciate what the Dutch call "gezellig." It is a word used for cozy, nice atmosphere and togetherness. It is one of the most difficult words to translate into English because although it is commonly used as an adjective to describe something, it's also a feeling. Even having coffee with someone is gezelling. Gathering with friends and family is gezellig. The cafes here are very gezellig - soft pillows and blankets to keep you warm on a cold day. The word transcends everything and really encompasses the Dutch culture. Everyone wants to make their homes cozy here. The amount of stores carrying candles, pillows, flowers, and any home decor you can think of is astounding. We love their style and have gotten some great decorating ideas.

We have started to make our apartment more gezellig. A houseplant, a few candles, a lamp, some cozy pillows, a few new pieces of furniture here and there. Our next project is to make our balcony a cozy, serene place to enjoy a warm evening outside. We've put up a bamboo screen for some privacy, planted some herbs and plan to buy some patio furniture with lots of cushions and pillows. This is the Dutch way!! And the best way to truly experience "gezelligheid" is to spend it with others and invite people to your home to share some wine and enjoy the company.

The Netherlands has the most dense population per square mile in all of Europe which we have observed in many different situations. Walking outside on a Saturday afternoon we encounter people and more people everywhere. People seem to walk straight into you if you don't switch course and move out of the way. Bicyclists do not give way to those on foot and so we have learned to pay close attention so that no one gets hurt! The grocery stores become packed, with little room to walk the aisles. If you pause to look over the varieties of rice, their will surely be six hands reaching in front of you grabbing for items off the shelves. If you get the store too late in the day, the bakery section is completely wiped out. And the trams! In the morning I wait for the Number 1 to pull up on the Spui, push my way on with everyone else and grab the nearest pole to hang on!

I find myself becoming more Dutch as the days go by. I hope during my visit home to Seattle I don't get too agressive at the supermarket or shove my way down the sidewalk. :) It sure will be interesting to come home and see what comparisions we make. But with the differences aside, we are adapting much better than I could have imagined moving so far from home. Maybe you'll notice some differences in us as well. Given all that we have experienced these past six months, I know I have grown and will continue to in the months ahead. We can't wait for a visit home. See all soon!

The Little Flower

"At last I have found my vocation, my vocation is Love!"

                            -St. Therese of Lisieux

Millions of Catholics all over the world know and love St.Thérèse of Lisieux. I am one of the devoted and when we decided to drive to Paris to meet Eric and Ellen, I told Ryan it was my deepest wish to make a pilgrimage to Lisieux to personally thank her for always helping me along my faith journey, most especially since moving abroad and asking for her intercession. This may seem foreign to some to pray to someone who is not God, nor his Son Jesus, who is the one and only mediator between God and Man. However, the Church teaches that just as we would ask a family member or close friend for their prayers, we can also call upon the saints in heaven who lived examplary lives of holiness and devotion while on earth.

I was first introduced to Thérèse many years ago during a very difficult time in my life. Although I was not a Catholic,  I was on my way to a deep conversion. I was the same age as Thérèse when she died of tuburculosis in the Carmel convent in Lisieux when I mysteriously contracted a virus that entered my digestive system leaving me weak, nauseous and unable to eat. I had up to that point never really experienced suffering before and did not understand why it was happening nor how to cope with my situation. It was at this dark moment that our good friend Tom placed a copy of Story of a Soul into my hands. After reading her memoir, I was immediately taken in by this young, Carmelite nun whose ordinary life became extraordinary after submitting her will completely over to Jesus and finding her vocation to love and embrace suffering.

I was captivated by her "little way" - which encompasses giving over our own will, and making small sacrifices that only God can see. It is seeking out holiness in the ordinary and everyday life. Through her little way, Thérèse trusted completely in God's providence and came to understand that one must become like a child in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. For me, it puts holiness in reach, even for someone like myself who sometimes feels like a hopeless case!

I took Thérèse as my Confirmation name when I entered the Catholic Church in the Jubilee Year 2000 and her picture has been on my nightstand and on my desk at work ever since. In her I see what is possible - to become a Saint! I am encouraged by Thérèse as I face the joys and sorrows of life and know that holiness cannot be acheived by anything we ourselves accomplish, but only through the graciousness of God's love. I have learned too that suffering may be a gift in disguise - through it we often become more dependant on the One who has written his name on our hearts.

I know I received many graces after making this pilgrimage. After asking for her prayers back in December, I told her I would make my way to the Basilica built in her honour in Lisieux somehow to thank her for her little gifts should she wish to grant them. I am deeply grateful that this dream was fulfilled and will continue to share with others my love and devotion of "The Little Flower."

Basilica of St. Thérèse, Lisieux, France.

Dome of the Basilica built for St. Thérèse in Lisieux.

Shrine to St. Thérèse  in the Crypt of the Basilica.

 

Replica of the statue Our Lady of the Smile which healed Thérèse as a child.

Carmel Monastery where St. Thérèse  found her vocation and lived as a cloistered nun until her death.

Crucifix and crown given to St. Thérèse on the day of her final Profession.

St. Thérèse's Carmelite habit.

“When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens, I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth.” 

                                - St. Thérèse, The Little Flower

 

 

Cartes Postales de Paris

After a rather long hiatus, I figured I needed to start writing again more regularly. Things have been a bit hectic for both of us - me with my new job and Ryan ever-busy with new projects, but as I love to write and find it relaxing, I will make a more conserted effort to keep the blog more up-to-date. It has been a great few weeks with visits from fantastic friends and even a little bit of good weather. I have to admit, though, I am a bit homesick. We would have been home for a visit right now. Our flight was booked, but with everything going on we just didn't feel it was the best timing. Instead, we are coming to Seattle in June. More on that to come...

One of the main reasons we decided to move to Europe was the amazing opportunity we'd have to take short getaways to other destinations. Afterall, the whole mainland of Europe is smaller than the U.S. Our good friends, Eric and Ellen, came a very long way to see Europe and visit us, so we decided to meet in Paris for a long weekend. Ryan and I drove from The Hague to Paris in just a few hours to meet them. Door to door it was shorter than driving across Washington State to say Spokane. When's the last time that I was able to say that I drove to France?

I do love Paris. Even if it is atrociously expensive and not as well kept as it deserves to be (sadly I found it a bit dirty), the cathedrals, beautiful architecture, baguettes and cheese, and of course one of my favourite landmarks, the Eiffel Tower, make up for it! We rented an adorable apartment in the city where we enjoyed Ryan's culinary expertise and lots of French wine. We walked all over the city, rode the Metro and only got lost a few times. Highlights of the trip for me: reuniting with Eric and Ellen, attending Mass at the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, French onion soup and the best cappuccino I've ever consumed in Montmarte, the smell of Paris rain, the view from the Eiffel tower at night, French bubbly, and our visit to the small town of Lisieux (I will write a separate blog on this special pilgrimage).

Here are some postcards of our fabulous getaway to Paris. And since it's only 3 and a half hours away, it's likely we'll be back again.

 

 

 

 

Citizen of the World

The Hague is known for being a highly international city. Home to the International Court of Justice (the Peace Palace), the International Criminal Court, Europol, aka the European law enforcement, and the headquarters of the largest corporation in the world, Shell Oil, the city of peace and justice, as it is appropriately named, welcomes thousands of expats to its doorstep each year. The population of The Hague is approximately 500,000, plus two if you count Ryan and I, with a whopping 49% of the population representing non-Dutch nationalities. Ask any Dutch resident about The Hague and they will tell you that it truly is a culturally diverse and unique place to live, one that I believe cannot really be duplicated.

I recently landed a new job working for an international education non-profit organization. The organization has three global centres, the one I work at in The Hague, one in Asia and one in the U.S., as well as three other offices with employees working across the globe. There are over 30 different nationalities represented in the office I work in alone. I must say it has really been an eye-opening experience for me to be working alongside individuals from so many different backgrounds, cultures and countries. So far I have met great colleagues from the U.K., Spain, Hong Kong, France, South Africa, Ghana, Australia, Czech Repulic, the Netherlands and Iceland. I have often thought to myself where else would I have ever had this opportunity? How much there is for me to learn and take away from this experience.

We have also joined the only English speaking Roman Catholic Church in the city. Given that Masses are said primarily in English, the parish is attended by people from around the globe who are living and working in Holland. Some are here for only a few years, while others plan to be here for a much longer duration. Each person who steps into our new church home brings with them their own customs and style of worship. This was most beautifully displayed at our priest's Silver Jubilee Celebration. Just a few weeks after our arrival, Fr. Sjaak, our Dutch priest, celebrated his 25th anniverary to the priesthood, where there were Indonesian dancers, African drums, Spanish musicians, and scripture readings in multiple languages. We have joined several groups in the parish and have met some amazing people, all with their own stories and unique perceptions of the world.

Although I am an American and am grateful that it is my country of origin, I am excited for the opportunity to see the world through another lens, and become a global citizen. If you think about it, we are really one nation, with one citizenship in the City of God. He has created us differently so that we may learn from one another and grow in Christ's love. God is stretching me to put my prejudices and prenotions of others aside and really embrace those around me. The more I do this, the more joy I am given with each new person I meet.

The world is definitely much larger than I ever realized, and God's greatness even larger. I know now that had we never decided to leave the comforts of our familiar surroundings, and stepped out in faith, this blessing would have passed us by with the special gift to become a citizen of the world.