AWC Going Dutch Dec 2018
American Women's Club of The Hague monthly magazine
American Women's Club of The Hague monthly magazine
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<strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong><br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember <strong>2018</strong><br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Artist-in-Residence<br />
F<strong>AWC</strong>O Cruise<br />
Trekking in Nepal - Part 2<br />
24<br />
35-37<br />
40<br />
The Magazine of the<br />
American Women’s Club<br />
of The Hague<br />
5 Officers and Chairwomen<br />
6 Fall Activities Collage<br />
8 Message from the President<br />
9 <strong>Dec</strong>ember General Meeting<br />
10 Letter from the Editor<br />
12 Membership<br />
13 Newcomers<br />
14 Ongoing Activities<br />
20 One-of-a-Kind Activities<br />
22 Tea with the <strong>AWC</strong>’s<br />
Honorary President<br />
24 Artist-in-Residence<br />
26 Clubhouse Rental<br />
27 <strong>AWC</strong> and the Arts<br />
28 <strong>Dec</strong>ember Calendar<br />
31 Club and Comunity<br />
32 The <strong>Dutch</strong> Daily<br />
34 F<strong>AWC</strong>O Corner<br />
35 F<strong>AWC</strong>O Cruise<br />
38 Handbag Auction<br />
40 High Altitude Trekking -<br />
Part II<br />
46 Restaurant<br />
Recommendations<br />
47 Announcements<br />
52 Classifieds<br />
53 Index of Advertisers<br />
and Ad Rates<br />
54 Proost! Interview<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 3
Editor<br />
Audrey Goodman<br />
<strong>2018</strong>-2019 <strong>AWC</strong> Officers<br />
Committee Chairs<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse<br />
Johan van Oldenbarneveltlaan 43<br />
2582 NJ Den Haag<br />
Tel: 070 350 6007<br />
info@awcthehague.org<br />
www.awcthehague.org<br />
<strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong> Magazine<br />
goingdutchmag@gmail.com<br />
Clubhouse Hours<br />
Tuesday and Thursday<br />
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.<br />
Monday, Wednesday and Friday Closed<br />
Dues (Effective <strong>2018</strong>-2019)<br />
€ 110 per year (€ 66 after January 1)<br />
€ 90 business, professional<br />
€ 55 valid US military ID<br />
€ 35 student<br />
€ 35 Outside the Netherlands (<strong>Going</strong><br />
<strong>Dutch</strong> magazine not included)<br />
Add € 15 new member registration fee<br />
Design and Layout<br />
Teresa Mahoney<br />
Cover Photo<br />
Christmas in Leiden 2017 by Melissa White<br />
Photography<br />
Sabine Crowley, Emily van Eerten, Greetje<br />
Engelsman, F<strong>AWC</strong>O, Amber Gatewood,<br />
Debbie van Hees, Suzanne MacNeil, Tim<br />
MacNeil, Teresa Mahoney, Julie Mowat,<br />
Melissa Rider, Laura Suttles, Melissa White<br />
Proofreaders<br />
Celeste Brown, Jane Gulde, Diane Schaap,<br />
Debbie van Hees<br />
Advertising Manager & Invoicing<br />
Open<br />
Contributors<br />
Liduine Bekman, Jane Choy, Susanne Dundas,<br />
Greetje Engelsman, Roberta Enschede, Dena<br />
Haggerty, Marsha Hagney, Eileen Harloff,<br />
Suzanne MacNeil, Julie Mowat, Michelle<br />
Oliel, Melissa Rider, Holly Savoie, Laura<br />
Suttles, Melissa White<br />
Printer<br />
www.dwcprint.nl<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Bank Account Number<br />
IBAN: NL42ABNA0431421757<br />
KvK Den Haag<br />
40409274<br />
Honorary President Diane Hoekstra<br />
President Suzanne MacNeil<br />
awcthehague.president@gmail.com<br />
Vice President Marsha Hagney<br />
awcthehague.firstvp@gmail.com<br />
Treasurer Sheyla Karman<br />
awcthehague.treasurer@gmail.com<br />
Secretary Heather DeWitt<br />
awcthehague.secretary@gmail.com<br />
Club and Community Development<br />
Naya Pessoa<br />
awcthehague.community@gmail.com<br />
Clubhouse Administrator<br />
Jan Essad<br />
awcthehague.clubhousemgr@gmail.com<br />
Communications Audrey Goodman<br />
awcthehague.communications@gmail.com<br />
Member-at-Large<br />
Sunita Menon<br />
Front Office<br />
Liduine Bekman, Siska Datema-Kool,<br />
Dominique Duysens, Amber Gatewood,<br />
Machelle Hollar, Paula Looijmans, Melissa<br />
Rider, Robin Rose, Holly Savoie, Carol<br />
Schapira, Chelsea Wald<br />
Activities: Greetje Engelsman<br />
Arts: Jane Choy<br />
Assistant Treasurer: Teresa Insalaco<br />
Benefit Event: Michelle Voorn & Deana<br />
Kreitler<br />
Board Advisor: Jessie Rodell<br />
Caring Committee: Naomi Keip<br />
Chat, Craft & Cake: Suzanne Dundas<br />
eNews Amber Gatewood<br />
Evening Events: Elizabeth Zeller<br />
Events & Tours: Liduine Bekman<br />
F<strong>AWC</strong>O: Julie Mowat and Teresa<br />
Mahoney<br />
Front Office Coordinator: Open<br />
General Meeting Programs: Dena<br />
Haggerty<br />
Heart Pillow: Jan de Vries<br />
Historian/Archivist: Open<br />
Holiday Bazaar: Jaimie Keppel-Molenaar<br />
IT Administrator: Julie Otten<br />
Kids’ Club: Lindsey Turnau<br />
Library: Dena Haggerty<br />
Membership: Melissa Rider<br />
Newcomers: Holly Savoie, Greetje<br />
Engelsman<br />
Parliamentarian: Georgia Regnault<br />
Philanthropy: Holly Savoie<br />
Public Relations: Open<br />
Social Media: Ceci Wong and Julie Otten<br />
Tennis: Molly Boed<br />
Volunteer Coordinator: Laurie<br />
Martecchini<br />
Webmaster: Julie Otten<br />
Women with <strong>Dutch</strong> Partners: Open<br />
Deadlines: Submissions are due no later than the last Monday of the month preceding the publication month.<br />
For example, for the March issue, submissions are due before Monday, January 28<br />
Please Note: Articles submitted to <strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong> will be published subject to space limitations and editorial approval.<br />
All rights reserved; reprints only by written permission of the Editor. Please email to: goingdutchmag@<br />
gmail.com<br />
Legal Notice: Articles in <strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong> express the views and opinions of their authors alone, and not necessarily<br />
those of the <strong>AWC</strong> of The Hague, its Members or this publication.<br />
4 GOING DUTCH<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Mission Statement<br />
The <strong>AWC</strong> is an association formed to provide social and educational activities for American<br />
women living in the Netherlands and to promote amicable relations among people of all nations,<br />
as well as acquiring funds for general public interest. Membership in the club is open<br />
to women of all nations who are friendly and welcoming to American culture. The association<br />
does not endeavor to make a profit. The <strong>AWC</strong> is a 100% volunteer organization.<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 5
Out to Lunch Bunch<br />
October General Meeting<br />
Amanda Lane from<br />
F<strong>AWC</strong>O<br />
Tupperware Party<br />
Fall Activities<br />
Walkie Talkies<br />
<strong>Dutch</strong> Products Class
Message from the President<br />
by Suzanne MacNeil<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember General Meeting<br />
It was great to see so many Members at the<br />
Annual General Meeting in November,<br />
one of the most important events of our<br />
Club year. The meeting gave Members the<br />
opportunity to learn about the Club’s financial<br />
health, your Board’s short-term plans<br />
for the Club, and the three-to-five-year plan<br />
that we’re proposing for future Boards.<br />
Without a set of goals, we would flounder.<br />
If you weren’t at the meeting, your Board<br />
presented several new initiatives that will<br />
help grow the Club while staying true to our<br />
mission of providing a warm and welcoming<br />
space for women who are away from their<br />
home country. Along with the social aspect<br />
of the Club, we continue our commitment to<br />
fulfilling philanthropic opportunities in our<br />
host country.<br />
Our <strong>AWC</strong> receives requests for financial<br />
support from numerous organizations<br />
throughout the year and our Members request<br />
donations for various causes each year. Our<br />
primary fundraiser is usually a gala or an<br />
event similar to last year’s Beach BBQ for<br />
Perspektief. With support from our Members,<br />
and the community at large, we’ve raised<br />
significant amounts for local and international<br />
organizations. It is important as a Club that<br />
we can guarantee the charitable donations we<br />
make reflect our Club’s ideals. Consequently,<br />
your Board is implementing guidelines with<br />
respect to donations.<br />
8 GOING DUTCH<br />
<strong>Going</strong> forward, any request for a donation<br />
of €1.000 or more, whether it’s for matching<br />
funds or a donation, and<br />
any organization being<br />
considered for<br />
financial support,<br />
must be vetted<br />
properly.<br />
Your Board<br />
has created<br />
a Beneficiary<br />
Request Form<br />
that must be filled<br />
out before we consider<br />
any financial<br />
request. The<br />
form asks questions<br />
such as an<br />
organization’s<br />
mission, its plan<br />
for distribution<br />
of any financial<br />
gift from our<br />
<strong>AWC</strong>, and how<br />
the organization<br />
will apprise the<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> of how<br />
effectively the<br />
funds helped the organization’s mission.<br />
In order to ensure that an organization<br />
meets our criteria, we are adding a committee<br />
to review each request for donations, regardless<br />
of whether the request is from a Member<br />
or an outside organization. The Philanthropic<br />
Review Committee will be made up of three<br />
to five Club volunteers. They will report directly<br />
to the Club and Community Board<br />
Member, who will inform the Board about<br />
the committee’s decision and whether the<br />
Board should vote on the committee’s recommendation.<br />
The information about a potential<br />
beneficiary will then be brought to the Club’s<br />
Membership for discussion and a vote.<br />
Board oversight of the Club’s funds<br />
is key to our <strong>AWC</strong> remaining financially<br />
healthy. The vetting of potential beneficiaries<br />
means we are acting with transparency<br />
and full accountability for our Members. The<br />
Philanthropic Review Committee means our<br />
Club’s Board and Members will make informed<br />
decisions and choose organizations<br />
that meet our values and whose missions<br />
matter the most to our Members.<br />
Looking ahead, Michelle Voorn and<br />
Deana Kreitler volunteered to co-chair the<br />
Club’s spring fundraiser and have already<br />
met with several Members who’ve also<br />
volunteered to serve on the committee.<br />
Whether it will be a formal gala or >>39<br />
Join us to celebrate the holiday season<br />
with your fellow <strong>AWC</strong> Members. We will<br />
gather to share traditions, sing carols,<br />
enjoy wonderful food, and partake in a fun<br />
gift exchange.<br />
The <strong>AWC</strong> will provide drinks and a few finger<br />
foods, but we ask that Members provide<br />
additional snacks and sweets. Please sign up<br />
on GroupSpaces to indicate what dish you<br />
will bring for the potluck. If you wish to<br />
participate in the gift exchange, please bring<br />
one wrapped item costing no more than<br />
€10. Participation in the gift exchange is, of<br />
course, not mandatory.<br />
Holiday cheer is required, and holiday<br />
sweaters are encouraged!<br />
Clubhouse Closed<br />
Thursday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 13<br />
10:00 a.m.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse<br />
Free<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember 19 – January 7 for the Holidays<br />
Unique products<br />
for entrepreneurs<br />
Sligro The Hague Forepark is the perfect fit for you as entrepreneur.<br />
We inspire and support you with our products and services, that will<br />
help you with your business. Our people are always there for you<br />
with professional and tailored advice.<br />
sligro.nl<br />
Linge 2, The Hague<br />
1061246<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 9
Letter from the Editor<br />
by Audrey Goodman<br />
My sister is my favorite person. We’ve<br />
been close ever since we were little,<br />
and it has been incredibly difficult<br />
to be apart for so long. Growing up, we were<br />
lucky enough to have parents that took us<br />
on camping trips across the US. We’ve been<br />
looking forward to making our adventures<br />
international, and she was finally able to come<br />
for a two-week visit in early November.<br />
the food was great. We ended our night at<br />
The Oak, with a couple of rounds of drinks.<br />
Our Sunday was devoted to a couple of<br />
traditional Dublin spots. First stop was the<br />
EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, which I<br />
highly recommend. It was very informative<br />
and interactive, providing an overview of the<br />
Irish community’s impacts on various parts<br />
“The best thing about having<br />
a sister was that I always had a<br />
friend.”<br />
-Cali Rae Turner<br />
We spent the first couple of days exploring<br />
The Hague and Amsterdam, before she<br />
set off for a week in Ireland with her friend<br />
Sarah. I later joined them in Dublin for a long<br />
weekend of bar hopping and sightseeing. We<br />
rented an Airbnb apartment in The Liberties<br />
neighborhood, walking distance from many<br />
sights. Our first stop was dinner at The Bank<br />
on College Green, a fantastic restaurant situated<br />
in… you guessed it: an old bank. The<br />
place was packed, the décor was ornate, and<br />
10 GOING DUTCH<br />
of the world. Our next stop was the Guinness<br />
Storehouse, a seven-story brewery tour that<br />
was modern, fascinating and fun. Not only<br />
do you learn about the brewing process, but<br />
you can also learn how to properly pour a<br />
Guinness and taste the various flavors of the<br />
beer. On the top floor, the Gravity Bar, you receive<br />
your complimentary glass of Guinness<br />
surrounded by a 360° view of Dublin. The<br />
visit was well-worth the € 25 ticket.<br />
After checking out of our Airbnb on our<br />
last morning, we hopped the Dart to Howth,<br />
a cozy little seaside village about 45 minutes<br />
outside Dublin. The views were amazing, and<br />
we wished for more time to explore the town.<br />
But we only had two hours, so we opted for a<br />
short walk along the waterfront before lunch<br />
at Wrights Findlater Howth. I couldn’t leave<br />
Ireland without having fish and chips paired<br />
with a Guinness for a delicious end to our<br />
fun adventure.<br />
She plans to come back for another visit<br />
late next year. We’ve already started talking<br />
about visiting Paris, Berlin and Warsaw when<br />
she returns!<br />
Audrey<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 11
Credit: BoardEffect.com<br />
Membership<br />
by Melissa Rider<br />
The <strong>AWC</strong> must comply with the General<br />
Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),<br />
which sets new rules for the collection<br />
of personal data of those living in the<br />
EU. The new privacy measures mean you<br />
must give the <strong>AWC</strong> explicit and informed<br />
consent to use your name and likeness in<br />
print material and on social media. If you<br />
have not yet already done so, please sign a<br />
GDPR letter at the Clubhouse, or contact me<br />
(awcthehague.membership@gmail.com) to<br />
have one sent to you. More information about<br />
the <strong>AWC</strong>’s privacy policy can be found on<br />
our website under “Contact Us”. Thank you<br />
for your help to ensure the <strong>AWC</strong> is GDPRcompliant!<br />
Please remember to keep your information<br />
up-to-date. If you recently moved,<br />
send me your new address to the email listed<br />
above.<br />
Birthdays<br />
Due to changes in European privacy laws,<br />
and because <strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong> will soon be<br />
posted on our external Facebook page,<br />
we won’t be sharing birthdays in print<br />
any longer. Instead, you’ll see Members’<br />
birthdays in the weekly eNews, which is<br />
sent to your private email account and<br />
is more secure. We value our Members’<br />
privacy. If you have any questions, please<br />
contact Melissa Rider, our Membership<br />
Coordinator, at awcthehague.<br />
membership@gmail.com.<br />
Welcome New Members!<br />
Christy Carter<br />
Zolboo Nemekhbayar<br />
Support Fellow <strong>AWC</strong> Members<br />
Find links to a large variety of businesses<br />
owned by <strong>AWC</strong> Members at<br />
www.awcthehague.org/site/newcomers/<br />
business-links<br />
Newcomers<br />
by Holly Savoie and Greetje Engelsman<br />
Activity for <strong>AWC</strong> Newcomers, but<br />
also interesting for long-term<br />
Members!<br />
Royalty and Democracy in the<br />
Netherlands<br />
On Prinsjesdag (Princes’ Day) we celebrate<br />
the beginning of the parliamentary<br />
year in the Netherlands, and we enjoy<br />
the tour of the King and the Queen in the<br />
Golden Coach in The Hague. But what<br />
do you understand about the relationship<br />
between democracy and royalty (government,<br />
parliament and the queen/king) in the<br />
Netherlands? How does it work and who is<br />
the “boss”?<br />
Join us at the <strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse to understand<br />
more about the differences between the US.<br />
and the Netherlands. Greetje Engelsman<br />
is <strong>Dutch</strong> and has always been interested<br />
in <strong>Dutch</strong> democracy. As a child she was<br />
a royalist, as all children are. Now she is<br />
a democrat and has mixed feelings about<br />
royalty. What are the facts? For more<br />
information, please contact Greetje at<br />
awcthehague.newcomers@gmail.com.<br />
Thursday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 6<br />
2 p.m.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse<br />
FREE<br />
Sign up on GroupSpaces<br />
Did you know that any woman who speaks English is eligible to join the<br />
American Women’s Club?<br />
Invite your English-speaking friends, wherever they’re from, to join us today!<br />
12 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 13
Credit: Amazon<br />
Ongoing Activities<br />
Book Clubs<br />
The <strong>AWC</strong> Book Clubs are open to all readers,<br />
and new Members are especially welcome!<br />
There are no requirements that you must<br />
attend every meeting or lead a discussion.<br />
Snacks are provided by a different Member<br />
each month. There are two Book Clubs<br />
hosted by <strong>AWC</strong> Members: One in the daytime<br />
and one in the evening. Questions? Teresa<br />
Mahoney organizes the daytime group,<br />
and Dena Haggerty handles the evening<br />
meetings. For more information, please<br />
contact them at awcthehague.bookclub@<br />
gmail.com. Happy reading!<br />
Daytime Book Club<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember Selection:<br />
Factfulness: Ten Reasons<br />
We’re Wrong About the<br />
World – and Why Things are<br />
Better Than You Think by<br />
Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling,<br />
and Anna Rosling Rönnlund<br />
When asked simple questions<br />
about global trends,<br />
we systematically get the<br />
answers wrong. So wrong that a chimpanzee<br />
choosing answers at random will consistently<br />
outguess teachers, journalists, Nobel laureates,<br />
and investment bankers. In Factfulness,<br />
Professor of International Health and global<br />
Daytime Book Club Reading List:<br />
Thursday, January 24: The Secret Scripture<br />
(McNulty Family) by Sebastian Barry<br />
Thursday, February 28:<br />
The Milkman by Anna Burns<br />
Thursday, March 28:<br />
21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah<br />
Harari<br />
TED phenomenon Hans Rosling, together<br />
with his two long-time collaborators, Anna<br />
and Ola, offers a radical new explanation<br />
of why this happens. They reveal the ten instincts<br />
that distort our perspective—from our<br />
tendency to divide the world into two camps<br />
(usually some version of us and them) to the<br />
way we consume media (where fear rules)<br />
to how we perceive progress (believing that<br />
most things are getting worse). Our problem<br />
is that we don’t know what we don’t know,<br />
and even our guesses are informed by unconscious<br />
and predictable biases.<br />
Note new day, time and venue for<br />
Christmas party!<br />
Wednesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 12<br />
11 a.m.<br />
Georgia’s house<br />
RSVP: awcthehague.bookclub@gmail.<br />
com<br />
FREE<br />
Daytime Book Club Recap – October<br />
The one thing we could agree on is Donna<br />
Brown makes a fantastic blackberry pie.<br />
What we could not agree on were the merits<br />
of Gaa Gyasi’s highly praised debut novel,<br />
Homegoing. Is it even a novel? Or is it a series<br />
of discreet short stories? Homegoing begins<br />
on the Gold Coast of Western Africa in<br />
the mid-1700s as intertribal warfare and the<br />
slave trade with Europeans thrusts uncertainty<br />
and horror onto the yam-farming people<br />
whose progeny will populate the rest of the<br />
book. It ends in present-day Ghana, in the<br />
ocean below the castle that was the fulcrum<br />
of slave trade for centuries. In between, we<br />
meet, among many others, the conflicted son<br />
of an African beauty “married” to an English<br />
slaver, a gargantuan prisoner contracted out<br />
in inconceivably hard labor to the coal mines<br />
under Alabama, and a church-going choir<br />
member whose light-skinned husband abandons<br />
her and her son to live as a white man<br />
in New York City. Each character is well-defined<br />
but the structure of Homegoing doesn’t<br />
allow for the development of their stories<br />
over time. We just get to know one character<br />
when we are dropped into the story of their<br />
daughter or son. There’s a through-line of<br />
sorta-African-spirituality and the supernatural<br />
that felt contrived and hokey to some of<br />
us, moving to others. Homegoing succeeds as<br />
a work of art but not, as its author hoped, as a<br />
trumpet call to heal black families and solve<br />
the searing legacies of American slavery.<br />
Some strongly recommended Homegoing.<br />
Some of us were hesitant to do so.<br />
Evening Book Club<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember Selection:<br />
A Gentleman in Moscow by<br />
Amor Towles<br />
In 1922, Count Alexander<br />
Rostov is deemed an unrepentant<br />
aristocrat by a<br />
Bolshevik tribunal, and is<br />
sentenced to house arrest in<br />
the Metropol, a grand hotel<br />
across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov,<br />
an indomitable man of erudition and wit,<br />
has never worked a day in his life, and must<br />
now live in an attic room while some of the<br />
most tumultuous decades in Russian history<br />
are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors.<br />
Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances<br />
provide him entry into a much larger world<br />
of emotional discovery. Brimming with humor,<br />
a glittering cast of characters, and one<br />
beautifully rendered scene after another, >> 16<br />
Credit: Amazon<br />
Cancellation Policy<br />
Members may reserve a spot for an <strong>AWC</strong> tour, activity or<br />
event in advance. Payment is required within five business<br />
days of the reservation or before the deadline date (whichever<br />
is sooner) otherwise your name will be moved to a waitlist.<br />
It is the responsibility of the Member to notify the Club at<br />
awcthehague.finance@gmail.com to cancel a reservation<br />
prior to the cancellation deadline. Please note that there will<br />
be NO REFUNDS (no exceptions) after the cancellation deadline.<br />
Members may find a substitute in lieu of cancellation<br />
provided that arrangements are made with the tour, activity<br />
or event organizer. Members shall be held responsible for<br />
their guest reservations in accordance with this policy.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Guest Policy<br />
Guests are welcome<br />
to participate in <strong>AWC</strong><br />
activities and tours on<br />
a limited basis. As a<br />
nonmember, a guest<br />
is limited to attend<br />
two functions per<br />
calendar year and will be<br />
charged an additional<br />
nonmember fee. Only<br />
Members are entitled to<br />
use babysitting services.<br />
14 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 15
Ongoing Activities (cont.)<br />
Continued from page 15<br />
Evening Book Club Reading List:<br />
Wednesday, January 9: The Only Story by<br />
Julian Barnes<br />
February: The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner<br />
March: The Dinner by Herman Koch<br />
April: The Song of Achiles by Madeline Miller<br />
this singular novel casts a spell as it relates<br />
the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding<br />
of what it means to be a man of<br />
purpose.<br />
The location changes every month, so please<br />
contact Dena Haggerty at awcthehague.<br />
bookclub@gmail.com if you are interested in<br />
attending.<br />
Wednesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 12<br />
7:30 p.m.<br />
Location TBA<br />
FREE<br />
Chat, Crafts & Cake<br />
Chat, Crafts and Cake is a weekly<br />
highlight for those who enjoy crafts<br />
and camaraderie. Whether your craft is<br />
knitting, quilting, needlepoint or simply<br />
mending your clothes, or whether you are<br />
a beginner or an expert, you are welcome to<br />
join us. Fish that UFO (Unfinished Object)<br />
out of the drawer and get going on it again.<br />
CCandCer’s are always ready with a helping<br />
hand, a lesson, or some advice. Each week,<br />
a different Member brings a cake - tried and<br />
true, or experimental. Babysitting is not<br />
available and there are lots of sharp objects<br />
about (pins, needles, scissors and wit) so<br />
we cannot accommodate children. Contact<br />
Suzanne Dundas at awcthehague.crafts@<br />
gmail.com for more information<br />
Every Tuesday<br />
10 a.m. – Noon<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse<br />
Heart Pillow Project<br />
Members work together to make heartshaped<br />
pillows designed to help support<br />
the arms of recent mastectomy patients.<br />
Each pillow is made with TLC, wrapped,<br />
and comes with a note signed by an <strong>AWC</strong><br />
volunteer. No sewing skills are needed, as<br />
you can cut, stuff, or wrap the heart pillows.<br />
We are proud to provide men and women<br />
with something both practical and comforting,<br />
and we know our work helps because<br />
we often receive thank-you notes and emails<br />
from the patients who have received a heart<br />
pillow. For more information, please contact<br />
Jan de Vries at awctehhague.heartpillow@<br />
gmail.com.<br />
Tuesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 11<br />
Noon – 2 p.m.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse<br />
FREE<br />
Visitors Welcome<br />
Out to Lunch Bunch: <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
Every year the Out to Lunch Bunch group<br />
organizes a Christmas Lunch. This year we<br />
will have lunch at restaurant het Gouden<br />
Kalf (the Golden Calf) in Scheveningen.<br />
Chef Niels Schavemaker: “Enjoying the art<br />
of cooking and hospitlity with a view of the<br />
typical boats in the Scheveningen Harbor.<br />
At Het Gouden Kalf, everything revolves<br />
around our fresh and seasonal products,<br />
a warm atmosphere and accompanying<br />
wines.” This will be a special lunch, at<br />
a special moment, at a special spot. Join<br />
us and enjoy the food, wine and company<br />
in the harbor of Scheveningen. Very >> 18<br />
16 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 17
Ongoing Activities (cont.)<br />
Continued from page 17<br />
important: Allergies? Vegetarian? etc.:<br />
Please indicate such when you sign up, or<br />
email Greetje Engelsman at awcthehague.<br />
activities@gmail.com.<br />
Wednesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 19<br />
Noon – 2:30 p.m.<br />
Restaurant het Gouden Kalf<br />
Dr Lelykade 1, Scheveningen<br />
www.hetgoudenkalf.nl<br />
€ 25 for a three-course menu<br />
Registration/Payment Deadline:<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember 12<br />
Sign up on GroupSpaces<br />
Walkie Talkies<br />
Whether you count your steps or just want<br />
to walk with friends, the Monday morning<br />
Walkie Talkies is a fun, healthy and energetic<br />
way to start the week. The group meets in<br />
front of the Clubhouse before heading out<br />
to walk to various destinations in the area,<br />
usually racking up 10,000 steps along the<br />
way. Sign up on GroupSpaces to receive<br />
email updates or contact Emily van Eerten<br />
or Greetje Engelsman at awcthehague.<br />
walkietalkies@gmail.com.<br />
Mondays<br />
9:30 a.m.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse<br />
Free<br />
Sign up on GroupSpaces<br />
Thirsty Thursday<br />
Join us again for our monthly gathering.<br />
Thirsty Thursday is a casual evening of<br />
companionship and good conversation—a<br />
new favorite for <strong>AWC</strong> Members and prospective<br />
Members. Two soft drinks, wine or<br />
beer, plus snacks.<br />
Thursday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 13<br />
6 – 9 p.m.<br />
De Eeuwige Jacktvelden<br />
Plein 14, Den Haag<br />
€ 15 for two drinks and food<br />
No RSVP needed<br />
Wassenaar Coffee &<br />
Conversation<br />
If you live in or north of Wassenaar, join<br />
your neighbors for coffee and conversation<br />
once-a-month without having to drive to<br />
the clubhouse. One Member will host a<br />
casual coffee at her home at 9:30 on the<br />
first Thursday of every month. Prospective<br />
Members are welcome too. Suzanne<br />
Dundas coordinates these meetings and can<br />
be reached at awcthehague.crafts@gmail.<br />
com. Because the location changes every<br />
month, contact Suzanne if you are interested<br />
in attending or for more information.<br />
Thursday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 6<br />
9:30 a.m.<br />
Location TBA<br />
FREE<br />
18 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 19
Credit: Anat Ratzabi<br />
One-of-a-Kind Activities<br />
by Marsha Hagney<br />
RSVP directly on <strong>AWC</strong> GroupSpaces.com. Direct any questions to<br />
awcthehague.firstvp@gmail.com.<br />
Payment must be made within 5 calendar days of reserving or your name will be moved to<br />
a waitlist. Payment can be made in the Front Office by PIN or by bank transfer to the <strong>AWC</strong><br />
account NL42ABNA0431421757.<br />
Chocolate and Holocaust<br />
Sculpture Tour<br />
Anat Ratzabi is a sculptor and is perhaps<br />
best known for her chocolate sculptures,<br />
including Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl<br />
Earring, and Rembrandt and van Gogh’s<br />
self-portraits. Her work is sold in the<br />
Rijksmuseum and numerous other locations<br />
throughout the country. But, one of<br />
Anat’s greatest works has nothing to do with<br />
chocolate. It is the massive marble sculpture<br />
that sits on Rabbijn Maarsenplein and<br />
honors the Jews who died in the Holocaust.<br />
Join us for a tour of Anat’s chocolate workshop<br />
and then a guided walk to Rabbijn<br />
Maarsenplein where she will explain the<br />
multi-year process of creating the touching<br />
and important monument, and what each<br />
piece means to the <strong>Dutch</strong> Holocaust experience.<br />
Wednesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 5<br />
10 a.m. – Noon<br />
(Rain date: Monday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 10,<br />
2 p.m.)<br />
Scheveningseveer 19, Den Haag<br />
€ 15 Members / € 20 Non-Members<br />
Maximum 20<br />
Sign Up on GroupSpaces<br />
Credit: Atelier Camp & Co<br />
Pearl Party<br />
Join us for a Pearl Party! Iris Camp, a certified<br />
goldsmith and diamond setter, invites<br />
you to an evening to immerse yourself in<br />
pearls. Iris will showcase different types of<br />
pearls and then help guests make a freshwater<br />
pearl bracelet to take home. Looking<br />
for a one-of-a-kind holiday gift or just want<br />
to add to your personal jewelry collection?<br />
Be sure to join us for a fun and informative<br />
evening.<br />
Friday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 7<br />
7 – 10 p.m.<br />
Atelier Camp & Co, Vos in Tuinstraat 7<br />
(Denneweg), Den Haag<br />
€ 95 – Includes 7mm pearls, sterling<br />
silver clasp, drinks, and snacks<br />
Maximum 10<br />
If there is a waiting list, a second Pearl<br />
Party will be held Friday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 14<br />
Sign up on GroupSpaces<br />
UPDATE! One-Day Aachen<br />
Christmas Market & Tour<br />
Join us for our one-day trip by private coach<br />
to Aachen, Germany where we will enjoy<br />
Aachen’s Christmas market (Top five in<br />
Europe!), tour the Aachen Cathedral, visit<br />
the Lindt Chocolate factory outlet, shop, eat<br />
dinner in Aachen, and return home the same<br />
day.<br />
Tuesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 11<br />
Depart Den Haag Centraal at 8 a.m.<br />
Return to Den Haag Centraal at 10:30<br />
p.m.<br />
€ 100 Member / € 110 Non-Members<br />
Price includes transportation, food and<br />
drink on the bus to Aachen and private<br />
cathedral tour with an English-speaking<br />
guide<br />
(Food and shopping at own expense)<br />
Maximum 30<br />
Members who paid for the two-day trip<br />
will receive a refund minus the new price<br />
Registration/Cancellation deadline:<br />
Monday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 3<br />
Sign up on GroupSpaces<br />
Playball Netherlands is now<br />
taking bookings for 2019!<br />
Want to get your little one involved?<br />
www.playballkids.com to see the fun for ages<br />
2-7 years<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Members, please connect<br />
with us on LinkedIn<br />
https://nl.linkedin.com/in/<br />
awcthehague<br />
Members: eNews Distribution<br />
A weekly electronic newsletter<br />
is sent to all <strong>AWC</strong> Members.<br />
If you have not been receiving your<br />
eNews, please contact Melissa at<br />
awcthehague.membership@gmail.com.<br />
Email kidsplayball@hotmail.com to arrange a<br />
FREE trial class<br />
www.facebook.com/PlayballNetherlands<br />
Or call Maggie on: 0627214347<br />
20 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 21
Tea with the <strong>AWC</strong>’s<br />
Honorary President<br />
22 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 23
Liduine Bekman - Our Very Own<br />
Amazing Artist-in-Residence<br />
by Jan Essad and Sunita Menon<br />
Yes! Artistic talent abounds in our<br />
Club… Just look at our Member and<br />
volunteer, Liduine Bekman. We are<br />
thrilled to present the beauty of the ocean<br />
through Liduine’s extraordinary watercolors<br />
at our Clubhouse over the next few months.<br />
capture the beauty of mother nature’s endless<br />
offerings, have led her to profound success<br />
as a watercolor artist.<br />
In her artist statement, Liduine talks about<br />
growing up in the Netherlands within walking<br />
distance of the sea, and of being inspired as<br />
an adult while living on the Gulf of Mexico<br />
in Texas as well as near the Mediterranean, in<br />
the Bahamas and on the east coast of Florida.<br />
We believe the affirmation must be true: if<br />
you do what you love, success follows. Her<br />
love for the ocean and her fascination for<br />
its many creatures, along with her desire to<br />
24 GOING DUTCH<br />
When we first spoke with Liduine about<br />
showing her art here at the <strong>AWC</strong>, as our first<br />
Artist-in-Residence, we asked for her biography<br />
to write this article. She offered to send us<br />
her artist statement and an abbreviated resume.<br />
When we received it, we were blown away<br />
by all that Liduine has accomplished. All her<br />
accolades, exhibits and awards speak for themselves<br />
and provide a glimpse of how much her<br />
work is admired. Not only was she the recipient<br />
of the coveted National Watercolor Society<br />
First Place, along with countless other awards<br />
across the US, her artwork is part of many<br />
major collections in the US. Among them are<br />
Jean-Jacques Cousteau (Cousteau Foundation),<br />
the City of Houston, hotel chains including<br />
Hilton, Marriott and Wydham and company<br />
collections to include IBM and Exxon.<br />
Liduine has also shown her work in<br />
many solo exhibitions throughout the US,<br />
the Bahamas and Europe. The most prestigious<br />
among them: Pulchri Studios in The<br />
Hague, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the<br />
Netherlands, Brickell Square Gallery in Miami<br />
and the World Trade Center in New Orleans<br />
upon invitation from the <strong>Dutch</strong> government.<br />
After living in the US for over 50 years,<br />
Liduine now lives in the Statenkwartier in The<br />
Hague. We are very grateful and privileged that<br />
Liduine is sharing her talent with all of us by<br />
gracing our Clubhouse walls with her remarkable<br />
watercolors until the end of January. If<br />
you have not had a chance to see her work, be<br />
sure to come by the <strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse during<br />
open hours, pick up a brochure and admire the<br />
beautiful ocean and its wonderful creatures.<br />
If you are interested in purchasing<br />
Liduine’s artwork at the Club, information<br />
and a pricelist are available upon request from<br />
the Front Desk Volunteer. You may also visit<br />
Liduine’s website: liduinebekman.com.<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 25
Why Not Use the Clubhouse for<br />
a Meeting or Event?<br />
by Jan Essad and Sunita Menon<br />
Did you know that the <strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse is available to rent for events and activities,<br />
even if that event or activity is not Club-related? If you are planning a party, a business<br />
meeting or you know someone who is looking for a place for a function, this could<br />
be the perfect space. Here is a little information about renting the Clubhouse.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Member Rentals<br />
There are two types of rentals offered to <strong>AWC</strong> Members:<br />
1. Free rentals are available for events that are not-for-profit or a one-time activity, such<br />
as a birthday party.<br />
2. Paid rentals are offered for events that are for-profit or to promote a business at a<br />
standard fee of € 40 for six hours plus € 20 per hour for additional hours, or € 90 for a<br />
full-day event.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Business Member Rentals<br />
This rental is designed to support our Business Members. The rental fee is based on the<br />
number of <strong>AWC</strong> Members and non-member attendees but will never exceed an amount of<br />
€ 40.<br />
Non-member Rentals<br />
Non-members may rent the Clubhouse for a one-time activity or ongoing events. The rental<br />
fee is € 50 for six hours plus € 20 per hour for additional hours, or € 100 for an all-day rental.<br />
Refundable Deposit<br />
For all types of rental, a refundable deposit is required. Members pay between € 50 and<br />
€150 depending on the event, while non-members pay a € 150 deposit. Based on the condition<br />
of the Clubhouse after the event, it will be determined how much of the deposit will<br />
be refunded.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> and the Arts<br />
by Jane Choy, <strong>AWC</strong> Member and Mauritshuis Docent<br />
Guided Tour of Femmes Fatales –<br />
Strong Women in Fashion<br />
“That little seamstress” is how the renowned<br />
Coco Chanel was once disdainfully<br />
described by her contemporary, Paul Poiret.<br />
He targeted her because she was a woman,<br />
but in fact he saw her has a major competitor.<br />
Times have changed, and more fashion<br />
houses are now run by women than ever<br />
before. A perfect moment, therefore, for an<br />
exhibition that focuses on strong women in<br />
fashion. Femmes Fatales will be the first<br />
exhibition in fashion history to focus exclusively<br />
on female designers. Do they design<br />
differently for women than their male counterparts?<br />
What influence have they had?<br />
What does being a woman mean in terms<br />
of their creations? And what is their vision<br />
for fashion?<br />
The exhibition will include work by Coco<br />
Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin, Elsa Schiaparelli,<br />
Mary Quant, Vivienne Westwood, Sonia<br />
RSVP for all Arts Activities directly on<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> GroupSpaces.com<br />
Direct any questions to jechoy@me.com<br />
Rykiel, Miuccia Prada, Maria Grazia Chiuri<br />
(Dior), as well as <strong>Dutch</strong> greats like Fong<br />
Leng, Sheila de Vries and Iris van Herpen,<br />
and many others. For further information,<br />
contact Jane Choy at jechoy@me.com.<br />
Wednesday, January 23<br />
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.<br />
Gemeente Museum, Den Haag<br />
€ 10 Members / € 15 Non-Members<br />
Museum entrance fee of € 13.50 not<br />
included (Entrance is free with Museum<br />
Card)<br />
Maximum 20 / Minimum 12<br />
Registration/Cancellation Deadline:<br />
January 13. (It is possible to sign up<br />
after this date if there is space.)<br />
Sign up on GroupSpaces<br />
So, if you are looking<br />
for a great place to have<br />
your event, consider<br />
your Clubhouse. Please<br />
be sure to share this<br />
information with friends<br />
and colleagues, as it just<br />
may be the perfect place<br />
for their upcoming event.<br />
For more information,<br />
please contact the <strong>AWC</strong><br />
Clubhouse Managers<br />
Jan Essad and Sunita<br />
Menon at awcthehague.<br />
clubhousemgr@gmail.<br />
com. We’ll see you at the<br />
Clubhouse!<br />
26 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 27
<strong>Dec</strong>ember <strong>2018</strong><br />
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat<br />
1<br />
2 3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m<br />
Chat, Craft & Cake 10 a.m.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Tennis 1 p.m.<br />
Chocolate and Holocaust<br />
Sculpture Tour 10 a.m.<br />
Wassenaar Coffee and<br />
Conversation 9:30 a.m.<br />
Democracy and Royalty in<br />
the Netherlands 2 p.m.<br />
Pearl Party 7 p.m.<br />
9 10<br />
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m<br />
Happy Hanukkah<br />
11<br />
Chat, Craft & Cake 10 a.m.<br />
Heart Pillow Workshop<br />
Noon<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Tennis 1 p.m.<br />
Aachen Christmas Market<br />
& Tour<br />
12<br />
Buddy Check 12<br />
Daytime Book Club<br />
Christmas Party off site<br />
11 a.m.<br />
Evening Book Club off site<br />
7:30 p.m.<br />
13<br />
Coffee 10 a.m.<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember General Meeting/<br />
Potluck Lunch<br />
10:30 a.m.<br />
Thirsty Thursday 6 p.m.<br />
14 15<br />
16 17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20 21 22<br />
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m<br />
Chat, Craft & Cake 10 a.m.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Tennis 1 p.m.<br />
Out to Lunch Bunch<br />
Christmas Lunch Noon<br />
Clubhouse Closed <strong>Dec</strong>ember 19 – January 7<br />
23 24 25 26 27 28 29<br />
Merry Christmas<br />
Clubhouse Closed <strong>Dec</strong>ember 19 – January 7<br />
30 31<br />
Clubhouse Closed <strong>Dec</strong>ember 19 – January 7<br />
Save the Dates:<br />
January 10: Women With <strong>Dutch</strong> Partners Holiday Party<br />
January 16: Defend Yourself Class<br />
January 17: Winter Kick Off<br />
February 21: Handbag Auction<br />
28 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 29
Club and Community<br />
by Naya Pessoa<br />
Holiday Drives—Sinterklaas<br />
Gifts & Toiletries<br />
The holiday season starts early in the<br />
Netherlands, with children receiving their<br />
gifts on <strong>Dec</strong>ember 5, or Sinterklaasavond,<br />
the traditional day when Sinterklaas (Saint<br />
Nicholas) delivers gifts. While this celebration<br />
can be exciting for both children and<br />
parents, there are some families who are<br />
struggling during this time. The <strong>AWC</strong> has<br />
been running several holiday drives that<br />
aim to alleviate some of that added pressure<br />
during the holidays. Children’s toys and<br />
other items were gathered and beautifully<br />
wrapped by a dedicated team of volunteers<br />
(stay tuned for the January/February edition<br />
for pictures and highlights!). As if our volunteers<br />
don’t do enough, they also aimed to<br />
collect 100 “Blessing Bags” filled with toiletries<br />
that were also shared with families.<br />
The organization receiving the donations is<br />
“The Oasis” branch of the Stek Den Haag<br />
organization, which focuses on neighborhood<br />
and community outreach to marginalized<br />
populations, both <strong>Dutch</strong> and refugees,<br />
living in The Hague.<br />
This year’s holiday drives were organized<br />
by the ever-inspirational Holly Savoie, who<br />
tirelessly dedicates her time and energy, and<br />
we cannot thank you enough!<br />
Wrapping baked goods<br />
for the Holiday Bazaar<br />
Bake Sale. Tune in<br />
next month for the<br />
full Holiday Bazaar<br />
coverage!<br />
30 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 31
Credit: NPR & Marco Borggreve<br />
The <strong>Dutch</strong> Daily<br />
by Eileen Harloff<br />
New Conductor<br />
Historically speaking, it is highly fitting<br />
that the new 26th Music Director of the<br />
New York Philharmonic Orchestra is <strong>Dutch</strong><br />
Conductor Jaap van Zweden. His premier<br />
concert took place in October and received<br />
a standing ovation. Born in Amsterdam in<br />
1960, he began his music career at the age<br />
of five when he started playing the violin.<br />
When he was 16, he won the National Violin<br />
Competition and was granted a 2-year<br />
scholarship to study at the Juliard School<br />
of Music, which is adjacent to the home<br />
of the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln<br />
Center. Once back in the Netherlands, at the<br />
age of 18, he became the youngest leader of<br />
the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra.<br />
It was there that he met Guest Conductor<br />
Leonard Bernstein, who encouraged him to<br />
become a conductor, which he subsequently<br />
did. In the following years he has headed<br />
orchestras in many countries around the<br />
world, either on a permanent or a guest basis,<br />
and is considered a “world top” in his<br />
chosen career.<br />
Delft Symphony<br />
NBTC Marketing, whose task is to sell the<br />
Netherlands to the rest of the world, has<br />
chosen “Rembrandt and the Golden Age” as<br />
its theme for 2019, with the aim of attracting<br />
tourists interested in culture. Among the cities<br />
planning special exhibitions and events<br />
are Amsterdam, Middleburg, Dordrecht,<br />
Leiden, The Hague, Haarlem, Hoorn and<br />
Enschede. The city of Delft has chosen to<br />
emphasize its musical side by commissioning<br />
a symphony that would characterize its<br />
unique past, present and future. Its Royal<br />
Wind Orchestra chose the well-known<br />
Belgian composer Kevin Houben, who<br />
some years ago wrote a City Symphony for<br />
the Belgian city of Peer, which had its world<br />
premiere in 2017 by the National Symphony<br />
Orchestra of Belgium. The premiere of the<br />
Delft City Symphony is scheduled for May<br />
2019.<br />
Whistler-Blowers Haven<br />
It’s unique, it’s one of its kind, it’s a place<br />
where people can go for advice and help<br />
who see misdeeds in their workplace or<br />
government department but don’t know<br />
how to report it. And, if they dare to do so,<br />
how to survive the consequences. It’s called<br />
the Huis voor Klokkenluiders (Whistleblowers<br />
House), located in Utrecht, and is<br />
headed by Paul Loven, former member of<br />
the Board of Management of ABN-Amro<br />
bank and pension organization PGGM. The<br />
Huis is an independent organization where<br />
advice, protection, independent investigations,<br />
and even expert psychological help<br />
are available for whistle-blowers. Lobbying<br />
for this organization dates back to 2001, and<br />
to five <strong>Dutch</strong> Cabinet changes. It can now<br />
show that the long fight has been successfully<br />
concluded.<br />
Almere-Lelystad Wins the Prize<br />
Recently the NS (Netherlands Railroad<br />
Company) asked customers to cast a vote<br />
for what they considered to be the country’s<br />
prettiest railroad journey from a list of<br />
possibilities. Some 4,394 votes were cast.<br />
37% chose the railroad line Almere Central<br />
– Lelystad Central, 25% voted for the line<br />
Sittard-Maastricht, and 17% were in favor<br />
Credit: FlexNieuws<br />
Credit: Florint.org Credit: LelystadGeeftLucht.nl<br />
of Haarlem – Zandvoort aan Zee. The NS<br />
has made an audio tour of the winning line,<br />
available through its app, which tells about<br />
highpoints along the route relating to culture,<br />
nature and history.<br />
Flower Auction Results<br />
Over the past year, some 12 billion flowers<br />
and plants were sold at the Auction Center<br />
Royal Holland in Westland, to the tune of<br />
€ 4.7 billion. The category of Cut Flowers<br />
was, as always, the largest group that was<br />
produced, and accounted for € 2.7 billion.<br />
Room Plants fetched €1.6 billion and<br />
Garden Plants garnered around € 400 million.<br />
On the other hand, sales by way of the traditional<br />
auction clock declined as increasingly<br />
more business was done via direct sales.<br />
Last year 43% of the total turnover was<br />
carried out via the auction clock, with the<br />
remainder 56% through direct buying from<br />
grower to client. This is a trend that has been<br />
growing over past years, and has serious implications<br />
for the Auction Center’s future.<br />
Love at Birds Sight<br />
An ill male parrot was brought into a police<br />
station in The Hague and from there<br />
was transferred to The Hague Animal<br />
Ambulance where he was put in an incubator<br />
to recover. Once he was warmed up and<br />
had a drink of water, he seemed quite chipper.<br />
The following day at approximately the<br />
same spot, a female of the species was spied<br />
and rescued. The two were put together in a<br />
cage where it soon became apparent that the<br />
male was urging the female to eat, and from<br />
time to time he would give her a cuddle.<br />
When she would not react to his advances,<br />
he would make encouraging sounds.<br />
Gradually they became good friends and received<br />
the names of Romeo and Julia. Now<br />
the Animal Ambulance finds that they are in<br />
good health and can be adopted—but only if<br />
they can go together.<br />
In Short<br />
• Groningen is the first city in the<br />
Netherlands to forbid smoking on the<br />
streets, except in designated areas. This<br />
applies not only to cigarettes, but to all<br />
kinds of smoking. The ban was initiated<br />
by requests from various city establishments,<br />
i.e. hospitals, stores, etc. Should<br />
someone smoke in a forbidden area, the<br />
police may be called in to enforce the<br />
ban.<br />
• In anticipation of New Year’s celebrations,<br />
the City of The Hague will<br />
be passing out eye glasses to protect<br />
children in all primary and secondary<br />
school classes, as well as in neighborhood<br />
centers and other places where<br />
young people tend to gather. This follows<br />
a decision taken by the City<br />
Council to urge all schools to give extra<br />
attention to the safe use of fireworks.<br />
• An Albert Heijn grocery store in the<br />
town of Sint-Michielsgestel has initiated<br />
a weekly quiet hour for people<br />
who are susceptible to various stimuli,<br />
such as noise and confusion. Customers<br />
who are autistic, overanxious or suffering<br />
from burn-out or brain damage,<br />
can shop on Tuesday mornings from<br />
8 to 9 a.m. They receive a map of the<br />
store and can shop without experiencing<br />
disturbances such as the ringing of<br />
a cash register or the noise of refilling<br />
bins. Posters at the entrance of the shop<br />
inform customers of this “stimulus-free<br />
hour”.<br />
32 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 33
F<strong>AWC</strong>O Corner<br />
by Julie Mowat, <strong>AWC</strong> The Hague F<strong>AWC</strong>O Representative<br />
Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas, a United Nations NGO with<br />
consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council<br />
www.fawco.org.<br />
F<strong>AWC</strong>O Development Grants<br />
The deadline for F<strong>AWC</strong>O Foundation<br />
Development Grant Awards is January<br />
27. Please check out fawcofoundation.<br />
org for more information on how to apply<br />
on behalf of your favorite charity. F<strong>AWC</strong>O<br />
Foundation awards many educational grants<br />
to members of F<strong>AWC</strong>O’s Member Clubs.<br />
If you are a Member of <strong>AWC</strong> The Hague,<br />
you and your children are eligible to apply.<br />
Most grants are $5,000 each. In addition to<br />
college scholarships, there are a few unique<br />
ones, such as:<br />
• Dual Cultural Award, $5,000, sponsored<br />
in part by the <strong>AWC</strong> Bern and<br />
Donna Erismann in memory of Susanne<br />
Erismann. This award may be used to<br />
attend a semester or year of American<br />
high school or an academic or structured<br />
educational summer program in<br />
the US.<br />
• FAUSA Skills Enhancement Award,<br />
$5,000. This award is for a F<strong>AWC</strong>O or<br />
FAUSA member to acquire new skills<br />
or enhance already existing skills to<br />
become more capable, competent and<br />
confident and will improve performance<br />
in any given field.<br />
See fawcofoundation.org for more info!<br />
Pillow Project Helps Children<br />
Stay in Families<br />
The Pillow Project is our Club’s latest<br />
Development Grant winner, submitted<br />
by <strong>AWC</strong> The Hague Member and Stahili<br />
founder Michelle Oliel. It has made a big<br />
impact!<br />
34 GOING DUTCH<br />
The <strong>2018</strong> Effecting Change for Women<br />
& Children Development Grant in the<br />
Human Rights category, funded by F<strong>AWC</strong>O<br />
Alumnae USA, was awarded to The Pillow<br />
Project to Stop Child Trafficking, a project<br />
of the Stahili Foundation, based in<br />
Murang’a County, Kenya. The project was<br />
nominated by <strong>AWC</strong> The Hague which has<br />
been supporting the organization for four<br />
years. Stahili means “to deserve” in Swahili,<br />
and the Foundation works to help children<br />
living in orphanages in Kenya return home<br />
where they deserve to live. Most children<br />
living in orphanages in Kenya have family<br />
who cannot care for them because of poverty.<br />
Families are often tricked into giving up<br />
their children under the false promise of<br />
food and education, when they are instead<br />
trafficked and exploited for the benefit of orphanage<br />
operators. Stahili works to end this<br />
practice and develop solutions to ensure that<br />
children can return safely to their families<br />
and communities with the support needed<br />
for them to stay together.<br />
The Effecting Change Development Grant<br />
will provide much-needed support in a<br />
crucial area of family-based care, improving<br />
the living conditions of children in the<br />
home, and in particular, the resources available<br />
for sleep and rest. Having a good bed<br />
and consistent, high-quality sleep has a<br />
demonstrated positive impact on children’s<br />
health and education outcomes as well as<br />
family life and are vital for children to flourish,<br />
learn, grow, and develop a secure sense<br />
of their home environment. F<strong>AWC</strong>O’s support<br />
will allow the Pillow Project to provide<br />
beds, sheets, pillows and blankets for 31<br />
children who have been institutionalized<br />
and trafficked, significantly contributing<br />
by Laura Suttles<br />
When I heard about the F<strong>AWC</strong>O<br />
Cruise for a Cause, I knew immediately<br />
I was going. The American<br />
Women’s Club of<br />
Genoa was the sponsor<br />
of this F<strong>AWC</strong>O Target<br />
Project Fundraising<br />
Cruise. The current<br />
Target Project is Hope<br />
Beyond Displacement,<br />
a training program for<br />
refugee women and<br />
girls in Jordan. Ann De<br />
Simoni from Genoa<br />
did an incredible job<br />
of organizing the<br />
cruise and making it<br />
fun for everyone who<br />
participated. I was<br />
joined on the cruise<br />
by several Members<br />
of our club: Georgia<br />
Regnault, Liduine<br />
Bekman, Jan Mills<br />
and Emily van Eerten<br />
and her mother Ginny<br />
Poe.<br />
Before our departure from Venice, we had<br />
the opportunity to pose on the Rialto Bridge<br />
and visit Piazza San Marco. Unfortunately,<br />
our time in Venice was far too short which<br />
means I must return someday! The next day<br />
we visited Bari, Italy and toured the city<br />
on foot. We spent the most time at Castello<br />
Svevo which was built around 1132 by<br />
Norman King Roger II. That evening was<br />
to an essential aspect of their lives—the time<br />
they spend sleeping and resting. Speaking<br />
of F<strong>AWC</strong>O’s support, Stahili’s Country<br />
Director Joseph Wanyoike Kimani stated,<br />
“Entire families rejoice when they see their<br />
children at home. F<strong>AWC</strong>O’s leadership will<br />
ensure that children remain in families.<br />
Families do belong together.”<br />
F<strong>AWC</strong>O Cruise for a Cause<br />
a welcome cocktail hour with a Chinese<br />
Raffle. It was an awesome opportunity to<br />
meet and greet the other passengers who<br />
were a part of the<br />
Cruise for a Cause.<br />
There were 56<br />
participants in all.<br />
The next day was<br />
a day at sea which<br />
I fully enjoyed in a<br />
deck chair soaking<br />
up the sun. Next up:<br />
Mykonos, where it<br />
rains only 20 days a<br />
year. We managed<br />
to be there on one of<br />
those days. However,<br />
we still enjoyed the<br />
history, scenery and<br />
food. The following<br />
two days were spent<br />
in Crete and Corfu.<br />
I truly enjoyed the<br />
Greek Isles, and the<br />
scenery was stunning.<br />
My favorite stop was<br />
our final day when we<br />
visited Dubrovnik, Croatia. We had the opportunity<br />
to walk the Walls of Dubrovnik,<br />
defensive stone walls built around the old<br />
city. The views were amazing.<br />
My time on this cruise was truly enjoyed. If<br />
you find yourself with the opportunity to go<br />
on a F<strong>AWC</strong>O cruise, I would highly recommend<br />
it!<br />
>> 36<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 35
36 GOING DUTCH<br />
F<strong>AWC</strong>O Cruise Collage
Message from the President (cont.)<br />
Continued from page 8<br />
Once again, <strong>AWC</strong> The Hague will<br />
hold its popular Handbag Auction,<br />
to benefit F<strong>AWC</strong>O’s Hope Beyond<br />
Displacement.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Clubhouse<br />
Thursday, February 21<br />
Starting at 1 p.m.<br />
NEW this year: We’re adding art to the auction!<br />
Come enjoy bites and drinks, while bidding on handbags, art and<br />
accessories.<br />
a more casual event remains to be seen. I<br />
do know that Michelle and Deana have<br />
already started researching venues, possible<br />
beneficiaries, and themes, and I’m certain<br />
whatever they decide, it will be fun and enable<br />
the Club to continue our philanthropic efforts.<br />
Even before Michelle and Deana hopped on<br />
the volunteer train, four Members told me<br />
they want to be on the committee. Thank<br />
you to Ceci Wong, Hilde Volle, Dena<br />
Haggerty, and Anna-Lena Thuren-Vogel.<br />
If you’re interested in joining the team, please<br />
contact Michelle and Deana, our co-chairs, at<br />
awcthehague.benefitevent@gmail.com.<br />
A fairly large segment of our new<br />
Members work full-time and I’ve had several<br />
requests that we offer more evening<br />
events. The requests have been heard and<br />
Elizabeth Zeller, who is the Recruitment<br />
and Marketing Advisor at Leiden University,<br />
has taken on the challenge and is the Evening<br />
Events Chair, with Belgin Gulec-Genc working<br />
with Elizabeth. These events are open to<br />
all Members, and offer more opportunities<br />
for social activities. Please check the <strong>AWC</strong><br />
website’s calendar, eNews, Facebook, and<br />
<strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong> for weeknight and weekend<br />
evening functions.<br />
Thirsty Thursdays is one of our Club’s<br />
most popular evening activities and some<br />
of the husbands and partners want their own<br />
Thursday evening outing. If your significant<br />
other is interested in a poker night, look for<br />
information in eNews and our Facebook page<br />
about when and where the first poker night<br />
will be held. Seems only fair!<br />
If you volunteered at the Holiday Bazaar<br />
or participated in any way, shape, or form,<br />
THANK YOU! You may have heard about<br />
one of the biggest moments that weekend<br />
when Emily van Eerten, our long-time raffle<br />
chair, called her own name as the winner of<br />
the raffle’s grand prize. Marcel Vermeulen,<br />
a long-time sponsor of our Club, donated an<br />
aquamarine and diamond necklace and the<br />
winning ticket was pulled out of the raffle<br />
box by a six-month old baby sitting on his<br />
mom’s lap watching all the activity. Emily’s<br />
reaction brought many of us to tears while<br />
others gave her a standing ovation. Wear it<br />
in good health, Emily! Please look for a full<br />
rundown of the two-day Holiday Bazaar in<br />
our January/February issue of <strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong>.<br />
Where are you heading for the holidays?<br />
Wherever you go, or if you are planning a<br />
staycation, enjoy. After all, this is the most<br />
wonderful time of the year. Happy holidays<br />
to you, your family, and to all the fabulous<br />
women of the <strong>AWC</strong>. See you next year!<br />
Tot ziens…<br />
Suzanne<br />
<strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong> is Available Online<br />
Go to www.awcthehague.org to share the current month’s issue with friends and family. You<br />
will also find links to our annual advertisers, whose support makes this magazine possible. If<br />
you visit or contact one of our advertisers, let them know<br />
<strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong> sent you!<br />
38 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 39
High Altitude Trekking – Part II<br />
by Melissa White<br />
Heading Down<br />
What goes up must come down, and so our<br />
adventure in Nepal continued after achieving<br />
our goal of trekking to Everest Base Camp<br />
(EBC). Overall, heading down the mountain<br />
was easier, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.<br />
Not only did we still have plenty of uphills<br />
to contend with – every day we encountered<br />
a constant series of up and down referred to<br />
as “Nepali Flat” – but some of the downhills<br />
were crazy steep. Although I’ve never had<br />
knee problems, my right knee became swollen<br />
and sore. There’s no ice where there’s no<br />
refrigeration, but luckily Teresa had brought<br />
along an extra neoprene brace, which helped<br />
greatly to alleviate the pain. Although we<br />
were following the same route that we had<br />
taken up, the scenery looked quite different<br />
from the other direction. More than once we<br />
asked our guide, Ishor, if he was sure that<br />
we had travelled this way before. He just<br />
laughed.<br />
I often joked that we were on a High Altitude<br />
Detox Program of no alcohol and no meat.<br />
In an effort to prevent altitude sickness, we<br />
avoided alcohol – with the exception of a<br />
celebration over a few warm Everest Beers<br />
with Ishor and our porters after our 11th day<br />
40 GOING DUTCH<br />
of trekking. We had also been warned to stay<br />
away from meat due to the lack of refrigeration<br />
on the mountain. That was especially<br />
difficult for Kent, who gave in and had pizza<br />
with tuna several times after being assured<br />
that Ishor always checked the expiration<br />
dates on the cans of tuna first. Carlin is a vegetarian,<br />
so it was easy for her. Teresa and I are<br />
flexitarians who also had no problem sticking<br />
with a purely vegetarian diet. Every night I<br />
ate dal bhat, a traditional Nepali meal of lentil<br />
soup, rice and vegetable curry, and never<br />
grew tired of it. I added one unexpected item<br />
to my detox list along the way: news. After<br />
seeing yet another disconcerting headline on<br />
my BBC app on our third day, I decided that<br />
I was done checking the news until my return.<br />
It turned out that it was easier to give<br />
up than I’d expected: we had access to WiFi<br />
on only 5 of the 15 days. While I was willing<br />
to pay for WiFi at the teahouses, I was much<br />
too cheap to pay the exorbitant fees for 3G<br />
roaming.<br />
On the way up, we had visited Tengboche<br />
Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery<br />
originally built in 1916 and rebuilt in 1934 after<br />
a devastating earthquake. Unfortunately,<br />
photography wasn’t allowed inside; I have<br />
no photos of the amazingly vibrant murals<br />
covering the walls. Our timing wasn’t right<br />
to attend a service, but when we passed back<br />
through on our way down we were lucky<br />
enough to witness a marching band of monks<br />
playing drums, shells and horns with no obvious<br />
melody or harmony. Ishor informed us<br />
that they were marching down to the lodge<br />
we had just left so they could meet with the<br />
chief lama of the region.<br />
We rarely encountered trekkers coming<br />
up towards us, as it turned out that Lukla<br />
Airport had been fogged in for days. The<br />
most intrepid of trekkers could take a bus<br />
from Kathmandu to Jiri and then hike for<br />
eight to ten days to Lukla, although we didn’t<br />
come across a lot of folks that dedicated. It<br />
was a big reminder that, while weather had<br />
completely disrupted many other trekkers’<br />
vacations and had caused the cancellation of<br />
Kent’s planned climb of Island Peak, we had<br />
been extremely lucky. Looks like my chats<br />
with Mother Nature paid off. We were also<br />
very fortunate that we had an extended itinerary.<br />
The traditional trekking itinerary allows<br />
just three days for the return trip from<br />
EBC to Lukla. However, because Kent had<br />
booked a side trip, we had three extra days<br />
to hike down, which allowed us to take our<br />
time rather than rushing down to Lukla only<br />
to be stuck there. This was also advantageous<br />
because I needed extra time: I was still slow<br />
despite the lower altitudes.<br />
With each passing day we got faster and<br />
faster at stuffing our sleeping bags, clothes<br />
and toiletries back into our duffel bags. This<br />
helped to make our mornings more relaxed,<br />
and sometimes we even got to sleep in. We<br />
only had one actual rest day; Ishor recommended<br />
that we stay in Phakding an extra >> 42<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 41
High Altitude Trekking (cont.)<br />
Continued from page 41<br />
night rather than get caught up in the madness<br />
of the closed airport in Lukla. We all<br />
agreed that was an excellent idea.<br />
When most of the beautiful views were obscured<br />
by dense clouds on what we expected<br />
to be our final day of hiking, we were extra<br />
lucky that Ishor spotted a white monkey high<br />
in a tree; he said it was the first time he’d ever<br />
seen one in the region. Another big surprise<br />
came when we went up a hill and discovered<br />
that we had already reached the entrance to<br />
the national park and the official end to our<br />
EBC trek. We had done it! We had hiked the<br />
entire way to EBC and back.<br />
I was much more observant during our walk<br />
through the village of Lukla this time around;<br />
I noticed that it had proper flat paving down<br />
its main “street” and evenly spaced stairs<br />
rather than the usual uneven steps made of<br />
rocks that we found in the other villages. It<br />
was so foggy that we couldn’t even see the<br />
runway when we walked past it.<br />
Escaping the Himalayas<br />
There were no planes flying in or out of<br />
Lukla the day that we arrived, so we turned<br />
our attention to chartering a helicopter to<br />
make our escape. We were joined by another<br />
trekker with Himalayan Wonders:<br />
Sebastian, a 19-year-old from England, who<br />
didn’t want to miss his international flight<br />
either. Unfortunately, helicopters were also<br />
unable to take off or land at the airport, so<br />
we spent the night in Lukla as originally<br />
planned.<br />
The big surprise the next morning was that<br />
we were going to hike yet again. Rather<br />
than sitting out the clouds in Lukla, we were<br />
going to descend another 2,000 feet (600<br />
meters) to 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) in an<br />
attempt to catch a helicopter ride off the<br />
mountain. Ishor scared me with his worry<br />
about my ability to do this trail; he said most<br />
groups can complete it in about one hour, but<br />
that it would take us two. Either way, to cover<br />
that much distance in that short of time meant<br />
the trail must be pretty steep.<br />
Sebastian and his guide joined our group of<br />
five with either me or Ishor setting the pace.<br />
We started on a narrow path hugging the<br />
fence to the airport. Eventually we got to the<br />
end of the fence and could see firsthand how<br />
the runway just ends at a cliff. We then slowly<br />
made our way mostly down, but sometimes<br />
up, in the usual Nepali way. Unlike our<br />
other paths, we weren’t in trekker territory<br />
anymore, but rather a rural area interspersed<br />
with houses. It was actually a lovely trail as<br />
the terrain became more tropical like a rainforest.<br />
As always, the steps were uneven, and<br />
we had to hop from rock to rock to avoid getting<br />
too muddy.<br />
After getting distracted while trying to take<br />
a photo of a waterfall, I managed to lose my<br />
footing. I felt like an idiot for slipping in the<br />
mud, but jumped right back up. Teresa and<br />
Carlin were concerned and asked if I wanted<br />
to rest, but I turned them down. I figured that<br />
if I actually was injured it would be best to<br />
let the adrenaline carry me along; it turns out<br />
that I just had two small cuts and a bruise on<br />
my right hand and a cut behind my right knee.<br />
Frankly, it’s incredible that I only slipped one<br />
time during the 14 days of hiking as I am<br />
quite a klutz (shortly after I returned home,<br />
I tripped while walking to the train station,<br />
ripped my jeans and skinned my bad knee).<br />
Sebastian slipped six times that day, but luckily<br />
wasn’t injured at all. Everyone else managed<br />
to stay upright.<br />
Along the way, Ishor announced that our<br />
helicopter had left Kathmandu. We thought<br />
it would be landing just minutes behind<br />
us, but that’s not quite how it worked out.<br />
Eventually we came across a funny little sign<br />
that said “Surkey Helipad”. We turned down<br />
that narrow path past more houses. Luckily it<br />
widened just enough for us to get out of the<br />
way of a mule train. We walked along some<br />
cornfields and then reached our destination:<br />
a grassy field next to a small teahouse. We<br />
arrived around 10 a.m., two hours after we<br />
had left Lukla Just as Ishor had predicted. >> 44<br />
Travel4U@americantravelcenter.net/www.americantravelcenter.nl/tel. +3261234901<br />
“Our next holiday is<br />
a safari. They do<br />
the whole world!”<br />
“They make booking a<br />
holiday so easy. I just<br />
leave it to them!”<br />
“Every trip is<br />
customized, just for<br />
me! That’s unique!”<br />
42 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 43
High Altitude Trekking (cont.)<br />
Continued from page 43<br />
The skies were white above, but clear down<br />
below. It was quite exciting when the first helicopter<br />
arrived even though we knew that it<br />
was for one of the other two groups waiting.<br />
We were relieved when we arrived to find<br />
only ten other trekkers there before us, as we<br />
were concerned that there might have been<br />
dozens. As soon as the first helicopter left,<br />
another was preparing to land; alas, that one<br />
was also not ours.<br />
pressed that Kent managed<br />
the entire trek without hiking<br />
poles – they were an<br />
essential extension of my<br />
arms at all times. Luckily,<br />
we never needed any technical<br />
gear such as ropes or<br />
harnesses. I was also relieved<br />
that we never had<br />
to do any hand scrambling<br />
like on my training hike to<br />
Scafell Pike in England;<br />
personally, I prefer to hike<br />
with my feet rather than my<br />
hands.<br />
No sooner had the second one left than the<br />
clouds closed in. Our hopes of escape turned<br />
to worry that we might be stuck in that tiny<br />
teahouse overnight (we learned later that<br />
around 80 trekkers had been stuck there two<br />
nights previously and many had slept on<br />
the floor). By then another group had hiked<br />
down from Lukla; one trekker from Chicago<br />
said they’d been stuck in Lukla for five days<br />
and had already rebooked their flights home<br />
for an extra $1,000 each. It had started to<br />
rain, so we hunkered down and ordered<br />
hot drinks. Just as we were contemplating<br />
ordering lunch (either dal bhat or stir-fried<br />
noodles as they’d run out of all other options),<br />
Ishor rushed in to stop us, claiming<br />
that our helicopter was on its way. As we’d<br />
heard that before and it was still raining, we<br />
weren’t too hopeful, but were pleasantly<br />
surprised about ten minutes later when we<br />
heard the familiar whirring sound of the<br />
blades and the helicopter appeared through<br />
the mist.<br />
As soon as the pilot had finished a cup of<br />
coffee, we were told to grab our daypacks<br />
and start running. Our porters were already<br />
loading our duffel bags onboard. Unlike the<br />
previous pilot, whom we witnessed briefing<br />
his passengers before boarding, ours didn’t<br />
bother. We chose Teresa, the smallest, to get<br />
in the front and the rest of us piled into the<br />
back after quick hugs with Ishor. I wasn’t<br />
thrilled that I didn’t have a seatbelt (it was<br />
stuck under the seat), but luckily it didn’t<br />
matter.<br />
Perhaps our pilot was a bit of a cowboy or<br />
just a crazy risk taker, but he took off in<br />
that rain without saying a word. Eventually<br />
he tried putting on his seatbelt and needed<br />
Teresa’s help. Luckily it didn’t rain for the<br />
entire 51-minute journey. Though I wasn’t<br />
by a window, the views were still incredible.<br />
We followed the river for much of the way<br />
and saw lots of waterfalls. It was 40 minutes<br />
before I noticed the first road and cars; all<br />
of the villages and terraced farms we saw<br />
along the way had to be reached on foot or<br />
by animal. Even with the drama, it was a<br />
damn fine way to end an epic journey.<br />
Nitty Gritty<br />
For those of you who like details, it’s impossible<br />
to tell our tale without including some<br />
numbers. When it was all done and over,<br />
we had been on the mountain for 15 days.<br />
We had 14 days of hiking, of which 12 were<br />
moving from village to village and 2 were<br />
acclimatization “rest days” when we still<br />
hiked for about 4 hours each. Eight of those<br />
days were on the journey up to EBC and six<br />
were on our way down. Most days we hiked<br />
for six to eight hours, stopping for about<br />
an hour around noon for a hot lunch. We<br />
only had one actual rest day, which we spent<br />
writing in our journals, reading and playing<br />
cards. We also had one entirely unplanned<br />
hiking day that was not on our original itinerary:<br />
from the airport down to the helipad.<br />
My total distance was approximately 80<br />
miles (130k). Teresa, Carlin and Kent’s<br />
totals were approximately 85 miles (137k)<br />
each since they did the extra sunrise hike<br />
plus one extra leg on one of the acclimatization<br />
hikes. Our lowest point was the helipad<br />
at 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) and the highest<br />
we did together was EBC at<br />
17,600 feet (5,364 meters)<br />
for a net gain of 10,400 feet<br />
(3,164 meters). Of course,<br />
this doesn’t account for the<br />
Nepali Flat factor, which<br />
meant that we were always<br />
going up and down on any<br />
given day. Typical daily elevation<br />
changes were 1,300<br />
– 2,600 feet (400 – 800 meters).<br />
Although there was lots<br />
of snow on the peaks, we<br />
didn’t hike through any<br />
snow or ice. The worst<br />
weather that we encountered<br />
was some hail at EBC<br />
itself. I was incredibly im-<br />
All of our accommodations<br />
had electricity and at least one shared<br />
Western toilet; we slept in double rooms in<br />
sleeping bags on top of beds. We had three<br />
hot meals each day and the food was better<br />
than we expected.<br />
As difficult as the trek was, there was never<br />
a day that I woke up and didn’t want to hike.<br />
I’ve been asked several times if I’d do it again<br />
and my answer is consistently no. However,<br />
that doesn’t mean that I regret going – in fact<br />
the opposite is true: I’m thrilled that I went<br />
on this incredible journey. However, it was a<br />
once-in-a-lifetime adventure, thus there’s no<br />
need to repeat it. There are plenty of other<br />
treks to do in Nepal and beyond. Wonder<br />
what Kent will dream up for us next?<br />
44 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 45
Restaurant Recommendations<br />
by Audrey Goodman<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Member Jessie Rodell came up with the wonderful idea of adding a Restaurant<br />
Recommendations section to the magazine. This is a work in progress, so feedback is<br />
wanted and welcome. I’ve started with a few of my favorite restaurants, but I certainly<br />
hope future issues will contain selections from other Members. Please feel free to email your<br />
comments and recommendations to goingdutchmag@gmail.com.<br />
De Lof der Zotheid<br />
A cozy neighborhood restaurant, with a<br />
good wine list.<br />
Breitnerlaan 84, 2596 HD, Den Haag<br />
070 324 1782<br />
lofderzotheid.nl<br />
<strong>Dutch</strong>, Seafood, European<br />
€€ - €€€<br />
Monday – Sunday,<br />
5 p.m. – Midnight<br />
Made in Sud<br />
Amazing food, wonderful presentation, and<br />
exceptional service.<br />
Molenstraat 9A, 2513 BH, Den Haag<br />
070 365 2278<br />
facebook.com/madeinsuddenhaag<br />
Italian, Mediterranean, European<br />
€€ - €€€<br />
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday,<br />
2 p.m. – 11 p.m.<br />
Friday – Sunday,<br />
12:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.<br />
Ruiseñor<br />
Emotional cuisine. Interested? Check it out!<br />
Denneweg 120, 2514 CL, Den Haag<br />
070 514 7049<br />
ruisenorrestaurant.nl<br />
Mexican, Latin, Seafood<br />
€€ - €€€<br />
Tuesday – Sunday,<br />
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.<br />
46 GOING DUTCH<br />
Announcements<br />
Winter Fair<br />
The Ahoy in Rotterdam will be transformed<br />
into a winter wonderland from <strong>Dec</strong>ember 5<br />
– 9. In a cozy atmosphere, you can get in the<br />
mood for the holidays with booths featuring<br />
home decorations, wellness and leisure.<br />
There will also be fashion shows, workshops<br />
and entertainment.<br />
Wednesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 5 –<br />
Sunday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 9<br />
Ahoyweg 10, Rotterdam<br />
www.winter-fair.nl<br />
Jack and the Beanstalk, a<br />
Pantomime<br />
Distinctively British, a panto is a popular<br />
form of family entertainment incorporating<br />
song, dance, slapstick comedy, cross-dressing,<br />
and audience participation. This holiday<br />
season, the Anglo-American Theatre Group<br />
(AATG) invites you to follow the exploits of<br />
Jack and his mother, Dame Trot, as they try<br />
to find the money to pay the rent before the<br />
nasty Baron throws them out of their house.<br />
Friday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 7 –<br />
Sunday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 9<br />
Theatre aan het Spui<br />
Spui 187, Den Haag<br />
www.aatg.nl<br />
The Arts Society Lecture –<br />
A Golden Touch of Klimt<br />
Being one of the most prominent figures<br />
in Vienna in the late 1800s, Klimt’s paintings<br />
with their glorious themes, bold colors<br />
and gold shocked an unsuspecting populace.<br />
Lecturer Gavin Plumley is a writer<br />
and broadcaster specializing in the art and<br />
culture of Vienna and Central Europe. His<br />
lecture will focus on the many changes in<br />
Klimt’s life which impacted his style and<br />
works. Nonmember fee is € 13.<br />
Tuesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 11 at 8 p.m.<br />
Doors open at 7:15 p.m.<br />
Cultural Centrum Warenar<br />
Kerkstraat 75, Wassenaar<br />
www.theartssocietythehague.org<br />
Lighting of Christmas Trees<br />
Delft: From 4 p.m. on Tuesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember<br />
11, there will be Christmas stalls and musicians<br />
in the main square. The Christmas<br />
tree will be lit at 7 p.m. to give light to the<br />
Dark Days of Delft. You can get warmed up<br />
with hot chocolate, gluhwein (spiced mulled<br />
wine) and erwtensoep (split pea soup).<br />
www.donkeredagenvandelft.nl<br />
The Hague: A traditional ceremony is held<br />
each year in honor of the Swedish Feast of<br />
Lucia during which Lucia, dressed in white<br />
and with candles in her hair, will bring light<br />
into the dark winter night. Join the Swedish<br />
Ambassador and the Mayor of The Hague in<br />
front of the Escher Museum for the lighting<br />
of the Swedish Christmas tree on Thursday,<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.<br />
Gouda: During the impressive illumination<br />
festival Gouda by Candlelight, on Friday,<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember 14 at 7 p.m., over 1,500 candles<br />
will be lit in Gouda’s historic city hall, while<br />
thousands more are aglow behind the >> 48<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 47
Announcements (cont.)<br />
Continued from page 47<br />
windows of the picturesque buildings surrounding<br />
Market Square. Street and shop<br />
lighting are switched off, lending a fairytale<br />
quality to this spectacle. Various choirs will<br />
be performing Christmas carols and the audience<br />
is encouraged to sing along. www.<br />
goudabijkaarslicht.nl<br />
Christmas Market for Dogs<br />
Dogs and their owners are invited to a special<br />
market of Christmas toys and snacks<br />
at Happy Critters, a long-time supporter of<br />
<strong>Going</strong> <strong>Dutch</strong>. Renske Natural Petfood will<br />
offer a tasting session for dogs from their<br />
Christmas menu. Ezydog will display their<br />
full range of leashes, collars and harnesses.<br />
There will be warm drinks for the owners,<br />
including gluhwein.<br />
Saturday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 15<br />
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.<br />
Weissenbruchstraat 63, Den Haag<br />
www.happycritters.nl<br />
48 GOING DUTCH<br />
Christmas Concerts<br />
Cecilia International Choir: This<br />
mixed voice group of 70 singers will perform<br />
Christmas Concerts in Voorburg<br />
on <strong>Dec</strong>ember 13 and in The Hague on<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember 18. www.cecilia-choir.com<br />
American Protestant Church of The<br />
Hague: The Choir will sing the powerful<br />
Magnificat by John Rutter and some<br />
African American Christmas Spirituals,<br />
supported with solos by students of the<br />
Royal Conservatory of The Hague. There<br />
will also be an opportunity for community<br />
singing. Entry is free, but donations are welcome.<br />
www.apch.nl<br />
Sunday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 16 at 4 p.m.<br />
Doors open at 3:30 p.m.<br />
Esther-de-Boer van Rijklaan 20,<br />
Den Haag<br />
Royal Christmas Fair<br />
This free fair has grown to be one of the<br />
Netherland’s largest Christmas markets. Its<br />
twinkling lights and familiar Christmas carols<br />
are bound to put you in a festive mood.<br />
Enjoy some gluhwein and flammkuchen<br />
while shopping for unique items among<br />
the 100 stalls. Entertainment will include<br />
performances by children’s choirs, theater<br />
groups and storytellers. Santa Claus will<br />
also make daily appearances.<br />
Friday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 14 –<br />
Sunday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 23<br />
Noon – 9 p.m.<br />
Lange Voorhout, Den Haag<br />
www.royalchristmasfair.nl<br />
Duivenvoorde at Christmas<br />
Duivenvoorde Castle in Voorschoten is<br />
decorated both inside and out with beautiful<br />
Christmas trees, a cozy market and<br />
sparkling decorations for the weekend of<br />
<strong>Dec</strong>ember 15 – 16. Take a winter walk over<br />
the noble estate and enjoy delicious, warm<br />
refreshments. Tickets should be pre-booked<br />
for tours of the castle.<br />
www.kasteelduivenvoorde.nl<br />
Dickens Festival<br />
A 19th century English city of Charles<br />
Dickens’ days will live again in full glory<br />
during the Dickens Festival in Deventer the<br />
weekend of <strong>Dec</strong>ember 15 – 16. Some 950<br />
characters will come to life from Dickens’<br />
celebrated books, including Scrooge, Oliver<br />
Twist and David Copperfield, along with<br />
Christmas carolers, orphans, drunkards and<br />
distinguished citizens. The shops will be<br />
open in the city center with markets on the<br />
main square on both days. Over 125,000<br />
visitors are anticipated for this free festival,<br />
so expect to wait approximately one hour at<br />
the entrance.<br />
www.dickensfestijn.nl<br />
<strong>Dutch</strong> Christmas Markets<br />
Leiden: From <strong>Dec</strong>ember 14 – 25, Leiden<br />
hosts the only floating Christmas market in<br />
the Netherlands. Entrance is free into the<br />
Winter Wonderland Village on the water of<br />
the Nieuwe Rijn with 86 decorated chalets<br />
filled with winter products, gifts, snacks<br />
and warm drinks. You will also find an iceskating<br />
rink on the canal from <strong>Dec</strong>ember 8<br />
– January 6. www.visitleiden.nl<br />
Dordrecht: From <strong>Dec</strong>ember 14 – 16,<br />
Dordrecht will host the largest Christmas<br />
market in the Netherlands with 200 stalls.<br />
In addition, there will be hot treats, live<br />
entertainment and an ice-skating rink. www.<br />
kerstmarktdordrecht.nl<br />
Valkenburg: Running until <strong>Dec</strong>ember 30,<br />
the Christmas Market in the Velvet Cave<br />
is the Netherlands’ most popular indoor<br />
Christmas event. This unique experience<br />
is a shopper’s delight with fairytale decor,<br />
seasonal music and a large variety of<br />
handmade local and international gifts. www.<br />
kerstmarkt-fluweelengrot.nl<br />
Countrywide: During <strong>Dec</strong>ember you<br />
will find other various Christmas markets<br />
throughout the Netherlands. For listings, go<br />
to www.hollandsemarkten.nl and click on<br />
Kerstmarkten.<br />
A Christmas Carol<br />
Ashley Ramsden, the world-famous storyteller<br />
from Great Britain, returns to perform<br />
this Christmas favorite on <strong>Dec</strong>ember 21 – 23<br />
at the Theatre aan het Spui in The Hague. He<br />
performs all 23 characters single-handed,<br />
which shows his formidable talents as a storyteller<br />
and actor. The program embraces the<br />
original masterpiece, transporting audiences<br />
back to Victorian England and conjuring up<br />
the sinister back alleys, cobblestone streets<br />
and ghostly apparitions that are the story’s<br />
hallmarks. Expect to be mesmerized by a story<br />
that is still relevant today in a world where<br />
there is a gulf in the distribution of wealth,<br />
influence and knowledge.<br />
www.theenglishtheatre.nl<br />
Alice in Wonderland<br />
This Christmas, De <strong>Dutch</strong> Do not Dance<br />
Division will bring to life the famous story by<br />
Lewis Caroll set to music by Tchaikovsky >> 50<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 49
Announcements (cont.)<br />
Continued from page 49<br />
New Year’s Dive<br />
Ice Sculpture Festival<br />
and with sets inspired by the wonderful<br />
world of <strong>Dutch</strong> graphic artist M.C. Escher.<br />
Tuesday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 25 –<br />
Friday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember 28<br />
Zuiderstrandtheater, Den Haag<br />
www.ddddd.nu<br />
CATS<br />
The London West End production of the<br />
musical classic by Andrew Lloyd Webber<br />
will be performed in English for the very<br />
first time in the Netherlands.<br />
Amsterdam: <strong>Dec</strong>ember 20 – January 13,<br />
at the RAI Theatre.<br />
Rotterdam: January 15 – 17, at the Lux<br />
Theatre.<br />
www.catsdemusical.nl<br />
Christmas Circuses<br />
There is no doubt that Christmas Circuses<br />
must be quite popular in the Netherlands as<br />
our region hosts two. Both feature spectacular<br />
acrobatics and hilarious clowns; for those<br />
curious, circuses are no longer allowed per<br />
<strong>Dutch</strong> law to feature wild animals.<br />
Rotterdam: <strong>Dec</strong>ember 22 – 30 at the Ahoy.<br />
www.kerstcircus.nl<br />
The Hague: <strong>Dec</strong>ember 22 – January 6 at<br />
the Malieveld. www.kerstcircusdenhaag.nl<br />
New Year’s Fireworks<br />
New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands is often<br />
celebrated with fireworks and our area has<br />
several large fireworks shows. Most cities<br />
shut down public transportation no later<br />
than 9 p.m., so please plan accordingly.<br />
Scheveningen: A giant bonfire will be<br />
built on the beach in the hopes to once again<br />
be the world’s largest. In addition to lighting<br />
the bonfire in a spectacular fashion at midnight,<br />
there will be fireworks and music.<br />
The Hague Centrum: The Hofvijver is the<br />
setting for a free festival with music starting<br />
at 10 p.m. and fireworks at midnight.<br />
Rotterdam: A lighted boat parade on the<br />
Maas starts at 10:30 p.m. At midnight, the<br />
most spectacular fireworks in the country<br />
will burst from the Erasmus Bridge with the<br />
best view from the Boompjeskade.<br />
www.hetnationalevuurwerk.nl<br />
The Netherlands boasts more than 135 locations<br />
where you can jump into the sea or a<br />
lake on New Year’s Day at noon. The largest<br />
dive is held at Scheveningen Beach, where<br />
10,000 people plunge into the sea each year.<br />
This spectacle is also great to watch from<br />
the sidelines. Which of our <strong>AWC</strong> Members<br />
will brave the cold waters this year? Tickets<br />
can’t be reserved, but must be purchased for<br />
€ 3 starting at 10:30 a.m.<br />
www.unox.nl/evenementen-detail<br />
Amsterdam Light Festival<br />
A unique experience in the darkest months<br />
of the year! Created by international artists<br />
especially for this festival, 30 works of art<br />
were chosen to depict this year’s theme of<br />
The Medium is the Message, which examines<br />
the role light plays as a medium or as a<br />
message. The exhibition can be admired by<br />
boat, bike or foot through January 20.<br />
www.amsterdamlightfestival.com<br />
Held in Zwolle from <strong>Dec</strong>ember 15 through<br />
March 3, this is Europe’s largest ice sculpture<br />
exhibit. The festival features over 100<br />
sculptures of ice and snow up to 20 feet<br />
(6 meters) high made of 606,275 pounds<br />
(275,000 kilos) of both ice and snow created<br />
by 40 of the best ice artists in the world.<br />
The theme this year is World Famous<br />
Stories. To keep the ice sculptures in top<br />
condition, it is 14°F (-10°C) in the large<br />
cooled event hall, so be sure to dress warmly.<br />
Although it is difficult to avoid long<br />
lines into the hall, you can avoid queuing<br />
at the box office by purchasing discounted<br />
tickets online.<br />
Ijsselhallen Zolle, Rieteweg 4, Zwolle<br />
www.ijsbeelden.nl<br />
Save the Date: MLK Dinner<br />
Mark your calendars to bring the whole<br />
family to the annual Dr. Martin Luther<br />
King Tribute and Dinner. Look for further<br />
details in the January issue.<br />
Sunday, January 27<br />
5:30 p.m.<br />
Hotel Den Haag - Wassenaar<br />
Zijdeweg 54, Wassenaar<br />
Grab Your Running Shoes<br />
The Hague’s Biggest Race: If you like to<br />
run, be sure not to miss The Hague’s 44nd<br />
CPC Loop on Sunday, March 10 starting at<br />
the Malieveld. There will be 45,000 runners<br />
including professionals and amateurs<br />
for distances ranging from 1K for kids to a<br />
half marathon. Don’t hesitate to register, as<br />
this event fills up every year.<br />
www.cpcloopdenhaag.nl<br />
50 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 51
Classifieds<br />
Bijoux-dor Gold &<br />
Silversmith<br />
Professionally trained gold<br />
and silversmith specializing<br />
in handmade and custom<br />
jewelry, and repairs. <strong>AWC</strong><br />
members are eligible for a<br />
10% discount on custom work.<br />
Visit my atelier at Noordeinde<br />
47, 1st floor, The Hague<br />
or call 0687598566 for an<br />
appointment or send an email<br />
to meriemoukil@hotmail.com.<br />
www.meriem-dor.com<br />
Items for Sale<br />
Exercise Bike—As New—<br />
Great Gift (Rossler R320hp<br />
speedbike 16kg) Cost new<br />
€259, now €95.<br />
Two solid old bikes 50.- each<br />
2 comfortable Foldaway Beds<br />
€45 each<br />
Litton US microwave oven<br />
€45. (Can be freestanding or<br />
built in.)<br />
Contact <strong>AWC</strong> Member Sheila<br />
010 4229511 in Rotterdam or<br />
sgazaleh@gmail.com<br />
Coffee & Taxes<br />
We file your:<br />
• <strong>Dutch</strong> income taxes<br />
• VAT tax<br />
• Migration forms<br />
• Benefits/ Toeslagen<br />
Plus<br />
financial/ governmental consultancy<br />
Contact me at:<br />
marielschouwink@gmail.com<br />
0625684010<br />
Transformational New<br />
Neuro Therapy<br />
available from Anel Smit, an<br />
experienced, professional<br />
Counsellor and International<br />
Coach for children, adults and<br />
seniors in <strong>Dutch</strong>, English and<br />
Afrikaans.<br />
www.anelsmit.com<br />
Multi-Level Neuro Processing <br />
Functional Therapy <br />
Creative Art Development<br />
0642463605<br />
www.icr-coachregister.com<br />
Expat Families in Transit &<br />
Work Life Balance<br />
Ingrid offers Child & Teens<br />
Counseling, Life Work<br />
Coaching, Accountability<br />
Coaching and Workshops<br />
& Training. Experienced<br />
Bilingual Psychosocial<br />
Therapist/Counselor &<br />
Coach. Certified NFG<br />
member. Check for Coverage<br />
Health Care Insurance.<br />
Contact 0640216544. FREE<br />
30 MIN CONSULTATION.<br />
imasselinkandreas@gmail.<br />
com<br />
www.ingridmasselinkandreas.<br />
com<br />
Index of Advertisers<br />
ACCESS<br />
page 30<br />
American Travel<br />
Center<br />
page 43<br />
Aveda Lifestyle<br />
Salon<br />
Inside Cover<br />
Beacon Financial<br />
Education<br />
Back Cover<br />
Frans Burgers<br />
Tapijt<br />
page 15<br />
Support Fellow <strong>AWC</strong> Members<br />
Find links to a large variety of businesses<br />
owned by <strong>AWC</strong> Members at www.<br />
awcthehague.org/site/newcomers/<br />
business-links<br />
Petros Eyewear<br />
page 11<br />
FRITSTAXI<br />
Ocean Dry<br />
Airport Service<br />
Cleaning<br />
Inside Back Cover<br />
page 19<br />
Happy Critters<br />
Playball Kids<br />
page 25<br />
page 21<br />
Marcel<br />
Sligro<br />
Vermeulen<br />
Jewelry<br />
page 11<br />
page 9<br />
VERHEY VAN<br />
WIJK brilmode<br />
page 17<br />
Wassalon<br />
Weissenbruch<br />
page 30<br />
Your Cleaning<br />
Service<br />
page 30<br />
The <strong>AWC</strong> is not responsible for accidents<br />
or injuries occurring at Club activities or<br />
on Club property. Sports and exercise<br />
instructors must carry their own liability<br />
insurance.<br />
Member Privacy<br />
Event information, suggestions or comments for eNews?<br />
Please send all eNews information to awcthehague.enews@gmail.com no later than end of day<br />
each Friday for the following week’s eNews.<br />
Please be reminded that the <strong>AWC</strong> Membership List is for <strong>AWC</strong> Member reference only and use of this<br />
information in any communication other than <strong>AWC</strong> official business is strictly prohibited. Members may<br />
not share the list with anyone other than another <strong>AWC</strong> Member in good standing and never to any<br />
third party.<br />
The <strong>AWC</strong> takes care to protect Member information and adherence to this policy is critical to maintain<br />
Member privacy. Members are asked to report suspected misuse of the list to any <strong>AWC</strong> Board Member.<br />
52 GOING DUTCH<br />
Rates<br />
Classified Mini-Ads:<br />
Deadline: In general, the 1st of the month prior to the<br />
month in which your ad will appear, although subject to<br />
change due to holiday schedule.<br />
<strong>AWC</strong> Member Rates:<br />
For 45 Words<br />
Non-Member Rates:<br />
For 45 Words<br />
For 25 Additional Words<br />
Per Issue € 15 € 8<br />
Eight Issues € 110 € 55<br />
For 25 Additional Words<br />
Per Issue € 10 € 5<br />
Eight Issues € 70 € 30<br />
How to Submit Your Ad:<br />
Email your ad to: goingdutchads@gmail.com<br />
Payment Information:<br />
Please indicate the name of your ad on your payment so that<br />
we are able to match up your payment with your ad.<br />
By Bank Transfer:<br />
ABN-AMRO<br />
43.14.21.757<br />
IBAN: NL42ABNA0431421757<br />
Display Ads:<br />
For full, half, third or quarter page commercial display ads,<br />
email our magazine staff at goingdutchads@gmail.com<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 53
Proost! Questionnaire<br />
Answers by Debbie van Hees-Cascio<br />
Why are you living in the Netherlands?<br />
I married a <strong>Dutch</strong>man 33 years ago!<br />
Give us a quick wrap-up of your family<br />
Husband: Ad; Daughters: Anneke (25) and<br />
Emma (23)<br />
What or who is the greatest love of your<br />
life?<br />
My wonderful husband, of course!<br />
What do you enjoy most about the <strong>AWC</strong>?<br />
Back when: Working in the library in the<br />
old Clubhouse and making life-long friends.<br />
These days I’m not as engaged as I could<br />
be…something to work on.<br />
What do you consider the most overrated<br />
virtue of being an expat?<br />
Hard to say as I ceased being an expat in<br />
1990 when I resigned from the US. Foreign<br />
Service to stay and raise a family. I’m a<br />
citizen of the world now…and quite enjoy it.<br />
What is the quality you most like in a friend?<br />
Loyalty<br />
What is your greatest travel extravagance?<br />
Paying for an extra bag to bring back clothes<br />
that fit from the US. I am a petite person<br />
living in the Land of the Giants.<br />
Which travel experience made you the<br />
happiest?<br />
Our family trip to Marrakech five years ago.<br />
What is your favorite travel purchase?<br />
Noise cancelling headphones<br />
Which locations haven’t been ticked off<br />
your bucket list?<br />
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Alaska…<br />
there are many.<br />
Where would you most like to live?<br />
Six months in The Hague and six months at<br />
our home in Vermont<br />
Who are your favorite writers?<br />
Paul Theroux and Pat Conroy<br />
Which talent would you most like to have?<br />
To play the piano<br />
What’s your hobby?<br />
Does screen addiction count as a hobby? If<br />
not, tennis and reading.<br />
Who are your heroes in real life?<br />
My mother, who I miss every day, and lately<br />
President Obama, who I also miss every day.<br />
What is your motto?<br />
Let’s get the hell out so we can get the hell<br />
home (from my dad but still in use!).<br />
What constitutes a “perfect” day for you?<br />
The wonderful summer and fall days we<br />
had this year for working in the garden and<br />
walking to the beach every evening<br />
54 GOING DUTCH<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong> 55