AWC Going Dutch January_February 2019

Proost! Questionnaire
Answers by Michelle Voorn
Why are you living in the Netherlands, and
when did you arrive?
My initiation to living in the Netherlands
was in 2000, of course, for love. Stayed
three years and then moved back to Houston.
Second round, same said love reason, and
this time work moved us back. We arrived in
June of 2018.
Give us a quick wrap-up of your family.
My birth family is all over the U.S. and my
brother is in Mexico City. In the Netherlands,
my Dutch (well-Texanized) husband Sander
and I have two Texas-born boys: Aidan (13)
and Liam (12).
What do you enjoy most about the AWC?
Probably like many before me have said, it
has taken away some of the loneliness of being
a newcomer and leaving home behind.
Not to mention, the social activities are so
varied, from art, to coffee, to royal parades. I
am having so much fun getting to know new
lovely women, whom I hope will become
close friends.
Where is your favorite place in the
Netherlands?
Many don’t know, but I suffer from tinnitus
(the perception of ringing/noise in the ears).
Although mine is a loud engine room with
a mixture of low pitch electrostatic hum,
24/7… so it’s easy to say THE BEACH,
Kijkduin or Scheveningen! The sounds of the
ocean and the waves mask the noise which
my silly brain has decided to recreate. I guess
I should feel connected to Van Gogh since
they now suspect he also suffered from tinnitus.
Which locations haven’t been ticked off
your bucket list?
Maldives, Seychells, Tahiti… oh wait, other
than lazying around on a beautiful beach?
Too many to count. But I’d love to go to Asia,
Japan being one of my top spots in the bucket
list; China, Thailand. Then closer to this
side, I am still missing the Nordic countries
(Denmark, Norway, Sweden). Egypt. The
Transiberian Express. I better think about
getting a job to subsidize all these dreams!
What’s your hobby?
I’m not going to pretend I don’t like TV, I am
a Nordic Noir junky… dark mystery/detective
TV series. I do love the dystopias like
The Handmaids Tale. I can’t get away from
Grey’s Anatomy, and the new one A Million
Little Things. Plus all the cooking shows
from Netflix, particularly Chef’s Table!
Cooking! In the last year or two I started focusing
more on my native Mexican cuisine.
There is so much variety and depth that the
world hasn’t gotten to see and experience, so
I have to start at home.
Then I love reading! Although the move gave
me “Fried Brain Syndrome” (FBS), my brain
and I have had a hard time finishing a book in
the last few months. I’ll get back into it soon.
Music, love music as well. And board games.
Pffff… I have too many and not enough time
for them all!
What is your favorite flower?
Orchids, definitely orchids.
What is your favorite drink?
Again, with limiting me to a single favorite
one… coffee, water, fresh teas (fresh ginger,
cardamom pods, clove and star anise is
my current fave), then there’s vodka (Texas
Tito’s), and wine. And I’ve discovered my
taste has evolved into a good Scotch or
Bourbon.
58 GOING DUTCH
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 59