Today I decided to venture downtown to the library and to the International Center prior to heading over to the Mega Mart. I have not yet been shopping at the Mega Mart, but I know that this is similar to our U.S. malls. We need a few items and so I thought I would spend part of the day exploring the Mega Mart and shopping for these.
My journey began with a visit to the International Center's Expat Center where I sought assistance translating recent mail and some forms. While there, I decided to inquire about possibly volunteering for Access (which is a non-profit that serves the expat community). I had expressed a concern for my inability to communicate in Dutch. They, however, quickly reassured me that this would not be an issue and that I would be welcomed with open arms! (We will have to see.)
After I was complete with all I needed to do at the Expat Center I then headed next door to the library (or Biblioteka) where I recently became a member. My interest was to go online so that I could check my email, and I wanted to spend some time exploring their music section. The Den Haag biblioteka has a rather large selection of familiar audio cd's from musicians that I am familiar with. All-be-it that their music selection is somewhat dated, it's a nice resource available for us to tap into. While there, I sampled a few cd's to determine my interest level and then I made my selection. It cost me 1 euro to rent a cd and I went ahead and rented five cd's.
I then left the library and walked across the street to where a tram would normally take me to the Mega Mart. To my surprise I found several buses and trams parked on the converging streets and multiple tracks. Each vehicle was void of its driver. Needless to say, I wasn't going anywhere... at least not by public transportation! After inquiring with a man who seemed to be part of the 'action', or rather 'inaction', I learned that the drivers aren't happy with decisions being made by their governing authority and so they decided to stop working. A woman standing next me reassured me that this "is not normal", but I am not yet sure if I believe her!
So, what do I do???
I headed back into the library so that I could share this adventure with you!
Now I'm not sure where my afternoon adventure will take me, as it probably won't be the Mega Mart. The Mega Mart is in the opposite direction from home and I really don't feel like 'hoofing it' that far today. I guess I will have to chalk today up as another adventure and, yet, another new experience!
UPDATE: Instead of walking home I thought to myself.... "while in Rome...." and so... "while in The Netherlands...." ....I went and rented a bike! Not any old bike, but a traditional Dutch bike! My afternoon was spent riding throughout the streets of Den Haag, across the 'forest', up near the beach, down the bike path which runs parallel to the Sea, around the harbor, and, finally, to home. This was my first experience riding a bike in town and it couldn't have been any more perfect!
Summer is my favorite season, July is my favorite month and July 4th is one of my favorite holiday's. I was riding my bike thinking to myself "when the wind blows left, go left and when the wind blows right, go right". I couldn't help but to smile at myself, as I journeyed about and quietly celebrated this great day. Happy birthday America!