6 Months In

A cliche, but I can't believe that we've now been living in Amsterdam for 6 months. If I were to put my hand out to metaphorically feel how the weather was and record it at this point, what would I report?

The Start of Mundaneness

Time is being taken up with more of the mundane. Our clothes and possessions which we bought with us on arrival are now not so new. The kids are growing, the seasons are changing, so they need new clothes resulting in shopping trips. Their hair has also grown, so we've been to the hairdressers. Our bikes will need servicing soon. Our 6 month contract on our rented house is due to expire. Should we buy or carry on renting? And what to do with our UK car? Much loved, but it's expensive to pay tax on it here (EUR1,000 p.a) and we could manage with just our bikes. But it is so good to get out of the city and see new places, a bit off the beaten track... decisions, decisions...

6 Months in for a 7 Year Old

Our oldest 'A' is 7 years and has started playing out with other children on the street, now the weather is improving. This is amazing as her confidence is improving and I hope that she will start speaking Dutch with other children soon. She is making friends with other children and is starting to act more herself. In the last fortnight, she decided to go from having long hair to a short bob style and changes her clothes about 5 times a day. Sometimes she wants to dress like a boy, sometimes she wears very smart dresses, and sometimes, very odd combinations of clothes, but I think this is normal for a child her age. The last 6 months have been very tough for A and she misses her friends in London like mad. She is very frustrated that the other children don't understand her. Her journey at two Dutch schools, so far has been difficult for all of us. She frustrates my husband and I and pushes us to our limits as she is bright, but she doesn't believe that she can complete challenging work. I will write another blog later on to describe our school experience here so far.

6 Months in for a 5 Year Old

Our middle son, 'I', is less complicated. He can speak and understand basic Dutch. He doesn't have a little group of best mates, in the same way as he had in London, but the other kids play with him and I think he is slowly being accepted. When he changes classes in September, the class with be shuffled around and I think this will be good for him to form friendships. 

6 Months in for a 2 Year Old

Not forgetting our youngest, 'L', who recently turned 2. He makes friends where ever he goes and says Dutch words intermingled with English words. He doesn't really speak a lot, but he did order himself an 'apple sap' in a restaurant the other day.

6 Months in for a 40 Year Old Mummy / Baby Yoga Teacher

Where to start? OK, so I've stopped crying in the supermarket and at random times. Although, I will admit I cried the other day at school pick up when one of the mums reminded me of one of the mums from the kids previous school in London.  At times, it has been overwhelming. Receiving medical test results in Dutch and having to painfully translate each word to find out if I am in the clear. Getting the hang of the supermarket, you pay before you put your shopping in the bag, you don't get bags, so you need to remember to bring bags, the packing area is divided into two and the check out person will just start processing the next shoppers groceries before you've packed yours away. And at the end of all that, you may be asked if you want a sticker or something or the receipt.

Each week, translating multiple newsletters from the school. I have a few days where life is uneventful and then something goes wrong and I fall apart. Literally, I feel like I'm falling and there is no one to catch me. And when things do go wrong, there is no one there to help pick up the pieces. I hold it together and muster the strength to care for my children and cook the next meal and put the next wash on.  

Somehow, within all this muddle, I have managed to set up my baby yoga teaching business here. It's my one pocket of sanity, where I don't feel stupid and unknowing as I am a baby yoga expert. It is comfortable ground and well trodden ground. I'm only teaching one class a week, but it's something and it gives my life a focus.

I'm also going to start learning Dutch. In all honesty, I'm not looking forward to it. It takes me time to grasp new languages and I don't have a lot of time at the moment. And in my spare time, I would prefer to be doing yoga. But it's important that I learn it as the children's friends only speak Dutch and it won't be long before my children become embarrassed that I don't understand Dutch and can't speak it. 

So have I made friends? Not the sort of friends I had in London, no, with the exception of one person who I new before I arrived. A little group of 10 or so of us from London meet up once a month, which is my sanity. I don't see any mums from school socially, but I'm OK with that, I don't speak Dutch, so it would be awkward. Our neighbours are friendly, which is a blessing and there are a few RBS ex-colleagues around too, and people I knew from my year off 20 years ago. 

On a day to day basis, life is great. My school run takes 10 minutes there and back on a bike. The supermarket is next to the school. It takes me 20 minutes to cycle into the museum quarter, where the Van Gogh museum is. My youngest is as kindergarten 3 mornings a week, so I have some time to myself. The air is cleaner and once you've figured out where to find what you need and how to do things it's a good place to live. But I wouldn't describe it as my home.