im an official resident of the netherlands again! it took me a little while (you know ive been hiding), but today i went to register as a resident of amsterdam. it was quite a different experience from official happenings in boston (like getting your social security card, liquor ID or learners permit for the car); the building looked very nice, the lady at reception was friendly, nobody was yelling at me to have my papers ready for inspection, ignoring me while discussing personal matters with a colleague, etc etc. but... the wait was the same. it was long and boring. now for the first time in my life, even though i was born in amsterdam, i am living there.
above a picture i took last december (i brought my camera today and didnt take a single picture!), typical green pastures and cloudy skies. the paved road you see is entirely for bikes!! i have been biking a little already, but at the moment i only have a mens bike, which is a little scary. i am also not used to biking anymore with so much different traffic around me..... (the past 3 years most biking was on a bike in the gym....). and ofcourse, i already tried to cross the street almost running into someone biking... a typical tourist mistake who dont know that between the pedestrians pavement and the roads for the car is the separate bike lane.... the guy on the bike apologized, haha, while it was clearly my fault....
4 comments:
Didn't know you had to register when you moved back home. Very sad to hear that no one was yelling at you, that is always very fun!
yes, in us you do not have to register, they know when you enter the country at that airport. but at least in netherlands you have to let the municipality know whenever you move of your change in address. also when you move within the netherlands..
So now you are a real Amsterdammer again, how does it feel, like a tourist in your city?
The contrast between the two cities must be enormous. You must be happy to be back home.
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