Some pics from Givings past (the rest of you are in videos, I don't only document the Gadams fam, I promise!):
28 November, 2013
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Enjoy your tasty meals and family time :)
Some pics from Givings past (the rest of you are in videos, I don't only document the Gadams fam, I promise!):
Some pics from Givings past (the rest of you are in videos, I don't only document the Gadams fam, I promise!):
27 November, 2013
round up
Here's a text post from another girl who went on the trip who articulated my thoughts very nicely if you REALLY wanted a textual description of my weekend (Mish de Vos, theforceabroad.blogspot.com):
I fear that at this point I simply lack the skills to make my thoughts and experiences materialize into words. Often experiences spark feelings which are simply not done justice by the written language. At least, in my case, I certainly am not capable of captivating the full extent of the realms of my racing consciousness and transforming it into a written memoir - something which I believe important to be kept in mind.
If there is one concrete hard fact that I have learnt in the past three and a half months of living in Amsterdam, is that experience is shaped by your surrounding people. I feel incomprehensibly blessed to have developed lifelong connections that are simply unjustifiable by reason. Three months of acquaintanceship's have developed into what feels like relationships that have simply always existed. Perhaps I possess above-average levels of sentiment - but in my young and inexperienced youth, what I do know is that in cases of true connections which simply don't require effort, it is not the place which defines the elevation of an experience, it is the company. That said, this weekend I was blessed to experience the above along with a captivating and unfamiliar place. The Netherlands continues, despite the ever-increasing decline in Celsius, to have me stunned and lost for comprehension.
This weekend I partook in a Hitchhiking Contest across the Netherlands. With Michelle as my partner, we set out, along with 19 other International couples to a destination which only became known to us on Friday morning before departure, with the objective of being the first to arrive at the destination. Having had extremely limited experience in hitchhiking, it is safe to say that attached to the experience came an altered and humbled mindset. It is remarkable that in hitchhiking, you encounter people performing an act of kindness which in no way besides for potential company, holds much benefit for them. It restores one's faith in humanity. The destination at which we arrived and stayed at for the rest of the weekend was a horse stable and accommodation called 'De Tutenburg' located just outside of Giesbeek, a small Dutch town. Over dinner tables, games, games, and more games, go-carting, swinging, dancing, beer, wine, countryside fields and conversations about everything and anything between multifaceted, multicultural, and multidimensional characters, friendships blossomed and unforgettable memories were made.
I fear that at this point I simply lack the skills to make my thoughts and experiences materialize into words. Often experiences spark feelings which are simply not done justice by the written language. At least, in my case, I certainly am not capable of captivating the full extent of the realms of my racing consciousness and transforming it into a written memoir - something which I believe important to be kept in mind.
If there is one concrete hard fact that I have learnt in the past three and a half months of living in Amsterdam, is that experience is shaped by your surrounding people. I feel incomprehensibly blessed to have developed lifelong connections that are simply unjustifiable by reason. Three months of acquaintanceship's have developed into what feels like relationships that have simply always existed. Perhaps I possess above-average levels of sentiment - but in my young and inexperienced youth, what I do know is that in cases of true connections which simply don't require effort, it is not the place which defines the elevation of an experience, it is the company. That said, this weekend I was blessed to experience the above along with a captivating and unfamiliar place. The Netherlands continues, despite the ever-increasing decline in Celsius, to have me stunned and lost for comprehension.
This weekend I partook in a Hitchhiking Contest across the Netherlands. With Michelle as my partner, we set out, along with 19 other International couples to a destination which only became known to us on Friday morning before departure, with the objective of being the first to arrive at the destination. Having had extremely limited experience in hitchhiking, it is safe to say that attached to the experience came an altered and humbled mindset. It is remarkable that in hitchhiking, you encounter people performing an act of kindness which in no way besides for potential company, holds much benefit for them. It restores one's faith in humanity. The destination at which we arrived and stayed at for the rest of the weekend was a horse stable and accommodation called 'De Tutenburg' located just outside of Giesbeek, a small Dutch town. Over dinner tables, games, games, and more games, go-carting, swinging, dancing, beer, wine, countryside fields and conversations about everything and anything between multifaceted, multicultural, and multidimensional characters, friendships blossomed and unforgettable memories were made.
26 November, 2013
Hitchhiking Pt. 2
Part 2, Part 2! <--- click this
Borrowed a few snapshots from Facebook. Photo creds: Nicolas Santacruz, Kyle St. Jaques, Devon DiMarco
Borrowed a few snapshots from Facebook. Photo creds: Nicolas Santacruz, Kyle St. Jaques, Devon DiMarco
Hitchhiking Pt. 1
For some reason, the blogging website isn't letting me upload photos or videos, so I tried to compile everything about our departure and arrival in a YouTube video: CLICK HERE, GUYS.
25 November, 2013
20 November, 2013
19 November, 2013
Post Pride
I pick up so many packages for other people that aren't home that the postman knows my name now. Like tonight he called the room and said, "Carlie? I'm sorry to ask you again, but I have two packages..." And then all the kids on Facebook are like, "Why do you get all the packages?" when I post that I have boxes for people.
IT'S LIKE BEING FAMOUS OR SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S LIKE BEING FAMOUS OR SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW.
17 November, 2013
SINTERKLAAS
** Sinterklaas is a BISHOP, not a pope, excuse me!**
David Sadaris reading "Six to Eight Black Men": play this in another tab to entertain you while you look at the pictures! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPfg20k5TE8
April Winchell snippet on "Canuck, Going Dutch"-- http://canuckgoingdutch.wordpress.com/
Anticipation!
Neighborhood decorations: Zwarte Pieten
Zwarte Pieten decorations in the shops (thanks to Mom for some of these!). Those brown circles are exaggerated kruidnoten, like miniature mild gingersnaps. Usually about the size of a quarter.
"Welcome Saint and Pete!"
Sinterklaas sailed into the harbor of the Maritime Museum after his long journey from Spain.
The crowds gather...
First kid spotted with semi black-face
More kids in black-face
If you're lucky enough to have a Dutch parent (aka one with a genetic predisposition to being ridiculously tall), you can probably see for miles.
Black Pete on skates
Not a racist depiction at all...
Freakin SWAMPED
Oh noooooo, ballooooooons!
This guy collects money of any currency and donates it to disaster relief.
More skaters
Wat
Black-face #3
The crowd from a distance
More ballooooooons
#4
Zwarte Pieten repelling!
Dam Square gathering
Passing out kruidnoten
The parade arrives in Dam Square!
This float was "baking" the cookies and throwing them to the crowd.
The Saint is here!
Bath time.
More Zwarte Pieten repelling
Majestic.
Warning in my neighborhood about the driving conditions near the center :)
Video clips of the parade!
Meep, makes me actually excited for Christmastime!
xoxo
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