Let There Be Sun

It's thursday, free from work and the first time of the year to have a sunny weather with a maximum temperature of 17 degrees. Yohooo, can't wait for summer!!! The sunny day cheered me up despite of the sad news I heard yesterday. My boyfriend also took a day off and came with me to the hospital for some medical test and went to the City Centrum to have lunch. It was wonderful and so refreshing. I cannot imagine how people here in the Netherlands long to have this kind of weather. While walking in the Centrum, I saw a friend of mine so I invited her for a drink. This is now girls time so my boyfriend decided to go home to have some rest after a long day hospital appointment we had. My friend and I did some shopping and end up chatting the rest of the sunny day. Although it was just few hours catching up but perfect to add up the weather.

The Moment of Truth

Everyone has its own favorite. It maybe a thing or a person. Some call it a hobby, other call it as an interest. Few months ago, I was confused on what to buy for my boyfriend as a birthday present. Although he is into music, buying CD is not a good idea because most of the time he gets the latest CD on the first day it is out in the market. Not all new CD's, but mostly for famous artist. Only one thing that is obvious, he is a big fan of Elvis Presley. Before his birthday, he saw it on the news paper that Elvis Presley is going to the Netherlands to have a concert on March. He came home one day and was so excited to share this news. I ended up laughing and even confused.....ELVIS on a concert!??He was long time ago dead. We cannot deny this but if he really comes for a concert, how can they show Elvis singing like a real one. I told him, well this is a perfect gift for you. So I bought 2 tickets for him to an Elvis Presley concert and he can choose either to bring one of his friend or brother, but not me. But lately, he ask me to go with him. Ohhh joy!I am not an Elvis fan, to be honest. But to get rid of this curiosity, I decided to go with him. Tomorrow will be the moment of truth. Elvis Presley live in concert at Rotterdam Ahoy. Well see!!!

The sun is up and so am I!

It was months ago the last time I visited my page. Been busy lately with my job, whom I enjoyed so much despite how hard it was to adjust during the first few months but I managed to get along with my colleagues from different nationalities. Aside from work day to day, I go to school during the night twice a week. Until now, it is so difficult for me to do both things at the same time but I can't give up my studies. I want to finish what I have started and hoping all things go well by this year for my Staatexamen (It is the highest exam to take for a dutch language course where the certificate you get out of this exam is necessary not only to get Dutch passport but also if you plan to enroll courses in a Dutch University).  My friends cannot even figure out and even asking if I still have time for myself. Work, school and even sporting twice a week. Yes, I do still have time for myself. What I am doing is giving time for myself. This is what I like, and this is how I give time for myself. I would rather say that I have more time for myself than spending time for some friends. Having this hectic schedule changed me a lot. I learned to manage my time, efforts able to appreciate all the outcomes, and wishing all plans come in a way I expect them to happen.
Now that I am back, I can't promise to blog as often as I like but I can assure to give help and answers for those who wants to know something about The Netherlands.

Shoot Me! 13 of 52

It's thursday again and it's time to share another photo. I know it's been awhile that I wasn't able to post this meme but this time, I have no reason not to post. In fact I get too excited to share this since I spent my day with a friend Fe whom I met here in blogging. We always chat before and so we decided to meet finally at Den Haag centrum. And as expected for "girls out", a little shopping, eating, and of course...a never ending chit chat as if we were old friends but since we have some in common (same school in college, almost same age, and also a bisaya/cebuano)then it's easy to get along. Anyway, I just want to thank Fe for the time and indeed, I really enjoy.

I love Walking

This morning, I get up too early than my normal waking time because of my neighbor banging doors as they rushed for work. But it doesn't annoy me this time though, I thought of last night to get up late today to spend more on sleeping before I start an early habit of getting up early in few weeks from now. So rather than spending my morning staring at my ceiling for minutes of thinking nothing, I went out and took a long walk with a little running at the park(at Haagse Bos)which is just close to where I live. It is a very nice park with a big lake at the middle.

For me, walking is the simpliest exercise I can do. I don't have time going to a gym, so by walking for just few minutes it helps. Before, almost everyday I tried to take at least 1 hour of walking. If I go to the main shopping center in Den Haag, I prefer to walk than taking a tram. Aside that I save money from that, also it's good for my body as an exercise. I'm not in a hurry to loose weight, but just for the purpose of being physically fit.

    -the green area is the Haagse Bos-

Some Useful Dutch Phrases

The following are some useful Dutch Phrases:

(Abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal)
English                                      Nederlands (Dutch

Welcome                                Welkom
Hello                                       Hallo / Goededag / Goeiedag (inf)
How are you?                           Hoe gaat het met jou? Hoe gaat het? (inf)
                                               Hoe gaat het met u? (frm)
I'm fine, thanks. And you?        Goed, dank je. En met jou?
Long time no see                      Lang niet gezien
What's your name?                   Hoe heet je? Wat is jouw naam? (inf)
                                               Hoe heet u?Wat is uw naam? (frm)
My name is ...                          Ik heet ... / Mijn naam is ...
Where are you from?                Waar kom je vandaan? (inf)
                                               Waar komt u vandaan? (frm)
I'm from ...                              Ik kom uit ...

Pleased to meet you                 Aangename kennismaking
                                               Aangenaam kennis te maken
                                               Aangenaam kennis met u te maken
                                               Prettig kennis te maken
Good morning                          Goedemorgen / Goeiemorgen
Good afternoon                        Goedemiddag / Goeiemiddag
Good evening                           Goedenavond / Goeienavond
Good night                               Goedenacht / Welterusten/Slaapwel
Goodbye                                  Tot ziens, Tot straks (see you later)
                                               Tot gauw (see you soon), Dag, Doeg, Doei
                                               Bon voyage Goede reis!
Good luck                                 Succes! Veel geluk!
Cheers/Good health!                 Proost! Op je gezondheid!
Have a nice day                        Nog een prettige dag


                                                Nog een prettige dag toegewenst
                                               Een goede dag verder
Bon appetit                              Smakelijk eten! Eet Smakelijk!
I don't understand                    Ik begrijp het niet
Please speak more slowly        Kunt u wat langzamer praten, alstublieft?
Please write it down                 Zou u het voor mij willen
                                               opschrijven,alstublieft? (frm)
                                              Wil je dat even opschrijven alsjeblieft? (inf)
Do you speak Dutch?                Spreekt u Nederlands? (frm)
                                               Spreek je Nederlands? (inf)
Yes, a little                              Ja, een beetje
How do you say ... in Dutch?     Hoe zeg je ... in het Nederlands?
                                               Hoe zeg ik..... in het Nederlands?
Excuse me                                Neem me niet kwalijk


                                               Neemt u mij niet kwalijk
                                               Excuseert u mij
                                               Sorry Het spijt me! Sorry!
Thank you                                Dank U / Dank U wel (frm)
                                               Bedankt, Dank je wel (inf)
                                               Dank U zeer (thank you very much)
                                               Duizendmaal dank (thousand times thanks)
                                             Graag gedaan,Geen dank                             
How much is this?                    Hoeveel kost dit?
Where's the toilet?                    Waar is de WC? Waar is het toilet?
I love you                                Ik hou van je (inf) Ik hou van jou/Ik hou
                                                 van u (frm)   (used only by lovers)
Get well soon                           Beterschap!
Leave me alone!                       Laat me met rust!
Help!                                       Help! Hulp!
Fire!                                        Brand!
Call the police!                         Bel de politie! Haal de politie! Roep de
                                                  politie!
Merry Christmas                       Prettige kerstdagen
and a Happy New Year             en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
                                                 Zalig kerstfeest en Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
Happy Easter                           Vrolijk Pasen, Zalige paasdagen, Zalig Pasen
Happy Birthday                        Gelukkige verjaardag
                                               Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag
                                               Fijne Verjaardag
                                               Van Harte Gefeliciteerd
                                               Van Harte Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag
One language is never enough   Eén taal is nooit genoeg
                                               Een enkele taal is nooit genoeg

Shoot Me!12 of 52

I was invited  for my friends' Recognition Day last friday held at Den Haag Stadhuis or City Hall. She finished her Inburgering/ Dutch Course few years ago but only this time that she got her diploma. Normally, the Geemente will just send the Diploma through post or send a letter to the person who finished the course to  pick up the diploma in a certain office. But this time, Geemente Den Haag will hold a special event for this and the official/s(that time with Rabin Baldewsingh, deputy mayor of Den Haag) personally congratulates the person or should I say, the graduates.