09.04.09
Posted in General at 22:04 by Staci
So obviously Jeff and I suck at blogging, and perhaps self-improvement. His running lasted one week. It was admittedly fun to go out together. I was proud of him. Sure his sorry ass slowed me down (love u baby), but that’s what a couple does for each other. Haha! Ok, I was willing to give him a day or so to heal, but then he decided he wasn’t healed (or motivated) so I kept going…that is till I just got back from the States and fighting jet lag, no sleep and then a botched attempt to start a body cleanse program…and now I have not run for one week! Ok, ok, I am going tomorrow, swear it. Can’t have Jeff showing me up:-)
Now back to body cleanse…hmmm. I must wonder how this will work out in the end. It’s a two week supplement program. Bought a vegetarian version at Whole Foods while I was home. Then stupidly I took the first four pills yesterday with only a small biscuit in my belly. Umh, within an hour I was in my office bathroom yacking! Ugh!!!! I was good by late last night and ok today. Tonight I am taking like 12 supplements. I might be nuts. And I am not sure but I am drinking wine with it which may defeat the purpose. Hmmmm….box does not say anything about avoiding alcohol, though it says to limit physical activity. Course I still want to run tomorrow. Oh and did I mention there is a beer fest at Grand Place!?!? I may be actively self-destructive on this whole body cleanse thing.
Oh well, will let you know how it turns out. Must go finish my wine:-)
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03.22.09
Posted in General at 23:22 by Staci
Till now I’ve only seen it in movies. Snipers on rooftops. Well, last week our organization had our bi-annual campaign meeting near Parliament. Streets were blocked off, police everywhere. Not for the animal rights groups attending our meeting, rather the heads of state for all the EU countries were in town. As we looked out the Scotland House window we watched men in black walk across the roof top carrying conspicuous bags till they reached their little tin “house”. Once inside they flipped down the small window and started to unzip their bags. Out came the guns. Propped up just like in the movies. Next came the binoculars and my coworkers teasing me to “Not point at the men with the guns!” There were quite a few on them on various rooftops around the area. I wasn’t expecting their permanent work stations in these little silver huts. It just seemed surreal. Guess that’s what you get when the heads of 27 European countries meet in one place.
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03.15.09
Posted in Belgium, General at 17:18 by Staci
Having lived in “furnished” apartments till now, one fails to appreciate just how many of the “necessities” you don’t own till you walk into your new place and it is empty. Completely (Actually, here is not as bad as Amsterdam where they take the light fixtures off the ceilings and walls!). Anywho, having no furniture, or kitchen items, or extra bedding, etc. can be a bit problematic when you want to sit down to watch TV or eat:-) Hence, besides the fantastic loan center of “Jon & Christine’s Attic” we have made at least 3 trips to Ikea now. I think 4.
Yesterday, Jon & the family were nice enough to call us for a visit and ask if we had errands to run. Originally, I just planned to walk to some nearby shops, but instead we took advantage of this opportunity. Fast forward to a trip to an Appliance Outlet to look at washer/dryers (we’ve been able to go 2 weeks without doing laundry and still have fresh undies, which either means we have a lot of underwear or we aren’t wearing any…you can decide). Then we realized we better take measurements of the stairwell, elevator and utility closet before purchasing a machine that might end up sitting out in the back parking lot where we would just stare at it from our living room window.
Next we tried to find a non-existent home store on the south side of town, and when that did not pan out we headed to Ikea instead. 4 hours later we left Ikea!!! FOUR hours! Mind you we did eat when we first arrived. Jon and Jeff LOVE, and I mean LOVE, the meatballs there. Since the coke sucks, we had beers instead. Have I mentioned I love Ikea? Then the journey through the endless halls of Ikea began.
We started by going against the flow of traffic. I do not recommend this technique. It is dangerous. We only made it through the kids section and part of the storage area, before we took the short cut to the start. Much safer. Hours later, we had selected a shoe storage bench, a duvet and cover for guests (hint, hint!), tupperware, oven mit, and who knows what else-it’s all foggy now. By the time we left, the guys were ready to kill somebody. Marcus had one meltdown and then promptly fell asleep. I had to sign and speak garbled French and English to the cashier to take off the bowls which somehow ended up being 5 euro/each instead of 1.50. We were all drained. And the scariest part is that since unpacking things today, I realize we still need stuff from Ikea!! AAAhhhhhh!!!
The goal for next time – borrow the car so Jon doesn’t have to be tortured again. Only take Jeff for heavy lifting and so there is room to pull down the backseat and I can finally buy my full length mirror, instead of dressing in our elevator:-) Have a list and stick to it! Then maybe we won’t need to spend 4 hours there. And some day we might finally be settled.
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03.05.09
Posted in General at 00:15 by Staci
So nearly 5 months since our last post, a few things have happened. First, I FINALLY finished my thesis. Second, I got a job in Brussels working for an Animal Welfare NGO on Wildlife Policy. Third, we invaded Jon and Christine’s home for 3 months (THANK YOU!!). Fourth, we took a short trip home in early December to see family before starting a job where I do not have vacation for a year & more importantly to find Thundercleese, our kitty who went missing. Good news is Thunder made it home. Fifth, after what seemed like an endless apartment search for poor Jeff, we just moved into a new place in the city. Sixth, I finally received my Belgian Residence Permit and a bank account. Seventh, I am finally writing on our blog!!
We will work on being better about blogging. Here are some pics of the new place (during the move and after unpacking). It is a work in progress and most of the furniture is ala Jon and Christine (thank you again!). But the nesting will begin now. Visitors are officially welcome:-) Of course, you’ve always been welcome!
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09.28.08
Posted in Amsterdam, General at 11:33 by Staci
It is official! I’ve received my Masters of Science in Environment and Resource Management with high merit. Yeah! It is over…Oh wait, I still need to finish writing my thesis. Just a minor detail.
But, I’ve officially graduated. The diploma is mine, as evidenced in the attached picture where I am signing it as is part of Dutch tradition. And no cap and gowns here in Holland…sad:-( But, it was still a lovely day with a roughly 3 hour ceremony to acknowledge the 27 students present who were graduating and the other 15 not present. This was followed by a Borrel (drinks) to celebrate, and then one last hurray at our student pub, GeoVUsie (80 euro cent drinks kept us quite happy this past year, but the price just went up for the students this year….90 euro cents….we got out just in time:-)).
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09.20.08
Posted in General at 18:02 by Staci
Clan McLennan are the worst bloggers ever!
I blame it on being in a developing country where internet and electricity were limited (woah is me), then moving to a new apartment, then going home to the US for my AWESOME Grandma Mary’s memorial (103 and 8 months (that’s how ya roll post-100)), and then returning to Amsterdam to still work on that bloody thesis I am supposed to be writing….while I am already graduating this week (hence the very little motivation to work on my thesis:-)).
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07.20.08
Posted in Belgium, General, Personal at 03:55 by Jeff
I don’t know what else to say. Let’s face it, most people who read this blog are here to read Staci’s words, not my random ramblings. At least that’s how I see it.
Anyways, we’ve (I’ve) moved out of the apartment in Amstelveen and am temporarily located in Belgium at Jon & CJ’s. I’ve got a room to myself, and only have to baby-sit Marcus for a couple days next week or the wk after. (I forget which.) It shouldn’t be too big of a deal, except I’ve never had to change diapers or feed the kid. Other than that, smooth sailing is expected. (Just kidding. I’m sure the pooping of diapers will send me into a panic. Good thing they’ve already hired their babysitter to cover during the day while I ‘work’, Jon is at work and CJ is in Singapore for work. Good thing they understand that ‘working from home’ isn’t (usually) a euphenism for ‘watching TV while co-worker’s 4500 miles away are productive.’
I move into the new place in the heart of Amsterdam August 3rd. Those of you that want the address (and that I haven’t emailed it to yet) can email us for it at your leisure. (This means that I may have forgotten people and emailing me reminds me that 1. people read this blog, and 2. I’m getting old and forgetting people.)
That should do it for now. If you’re thinking of us, we thank you, because we’re thinking of you. Hell, even if you’re not thinking of us, we’re still thinking about (and missing) all our friends back home, and are grateful for the love and support are friends and family have sent our way.
Ok, time for another late-night beer. I’ll get all the sleep I need when Staci comes back I get old the Rebels defeat the Empire CJ makes me take care of Marcus.
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07.14.08
Posted in General at 19:48 by Staci
That means “hello” or so I think 
haha. We’ve learned only about 4 phrases: “aw kohn” – “thank you”, “sak sobai” – “How are you?” (which also can be used to answer the same question,) “Sua s’dei” and “sohm” – “thank you”. Not terribly impressive, I know.
So what sort of things can I tell you about Cambodia?
Smells – The fragrances of Cambodia are diverse. Some beautiful from fragrant flowers that you catch when there is a nice breeze. Then there are smells that just make you stop in your tracks and your stomach turn. The aroma emanating from food stands ranges from sweet to nauseating (though it’s possible it is some fishy/meaty smell that just offends my non-animal consuming senses).
Motobike or die – Actually if you ride a “moto” as they are commonly called, you may in fact die. No ONE and I mean NO ONE, adheres to traffic laws here. You just take your chances and go for it. Everyone seems to own a moto and in the evenings it appears everyone decides to hit the roads on them. It is a sight to see how many people or items (from vegetables, plastic jugs to live squawking ducks) one can shove onto a single moto. Little babies standing up on them between their parents may be the vision that sticks most in my mind, though I don’t believe I shall ever get the sight of those ducks hanging by their feet and screeching out of my mind (I believe they were saying “HELP ME!”).
Pollution – First, the air is dirty. Your skin has dark layers on it at the end of the day. See above for culprit (because there are no visible factories causing this). Second is the waste on the streets. Trash just gets dumped on the sidewalks. And rots. I suppose one small benefit is all the stray cats and dogs may find something to eat, but how sustainable that may be is another question. I did finally see a trash collection service the other day. But I don’t think they collect too often.
Extremes – As the Lonely Planet guide mentioned, there are serious extremes when it comes to poverty and the wealthy. What is perhaps even just as startling is when they are meters from each other. On one corner you see what one can only at first glance think is a building that has been bombed or is in the process of being demolished, only to look closer and realize people are actually living there. This is their home. And somehow the ferns and other plants growing from crevices of this building take on a sort of charm. Especially when offset by colorful articles of clothing drying from ropes in the gaping holes where there should be walls. Then you turn the corner and see villas that are just startling. They make some McMansions in the US look tiny. And of course they have guards outside and one or two Lexus SUVs in the driveway (because if you aren’t on a moto you are in some big ass SUV, or maybe a truck).
Awe at Foreigners – It is truly something to be in a place where YOU are the main attraction. People just stare at you. Little kids look up in awe…we even heard a story that some of the younger ones who have never seen white people, think we are ghosts. I have to say some days I am over the stares, but I try to be friendly and when EVERY moto driver asks if you want a ride I kindly smile and say, “No thank you, we are walking.”
Hot as hell – That is really the only way I can describe the temperature. I sweat. A lot. Ianthe, my fellow researcher, loves the heat and doesn’t sweat. This has made our sleeping situation somewhat interesting. I want AC, she could sleep with both the AC and fan turned off. As I sit on the balcony and write now, I am dripping sweat and my shirt is becoming wet from the pools of sweat running down my body.
That is Cambodia – This is a phrase the expatriates in the office where we work use. It is basically used to explain all the “unexplainable” things of Cambodia. Like why it takes weeks for something to happen that should have taken days, etc. We’ve found ourselves using this phrase a few times. Though I think I blame the expatriates for assuming it should be different.
Monks – For some reason, I am so intrigued with all the monks in their yellow, orange and rust colored robes walking the streets, catching a ride on a moto, carrying colorful umbrellas. I would take a million pictures of them if I didn’t feel like I was intruding. Some are quite friendly, as one started up some small talk with me at the Silver Pagoda the other day. They range from very serious to rather jovial. I can’t get enough of them.
Delays – Well there is certainly no reason why we should be surprised about delays at this point. I mean our trip was originally scheduled to go to China, in April. Two months later we end up in Cambodia, after more delays. And now that we are here, guess what?? More delays. Delays in getting budget approved so we can go into the field. Delays in finalizing fieldwork, because we must bring our field team back to Phnom Penh to vote in elections on the 27th. We lose three days because students also need to travel to remote provinces to vote. Delays, delays, delays. There is NO WAY I am going to have my thesis completed at the end of August. I try not to think about this because my gut swells in knots of stress at the thought of the paperwork and such I will need to deal with when I return to Amsterdam. But for now, I am in Cambodia and trying to enjoy it…and make the most of the delays I guess.
Anywho, my overall impression of Cambodia is a good one. I’m enjoying this experience. Particularly because I think I may never have chose to come here on my own…there were other “destinations” on my must see list. But, I think I would have missed out. There is much history here. And a reminder how very differently we all live.
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06.15.08
Posted in General at 17:00 by Staci
Ah, so who thought doing field research for a masters thesis would be easy?!!? Well, it has been a lesson in patience and flexibility. As my previous posts foreshadowed, our trip to China was eventually canceled. More precisely, our supervisor pulled us from it when the project leads could not guarantee that we would in fact leave for China in late June. Two months of delays was our limit.
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06.01.08
Posted in General at 20:58 by Staci
Amsterdam has been doing its part to get me back in shape – I bike everywhere, but I was missing a really good sweat inducing workout. I mean there was a time when I ran a 5K no problem. Ran a number of them in fact. Even tossed in a 10K and a mini-triathlon at one point. Then I got lazy. Sedentary. I took to the couch. Therefore, when I decided to get moving again I turned to the “Couch to 5k!” program to make it happen. And I LOVE IT!!
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