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Published: January 21st 2010
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http://www.wefashion.com I managed to get up at 10:30 am today! Yes, that's correct "am" as in "ante meridiem." Shocking, I know. It's amazing what all can be accomplished when you don't spend 12 + hours in a state of unconsciousness.
First, I went to get my photo taken for my Dutch VISA. It was going well until I confused the photographer who thought I needed a photo for a VISA to the States. So I had to explain that I'm a US citizen & need a photo for a Dutch VISA. Apparently they're 2 different sizes. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the mistake until after he printed the first set. So I have some professional photographs that serve no purpose. My VISA picture looks like a mugshot because I wasn't allowed to smile. Apparently hair has to be behind the ears & any earrings cannot hide the earlobes. Something about a way they can scan the bone structure of the face & match it to a photograph to ensure identity. So weird.
After that, I hit up the post office to mail some postcards to my family. It was set up similarly to a US post office, so there's really nothing exciting to report there. Other than the fact it cost 3 euros to send 3 postcards to the US. I don't even want to begin to think how much it's going to cost to have to ship some of my crap home... That's always going to be in the back of my head when I buy stuff that I need to find a place to put it all in my suitcases to manage them on the way home. Yikes. Good thing is I have until June to figure it out. 😊
I did some more "me" shopping today, & as if sent by God, I found the Dutch equivalent of the Gap. It truly was a miracle. I was so excited, especially since EVERYTHING is on sale because of the nationwide sales that are going on right now. It was fantastic. Everything I bought was originally so expensive, but I got it for a fraction of that price. Truly a blessing. hahaha. Before I left, my mom asked me which credit cards I was taking with me, & when I said my Gap card, she immediately followed with, "I was wondering how you were going to go that long without buying something from the Gap." But now, Ma, I guess I won't have to because I found a temporary replacement store. 😊
There's a pet shop in the street by my house, & I wanted to check it out. (No, I didn't buy anything, so don't even ask!) Essentially it's super similar to pet shops in the US. They sold the same food & toys. I wanted to buy Ced & Gracie new collars, but they don't have the break-away kind, so I shied away from them even though they had this beautiful collar with gems that would look gorgeous on Grace. 😊 They didn't have any big animals in there - only hamsters, guinea pigs, fish, birds, & those little slider turtles that are riddled with salmonella. They did, however, have a STROLLER for animals. I've always wanted one at home, but my parents won't allow me to get one because they think everyone will make fun of me. HOWEVER - quite literally 5 seconds after I left that shop, I saw a lady pushing around a little puppy in a stroller & nobody was laughing at her so that logic is flawed! Whatever. One thing I do like about it here is that EVERYBODY has dogs. They are all so behaved on leashes & are just so cute. Yesterday, I saw this one guy pulling a wooden basket with a little shitzu-type dog in it that had its hair in barrettes & had a Burberry scarf on. Probably the cutest thing ever. Unfortunately, I was given the very strong "NO NEW FOREIGN ANIMALS" talk before I came here, so it looks like taking a new pet home with me is out of the question. Boo!
Another little bit of randomness that I discovered today is that they have that language-learning software "Muzzy" here, too! I vividly remember Muzzy commercials from when I was little. It's that green monster thing that teaches children foreign languages while they're still little & able to retain the language. The US commercials were always the French Muzzy that said "Je suis la jeune fille." (Years later, that became extraordinarily humorous to find out that Muzzy actually said that he was a small girl. Hmm... what else are they teaching kids?) I haven't seen one of those commercials in at least 10 years, so it was very exciting to see one today. They even updated the ad & there's a bonus gift of a stuffed animal Muzzy with any purchase. How lucky are kids today!? Maybe I should get the Dutch Muzzy so I can get myself around Maastricht.... food for thought. 😊
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Kate Stackhouse
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Stroller for Gracie*Cedric
You will be made fun of if you get a stroller for your cats. I would love to see Ced in a stroller. He'd see Jill and run away.