Momma Knows Best

We knew it was just a matter of time before we'd be experiencing the Dutch healthcare system firsthand. This last episode even included a bonus trip to the ER. Might as well go big, right? It all started last week with Brie running a high temperature between 103-104F. Knowing the Dutch approach is to wait and see, I bided my time with plenty of Children's Motrin and Tylenol horded from our last trip back to The States. Sure enough, even after three days, I was told "give it a few more days" and call me on Monday.

Before I go further, I have to mention a few pros and cons about healthcare in the Netherlands:

 It's not bad, it's just different: Pediatricians are only seen for routine checkups and vaccinations through the government's children bureau. Kids go to the GP for all immediate issues just like an adult. This can be frustrating as the GP does not see kids often enough to cater to their common illnesses. Case in point, getting a flu shot here for a kid (or adult) is a rarity especially if they are deemed healthy. We went through a bit of red tape to get it but things were made worse by the fact that the nurse administering the vaccines had little experience with children. First, she asked ME where it should go. Then poor Brie was stuck with the needle not once but TWICE since the nurse pulled it out for fear of hurting her.  

Efficiency, Cost, and Control: You can't just go to any doctor. The location (our postcode/zip code) dictates what doctor(s) are available within a certain radius of home.  I can't complain about a 5 minute walk to see the doc. The costs appear to be lower since an out-of-pocket visit is $30 (without insurance) compared to a $75 copay for our doc back in Nashville. However, lower cost comes at a price. The GP is the gatekeeper and it is up to them to refer you to a specialist or the ER. Without their approval you can't pass GO and forget about collecting any medications.  

Finding someone who cares: For the Dutch, customer service is not a priority. From dining out to healthcare, there is little incentive to provide extraordinary service. In trying to get an appointment for the GP, the office receptionist mom-shammed me for debating to bring her in since the only appointment time conflicted with a job interview. To make matters worse, she told me they would reject my ER request (the only urgent care option) since an appointment was available. When asked if I could be placed on a wait-list in case of a cancellation, I was told there would be no cancellations that day. Ugh! Talk about making life difficult.

On Saturday morning, after four days of high fever with a kid not eating, sleeping, and generally miserable, we headed to the ER. Upon pulling up, we were greeted with an empty parking lot and a single person in the waiting room. Further proof that GP gatekeeper/approval system seems to work. 

Our ER doc experience mirrored the GP visit with the same "wait and see" diagnosis. I dug in my heels as I couldn't bear another day without a solution. We suspected it could be a UTI (yes, kids get these) with the help of Google and WebMD. The three hour ER ordeal was worth it when the results came back positive-ish. The doc believed the sample had been contaminated and was only 80% confident. He suggested that we catheterize Brie to get another urine sample and test again. What? It was tough enough getting a toddler to pee in a cup! With my feverish toddler nestled in my arms, I tried not blurt out "Are you crazy? No way in hell is this happening just to be 100% sure she needs amoxicillin." Ben, seeing the look on my face, quickly asked if it was necessary and if we could get the antibiotics without it. This should be no surprise as Dutch doctors are notorious for a selective prescribing habit. The Netherlands has the lowest prescription rate of antibiotics compared to all other EU countries. 

There is something to be said for the Dutch approach as the Netherlands doesn't have an opioid epidemic or antibiotic resistance issue. It's also worth mentioning that the Dutch Healthcare System has consistently outranked the U.S. in terms of healthcare quality. 

While I respect the system that is in place, healthcare is personal. Trusting your intuition is sometimes the best prescription you can give yourself and your family.  Stay well!

Going Dutch

Happy 2018! Hard to believe we're already a total of five months into our life abroad. We're still working on learning the language, navigating the nuances of daily life, and embracing the Dutchie culture. As we reflect on the past few months, I wanted to share a bit more about the activities occupying our time.

Food and Fitness

We live two blocks from a cozy bakery subjecting us to the temptation of croissants each morning. I've had to incorporate plenty of exercise into my daily routine to work off the Dutch dietary staples of croissants, bread and cheese.  My workout here is a bit different from my YMCA bootcamp class or Cyclebar spin in Nashville. I average 5 miles of walking per day in addition to the gym. 
My gym, The BBB Boutique, is known for it's heated cabin workout. It is basically a Pilates reformer in a heated pod of 120 degrees (F). Having not done much Pilates (or yoga for that matter) I was a bit skeptical that this was going to provide me the same workout as bootcamp or spinning. Turns out, I love it. It's an intense workout in a quick 30 minute class.  Who wants to open a U.S. franchise?

New Neighbors 

Establishing a network is one of the key pillars to succeed in a new city (at home or abroad). I've found it especially important now that we have a kiddo. We've been fortunate to land the neighborhood jackpot again even though its doesn’t quite compare to our close knit Richland-West End community. Our neighbors have been a tremendous asset in helping us navigate our new surroundings. From finding doctors to learning the dutch secrets on avoiding parking tickets, the insight has proven invaluable. We'd estimate about 75% of the street has kids based on the number of kid bikes, chalk drawings and toys that line the sidewalks. Ben and I knew we were in a special place as soon as we were invited to a regular post-bed time wine night. We all live next to (or above) one another as is typical in traditional row homes so our baby monitors still stay connected at each other's property. Nothing like being able to grab a bottle of wine and enjoy adult conversation without the hassle of a babysitter. Cheers to that!

Dutch Language

Majority of the Dutch population knows English so it makes communicating in every day life easy. However, you rarely hear spoken English on the street.  Living with a language barrier has made me see things in a different dimension as the words spoken are no longer the focus compared to the interpersonal aspects of communication. The expressions, tones, and gestures speak volumes as I know my own expressions do as well. I am lucky that many individuals can effortlessly switch to English as soon as I give a puzzled look along with my Spreek je Engles?  To truly embrace life abroad, Ben and I started weekly language lessons. With only a month of lessons under our belts, we already recognize more around us but still have a long ways to go. My first lesson oddly enough took place in a former prison now called De Vrije Wolf (The Free Wolf).  Not kidding! It was in operation for over 160 years and only recently was transformed into a hipster work and event space. I have to admit it was kind of fun albeit a bit distracting as each cell still retained the original format complete with toilet and basin.  Overall, I am enjoying the challenge of learning a new language while trying to incorporate it more in daily life. Tot Ziens!

Toddler Travel

Earlier this month we took our first family mini "vacation" in Europe. Keep in mind that vacation is a relative term with a toddler. It was planned around Ben's work so it required me to fly solo with Brie to Munich. No sweat, I thought as I've traveled many times with her over the past year. What I failed to recognize is with Brie's newfound mobility (as of 18 months) all bets are off. Here are a few travel reminders based on my latest experience:

1. Always carry a spare shirt/sweater (or two) in the diaper bag: While I have normally done this for fear of a major poop explosion in mid-air don't discount food related mishaps. Brie managed to squeeze the remainder of her purple-brown pouch contents all over my white sweater and scarf right before boarding.
   
2. Ask for help and accept it when offered: I like to believe I have most things under control and proudly wear it as a badge of honor that I can juggle a child, diaper bag, purse and stroller by myself (in heels as an added bonus). Screw it, let the guy next to you or the nice woman nearby take your bag or push your stroller. I wouldn't have made it on the plane if it wasn't for the kind souls near me that schlepped the stroller down a flight of stairs to the bus that shuttled us to the plane.
3. Let them judge: As Brie wailed and thrashed (in full Exorcist mode minus the pea soup) on my lap during take off and landing, I could feel the stares and eye rolls from the German travelers around me. I realized that there was nothing more I could do. My kiddo just couldn't come to terms that she had to be seated and belted in. Note, most EU airlines have a special lap child seat belt that connects to yours so kids truly are belted in. #safetyfirst
4. Do what you have to do to survive: This may require setting off the emergency alarm (literately and figuratively) as I found us locked out between exiting the jet bridge and entering the airport gate area as we were the last ones to disembark. This move got us out rather quickly as a German gate agent came racing after us.  Needless to say, my glass of wine that night was well deserved.

On the bright side, traveling with a child has  benefits. We had countless grandparents and tourists come up to us throughout our journey just to say hello and share a smile. It's heartwarming to see the laughs that Brie can generate as she quickly toddles about exploring her surroundings. At the Neuschwanstein Castle, she had tourists snapping photos as she gleefully traversed the road to the castle chasing after a stray cat. She even hugged a sweet tourist at dinner.
At this age, they can move at a surprisingly fast pace giving us an added cardio workout. Kudos to Ben who carried Brie up multiple flights of stairs during our castle tour and down the winding road on our walk back. We call it Brie's Kettlebell workout. Cheers to earning that extra glass of wine!

Home Sweet Home

After weeks living out of suitcases, we've managed unpack all our belongings and settle in. My Type A-ness was relieved to finally have things in their proper place.  Somehow we've managed to lose a variety of items as we've bounced around the past few months. Surprisingly, the loss of Google Home has been a big adjustment. I have to stop myself from yelling "Hey Google" across the room and actually walk over to my phone to play a podcast or get the weather.  I know, first world problems. Don't worry, I haven't shared this with our Dutch neighbors. They already think I'm soft and lazy as I complain about having to carry my giant American stroller (along with Maddie and Brie) in and out of the house every day.

  

After a month of research we have a daycare for Brie. We're excited that Brie can socialize and learn Dutch as many children don't learn English until 5th grade. Right now, she knows Njntje (Miffy, a popular children's character with its own kid-friendly museum) and ijsje (ice cream - Brie's favorite!). We toured a number of local Dutch places finding many of them offer standard amenities of beautiful outdoor space, classrooms filled with natural light and organic meals that consist of fruit, bread and cheese, milk and yogurt. Little processed food is allowed with an all-inclusive approach complete with diapers, sleep sacks and bedding. A mobile app is available to check on your child throughout the day.   Pricing is similar to what we would pay in the U.S. with most families receiving government subsidies or rebates for utilizing daycare. For many Dutch families, it is common for one or both parents to work part time typically getting Wednesday and Friday off. It's no wonder the Dutch have a decent work/life balance.

In case you were wondering, Dutch children are no different than kids in the States. For those that have read "Bringing up Bebe" you may have the misconception that EU kids are generally better behaved than American children. I pictured most kids Brie's age walking around without pacifiers, calmly going for errands about town and sitting in restaurants like perfect angels. WRONG! They misbehave at the park, throw fits in the supermarket checkout line and run around restaurants like they own the place.  However, the Dutch do have a secret. Kid's play areas. They are EVERYWHERE. In government buildings, restaurants, and coffee shops there is always a kid's area with activities set up to occupy their short attention spans. Makes sense, right? You can grab coffee and have 10 minutes of peace and quiet (or in my case coveted adult conversation) since your kid(s) are off playing with some new toys. Genius! I'm sure this is just one of many Dutch life hacks that I'll be sharing over the coming months. 

  

More to come on my new Dutch gym, our latest weekend excursion to the apple orchard and anniversary trip (Ben won't spill the beans).

Kids, Cats, and Coffee - Oh My!

Well, where to begin? Our first few weeks were a mix of emotions in our attempt to acclimate to our  new city. The flight was what you would expect with a 1.5 year old in tow. We all survived! We weren't able to get a bassinet in our bulk head section, which was annoying. Brie wasn't thrilled being confined to her seat for 7+ hours. Despite being overtired, she fought the exhaustion with solid 10 - 15 minutes screams that made some travelers clutching their ears. Umm…this is just with one child! I think that crosses my mind every day. All in all, we can't complain. Things would have been far worse if it wasn't for our nanny extraordinaire, Miss Tayler (The Brie whisperer), who joined us on the flight. Maddie was by far the best traveler of the family. Would you expect anything less? She's perfect!

Upon arriving, we had a little short stay apartment in an beautiful, family friendly neighborhood right outside the city center. The apartment was cozy to say the very least.  It still beats a hotel! There were four of us packed into about 800 square feet making our home in Nashville feel like a mansion. Although, Dutch design is know for efficiency, we're still adapting to a refrigerator about 1/4 of the size of the one in the States.  I've been growing accustomed to shopping every other day. Thankfully, the local grocery store (Jumbo) is a quick five minute walk away. I can't help but miss our grocery delivery option (Shipt) during those lazy, rainy days. More on this at a later date.

As in any new place, you realize the similarities and differences rather quickly. Below are a few things that we've come across thus far:

1) There are a lot of rules and everyone (for the most part) follows them. The speeding fines are high,  you always pay your parking meter and using a cell phone while driving is unthinkable (however, texting and biking is another story). And don't even try to do anything without an appointment. Getting a bank account, cell phone, and even a gym membership all require one!

2) Bikes are the Dutch minivan. I am not kidding! At 8am you'll find many moms and dads traversing the city streets with kids on the front, back or in a basket being biked around rain or shine. Props to the Dutch women who do this while fully dressed in work attire including high heels.  Not to mention, if you have a newborn, they are strapped to you via a Baby Bjorn or Ergo carrier. And I thought my commute with one kid in an SUV was tough. I have to add that none of the kids wear helmets. If you see anyone with them they are probably American. Right now, my helmet tally is at two and counting...

3) The doors here are a bit different than what we are accustomed to in the U.S. We've managed to lock ourselves out of the house not once, but TWICE. In my defense, the door will lock behind you when closed,  like in a hotel.  A locksmith is more than happy to come out and rescue you for an easy 100 Euros. I need to figure out how to break into my own home. My unfashionable solution has been to wear house keys on my wrist. Isn't the grandma look in?  So far we haven't had to call the locksmith again!

4) Utrecht and Nashville have a lot more in common than we thought. Hen (Bachelorette) parties seem to be just as prevalent here than in Nashville. Sigh, just when we thought we were rid of them. These hen parties are often found dotting the canals in rented, electric boats starting on Thursday night with the same outrageous attire found in Music City. Imagine our surprise when we saw peddle pubs traversing the city square as we sat outside enjoying our favorite Belgian beers during our date night last weekend. Seriously, we can't get away from these things!  

As with any new place, it's all about establishing a new normal. We are quickly learning the challenges and benefits of being in a new, European city.

Ben now faces a 75 km commute each way to work. What was once a short 20 minute work commute in Nashville is about a 60 minute trek in the Netherlands. We believe it's worth it in order to be in such a fantastic city. We have access to Amsterdam and the airport via a quick train ride. To Ben's credit, he's  transitioning into this new way of life relatively well. His ability to navigate the narrow city streets flanked with parked cars is impressive.  There is the additional complexity of bike lanes full of two-wheeled commuters EVERYWHERE. The 90 Euro weekly petrol bill and 4 Euro an hour street parking has been hard to stomach. Not to mention, trying to charge an electric hybrid on the street when all the instructions are in Dutch is no small feat. 

Brie has been immersed in a wonderful world of toddler friends and playgrounds. We were taken back to see the numerous parks and playgrounds surrounding the neighborhood. Griftpark is just a few blocks away that has a petting zoo filled with cows, sheep, pigs and rabbits. Its's amazing to see the caliber of parks given the such high taxes. We are lucky enough to be a half kilometer away from "The Toddler Garden". It's a membership only playground for ages 0-4. Here they have an enclosed, safe space with a sand pit, playground full of every toy imaginable with oodles of water activities to keep the most rambunctious tots entertained. For parents, there is a volunteer run café with snacks, coffee, treats, toilets and baby area. One could stay there all day, if needed. We go every morning after our walk and it's packed with children. We're in the midst of finding a Dutch daycare. We know Brie will be much better off being in a place that can help her learn Dutch, get the socialization that she needs, and most importantly give mom a break! More on this in my next post as I'll be touring a few places later this week.

Maddie is now going on countless walks dramatically increasing her exercise intake. To make our daily walks even more entertaining, we learned that Utrecht has a large population of cats that seem to have free reign around the city. We can't seem to get away from them. At any turn, we find them sitting on the sidewalk, sunny themselves in the window, or harassing Maddie atop a fence. She seems quite determined to tell them off and make them dessert.

I am trying to get used to getting my beloved caffeine from tiny cups of espresso instead of my mega 20+ ounce coffee mug (Yes, it is so American). The adjustment to whole milk in my coffee instead of cream hasn't been as bad. I have also found that ordering a decaf coffee is not common. Both my mother and mother-in-law will not be happy to hear the news. In meeting up with a friend of a friend a week ago, I received a puzzled look when asked if I could get a decaf cappuccino. Turns out a caffeine free herbal tea was the best I could do. At 4pm, I didn't want to be wired the rest of the night. Okay, maybe I really am turning into a grandma!

At least the coffee quality is much better and it is not hard to find a quaint little café (not to be confused with the "other coffee shops") around the city. Furthermore, it is common to have it offered everywhere you go. From the bank to the gym and even on the playground, coffee is everywhere. I think we will be just fine here.

Here we go again!

Yes, we're off again. To our parents' chagrin, we have made the decision to once again become expats.  We're looking forward to investing a bit more time this trip- two years to be exact. Follow us as we assimilate back into European way of life. Have I mentioned, how much I've missed high quality European food and freshly baked bread in grocery stores?

Some fun facts about Utrecht courtesy of Wiki:

1. Utrecht is host to Utrecht University, the largest university in the Netherlands, as well as several other institutions of higher education.
2. Due to its central position within the country, it is an important transport hub for both rail and road transport.
3. It has the second highest number of cultural events in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam
4. In 2012, Lonely Planet included Utrecht in the top 10 of the world’s unsung places

Needless to say, we were sold after a few walking tours via Google Maps. The city instantly reminded us of a blend between the quaint Belgian cities of Ghent and Bruges.

Below are a few recent shots of Ben's trip a few weeks back:

Meet Miffy: http://www.findingdutchland.com/simple-message-behind-miffy/

May Madness

The month of May was filled with visitors (Kay and Ben from Boston) and constant travel including a trip back to the U.S. for a week. I was fortunate to use my AA miles and scored an inexpensive flight. Conveniently,  British Airways flies direct to Austin out of Heathrow. Nice to see Austin is hitting the big time!  I was relatively high functioning despite the jetlag thanks to lots of coffee (with unhealthy amounts of cream) - It's been a few months since I had the joy of cream in my coffee so I went overboard…who wouldn’t! It was wonderful to experience the warm Austin sun and downtown nightlife again. Austin always feels like home. All in all, it was a whirlwind of a week back in the States. Not only was I able to attend (and stand up in) my best friend's wedding but the nuptials also coincided with my brother's graduation with his Master's in Psychology. I was a flying fool to say the very least! My travel schedule went something along the lines of  BRU>LON>AUS>DFW>PITT>BOS>DUB>BRU

Upon arriving back home, Ben happened to be invited to a work recruiting event in Reims, France (Champagne region) for the weekend. Oh okay, twist my arm. Given this was our last weekend with access to four wheels (Blue Devil) we were able to make the 2.5 hour drive with Maddie. Yes, she has now been to two areas of France. #spoileddog

It was nice to learn about the Champagne making process through visiting a few different vineyards and Champagne houses outside the tiny city. The weather was a bit chilly but that didn't stop Maddie from frolicking amongst the grapevines. We stayed an extra night to relax and enjoy the sites inside the small, quaint city of Reims before embarking on the scenic drive through the French countryside back to Brussels.

Our last May long weekend was spent in Morocco (initially considered our BIG trip ) with Ben's life-long friend Jason. The weather in Brussels was average (rainy, cloudy, and cold) so we were incredibly anxious to soak in the Moroccan sun and 80+ degree weather. We really loved Morocco! It was a great trip to learn and experience an entirely different culture. That being said, it was still an adjustment to see women completely covered up and doing most of the hard labor. Yes, you heard that right. Visiting the Berber villages we often saw women carrying wood and household supplies uphill while the men sold goods in the nearby markets.  Not to mention, they are fully clothed in 30+ degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit) heat.

 

We kicked off our first day in Marrakesh with a full day tour to the Atlas Mountains complete with camel riding. It has always been on my bucket list so I was happy to finally cross it off. Ben was a bit resistant as he didn't find them much fun as a kid. He ended up loving his camel and the entire experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to experience another area of Morocco by taking a 2.5 hour drive west to the coast city Essaouira. We initially scheduled a rental car but with that falling through, Jason saved the day by finding and hiring a driver to take us roundtrip for a nice price. Glad to see the hard bargaining skills learned in law school paid off. Our driver, Mohammed, was able to safely escort us there and back with major issues. Essaouria had a hippy, beach bum vibe with the Atlantic ocean as the perfect backdrop. We made it just in time to see a stunning sunset. The Medina is a fraction of the size of Marrakesh's marketplace so it was a bit more manageable for shopping and sightseeing. I was able to relax with a 2 hour Hammam - body scrub, sauna experience that was a bit different than I'd expect in the States but for 30 euros I can't complain!

 

We were surprised how much Americans are loved in Marrakesh. You could almost see the $$ signs pop up in their eyes. Although we weren't thrilled with that the association it was still a fantastic visit. The food was fantastic...I don't think we had a bad meal! I plan to cook up a few tagines once we return home.  We were coaxed into seeing the Tannery (leather production) by a few insistent locals which proved to be an interesting albeit "fragrant" experience. We were given mint leaves as our "gas mask" to help survive the tour. Not the best place to visit after lunch!

 On our last night, we had a scrumptious meal overlooking the mosque at sunset complete with belly dancing.  Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better trip.

 

Only two more weeks left in Europe until we land in the Lone Star State (patriotically arriving on the 4th of July). Stay tuned for more updates on our latest trip to Greece!