A Squatter No More.doc

Well, it's official. As the title indicates, the room fiasco is over. I received an email last evening informing me I could stay in the room I've been occupying since I arrived. Although this place has felt like home (I've already had guests here!), it feels great to have it officially sorted. I signed the new lease this morning and the cleaners left just a half hour ago. I'm really happy with where I'm living. Having explored the city over the past ten days, the location is ideal - not right in the centre but central enough that a walk in any direction is not too tedious. Happy, happy, happy.

A feature, but also a challenge, of the program is that you spend your time studying in two different locations. While there are many benefits that come with this opportunity, it also means having to settle and then move every so often. I've realized that it takes a few basic necessities to start feeling like you can put down some roots: a mailbox, a bank account, access to laundry, and a mobile number. I've realized that until I have these services I don't feel quite whole. Luckily, I've taken care of all this business in the past few days and am feeling right at home.

Mailbox: Until I knew which apartment was mine, I didn't know which address to indicate on all the business forms so I put down this one and hoped I'd be staying. I had keys to the box for this one and the original apartment but now am free to send my address to the masses. Success.

Bank Account: Who says Swiss Bank accounts are the be all and end all? I have a brand new Dutch bank card. It makes all the conversions, from my Canadian and British accounts, all the easier. Funnily enough, most supermarkets and restaurants don't do debit or visa over here. I'll have to go back to carrying cash around - such a 2001 concept. Success.

Laundry: It's in the building and it's free. My days of collecting coins and putting money down the drain are over - at least for the next six months. I can now do laundry properly (whites, darks, and all that jazz) instead of lumping everything together to save money. Success.

Mobile: So I forgot to get Orange to unlock my British phone while I was back in England. This means that it was impossible to place a Dutch sim card in the back and start a new pay-as-you-go plan. Thankfully, the friendly lady at TMobile sent me to a shop down the street that unlocked the phone for me. I figured this was a pretty normal thing, but if you had seen the "store" I went to and the business transaction that took place (10E and no receipt) you'd think it was highly sketchy. After that I was able to pop in a new sim card. Success.

And without further ado, since it's now confirmed that this is my apartment, here are some pics of the new digs:

The Bathroom

View from the Kitchen

Skyline in the Background

Ikea much?

Look at that blogger, hard at work.

Houseguests!

We like to party. We like, we like...

Making delicious meals.

The infamous Stroopwafels sandwiching chocolate.

Here is my new address. Please stagger your care packages; I don't want the box overflowing:

Keith Bennie
Sarphatistraat 149-D
1018 GD Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Here is my new contact number:

(31) 061 461 7050

And, of course, place 011 in front of that to dial internationally : (011) (31) 061 461 7050

Tomorrow night I'm hosting a get-together for those of us who have arrived in Amsterdam for mobility along with three students that have yet to leave. We have Warwick-Finland-Amsterdam home students converging here people! I figured I'd be the one to get the ball rolling on the socializing front.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: Mailbox, Bank Account, Laundry, and a Mobile - all things necessary to start feeling at home.