Oh Maaria Maaria
She reminds me of a canal side story
Growing up in the Dutch Haarlem
She's living the life just like a windmill star
Oh Maaria Maaria
She fell in love in East Amdam
To the sounds of the guitar, yeah, yeah
Played by Carlos Van Tana...
A group of us went there yesterday to see a special traveling exhibit at the Teyler Museum. As part of our course in World Art the professor wants us to discuss the historical tradition of exoticizing human representations from Africa and India by the West. The exhibit was really interesting and a little disturbing. It chronicled a variety of "entertainments" where human beings from a variety of preliterate societies were placed on display for the enjoyment of visiting spectators. The events were constructed as displays of "the barbaric", but the practice of placing human beings on display proves to be the only barbaric element. The exhibit reminded me of the research on Blackfaced Minstrelsy I did for Professor Johnson at UofT. There is something inherently "icky" in studying the documentation of these events - the racist undertones are at times extremely overwhelming. We took time for the other sections of the museum which housed a pretty standard inventory of items - bones and rock formations, Dutch paintings, significant inventions...and coins. Honestly, is anyone really mesmerized by a museum full of coins? Obviously, to each his own, but if I had to go to a strictly coin based exhibit I'd cry.
To get into the event we all bought a Museumkaart which is one of Amsterdam's best deals. For students under 25, YEAR-LONG entry to the majority of the museums in Amsterdam is only 22.50. It's an absolute steal. Yesterday's museum would have cost me 8 Euros and the Riks and Van Gogh charge upwards of 10 Euros so it will pay for itself in no time. As well, it means I can just pop in and visit 95% of the museums in the Netherlands whenever I want for the next year: "Hey Rembrandt, what's shaken? The Nighwatch is going A-OK." My plan is to see if I can give it to friends that visit so they can use it for free entry - there is no photo on the card, only my name. This must be investigated further.
Haarlem is something of a miniature Amsterdam. It too has a system of beautiful canals, coffeeshops, and an array of pubs and trendy spots. It was, however, a lot cleaner and didn't seem as overwhelming as the "red haze" can sometimes feel. We were told that once the spring hits, Haarlem, and some of the other surrounding towns, are awash in field after field of gorgeous tulips all in bloom. I've seen photos on the postcards here and it's a site I've never seen - kms upon kms of beautiful flowers. It will be really special to see in the spring. Henrietta (the Lee-Lou-Lindzey of the Theatre Studies department) is planning to invite us out to her home sometime this term for a day in a "more-rural" part of the Netherlands. I am looking forward to it greatly.
After the museum we set up shop at a quaint little Dutch pub where the beers were tiny and very "heady." I've come to realize the Dutch like foam at the top of their beer. If you're paying for a 2 Euro half-pint you can't complain since it's so cheap, but half the glass may be filled with foam. It's definitely not how I prefer it but I'm getting use to it. The barkeep delivered some delicious freshly-roasted peanuts to our table and we soaked in the homey atmosphere of the pub. It seemed like a place with regulars. There we played a really fun social activity. On sheets of paper you create a film that is added to as the paper rotates around the group (actor, actor, genre, title, synopsis, and tag line). As you fill each category you fold the paper over, so the next person cannot see what you've written, and you continue passing until the movie has been complete. It's pretty darn fun. It's a bit of a different take on a game I learned at the Hincks' home which used drawings and phrases. We quaffed two rounds of beers on a glorious Sunday afternoon - what better way to spend a day?
That evening I joined Stuart and Becs, the two Brits I met two weeks ago, for another round at De Trut. This is the bar which offers super low cover (1.50) and 1 Euro half-pints. One would assume that as European Law Students they'd have a lot of work, but they always manage to find time for going out...even if it's on a Sunday. I met two of their friends from Australia. The music wasn't as good as the two weeks before, but the crowd was at capacity 15 minutes after we arrived and apparently the line was pretty large. I also bumped into two Dutch girls from one of my classes there. Sunday night was hopping.
Today I got some passport photos done for a meeting I have tomorrow with Dutch Immigration. To legally reside in the country I have to apply for a Working Holiday Scheme which allows me to stay for up to twelve months. Instead of getting a residence permit, which would cost over 400 Euros, Canadian and Australian students (but sadly not our American friends) can apply for the WHS for 30 Euros. What a deal! Bec and I are definitely taking advantage of the offer. Unfortunately it means I have to be at their office for 8:30am and it's on the opposite side of town. An earrrrrly start tomorrow and a presentation in the afternoon. But, coming down the pipeline is a P-A-R-T-Y I am planning when Emily is in town starting February 15. I haven't talked to her in a few days to make solid plans, but the stroopwafel assured me she was coming! I cannot wait to hit the town with her again.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: I think Carlo Santana says it best,"Stop the looting, stop the shooting/ Pick pocking on the corner/ See as the rich is getting richer/ The poor is getting poorer/ Ahora vengo mama chola." Fer realz.
1 comment:
I think her real name is Lenrietta.
YES. We must speak soon. Sorry I missed you last night - 'twas Fanny's bday.
I'll be around before 7 tonight and likely alllll day tomorrow! 5 more days!!!
xo
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