The final nail

Well I'm quite certain I received the final nail into the coffin today. I'd say my plans to stay put in Amsterdam have completely fallen apart. And I suppose that's how things go. I came here and gave it my best but it just wasn't meant to be. Went down to the IND today to ask about how an employer might go about applying for a work permit on my behalf. At first it was going well, I was given some information on the process, the actual application and I thought I might be in the clear to head down to some places I had decided I'd have a go at first when all of a sudden the hammer fell, hard. I asked the ultimate question: How long does it take for the application to go through? And am I able to work while I wait for it to do so? And the first answer was: No, you're not able to work. And the second answer was: 6 - 8 weeks. First off I have not the time to sit around and do nothing for 6 - 8 weeks and secondly I have not the funds to do so. Two good reasons to abandon my hopes of staying put in Amsterdam. Perhaps if I would have known all of this when I first arrived, or before, perhaps then it may have worked, but no, I just don't see it being possible at this point. But perhaps there is still hope elsewhere. My friend Carolyn has suggested Croatia. May be easier to find a job there. Who knows? My focus will now shift towards finding a suitable alternative plan....


Zach

Ack, another update....

This time not so cheery. In any case I went in for my interview earlier today. Ended up not really being an interview. I was given a sheet of paper with a stamp on it and told to go to another office to make another appointment to apply for a residence permit. So what was the purpose of this first appointment? I lucked out though, the other office is pretty close to where I am living so I cruised across town and went in to make an appointment. What these people told me is that I could not schedule an appointment. Since I am American it is illegal to apply for a residence permit without first acquiring a work permit. Sounds a little backwards to me. And why did no one tell me this when I first started the process 5 weeks ago? I'm assuming that it is this way to deter people like me from coming to the country to work because If I was working as a skilled immigrant, then the employer would most likely take care of all of this for me. So needless to say I am back to where I started and it turns out I had my information correct the entire time. I'll have to find an employer willing to hire me, and see if they're willing to jump through the governments hoops as I have just tried. That's all really. Straightforward and not simple by any means. I'm quite certain I know what I have to do. So tomorrow I will start. ttfn!


Zach

Just one more song, i swear

and then i lay down in my bed. it's one of my favorites after all. leon - passionate. gets my heart aching a little bit each time i hear it. makes me want to close my eyes. ever know a song like that? i know plenty. today was a blur. started late (im blaming daylight savings) and when i woke up i just had to finish the latest entry on my beer blog. been really enjoying that lately. not sure if people are reading but maybe someday all this work i am putting into this thing will pay off. who knows? finally headed out. rode into town to the american book store to look for poetry. found plenty but when i took a look at the price tag my jaw hit the floor. for a paperback most were going for over 20 euros. yikes. in any case i sat down and read each one that caught my eye. out of the lot 2 were good. and 2 were excellent. i'll look them up on amazon and see if i can save myself half the price (which im sure i will). after the bookstore i headed out into the city for some photo-taking. it was a nice enough day. warm. in the 50s and the sun was out all afternoon. got some great shots of the facades and alleyways in the waning hours of sunlight. finally headed back and grabbed a quick snack of cheese and crackers thinking i had at least an hour before i'd be cooking. as it turns out it was already 7 pm! (i'm blaming daylight savings) and so around 730 i was in the kitchen cooking. prepared a massive feast actually. salad, wheat pasta with pesto, and a bit of schnitzel. delicious. i was stuffed afterwards.
spent the rest of my night editing photos and wasting my time on the internet listening to trance. which has been my music of choice the last few days. i am getting really excited because on april 9th i'll be attending the 500th episode of ASOT party down in den Bosch with mosh (ASOT is the radio show for the most famous dj here in Holland: Armin van Buuren). it's going to be incredible. in any case tomorrow i go to the offices (without my birth certificate) i hope they don't flip out and send me home again. i'd be gutted. keep your fingers crossed :] and check out my beer blog ;] until next time. peace. oh yeah, had to listen to the song another time just to make sure it was still playing when i finished writing this...toodles!



Zach

Fresh Start

Yeah It's true. A rare back to back two days in a row post on this blog. Profound. I know, really ;] Anyhow, the title of this post is: Fresh Start. This is the name because I feel I'm coming around. For an explanation, let me share with you my journal entry from earlier today...

"I raced here from Sloterdijk, a double espresso will do that to you (put a little pep in your step). I am here in the shade of Herman Bonpad (Molen) next to the canal, in the grass, eager to write. Finally, I feel myself turning the corner. Changing back to my normal self (at least the one that writes with more frequency). It really is funny how the smallest of things, a nonchalant comment intended as nothing more than a joke can flip a switch in your mind and you ask yourself, why not? I suppose it was a culmination of things really. One instance yesterday, I was reading a friend's blog, also currently traveling, and was struck by the language and words and images it conjured inside my head. She writes with passion. She writes about the little incredibly important moments everyone else seemingly overlooks. And this was cause for inspiration. Thanks Carolyn. That was first. That left me poised to jump back in. It wasn't until this morning when I awoke and logged onto facebook to read a comment from none other than Kayvan Fassnacht (this is the small thing that I'm certain was intended for nothing more than a laugh), the comment read: "Where are your pics?" The exchange ensued, and I responded: "Lol which ones?" and his response: "Of your European escapades...." And I had to think about it for a minute. And I realized that maybe I should be shooting more photos. Maybe I should be photographing all of the places I go and small things that I find interesting and intriguing throughout the days here in Amsterdam (and this is the part about something small causing a much larger mental response). It was as if a switch flipped inside my head and I was finally awake. The final push I needed to go off the edge and dive back in. So here I am. I can say with certainty I am back. Back to writing of small enjoyable moments in life. About profound thoughts and contemplation. Where did I retreat to? Good question. I have no idea. All I can say is that I wasn't myself. We'll see where we go from here. Tuesday is an important day. Take it one day at a time. Here's to being back. It feels good. Thanks to the two people who flipped the switch to bring me here..."

And so there you have it. I have a feeling I'll return to that windmill quite often as the weather warms and the seasons change. Until next time...

Zach


Oh yeah by the way, If you'd like to read an amazing blog and be inspired, proceed here -> link to amazing blog: l'arte di viaggiare (the art of travel)

the next update

I am constantly aware of the lackluster nature of my europe blog. unfortunate, really, but alas, i am here providing another update into my status here in holland. as of the 21st of march, which was to be my registration date, i went in for my interview feeling prepared but a little nervous. i waited for about 20 minutes and finally my number was called. i entered the room, sat down, and was promptly asked if i had everything, even the copy of the landlords passport. at this point my jaw nearly hit the floor and i asked again for clarification, "excuse me?" at which point the man said he could not help me if i don't follow directions. and he pointed out on the sheet where it clearly stated that i'd needed a copy of the main tenants passport. needless to say the rest of the day i felt like a complete idiot. how many times in school are teachers harping on reading directions completely and thoroughly? well for this instance i get a failing grade. the funny thing is, even though i knew the directions were on there, and i read through them several times, i somehow overlooked that part. i have no idea why. but it is what it is and i managed to avoid complete and utter disaster (like having to wait an additional three weeks or a month). instead i was given an appointment on tuesday march 29th (so yes, just a week and now just two more days). i'm quite thankful i don't have to wait longer than that. so now we'll see what happens. tomorrow i'll acquire the copy of the main tenants passport and then tuesday i'll hopefully be on my way with a BSN number and the ability to look for work. the sun is out again today. i'm trying to get a plan for the day. i've just woken up late thanks to daylight savings time and a late live-draft for my fantasy baseball team. but nevertheless the sun is out and i'm eager to go play. hope you enjoy your sunday. byebye for now!

zach

a long time

Yeah jeez. A lack of updates on this blog has been a major problem for me. Don't know why really. There has been plenty happening (more recently not so much) but things have really been happening, I promise. And now the perfect moment to start writing...I am sitting here chugging water, listening to planes flying by overhead, and peering out my window at dull reflections cast across dampened paths. The band Alfie is playing and I've just woken up from a long (somewhat uneccessary 4 hour nap). Looks like it will be pasta again for dinner, whenever it is that I am hungry again. I ate quite a large lunch so we'll see. As for tonight I won't be going out. Maybe tomorrow or sunday. I've just received the lifesaving help package I was waiting so long for. The $850 tax refund. It finally went through. And it has boosted the money in my account to an amount I can feel safe with (at least for next month) which is the timeframe I've given myself before I head home and call this round in favor of Holland. I am however, extremely close to finally, legally, being able to look for work. I've called the registration offices today and yesterday to see about any possible cancellations to get in sooner (but to no avail). Oh well. Monday is d-day for me. I go into the offices and attempt to get my SOFI number or BSN number or whatever they are calling it these days and then from there we'll see how things go. I'll really need to put myself out. Really go and sell myself in order to find a job soon. And so I shall. I shall because I have to. Did I tell you how much I hate it when people leave lights on unneccesarily? Or when people leave the toilet seat up? I think all 3 of my roommates do both of these things. Effers. Oh well. In any case, it was raining earlier here as was predicted. I cruised from my place down to the center of town with no problems (got a little damp) but it wasn't until my ride home that it was raining a bit harder. Got back and peeled off the layers of moist clothing and put some warm things on. Oh yeah, and then fell asleep on my bed and had weird dreams. My next goal will be to track down some potential locations for looking for work. I'll try and compile a list here on sunday and go from there monday afternoon. That's the update as things stand. Ok I'm done talking. Enjoy your Friday night. byebye.


Zach

new update, slower progress....

currently bored as hell. remind me to download more games to my computer next time i have internet access. been playing effing chess, solitaire, and elasto mania. i'm currently writing this without internet access (will post later). woke up late today. at 1130. planned to wake up at 930. Effed myself over pretty good, but in the end it didn't matter. Didn't get out of here until 145ish...went downstairs to place a call. no dice. apparently you can't call 900 numbers from call centers. went to a different call center. no dice. so now i can't call the immigration office because i can't place the call on my cellular phone either. eff. so i'm looking online for other numbers and finally after a few tries i find one that works. and they give the address to me. i head there on my bike and arrive just before 4 pm. get in line. ask my question. take a number. take a seat. get called to the window and i'm able to make an appointment. first available: march 21st. 2 pm. fml. quite unfortunate. the requirement is for me to register with the municipality, like a place of residence, and then i will be given a tax number or a BSN as they call it, kind of like a social security number. and then i am quite sure i can go and look for work, but i'll have to go to another office tomorrow and see if i can get some more information. in the meantime, i'm still looking for a place of residence, however. i really hope i can find something within the next 5 to 7 days. i feel bad for staying so long with annie. will probably contact petra in a few days if nothing substantial shows up and my last resort will be a cheap ass hostel somewhere. we will see. i'm supposed to call the immigration office and see if there are cancellations on thursday and friday. that will be my next move and today is only monday so eff. will just focus on finding a place of residence the next few days. might have found some peeps to meet up with. we'll see. ok now i'm done. will waste more time watching tv and maybe use the internet. ok byebye.

zach
2106
02.28.11

oh yeah, happy march 1st ;]