Geert Heijnen’s Weblog

Okay it’s not the opportunities that are spooky but it was Halloween! So we made some pumpkins (first time in my life making pumpkins!) which was a lot of fun. Gonna make one next year as well. And baked pumpkin seeds (they don’t pop but they taste like popcorn specially if you add a little butter and salt) Then before the big day we bought candy and candles to have inside our pumpkin. On Halloween we lit our pumpkin and hoped for kids to come around…. Last year there were none so we hoped to do a little better this time! I guess the pumpkin worked because we got 14 kids trick or treating and was a lot of fun. At the same time we had dinner guests over and were enjoying the company of linda’s old roommate and her boyfriend (If you haven’t noticed I’m not big on using names on my blog since I don’t know if everyone would like having their names posted on the internet)

Then today I went to Brennemoen (it’s a place where parents of kids with disabilities can take them to easen the burden on them) for a job interview. We talked for an hour and was shown the facilities. They were very nice and I could begin working as a replacement assistent after I had 2 shifts to learn how to work there.  (since its an hour drive and we have only 1 car it needs some planning still but I really liked the place and the people and think I would love working there as well) So keep your fingers crossed!

So short news. Via a friend I heard that they needed replacement assistants in a local barnehage (kindergarten) So I called and was met enthusiastically if I could come over on tuesday to see where it was and talk a little about the work.

So was a little nervous on tuesday to meet them. But all were nice and friendly and we talked a little about working with children and how the kintergarten worked. Then they asked if I would like to come the next day to see what my job will be like and what I should do. Since I would get paid that would have been my first working day here in Norway.  So of course I said yes and then I already started getting a lil worried about the next day.

Today I went to the kindergarten and it was very nice. It is sometimes hard to communicate with the children and learning a lot of new “children words” so hope it will go well in the future. I certainly liked it enough to keep on doing it so already gonna work again there on friday. And I can say that I look forward to it.

So this week I have been spending with my parents back in the Netherlands. Took off the 14th and am coming back the 21st. Did a lot of fun things on my trip here so far. The fun started by being met by the whole family on Schiphol, even my brothers had come to say hello. That was very nice.

On thursday the 15th I went to a friends birthday after first buying a present for her. Was nice to with friends again and among familiar faces. The day after we met to go out and eat. We decided that the place to be this time would be Popocatepetl: A mexican restaurant in Eindhoven. The service was dissapointing (somehow we always seem to be ghosts to the waitresses), the food was good, but was even better to be among old friends. It immediately felt like I never been away. Maybe that’s due to the fact we didn’t manage to arrange dinners THAT often before I moved. It was nice to catch up and enjoy our special kind of humour that takes some getting used to.

Rest of the week I have gone shopping in the city, been to the movie: “The Surrogates” with my dad. (The first movie I seen together with my dad after 15 years or so) Which wasn’t half bad but not that good either. Kind of a blend of “I, Robot” and “The Matrix”.  Been to my old job to see what has been happening and met a lot of people from when I still worked. Was a very warm homecoming. (and yes, I’m afraid I didn’t come back to stay, just here on vacation)

Now the vacation is almost to an end and don’t know that well what to do, but I’m sure I’m gonna enjoy my last 2 days here as well. On a sunnier note: I have noted my site has had a LOT of views lately. Apperently visitors to my blog came here after typing “french bulldog” into their search engine of their choice. And here I was almost thinking I was getting popular…. Well can’t have it all.

The longer I stay here the busier I seem to get. But the thing is it is more and more the same things. Basicly going to norwegian language course, coming home, doing dishes, cleaning etc and writing job application letters or relaxing.

My norwegian is getting better and better tho. That’s at least a good sign. Took an excercise test for level A2 and that was not very hard. Now I’m currently worried that the norwegian course is going way too slow. Can always buy books myself and study at home. That doesn’t cost nearly as much as I’m paying for my course.

Last week we have been having a little puppy over to stay. A little cute french bulldog by the name of betty. She’s so ugly that she is cute at the same time. That together with clumsily short feet so she really has to work if she wants to run and having a fart-turbo engine. (our dog rarely farts so that was a surprise to have a little fart factory in the house) After a week it was sad to see her go again, a very cute dog. And in hindsight not as much work as we thought it would be. So she is always welcome to stay with us again.

Only thing that is keeping me down is not having a job. That is really getting on my nerves. Writing a lot of application letters and not hearing much back. Sometimes it really gets me and sometimes I can just be happy here and enjoy. I clearly need more patience.

Just some short news from the norwegian front. Yes I passed the test and now am in the advanced class giving B1 Norwegian. This is also the highest level norwegian I can learn in Halden. For reference the well known Bergen Test is at Level B2. Don’t need to take the test and will probably continue learning norwegian myself. So that’s fine.

Gonna be very busy with homework and with babysitting a little cute french bulldog who hasn’t learned to pee and poo outside and all other basics. So gonna have our hands full. If only they made dog diapers…..

And I’m coming back to Netherlands from 14 October to 21 October. Looking very much forward to that one!

After graduating roughly 1 year ago, I thought it would be the last time I had to sit in the schoolbanks. Of course I would have to follow courses but that’s more passively sponging up information while you get a grand lunch and then go home. So monday I was at the newbeginners course and that one was way too slow and unchallenging for me. So started in a more advanced class tuesday. Got books and learned a lot of grammar. And oh yes, by the way, there is a test on thursday. Just chapter 1 to 10. (more than half of the book) So that was quite stressing. Normally I’m totally opposed to learning and making homework but this is in my own interest. So spent past two days learning my ass off.

Today was the day of the test. And can only say one thing: what a relief! The test wasn’t hard at all. I hope that now I will get in an advanced class and can learn lots of norwegian really fast. I’m getting kind of impatient….

On other news I booked a vacation to Netherlands from 14 to 21 october. Can’t wait to see my friends and family again! And Space Hulk is waiting for me there…..

So today was THE day. The day I have been looking forward to for a long time. Apart from the day that I finally start working here in Norway (it’s really getting boring to be home every day and to be careful with spending money etc etc) So a little nervous I drove to my new school for my norwegian course for beginners.

There were a lot of people from a lot of different countries there in my class. But one thing was really weird. No matter how long they had stayed in Norway. None of them could really talk norwegian yet. So when I had to talk to them I actually had to talk in english so that was kind of a dissapointment. Then the course started and gotten the time table, had to go every day of the week for 4 hours a day. Thats a lot of time (and a lot of money as well). Worst was that I didn’t learn anything in these first 4 hours; all that was said I already knew. So a bit dissapointed in my first day at school (or maybe it was because I got my hopes up too high) I went back home again and cleaned a little before picking Linda up.

Turned out the principal called Linda in the meanwhile. And told me that there was someone that was obligated to take the course. And since then class was full and I was the last one that joined I had to go. Now the good news is that I’ll probably go the advanced course now. Will go to ’school’ again tomorrow and will find out. I’ll keep you posted!