Making Money

That's right. Erin is finally making money for doing what she has all this education to do - counseling. Well, the actual giving of therapy on a long-term basis to improve people's lives is still volunteer work, but at least she's getting paid to do administrative stuff and handle one-time crises. She's technically "counseling director" for the counseling ministry at our church here in Amsterdam. Interesting that we had to move across the ocean to another country for her to obtain all this prestige and wealth. OK, so "prestige and wealth" might be taking it a bit far. Anyway, she is really enjoying her job and the opportunity to use her skills and education.

The first paycheck hit the bank yesterday, bringing with it the realization that taxes will have to be paid on these earnings. The matter is complicated by the fact that, while John's company takes care of all the tax filings for his earnings, there is no one to help us figure out what to do with Erin's income. Supposedly the church can file a form so that she doesn't have to pay taxes in the Netherlands and the U.S. and, let's face it, with the high tax rate in the Netherlands (being socialist and all) plus U.S. taxes, there really would be nothing left of Erin's already tiny paycheck.

Do they even call it a "paycheck" in the Netherlands? There are no such things as checks in this country. In fact, we were discussing just the other day the great efficiency of not ever having to write, deposit, or deal with checks. People here simply get your bank account number and put money directly from their account into your account, or vice versa. When paying for items, you can just use your bank card, credit card, or chipcard if you don't have any cash on you. Furthermore, stores never have to deal with bounced checks. It's genius. Why isn't the U.S. on this bandwagon?

Now that we have dealt with so many different areas of red tape, rules, and government ridiculousness in the Netherlands, we feel the whole tax thing will eventually work out. It's the fact that we will also have to work with the U.S. government in this case that might make things a bit more frustrating. Erin just wants to find a way to keep some of the money she's making without being sent off to jail for tax evasion! Oh the joys of finally making money.

Home

Note: Because Erin cannot speak for John in this blog, it is written in first-person.

Some people say they remember the very day they realized this was home - the day when they were no longer living in a strange place, but instead the drive from the office to the apartment became routine and the place they were headed was really just home.

I don't think I have one moment like that. The change has been gradual. Today in the grocery store I noticed a family of four yanking their crazy Dutch shopping cart around and hissing at each other in barely civil tones, as if they were on the verge of crying or screaming. They must have just moved here. After all, August is the prime month for new expats to move in. I recognized the tone of voice and looks of anxiety and all too well remembered my first months here trying to do all the shopping in strange stores with unrecognizable labels and brands. Only, I had no one else with me to help me find something or vent my frustrations to (at least, not until John got home in the evening and I could recount the woes of my day in Amsterdam). I overheard the mom telling everyone to find cottage cheese (something it took me at least 6 months to locate) as their little girl held onto the shopping cart and announced that she thought everyone was staring at them. I took this opportunity to alleviate some of their distress, pointed out where to find cottage cheese and told the mother what it is called in Dutch on the package.

It seems forever since I was in that position. How long has it been since riding my bike to the grocery store, only getting what will fit in my bike bags, and locating items with Dutch labels has become normal? When did the word "ice" ("ijs" in Dutch) stop meaning frozen cubes of water to put in your drink and start meaning ice cream? When did I stop counting down how many more months we have to live here? I now go weeks without thinking about moving back to the U.S. Yes, we are not snuggly fitted into the middle of this culture; we'll always be on the fringes of society without knowing Dutch, but this has become normal life.

Maybe the blogs are now few and far between because everything does not seem new and different now. Or maybe it's because I'm much busier now with a part-time job and studying for a licensure exam! Maybe both. We'll still keep everyone updated on happenings over here even though "here" is now "home." :-)