Tuesday
Mar092010
When They Give You a Lemon
March 9, 2010 * * * * * Posted by: Ginnie 
...go to Delft, of course!
Now back up a minute, alstublieft (please).
A week after Astrid and I got married, we took the 35-minute busride to nearby Utrecht to submit my application for a residence permit. It had to be put in motion by March 5 or else I would have to leave the Netherlands for 3 months. That wasn't gonna happen!
There are 9 IND/immigration offices in the Netherlands. It was a no-brainer for us to choose Utrecht because it was the closest (20 miles away) and the city to which we had gone for several photo hunts in the past two years. As a college town, it's quaint and charming. You'd love it. It took us an hour to submit all our important papers, with Astrid as my sponsor for my residence here. We knew they were allowed 6 months for their official response, but the lady said it would probably be 1-2 months at the most. Good. We crossed our fingers and held our breath.
Many of you saw my post on Shutterchance about how Once in a Blue Moon you can be so shocked all you can do is howl at the moon. That day in Utrecht was Friday afternoon. By the following Tuesday a letter was written telling me I was accepted!
However, I still needed to wait for my ID card to be prepared and ready for pick-up. THIS is where the lemon comes in! When I received the letter, I was given the clear instruction to pick up my card in Rijswijk, not Utrecht. Rijswijk is near Den Haag, 31 miles away, but when you don't have a car, it seemed much farther. It was one hour by 3 different trains instead of 35 minutes by one bus...and the difference of €14. Astrid was so spitting mad she actually called to ask why I couldn't pick the card up in Utrecht, where I had applied. No way, José. I had to go to Rijswijk.
But guess what! That famous city of Delft, home to Delft Blue pottery and Johannes Vermeer, was just 4 minutes by train before Rijswijk, which meant it was also 4 minutes after Rijswijk going home. It took me exactly 30 minutes to get off the train in Rijswijk, go find the office, take a potty break, pick up my card, and get back on the train before getting off 4 minutes later in Delft...where I then spent 3 hours.
The above church is Delft's Oude Kerk (old church), the oldest parish church in the city from 1246 and the burial place of Johannes Vermeer. Its 75-meter tower leans 2 meters from the vertical and is seen here from the Nieuwe Kerk (new church, started in 1396 as the second oldest parish), across the market square. The tower of the Nieuwe Kerk is 108.75 meters, with 356 steps to the top. YES, I did it! The only other church tower taller than this in the Netherlands is...guess where! The Dom tower in Utrecht (112.5 meters), which I climbed with Astrid back in January of 2008.
See what I mean about making lemonade when you're given a lemon! I have now climbed the two tallest church towers in the Netherlands. Woo Hoo! (And someone even threw in a soulful windmill right there to the right of the church at mid-section. See it?)
Reader Comments (18)
You are one of the most positive persons I ever met and you are so good in making lemonade from almost everything on your path.
When you told me how your day was in Delft I just smiled and smiled, you had been in one of the cities with a lot of history, wonderful churches, a windmill.........
Lieve schat, I am glad you had to go to Rijswijk for getting the staying permit....it was worth while.
I hope, one day, I will be able to be as positive as you are, I know I am grounded, we are a Dream Team though..... ;)
BTW.....a stunning picture, I almost forgot.
way to go Ginnie, lemonade out of your 3 train lemons lol those are great churches to have seen... i'm sorry i'm not so 'commenty' i'm a little distracted by grief and by a new dog who is sad to have lost his old master
You are so positive, I love it, I'll remember 'making lemonade out of lemon' and use it. Lovely shot of Delft. It's the first place my friends and family from abroad want to go when they visit.
Everything for a reason? There must have been some sort of hidden purpose to needing to go to Rijswijk for that permit. Look what you found along the way!!! Wonderful post and image to match!!!
I always enjoy your stories (and comments, too)...they portray your upbeat and positive outlook. I enjoyed your view of Delft with the contrast of historic and modern architecture.
I know you. I know your discipline, drive, and soul. I also know how much you love details - whether in photos, paper documents, or relationships. You love having everything lined up (I bet you'd love to straighten that tower), organized, like a puzzle. I guess what I'm saying is, I think everything - even all the bureaucracy that has come about in your life recently - found just the right person! All those little steps, up up up, you just keep climbing, up. It is extraordinarily significant to me, my dear sister. I love you.
Really enjoyed reading your post. I must agree with the above comments: you sure are a very positive person! :) Beautiful image too: What a wonderful place to visit!
you see, some things are meant to be. the government employee couldn't possibly tell astrid that you were meant to go to Rijswijk. the two of you still would have doubted the purpose of it all. life flows. great photo.
Determination on steroids! Lots of folks get lemons but aren't willing to put in the work that it takes to make lemonade.
What a city! I got lost just looking at the photo. Farmergal
Lemonade? silver linings? Glass half full? Any way you look at it, it's positive and constructive, and quite wonderful when this is your natural view of life. I enjoyed this little story, Ginnie, and almost more than that was Ruth's comment. I always look for those because I get such pleasure out of the evidence of your deep affection for each other.
determination = this outstanding aerial image!!
Oh my friend - lemonade AND a windmill for good measure! Thank you, once again, for reminding me to look for the positives in every day. You encourage change more than you could possibly imagine!
peace to you ...
That's one of the things that I so appreciate about you, Ginnie, your positive attitude and ability to make lemonade. A wonderful post (and fantastic image). And how many steps??? You rock!
Well of course it was all worth it even without the added additions along the way :-)
The best things in life always come after a little inconvenience ;-)
A beautiful photograph and very good for your heart. It's always a pleasure to read your comments.
What a gorgeous photo. The cities in the US don't look like this. I love the history. And good for you for looking on the bright side!
i love this picture ginnie, such a different (and by no means is that a bad thing!) one from what I see every day. all these things are sent to try us, i'm glad you're not letting the turkeys (or elephants...as i've just read kath's post) get you down :)
Bureaucracy in Europe can drive one to distraction, especially one used to the US ways. But you did it your way – you found the positive out of the situation and it was your gain. Bravo.