East Meets West.

 In a matter of hours, I leave Amsterdam for Istanbul, Turkey.  According to what I've read, Istanbul is the "only city connecting two continents," those being Europe and Asia, of course.  And, it was home to several key empires, including Roman.  So, it's often viewed as where the East and West meet, not only from a geographic perspective, but also on the cultural front.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous about this leg of my journey.  Along with the "East" part of the equation comes a lot of misanthropy toward Americans.  I could write for days about whether those feelings are justified, what they stem from, etc.  Regardless, the sentiment exists.  I was checking my email Inbox the other night, and I saw a notification from the US Dept of State (the University registers all staff - voluntarily - with the Dept of State when traveling abroad, so we can receive important communication, etc.) urging Americans to travel to Turkey for the next month or so.  My first thougtht was, "Grrreeeaaatt."  Obviously, there's a "CYA" element to the official warning, but I also know it's grounded in some real concern for potential harm.  I know that because I'm just that person who then proceeded to do some Internet research (so factual, I'm sure) and pulled up all the info on recent terrorist attacks, the underlying issues, etc.

So, here I am, headed there in a few hours.  I've decided that I need to check my control issues at the airline desk and just sit back and relax (while simultaneously being smart and cautious, of course).  Because, really, I could over-analyze this for hours up on hours, but the reality is this:  I'm going.  The city is one of the most vibrant and incredible in the world.  I need to suck up and enjoy it.  Whether or not something (negative) happens is out of my hands.  It's like my fear of flying...there's simply nothing I can do to control the situation.  So, there.  That's my stance.  P.S.  I'm still nervous.  And excited.  And nervous.  And excited.

In the meantime since I last blogged, I've had a great time soaking up Amsterdam.  Yesterday, the student group I'm with visited the Heineken Brewery for a presentation on brand marketing (right up my alley) as well as a tour through the "Heineken Experience."  I thought this would be a simple facilities tour, etc., but it was no such thing. This was truly an experience, including a Disneyworld-like ride through the brewing process.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the two beers they provide at the end:)  I followed that with dinner at the oh-so-American Hard Rock Cafe.  Look:  Don't judge.  My travel companion wanted to go there (she was craving nachos), and I understand a food craving as well as the next girl, so I was there!  And, it was good.

I'm including a photo of some of my colleagues and I at the Disney of Heineken.

Sleepy Ferrell

I've had a full few days, and I can't think of a good title for this post, so I'm dubbing it, "Sleepy Ferrell."  I had to work all day today, so I wasn't able to get out into Amsterdam like I did on Sunday.  So, as soon as I had an opportunity (around 7 p.m.), I headed out for dinner, dragging a few of my colleagues along with me.  I needed to get out of the hotel (which is very nice, but still a hotel)!

As I mentioned before, I'm here in Amsterdam as part of UNC's global OneMBA program, an executive MBA program, so it's only fitting that my dinner companions represented all parts of the world:  an American originally from Maine (may as well be a different country, right?), a Hong-Kong resident who is also a Canadian citizen, a Dutch women who told me she's lived int the same town her entire life, and a Colombian woman who currently resides in Mexico.  We headed out into the city, aiming for a Tapas restaurant that the Dutch native suggested.  She warned us it was in the Red Light District...which was no problem for me, since I wanted to visit there in the evening (I went during the day, but the famous ladies behind the red doors come out at night).  In short, we got turned around, and we never found the restaurant.  We did, however, find a small Mexican cantina (in the Red Light district) where I had some decent chicken fajitas (B knows I'll eat MX food whenever I can).  As I mentioned on Twitter, it doesn't get more global than this!?!  I'm posting a few photos of my dinner companions here:

The first photo is Chantal from Holland and Alice from Hong Kong.  The next is Diana from Mexico and Brigitta from UNC (my colleague) and Chantal again.  The final photo is Brigitta and (a hideous photo of me).

As we were walking through Amsterdam this evening, I thought about a few things:

1) This is truly a beautiful city.  Who knew?  Based on everything I thought I knew about Amsterdam, I really didn't expect it to be so pretty.  There are numerous streets that must look just like they did in the 16th or 17th century, and the canals are incredibly beautiful at night.

2) While many are weirded out by the "ladies of the night" behind the doorways, I find the whole thing really pretty fascinating.  Yes, it is a bit odd.  But, prostitution is the oldest business in the world, and it happens everywhere, certainly in the United States.  The only difference here is that the ladies are being open and honest about their business, rather than trying to hide it.  It almost makes the whole thing seem less seedy...if that makes any sense.

Off to sleep now...I hope.  I've had a hard time sleeping, and then I'm exhausted in the morning.

Amsterdam - first impressions

I arrived in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) late yesterday afternoon.  The purpose of my trip (which will move from Amsterdam to Istanbul, Turkey in a few days) is primarily business, but I'll be packing in as much "personal tourism" as possible.  And, since my "business" is education, it actually provides me the opportunity to see some things that I may not normally see as a tourist.

Honestly, even the journey here was fairly interesting, if only because I haven't traveled to Europe since college.  I've been to the Caribbean a few times, and Canada once, but I haven't crossed the Atlantic in over a decade.  I studied abroad in college (London), so connecting in Heathrow Airport provided me with quite a few flashbacks...beginning with the Wagamama in the airport.  This noodle bar wasn't a chain way back when; it is now.  Lucikly, the trip itself was uneventful.

I'm staying at the Movenpick Hotel, which is really great.  It reminds me of the contemporary Westin chain in the US.  This is a far cry from my backpacking days!  I joined some of my OneMBA colleagues (and friends) for dinner last night at famed Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant, only two blocks from my hotel.  Dinner was excellent.   I won't bore you with the description of the menu, but it was so fresh (what I'd expect from Jamie Oliver).

Today, I was free until 5 pm (which is coming at me shortly), so after a great breakfast at the hotel, I headed out into the city.  I walked more than four hours, loving every minute of it.  I had no plan, just walked (with a map).  I hit all the tourist spots, but I didn't enter any (i.e. Anne Frank house, Van Gogh museum), because lines were around the block.  I did take a good number of photos:  http://picasaweb.google.com/acferrell/Amsterdam?authkey=Gv1sRgCPTOqZ3N3ePcZA&feat=directlink.

A few initial observations:

• The world seems much smaller than the last time I came to Europe.  I keep wondering if it's just my perspective (adult rather than young adult), but I don't think so.  Sure, there were many "Americanized" things last time I was in Europe, but cultures just seem to have melded much more than I remember.  Of course, all the Dutch speak English.  I went into a Starbucks today (which I also had at Heathrow Airport, by the way), got the same coffee I get in the US, and I was served by an American barista.  It all seemed to fit right in with the landscape.  I'm not doing a good job of explaining this, but let's just suffice it to say that I can literally feel the effects of globalization in a way I didn't in the late '90s.
• I knew the Dutch preferred to travel by bicycle, but this is really something else!  I'm amazed by the children riding on handlebars of their parents' bikes.  Toddlers.  Oh, my.  Anna would jump off!  No helmets.  This reminded me that Americans are so incredibly neurotic and need a rule/regulation for everything.  I find it ironic that most European countries are much more socially and politically liberal (than the US), but they don't allow the government to regulate things like "bicycle riding" the way we do.
• Related to my previous observation:  I'm reminded that a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to include regimented exercise.  I saw one jogger all day.  One.  There are joggers all over Chapel Hill.  But, I didn't see many overweight persons, and certainly not overweight Dutch.  They walk and ride their bicycles everywhere.  I walked so much today and felt healthier than if I would have run for an hour.

I wish I could write more, but I must go get ready for the evening; OneMBA kicks off with a canal cruise and dinner. 

Envy.

This will be short.  I envy the following:


1) Persons who are not afraid to fly on airplanes.  I have probably taken nearly 100 trips on airplanes, and I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to seen different parts of the US and world.  But, I'm scared every time.  I never get over it.  I can't relax.


2) Which leads me to my second point:  I'm envious of persons who can sleep on an airplane, which believe is directly related to #1.  I flew across the Atlantic earlier today.  I left at approximately 9 p.m. ET and flew "all night" to land in London at approximately 9 a.m.  Sounds like the perfect time to sleep, right?  No, not me.  I heard every noise, felt every bump, was uncomfortable, etc.  All around me:  people sleeping like babies.  


Argh.

Fashion

I'm pretty much a "fashion don't."  Okay, maybe not a true blue "don't," but I'm not far from it.  I mean, I don't think Stacy & Clinton on What Not to Wear would toss out my entire closet; they may keep something along the lines of 5-10 pieces.  Okay, 5.  And none of the shoes.

I like to think of my style as, "functional" and "classic," that is if the definition of classic includes a few pieces from Target's most recent line.  I mean, I understand the value of a good pair of $150 jeans (which were just $100 a few years ago and are now inching much closer to $200).  I also understand the longevity of a cute jacket that I can wear at work and on the weekend.  And, I can even appreciate dropping a bit of cash on a bag that'll last a few years.  And, let's face it, we all want to look nice (at least I do).  And, I'm a firm believer that the right outfit can make all the difference.

That being said, I don't get the hype around fashion.  I understand that to fashion mavens it's "art," just like collecting paintings or appreciating a beautiful fabric pattern for your new sofa.  But, I just can't get into it.  Okay, let's be honest, I can't afford to get into it.  But, even if I could, it just seems useless to me.  Even before I had my daughter (who makes this completely impossible), I never did enjoy spending a day shopping...unless, that is, I was shopping at the Farmers' Market.  It makes me restless.  And, the idea of spending more than $15 on a t-shirt makes me crazy.

I'll admit it:  I think the obsession with fashion is vain and obnoxious.  There, I said it.  The idea of spending hours upon hours and your savings account on the latest and greatest (because, frankly, it makes you look and feel "good") is crazy to me.  So, there, shoot me.

Of course, what does it say about me that I still have enough of an interest to post this link:  http://www.hirshleifers.com/blog.  It's a blog for a store that was recently mentioned to be a favorite of a celebrity.  Would I ever buy anything there?  No.  Will I read the blog from time to time to ensure I'm wearing the modern day equivalent of "Mom jeans."  Yes.

Enjoy.

Just let go.

I'm envious of people who can "just let go," and allow life (or whatever forces are driving life) to lead them.  I'm a fairly self-aware person; I think I have a pretty good idea of my strengths, weaknesses, struggles!  And, one of my biggest struggles is just letting life happen.  I'm not sure what, if anything, is at the root of the struggle.  Is it genetic?  Environmental?  Both, of course. But, at an even closer glance:  What, or who, taught me that I need to have control over my circumstances?  That I need to have a plan for my future?  That I need to be in the driver's seat?  Yes, this characteristic has served me well - sometimes - but perhaps even more often has caused me undue heartache and stress.  I have moments when something or someone succeeds in altering my pattern.  So, I'll try once again to allow that to happen.

My Favorite Veggie Lasagna

Every time I make this lasagna, people ask me for the recipe, so I'm posting here.  I copied directly as it's written down, and then I added my own comments:

Marinara Sauce 

(I’ve made this from scratch per the recipe below, but I think it’s just as good with a jar of your favorite sauce.)

1 cup chopped onion

3 cloves garlic

½ cup peeled carrots

3 T olive oil

½ cup red wine

½ t dried oregano

1 t dried basil

16 blanched plum tomatoes, peeled and seeded (or 28 oz can peeled whole tomatoes)

½ cup chopped mushrooms

1 T honey or sugar

½ t salt

1 T Italian seasoning

Saute the onion, garlic and carrots in the olive oil over low heat for 3 minutes. Add the red wine, oregano and basil and cook for an additional t minutes or until the wine is reduced by half.  Add the tomatoes, mushrooms, honey or sugar, salt and Italian seasoning and continue to cook until the mushrooms become limp, about 15 minutes.

Eggplant (I use zucchini instead and prepare the same way; takes about 2 good sized zucchini)

1 medium eggplant, sliced lengthwise ½ inch thick

Salt to taste and pinch of cayenne pepper

2 T olive oil

Brush both sides of the eggplant (or zucchini) with olive oil, salt and pepper, and broil for three minutes, or until slightly browned.

Spinach (I use both ricotta and goat.  I use a 4-6 oz log of goat mixed with about 8 oz of part-skim ricotta.  So, more cheese than recipe calls for)

2 bunches (about 1 lb) washed spinach, stems removed (I just buy a bag, and I’ve also used frozen box)

5 oz goat or ricotta cheese

1 T olive oil

½ cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, chopped

½ t black pepper

2 T chopped fresh basil (I only bother to use fresh if I have it on hand.  Otherwise, I use dried)

Steam spinach for 1 minute.  Remove and cook and squeeze to remove excess water.  In a separate pan, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until softened.  Combine with spinach, cheeses, pepper and basil.

Bechamel Sauce

2 T olive oil

2 cups warm milk

2 T unbleached white flour

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I buy already grated)

¼ cup thinly sliced scallions or green onions

1/8 t nutmeg, preferably freshly grated

½ t cayenne pepper

¾ t salt

Pour the olive oil into a medium saucepan over low heat.  Warm the milk (I use the microwave).  Gradually stir the flour into the warm oil, stirring constantly.  Let cook for about 1 minute to make a brownish roux.  Slowly add ¼ cup of the milk and whisk it to blend it in.  Pour in the remaining milk, continuing to whisk.  Allow the sauce to simmer about 2 minutes just to thicken slightly, then turn off the heat.  Mix in the cheese, spices, salt.  Cover until ready to use.

Remaining Ingredients

12 sheets oven-ready lasagna noodles (The recipe calls for oven-ready, so you don’t precook.  I prefer to use regular noodles, precooking until a firm al dente, and then allowing to cook the remainder in the oven)

1 cup purified water (don’t do this step if boiling the noodles ahead of time)

1 ½ cups mozzarella, shredded (I use a little more (2 cups))

10 Kalamata olives, pitted and halved (I don’t add these)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375

Make all sauces and vegetables, and prepare noodles.  To assemble lasagna:

Cover the bottom of a deep baking dish with ½ of the marinara sauce.  Lay 4 sheets of lasagna on top.  Spoon the spinach filling over the noodles and spread it around until all of them are covered.  Pour the white sauce on top, covering all the noodles.  Lay 4 more sheets of hoodles on top of the white sauce.  Lay the eggplant slices lengthwise over the noodles.  Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese on top.  Pour ½ of the remaining marinara sauce over the cheese.  Lay another 4 sheets of noodles over the sauce.  If using oven-ready noodles, add the water now.  Pour the remaining marinara sauce on top of the noodles.  Sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and the olives.  Cover with foil and cook for 1 ½ hours in the oven.

Enjoy!