Amsterdam: impressions of Anne Frank house

While on our recent visit to Amsterdam we stopped at the Anne Frank house. I had read the book as a young person and recall seeing a movie at one point. I had forgotten that the house wasn't really a house, but an office building/warehouse.

The rooms where the families lived remain unfurnished, but it is clear when walking through the space how each room was used - and they provided a scale model to help those of us who need a visual image to understand.

I couldn't take pictures during the tour, but there is one image I walked away with. There is something that made a permanent impression that I wanted to share with you. To me, this was less of a story about a girl who is coming of age than it is about a loving father.

Otto Frank

Otto devised the plan to protect his family during persecution of the Jews. He designed and built the space they lived in. He enlisted individuals to help so they would have food and even things for the girls like celebrity magazines. After being freed from the concentration camp, he looked tirelessly for his family only to discover their unfortunate deaths. What he did after that is inspiring to me. One of his former colleagues and protectors had collected Anne's diary. Knowing that one of Anne's dreams was to be a published author and that she was writing (and rewriting) those passages with the hope of one day sharing her story - this father worked to make that dream a reality. He is the reason that this timeless classic exists. He also worked to preserve the place they called home and his efforts are the reason this is a tourist stop today. For the remainder of his life he worked to recognize those who were being persecuted for racial or religious reasons.

What a man! I am sure he wasn't perfect, because no human is, but in my assessment this is a story of a loving father who did what he could to protect his family in violent and uncertain times. A man of character like that should be remembered, but instead he is just a shadow in a story that will be told for generations to come - his daughters story.

I left that house with admiration for his courage, ingenuity and persistence. Until his death he was still fighting for a cause much bigger than himself or the family he had lost. Like Anne Frank's diary, I think his story is one that should be told for generations.

Just Sheri, inspired by the commitment of a loving father

just read: The Land Between

The Land Between: that middle space while getting from here (current circumstances) to there (fertile ground rooted in God's promise). This space often leaves us feeling lost, lonely and deeply hurt.  It can be a time of great spiritual transformation or a time when our faith shrivels and dies - we choose the outcome. Either way God is still there and his promise is still true.

This book follows the passage of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the promise land. It was a long journey through a desert place. If you have read this blog in recent weeks then you know we are in transition...so the book was aptly timed. 

Chapter 4 talks about the weight of discouragement. During this journey, Moses has a talk with God that I can relate to...maybe you can too.

Numbers 11:11-15 He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant...I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.  If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now - if I have found favor in your eyes - and do not let me face my own ruin." [emphasis mine]

Certainly, I have asked what is the purpose of this hardship? What is God attempting to teach me?

According to the author, the answer is God saying, "I am worthy of your trust. You need to learn to depend on me."

The author continues on to say, "Hear the whisper of the Creator: 'I am all sufficient. Turn to me. Trust me. I am proving myself as a capable provider.'"

So, in this time of transition where we still have no jobs (thus no income). We still don't know where we will live long-term. We are trying to help a family thrown in to chaos by a health crisis...that has no cure. I am trying to put faith in to action and believe the words of this book.

Just Sheri, wandering in the desert place and hoping to see the promise land

Amsterdam: public toilet

This will be my last post of pictures from Amsterdam...though I did take many more photos it is time for the blog to move on to more current events in the US. 

What is this? Well, it's not a phone booth as the advent of cell phones have made those an obsolete public service across the globe. 

The post title should give you a clue...it's a public urinal. When visiting Italy many moons ago, I noticed the large number of men peeing in public...and on the beautiful stone buildings. This must be Amsterdam's way of handling this problem. I will say it is a world-wide problem. For some odd reason the inability of men to hold their liquid intrigues me...and thus the way societies deal with this. On my trips around the globe I have taken many photos of such things. 

This one is from Liberia a few years ago. Based on the stains on the wall I don't think their strategy worked.

I don't bring up this discussion to be crass, but as a woman I don't understand this. Women have to go to the bathroom too, but somehow we are able to hold it until we are in a more appropriate location. I have often likened this male public urination to dogs marking territory.

Am I being unfair to the male gender in this observation? How does the society you live in deal with this public health risk?

Just Sheri, intrigued by the topic of public urination and not entirely sure why

culture shock: overwhelmed by choices

When moving, my employer gave us a re-entry packet. The document says:

Re-entry is the least anticipated type of stress. Instinctively, we feel that coming home should be the easy part of the assignment...However, you can still face a number of challenges during this stage...

True that, yo!

The document asks a series of questions for reflection to help process the re-entry process. I relate to many of them. However, I will share just one of them today.

Have you ever spent 20 minutes trying to choose a cereal at the grocery store?

I never thought about this before living overseas - but Americans are inundated with an enourmous amount of choices...constantly. The options are almost endless. Cereal is only one example. There are sugar cereals and non-sugar coated cereals. There are cereals with dried fruit and those without. Some with nuts and some without. Some are gluten free. Some are high in fiber or low in cholesterol. The list goes on and on and on. With all of these options it can be overwhelming to try and make a decision...there are just too many choices.

In most places we have lived in recent years our choices for something like cereal were severely limited. IF cereal were available it was usually unsweetened corn flakes. The choice was simple: yes or no to the corn flakes? Period. Usually it was no and I would opt for some variety of granola when available.

My specific struggles haven't been cereal...but I have had occassion where I was overwhelmed by choices.

I was going to bake apple muffins for the family. Kelsey and I went to the store to buy some ingredients. We arrive in the flour aisle and I pause. It wasn't just a simple choice of white or wheat. Oh no. There were like six different brands and each brand had three to four varieties. I was stumped, just standing there staring at options for flour and wondering why anyone needed so many different choices in flour. It was long enough for Kelsey to notice and ask if I needed help finding what I was looking for. I said, "I need help choosing." She literally closed her eyes and pointed...where her finger landed was the flour we bought - it was some organic, wheat variety of flour. I didn't care. I wanted to get out of the store ASAP.

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner, I had an added challenge (beyond my inexperience and ineptitude to cook large quantities of food) - Angela has dietary restrictions, one of them being no dairy. I called in for reinforcements, my sister Sara. She was a life-saver! While at a store she sent me the following message:

Sara: Hey I am at store and wanted to report a Toffutti product that is a substitute for cream cheese with no dairy. Also found soy whipped cream and coconut milk creamers.  There is always margerine also.  I am also finding vegan cheese alternative in cheddar and mozzarella.  No dairy either.  Did u know there is cheese made from almonds?  I am discovering a whole new world!

My response: Amazing! In Mozambique I was excited just to find any cheese...now the options (and varieties) are limitless. USA...the land of choices!

NOTE: From time to time I will document some of these re-entry challenges. So many of you have been with me on the journey for years and this is just a part of the experience. This is not shared to pass judgement, but rather give a new perspective on things that are common place for so many, but now unusual for me.

Just Sheri, struggling with culture shock in my homeland

Amsterdam: modes of transportation

One of the things we really liked about Amsterdam was the walkability of the streets...yes, even with our excessive amounts of luggage. We were moving from one continent to another. We had to collect our checked luggage on this extended layover and the airport lockers didn't fit the bags we wanted to leave - so we hauled it like pack mules through the trains and streets to our B & B.  You can imagine what a welcome sight that lovely doorway was at the end of our journey.

Many of the roads in the canal area are restricted, meaning no cars only bikes and motos. I was warned by Claire that even though it is tempting to walk in the bike lane...even though it is paved and oh so inviting...the locals don't take kindly to the tourists walking on their path. I tried to keep that in mind, but she should have warned Kenyon too. As a result, we were given the little bell from a bike warning us to get out of the way a couple of times. Sorry, Claire. Apologize to the Dutch on behalf of the American tourists.

Since bicycles are such a common mode of transportation it wasn't unusual to see whole families on one bike. They do this in Cambodia, but the Khmer seem to lack the equipment to make it look like a fairy tale way to get around town. Generally, Khmer people sit (or stand) where they fit on the bicycle structure. I was always in awe of this skill. The Dutch install extra seating instead. Check out some of the family style bicycles we saw while walking around.

British movies always seem to start with a group of people in a small car like this. Our trip to Europe would not have been complete without such a sighting.

Look at that car in comparison to Kenyon. I don't think someone his size could fit in there comfortably, what do you think?