The Magazine of the Going Dutch American Women’s Club March 2017 of The Hague 5 Officers and Chairwomen 6 Cologne Christmas Markets 8 Message from the President 9 March General Meeting 10 Letter from the Editor 12 Ongoing Activities 20 Tours 6 21 One-of-a-Kind Activities Our AWC ladies were all smiles as they headed to the Cologne Christmas markets 24 AWC Red White & Blue Gala with sister club AWC Amsterdam 26 Pearl Waterreus 27 Kids’ Club 28 Calendar 31 AWC and the Arts 32 The Dutch Daily 34 New Library System 36 FAWCO Corner 38 37 FAWCO Foundation Celeste Brown opened up her home 38 Women with Dutch to the Women with Dutch Partners for Partners another great holiday party 40 Sustainable Shopping 43 Announcements 48 Travelling Vegan 50 Becky’s Broken Leg 52 Classifieds 53 Index of Advertisers 53 Rates 54 54 Fall Activities See just a sample of how many activities the AWC hosted in the fall MARCH 2017 3 Editor Melissa White 2016-2017 AWC Officers Committee Chairs Design and Layout Activities Open Teresa Mahoney Honorary President Sabine Crowley Assistant Treasurer Laurie Martecchini Cover Photo President Becky Failor At Home in Holland Becky Failor Leiden in May 2016 [email protected] Board Advisor Jessie Rodell Photography Caring Committee Naomi Keip Greetje Engelsman, Melissa White, Vice President Trena Cormier Wikimedia Commons [email protected] Community Service Coordinator AWC Clubhouse Advertising Pamela Pruijs Treasurer Kathy DeBest Johan van Oldenbarneveltlaan 43 Open eNews: Suzanne MacNeil [email protected] 2582 NJ Den Haag Proofreaders FAWCO Julie Mowat Tel: 070 350 6007 Ellen Bolick, Celeste Brown, Jane Gulde, Secretary Ellen Bolick Heart Pillow Jan de Vries [email protected] Diane Schaap, Debbie van Hees [email protected] Holiday Bazaar Mary Ann Nation- www.awcthehague.org Contributors Greenwall Club and Community Development Mary Adams, Jane Choy, Trena Cormier, Library Ellen Bolick Greetje Engelsman, Roberta Enschede, Susan Cave , Mary Ann Nation-Greenwall Going Dutch Magazine Jan Essad, Becky Failor, Eileen Harloff, [email protected] Kid’s Club Open [email protected] Suzanne MacNeil, Seanette Meserole, Mary Membership Coordinator Shirley Ann Nation-Greenwall, Georgia Regnault, Clubhouse Administrator Newlin Anne van Oorschot Dominique Duysens Newcomer Activities Greetje Engelsman, Clubhouse Hours [email protected] Tuesday and Thursday Printer Holly Savoie 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. www.dwcprint.nl Communications Teresa Mahoney Parliamentarian Georgia Regnault Monday, Wednesday and Friday Closed Dues (Effective 2016-2017) [email protected] Programs Suzanne MacNeil € 110 per year (€ 66 after January 1) Public Relations Open € 90 business, professional € 55 valid US military id Front Office Tennis Molly Boed € 35 student The Arts Jane Choy Add € 15 new member registration fee Dominique Duysens Tours Jan Essad, Seanette Meserole Pamela Schellekens Volunteer Coordinator Laurie AWC Bank Account Number Sue Merrick ABN-AMRO Amber Gatewood Martecchini 43.14.21.757 Trena Cormier Webmaster Julie Otten IBAN: NL42ABNA0431421757 Becky Failor Website Assistant Open KvK Den Haag Paula Looijmans 40409274 Siska Datema-Kool Women with Dutch Partners Open Deadlines: Submissions are due no later than the last Monday of the month preceding the publication month. For example, for the combined May/June issue, submissions are due before Monday, March 27. AWC Mission Statement The AWC is an association formed to provide social and educational activities for American Please Note: Articles submitted to Going Dutch will be published subject to space limitations and editorial ap- proval. All rights reserved; reprints only by written permission of the Editor. Please email to: goingdutchmag@ women living in the Netherlands and to promote amicable relations among people of all na- gmail.com tions, as well as acquiring funds for general public interest. Membership in the club is open Legal Notice: Articles in Going Dutch express the views and opinions of their authors alone, and not necessar- to women of all nations who are friendly and welcoming to American culture. The associa- ily those of the AWC of The Hague, its Members or this publication. tion does not endeavor to make a profit. The AWC is a 100% volunteer organization. 4 GOING DUTCH MARCH 2017 5 Cologne Christmas Markets Message from the President March General Meeting by Becky Failor by Suzanne MacNeil “Change is hard in the beginning, messy This great team of To the Moon and Beyond! in the middle, and gorgeous in the end” is ladies will bring A Woman’s Place is in the a quote I like by Robin Sharma. I am sure us a slate of offi- European Space Agency that most Members of the AWC have change cers for our elec- What does it take to put a woman or man quotes that they like, because in moving from tions on April 13 in space? Bérengère Houdou is working to wherever we started to living here has meant that will lead the develop European space travel and make it change. For some of us it has been a short changes in our more competitive so more Europeans can time, almost like a long vacation, when we Club for the fu- explore beyond our home planet. Houdou, are trying to both adjust and absorb all the ture. Please give who is French, has a Master of Science in experiences we can. For others, the time has them your sup- Aeronautics and Astronautics from the been longer and with “going back” always port, including a Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the future. For many of our Members ev- YES if they ask (MIT), where she worked in the Man Vehicle erything changed when they decided that the you to serve. Laboratory on training systems for astronauts. Netherlands is their permanent home. No She lives in The Hague and her CV boasts that matter where you are in your Netherlands Frankly, the AWC is always changing. she has worked as a system engineer on many sions. She also heads related technological, experience, I hope you will find that it is Some changes are big. For example, selling projects for human and robotic space flight at scientific and mission activities. In a BBC “gorgeous in the end.” the old Clubhouse and moving to our cur- the European Space Agency (ESA). article about the feasibility of establishing rent location, and giving greater rights to our a permanent base on the moon, Houdou is Change is easier for me when I focus not Associate Members, such as the ability to vote While at MIT, Houdou used virtual reality as quoted as saying, “We have an ambition to on what I am giving up, but rather focus on and serve on the Board. Some changes are not a countermeasure for the disorientation that have European astronauts on the moon.” what I have to gain. Life in the Netherlands seen by most Members, but are important for astronauts experience working in micrograv- brings so many opportunities and new experi- our future. For example, the Board authorized ity, and helped design and test 3D training Houdou’s works with a dedicated team in the ences that it is easy to feel that I have truly investing funds for greater returns to bring systems for astronauts. As a perk, she took Future Exploration Systems Section at ESA. gained a great deal. The AWC helped me gain more income to cover the costs of running advantage of getting free rides in the lab’s In addition to working with her ESA team, so much from our life here in The Hague. the Clubhouse. Other changes, like the new centrifuge. Once she became familiar with Houdou enjoys mentoring the next generation It helped me with all the change required online library check-out system―THANK NASA, Houdou was fortunate to find a spot of space explorers. “I also believe that it is part by retiring and moving here. From Carol YOU Holly Savoie―make it easier to take at ESA that fit her extensive experience and of my job to attract young men and women Slootweg’s Dutch Products Class, to Jane advantage of your Membership benefits (see returned to Europe to help grow the continent’s to work in aerospace, and more generally in Choy’s art history lectures and museum tours page 34 to learn more). Additional bonuses to role in the field of space. technical and scientific areas. Likewise, the (see page 31 to learn about two tours this AWC Membership include access to Hanos technological challenges for a European moon month), to activities that helped me explore and a discounted membership at the Crowne Houdou joined ESA in 2003 as part of the lander present interesting challenges for young this beautiful area where we live. Plaza Health Club. Human Spaceflight Directorate. As a trainee, engineers who join our team. I hope to give she took part in the development of an experi- them the taste to go on working in the space Now the AWC is changing. I am grateful “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile be- ment for a new life support technology for sector, while they keep me on my toes.” to Suzanne MacNeil for agreeing to chair the cause it happened.” I had to say that again Russia’s Foton-M2 capsule. Reflecting on Nominating Committee who will bring us a to myself when Melissa called to tell me that her opportunities at the beginning of her Don’t miss the March General Meeting slate of new officers. The committee mem- she no longer would be serving as Editor of career, “I was very fortunate to participate when Bérengère Houdou shares her passion bers include: Celeste our acclaimed Going Dutch magazine.