Friday, October 5

Shiny Pretty Things

In spite of the fact that I have been spending it now for two years running, I have never really come full circle to appreciate the Euro as money. Notwithstanding the harsh, bitter truth that my paltry and boring monotone green American dollar is weaker than weak against the Euro right now, I have yet to lose the sensation that the euros I carry around in my purse or my back pocket are something of a pretty plaything intended to entertain and delight as I gaze upon the happy colors, varied sizes, shiny bits and pretty pictures of each bill.


It took me months to understand that with a pocket full of coin I actually had A LOT of money to spend. Instead of the U.S. quarter or ten-cent dime occupying space in my wallet--or again, my back pocket--I now carry 1 and 2 euro coins in their place. And let me tell you, it doesn't take too many of those jingling together creating rhythmic accompaniment for my step before I have some serious buckaroos!

I remember a time during our first few months in Leiden when the weekly student budget was wearing thin. We really needed some basic grocery supplies and I was wondering just how I would make the 10 euro bill in my purse stretch to meet the expense. As I was walking to the neighborhood shops I peeked inside the coin holder of my bag and counted the euro coins within. Score! It was an additional 12 euros! In coin! That moment of realization still makes me grin and I remember the lightness of my step as I carried on toward the supermarket. Not only would I be bringing home milk, bread and bananas, but hey! With 12 extra euros in my pocket there would be cookies in the bag for sure!

It doesn't take much to please me.

With the first session of After School Activities at the International School now underway, I brought some work home with me tonight. I needed some space and quiet to finish my lists and sort the fees paid so I can in turn pay the teachers for the various classes they offer. Let me tantalize here and tell you that all the fees for the activities program comes in in cash. Yup. Cash money in all those fancy euro bills.

Look, I will show you.



Can you imagine the fun I have been having?

The best part of all of it is that all the money came out just right. In spite of the craziness that is my office at the Primary School, I managed to keep records straight, write accurate receipts, track ALL THAT CASH that dribbled in this week, and count it out into lovely little large piles of payment for the teachers. Whatever else it was, it certainly was fun rolling in the money tonight.

I can't quite decide now whether it was like one large Monopoly game where I win everything or perhaps something else. As I stuffed bills into unmarked envelopes and folded the seals over I couldn't help but imagine that I was in some sort of fantasy mafia world with the arranged pay-offs accumulated on my living room floor.

Yeah, I think from now on you can call me Jenny Soprano.

18 comments:

  1. I do love "foreign" money. It is so much more interesting than our boring, and increasingly worthless, cash. I however, still morn the end of the lira. I just LOVED the lira.

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  2. It is funny how foreign currency just doesn't seem real or valuable compared to what you're used to. Looks like a fun evening playing with all that dough!

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  3. It does look like monopoly money!!! lol...but I do think it is easier to use than US currency...plus like you say...a few coins and u have a lot of money all of a sudden!

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  4. Oh, yes, the coins do add up. We have a coin jar in our house. We started the habit in our young married life and have kept it going. However, here in Holland our jar really adds up. Instead of rolls of pennies and dimes, I'm sorting through 1 and 2 euros. The last time I turned in coins, I had over 200 euros!

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  5. You are so funny! A bunch of pay-offs!

    Happy girl.

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  6. Did you spread it all out over the floor first and have a good roll around in it?

    Oh OK. That's clearly just me.

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  7. Lalala, in a rich man's world...
    Tudum. You put that song in my head, and I can't seem to get it out. Thanks a lot. ;)

    I love money, I remember my grandma showing me a 1000 guilder bill, just a few days before we'd all switch to euros. That was the first time (and a last btw) I saw that note...

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  8. I used to travel internationally a lot for work and always brought home some change from wherever I had been. Now my kids think it's neat to play with those coins from all over the world. However, I do admit to a fondness for the folding cash, if for no other reason than everyone else's bills all seemed to be so much more fun than the US's: different colors and sizes and cool holograms and stuff.

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  9. I've always loved the different colors in non-American money. I have to say, though, I miss the different currencies from each country -- much more fun than euros to me! Glad I found this blog -- I plan to visit again. I haven't visited the Netherlands for a long time, but always enjoyed myself there.

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  10. Actually Jenn, that is monopoly money. we fooled you during 2 years. What I suggest is that you bring all those notes to me to fill up my monopoly game, ok?

    :p

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  11. I always thought the guilder was much more attractive than the US dollar bill; although, now that the US currency is starting to add color, it's not as bad.

    When I was a kid, I was fascinated with the guilder. When my relatives game me money, I would hoard it!

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  12. My only complaint about Euros (aside from the fact that they're worth more than dollars) is that they eliminated all those OTHER fun play moneys, like DM, FR, etc., and the wonderful Lira, which came in such fascinatingly LARGE denominations. And yeah, I know each country has their own symbols, coins, etc., but it's just not the same.

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  13. LOL, I just read SMID's comment - yet another thing she and I share in common!

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  14. Jen, has many years the poets said that the money little value, but now, either it of whom color will be, is everything.
    Until always

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  15. I personally like Goofball's comment, that you should give her all those bills for her Monopoly game.

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  16. @Bonnie Jacobs

    yes I like my comment too...still waiting for my 'monopoly' money though ; )

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  17. hehe. You are too too funny gb! I love it.

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  18. Ow Ow Ow Jen,

    You certainly didn't think about the web surfing Dutch Tax Men when you wrote this.....

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