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That was nice – I opened my email to find several birthday messages. They were all from people in the US, which means they actually thought ahead to post a day early so I would see them first thing on my birthday. I participated in one of my favorite Dutch traditions by ordering in vlaai – in this case one apple pie and one mocha creme one, from a bakery that leaves order forms with our receptionist and delivers to the building. Both my old and new departments turned out to help eat them, which is good since I can’t take any home. (There’s no refrigerator in my hotel room.)

Tonight I’ll be going out to dinner with several colleagues – all women, a hen party, which still feels funny to me. As an engineer I’m more used to being among a group of men, or to inviting people regardless of sex, but this one shaped up this way.