Much to know about the Dutch!
It's been almost a year since I left New York for the Netherlands. In fact, almost 15 years since I left India for the "West" (San Francisco, New York and Boston...got addicted to paying high taxes but apparently not high enough as I decided after all to come to the Netherlands ;-)
So, what do I know about the Dutch by now? In danger of reinforcing stereotypes n all, I plunge in...
1) They surely love to smoke. Smoking and cycling seem to be the national commuting style, with no helmets on of course. And this picture comes in family size too- often, a couple of babies are packed in at the front and the back to celebrate the economics of cycling!
2) They do love their flowers although admittedly not the flower festival as much...I think they surrendered Keukenhof, their annual flower fest to the tourists, willingly might I add. Why on earth they wonder would they PAY to see flowers? Only the dumb tourists and expats like myself would do something so silly. Of course though they enjoy their flowers up close and personal; they have at least a few vases at home for different kinds of arrangements and for good reason..flowers here are cheap.
3) Believe it or not, the Dutch do go dutch when it comes to paying the bill!
4) If you're around my height then welcome to being the Alice in Wonderland...these guys and gals are some of the tallest in Europe. In fact, recently the campus photographer who came to make brochures of us faculty at Erasmus complained that I was bad for his knees as he had to bend down to take my photos..ah the poor guy..thank god for Dutch health insurance!
5) Biterballen (bitter ball) is the Twinkie of Holland..who knows what the hell is inside it but it sure tastes good! Besides, who wants to live long anyway?
So, what do I know about the Dutch by now? In danger of reinforcing stereotypes n all, I plunge in...
1) They surely love to smoke. Smoking and cycling seem to be the national commuting style, with no helmets on of course. And this picture comes in family size too- often, a couple of babies are packed in at the front and the back to celebrate the economics of cycling!
2) They do love their flowers although admittedly not the flower festival as much...I think they surrendered Keukenhof, their annual flower fest to the tourists, willingly might I add. Why on earth they wonder would they PAY to see flowers? Only the dumb tourists and expats like myself would do something so silly. Of course though they enjoy their flowers up close and personal; they have at least a few vases at home for different kinds of arrangements and for good reason..flowers here are cheap.
3) Believe it or not, the Dutch do go dutch when it comes to paying the bill!
4) If you're around my height then welcome to being the Alice in Wonderland...these guys and gals are some of the tallest in Europe. In fact, recently the campus photographer who came to make brochures of us faculty at Erasmus complained that I was bad for his knees as he had to bend down to take my photos..ah the poor guy..thank god for Dutch health insurance!
5) Biterballen (bitter ball) is the Twinkie of Holland..who knows what the hell is inside it but it sure tastes good! Besides, who wants to live long anyway?
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