Wednesday 29 September 2010

We are all aware of the predictable Dutch stereotypes.  It is fun arriving here as a naive foreigner and seeing that they really do exist: bikes as a primary means of transport, really tall people and people making disgusting, throaty noises as they speak.  If you actually venture out of Amsterdam, you may even be lucky enough to see a man riding a bike while wearing those typical yellow clogs.  This happens to me every so often in the town where I live. 

There are some other things that the average tourist probably never gets to see, which struck me right away when arriving here: 

-Dutch people take their front windows seriously.  They are considered places where you should display pretty things and it is also perfectly normal to have the curtains open here so you can check out what's walking by and people can look in your window too.  This feels very strange as a North American, because I would normally never look into someone's window!  But generally the distance from sidewalk to window here is less and when they're all dressed up inviting you to look, it's hard not to!  In more modern houses, the trend seems to be to have pairs of things in a window (i.e. two matching candlesticks, two plants in matching pots etc.)  It is so pervasive that after only living here for two years, I am considering what pairs of things I should buy for my new house when we move.  

-Windows are so important that people here wash them quite regularly.  I must admit that not everyone does this, but there are actually people who will do this on a weekly basis.  I am also not only referring to the inside windows, but also the outside windows.  Ridiculous!  

-Dutch people are also known for their directness.  I actually think this is awesome.  They will ask you questions which sometimes seem very personal.  It is considered quite normal to indicate on your resume if you are married, how old you are, how many children you have etc.  I found this kinda weird, but it makes sense, because if you don't give the information, your employer will likely ask.  In my job, I am regularly asked by clients if I like it here, if I don't miss my family too much etc, etc...  I've come to actually really appreciate the Dutch directness because you always know where you stand with people. 

Friday 10 September 2010

Foreign

Fun things happen when you find yourself in a new country.  I came here after many years of post-grad study, and found myself all at once starting my first serious job, living for the first time all on my own but more importantly having to learn a new language and somehow build a life.  For the first time in my life, friends would not be made at school.  Lots of people likely go through this transition, for example after moving to a new city after graduation....but what made it slightly different for me is that most of the people in my "potential friend pool" did not speak my language.  More importantly, they had lives already and I figured probably weren't interested in making friends with some Canadian girl.  The locals in the town where I live asked me questions like, "Don't you miss your family?"  and "How the heck did you end up here?".  Dutch people, in my experience can be really friendly, but that doesn't mean they will invite you into their social group.  I am sure that this is similar in other countries and is also the reason for the existence of so many ex-pat groups. 


But what was born of this, was a great experience for me.  Suddenly, anyone who spoke a bit of English was a potential friend.  I ended up getting to know quite a few people with whom I normally probably would not have been friends.  In fact now, one of my closest friends is a lady in her 40's with two kids.  Someone I would normally have little in common with....but in this town we understand each other's troubles.  We have both gone through the pain of trying to make a recipe and having it not work because the ingredients are slightly different here.  We offer to pick up things from North America when either of us is making a trip there.  We get what it's like to be a "foreigner" here.  That's something that my friends from home will never really understand.

Tuesday 7 September 2010

How much is too much?

I think we all have this once in awhile...the feeling that you've bitten off more than you can chew.  I actually think this is probably quite normal.  But it seems that in the past few months I've been struggling with this more than usual.  There are a number of contributing factors I suppose.  For the first time in my life I am in what I would call a serious relationship and now actually living with someone.  Suddenly, it seems like we have twice the number of social commitments.  Birthday parties to go to (which in Holland, are not missable events), visits with family members etc.  Since we've moved to my area of the country, we have to make sure that we make a trip every once in awhile to see his family and that takes up a whole day on the weekend!  

In all fairness though, the biggest factor in the past few months has been my decision to train for a marathon.  Normally I was someone who occasionally ran when I felt like it, but now I have what feels like an obligation to myself to run.  Sometimes, even when I've been feeling sick or way too tired, or whatever.  Well, this weekend I was away for a course all weekend and then back Sunday evening.  I promised myself I would run Monday after work.  What exactly was I thinking?  A weekend of little sleep, a fully booked Monday at work and then go running for 3 hours??  Needless to say, I got home and wanted to cry at the thought of going for run.  Luckily today I have a later start at work, could sleep in and hopefully the rest of this week I will be back on track.  I'm trying to not feel too guilty about lowering my expectations for myself.  Luckily I have a boyfriend who keeps telling me it'll all be fine even though I really feel I've let myself down.