Thursday, 15 March 2012

How Dutch am I?


So, the other day I found myself cycling in the rain with a bunch of flowers in my hand and I've never felt so "Dutch" since I've been here.  And I got thinking, just how Dutch am I after 4 months living in the Netherlands?

Okay, so this is my list of things that I think make me more Dutch:

  • I have my Dutch name "van Carroll" :-)
  • I have an addiction to HagelSlag
  • I love the pea soup and the Dutch snacks (kroketten, bitterballen and frikendals!)
  • I cycle everywhere
  • Lovin' the Dutch cheese
  • I now know more Dutch (in 3 months) than I knew of French after 5 years of studying for GCSE French!
  • I like the fresh fish especially in sarnies from the fish sellers at the market (rather than chucked down my throat bread-less)
  • I can cycle non-handed for 6 pedals - I've been practicing on my way to squash but that's a bit lame compared to the Dutch who seem to go for miles non-handed while texting or something else, but then my bike isn't one of these sitting up straight "grandma bikes"
  • I have now cycled while taking a phone call, reading a text message and carrying flowers (not all at the same time tho).

But, the things I make me very "un-Dutch" are:

  • I really like wishy-washy BIG English/American-style coffees (lots of coffee, lots of water, lots of milk), not these tiny senseo things that I feel like I could inhale within a few seconds
  • I WILL NOT eat bread and cheese/meat for breakfast (aren't they sick of bread with cheese and meat by lunchtime?) and I really can't live without cereal
  • I don't see the point in flowers
  • I do not have to drink milk or yogurt with every meal (but I do like it)
  • I use lights when I cycle and I have a 21 speed mountain bike
  • I serve beer without an enormous head and everyone complains!
  • I really miss cider while living out here
  • ...and I'm still working on my pronunciation of Scheveningen!!

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