We are finally here! Actually, we’ve been here for a few days now, but we just set up our wireless internet, and guess what we are doing-sitting around in our room, all chatting to each other on IM and Skype. That’s right. Why explore when we have the great indoors (thanks John Mayer)?
A few things I have noticed about the Dutch so far. They seem very industrious. See, almost half of their country didn’t exist five hundred years ago, because it was under the sea. Then, over many, many, patient years they drained the water out of the ocean around them and created new land. And I find this quite remarkable. Consequently, they are also very concerned with global warming, because when the oceans begin to rise, they will be the first to go. Them and the polar bears. Screwed.
Solar panels, nuclear power plants, no highway construction, and their Ikea designed airport are also further signs of their industriousness. Very smart, efficient, people these Dutch seem to be.
I also really like the language. I am convinced that the language is just misspelled English. For instance: welcome/welkom, dank u/thank you, waar is het toileten/where is the toilet. I am fairly certain that you can make any English word a Dutch word by just adding the syllable “en” to its end: My trousers are on fire/mein trouserens aren onen fireen. See? Easy. They also have great words like computerlandschappen and toegangscode. Fun.
I am pretty excited about the new foods as well. Things like raw herring and french fries with mayonaise, fried meatballs and waffles. Yum.
That’s all for now.
