DUTCH EXPERIENCES IN SUNDERLAND II
Talking about cultural identity, fish and chips, drinks, traffic and toilets
NEDERLANDSE ERVARINGEN IN SUNDERLAND II
Praten over culturele identiteit, vis en friet, drankjes, verkeer en toiletten.

Having been in Sunderland for three months now, I am starting to see more and more subtle differences between the Dutch and English. At the same time everybody seems to be more alike deep down inside. It's interesting to see what happens to you when going abroad for a few months.

Let me explain this. I am not particularly proud of my country and the Dutch people when I am in The Netherlands. I always thought Dutch people were quite narrow-minded. But, ever since I have been here, people from other nations keep telling me that they think the Dutch are so open-minded (they are probably referring to our policy about drugs and sex most of the time)

So I even started to believe it myself and now I feel like a Dutch ambassador promoting everything that is Dutch. I find myself promoting the beer, the Queen (left) and our national colour, orange. I used to dislike all these things. Except of course during the World Cup of football; then every Dutch person dresses up in orange. Well, it is really a crazy country with crazy people...

But let me point out a few more cultural differences I found during my stay here. Recently I read that British people eat a lot of chips; research showed that most children eat chips at least five times a week. I have to admit that I was pretty amazed by all the meals served with chips in this country. Even lasagne! Any Italian would be deeply offended, but as a Dutch person, I have been able to adjust to this eating habit.

Actually I really like the english fish & chips when it's not too fatty and every Sunday I have a traditional roast lunch. That is something I am really going to miss when I go home. But what is still difficult for me is to develop some tolerance for all these strange mixed drinks, like Smirnoff Ice and WKD, which we don't have in the Netherlands. Also the beer is completely different here, in pints, with hardly any foam on top. Back home we call this kind of beer 'dead'.

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