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[nephthys224]

Urgh, just got something in the mail reminding me that I have to set up an appointment with some official-sounding person to determine what sorts of integration courses I will need to take. The courses are designed to teach me all about Dutch language, society, culture, and all that crud... it sounds so deadly boring that I am half tempted to get

Comments

[wavebreaker]

Maybe that's the point

I think it is... LOL

But I can imagine those "inburgeringscursussen" must be terribly boring for you. I understand they are mostly intended for people who don't speak a word of Dutch and know nothing of the country, so I doubt whether there are many new things you'll be learning there.

[lemur_man]

Holy crap, you're in Holland now! I have not been paying much attention to LJ lately.

that I now know which cheek to begin with for the three-kisses greeting

Umm, not sure I know this myself ... links-rechts-links?

[kaar]

I think rechts-links-rechts but I muts admit; being a native, I don't really think about it that much

[ivo]

Links-Rechts-Links.

Althans dat is hoe we het in Limburg doen. Nu begreep ik dan in sommige delen van Nederland, de twee-kus meer gebruikelijk is dan de drie-kus. Altijd vreemd als ik zo iemand ontmoet, en ik buig nog een derde keer naar voren met mijn lippen getuit :)

Ik denk dat die inburgeringscursussen gewoon leuk zijn om mee te maken!!

[nephthys224]

The people around here all seem to do links-rechts-links, yeah. I found this out the hard way by bumping noses with people several times. Luckily, everyone expects me to be a brainless American, so they don't seem to hold it against me... :-P

[ex_ladyvox549]

I love your updates on how you are getting along here in The Netherlands:) And no no, don't get back on the plane to the States just cause of those inburgeringscursus things!:) I wanne go for a drink together or something hehe.

Are those birthday parties really so awkward for outsiders? I had no idea (though I agree they can be boring, but doesn't necessarily have to be hehe).. how do you celebrate your birthdays?

[nephthys224]

Are those birthday parties really so awkward for outsiders? They're not really painful or anything, but they just seem so... stilted. And pre-programmed. It seems like all the birthdays I have been to here have followed that exact same formula. There's no set way to celebrate a birthday in the US, though I usually celebrate once with my family (cousins, uncles, aunts, etc.) by cooking dinner together at my grandma's house, and once with my friends by either going out to dinner, going to a movie, or having everyone over to the apartment for dinner and board games or a rented DVD or something. It's different every year

[yarahu]

Sounds like you're making an effort to fit in :)

As far as I know, there is no strict rule concerning which cheek to kiss first. Maybe it's different in Schagen.

The only trick I know to temporarily get out of the inburgeringscursus, is to get pregnant. Which will involve new cultural revelations, hehe.

[nephthys224]

Sounds like you're making an effort to fit in :)I'm trying, but I'm still sticking out like a sore thumb! I horrify the Dutch at every turn-- my table manners are atrocious, I haven't figured out how to dress for the weather, I am unable to detect sarcasm, I am overly polite, and I pack my groceries too slowly and never have the correct change ready when I'm making purchases, even if it's only one item. My latest infraction was dipping crackers into my soup. Everyone stared at me, and I was informed (in a friendly way) that that was a bizarre and disgusting habit. I protested that every single bowl of soup served in every single restaurant in the US comes with a packet (or two) of Saltine crackers for the sole purpose of dipping, but to no avail