(Untitled)
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
( Read more... )
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.
The big thing that seems different as far as birthdays go is that the birthday girl or guy doesn't plan the party and doesn't bring the cake; his or her friends do those things. If it's my birthday, it's my "special day" and I'm not supposed to be slaving away in the kitchen making a cake, or buying one myself, or whatever. Some years my friends will throw me a surprise party, and some years I know about it, but I'm not directly involved in making it happen. And it's always very relaxed and informal-- more of an excuse to get together and have fun, rather than something that you are obligated to do.
Reply
Leave a comment