10 Noticable Differences

We have been here three weeks now. These are some things that stick out to me as being different here then in the US.

1. The Dutch are not as friendly as Americans. I am the type of person who smiles at people when eye contact is made and usually get a smile in return. I'm not really feeling the love here.

2. People here must not have received the memo that smoking is bad for you. People smoke everywhere. Luckily, the law passed limiting smoking inside public buildings before we came. If you are outside though, it's everywhere you look. You also occasionally walk past a different kind of smoke, perfectly normal.

3. Not everyone believes in wearing deodorant. I don't know which bothers me more, this or the smoke.

4. During the summer months, you are lucky to get 4 hrs. of darkness. This is a small problem when you have children who question why they have to go to bed when it is still light outside, even if it is 10 pm. I am guessing that the winter months will be the opposite, I'll let you know.

5. In houses, the toilet has it's own room, it's not in the bathroom. In these "toilet rooms" there are small sinks that only have cold water. Also, the toilet has very little water in it. This leads me to my next point.

6. They are very "green" here. You recycle everything, and get in trouble if you don't. We have one garbage can for trash and one for yard waste/food waste. The things you recycle (paper, glass, plastic) you take to "drop off" points around town. You can only fill your one garbage can. You can not put extra bags out and your garbage can is not allowed to be "over flowing".

7. When you go to the market, make sure to bring your own bags. The main one we go to gives you the option of purchasing bags for your food if you don't bring your own. We have been to one that if you don't have a bag, you carry what you bought in your hands.

8. Some families don't have a car. With the transportation systems in place here and the ability to ride bikes just about everywhere, cars aren't really needed.

9. There is no AC. It typically doesn't get hot enough here to warrant AC. People just open their windows (which typically don't have screens).

10. Not everyone speaks English. We were told that the Dutch like to use their English. However, we have come across a few people who are not fluent. These people haven't been in just one age group either. Fortunately, in most circumstances, each of us knew enough of the other's language to communicate effectively.