So, it's been a few weeks since my maiden foray into the world of "blogging." My first impression is that it's far less treacherous than I first presumed. But then again, I've been self medicating for the past three weeks, and my judgement may be duly affected.
Nevertheless, we stand at T-minus 312 hours until the big day. And, what day is that you ask? The day we go Dutch ... in the literal sense. Excited? Yes. Curious? Even more so. Here's the top three reasons why I'm excited (I bear no authority for speaking on behalf of others):
- There are no freezers.
- Dogs are people too.
- Heineken comes in two temperatures.
These seemingly significant scientific discoveries have thus far provided me with some tremendous insight into the cultural transformation that lay ahead for this California Kid. Why? Let me tell you.
- No freezers = shopping every day. At first, this may seem like a royal pain in the ass (yes, The Netherlands still has a queen), but that's just the American in you talking. Shopping every day means food is fresh and good. Besides, it's like engaging in human reproductive activities every day. You can mix it up to match your mood. But, we haven't figured out the ice thing yet.
- Dogs. I don't want to make a habit of referencing my furry friends, but I've found that the interpersonal relationships between a general populous and their four-legged companions say a lot about a culture. So, when I see dogs riding the train, lounging at a bistro or enjoying a cold one at the pub, I think "Fantastic ... My dog can join me when I'm relieving myself on the street corner."
- As for the two-temperature brew, need I say more? Always go for the "Extra Cold." And yes, that is REAL ice covering the tap. No special effects here.
During this entire learn-as-you-grow-grow-where-you-go experience, I've learned one tremendous lesson. And before I indulge you in the lesson, I want to temper your expectations, as it's not a measurably important lesson, and it really doesn't stray from the obvious, but nevertheless, it's something I learned. So here goes:
- THE INTERNET CANNOT BE TRUSTED
See, I told you.
But seriously, when we began looking for a new "home" in The Hague, where better to start than on the Internet. We found, or rather, were recommended to a good site (all in Dutch to our relief), and we began our search. That search narrowed quickly to about a dozen choices, all top-notch, or at least that's what the pictures conveyed.
As you can tell by now, I'm easily excitable, so knowing that, you can guess I had my favorites going into the actual house-hunting activity itself. The result? Sheer disappointment. The ultimate outcome? A wonderful apartment in a great part of town. The kicker? A picture of Audrey Hepburn painted on the back of our pantry door. The moral? If you are renting a house with a picture of Audrey Hepburn painted on the back of the pantry door make sure you post THAT picture on the real estate website.
Save the sensitive kid from all the disappointment.
SCJ
