Dutchies never change

                                                  (1969)                                                                     (2012)


Like in the old days, the Dutchies enjoyed the winterwaterworld again last week! What a beautiful sight it is! As soon as it starts to freeze and ice is strong enough we tie our skates and every lake, river, canal turns into an ice rink. Nothing changes over the years, as you see on the pictures.

Dutch to the ultimate max!

Dutch are known for their practicality, simplicity and a bit for their thrift. I run into all three together in the train this morning…

...a guy travelling to work was having breakfast during this 45 minutes rail journey: sandwiches with cheese and a piece of fruit in a box - two sandwiches for breakfast and two for lunch. 

Where Americans buy big cups of whatever kind of ‘skinny’ coffees and Italians settle for a strong expresso and a small ‘cornetto’ in an expressobar, the Dutch bring along their own sandwiches, well prepared, in a box. With a piece of fruit on the side for the necessary vitamins and if mum was in a good mood in the morning, you can expect a small chocolate bar as well.

Oh and of course he had a bottle of milk in his bag.

You won't get it more Dutch!

de, l', el, the, der agenda

Dutch agenda

The word 'agenda' is known in all different kinds of languages, but the only ones who do know how to work with the item - actively - are the Dutch. And Actively we use it! At least some of us, like me....I seriously still use the paper version.

Every now and then I have the great idea of getting rid of my agenda. On the one hand it is very practical to know what is coming up on your program in the next days/weeks. The clear overview makes it easy to put as much activities in one day as possible, whithout wasting time by doing nothing. The downside of the strict program is the lack of flexibility, where is the spontaneity, the adventure?

The rules for a Dutch agenda are as follows:

- It is booked and completely filled 

- Appointments should be made well in advance to find a time slot

- you should turn up on time, as punctuality is seen as very important.

During my Spanish course we touched this topic. As an exercise there was an agenda with all kinds of time slots. My teacher (who is Spanish) started to laugh because she didn't know how to explain this object. "I know you use it, but we don't. Never!" and that truth was shown in the picture below: the example of a (non-existing) Spanish agenda

Spanish agenda

Just two activities per day? No drinks or lunches scheduled? Oh and you PLAN time to relax? Strange.

I still think that I should be able to stay alive without my agenda. I will try it again, soon: no agenda, no over booked weekend with morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and drinks. Just wait what the day will bring. I'll start as of March! Untill then, my agenda is too booked to plan the 'agenda-free-life'