Since my boyfriend is trying to integrate in Dutch society he is asking a lot of questions about our Dutch ways and get flabbergasted quite often.
I have explained to him that we are very contrary people and whatever worked in Groningen where he studied, might not be applicable in the Randstad. (is a megalopolis in the central-western Netherlands consisting primarily of the four largest Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) and their surrounding areas.)
So how come that you think you are living in the Randstad?? I sometimes get quite fed up with his questions, truly probably because I really do not know all the answer and I have learned not to give a smart answer because his checking abilities are second to none..
“Euh well you know what, look it up!”; I always thought it had something to do about being within a certain distance of the main cities and I think Castricum with the train fits within this category.. “I will check it..!”
“Yep you’ll do that hun!”
Did I also tell you he has quite a nice personality, lots of crazy humour and I have fallen in love with him for some crazy reason?
The funny thing he is totally convinced that he keeps my possible generic dementia at bay by having discussions. “We need to keep the brain working Coletta!”
“Yep hun, we do”; is my response while lusting at his gorgeous body. Everyone his own..
Yesterday he got quite confused: “why are they all having the flag out, is that for election day?”
I laugh and stop, euh no hun, do you notice that all the flags are hanging halfway down the pole? That is a tradition especially on the particular area: Bakkum Noord, we flag this way if someone here has died and will be buried/cremated today.
It is as if we show our respects one more last time… It is also a nice gesture to the family left behind, you know that you are not alone and someone other than yourself are actually caring enough about this loss to show it by showing the flag halfway down.
You remember the other day I went around the corner to stand in an honour line to say a last goodbye to a lovely sweet woman. There is nothing more you can do for them or for the family but when my husband died I was so impressed when all these people were standing in line near my house to say their goodbyes. It was such an lovely gesture!! And you feel a little bit less lost, so now I do it for others!
His questions continu: “But it is the National flag right??” I get told how it works in India, Israel and other places he lived, I learn also that unless you are hugely important in India you might at best be waved off with a black flag..
Sometimes I am quite proud of the place I live!
So I explain about a possible orange wimple (ribbon) if it is about the Royal family, but this is the only exception and unless you live around the corner where for some reason they have their own flag, but we, all the others, flag with our national flag.
Oh and please remind me to take it in tonight before the 9 o’clock curfew!!
You have a curfew on flagging?
So I explain that we are only flagging from sunrise to sunset and that there might even still be a law that confirms that. In any case, my husband and kids are quite strict on it, so after voting we will get it in.
Oh and it is not suppose to fall on the ground, because it should be ritually be burned then, so we are always careful…
I have a brilliant mind, and I am often surprised how much useless info is actually up there, although some of it might well be caught up in time.
I think we have discussed it all when all of a sudden he comes out with another remark: then what is that blue white banner with those red dots??
I am looking confused, which banner and above where did you see it??
You have seen it lots of times, almost daily, yep hun, no doubt but please elaborate where is that banner ??
He explains that it is in a garden near where we park to go the doggypark.
It is there always, he does not take it in because you can it by the state of it…
Ahhh well umm OH MY GAWD, do I now need to explain the situation of Friesland, its wishes, its own language and the fact that they keep speaking their language for at least 3 generation after they left the province, but obviously someone has already done that for me, but he stalls me, that is Friesland right?
So you know about Friesland do you??
They are the Scots of the Netherlands, wanting their independence but in the end are sufficient realistic not to force their hand, though are quietly preparing an army of semi foreign speaking nationals who can not be understood by the rest of the country except perhaps in this area, because they speak Friesian and here they speak West Friesian..
I understand most of it due to the fact that I had an Friesian couple living next door to me who spoke only Friesian amongst themselves and by using my only talent next to the fact that my grandma spoke west Friesian, I picked it up quite quickly!
And no, I am not Friesian, I am Hollands, Noord (North-)Hollands, with waves of Italian temperament which are adopted, not generic but very much present and Yep I can be vey direct to the point of rudeness.
Oy, we have to take the dogs for a walk now and then pass by the shops, I need some kwark for my breakfast..
Have a great day!