I was thinking that this issue could be called the Going Dutch Summer Edition, but then I got confused. I wondered if (a) what we’re experiencing now is summer weather, (b) summer weather is yet to come or (c) the four 80-degree days we had in May was the summer. Actually I’m exaggerating a tad…it’s not that bad. In fact a couple weeks ago I almost broke down and bought a fan for the apartment. Point of explanation for our Dallas readers: our apartment does not have air conditioning. I know, difficult concept to grasp, but after nine months of living here, I think I finally get it too. 

So here’s a question: where do old TV-reruns go to die? Cable. Okay, follow-up question: where do really bad TV-reruns go to die? Apparently they come to Holland. One afternoon I turned on the TV and saw the opening credits for the NBC (or was it CBS?) show Jake and the Fatman. I wasn’t aware they produced enough shows for that series to go into syndication—did I miss something there? And now our dinner hour is graced with Knight Rider and The A-Team. It’s like being in a time warp—back to the days of acid-wash jeans, heavy makeup, big hair, and men who feel confident enough in their manhood to wear LOTS of gold jewelry. I pity the fool…who thinks this is good television.

I could have re-titled this edition Going Greek, because that’s where Wim and I recently took a two week vacation. Since I’ve adjusted so well to life in Holland, I figured I needed to go somewhere else for new material for my Going Dutch issues. And Greece delivered! What a fantastic country. From The Netherlands, Greece is only a three hour flight away. It reminds me of those word analogies on the SAT; for example, Europeans:Greece as Americans:Florida. For months I’ve been seeing TV advertisements for zonvakanties, which literally translates as “sun vacations,” another idea we Texans with our 250 days+ a year of sunny weather have a tough time understanding.

Coming from the ultra-organized country of Holland, I must say that Greece on first glance can only be described as the model country of disorganization. One wonders how the Athens 2004 Olympic organizing committee ever thinks they’ll be ready in time. So many buildings around Athens are still being constructed—that or they’re in the midst of being torn down, I couldn’t tell in many cases. The new Athens airport is ready though, and it’s quite impressive. Moving through customs you see a new effect of the European Union—no more passport checks for intra-European travelers. Maybe they’ll eventually call it the “United States of Europe?” Er, somehow I doubt that.

What would a Going Dutch be without another of Lara’s Dutch Bloopers? Here’s one from a conversation I was having in Dutch with Wim, Wim’s brother Rob and his wife Annette, following a performance of the off-Broadway smash hit Stomp:

    [Wim asks]: “When we saw Stomp in San Francisco, was there an intermission?
    [what I meant to say]: “No, there wasn’t a break.”
    [what I actually said]: “No, the Pope wasn’t there.’

Come to think of it, even though I didn’t actually see the Pope, it’s possible he could have been there…right?

So until the next Going Dutch, bye for now and tot gauw,

Lara

Last update 10 July 2005