I learned the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. The Netherlands is more like the region of the world (i.e. north) and the area brimming with canals and low land. So why are people and things from Holland called "Dutch?" The mystery remains.
My hostel receptionist sent me to find "The Library," which I assumed was like a big bar or tourist trap, but actually ended up being a library. The building is hyper-modern and very fabulous and they've filled it with 5 stories of books and contemporary technology, including chairs that follow you through the sitting room so you'll always have a place to sit. They also have computers that anyone may use whenever to surf the internet (they won't look at porn on them since it's not forbidden in their normal lives). The top floor is a good-priced restaurant where I will be having lunch. The Dutch word for "library"is "biblioteek." This should look familiar to any romance-languagers.
Last night I ate Indonesian food and drank whiskey while writing and looking again like the wacky foreigner, then met a Scottish guy who lives in Amsterdam and works as a debt collector and I asked him questions about Holland. Then someone stole two of my sweaters (sort of bizarre, actually. Like I know they were cute but come on.) and I went to sleep.
They have a bar in the library and a smoking terrace to be, you know, considerate of humans. I wish I weren't so hung up on Holland, but the whole damn city of Amsterdam is lined with canals and houseboats. This may become my new goal in life: houseboat in Amsterdam. It's sort of like a floating trailer, but totally charming.
Meeting my CS host tonight. She lives in the "hip neighborhood." I want to live there.
I still don't know what's going on with Tiger Woods and I've decided to completely stop following American politics since I'll be ex-pating any day now because of things like this: BEER BIKE.
Sorry, but didn't you already define Holland and the Netherlands differently?
ReplyDelete"Holland: just weeks ago I did not know what the difference was between Holland and the Netherlands and so with great thanks to Wikipedia I learned. Holland is a part of the Netherlands, namely the northern part, which is where you will find one of many spectacularly cold and progressive Dutch cities called Amsterdam."
Plenty of Dutch people get this wrong as well, and will treat you like the ignorant American when you try and gently suggest a correction.
Also, what's with the whole telling people to grow up and get a job thing? I was disappointed by that. Seems like that's part of what makes America a pretty boring place in comparison to a lot of western Europe.