Thank you for the insight, John.  I am looking for help locating some
businesses in the area. I really need to talk with someone who actually
lives in the area.  Unfortunately, it is not a holiday trip.

Regards,
Richard


----- Original Message -----
From: "John J. McDonough" <wb8rcr@ARRL.NET>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: [OT:] Looking for Amsrerdam Dwellers


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael J. Pawlowsky"
> Subject: Re: [OT:] Looking for Amsrerdam Dwellers
>
>
> > And in Amsterdam you will be very surprised out how many
> > languages people speak. English, French, German and Dutch
> > seem to be spoken by quite a few people. I was very impressed
> > by this. Once you leave the city core it is no longer the case
> > however.
>
> Although this tends to be somewhat true in other countries, in the
> Netherlands, virtually everyone speaks fluent Dutch, German, English and
> French.  Most Dutch people don't like to speak French, and quite a few are
> uncomfortable with English.  In my experience, those that are
uncomfortable
> with English usually speak the best English!
>
> I mention this because in the Netherlands, many people will be insulted by
> your asking whether they speak English.  Only the very old might not speak
> English ... nowadays that has to be someone in their 80's ... or someone
> totally uneducated, most likely immigrated from somewhere else.  In
Germany
> or France it would only be an ugly American who would presume that
everyone
> spoke English, but it's quite different in the Netherlands.  Kids are
> brought up on American TV shows, and the Dutch feel that dubbing movies is
> just stupid.  They know John Wayne doesn't speak Dutch!
>
> Once I went to a co-worker's house for dinner, and his 2 year old daughter
> insisted I read her this book.  It was pretty simple, picture of animals
> with Dutch names.  As I desparately tried to pronounce these Dutch animal
> names, the 4 year old brother explained the English names for the animals
to
> me, in case I didn't get it.
>
> More difficult than the language is the culture.  The Dutch, particularly
in
> Utrecht and the Hollands, are astonishingly candid.  They tend to view the
> American practice of weighing one's words as a bit dishonest.  Although
they
> recognize this as part of American culture, their directness can be a bit
> disturbing.  Most will tell you exactly what is on their mind with zero
> filtering.  Recognize they are not being rude, just honest.
>
> There is also an amazing difference in culture across the country.  While
a
> Hollander will tell you more than you ever wanted to know, a Zeelander
will
> be quite private.  So it's best to be a little careful before diving in,
but
> recognize that people expect a degree of honesty that you don't find in
> Rochester.
>
> It is a wonderful place, though.  Been a while since I've been there ... I
> miss it.
>
> 72/73 de WB8RCR    http://www.qsl.net/wb8rcr
> didileydadidah     QRP-L #1446 Code Warriors #35
>
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