Yep that’s right, I got my results from that mega Dutch exam and passed all sections. The relief is overwhelming. So what’s the big deal? Well first of all I have the Dutch government off my back for good. You see it’s now compulsory for all immigrants to take an “integration course” (read: brainwashing torture). You can choose between the 1-year full time course and a 3-year part-time course in the evenings. If you do it full time you can’t work and the government charges you 3000 euro. I guess they expect you to go begging in the street for food, as immigrants aren’t entitled to study allowance or social security. That’s only for the one million white Dutch bludgers who couldn’t be bothered getting off their eurotrash asses and going to work. If you do want to eat, you have to spend three years of your life going to a crap school where they teach how to use an ATM, post a letter, go to the supermarket and how to ‘behave’ in a way that aligns with the Dutch norms and values. Somehow I slipped through the cracks because my first visa was through working holiday scheme. But I’ve spent the last 3 years having nightmares in which these giant, violent Dutch Foreign Police kick in my door and drag me onto a dark, crowded bus to some scary destination. I know it’s not at all rational, I’m just happy to have the diploma. To be fair as a general idea, I think it’s good to learn the local lingo wherever you go. That ’s why I’ve spent the last 3 years learning it. What I do object to is the arrogant, unsupportive, cold-hearted attitude of the Government and some of its voters. Everywhere I go even strangers demand to know why I’m speaking English or doing something just a little different. Honestly, I’ve had a gut full. It’s like being a naughty schoolgirl again and I haven’t been one of those for a long time now!! Given that I obey the myriad of obscure laws and am paying 40% taxes, I don’t expect to be treated like one either. Blaaaaaaah. Good to get that all out. Later… P.S This isn’t me being mental. The UN has just issued a 2nd warning to the Netherlands about their inhumane approach to immigrants.

I went to the eye doctor this week and found out I need glasses. One eye is perfect but the other is –2. Basically my right eye packs in it if I try to focus more than 3m in front of me, a pretty heavy defect to be walking around with. Of course Jarno hit me with the expected “That explains your driving”. Ha ha, soooo funny. Anyway I got a lens on Saturday and the world became dramatically sharper. It is handy to be able to recognise people waving at me from the other side of the street, yet it is less fun to look in the mirror and have my wrinkles stare back at me 10 times deeper than ever before. Sometimes the world is easier to bear if it’s a bit fuzzy round the edges.

For the rest it was a normal week. I skipped Dutch class on Thursday due to lack of motivation. Ever since I found out the cute guy in my class is only 19 I’ve been less enthusiastic…. I can’t explain that logic so please don’t ask! Tennis on Friday was excellent fun. I had a drink with the 3 girls in my group after the lesson. They are just lovely and we’ve decided to sign up for some tournaments in May. Gosia is traveling at the moment so I’m catching the train to work by myself. It bites although my stifling boredom is somewhat eased by my super cute lime green iPod.

On Friday we are going to Jamie Oliver’s new restaurant in Amsterdam and it’s just 12 days til we leave for a 2-week holiday to Italy…… Leave a comment in the section just below each post to let me know I’m not talking to myself! Have a good week Suze

It was a quiet week. We are going through a phase where it takes enormous will power to get down the stairs and out of the house. It’s actually a refreshing break from the usual go-go-go lifestyle we’ve created. I guess you don’t want a blow-by-blow account of our visit to the supermarket so I thought I’d give an educational update about Dutch culture:

1. You can order a vodka cranberry with your m&ms at the movies

2. When your husband/mother/sister etc has a birthday people congratulate you and kiss you. At work, on your own birthday, you bring your own cake.

3. The political party winning the most seats at the past two elections is a religious party called the Christian Democrats.

4. At a cafe all chairs face the sun, so you sit beside your companion rather than across from them.

5. A new law was just introduced that obliges people to carry their passport or drivers license at all times. Police have the power to check randomly and you can get sent to jail if you don’t have it on you. I’m serious, it happened!

6. When you retire, you get 80% of your average salary for the rest of your life. That means if you earned 100k for most of your career, your yearly salary as a pensioner is 80k. Lovin’ it.

7. Only 17% of women have full time jobs

8. The two most important qualities for the Dutch are:

Nuchterheid translated to down-to-earthness. This can also be called, Doe maar gewoon which means ‘Act normal’. Over here K-Mart is cool because it’s so normal. This is a difficult one to get your head around.

Consensus. In politics, work and even groups of friends it’s important that everybody gives their opinion and an agreement is made. If you don’t give your opinion, you?re seen as weakling. Silence is never golden.

Forgot to mention Monday, where I actually did something. It was sunny and warm all day. Lenny came over and we shopped, chatted and drank on a terrace for the afternoon. Lovely. She’s living proof that Dutch women can be great fun.

Yesterday we celebrated our 3-year anniversary. I’m not talking about Jarno and I, I’m referring to my relationship with Holland. Yep, it was way back in 2002 when my plane zoomed into Amsterdam. It won’t surprise you all to hear that we have had a turbulent, love-hate relationship. I’m sure if Holland had ears and could hear all my malicious name-calling, it would have broken up with me ages ago. Yet as my departure date to Australia creeps up, I’m realising just how many positive things Holland has brought to my life.

Naturally, I have my fabulous boyfriend who came home last night with red roses, took me out to a romantic restaurant and told me I’m the best thing that has ever happened to him. Then there’s Gosia and Izzy who have stood by me through thick and thin (and everything in between). Actually I have a whole bunch of friends now that I have a lot of fun with. Yet I think the most unexpected positive experience is being part of a (unpopular) minority group for the first time in my life. Understanding how that feels has given me a fresh insight into equality and respect. I’ve rethought my stance on a lot of issues and I’ve become really conscious of how I treat people. I’ve lost all tolerance for racist, ignorant bullshit and I do my best to fight it (if necessary, ’til the last man standing). Even in these battles I learnt new things, the most compelling being that you can’t fight prejudice with reason. It’s like fighting a shadow, I’m exhausted at the end and the prejudice remains untouched. I think it’s because prejudice comes from fear and fear by nature doesn’t listen to reason. So now I’m struggling with the question, if you can’t fight fear with reason, what can you fight it with?