<*dv_3*>When considering coming here (Holland) to live and work, I was surprisingly naive in my thinking. My main concerns were of the distance from my family and friends, the effect it would have on my son, and the language barrier. I never once considered what other problems I would face here.
<*dv_0*> At first I didn't notice anything negative, overwhelmed by all the new cool stuff: Amsterdam, 2o'clock closing time in the week and 4 at weekends, porn, naked girls in windows etc, you know the cool stuff. But slowly but surely though you start to notice the cracks and realise the deeper you go the bigger they get. I've had crap all my life for being Welsh, it's kind of expected especially when you go live and study in England (which I did). But it was mostly good natured drink induced gibing. But here, they don't even know where Wales is, and in invariably say "so it's in England" and even when you go about explaining, drawing and gesturing (mainly with a middle finger) that it isn't, they nod condescendingly and mumble "so it's England", but all you have to say is "yeah, like you are part of Germany". They seem to absolutely hate the Germans and being compared to them in any way shape or form. Even though they are more alike then they know...
<*dv_2*> A lot of the Dutch I've met are also really racist. Which I discovered at a barbeque last year when I was instructed not to reveal my parentage and that "I could pass for Spanish" (wink wink) to which I nodded, politely screwed on my smile and pointedly went around telling anyone that would listen, could speak English and had half and hour to spare that "My dad's black" in that "I'm four" way that kids reveal their new age to everyone. Racism to me is beyond stupidity and only goes to show how dumb you really are (although I am aware that I seem to be being exactly that here, uuuummmm.. stuff it!) Needless to say I haven't been invited back!
I'm aware that I could get this anywhere in the UK, but never have, it's much more underground there, less openly accepted. But here it seems rife, as does sexism. And generally any other 'ism' you can throw in. Everyone assumes that the Dutch are open and liberal, which sexually they are. As they are when it comes to drugs and the consumption of them. But in every other way they are as closed minded as you can get without burning crosses, making women walk 2 paces behind you and killing anyone over the age of sixty. Living here has been an eye opener, in ways I never expected.
But would I move back to the UK?
Like hell I would! I can get good porn here, by just going in to a shop and buying it. No sideways looks, no embarrassment, just tons and tons of good porn. Now who wouldn't want that?
M
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