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Ik je u hij zij wij jullie zij
Sep. 29th, 2025 09:45 pmFirst day of Dutch language class! ... Aauguhlugulhguh. I have returned to SKOOL, at my age. I swore I would never go back.
The teacher is great! The classmates are nice, we're all overwhelmed and confused, so at least we'll be trauma-bonded after this experience. I was happy when the teacher put me on the spot, and I figured out this missing word: "Sonja, kun jij je achternaam spellen?" It seemed incorrect, jij adjacent to je, but it's not so strange; that's you and your in the English translation: "Sonja, can you spell your last name?"
Class is fast! Class is "accelerated"! 20 sessions × 2.5 hours. At the end, we'll take tests, and graduate from language competency level A0 to A1. I believe the minimum level for citizenship is B2? That's at least 2 years away.
In other news, it looks like the Netherlands and Canada are accepting US citizens as refugees. That's: Refugees. If you have minority status (ethnicity, sexuality, etc) then paths for seeking asylum are officially open to you. This is a "soft launch" in preparation for opening their gates to all US citizens, not just persecuted minorities. Other nations are expected to follow suit.
Correction: The issues listed above are not law, yet.
Tonight I'm fuming over how expensive the Netherlands is. Amsterdam is the second most expensive city in the world? Oops. My savings are vanishing faster than anticipated. I didn't correctly budget for food, and of course we like to eat, we're voracious money pits of insatiable hunger. Should we have devoted more time to the "researching countries" phase? I hear Portugal is a top destination for expat's, and it must be less expensive than here, right?...
...But OH MAN the food. We're cracking the code on Netherlands cuisine. Some recent favorites:
Also, we have a car! We searched Marktplaats (it's kinda Dutch Craigslist-meets-eBay) and found car dealers, test drove cars, and I now own a Peugeot 3008. ~3 months remain to get our drivers' licenses. Urk
Most grueling bike ride (so far): through the driving wind, into southeast Amsterdam, for my intake appointment at a health clinic. We were sore that evening, but WE DID IT woooooooo look at us. We pedalled so hard, that we exceeded the e-Bikes' speed limit (30 km/h), and they stopped providing battery assistance.
I'm exhausted often, probably due to the imbalance between my caloric intake, physical exertion, and overall stress and confusion. "If I eat more food-truck chicken," he thought, "then maybe this problem will solve itself?" Dreamily, he nodded, and smiled to himself. "Definitely. Mmmm, chicken."
The teacher is great! The classmates are nice, we're all overwhelmed and confused, so at least we'll be trauma-bonded after this experience. I was happy when the teacher put me on the spot, and I figured out this missing word: "Sonja, kun jij je achternaam spellen?" It seemed incorrect, jij adjacent to je, but it's not so strange; that's you and your in the English translation: "Sonja, can you spell your last name?"
Class is fast! Class is "accelerated"! 20 sessions × 2.5 hours. At the end, we'll take tests, and graduate from language competency level A0 to A1. I believe the minimum level for citizenship is B2? That's at least 2 years away.
Correction: The issues listed above are not law, yet.
Tonight I'm fuming over how expensive the Netherlands is. Amsterdam is the second most expensive city in the world? Oops. My savings are vanishing faster than anticipated. I didn't correctly budget for food, and of course we like to eat, we're voracious money pits of insatiable hunger. Should we have devoted more time to the "researching countries" phase? I hear Portugal is a top destination for expat's, and it must be less expensive than here, right?...
...But OH MAN the food. We're cracking the code on Netherlands cuisine. Some recent favorites:
- Food trucks full of roasted chickens, like Kip Van Het Vuur and Hancon Grillerij. This is a Dutch tradition?! Ja.
- Saigon Caphe, possibly the best Vietnamese food I've ever enjoyed. Incredibly tasty.
- Breakfast pastries filled with almond paste, dates, apricot, or diced 'n spiced apples. See also: speculaas
- Passionfruit yogurt.
- Chocolate-hazelnut vla. PREPARE TO EXPAND THY WAISTLINE
Also, we have a car! We searched Marktplaats (it's kinda Dutch Craigslist-meets-eBay) and found car dealers, test drove cars, and I now own a Peugeot 3008. ~3 months remain to get our drivers' licenses. Urk
Most grueling bike ride (so far): through the driving wind, into southeast Amsterdam, for my intake appointment at a health clinic. We were sore that evening, but WE DID IT woooooooo look at us. We pedalled so hard, that we exceeded the e-Bikes' speed limit (30 km/h), and they stopped providing battery assistance.
I'm exhausted often, probably due to the imbalance between my caloric intake, physical exertion, and overall stress and confusion. "If I eat more food-truck chicken," he thought, "then maybe this problem will solve itself?" Dreamily, he nodded, and smiled to himself. "Definitely. Mmmm, chicken."
