Week 7: Comparisons!
14 Mei 2016 | Verenigde Staten, West Albany
Welcome to another installment of: ‘’A weekly dose of Tunckan’’. This week I’ll zoom in on some differences between the Netherlands and USA, based on my experiences here!
First up; infrastructure. Because the USA is x times bigger than the Netherlands, I assume that maintaining and constructing roads are very difficult. In the Netherlands we are not used to having cracks on the road or having to deal with multiple ways of reaching your destination. In the US, however (mind you the roads aren’t that bad), there are some roads I wish I ‘d avoided. Pot holes, anyone? Furthermore, bus times aren’t punctual AT ALL, and metro life can be difficult if you do not know how to read a map (Tunckan the first time in NYC). In contrast though, you get used to it quickly, and you even start to enjoy all the random things that happen in the metro, such as little kids performing or someone that casually starts chatting with you. I have been to the City so many times by now, that I don’t even feel like a tourist anymore, and dare to say that I could even be a tour guide here.
So, talking about casual conversation, my second topic would be, people!
There are so many different cultures, characters and languages that you sometimes forget you’re in the U.S. Of course, the Netherlands is also quite multicultural however, assimilation in the U.S., I am inclined to say lacks a little; Little Italy, China Town, Little Korea all areas with the same people from the same ethnicity. The only place I know, with likewise characteristics, would be Amsterdam Bijlmer, which I am not even sure of. However, in comparison to the Netherlands, people here are way more open for conversation and are eager to help tourist with information. I have never experienced someone declining help or simply ignoring me, which Dutch people can learn a thing or two from. In my opinion Dutch people are way more individualistic, as long as you don’t bother me, I won’t bother you type of mentality.
That being said, another subject it would like to compare are universities of both countries. In the Netherlands, when following a certain major, you are not allowed to put together your own class schedules. There is a fixed amount of classes you have to take and you can’t drop out. You need to pass everything that is offered to you. Well, in the US, you can COMPOSE your own schedule that fits with your major. You only need 12 credits in total for each semester, which means that might you have financial trouble, you can schedule your classes around your working hours. This is SO convenient, and I wish my university had the same possibilities. Furthermore, our semesters in the Netherlands are divided into four, while the US has only two. On a side note: A lot of students here have a double or even triple major, is this because of the fact that you don’t need to take a lot of classes, which makes you able to combine more course into one week, making you able to major in more than one topic?
So these are a few things that really struck me while being here. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a response.
First up; infrastructure. Because the USA is x times bigger than the Netherlands, I assume that maintaining and constructing roads are very difficult. In the Netherlands we are not used to having cracks on the road or having to deal with multiple ways of reaching your destination. In the US, however (mind you the roads aren’t that bad), there are some roads I wish I ‘d avoided. Pot holes, anyone? Furthermore, bus times aren’t punctual AT ALL, and metro life can be difficult if you do not know how to read a map (Tunckan the first time in NYC). In contrast though, you get used to it quickly, and you even start to enjoy all the random things that happen in the metro, such as little kids performing or someone that casually starts chatting with you. I have been to the City so many times by now, that I don’t even feel like a tourist anymore, and dare to say that I could even be a tour guide here.
So, talking about casual conversation, my second topic would be, people!
There are so many different cultures, characters and languages that you sometimes forget you’re in the U.S. Of course, the Netherlands is also quite multicultural however, assimilation in the U.S., I am inclined to say lacks a little; Little Italy, China Town, Little Korea all areas with the same people from the same ethnicity. The only place I know, with likewise characteristics, would be Amsterdam Bijlmer, which I am not even sure of. However, in comparison to the Netherlands, people here are way more open for conversation and are eager to help tourist with information. I have never experienced someone declining help or simply ignoring me, which Dutch people can learn a thing or two from. In my opinion Dutch people are way more individualistic, as long as you don’t bother me, I won’t bother you type of mentality.
That being said, another subject it would like to compare are universities of both countries. In the Netherlands, when following a certain major, you are not allowed to put together your own class schedules. There is a fixed amount of classes you have to take and you can’t drop out. You need to pass everything that is offered to you. Well, in the US, you can COMPOSE your own schedule that fits with your major. You only need 12 credits in total for each semester, which means that might you have financial trouble, you can schedule your classes around your working hours. This is SO convenient, and I wish my university had the same possibilities. Furthermore, our semesters in the Netherlands are divided into four, while the US has only two. On a side note: A lot of students here have a double or even triple major, is this because of the fact that you don’t need to take a lot of classes, which makes you able to combine more course into one week, making you able to major in more than one topic?
So these are a few things that really struck me while being here. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a response.
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
