Likes and dislikes of living in Holland
After 7 months living in Holland where is what I have enjoyed the most:
- Living with Renate of course but that is the point.
- No rush hour. Ok so this isn't a Dutch thing but I can wake up in the morning and be working at 7:30 without sitting in a car for 30-45 minutes.
- Biking pretty much everywhere. The movies, shopping for groceries, going to friends houses or even the forest.
- Different foods. Lots more interesting types of food to try both at the supermarket and dining our or at friends places. Fresh figs aren't $2.50.
- Being so close to everywhere else in Europe. Weekend trips to other countries.
- Meeting new people
- Learning all the subtle cultural differences (some not to subtle). I even went to a ballet :-)
- The great selection of beers on offer and of course better access to South African wines.
- Lack of chain stores - You can go to 20 towns and except for the supermarkets all the small shops are unique (unlike the malls in NZ).
- Terraces - The city centres are pretty much closed to traffic and every restaurant/bar has seating on the street.
- The streets are alive with street performers and artworks
...but there also some things I didn't like or missed:
- Being away from my friends, family and colleagues
- The hard water always coating the jug with calcium?
- The constant McDonald's signs whilst on the motorways. Its almost like McDonald's was the only company to get permission to put signs up above the height of buildings.
- Unable to have great Asian food
- Having to call an 0900 number and stay on hold to tell your Internet Service Provider (ISP) your Internet isn't working. Is there something wrong with this picture?
- Missing the New Zealand bush and mountains... a lot and the first thing I'll do when I get back.
- Only being able to buy small cuts of meat in vacuum packed containers.
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