A Dutch Weekend!
I went to this Dutch MC turnover weekend. Different from AIESEC International, their transition party is on the sea. Make sense because they are Dutch! It was one of the best weekend I've spent here so far. The weekends were all of high quality up till now. Meanwhile, I've been spending a lot because AI is once in my life! The weekend was very Dutch in many ways:
1) Sailing. This was my first time sailing though basically I don't need to do anything but wandering on the boat, chilling and talking to people. Yet, it was very exciting to be on a huge lake (which was part of the sea but the Dutch made it a huge huge huge lake), drinking beer all day and talking to different people. It is like a party for 2 days because nobody is organizing any activity. If you are not good at approaching people and initiating topics, you are bored to death easily. Well...I reckon I managed. I was talking to a couple of trainees though I was not able to connect much with Dutch @ers.
2) The Dutch don't give a shit about AIESEC International. This is so true. This is part of their culture. They are more critical than friendly to AI. Coming from an Asian society when and where people worship hierarchy, being with Dutch @ers was a new and interesting experience. That's also why I didn't manage to connect with too many Dutch @ers apart from the Dutch MC.
3) Dutch guys are very cute! I never believed it and I bitched about dutch guys actually. Yet, the stereotype is a correct stereotype actually! They are overwhelmingly good looking. Even the very ordinary ones were still fairly cute. They are all very tall and blonde and have kinda longish hair. I was not very sure how to connect with Dutch people though I managed to have some nice conversation with some of them. Good enough! ;-)
The weekend was very interesting for another reason - I know how our trainees feel right now. Being on a boat for 2 days when the rest are all speaking Dutch and having random fun which you found not funny but annoying somehow kinda shocked me. The four of us (Lanchanie, Frances, Petr and me) couldn't socialize any more on the 2nd day. Hm...probably we were somehow frustrated (like our trainees all once were) and just sat together while we were driving back on Sunday.
The very last part of the Sunday evening was wholy another Dutch/Rotterdam experience. Since I came here, I've always been bitching about the whole transportation system (sucks arse!). We were supposed to leave the apartments we stayed for 2 months transition period and move to Hofdjik. We came back retarted, cold and hungry, finished packing at 9pm. Sitting in front of our apartment building with at least 4-5 square meters luggage here and there and 2 bikes, we were googling online for a Rotterdam taxi number then we could leave in a van. Calling for at least 50 minutes we finally got through a number and talked to some one. Waited for another 40 minutes, there was absolutely no van or any empty taxi passing by us. We again got frustrated by the Dutch communication system. We called our team-mate and mannually moved the whole bunch of luggage by subway. It was fun at the end having teammates helping us out and especially seeing them after a weekend. ;-)
It is not that AI only understands how to map out big strategies but not able to order a van. We were pretty resourceful and we couldn't understand how The Netherlands is a developed country sometime! ;-) But we still love it. Many of the 04/05 teammates thought Rotterdam grew on them after a year's time!
I like Rotterdam as well - the lake, the old harbour, the city centre (where I went shopping many many times!), Dudok, Irish Pub, museum park, Erasmus Bridge, the open market, etc...It is just like last year in Beijing. I am still exploring different parts of the city - different food, restaurants, pubs, museums, theatre, cinema...
1) Sailing. This was my first time sailing though basically I don't need to do anything but wandering on the boat, chilling and talking to people. Yet, it was very exciting to be on a huge lake (which was part of the sea but the Dutch made it a huge huge huge lake), drinking beer all day and talking to different people. It is like a party for 2 days because nobody is organizing any activity. If you are not good at approaching people and initiating topics, you are bored to death easily. Well...I reckon I managed. I was talking to a couple of trainees though I was not able to connect much with Dutch @ers.
2) The Dutch don't give a shit about AIESEC International. This is so true. This is part of their culture. They are more critical than friendly to AI. Coming from an Asian society when and where people worship hierarchy, being with Dutch @ers was a new and interesting experience. That's also why I didn't manage to connect with too many Dutch @ers apart from the Dutch MC.
3) Dutch guys are very cute! I never believed it and I bitched about dutch guys actually. Yet, the stereotype is a correct stereotype actually! They are overwhelmingly good looking. Even the very ordinary ones were still fairly cute. They are all very tall and blonde and have kinda longish hair. I was not very sure how to connect with Dutch people though I managed to have some nice conversation with some of them. Good enough! ;-)
The weekend was very interesting for another reason - I know how our trainees feel right now. Being on a boat for 2 days when the rest are all speaking Dutch and having random fun which you found not funny but annoying somehow kinda shocked me. The four of us (Lanchanie, Frances, Petr and me) couldn't socialize any more on the 2nd day. Hm...probably we were somehow frustrated (like our trainees all once were) and just sat together while we were driving back on Sunday.
The very last part of the Sunday evening was wholy another Dutch/Rotterdam experience. Since I came here, I've always been bitching about the whole transportation system (sucks arse!). We were supposed to leave the apartments we stayed for 2 months transition period and move to Hofdjik. We came back retarted, cold and hungry, finished packing at 9pm. Sitting in front of our apartment building with at least 4-5 square meters luggage here and there and 2 bikes, we were googling online for a Rotterdam taxi number then we could leave in a van. Calling for at least 50 minutes we finally got through a number and talked to some one. Waited for another 40 minutes, there was absolutely no van or any empty taxi passing by us. We again got frustrated by the Dutch communication system. We called our team-mate and mannually moved the whole bunch of luggage by subway. It was fun at the end having teammates helping us out and especially seeing them after a weekend. ;-)
It is not that AI only understands how to map out big strategies but not able to order a van. We were pretty resourceful and we couldn't understand how The Netherlands is a developed country sometime! ;-) But we still love it. Many of the 04/05 teammates thought Rotterdam grew on them after a year's time!
I like Rotterdam as well - the lake, the old harbour, the city centre (where I went shopping many many times!), Dudok, Irish Pub, museum park, Erasmus Bridge, the open market, etc...It is just like last year in Beijing. I am still exploring different parts of the city - different food, restaurants, pubs, museums, theatre, cinema...
9 Comments:
Haha reminds me of being in Beijing and waiting for a taxi then bus to try to get to Rohit's for dinner that night when it rained so much it flooded...
I haven't been to Rotterdam, but I find it fascinating that something like that could frustrate you after Beijing! I just couldn't seem to get simple stuff done there! :)
Luv flic
Chris,
Love to see you have very high quality weekend which we find it difficult to make one in a fast-moving city, HK.
I am looking forward to experiencing Rotterdam culture during two of my visits in Dec and Jun though I only spend a short period of time there.
The "must-go" places in Rotterdam should be the lake, harbor and city centre you mentioned. :)
Gary
hey, Chris
In deed, we had a interesting weekend!!!
But for some extant, I don't think they organize well, as we had really awful sleeping that night!!!
But of course, we had fun.
I will send you pictures.
Shangxia
Explore more Dutch guys!!! I agree they are CUTE!! :-D
Hi Chris...so awesome to find your blog and hear how you are doing. You brought alive the Holland I have only ever spent 2 days in....and gave it so much more meaning,...and I agree too...Dutch guys usually ARE cute! ;-)
All the best from Beijing...
It is a crazy hot summer here,...but been learning and loving it.
Can't wait to catch up with you again some day soon here or there.
Katie, Beijing.
Hi Chris,
wonderful to read your swimming experience from July. I think I know this place north of Antwerp :-) . Glad you had such a good time. Hope to get to that pool one of the next months too!
Regarding the taxi in Rotterdam, or any other shop, go to www.goudengids.nl and fill out what you need in the first box, the third box needs to contain Rotterdam or the place or postal code of the area you want to find the business at.
Good luck shopping on the Saturday and Sunday market. Try the "stroopwafels" and "hollandse maatjes" (fresh fish).
Hope to make it to the AI office one day again. Good luck at IC the coming weeks,
Rob (Boston - USA)
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Hey Chris,
Nice experience till now ...
Keep writing, we'll be reading ;)
Cheers,
Zeno.
heya Chris
really great to hear that you are enjoying your time over there!
never thought that someone thought that dutch guys arent cute ;) they are total babes! but im in lurrve already orelse i wouldve given it a shot :p hehhehe take care & keep blogging!
greets from Egypt
p.s. still waiting for u 2 let me know wen u can make it :)
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