After a Year Dutch, How Did Dutch Immersion in Haarlem/Amsterdam Go?
Jul 28th, 2012, 01:31 AM
#41
Daniel - we knew about the free entry into the Oude Kerk, we just ran out of time to get there!
The Maastricht lad with the brilliant english turned out to have been educated at Ampleforth, an english public school [ie a very posh privately paid school, not a free state one, for those of you who are not au fait with the UK school system ]; we never did find out how this had happened as he didn't appear again in the time we were there.
Delft was a lovely place to stay, but I think that Haarlem would have been a better base for the things that we ended up doing. I underestimated the amount of time that it would take to get to places, not because of distances, but mainly because of the enormous amount of traffic on the motorways round Amsterdam.
The Maastricht lad with the brilliant english turned out to have been educated at Ampleforth, an english public school [ie a very posh privately paid school, not a free state one, for those of you who are not au fait with the UK school system ]; we never did find out how this had happened as he didn't appear again in the time we were there.
Delft was a lovely place to stay, but I think that Haarlem would have been a better base for the things that we ended up doing. I underestimated the amount of time that it would take to get to places, not because of distances, but mainly because of the enormous amount of traffic on the motorways round Amsterdam.
Aug 2nd, 2012, 04:12 AM
#42
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Glad you liked The Hague! I think this city is a little bit overlooked by tourists visiting The Netherlands.
Btw: in the Dutch (Flemish) speaking part of Belgium they do say 'groentjes' where'we would say 'groenten'
Btw: in the Dutch (Flemish) speaking part of Belgium they do say 'groentjes' where'we would say 'groenten'
Aug 2nd, 2012, 04:20 AM
#43
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And one more thing: the tramsystem in Delf is an extension of the tramsystem of The Hague, operated by the HTM (Haagse Tramweg Maatschappij). But it still is very convenient for a city of that size!
Aug 2nd, 2012, 08:28 AM
#44
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Wonderful TR, Daniel and so many congrats for your language endeavors. You used the word "nuance" in conjunction with your trip. In language, those nuances are possible. I believe learning enough of a language to navigate in it, is a gift to the traveler and to the country.
Hub (may he RIP) and I took a 6-week Italian cramming course. Even though he ordered 2 biscuits to Rome at the train station, I do believe our visits were much more nuanced and enriched.
In the meantime, for those who can only go once, we must adjust to the touristy places, eh?
Hub (may he RIP) and I took a 6-week Italian cramming course. Even though he ordered 2 biscuits to Rome at the train station, I do believe our visits were much more nuanced and enriched.
In the meantime, for those who can only go once, we must adjust to the touristy places, eh?
Aug 3rd, 2012, 12:37 AM
#48
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"Btw: in the Dutch (Flemish) speaking part of Belgium they do say 'groentjes' where'we would say 'groenten'"
Amai, moar Vlaams, da's nie 'Ollands eh?
In Amsterdam you'll be bound to get some really weird looks if you order 'groentjes' with your steak and fries ;-)
"Amai, moar Vlaams, da's nie 'Ollands eh?
In Amsterdam you'll be bound to get some really weird looks if you order 'groentjes' with your steak and fries ;-)
Aug 3rd, 2012, 07:46 AM
#49
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TommieG, Thelonelytraveler-- Luckily for me, I believe I specified the vegetable when I ordered "ik wou graag de biefstuk met witloof van de dagmenu" and alas missed out on gleeful snickering or being looked at like I came from another planet. Plus, the server brought what I asked for, which is a good sign.
TDudette-- I like your thought of learning the language of a visited place as a gift to the traveller and the country. For me, I believe very much that the language study not only nuanced my trip but also has become an amazing gift in that it has opened a door to me that was previously closed. Behind that door is insight into history as well as the everyday interactions of 23 million people that use Dutch as their mother tongue (28 million if you add second language speakers and ~44 million if you think Dutch gives one access to Afrikaans). Thanks for sharing your Italy story!
TDudette-- I like your thought of learning the language of a visited place as a gift to the traveller and the country. For me, I believe very much that the language study not only nuanced my trip but also has become an amazing gift in that it has opened a door to me that was previously closed. Behind that door is insight into history as well as the everyday interactions of 23 million people that use Dutch as their mother tongue (28 million if you add second language speakers and ~44 million if you think Dutch gives one access to Afrikaans). Thanks for sharing your Italy story!
