Diploma ABC (Nederland = Waterland)

And in every region
the voice of the water,
telling of endless disaster,
is heard and feared
(by Marsman)

Photo: Bram Pater

In the very cold night of 31st January 1953 a storm caused by the Northwestern wind elevated the tides on the North Atlantic see to a high record breaking the dikes in the province of Zeeland in the south of the Netherlands and causing a disastrous flood. Lots of victims were made in England, in Belgium, in Germany and specially in Holland. A total of 1836 Dutch citizens died and more than 100.000 had to be evacuated. The damage to the infrastructure, cattle and buildings was enormous.
Map above: areas affected during the 1953 floods

You can see some 24 images about this tragedy clicking here.

After the 1953 disaster there were lots of important consequences and improvements for the nation, such as the Delta Project (enormous dykes and sluices that are a tourist attraction and which Dutch hosts produly show visitors from abroad).

"Yet, every Dutch heart still misses a beat when, with a storm on the way, the radio news announces limited dyke surveillance. "
the extract above is from the book "The Low Sky, Understanding the Dutch (The book that makes the Netherlands familiar)"; by Han van Der Horst, chapter II "Utilitarian", page 99. One of my ever favourite books about the Netherlands.

A very beautiful Dutch film made in 2009 is De Storm, a fictional story within the historical context of the 1953 flood. Plot: when her farmhouse is destroyed by the flood, teenage mother Julia gets separated from her baby boy, whom she kept hidden in a box. She is saved from drowning by a young air force lieutenant, who agrees to go help looking for Julia's little son. A near-hopeless quest ensues. If you wish to know more about the 1953 flood tragedy and this important part of Dutch history then I highly recommend you to watch this film.
I have mentioned before in this blog that I live in a village with lots and lots of islands, and children use to swim in the canals during spring and summer time. My oldest child was always attracted to water, boats, bridges and that makes me VERY nervous. Even when we are with him in the swimming pools of hotels or my parent's swimming pool in Brazil my heart misses a beat (or two).

Up to last year, everytime I used to invite a child to play with my son the mother asked me whether I lived "nearby water" and informed me that her son "...didn't have the diploma A yet". I informed that no, I didn't live near a body of water and... what is this story of diplomas ? "It is a swimming certificate. He cannot swim properly yet", they added.

Ah-ha!

Since last year, for his own protection and survival my son has been busy with an intensive swimming course in Haarlem. Finally last weekend he had an exam in an olympic swimming pool and was approved. The kids had to spring "like a pencil" into the water, go through a hole in a plastic under water, float for 15seconds, and swim 50m with the four styles... actually a pretty long list of things to be performed and focused on survival in water. The kids must also swim wearing clothes (a t-shirt, bermudas and plastic shoes) for a part of the test. I've read that the rules for the acquisiton of diplomas B and C are even more difficult and the kids must swim in a more refined way. Not only that, the kids must swim with long sleeves, trousers and shoes for diploma B and thick winter clothes and shoes for diploma C.

During the exam last weekend one could feel the anxiety and happiness of the parents watching their kids. At the end, all of them were called to receive their diplomas. The coaches then put some loud music on and started to clap hands while walking cheerfully around the swimming pool with the kids, hands up in the air, singing the following song:

Opa, oma ik heb mijn diploma

Papa, mama kijk ik heb mijn A

Broertje, zusje krig ik nou een kusje ?

Ik heb mijn diploma

Hieperdepiep Hoera !

And let's go for diploma B and C !!! Then my child is going to be super safe in water and I will be more relaxed. My second child is also going to start swimming lessons as soon as she becomes 5.

Then my heart will not miss a beat.

Nt 2 - Programma II Diploma

Just fresh via the post. The efforts (financial -, emotional -, physical - and time effort) were paid back with this diploma.

And now it is time to go study something else, completely different and stimulate other parts of the brain. No language course this time. I have already 4 foreign ones to keep gardening (trimming, watering, fertilising...). I keep reading books/magazines watching TV and writting e-mails in Spanish, French and Dutch in order to keep sharp with them. No, I do not get confused or stressed out- it is a sort of a multiple personality or past memories I have. I also behave and feel differently in different languages.

But... hey !! It is still the Brazilian lady who is in the control of all the other characters walking around. Hopefully...

It Ain't Good if It's Not Dutch - The End

Wednesday 27th and yesterday I have finished with the Dutch prociency exams. The last days I think we were all pretty wired because of the responsibility. And finally yesterday afternoon, when the exams were over, most of us were in good mood and confident (me included), one was feeling sick and others were prepared to do exams again ("next time it will be better..."). Two or three of us were feeling "blanco". Actually a pair of students from our group decided not even to take exams...

Hong invited us to go to her place and have some drinks to relax. Why not ? I promptly accepted a glass of red wine.
It was a cold and sunny afternoon. At Hong's place we have changed some impressions about the course, the exams, our performances, our future plans and ambitions... in English. I was gently reproached by them for speaking in Dutch.

She showed us her photo album about her life as a model in China and hotelerie student in Switzerland, talked lightly about Budhism and let us admire her antiquities...
At the end we decided to meet up again for drinks when we know the results (after 7 weeks). A celebration drink (viering borreltje) ?
And maybe when spring arrives a barbecue and caipirinhas at my place ? We will keep in touch anyway !

(P.S.: Bedankt Hong. Het was lief van je !)

Break Time [Nieuwkomers]

Let me introduce you my new colleagues (medestudenten).
All smart foreigners who wish to bring their Dutch into a higher level.
Above: Rachel (Canada) and Piia (Finland) eat and listen to Marina (Ukraine).

Joyce (Brazil), Hong (China) and Gloria (Indonesia) pay lots of attention as well...

Barbara (Poland) and Dimitrios (Greece).

Being goofy again ! C'mon darling, you cannot hide forever...

Show me your eyes...

Beatrice (France), Donald (USA) and Ehsan (Iran).

These are the new arrivals.

And we talk and talk and talk... Foreigners and specially foreign students have a lot of stress, Gosh ! We enjoy a lot these minutes together, at least I DO. Everyone is serious about getting the proficiency in Dutch in order to pursue studies or work in the NL. The rest of the group - Charlotte, Aziza, Magda, Tatjana... - was somehere else (where were you guys?). Our teacher does not join us during the break, of course not. But you can find him here.

"It ain't good if it is not Dutch"

I took this picture at my children's school. At the toilet door you see, translated word by word from Dutch into English: "Forget the door not close to do". It doesn't make much sense, does it ? The idea is of course: "Do not forget to close the door".
The word order is Dutch can be puzzling for beginners in the language. I would formulate the sentence: "Vergeet het niet de deur dicht te doen". I would even consider the sentence on the door grammatically wrong. But after so many years and exposition to the language I then accept the crazy Dutch logic (clogic). Forget the door not close to do. Forget the door not close to do. Oh, forget it !!


On the second and third pictures of this post you see a fridge. It is called in Dutch a "cool box/cabinet" (koel-kast). "Koe" means also "cow". Because this fridge is at school and the main purpose is the storage of milk for the children, somebody has made a joke about it: a cowcabinet.

At the moment I am following an intensive Dutch for foreigners course at the UvA. It is for students from the UvA who need tho follow a course at the university and therefore be proficient in the language. I think it is the best course for foreigners in the NL. I will get my NT2 - II right after the course, so that I can place it in my curriculum vitae. We have more than 20h of homework per week, must write lots of written compositions and I must watch more to the news on TV. I can read anything I want it Dutch - because reading is a passive skill. But will I be able to write anything perfectly according to the crazy Dutch order (the logic of the cloggies) ?

Well, this post is just to inform the readers that I will be blogging up to February to a minimum. Maybe a pair of photos from Sinter Klaas and then Christimas. I am also making a lot of research about the job market and applying for jobs. And the day only has 24 for everyone. No exceptions.

Wish me luck !

Summertime & Swimming Lessons

Usually I do not get personal at this blog space. Some Brazilian bloggers have already remarked I am quite "neutral" in my posts. That I am not "pro" or "against" certain Dutch facts/habits/situations. (I can tell you: I can sometimes whine SO MUCH). I just report certain things and leave the reader to reach his/her conclusions or investigate further.

Well, I need to ventilate something now.

We have had nice vacations in Brazil. Especially my kids, they love a swimming pool and my oldest son was springing into it already very early in the morning, together with my mom. We found it great, because he was going to start intensive lessons soon. Every Saturday afternoon during 12 weeks. He has had an exam last Saturday, together with other kids. Before the tests, before our vacation in Brazil we were informed that in order to be accepted in the course he would have to do two things in the exam: be able to spring into water and also be able to put his head in water. He did that in Brazil. He did that a lot, on a daily basis. Since his birth he is used to be in swimming pools in hotels and clubs.

He failed in his "exam".

Reason ? He had to float on his back and also perform several movements. He was "not comfortable about floating, his neck was tense" the examinators told my husband afterwards. Other children were not aproved either, and parents got disturbed and started to defend them. My husband just walked away and when arrived home he scheduled a new test for our son in November. My son told me he actually liked the "exam". He sometimes lays on the floor and shows us the series of moves he had to do then. He said it was "leuk" (nice).

This reminds me about my driving exams. During the feedback (after my second faillure) the examinator said: "You dind't have major technical mistakes, and I was feeling comfortable sitting next to you. But no. Not this time." This kind of exams and the attitude/level of demands from the (Dutch) examinators' side puzzles me. Do you have to be a fish before applying to a (intensive) course to learn how to swim ? Have lots of experience in the heavy traffic when you apply for your driver's license ? Have lived in Holland many years and speak some Dutch BEFORE following a Dutch course ? Tsk, tsk, tsk... That's why there is so much stress in this country (or used to be). Burn out, suicides, etc.

I am not emotional about my childs episode. He is (very) cool about it, my husband is (very) cool about it, so I am okay. But my parents do not understand it. My friends either. I even had to defend the situation form the examinator's point-of-view.

I think I am definitely integrated. Yes, now that I ventilated my reaction - or final acceptance? - about this episode... I think I relate to Dutch people/views more and more. I am definitely enjoying two cultures, I make a good bridge between the Dutch and Brazilian view. That's why so many people consider my blog "neutral".

...Or maybe not ? (Hey come on ! A child can learn how to float very quickly). Will it take my whole life to think like Dutch ? I hope I stop here with my genetic mutation. Help !

Galera, geralmente eu não falo de coisas pessoais nesse blog. Algumas blogueiras (e blogueiros também) já comentaram que eu nunca expresso fortes opiniões nesse espaço. Que eu sou neutra e apresento os hábitos, situações e fatos de maneira imparcial (não concordo totalmente) e deixo os leitores tirarem suas próprias conclusões. Olha, posso revelar uma coisa: as vezes, muitas vezes eu tenho reações passionais e reclamo pra caramba das pessoas e das coisas. Só que por aqui eu procuro deixar o leitor livre pra dizer o que pensa. A maior parte das reações ou quase todas acho ate muito educada. A polemica rola mais la no Inteirativa.

Pois é. Mas agora preciso soltar algo.

Tivemos ótimas ferias no Brasil e talz. Especialmente minhas crianças. Adoram a piscina dos meus pais e o meu mais velho já queria cair na piscina as seis da matina com minha mãe. OTEMO pois ele teria que começar um curso intensivo de natação depois das ferias, aqui na Holanda. Todo Sábado a tarde toda, durante 12 semanas. O requerimento pra fazer o curso seria passar no teste. Duas coisas a serem realizadas no teste: a criança querer entrar na água sozinha e também não ter medo em afundar a cabeça na água. Ele praticou isso pra caramba no Brasil. Alias, desde o nascimento ele "nada" com a gente (com boinhas nos braços, claro) em piscinas de hotéis, clubes e eventualmente na piscina dos meus pais no Brasil.

Ele não foi aprovado no exame.

A razão ? Tinha que flutuar "discostas" e também realizar uma serie de movimentos. Nadar um pouquinho "que nem um sapinho", flutuar e bater as pernas, etc. O examinador contou a meu marido que ele "não se sentiu confortável em flutuar e bater as pernas, o pescoço ficou muito tenso". Muitas outras crianças também não foram aprovadas, e muitos pais se revoltaram, queriam motivos mais concretos. Meu marido passou ziper na boca e se pirulitou de fininho. Chegando em casa foi pro computador e agendou uma nova provinha pra final de novembro (há lista de espera para as provas). Meu filho de 5 anos fala que gostou da brincadeira. Que quer fazer de novo. As vezes ate deita no chão e mostra o que teve de fazer. Fala que foi legal.

E ai eu começo a me lembrar do meu exame pra tirar a carteira de motorista. Apos minha segunda reprovação, o examinador "explicou" assim: "Você não teve erros técnicos e eu me senti tranquilo do seu lado. Mas ainda não. Não dessa vez." Sorriu de orelha a orelha e me cumprimentou. Eu enfiei a viola no saco e sai arrastando as sandálias e a moral .

Esse tipo de atitude/exigência dos holandeses me esgota. Então você tem que fazer diversos movimentos na água, flutuar, mergulhar e enfiar a cabeça na água ANTES de aprender a nadar ? Tem que ter a destreza de quem tem experiência de anos no trafego ANTES de adquirir a carteira de motorista ? Falar algum holandês razoável ANTES de começar o curso básico ? Ler tudo sobre partos e ter total confianca na hora de parir em casa (eu fui assim, hehehe) ? Tsc, tsc, tsc. Por isso que ha tanto suicídio, gente que se aposenta por stress e pira total. Vou te contar, o caboclo tem que ser mentalmente muito forte pra não o pirar por aqui, viu ?

Não pensem que eu fiquei um tiquinho abalada com essa estória. Meu marido ta praticamente cagando e andando, meu filho pergunta pra gente quando ele vai poder entrar numa piscina de novo. Então eu to legal (e tenho coisas BEM mais serias pra me preocupar, como meu trabalho). Mas meus pais ficaram totalmente confusos. Alguns amigos também. Dizem que uma criança pode aprender a fulturar bem rapidinho, não precisa esperar tres meses pra um novo teste. E eu agora ultimamente me pego defendendo o lado do examinador. Vejo como eu relativizo tudo mais e mais nos últimos anos. Por isso que meu blog as vezes soa "em cima do muro". Eu estou entre duas culturas. Acho que estou mudando de lado e virando holandesa. Deve ser alguma mutação genética. Help !

Mini-Interview

I am introducing today a series of mini-interviews with expats who work and live for a while in the Netherlands. They all have jobs and some (many actually) have other interests or other successfull activities. That is something interesting about this country: many people decide to work part-time in other to pursue their dreams, keep studying or make some money with their hobbies.



1) Who are you ? Please introduce yourself.

My name is Tiziana Stapel.
I was born in Italy but I live in Holland since nearly 13 years. Before Holland have also lived in the UK for one year. I studied as a teacher for primary school, but later I also studied languages, marketing and import- export.
I work part time in an international company in Amsterdam for many years - it is a very good way to practice my language skills and to meet people from different countries.
I have also studied Ayurveda (traditional Indian Medicine) for 5 years so I organize courses about Ayurvedic Massage, What is Ayurveda, Ayurvedic food, Gems and colours and so on.

You can look at my website http://www.bluelotus-ayurveda.org/

2) What brought you to the Netherlands ?

15 years ago I met my actual husband Simon in Greece and after 2 years I moved to Holland to live with him. We have 2 young daughters.

3) What do you miss the most about your home country ?

I miss the nature - in Italy we have everything: mountains, sea, lakes, hills and so on.
I miss the art - we have so many monumental towns and lot of historical buildings in Italy.
I miss the food and the pleasure of eating together with family and friends. Very often I miss the warmth of many friends and family there, but luckily I have many friends here in Holland too.

4) What is the best about living in the Netherlands ? 

In Holland you can find all kind of restaurants so you get a chance to try all different kinds of food - this is a very positive point of the Dutch multicultural society. In Holland it's possible to begin a study at every age of your life - this is very important for one's self growing. It is possible to travel with reasonable prices everywhere in the world because Amsterdam is a very important airport and in this country many people are used to go abroad. Here you can meet people from different countries so you can exchange ideas and learn a lot from other cultures.

5) Would you have advice for expats who just arrived to the NL ?

I would advise expats to learn the language in order to get in touch with local people and to read newspapers, wacht TV and so on - this is very important for a good integration.
I would also advise to :
- try different restaurants;
- take lessons like Yoga, massage, cooking, dance and so on. In Amsterdam you can find some courses in English;
- travel around to get to know some nice places like The Hague, Delft, Leiden, Maastricht, Utrecht ...

Great tips Tizi, thanks so much for your answers and lots of succes with your Ayurveda therapy and courses !