I went to a party while I was living in The Netherlands. Everybody else at the party was Dutch. They spent the entire evening speaking to each other in English for my benefit.
I was visiting a friend in the Netherlands, who had to work one day which left me exploring Rotterdam alone. I commented that I was worried about what I was going to do for lunch, since I didn’t speak Dutch and didn’t know how I was going to order food.
He said, “just go into a Burger King and start speaking English - the cashier will understand you unless they completely failed highschool.” I always appreciated that about Dutch culture. They all speak 3 or 4 languages seemingly effortlessly.
Okay but why go to Burger King except maybe to ask, “where can I get some good food in this town?”
Surely the waitstaff in other places would have at least the same education.
Dude, everyone in the Netherlands speaks English. This map can’t be right.
I went to a party while I was living in The Netherlands. Everybody else at the party was Dutch. They spent the entire evening speaking to each other in English for my benefit.
Yeah that tracks. Bet it made you feel at ease.
So fucking hard trying to learn Dutch when I was working over there, everyone switched to English on me as soon as I started speaking.
Weaponized politeness.
I was visiting a friend in the Netherlands, who had to work one day which left me exploring Rotterdam alone. I commented that I was worried about what I was going to do for lunch, since I didn’t speak Dutch and didn’t know how I was going to order food.
He said, “just go into a Burger King and start speaking English - the cashier will understand you unless they completely failed highschool.” I always appreciated that about Dutch culture. They all speak 3 or 4 languages seemingly effortlessly.
Okay but why go to Burger King except maybe to ask, “where can I get some good food in this town?” Surely the waitstaff in other places would have at least the same education.