Yesterday I get into the tram and sat towards the front next to the driver. Its always my favorite place to sit. It allows you some peace and an ounce of quiet. In that very isle were a cute bunch of children from an international school in the Hague. Which one, I don't know. They described themselves in all manners. One was a parent, the other in a relationship, another a know it all. It was such a sight. These young fellows were in between ages ten and thirteen but the topic of discussion was 'relationship goals'. So openly, in the midst or rather elderly Dutch folk they described what they thought of sex, whether they had lost their virginity and how they share their boyfriends clothes and how to dispose them once the relationship ended. Alas! all in a tram. For a second I wondered to myself who are the parents of these adults trapped in children's bodies or perhaps I was the child. Before long a real teacher came along she smiled at them and asked one of them what their name was and their year group. One child or is it the adult-child told her, " It's after school hours, I am not obliged to tell you anything." Try that in my home country during my generation. You would have been disciplined ruthlessly. In deed these are changing times. Buckle your seat I have more juicy tales all in a paragraph.
The humans of the Netherlands have no time. Do adhere to come on time always. Wherever you have to find yourself designate about two hours to get there. Anything may go wrong, the tram might stop, a storm might begin, plan ahead of time. When making office appointments arrive on time. You would rather be five minutes late and alert your boss or the individual you intend to meet then be five minutes early. Get the difference though, people and the transport system work differently, catch the train, bus or whatever you may hop on in good time. In case you are early to most office appointments you will be left entertaining yourself not to magazines or music but to no one. No one will ask, 'how are you may I help you' until the time you/they suggested to meet. Trust me they are not being rude, these lovely humans of the Netherlands, are practicing the art of time keeping. That goes for showing up at peoples homes for dinner. If the dinner begins at 6.30pm arr...

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