Small fries and toe gangs: Reflections on this Netherland.

It is our last night in the Netherlands, and I am sad to go. I have enjoyed the last 2 weeks here immensely . The people, we have found, have a fearless gregariousness about them that is inspiring (i.e. We faced our tent outward on our last night here on a sheep farm/mini camping). They generally seem to know what's goin on: Windmills, logically mapped bike routes throughout the entire country, and amazing pancakes that begin by sauteeing the consistuents and then adding the batter (yummm). As we both have mentioned, the weather here has been a large part of our lives, and it has been interesting, to say the least, observing it 24/7. Beautiful open skies with billowy wonderous clouds that play a constant game of shrouding and revealing the sun. Other times, however, the only thing revealed is wind, rain, and a chill- in every combination. Let's just say it's a love/hate relationship.

We have been observing other parts of life here and for starters, the camprounds. It seems people spend weeks/months at them and there are always fun things around to entertain the kiddies while the parents kick back. We played the role of the funny Americans on bikes, just passing through giving the "local" campsite people something new to whisper and wonder about.
We also noticed that nearly everyone in this small flat country rides a bike. They range from 3 to 80, parents carrying their kids in creative ways, infants sleeping in the 'drivers' seat, tandems, small kids on unicycles, elderly couples out for afternoon rides, and people with their handicapped loved ones-doing the pedaling but making that person a part of the culture. This biking phenomenon has been perplexing me for the last two weeks. It is curious that ones willingness to try something or believe they can do it is culturally determined. Or at least determined by the norms set and carried out by a culture. I think this is interesting because we always think our reasons are so personal, especially in our western culture. In America, it is as if biking isn't cool until you're over 20 and people think its rediculous to do if you're over 60. I just wonder if it became part of our lives more, would people suddenly believe that they could do a 2 month tour as well? I hope both of these things occur one day. We have quite often seen entire families touring for weeks with infants and teens (carrying quite a load I might add).

On a lighter note, we've also noticed some funny things about the Netherlands. For one, words like 'patat klein' (small fry) and 'forboden toegang' have become part of our vocabulary. The first because we have been eating them as treats, the second because we see signs for it all the time and still have not a clue. Secondly, at all the campsites there are goofily dressed teens leading tots in silly dances to tennybopper american music. We figured this out yesterday after talking to the teens doing it- they have large entertainent companies that train them and send them to campsites to perform- similar to our idea of a camp counselor summer job I suppose. Thirdly, they don't drink dark beer (to our dismay). Evidence of this: going into a bar with 200 beers and the tender telling us that they don't have/like dark beer... The lighter/spicier the better. And finally, EVERYONE speaks flawless english.

It has been really great realizing that we are carrying and manpowering our tranportation, food, water, shelter... All the while not really using electricity, getting a workout, and seeing Europe up close and personal. I hadn't realized how green this adventure would be. I also have never been more convinced that activity gives you way more energy than passivity (or we sometimes justify it as relaxing).

And finally, I've gained an entirely new appreciation for farm/wild aminals. As Nate mentioned, we have been talking to them when we are out in the country, and there are some amazing moments I must share.
1. The sight of two horses cleaning each others necks, looks like they are nuzzling in such a human way.
2. Watching a mama and duckling cross the path one by one into the next canal and seeing that there was one ugly duckling!
3. Sheepies bending down and resting on their elbows in order to graze more comfortably.
4. The melodic pigeon call finding its way into our intonation and hums.
5. A huge seagull hanging outside our tent and snatching a loaf of bread as I got into the tent. (this reaffirms my view of those sneaky creatures)
6. A momma duck acting like a shaperone with her 3 babies at a campsite, monitering how close they get to strangers.
7. A group of very unique looking cows, the misfits I think.

Well, let's see what Belgium has to offer.
L