It puzzled me last week to see several Dutch flags hanging by our neighbours' houses. What makes it particularly interesting is that attached to the flag will be either a backpack or school bags. Later, hubby explained that some Dutch still follow the tradition of raising a flag with a school bag to signify that someone has passed and graduated from high school. Another milestone worth celebrating.
The main purpose of this Inburgering program is to help immigrants integrate in Dutch soceity. The government provides free dutch language courses up to 600 hours, an orientation to Dutch society, planning for a job and whoa a 100 euros token if you complete the program. I don't quite understand the intention for giving the 100 euros but for me it is a bit of an odd gesture. Can I now say that I have been integrated? If integration means being able to express myself in Dutch for the basic things, then the answer is yes. I plan to take further lessons though as I still find my Dutch very inadequate and such not enough for me to engage in more complex conversations. However, if integration also means following the Dutchy things such as: a) biking as a means of transport from point A to B: Not Integrated. I still prefer to use the car or the public transport or walk if it is only a short distance. It doesn't help either that hubby is very much dependent on his car and hardly uses his bike. Basically we only use our bikes for leisure. b) biking with groceries/flowers or whatever: Not Integrated. I even saw some Dutch biking while carrying a ladder, a chair and a sack of potatoes. I told hubby that the ultimate integration test for me is when I am able to carry a sack of Thai rice while biking. At least now I can bike while holding hands with hubby. c) introducing myself when answering MY phone: Not Integrated. d) tipping less than 10 percent. Not integrated. I actually converted my husband to show his appreciation more. e) the ONE cookie per coffee rule. Definitely not integrated. I noticed that my mother-in-law now serves the cookieS on a plate so everyone can have his/her choice. f) the birthday roundabout. yup, forming the perfect circle and not getting off your assigned seat until you leave, and congratulating each family member when someone is celebrating his/her birthday. Still not integrated. g) a birthday/anniversary calendar in the toilet. I'm still having a discussion with my husband about this.
The past several months in the Netherlands has been a very interesting one. I am glad that I took the chance to live in this country and know more about my husband's origin. Having an inter-racial relationship makes it doubly challenging and interesting. It is only now that my husband realizes that what he finds "normal" or "usual" is not necessarily typical, and the same goes for me. We always have a laugh about this and likewise share our thoughts with our Dutch family and friends.
There are things that I like or admire about the Dutch or the Netherlands and likewise several things that I don't have any appreciation for. There is no denying that at this point, my husband and I are still in the process of determining where we want to be or where we can together fulfill our aspirations as a couple and as an individual. Perhaps we will just be the perpertual nomads.
3 comments:
I was actually thinking of asking you what inburgering was all about a long time ago but decided to wait. Somehow, I knew you were going to talk about it someday. The waiting paid off.
The raising of the flag is kinda neat, isn't it? What I noticed in the Philippines was if their son/daughter passed the board exams, some parents go out of their way to have a "billboard"(I don't know what they're called) done for them. I noticed that they do that in some provinces. Hey, Sari, why not raise a flag?
If there is one thing about integration I am happy about here where I got transplanted, it's the "walking". I walk to work and it did wonders to me. I feel more energized and healthier. Of course we can't do that in the Philippines because of the climate, pollution or we might get mugged along the way..haha.
Biking is big here too. However, I will have to give it a lot of thought. I can't seem to be riding my bike on the road where big trucks dash all the time.
Birthdays..Oh, I have learned so much about how important a birthday means.
Ting-Aling, the whole idea of integration is good but what is frustrating is the bureaucracy. Immigration is also becoming tougher. For some reason, my adjustment process in the U.S. or the UK were not as much as what I am experiencing here in the Netherlands. Language really plays a big role. Lucky you, I wish I could get a job within walking distance from my home. I am so used to walking. Here, the Dutch ride their bikes as if they are walking.
Schatzli, i guess acculturation works both ways. I don't think I would ever end up with my husband if I find him too much on the Dutch side :-) My goal now is just to be proficient enough with the language and perhaps in time, integrate what I like about the Dutch culture with my very own.
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