Finally, I learned that it’s considered rude in many places to leave a tip for the waiter at a restaurant.
I noticed that only the very touristy areas promote the typical Dutch stereotypes. Certain towns hold cheese-making demonstrations, have tourists wear traditional clothes and share the history of clogs.
While I am here, I have made it a goal to take advantage of every opportunity, especially those that involve meeting people from around the world! The Fulbright program holds many events. This week, I attended a Halloween party in which I met Dutch students and researchers who studied abroad in the United States. We were able to compare and contrast our experiences and share how our opinions evolved. I always like to ask Dutch people what stereotypes they hold about America. One that I hear frequently is that they believe that everything is bigger in America, such as big buildings and big cities!
