NL
DE
1 May 2018
荷兰同事曾经告诉我，如果荷兰人听不懂对方说话，他们就会这么开对方玩笑。
作为一名中国人，今天就真的用中文来讲一讲，作为一名国际PhD，在荷兰的感受。
来荷兰以前，就知道荷兰是自行车王国，来到这里，才真切感受到什么叫做自行车王国。来RIMLS报道的第一天，谷歌地图显示骑行距离只有11分钟，我就欢天喜地地骑着自行车出发，结果硬是骑了20多分钟，其中还包括两个大坡！在我终于放弃，推着车上坡的时候，身边的路人却轻轻松松地从我身边飞过，仿佛人车合一。我这才明白，根据荷兰人骑车的速度，我骑车的感觉大致是一副全家春游的样子。
另一件与骑车不得不说的事就是，下雨天骑车。每次骑车遇上下雨，我的感觉总是很狼狈。但总觉得荷兰人可以骑得很潇洒，没有伞，没有雨衣，在雨中骑车也很自如。
也是来荷兰以后才知道，手机里必备的App不是社交软件，而是天气预报。荷兰的天气，有多么多变？它有时候多变到，连天气预报都跟不上。刚来的时候不了解，曾遇到过，路上被雨浇透，一到实验室就晴天，然后我一边晒太阳，一边询问哪个天气预报的App最靠谱。
除了天气，荷兰人的身高也很极端，太高。我，作为一个在中国，身高中上等的女生，在这里勉强可以说，不算矮。有时候几个荷兰人并排站在我面前，就好像见到了一堵墙。由于身高较高，这里公寓的橱柜，超市的货架也都很高。加上踮起脚的高度，我还是常常够不到想要买的牛奶。
说到饮食，恐怕是我感受到的最大的东西方文化差异了。来荷兰以前，对饮食，我也是有心里准备的，在家把所有喜欢吃的都吃了一遍，才心满意足地来到荷兰。
这份满足并没有持续太久，在吃了很久的意大利面，披萨，薯条后，我的胃开始十分想念中餐。很多荷兰人告诉我，他们也很喜欢中餐，但平时吃到的是荷兰版的中餐。不得不说，和真正的中餐，还是有些差距的。所以，很想给大家推荐一个中国美食的纪录片《舌尖上的中国》(A Bite of China)，希望能用这个原汁原味的中国美食纪录片，让大家了解到，中国人对美食的热情。
As a Chinese, I find it befitting to write a blog post in Chinese first, for my fellow Chinese friends out there studying/working in the Netherlands. Of course, the English translation follows right here.
“Are you speaking Chinese?”
That is what my Dutch friend would ask if he doesn’t understand someone. Today, I wish to make use of this blog post to share some of my thoughts and feelings about working in the Netherlands so far.
Before coming to the Netherlands, I’ve always heard about the country being a biking nation. The notion of a “biking nation” seemed tempting and inviting to me, with dreamy imaginations about travelling around on a lovely bike, riding slow and relaxingly against the comfortable glow of the setting sun...
But boy, was that bubble popped during my first cycling experience here.
On the first day of work to the RIMLS, I wrongly misplaced my trust in Google to chart out a perfect and short cycling route for me to work. “11 minutes to destination”, it said. Perhaps Google might consider put in a disclaimer that the durations are planned according to the Dutch standards because oh-my-god, it took me nearly double the time to complete the “short ride” to work. Also, did I mention about the multiple slopes along the way? At the last slope I gave up and started pushing my bike up, only to be abashed when I saw everyone else breezed past me easily on their bikes. That’s when I realized my idea of cycling (leisurely) is completely different from the locals.
On top of that, the locals seem to have no issues with cycling in the rain. I mean, I get into a total frenzy and embarrassingly clumsy state the very moment it drizzles when I am on my bike. But people around me always remained nonchalant, almost as though they were grateful for the free bike cleaning service nature has bestowed upon them.
Speaking about rain, the weather in the Netherlands is certainly something that I have to talk about. When I got here initially, the first apps I was introduced to were the weather forecasting apps. Not Facebook, not Twitter, not Instagram – just Buienalarm or Accuweather. The ironic thing is that, once, even with the forecast, I still found myself completely drenched from a sudden downpour and then to face a beaming sun when I got to the laboratory.
While we are speaking of extreme things, I could not help but feel in awe of how tall Dutch people are. Being above the average women height in my home country, my 5”2 demeanor is at best dwarfish when I stand beside the locals here. When standing before a group of Dutch people, it feels like I am facing and looking up to a tall wall. Perhaps because of that, store shelves and closets are usually quite tall as well, and sometimes it is impossible to reach for that favorite carton of milk stowed away at the top of the shelf.
And that brings me to the topic of food. It is probably one the hardest aspects of the Dutch culture to adjust to. Again, I prepared myself before arriving, by eating as much home food as I possibly could. However, that amount of feasting and satisfaction did not sustain me for long after a few weeks of eating Dutch potatoes, pasta and bread. I am, as we speak, missing the delicacies that can only be found back home. A lot of my Dutch friends told me that they love the Chinese food here, but after tasting the cringe-worthy options here myself, I feel like it is my obligation to share with them this documentary -舌尖上的中国 (A Bite of China), which showcases authentic Chinese cuisines and the culinary passion in the country.
All in all, I would like to thank you for your patience and interest in reading thus far. Let me know how you feel about this blog and also feel free to contact me if you want to learn more about our culture. We are a bunch of friendly (although not outwardly and maybe less direct) internationals whom are definitely interested in getting to know the local cultures as well. Perhaps we could all try to speak in English when we are around each other and then we might uncover even more attractive stories between our diverse cultures.
How does it feel to be a foreign PhD candidates at the RIMLS? Chet and Ruiqi share their experiences and the surprises our little country has to offer. In addition, they draw attention to something we all could learn from. One version in Chinese and one in English.
荷兰同事曾经告诉我，如果荷兰人听不懂对方说话，他们就会这么开对方玩笑。
作为一名中国人，今天就真的用中文来讲一讲，作为一名国际PhD，在荷兰的感受。
来荷兰以前，就知道荷兰是自行车王国，来到这里，才真切感受到什么叫做自行车王国。来RIMLS报道的第一天，谷歌地图显示骑行距离只有11分钟，我就欢天喜地地骑着自行车出发，结果硬是骑了20多分钟，其中还包括两个大坡！在我终于放弃，推着车上坡的时候，身边的路人却轻轻松松地从我身边飞过，仿佛人车合一。我这才明白，根据荷兰人骑车的速度，我骑车的感觉大致是一副全家春游的样子。
另一件与骑车不得不说的事就是，下雨天骑车。每次骑车遇上下雨，我的感觉总是很狼狈。但总觉得荷兰人可以骑得很潇洒，没有伞，没有雨衣，在雨中骑车也很自如。
也是来荷兰以后才知道，手机里必备的App不是社交软件，而是天气预报。荷兰的天气，有多么多变？它有时候多变到，连天气预报都跟不上。刚来的时候不了解，曾遇到过，路上被雨浇透，一到实验室就晴天，然后我一边晒太阳，一边询问哪个天气预报的App最靠谱。
除了天气，荷兰人的身高也很极端，太高。我，作为一个在中国，身高中上等的女生，在这里勉强可以说，不算矮。有时候几个荷兰人并排站在我面前，就好像见到了一堵墙。由于身高较高，这里公寓的橱柜，超市的货架也都很高。加上踮起脚的高度，我还是常常够不到想要买的牛奶。
说到饮食，恐怕是我感受到的最大的东西方文化差异了。来荷兰以前，对饮食，我也是有心里准备的，在家把所有喜欢吃的都吃了一遍，才心满意足地来到荷兰。
这份满足并没有持续太久，在吃了很久的意大利面，披萨，薯条后，我的胃开始十分想念中餐。很多荷兰人告诉我，他们也很喜欢中餐，但平时吃到的是荷兰版的中餐。不得不说，和真正的中餐，还是有些差距的。所以，很想给大家推荐一个中国美食的纪录片《舌尖上的中国》(A Bite of China)，希望能用这个原汁原味的中国美食纪录片，让大家了解到，中国人对美食的热情。
As a Chinese, I find it befitting to write a blog post in Chinese first, for my fellow Chinese friends out there studying/working in the Netherlands. Of course, the English translation follows right here.
“Are you speaking Chinese?”
That is what my Dutch friend would ask if he doesn’t understand someone. Today, I wish to make use of this blog post to share some of my thoughts and feelings about working in the Netherlands so far.
Before coming to the Netherlands, I’ve always heard about the country being a biking nation. The notion of a “biking nation” seemed tempting and inviting to me, with dreamy imaginations about travelling around on a lovely bike, riding slow and relaxingly against the comfortable glow of the setting sun...
But boy, was that bubble popped during my first cycling experience here.
On the first day of work to the RIMLS, I wrongly misplaced my trust in Google to chart out a perfect and short cycling route for me to work. “11 minutes to destination”, it said. Perhaps Google might consider put in a disclaimer that the durations are planned according to the Dutch standards because oh-my-god, it took me nearly double the time to complete the “short ride” to work. Also, did I mention about the multiple slopes along the way? At the last slope I gave up and started pushing my bike up, only to be abashed when I saw everyone else breezed past me easily on their bikes. That’s when I realized my idea of cycling (leisurely) is completely different from the locals.
On top of that, the locals seem to have no issues with cycling in the rain. I mean, I get into a total frenzy and embarrassingly clumsy state the very moment it drizzles when I am on my bike. But people around me always remained nonchalant, almost as though they were grateful for the free bike cleaning service nature has bestowed upon them.
Speaking about rain, the weather in the Netherlands is certainly something that I have to talk about. When I got here initially, the first apps I was introduced to were the weather forecasting apps. Not Facebook, not Twitter, not Instagram – just Buienalarm or Accuweather. The ironic thing is that, once, even with the forecast, I still found myself completely drenched from a sudden downpour and then to face a beaming sun when I got to the laboratory.
While we are speaking of extreme things, I could not help but feel in awe of how tall Dutch people are. Being above the average women height in my home country, my 5”2 demeanor is at best dwarfish when I stand beside the locals here. When standing before a group of Dutch people, it feels like I am facing and looking up to a tall wall. Perhaps because of that, store shelves and closets are usually quite tall as well, and sometimes it is impossible to reach for that favorite carton of milk stowed away at the top of the shelf.
And that brings me to the topic of food. It is probably one the hardest aspects of the Dutch culture to adjust to. Again, I prepared myself before arriving, by eating as much home food as I possibly could. However, that amount of feasting and satisfaction did not sustain me for long after a few weeks of eating Dutch potatoes, pasta and bread. I am, as we speak, missing the delicacies that can only be found back home. A lot of my Dutch friends told me that they love the Chinese food here, but after tasting the cringe-worthy options here myself, I feel like it is my obligation to share with them this documentary -舌尖上的中国 (A Bite of China), which showcases authentic Chinese cuisines and the culinary passion in the country.
All in all, I would like to thank you for your patience and interest in reading thus far. Let me know how you feel about this blog and also feel free to contact me if you want to learn more about our culture. We are a bunch of friendly (although not outwardly and maybe less direct) internationals whom are definitely interested in getting to know the local cultures as well. Perhaps we could all try to speak in English when we are around each other and then we might uncover even more attractive stories between our diverse cultures.
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