Dutch

Through a friend, I arranged to sublet my room in Philadelphia to an international student from the Netherlands. Germaine arrived on Tuesday night with three friends and several large suitcases after a cab driver drove around for a while in an attempt to find Temple University. I have spent the past few days being their "tour guide", or as Annelotte described, their mother goose.

You rarely think about the United States from another person's perspective. Introducing four Dutch students to the city of Philadelphia allowed me to see the city through their eyes. The differences between our two cultures range from personality differences to phones to meals.

I have been in more phone stores in the past three days than I have in my entire life, and the girls still need to have their phones unlocked. They were fascinated with the concept of a "doggy bag"- the Dutch are taught that finishing everything on your plate is courteous.

I helped them begin to navigate the city, and as a special request, I brought them to Urban Outfitters. The store I consider as the basis of my wardrobe is a specialty to them. Everyday life for college students, such as beer pong, is a game they have never encountered. My group of friends were more than happy to introduce them to the American college life.

During my walk home last night with Annelotte, she told me about some of the differences she has seen already. Dutch people are more introverted, whereas Americans are more extroverted. She has had to make more of an effort to be more outgoing, which is not an easy feat around my friends who do not stop talking.

I left the group tonight learning the game of "Kings" and headed home to prepare for my own culture shock.