foreign language

Yesterday was so busy in my working place until a group of 15 people came inside to eat.
So ok, as per order from the manager, I have to write name and surname per person.
So now, I came to their table with pen and paper and ask nicely of course name per person. In dutch some have easy names but mostly have difficult names ( for foreigner's like me) but i am still learning the language. The first person name,was easy so that was fine, and the next is so difficult name and I have no idea how to spell it so I ask him can you write it for me, but he does'nt want to write, and it seems he find it annoying.
Then I find it arrogant and unfriendly, luckily the next lady set beside him offer to write it for me, I thank her so much. I dont understand why there are people who dont have understanding for a foreigner who live in their country not enough long and therefore still cant speak the language fluently.
Is that because they even dont speak other languages and therefore they dont even appreciate you that you can speak reasonable their language?
I mean dutch is not an easy language as english.
In my case, if i hear a foreigner who can speak my own language, then I find it great,and give him a compliment, appreciate him.

Meet-ups and new friends

I'm so glad my co-blogger, and two friends from facebook is finally able to meet in personally next week. I am looking forward meeting them all.
All of us speaks the same mother tougue language,so it is very fine socializing with, i mean is easier in the conversation. We are still in difficulties to speak and understand the dutch language, so have some break, some food, some conversation using our own mother toungue language.
See you all soon.

99 tips in dealing with dutch

Here are the following rules when you are dealing with the dutch society. I find this interesting and helpful topic so i copied this from a blog of a friend.
This article can help myself more integrating in this country and some awareness when dealing with dutch people, sharing to somebody who are planning or wanted to stay or visit in the netherlands.

1. A firm handshake
Many Dutch people may think your handshake is weak. They hate a limp handshake. Dutch handshake seems intimidating and domineering.

2. Formal and informal forms of address
Most Dutch people will be offended if you use the informal 'jij' too soon. It is always the more important the two (the older one, the boss) who takes the initiative and says that the other can say 'jij'.

3. Keeping their distance
When talking to you, Dutch maintain a greater distance than you are accustomed to. They do not touch each other while having a conversation.

4. Being on time
Dutch people often keep track of the exact time. And they are generally punctual.

5. Letting the other finish speaking
In the Netherlands, it is considered good manners to let the other person finish what he is saying. Dutch consider it polite.

6. "Yes" means 'yes' it's a commitment
If you ask a Dutchman something and he says 'yes', then he's made an agreement.

7. Verbal and nonverbal communication
The Dutch pay most of their attention to your actual words. They don't hear the intonation that you use when saying something.

8. Dropping by unannounced
The Dutch almost never visit each other without making an appointment first, even with close friends.

9. Taking flowers with you
In Holland, visitors frequently take a bouquet of flowers when they visit. It is particularly important to take flowers if you don't know the people very well: this is to make a good impression.

10. You won't automatically be asked to stay for dinner
If you visit a Dutch family at around 5:30 p.m., the chances are you will not be asked to join them for dinner. Lack of hospitability? It's just the way they are.

11. Not everything revolves around food
The Dutch say "what we eat doesn't really matter as long as there's plenty of it"

12. Enjoying yourself seems to be a sin
Many Dutch seem to find it difficult to enjoy themselves - it is as they consider having fun to be a sin.

13. Act normal!
To many Dutch men and women, it is a virtue to just to be normal and blend in with the crowd.

14. Who pays in a cafe or restaurant?
When the Dutch go out to eat together, it is quite usual to 'go Dutch': everyone pays for their own food and drink.

15. Annoyance if you speak your native tongue
Dutch people will find it extremely annoying and inappropriate if you converse with others in your native tongue in their presence.

16. Family ties are less important in the Netherlands
Grandparents, aunts and uncles no longer play an important role in their lives. It's the direct family that has priority, not the extended family.

17. Everything in life is carefully planned
The Dutch lead very planned lives. This makes the Dutch feel comfortable: nothing unexpected can happen.

18. The weather
If you want to strike up a conversation with a stranger, talk about the weather: you can't go wrong. Complain about the weather, not say how lovely the weather is.

19. Adorable little rogues
The Dutch find it amusing when children make cheeky remarks. They think that's a healthy precocity.

20. To bed on time and no playing outside after six
To the Dutch, 'bedtime' is an important aspect of raising children. Dutch children go to bed on time, not five minutes late!

21. Sex
Sex is discussed more openly in the Netherlands than in many other countries.

22. Whistling at women on the street
Dutch males consider it unseemly to whistle and call after women.

23. Showing that you want sex
The Dutch usually show that they want sex in fairly indirect way. "a cup of coffee" This is a kind of code language.

24. Do Dutch women seem unfeminine to you?
Many Dutch women find it silly and overdone to wear nail polish on daily basis, to wear perfume, skirts or makeup and to pay too much attention to clothes and so forth in general.

25. Breasts or buttocks?
Dutch male is more of a 'breast man' than a 'buttock man'.

26. Relationship: understanding, respect and love
Dutch people want partners who really listen; they consider mutual understanding and respect for one another's feelings to be important.

27. How do the Dutch move their bodies?
Compared to many people, the Dutch have stiff and angular body movements.

28. "Come in"
Your Dutch host will not welcome you formally. You might find this manner of receiving guests uncivilized and rude, but to the Dutch this is simply a relaxed way of greeting visitors.

29. Coffee
Coffee is an essential part of Dutch life. When the Dutch invite you to their homes, they often promptly serve a cup of coffee or tea. Is this a hint that you should not stay too long!

30. 'Gezelligheid'
Along with coffee, another essential ingredients of Dutch society is gezelligheid.

31. At the dinner table
Dutch table manners might be different from what you're used to.

32. Television
When you visit Dutch people at home, they normally turn off the TV, this is a sign of good manners.

33. Give my regards to your wife
This is just to show that he has not forgotten his friend's wife even though she is not there. It has no sexual connotations.

34. Helping a woman into her coat
The Dutchman performing this ritual considers it a very polite gesture.

35. Adapting to life in Holland
The Dutch sometimes say that foreigners should adapt to the way of life in Holland.

36. Dogs and cats
Pets are important to many Dutch people. They aren't as important as a child, but if a pet dies it is mourned by it's owner. and it is often buried or cremated.

37. Religion
To many Dutch, religion is not very important.

38. The left hand or the right?
In daily life, they use both hands for everything. they won't understand why you feel offended if they simply happen to have handed you something with their left hand.

39. Pork or beef?
Most Dutch eat any kind of meat.

40. Conversations
The Dutch feel that conversations should process calmly. Even when disagreeing with each other, they like to maintain their composure.

41. Getting straight to the point
When the Dutch want to discuss a difficult topic, the usual approach is to plunge right into it.

42. Direct language: contradicting one another
If the Dutch do not agree with something, they sometimes make this known in a very direct way.

43. Telling the truth versus lying
Honesty may very well be the characteristic the Dutch value most in themselves.

44. When do the Dutch not tell the truth?
Though Dutch think of themselves as always telling the truth, this is not the case. They still lie.

45. Arguments and opinions
When you ask the Dutch for their opinion, they start by giving you their opinion, and then follow it up with supporting arguments.

46. Why?
Dutch people very often ask "Why is that?" That is quite normal in the Netherlands.

47. Asking for promotion
Many Dutch people ask literally for what they want.

48. I don't know
The Dutch do not find it impolite or impertinent if you tell them that you don't know something.

49. Do they always want to stand out in the crowd?
Most Dutch would actually prefer not to draw attention to themselves. But they were taught at a young age that it's important to have opinion on all sorts of topics.

50. Arguing and making threats
During arguments, most Dutch people reduce the level of emotions in their gestures and words.

51. An arguments has to be cleared up
Many Dutch will want to talk the through arguments thoroughly first, and only when then will they let bygones be bygones.

52. Mother
Dutch people don’t understand why you suddenly get so angry if your mother is insulted. They love their mothers too, but they stay much calmer if something negative is said about their mother.

53. Not too enthusiastic
The Dutch are not very profuse in their reactions.

54. Taking the initiative
The Dutch consider it very important that people take initiative themselves instead of waiting until someone asked them to do whatever it was.

55. Making jokes about the royal family
The Dutch regularly make jokes about the royal family. But they are less inclined to accept the same thing from you as a foreigner.

56. Teasing
Usually when the Dutch tease each other they don’t mean any harm.

57. Emancipated women
In Holland, women are allowed to do just about everything that men do.

58. Wives and daughter
Dutch men don’t think their wives and daughters constantly need the protection of a man.

59. A woman boss
People in Holland who want to be progressive act as if it’s perfectly normal to have a woman boss.

60. The ‘me’ and the ‘we’ cultures
Dutch society is often called a ‘me culture’. A few examples:
-If you ask a Dutchman if he believes in God. He’ll stop to think about it. This means that everyone will give a different answer
- Dutch people do not strike up conversation with strangers at the bus stop. Most people don’t say a word in the train either.
- In the bus or train, most people look for a seat as far away from others as possible. You hardly see any people sitting together!
-In general, the Dutch don’t mind being alone for a while.

61. “Let the police tell them to stop”
In your former country, everyone could correct other people’s children in the street. That’s no longer accepted in the Netherlands.

62. Body contact
In Holland, strangers do their best to avoid touching each other.

63. Dutch friends do not always have time for you
Dutch friend might say “I don’t have time for you tonight.” That doesn’t mean he’s cross with you.

64. Reluctance to be a nuisance
This means refraining from talking too loudly in the waiting room or the train.

65. Indirect orders and instructions
“Nobody’s going to tell me what to do!”

66. “You must help me”
The Dutch are particularly allergic to the word ‘moeten’

67.”Don’t be silly”
This expression is always meant in a kindly way.

68. Now you’re really one of us
There are a number of words and expression that the Dutch don’t expect you to be familiar.

69. What do they talk about?
In Holland it is not acceptable to ask how much a person earns, even if it’s someone you know very well.

70. How to ask for something nicely?
Dutch people always use a ‘descending’ intonations.

71. Movements and gestures
If a Dutchman wants to tell you you’re out of your mind, he’l l point to the middle of his forehead.

72. How do the Dutch tell each other off?
They don’t say that something isn’t allowed, they ask a question!

73. Looking into each other’s eyes
The Dutch find it quite normal to maintain extended eye contact during conversation.

74. Confessing to the crime
If a Dutchman is caught stealing, he will usually admit to the theft.

75. First a warning, then the punishment
In the Netherlands, it is quite common not to punish someone the first time he breaks a law, but to let him off with a warning.

76. Showing remorse: “I won’t do it again”
A person who feels remorse wishes afterwards that he hadn’t done what he did.

77. Aren’t there any social values in the Netherlands?
The Dutch cannot tell you what their values are, because they are usually unwritten rules.

78. Smacking your lips at the table
‘Table manners’ They find it really irritating if you smack your lips.
79. Outings
It will be much appreciated if you go along, even if you think it’s rather peculiar custom. It will really mean you belong.

80. Are the Dutch unpredictable?
This is probably because you are still unfamiliar with the Dutch customs, norms and values.

81. Dutch history
The Dutch do not know very much about their history. They are not very interested in it.

82. Insurance
The Dutch seem to be afraid of the future. Several insurance.

83. The telephone
The Dutch always begin by telling you their name. Saying just “Hello” is rude for them.

84. Meetings
The Dutch have very fixed approach to conducting meetings.

85. Anti-German
Germans attempted to flee back to Germany as WWII neared its end on bicycles stolen from the Dutch.

86. Belgians
Every country has jokes about a particular group of people who are reputed to be particularly stupid. The Dutch assign this role to the Belgians. The Belgians in turn tell jokes about Dutch stinginess.

87. Having or sharing
Many foreigners say that the emphasis n the Netherlands is on having, that the Dutch are not inclined to share.

88. Keeping business and private matters separate
In difference of opinion or disputes, the Dutch find it important to make a distinction between business and private matters.

89. Expressing emotions
The Dutch do not find it easy to express their emotions.

90. The birthday calendar
Many Dutch have a ‘birthday calendar’ at home, birthdays of family and friends are noted on this calendar.

91. Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas (the feast of St. Nicholas) is an important time for the Dutch.

92. Christmas and the New Year
If you want to make a very Dutch impression, send New Year card in December.

93. Here’s to your health!
In the Netherlands, a person’s health is very important.

94. The wish list
On the list, they write down what they want to receive.

95. Unwrapping presents
Not opening it gives the impression that you don’t care, but opening it looks like all you’re interested in is finding out exactly how much money the other person has spent you.

96. Living together
Common practice for Dutch couples to live together before marriage.

97. Family celebrations are contracted out
The Dutch will pay for the restaurant to prepare a meal or organize the celebration from the start to finish.

98. Saving stamps
More stamps, more goodies

99. Frugality
WASTE NOT

Portugal

Portugal
A country located in the southwestern Europe on the Iberian peninsula. bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. Capital city is Lisbon and the official language is Portuguese with a population of 10,707,924.
My husband and I visited Portugal last September 2009, sorry for my readers this post is too late as I’ve been so busy for many things, I will try my best to keep this blog updated.
We we’re in Porto the country’s second largest city, have seen the interesting places in the whole city.
Its nice also to have a walk in the city and you’ll see the nice old buildings and to the river you can choose to have a cruise along the Douro river.
Right next to Porto, We visited also in Vila Nova de Gaia, there where the Port wine is blended and aged and where you can taste the different varieties.
After Porto, we went to the mountains, to visit the son of my husband, and while on our way, I enjoy the wonderful views from out the mountains.

HOLLAND

This is my husband's country so, i have to explore also in this country of tulips flowers, the windmills, the woodenshoes,water and dikes.

A country in northwestern Europe,capital city is Amsterdam and the official language is Dutch with a population of 16,500 million.

Queen Beatrix succeeded her mother as Queen of the Netherlands in 1980. From that date, Her Majesty formed part of the government. The Queen was married to Prince Claus. They had three sons: Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince Friso and Prince Constantijn. The eldest, Prince Willem-Alexander – the Prince of Orange – will succeed her.

Dutch make the land out of the sea, and there is a saying that: the sea is thier best friend but also their greatest enemy.

They are also great in high tech country in transportation,sea-toweling and constructing worldwide big water works.

And of course there are many boats (also sailing boats), We tried once with a cousin of my husband,it was so windy and the boat was shaking and makes me dizzy and makes me uncomfortable, i feel sorry, instead i had to enjoy.

What about woonboot,where the people living aboard.

Caravan- a little house behind the car, when you go to vacation with a caravan you dont need a hotel.

the camper- traveling with a combination of a car and a house.
Bike- biking to the city? its great and fun! no need a parking fee.

We live in the North part of Holland on a ship (25m) which is renovated for a comfortable life.

COSTARICA

Costarica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

Costarica translates literally as "Rich Coast" with a population of 4,509,290.
Capital city is SanJose and the official language is Spanish and 5% can speak and understand english and the rest only spanish.

We stay in Costarica during summer, we have also a house there.

Costarica in generally, the best time to visit Costa Rica is the dry season from December through April, which locals refer to as verano (summer). Dry season does not mean it does not rain; it just rains less (so perhaps should be called the ‘drier season’). Costa Rican schools are closed from December to February, when beach towns are busy, especially on weekends. Lodgings during Semana Santa are usually booked months ahead.
In May begins the rainy season, or invierno (winter) as it’s known locally. The tourism ministry has come up with the more attractive denomination of ‘green season’. The early months of the rainy season are actually a wonderful time to travel to Costa Rica: you can avoid the tourist bustle and lodging is slightly cheaper. During this time, however, rivers start to swell and dirt roads get muddy, making travel more challenging. Some more remote roads may not be accessible to public transportation, so always ask locally before setting out. Bring your umbrella and a little patience.

I am posting also some photos when we went to Manuel Antonio for Mangrove forest tour, we really had a great time! bringing some palm nuts to give to the monkeys and had seen many more animals in the forest. The nature and the beach is just fantastic!

United Kingdom

An island country located in the northwestern coast of continental Europe with a population of 61,612,300.

London is the capital city.

I visited only very short time in London and Manchester city, the old castle and the city of Manchester stadium since they are the wealthiest football club in the world.

ITALY

Italy is located in the southern part of Europe with two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Official language is Italian with 60,045,068 population.

I visited only in island of sardegna, and i stay at the Fortevillage hotel.

What a great hotel, fronting the sea with all those nice flowers and trees around!
Sardegna is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and is formed by a series of mountainous massifs, hills and narrow highlands. The coasts are jagged and rocky, interspersed with marvelous beaches of very fine sand and countless inlets. The seaside landscapes, especially on the Costa Smeralda, are among the most beautiful in the world. Numerous small, enchanting islets are scattered in front of the coasts.Cities: Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia, ruled by a special statute. Other provinces are Sassari, Nuoro, Oristano, Carbonia-Iglesias, Olbia-Tempio, Medio Campidano, and Ogliastra.

In my next visit together with my husband to Italy im planning to visit Sicily and Tuscany.

FRANCE

Paris is the countries largest city,situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region.

Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with 45 million tourists every year in the Paris Region, 60% of whom are foreign visitors.

Oh! what a nice old buildings in the town, the old churches, the Louvre and many more!

I visited also the Disneyland,and wanted to visit there again someday,somehow.

CYPRUS

Cyprus is situated in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey, west of Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, east of Greece, and north of Egypt with a total population of 784,301.
It is third largest island, and one of its most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 2.4 million tourists per year.A former British colony, it became an independent republic in 1960 and a member of Europian Union since May 1, 2004.
I stayed in really huge Le Meridien hotel in Limassol, with huge area of swimmingpool, playing area, restaurant and disco house.I was really satisfied with my stay, i meet also 2 filipinas working in that hotel they very nice.
Limasol is the main port and an essential tourist's choice. It is the center of the wine production and also well known for its extensive hotel accommodation in and around the city.
You know what i noticed in the sorroundings? cats! a lot of nice cats, i like cats but I have to take care they have such shap nails! They are just wild cats, you cant touch them.
Religion:
The Greeks are Greek Orthodox Christians which represent 78% of the population while the Turks are Muslims represents 18% of the population and Maronite, Armenian, Apostolic, Latin, and others 4%.
Weather and Climate
Cyprus has a typical Mediterranean climate, warm and rather dry, with rainfall mainly between November and March. In general, the island experiences mild wet winters and dry hot summers which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. The higher mountain areas are cooler and moister than the rest of the island.
Cyprus LanguagesThe official languages are Greek and Turkish with English often used as a second language and widely understood by both ethnic groups.
Cyprus CurrencyThe official currency in North is Turkish Lira (TL) and the currency in South is Pound (CP) however the English sterling is highly accepted.
Currency in South Cyprus
The legal tender of the South Cyprus is the Euro. Former Cyprus Pound was used until 31 December 2008. Check current exchange rates.
Currency in North Cyprus
The Turkish Lira (TRL - Türk Lirasi) is the current legal tender of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, issued on January 1, 2005. The currency was accompanied with its inflation mostly in 1994; in summer 2001 seven banks failed. At present unit of 1 YTL is equivalent to 1 million old Turkish Lira that was introduced in 1983 (and remains valid until the end of 2005). The Turkish Lira is divisible into 100 new kurus (cents).
Electricity
voltage is supplied at 220/240 volts AC, supplied at 50 Hz. Plugs at 5 amp or 13 amp are generally of British type with 3 pins, but also exist some 2 pinned.
Time:
is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC), and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). Clocks go forward one hour for summer time at 3 am on the last Sunday in March and back again at 3 am on the last Sunday in October. In South Cyprus a recorded time message can be heard by dialling 193.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai is the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates.

The official language is Arabic and English, very beautiful and busy city, many tourist coming.

I stayed in Dar Al Masyap Madinat Jumeirah hotel, very nice hotel located in very nice location in Dubai,200 meters from wild wadi waterpark. I am traveling with my Lebanese employer, I feel i'm not alone in the country, because of so many filipinos also in there to speak with my own language as well.

An admirable nightlife could be enjoyed to its fullest, many huge shopping malls, the beaches are so blue, swimmingpool are clean, and womens who wants to swim can wear swimsuits and same as man too unlike in Kuwait, one time i go with the daughter of my boss to the swimming poll, My boss allow's me to wear swimsuit,and do you know what happen? A manager of that hotel came and told me, I'm not allowed to wear a swimsuit because I am a nanny and that only my employer can do that, what an mentality!

LEBANON

I visited lebanon two times.
Lebanese speaks arabic and french mostly epeaks also english.
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2.1 million.
Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean sea, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan Area, which consists of the city and its suburbs.
The cedar forests of Lebanon enjoy the unique distinction as the oldest documented forests in history. The mountains are very nice especially in the summer time in August.
There are two main religions in lebanon the Islam and the Christianity.
Also many filipinos there, mostly they works in households.

KUWAIT

I did travel to kuwait through working for 2 years for the first time when i was 23.

Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west.
I've learn many things in the country, about the arab people,and thier mentality.
There is no freedom for woman,and for the people,They dont have any idea about humanity and that is the problem.
Woman and man are not allowed to shake hands and no eye to eye contact. The big difference with cultures and religions.
Many womens are rape and beaten with thier own employers.
For the household workers, not allowed to have cellfones, not allowed to have contact with other people, and not allowed to go out like a prison, no restday and low salary. My hardlife in kuwait,1 month was so long enough but how much more my 2 years? i consider it as a good experience and learn for it!
and never wish for coming back anymore, i was so happy to get back to my own country.