if you move to NY

Finally, it was quiet. Nice guy on the hook, nice house, graduated with a even better thesis grade and a bit wandering in the job market.. Furthermore; a lot of carefree wine with friends and in the morning with double Finimal to my even more carefree side job. Life was calm, pure, and regular. And then came that champagne bottle. Scared. Away with the calm. Scared. Out of my nice little mini-world. Scared. Off to the US of A!

And no, I'm not going to sit here complaining. But sometimes I think about how bizarre life can be. And no, I'm not going to hang a hippie story about ‘fate’ or ‘destiny’, but I'm typing this post in a Boeing 747 that is filled to the brim with Dutch people, so I thought: let me talk about what you really miss or what changes a bit due to adventures like this.

I get this question often and to be honest, I just ramble about ‘biking in Amsterdam’, ‘patatje oorlog and croquettes’, and ‘empire state of mind’. But I haven't really taken the time to reflect on this question. Here, in this Boeing, I have éthe time éand I'm surrounded by Dutch glory, so it's a nice framework to weigh some things against each other, compare, and draw some conclusions about what you miss - as in really-really miss - what you don't miss at all, and how NY changes you.

Stroopwafels no, patat oorlog yes

I have found stroopwafels, Old Amsterdam, Gouda cheese, and even bitterballen. New York has it all! So, to tackle this question once and for all: in terms of Dutch delicacies, you definitely don't miss this. But a brown sandwich with filet américain and a patatje oorlog and such a hockey croquette on a white bun... Goodness, how nice would that be here.

Hlonging for quaintness

Everything in this city is planning, reserving, and traveling there. It's not that easy to hop on your bike and immediately slide into a table where then Jan and everyone else joins to drunkenly linger for a thousand hours. No, in New York, you always have to wait. At least 20 minutes, and you can only sit at the table when everyone from the group is there, and you immediately get the bill on the table after you swallow the last bite. Now I have to be honest, because in New York, the bill doesn't mean: ‘pay now and get out’. They see the bill on the table here as service. A bit in the sense of: here you go, and now you can decide when you want to pay. So it's not strange at all to order another coffee or a bottle of wine afterwards. But still, for us Dutch, it remains a bit imposing, I think. After payment, you can then take a taxi to the next location. Almost nothing that is fun is gathered together around the corner in one evening. So you understand; sometimes I miss the quaintness. That bike, that ease, and everything being nearby. Just beer bars with party music, carpets on tables, and without fuss or coolness at the door. Miss. I. Mega.

Vspoiled to the core

In the summer, you drink wine on a rooftop, in the winter you hang out in the lobby bar of some fancy hotel where you typically see Lady Gaga passing by, and in between, you stroll a bit through Central Park, forgetting that the Empire is flickering above you, and all that splendor is very normal. So does New York change you? Oh yes, definitely, you get spoiled to the core.. The coolness factor, from Italian bistro to super hip Japanese is high here, and you get used to it very quickly. And that's unavoidable, but I occasionally read those moments of realization. Just look and allow the hysteria of the average tourist for a moment.

Gpatience is not a virtue

Just like with that bill in restaurants, everything here goes at a pace. Flower top in a different size? There's a bit of mumbling in a CIA earpiece and boom, your size plus some suggestions are handed to you. Long line at the supermarket? Boom, immediately 10 cash registers open. A bit more pepper on your filet mignon? Boom, the pepper guy is immediately grinding above your plate. So in terms of service, America is so nice and super fast, and that makes people impatient. Very impatient.

No negatief Nancy

“The subways are really dirty.” “It's too crowded.” “New Yorkers are so fake.” “I'm glad when I'm back with normal people.” Hello, can't you all stop whining at Gate B28?! I was really surprised, or actually reminded again before I got on that plane what nonsense our people can spout. Sorry, I don't want to and won't generalize everyone and also don't want to now Negative Nancy act like that, but Dutch people complain way too much! And that's quite different compared to the average New Yorker. They think in possibilities, opportunities, and believe in doing. They give you a thumbs up when you drive a thick Porsche 911, because in their eyes, you're not a show-off: you're simply successful. And yes, there's something to be said for everything. But this positivity and the belief that you can only judge once you've tried something with a full 100%, flows through the streets here and that is really only good for people. Every person. Really.