What do you like best about the Netherlands?
The food—my favorites are bitterballen (small fried gravy snacks) and filet americain (a raw beef spread for bread).
What are some cultural differences between the US and the Netherlands?
Since the Netherlands as a country is smaller, the houses are smaller, especially the stairs (which is strange because the Dutch people are the tallest people on average).
There are a lot more stores in residential areas.
When I was taking the bus home in third grade (in Minneapolis), I noticed how there was a lot of houses in residential areas and a lot of businesses in the business area. Here they are mixed all together.
They bike a lot here. The people are really healthy and helps that they have long legs. There’s more public transport, which means less smoke coming from the cars, but there’s more smoke coming from the people (cigarettes and vaping).
What is school like?
I go to Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS). It has grades 6-12 but our building is just grades 6-10. The students come from all over the world. My friends are from Australia, Hungary, China and India. The teachers are also from different countries, like South Africa, United Kingdom, Turkey, Egypt, and Italy.
What’s it like living somewhere where you don’t speak the language?
Easier than you would think because, in the Netherlands, most people speak English. But it would definitely be harder if we lived someplace like Turkey. At school, I am learning Dutch, French and Spanish.
What do you miss from the old neighborhood?
Ice cream at Sebastien Joe’s, boba tea at Sencha, all the playgrounds, my friends from Hall STEM Academy, and the Spies family (Cora, George and Rowan).
by Jennifer Debrow
