(adres van jou)

18 September 2003

Dear Catherine,

I was asked to write you a letter, so that is what I’m doing. Let’s start with introducing myself. My name is … I’m … years old and I live in the Netherlands.

I heard you’re coming to my country, so I think I should tell something about it. First of all, we don’t have a dress code here so you can get out of that costume of yours. More important is the way we greet. When you meet someone you kiss them on the cheeks three times, not two like you are used to. Or you can just say hallo, which means hello. When you thank someone you say: dankjewel. This just means thank you. When you are a guest at a party or something you bring flowers or some nice present. You should also be on time, but that’s probably not new for you, is it? When you’re a student trying to get the attention of your teacher you say: mevrouw or meneer. Which means miss/misses or sir. Greeting your parents is very easy. You just say hello mother/father, translation: hallo moeder/vader. Most of the things are the same as in England, so it shouldn’t be too difficult too remember.

We have some other rules, for example alcohol. You can drink beer or other drinks with little alcohol, at sixteen, but drinks with more alcohol are allowed when you’re eighteen or older. You can drive cars when you’re eighteen. That’s easy to remember, isn’t it? Then the rules about dating. It’s not officially a rule, but most of the time guys pay the girl’s drink. Very old fashioned, but true. You being a girl: don’t go too far with a guy when you’ve just met, because some guys may expect more. But that’s probably not news. If you don’t like walking home alone you should ask someone to come with you. Maybe your date, but of course you can also ask someone to pick you up. It’s not the most common thing for a girl here to be escorted, but it’s not a crime. If it makes you feel safer just ask someone.

Almost everyone here can speak at least a little English, so if you’re not able, whatever the reason is, to speak Dutch to someone, people will probably understand you if you talk to them in English. Well, that’s all I wanted to tell you. If you have some questions that aren’t answered just write me back and I’ll answer it. I’m really looking forward to seeing you. Have a great time in my small but lovely country!

Best wishes,

(naam van jou)