Studentcolumn: No haggling, but a bonus card
Currently in his third year Physical Therapy, Dutch student Chiel Hamann did his internship in Sri Lanka and India, where he treated mentally and physically challenged children. Chiel was very impressed with the two countries. He himself was adopted from Sri Lankan parents.
Chiel describes his return in Holland and the confusion. The photographs support his story of the great difference between Holland and the Asian countries.
Trains leave on time...
After four months India and Sri Lanka, I am flying above Holland again. After a while the wheels of the airplane touch the ground. I grab my bag of the moving-band conveyor and I embrace my girlfriend. Together we walk to the platform to catch the train to Nijmegen. Below the airport the train arrives on time, and also leaves at the time which is indicated on the board. I can’t help but to get an uncomfortable feeling.
Dangerous bus lanes
There is a loving couple sitting opposite to me in the train. They are having a conversation about the weekend. Without being conscious about it, I listen to the entire conversation. How strange it is to hear the Dutch language again, the language I can follow without any trouble.
At the station of Nijmegen I want to walk down the square. I look to the right and cross the bus lane. A loud horn wakes me up: frightened, I step back. Bus 4 rapidly passes me by and makes we aware again of the fact that we drive on the right side of the road in Holland. How fast but noiseless those buses drive! When I enter my room I fall asleep and I notice that the saying is right: There’s no better bed than your own!
Sun higher
The next day it seems as if the sun has difficulties in rising, as if I personally have to lift it a bit higher. Before I get the feeling that the day has finally started, the sun already sets and it turns dark, at 5.30 pm. At that time, I plan to do the shopping with my girlfriend at the Albert Heijn. Before I travelled to Sri Lanka, this was a nice and familiar shop. Now I am back, it feels like an enormous wholesale business. Everything is for sale and every product has at least three different brands. I miss the little stalls in the streets as in India and Sri Lanka, buying fresh bananas and haggling about the price. I give it a try with the cash girl, but she withdraws herself from the game I made my own. The price on the display doesn’t change, but she asks if I have a bonus card. Confused, I put my purchase in my bag. Meanwhile, people are racing by on both sides of me. It looks like everyone is in a hurry. Or am I that slow? At home I pod my own beans again, boil the potatoes and fry a slice of bacon. Lovely to ‘ordinarily’ eat a typical Dutch meal again after a long time.
Rice & curry
Without being sleepy I get to bed, but I don’t fall asleep: the jetlag keeps me awake. When I close my eyes, I drive in a Tuk Tuk and pass breathtakingly green paddy fields, I burn my tongue to a spicy rice & curry and I buy sweet papayas on the market of Narasaraopet. I realize I am back but it will take some time before I can go with the flow of our society. I now understand that I am living in a world with differences. That diversity isn’t describable, you have to experience it yourself, embrace it, if you want. So, if you have the chance within your study to go abroad? Do not doubt, but experience and admire.
