Dutch is difficult!!

  Phi Mai, Thailand
Sunday, October 29, 2006

Sawadee Kaa everyone!

Time is playing tricks on me. Can hardly believe it, but already more than 3 weeks in PhiMai now and it feels like home from the start. Less than a week and I will be drinking my tea again in Nederland! Half a year of traveling completed.

We are still very busy with teaching / learning the Dutch language, but it is difficult! Did not realize that, until I had to explain it in detail! Compared to English we have a lot more exceptions to the basic rules and many words which we write the same but have lots of different meanings. People who know me well, will not be surprised to read that I am a tough and strict teacher! Not always to her liking But as she lacks discipline and we have little time together, she also appreciates it.

The exam is very complex and detailed!
What do people have to do to get a long-term visa for the Netherlands nowadays:
PART 1: Knowledge of the Dutch Language
A. Repeat sentences (3-15 words each), total 12x
B. Answer short questions, total 14x
C. Repeat sentences (3-15 words each), total 12x
D. Opposites, 10x
E. Short stories, repeat them, total 2x (30sec. each)

This part is most difficult to learn as the person is not given a list with words/verbs which they might use to make the sentences. So this means you have to learn many words and verbs. Also how to use them, how to make sentences, present/past time, numbers, days, subject/object etc. This basically comes down to learning Dutch almost completely!!!

PART 2: Knowledge of Dutch Society
30 questions with the photos
Give the correct answer.

This part is a little bit easier to prepare for. You get a video about the Netherlands. This contains information about history, politics, work, education etc. From this video they have taken 100 photo-shots. Each photo had a question. You have to learn the correct answer to the question. The exam will choose 30 question/photo combinations for you to answer.

As we have to use the English-Thai-Dutch translation it takes more time then usual. She is a great student and learns quickly, but unfortunately it will be impossible for her to do the exam this month. Sorry for Stefan, my brother, who wants her back NOW. But I am convinced that she will pass it! Her pronunciation is very good and she is eager to learn.

When not studying, we spend time cooking great thai dishes. I am writing some recipes down in the hope to make them myself at home as well later. Also meet a lot of her friends and family. Learning the thai language is not going very well, being a bit lazy at it again. Can speak in English with A. We go to the local night market almost every night to get fresh vegetables and fruit! Also cruise around on the 'motosy' (the moped), which is local transport number 1 here. There are big floods in Thailand at the moment, which also hit PhiMai. One of her relatives has big problems with it. Her house has water inside. They have to take the canoe to the stairs and live upstairs. The water brings also brings other things, like SNAKES inside. She already had to outrun one of them. Welcome to the countryside! Lucky for me, A's house is not anywhere near a river, so I can sleep without snake-fear.

Last week also had my first thai massages: Very effective but painful. They push really hard on the tough muscles to loosen them. As I had a massage done only 5 times in my life, my muscles were like rock! After the painful part she took a big hot herbal 'sponge' and massaged my body with that. Enjoyed that more But have to admit. My body felt very light and relaxed after. So I can really recommend to go for it as well!

Last night we've been to this great fish restaurant at the river. The place has lovely little wooden huts above the water to sit and eat. This time of the year there are lots of annoying white flies around. The ones that stick to you once they touch you. So we decided to turn off the light and have candles brought over. Sitting in the moonlight, A swept the remaining flies of the table. Great........until we heard a loud 'plons'. That was the car key falling into the water!! Oops. What to do? I tried to get it with a fishing net, but the water was 1.60m deep so no luck. The only logical thing left to do for us females: look very helpless. It worked. A guy from the restaurant jumped into the muddy (snakes?) water and after several dives down and his head looking like a river plant he managed to find the key! Khop Khun maak Kaa!! Thank you very much!

My last days in Thailand will be filled with more teaching/studying, buying souvenirs, and my own little goodbye party . The last night/day A and I will go to Bangkok to do some more souvenir shopping and sightseeing. Thursday night I will fly from the (hopefully finished) airport to arrive in the Netherlands on Friday morning (03-11) at 09.40 o'clock if all goes well. For the Dutchies who want to check if I arrived save and sound, I will be flying with EVA Airways, flightnr. BR75.

SEE you soon!!
Liekie