There’s one thing which annoys me greatly being back in the Netherlands, and that is the overwhelming amount of rules, procedures, policies and people who make sure you keep those rules. I’m not talking about traffic rules, I do understand about safety. Rules like, what color my house should be painted or not; if I’m … More Rules – collectivism
ROUTINES This feels so weird, I’m home alone, all by my self. Just waved the children of to school, husband is of to work, the movers are gone and the house is made a home. I do feel a bit lost and dizzy. This is it! we’re moved and ready for a new life routine. … More Culture Shock, part3
Culture shock part 2, disintegration stage Today I was late, got lost, stuck in traffic, food burned and the children got grumpy too, instead of a bit understanding and compassionate. I learned that there is a bridge which opens every hour and rush hour starts at 5 pm, my oven is a hot air oven … More Home sick and getting used
Oops, Within the first week with my new car I received 2 traffic tickets for driving too fast. Yep, it’s a small and fast car, -the first time not a family car-. It accelerates easy and is very silent so I don’t hear on the motor how fast I drive, which I could tell with … More Rules
Once upon a time there were 6 brothers in an old middle eastern region. The parents of the brothers had died a long time ago. The biggest and oldest brother was the boss in the family, he felt responsible and thought it his duty to keep the brothers under his reign, according to his values … More A fairytale, a nightmare in continuation of 1001 nights
Transition I can’t deny it anymore. Within 10 days we move out of Qatar to the Netherlands. We’re in transition mode; The household is being divided in; what’s going to ‘suit case’, ‘freight container’ and ‘what to be sold’; The heart is out of the house, it’s not a home anymore; Everybody is agitated and … More Culture Shock. part 1
The first year when I arrived in Qatar, I’ve been desperately looking for shops which offers something different then the ‘Highstreet’- and ‘mall’ shops as H&M, Zara, Mango, Topshoe, etc.. Here, you can’t google for something you want, because those little shops do not have websites. If they do have got a website they usualy don’t … More culture: shopping a la Arabia
A while ago I was triggered by writing about truth. Since then I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about truth. It makes me feel good when I think something it’s true, a sort of good, feeling certain, in control, being right. Since I discovered that the truth is more an actual state of matter … More Truth 2
There are a few features which we use to compare- and analyse multiple cultures. One of them is the difference between a collective- or individualistic cultures. It’s about preceding needs; the collective needs (the needs of the family, clan or group) or the individual needs (personal needs). When you are aware of these distinctions, it’s great … More A look on multi cultural diner customs
Usually I have different cultures in mind -in the sense of nationality and background-when I’m writing about differences between cultures; how to acknowledge them, accept them and FeelGood with them. That’s my field of expertise. Today I want to share another kind of differences and background, culture with you. The differences between older and … More screenagers culture shock
