public transport

Posted on 6/11/2009 at 14:21 - Post Comment

DUTCHWOMANABROAD

friday 6 november 2009

two nights ago i went at 20 o'clock down to locarno. the boys were in the swimmingpool with their friends and i was doing taxi service for the 'terre di pedemonte:)'. i had time to kill before they would finish their recreational sliding, diving and whatever so i took my dog along for a walk on the lake front. walking there, in the dark, and seeing chairs and tables of closed restaurants made me think of holland. if i would have been in holland those chairs and tables would have already ended up in the lake ages ago. there you have to lock up everything, because people with little brains and nothing better to do than ruin other people's fortune would have done their crap without giving a damn. and here everything is placed for customers to come the next day. maybe a group of kids would sit down for a bit, but that would be that. not only there is a bit more respect for other people's things, also riding the bus or train after dark here is not a problem. in the hague after diner at a friend's house, i took the tram back to my mother's house. i try to think about the health of our environment, so i rather use public transport than a car. ofcourse i know public transport in holland, especially after dark, is like walking in a gang powered neighborhood. if you get shot, it is your own fault, you know it might happen. so sitting in the tram, keep eyes lowered, especially do not look into the face of a person of a certain nationality, do not react anytime, do not think the driver will assist you, ecc. a dutch woman sat across from me and she put a piece of gum in her mouth. and one of three guys from this certain nationality sitting on the other side of the path had to say the word 'guuuuuuuuummmmmmmmeeeee' at least for 10 minutes in a row, continously. one might have liked to ask him if he had 'gilles de la tourette', because he repeated and repeated that stupid word. but i know better, and the lady sitting across from me also. and then you start to feel so insecure. what if they get off where i get off. these boys always try to intimidate one. when you are a woman you are a whore in their mind, and they will be glad to tell you that also. well someone from heaven looked down on us, and those trouble makers got off before us. so she and i talked a bit about what happened. what should one say or do? these boys always talk about that they are not getting respect from the dutch. well, what do you want with stupid behaviour like that? and this is nothing, worse happens. where i live is still paradise, you can hop on the train and people will be nice. especially at night, when all the kids take the train home after being in the city, there is a very nice atmosfere of youngsters who had a nice time and continue that while going home. 

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