School Stuff

Through Mayberry glasses —Summer-Schooled in Europe

By Ed Clark, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, August 25, 2008 (4 months, 2 weeks ago)
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First impressions often find a place of permanence in your head. It’s the substance after the impression that can give the memory value and staying power. Our little journey to the Netherlands gave the boys from Mayberry some first impressions.
Some School Stuff snapshots:
People & Bikes Netherlands
The people we met impressed us as hard working, warm, fit, and great conversationalists.  Kids were on bikes everywhere, 50, 60, 70 year-olds riding bikes and rotating on these bikes, all over the Dutch place. (Queen’s “Bicycle” was a 1978 chart peek # 28 you may remember) Bikeways are married to many roads. The bikes sport the old style look, with fenders and built in lock…good stuff.
Cars & Pace
Their driving is, not fast, but at an accelerated clip. My son mused at how I would do with this. Point A to point B purposeful movement is the way. My 70’s cruising style would not work there. By far the most common cars are fuel-efficient, small, often manual shift.  A whole lot of cars I’d never seen before, some were literally so small that only two humans could possibly enter.  With gas near 4 dollars, we may before long see some of these minis stateside.  Gas was nearly $7.25 a gallon in the Netherlands (sold by the liter) and over $9.00 in London.
Food/Drink
A glass of wine is part of daily living for many. Not to excess, just part of their cultural deal. Virtually every meal is accompanied by water and red or white wine. I had one diet-coke in 10 days, on the plane. There appears a clear daily eating focused on fish, fish and chicken; and then the other white-meat, and lastly beef. Delectable breads are always in play at eating time. The process of eating is in small waves and seemingly never hurried…most certainly a Dutch treat.
Music
The cars I rode in enjoyed the familiar oldies station music. Our youngest had a mild curiosity regarding popular music in Europe. Although our accounting was very limited, we heard no rap or country and it was clear that the British band ‘Coldplay” is blanketing a bit of the teen airways. Since about 2005 they have been in charge. Creative, easy listening, involve the piano in their music and lyrics that take a back seat and don’t sit you up in your seat.
The Dollar
In Euro-currency: 10 Euros was worth nearly 16 dollars and in England 10 pounds was leaning toward 20 dollars. You really got clobbered on the exchange.  The process of ATM use could not have been easier just like making a debit/credit purchase at home.  Affordability-wise, now would be an excellent time to travel from Europe to the USA.
Perspective
Next time, School Stuff will share snapshots of conversations with folks on this journey.  Interesting it is to hear the “perceptions” of those looking back across the pond…a summer schooling it was!
Happy Days….

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