Amsterdammer

Recently, I've been too busy with homework or traveling to even remember I had a blog. I'm actually supposed to be working on two class assignments right now, but homework on a Friday night just doesn't exist.

But here's a few things I've learned after living in Amsterdam for over two months:

• Milk spoils ridiculously fast, mostly because it isn't pasteurized. I'm not a big fan of milk, but I must admit milk products are much fresher tasting here.
  
• The Dutch love to drink yoghurt. Flavored or plain, it usually comes in a milk carton with a screw cap. Again, better than our Yoplait crap we try to pass off as yogurt.
  
• As Thanksgiving draws closer, I've realized the Dutch don't eat turkey. No deli slices of turkey, no ground turkey, nothing. Looks like I'm eating chicken for Thanksgiving.
• The Dutch can be rude if you're (only somewhat) blocking their way in the bike path, they aren't very organized (especially the University of Amsterdam), don't always want to stop and give directions, and don't dance at clubs. However, at crowded concerts they are more than happy to let you squeeze by for a better spot.
• Blackface is accepted in the Netherlands, seeing as everyone piles up hundreds of stuffed or carved figurines of Zwarte Piet, Sinterklaas' helper. Zwarte Piet usually has a painted black face, red lips, a poofy black wig, and is stuffed into a silly outfit that looks like it's from Disney's The Prince and the Pauper.
• Christmas markets are probably the best thing ever to grace this earth, yet the Dutch only halfheartedly partake in the culture of warm gluhwein and kartoffelsuppe.