Germany and the Netherlands

I live in a country the size of Maryland (and roughly the same population). Let's see. Here we love the Flemish speaking Belgians, dislike the French speaking Belgians, like the French and believe that they have good engineering (and that you should aspire to own a Peugot), and hate the Germans. For some reason, this all makes sense to me. The Netherlands has been overrun in turns by the Spanish, the French, and most recently and often the Germans.

So, what does not make sense to me is the equal hatred the Germans feel toward their next door neighbors, the Dutch. The two speak slightly different languages, but if you understand English and German, you can mostly understand the Dutch (though the grammar is different).

The Dutch, like the Germans are seen as truly industrious - for good reason. But, the Dutch are more mercantile. Makes sense considering their history.

Here are some recent snippets of conversation with friends: "In England if you go bald you buy a toupee, in the Netherlands, you sell your comb"; "The British are so undependable, if you call someone to provide a service they are just as likely to not arrive or to arrive late (my friend likened this to the Manana attitude in New Mexico without actually visiting New Mexico or experiencing that)". The things that get me thinking are hearing about the privations of either country after the war (I don't advertise my Judaism and just keep my mouth shut). My least favorite quote is the following "Under Hitler, we at least had full employment" (said by a friend of a German friend) -- which to me sounds as hollow as the Russians pining for the Stalin period.  

I guess it makes sense that we are watching the European Union bedrock shake if they cannot get past their histories and animosities.

still learning new things

So, I was with my good friend yesterday at an indoor play area. I have already noted that many children play rougher here than in the States. Yesterday, though, my friend explained that most people like us (parents with a 2 year old who are trying hard to teach manners early) would never take their tiny kids to a place like this (it was Hullie -- http://www.hullie.nl) or even let them use the indoor part of Hemelrijk because it really isn't monitored. The reason it looks like a scene from Lord of the Flies is not because of Dutch kids necessarily being more wild -- but rather the forum. Parents are encouraged to sit and relax while their kids play. So parents who are more interventionist just don't take their kids to places like that very often.

This of course makes it harder on me; though, as the weather starts to look a little better, I have more options. Eileen loves to play with other kids. My instincts that she could actually get hurt by the big kids are correct. But she needs some time to play hard and try to push her body. So, how to work it? Back to normal playgrounds with me sitting close by? That only works if it isn't 50 and rainy? Playgroups? We do them. Music? We do that. Dance? Yup. Swim? you get the picture....I am trolling for ideas!