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Nijmegen, The Netherlands, January 2004 —
I had a momentary lapse into exasperation when the shower didn't work. There's no hot water.
Standing there waiting for it to warm up, and then finally washing myself just a bit with too-cold water, I cursed the Dutch. When I got back to our room, I told Kim about it. She's Dutch. She understands.
It's frustrating to me. The water's been too cold for several days. Probably, nobody's said anything. Well, I haven't either. But the point is, odds are that nobody has said anything. Dutch people don't.
I could imagine the huisbaas (building manager): "I'm not a plumber...." And you might have to suggest* that he hire one.
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*When the washing machine was broken—for a couple of weeks—I went and talked with the huisbaas about it. I asked him if he knew when it would be working. No, he said. I told him that it's important. Yes, he agreed, it's important. But, he said (holding out his hands, palms up,) I can't fix it.
I didn't suggest that he hire someone who could, but I got a sense that that would have been acceptable. I think Dutch people like to "work things out" by talking them over; no matter that the solution might be self-evident.
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