Expats in the Netherlands

It’s again just about the time. I finally decided to sum up all the websites, groups & forums I’ve been using since I came to the Netherlands. Jus in case someone needs them.

First of all, as I was advised by my sis, I do advise everyone to read the book “The Undutchables” – an observation of the Netherlands: its culture and inhabitants. It’s absolutely adorable, highly popular book, written for anyone interested in learning about Dutch quirks, character and customs. Actually, I’d indeed advise it to everyone – reading it is so much fun. Sure, people living or coming here will find it more useful – you’ll live this book through as soon as you enter this country  

Card Fever

21 card received and 21 card sent within 2,5 month of my membership in Postcrossing. I’d say quite a lot, but it mostly because all this staff turned out to be rather addictive. I’d say it’s rather pity that you actually never meet the person who writes your address on the back side of a card but you still feel some connection with someone who cared to sit down, write a couple of sentences, and send them to you.

Apart from the freaky giraffe I even posted on TwitPic, my favorite card so far is this b/w card from Thailand.

First Postcard

After getting the idea from one of my friends’ twi’s, I joined The Postcard Crossing Project last week. It took about 10 days for me to receive my first postcard. It came from Limerick, Ireland and appeared to be in Russian (!). Are there any Irish people left in Ireland?

Meanwhile, I managed to send 8 cards and 3 of them (Belgium, Spain & USA) have been received so far. Not that impressive in comparison to several thousands and even hundred thousands some members of Postcrossing have but still inspiring for a newbie like me.

All this card-staff catches me more than Letternet though I’ve been the member of this pen-pal service for about 10 years so far. I find it interesting to maintain the idea of handwritten letters sent by post but we’ve become far too addicted to internet and fast-going communication. It gets a bit senseless: sending some news, waiting for ages, and then receiving something which will have lost its urgency by that time. Anyway, I still have one pen pal from Cuba and every letter is a rarity: due to distance it is travelling, due to the country it comes from and due to my willpower of not letting myself write an email instead.

Make It Short

I first realized I need to make my thoughts shorter while living in London and communicating through mobile texts a lot. I got used to ASAP, 2mrw and xxx quite easily. Later this idea expended to emails and skype messages – time is money and no one wants to spend it on typing I don’t use mobile texts that much anymore but now when Twitter ran into our life we have this need even more urgent as we need to squeeze our thoughts into 140 characters. Twitter is indeed a good training in learning to be concise.

Difference is significant. Just check:

Hi mate! How are you? I’m absolutely great! I want to see you before I go. Leaving tomorrow, by the way. Looking forward to something new. Thanks for putting me through all this. Love you even more now. See you later tonight. Kisses, Nata. P.S. It’s Joe’s birthday today. Don’t forget your congratulations!

Hi m8! How r u? I’m abs gr8! Want 2 c u b4 I go. Leavin 2mrw, btw. Lookin 4ward 2 smth new. Thx 4 puttin me thru this. Luv u even mo now. C u l8r 2nite. Xxx Nata P.S. It’s Joe’s bday 2day. Don’t 4get yr congrats!

Ok, ok, this one a bit exaggerated. Nevertheless, all those abbreviations help us a lot now. Here are also some commonly used Twitter shorties:

Urban Dictionary

Blogorrhea – to write a blog entry just for a sake of posting an entry, not because you have done anything interesting today.

E-hole – a person who sends useless mass emails – usually jokes or chain letters.

You-Tube lunch  – Watching videos on YouTube, or any general Internet time-wastingon a lunch break.

It’s been a week since I find myself turning the pages of this book from time to time. I got Mo’Urban Dictionary as one of my birthday presents from a person who’s aware of my special love to British English and different language tricks.

The book actually makes a list of some definitions written by the people visiting the website of Urban Dictionary. Thosuands of definitons are submitted every day, and many of them get published online. Well, not all of them true and some are definately used only by a limited number of people (if not by one person), however upon voting of site visitors those definitions might appear in a book like the one I’m holding in my hands now.

Twittering

Had been reading about Twitter for ages: bloggers giving their opinions about this new tool, some podcasts, some articles etc. Even videos on youtube – short tutorial on usage. Wasn’t actually seeing myself as using it – there are already far too many pages I’m reading daily. And Facebook statuses seemed to be enough to satisfy my need in information about what my friends are up to at the moment.

Anyway, after Joha’s blog on the BarCamp Baltics 2009 wall I was pushed to register on Twitter too (oh, gosh, my responsibility will kill me once…). Now I’m happily following 4 people and putting my updates time after time – just to feel what Twitter is like. After all, I still doubt I will be using it as much is it is supposed to be used… However, I won’t be surprised seeing myself with 387 followers and following 300+ other people in a while. Oh, web is web. Habit is a habit.