Sure, I am Always Talkin’ Food, but I teach NT2 (Dutch as a second language) on the side. Mainly to young foreigners who came to Amsterdam for or with love. For privacy reasons the names in these columns are fictitious.
The Russian Anya is highly ambitious and extremely orderly. She plans everything in advance with razor-sharp precision. From her Dutch homework and the weekly groceries, to the next five years of her life.
The plan is to go on a world trip with her Dutch boyfriend in a year's time, and after that to have children.
But before then, she plans to complete her inburgering (integration) and speak enough Dutch to be able to help her future children with their homework.
In between inburgering and having children, she obviously plans at some point a full monty wedding with weddingcake and all.
On one of our field trips, my group looks at a statue of a headless woman in an opulent white dress. While we’re musing whether it should represent Marie Antoinette or some unhappy runaway bride, Anya asks out of the blue: 'How long does it take a boy to propose marriage in the Netherlands?’
That’s a tricky question...
‘I ask, because in Russia it takes two years. After that there’s automatically a proposal’, she informs me.
It is pretty clear that this deadline has not been met yet.
‘In Turkey the rule is also two years,' adds Zehra.
I never even knew there were rules for that.
‘I don't think there's such a rule in our country,' I reply cautiously.
It turns out that Anya has also asked her Dutch colleagues about the average waiting time, and some of them have told her that it could take as long as ten years.
Ten years!
Zehra takes a practical view: 'Just ask your boyfriend.'
But that’s no plan Anya can live with.
Despite only having been with her Dutch boyfriend for ten months, Zehra has already asked him when he plans to propose. He answered honestly that it's got nothing to do with his love for her, but that he, like many Dutch men, simply doesn't want to get married.
Ever.
Anya suddenly looks as if her head is under the guillotine.
So much for sharp planning.
Food lingo
Weekly groceries - de weekboodschappen
Weddingcake - de bruidstaart
The comfort of tea
Got some disappointing news? Drink a comforting cuppa from Europe’s finest theewinkel (tea shop) Formocha Premium Tea. Tea expert Amanda Yiu sells high quality loose leaf teas from Taiwan, China, Japan and Korea. These teas are also served in many Amsterdam restaurants (from Cornerstore to 4850). Besides tea, the shop sells one-off handmade ceramic tea ware (see picture).
Formocha Premium Tea, Brouwersgracht 282 Amsterdam. Open on Friday and Saturday 11 AM-6 PM.