I am not sure if it is a Dutch thing (I am studying in the Netherlands), but I've noticed many people here are reluctant to accept that we all do have different interests and our quirks, you know? What I mean is they are giving me this lookwhen they see me walking everywhere (the campus is not that big and I'm used to walking for couple of miles a day). They make me feel like guilty and having to defend my life choices. They cannot gasp at all that it is possible for a person NOT to like cycling (not because I hate physical activity, I like surfing for example). I just love walking, it's more enjoyable for me and calming. I already do a lot of physical exercise and when getting somewhere walking (I never hurry) is very soothing and calming while cycling makes me always rush.
Besides, having some indigestion issues, I've noticed that when I cycle for a few days I get pain in my belly. Like all of us I already do a lot sitting in the classroom and at my dorm room studying so I enjoy getting somewhere without having to sit for a change. And there are many other things they cannot gasp like me preferring hiking in nature to visiting fancy cities. I have some cities I'd love to visit but they find them not cool enough apparently for not being NY or Paris. :) They even look funny at me preferring some minor Dutch cities for their natural habitat and nice feel to their famous ones like Amsterdam. :D It's like I'm back at high school and everyone should think the same.
Do you think it's due to their national culture or just the people here? International students are much more understanding and accepting. Of course there are lots of nice Dutch people, but somehow the judgmental ones prevail here. ;)
Oops, I posted it in the wrong sub forum.
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