Holland stoppen?

The tension is rising as we come closer to the Weltmeisterschaft, the world cup soccer that is played in Germany this time. How convenient to be in Germany excactly in the year that the world cup is played there. Even on the electronic signs on the ceiling of the subways they are counting off until the big day.

I wonder what it would mean for a foreigner like me. I wonder if the streets will be full with orange dressed people pretty soon. I also wonder if the opinion about Dutch people will change. I mean, the Germans like the Dutch more than the Dutch like the Germans. That's what I've already found out. In some strange way, they like Dutch people here. Once, I got into a club just because I told the doormen I was from Holland. Even more bizar is the following story. I once met a girl in a bar who wanted to dance with me for a while. Her boyfriend didn't think it was such a good idea, but then she said to her boyfriend: "oh, come on...he's from Holland". So, that makes it okay?

I have no idea why they like the Dutch so much, because I think Dutch people are quite rude compared to Germans. It must be that we've got some sort of underdog position, because we're from a small country. And in the ears of German people, Dutch sounds like some strange language that dwarfs speak in their toadstool houses.

And every German I speak about the world cup thinks Holland has a bigger chance to win than Germany. There's even a site about it: www.hollandstoppen.de. For both Germans and Dutchmen this site is hilarious. Check it out. And if you're from Holland, please leave a nice Dutch message in the guestbook ;-)