What I find interesting about this is as much nostalgia this created for you I think you would be hard pressed to find this experience in the U.S. these days. Enjoy!
Ooooh, that's so interesting!! Because that's what happens with Europeans and other migrants who move the the US, too, no? So often the culture and nostalgia that they hang on to doesn't really exist in the same way in their home countries anymore.
That aside, I'll also say this. It's possible there's not really one version of the US. Shortly after I left Europe the last time, I lived in Chicago for a few years. I hung out with & partied with my neighbors from Spain, and I worked in international education. In New York, I had the Dutch group & the international Manchester United supporters. In DC, I worked in international development & hung out at embassy parties. My partners have almost all been international, too.
Lots to think about in that, and I'll probably write a future letter about it. Tentatative title: maybe "Two Americas" or the "The Other America".
Your interaction and depth of international spaces far exceed mine but based on the cultural and political climate right now. I don’t feel, see, or hear about relaxing diverse groups of people coming together celebrating multicultural aspects of the world. Fear, exhaustion, anger, disappointment, and/or busyness I’m not sure the cause. Hopefully, I’m wrong.
I love the many intersections of music- memory, place, history, spirit, movement and more. Happy you had this beautiful experience and that you are able to practice and keep your Dutch fluency.
Thank you!! 🥰 The longer I live in Portugal, it feels like Portuguese is overwriting my Dutch. 😂 That's part of the reason why, even though their English is perfect and it's probably easier to just speak English, I actively ask them to practice with me. So I won't forget it. (I still watch Dutch movies on my own on Netflix every now and then, too.) As they say: "use it or lose it." It's part of the reason why Tiny, Private Love Letter exists, too. In addition to keeping connected to people across the years and miles, it keeps my writing practice going on a regular basis.
What I find interesting about this is as much nostalgia this created for you I think you would be hard pressed to find this experience in the U.S. these days. Enjoy!
Ooooh, that's so interesting!! Because that's what happens with Europeans and other migrants who move the the US, too, no? So often the culture and nostalgia that they hang on to doesn't really exist in the same way in their home countries anymore.
That aside, I'll also say this. It's possible there's not really one version of the US. Shortly after I left Europe the last time, I lived in Chicago for a few years. I hung out with & partied with my neighbors from Spain, and I worked in international education. In New York, I had the Dutch group & the international Manchester United supporters. In DC, I worked in international development & hung out at embassy parties. My partners have almost all been international, too.
Lots to think about in that, and I'll probably write a future letter about it. Tentatative title: maybe "Two Americas" or the "The Other America".
Your interaction and depth of international spaces far exceed mine but based on the cultural and political climate right now. I don’t feel, see, or hear about relaxing diverse groups of people coming together celebrating multicultural aspects of the world. Fear, exhaustion, anger, disappointment, and/or busyness I’m not sure the cause. Hopefully, I’m wrong.
New York. ❤️ I still see it (from afar) in NY. Mamdani's win, the collective celebration of the Knicks, etc. It's nice.
I love the many intersections of music- memory, place, history, spirit, movement and more. Happy you had this beautiful experience and that you are able to practice and keep your Dutch fluency.
Thank you!! 🥰 The longer I live in Portugal, it feels like Portuguese is overwriting my Dutch. 😂 That's part of the reason why, even though their English is perfect and it's probably easier to just speak English, I actively ask them to practice with me. So I won't forget it. (I still watch Dutch movies on my own on Netflix every now and then, too.) As they say: "use it or lose it." It's part of the reason why Tiny, Private Love Letter exists, too. In addition to keeping connected to people across the years and miles, it keeps my writing practice going on a regular basis.