Today was the first day since I’ve been in the Netherlands that I have experienced the real “Dutch” weather. Let me give you a mini rundown of what I mean by Dutch weather. In the span of five minutes, what starts out as a sunny, pleasantly breezy September day turns into driving rain and gale-force winds. After dumping buckets for a few minutes, the sun teases through the clouds, lulling all the unlucky souls basking in its rays into a false sense of security. But is this the end? Of course not. Just when you think it’s safe to throw out the umbrella, SURPRISE! More rain. And this time it’s a depressingly grey drizzle.
Now, I was warned about this specific feature of living in the Netherlands by my ever-helpful and amazing boyfriend, but me being me, I sauntered out of the flat and down the road to the grocery store without a thought of raindrops or umbrellas. I’ll only be gone for a few minutes, I thought. Only a moron wouldn’t be able to see the clouds coming, I reasoned. Well, the weather gods definitely heard my blasphemous thoughts and took offense. Walking out of the store with groceries in hand, I was literally blown back into the store doorway by the wind. I definitely got my exercise for the day battling the wind and rain on the way home. Maybe that lonely little umbrella in the front hallway will get a little more love from now on. Welkom in Nederland, I suppose!
