Trade or Trait
Many jokes go around about people living in countries other than ours. Their typical habits and/or behavior tend to lend themselves for it. The Dutch are known as tradesmen and as being economical, especially when it comes to money (some might even call it stingy, hehe). I guess it's true. I don't pass up a penny on the ground! My grandfather always used to say: " The money lies in the street. Who can't honor the little, is not worthy of the great", ( free translation ). He would pick up empty bottles laying in the shoulders or bushes and cash them in for the deposit. Every now and then he would go to the dump and go through the trash. He would come back with a load of perfectly good stuff people had thrown away and hold a garage sale. He had a nose for making a quarter out of a dime.
So, how do you know you just passed the home of a Dutchman?
When you see the freshly washed toilet-paper hanging out to dry! :-)
Do you know any jokes about the Dutch? Please share. I think we all appreciate a good laugh!
Ecclesiastes 3:4
A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
13 Comments:
that was funny. recycled toilet paper. haha...
pia:
Yeah, that's one of the jokes. I am sure there are many more.
God's Grace.
I heard one about a Scotsman (I'm part Scots, myself) who went through this long conversation with a dentist about getting a tooth pulled and how much it would cost, and which medications could be dispensed with to make it cheaper, etc, etc. At the end, he mentions that it's for his wife. It's a lot better when it's told right!
Lenise:
Thanks girl,I already thought it was funny as it is, haha.
I didn't know Scots were frugel as well.
God's Grace.
I think that is funny about the toilet paper. Way back in 1953 when I was on a train going from Yokohama to Sapporo, in first class car, the toilet was a slit in the floor. There was no toilet paper. There was a wash cloth on the sink bowl and the idea was to use that and then wash it out for the next person. That practice continued until the 1980s.
Abraham:
Thanks for sharing. Although I have to admit: that sounds yucky!
God's Grace.
I don't know any Dutch jokes, Corry, but I know plenty of Cajun and Aggie (Texas A & M) jokes.
Personally, I think people hear a joke and change it around to fit their own locale. That's just me thinking out loud.
gb
I do not have any Dutch jokes. but I'll pass this one on to my collegues going there.
I know I can always count on you to help me adjust culturally
OOPS That comment was mine
Pech:
Yes you can, but I have confidence in you being able to adapt pretty quick:-)
About your last comment: isn't it good to know, culturally adapted or not, we all make mistakes? hehe.
God's Grace.
Gina:
I think you may be right.
With your ability to write, I would love to hear some of those jokes sometime:-)
God's Grace.
When I read the toilet paper joke I had to laugh. Growing up, my father was fanatical about keeping our bathrooms clean. My mother told me it was from his "Dutch" upbringing. Whatever drove him, has carried through to me also. I get quite agitated when my bathroom is not clean to perfection.
Maryrose:
I guess it carries on through the genes huh? :-)
God's Grace.
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