{"id":3105,"date":"2018-01-24T14:08:13","date_gmt":"2018-01-24T12:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.connect2us.eu\/verhalen\/juan-carlos-rings-the-doorbell-around-dinner-time\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T14:02:02","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T12:02:02","slug":"juan-carlos-rings-the-doorbell-around-dinner-time","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/connect2us.eu\/en\/stories\/juan-carlos-rings-the-doorbell-around-dinner-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Juan Carlos rings the doorbell around dinner time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Juan Carlos is from Guatemala, is 14 years old and loves to play soccer.\nHe plays often: at the soccer club, but also in the street.\nNow he lives in the Netherlands for a few months and he has already met a few boys from the neighborhood who regularly play soccer on the square.\nHe is an enterprising boy and goes with the ball under his arm to the house of his new soccer buddy, Stefan.\nJuan Carlos rings the bell around dinner time, it is six o’clock and therefore dinner time, but Juan Carlos doesn’t know that yet. <\/p>\n\n

Bas’ father opens the door.\nHow nice of that boy to come and get Stefan, but we’re about to have dinner.\nPretty strange that that boy should ring the doorbell at precisely this time.\nEveryone in the Netherlands eats dinner at 6, right?\n“Then the whole family is sitting around the table and you don’t want to be disturbed,” Stefan’s father thinks.\n“Don’t you know what time it is? Bas can’t come now,” he tells the boy.\nKindly, but clearly.\nAnd closes the door. <\/p>\n\n

Juan Carlos is not sure what to do.\nWhat has happened?\nMaybe he said something wrong?\n“The father looked angry and asked if I didn’t know what time it was. I knew that, it was 6 o’clock. Stupid question. Maybe Stefan has punishment. It did smell nice! Maybe they were going to eat. I could have waited at the table then, couldn’t I? Mom loves it when people join in.”\nJuan Carlos bounces the ball a bit and drops off again. <\/p>\n\n

What happened?<\/h3>\n\n

The daily schedule in the Netherlands often has strict times: lunch at one-thirty, dinner at six, and from ten you are expected to stop making noise.\nThese times are often expected to be respected.\nThat also means that if you are invited somewhere between 12:00 and 18:00 you can expect coffee and cookies, but no meal…” <\/p>\n\n

In so many other cultures, these and almost all times are less strict.\nAlso for eating.\nAlso in Guatemala.\nThere is always food, even for the unexpected guest.\nWe cook measured meals, just enough for the family.\nPlates empty.\nAnd if there are leftovers, there is the leftover day. <\/p>\n\n

Here you can clearly see the I culture.\nDinner doesn’t take very long either and right after dinner we quickly continue with plans for the evening.\nI have been amazed at what the Dutch do after dinner in the evening!\nNo wonder most like to be finished at work by five. <\/p>\n\n

Juan Carlos will have to get used to those times.\nAnd ringing the bell at six will end in disappointment.\nHe’d better ring the bell later, or ask Stefan to come get him.\nMaybe his mother can also cook a little earlier so he can go play on time. <\/p>\n\n

On the other hand: Stefan’s father can also go along with Juan Carlos’ enthusiasm for once and ask him inside to maybe set an extra plate.\nEveryone one less potato.\nA good opportunity to get to know each other better and talk about each other’s habits! <\/p>\n\n

I cultures such as the Dutch have a task-oriented communication and time awareness.\nThat means that the day is divided into tasks and there are certain times for that.\nThis applies to appointments between friends, work, leisure activities and for dinner. <\/p>\n\n

We-cultures do not have such tight time schedules, food is about togetherness, sharing and thus relationship.\nThat takes time and so that is not skimped on.\nSo the daily schedule is less strict and is flexible depending on circumstances. <\/p>\n\n

In short<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

For Stefan’s father: <\/p>\n\n