@littlek,
cool. tell him "Strc prst skrz krk" for me. Really, it is a sentence. Stick a finger through your throat is what it means.
The Dutch are blunt, very blunt. They say exactly what is on their mind and social consequences don't seem to even come to their mind, let alone bother them.
S. is a young colleague of mine. 7 years my junior, not that it matters at all. He's living with his girlfriend. But we get along great, joke and tease each other. the usual stuff, not that uncommon, i think.
Today, at the Secret Party #1, we were asked AGAIN, if we're a couple. No no no, we assured the lady. That was not good enough for her. "Because you look so nicely at each other," she added unnecessarily, making an awkward situation Really Awkward..... "Yes, we are good colleagues," S. tried to lighten up the heavy air. Ack, that would be enough for a moron to quit, but not for a Dutch person at a social event......she went on and on about how we look at each other and smile and pay attention to what the other says, like a couple in love. I didn't even consider any of that before, frankly it didn't even cross my mind. And it still doesn't. .. For the first time in my life I was genuinely yearning to be wearing clogs, so that I can give her a resolute kick in her shin...It was painful and endless. Then she stole my wine glass by mistake.
In fact, it all makes sense now. I think the Dutch are just a bit more hardy folk than the rest, a tad less subtle....so they navigate each other with the use of clogs in social situations. "I can't believe she just said that"...and WHAM! -kick her in the shin to correct her behavior. Yes, I'm sure that's what the clogs are for.