Hello fellow readers and language learners!<\/p>\n
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My name is Karoly and I am happy to be contributing to this blog! In case you are wondering from my name, I am not Dutch by birth, but I am by love. I recently moved to the Netherlands to live with Riccardo, the man I love, and Mona, my cat, who joined me in this venture to a new country with a new language, weather and culture.<\/p>\n
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I was born in Mexico City and all the chaos that comes with such a big place. So you get an idea of the change, Mexico City has over 20 million people while the entire country of The Netherlands has almost 17 million inhabitants. Needless to say, I am thoroughly enjoying the lack of crowds, lack of traffic (at least in Limburg where I now live) and shorter distances.<\/p>\n
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For many years now, I have been teaching language and literature, and I hope to be doing that in the Netherlands soon. I am fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, almost in Dutch and I can survive in France with the little French I know. Learning Dutch has been a very big challenge because it is different, but I have been fortunate enough to have good teachers starting with Riccardo. He taught me my first words in Dutch, which were, of course,\u00a0Ik hou van je<\/em> (I love you), and from there we have moved up to having conversations during dinner and on a terrace while we have a drink. I once read that the best way to practice a language was by having conversations with those you are closest to, perhaps because with these people you feel most comfortable. I am starting to see first hand the benefits of that, and suggest the same for you, if it is possible.<\/p>\n \n If I could sum up my life in the Netherlands thus far, it would have to be with one of the best words in the Dutch language: gezellig<\/em>! Gezellig<\/em> is a very unique word that means cozy, intimate, and home like. Despite the worldwide image of Dutch people being cold and very blunt, I have come to learn that they are as cozy and gezellig<\/em> as anyone else! They quickly lend a helping hand, offer a cup of coffee or tea, speak with ease in English to help us buitenlanders<\/em> feel comfortable, and put me to the test with my Dutch as often as I want.<\/p>\n \n I hope my posts help you learn a bit more of the Dutch language, but I also hope you get a good idea of everything this country and culture has to offer! Happy reading and learning! Hoi! Hoi!<\/em><\/p>\n \n Useful vocabulary:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Welkom<\/em>– Welcome<\/p>\n Ik hou van je<\/em>– I love you (if it is referring to a person)<\/p>\n Ik hou van de blog<\/em>– I like the blog (or any other non-personal noun)<\/p>\n Gezellig<\/em>– cozy, intimate, homey, friendly<\/p>\n Buitenlanders<\/em>– foreigners<\/p>\n Hoi! Hoi!- Bye bye<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello fellow readers and language learners! My name is Karoly and I am happy to be contributing to this blog! In case you are wondering from my name, I am not Dutch by birth, but I am by love. I recently moved to the Netherlands to live with Riccardo, the man I love, and Mona…<\/p>\n