Love Leiden

I’m just dipping my toes in a book that a friend has lent me called “Watching the English”.  Very funny to read about our unconscious habits as English.  I was wondering how much I still don’t understand the basic rules of the Dutch society.  Fortunately the same friend has lent me another book called “Waar Zijn de Bitterballen?”, which roughly translates as “Could you pass me another sausage roll”.  Written by a German who has married a Dutchman and settled here.  Looking forward to getting started on this second one.  My main hesitancy is it’s thick and in Dutch!

As I was reading about the English I got thinking about a homework club that I have recently started getting involved in.  There are between 6 and 26 kids turn up, aged 7-11, most of whom are girls, and pretty much all of them from Maroccan families.  I’ve been having some trouble striking up conversations with the girls, and I’m not sure why.  They seem very reluctant to chat with me, and often will not answer pretty innocent questions such as ‘where are you going on holiday?’.  I assume that it’s because I am male and they are Muslim girls.  Anyone know?  I realised that I am trying to jump two culture gaps in one step.  They are Maroccan girls, born and raised in Holland, and I am still trying to figure out the rules of the Dutch, let alone a third culture.  What I really need is someone who can guide me in this to show me how to interact with these kids and give me some insights into their cultural norms.