Another brief insight

First, a disclaimer: Thus far, the Dutch I've met have been very kind, speak English graciously to appease the stupid American, and are pretty competent (with the obvious exception of the country-wide adherence to bureaucracy, even when completely contradictory to all that is good and practical).

That said, I'm starting to think that some are straight-up retarded. (Was that terribly un-PC? Sorry. I've just been away from the States too long, I guess.)

So I've learned to read a bit of Dutch (largely some basic vocab words + an uncanny ability to pick up on context clues) and noticed the other day over a mug of tea that THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TEA BOX. As in HOW TO MAKE TEA. As in HEAT WATER AND POUR IT IN A MUG WITH SAID TEA BAG. Which is quickly followed by an admonition that BOILING WATER MAY BE HOT.

Anecdote number two. When I first moved into my flat, I found that the washer and dryer were completely covered in handmade signs with capital letters and lots of exclamation points. They seemed important, so I asked my flatmate Dorothea for a translation. The signs say such illustrious things as DON'T DROP WET LAUNDRY ON THE FLOOR! IT'LL GET DIRTY! and DON'T PUT YOUR BRAS IN THE DRYER! and DETERGENT GOES IN THE COMPARTMENT MARKED "DETERGENT".

These same people also managed to build a successful nation below sea level. My mind is officially boggled.