I was born in Holland. Because of this I didn’t know how different the United States was until I moved here when I was five years old.  Upon arriving to Atlanta with my family, it was amazing for me to see the cultural and physical differences of my new country. The contrasts are worth noting.

In Holland it almost seemed like a crime if you didn’t own a bicycle. Here in America, only children own bikes, or maybe those who race around in Lycra suits for recreational purposes.

The differences abound. There is less obesity in Holland, and this is unusual because of the rich diet consumed there. On a daily basis, the Dutch eat lots of bread, butter, cheese, fried food, wine and beer. Is it possible for man to live on bread and butter alone? Well it might be true and the Dutch are proof of this. They can eat bread and butter for days and they seem no worse for the wear – or fatter – for doing it. The calories are no issues, as the Dutch bike all over the place and can burn all this bread-and-butter-induced fat off.

Another striking difference between the two countries are the physical differences in their peoples. The Dutch are very tall. The average male there is over 6 feet tall and Dutch women average five feet, seven inches. Here in America, height ranges are wider but the averages are lower than what’s seen in my home country.

Here’s another curious difference that’s rooted in household conveniences. In the Netherlands, there generally are no clothes driers. Because energy conservation is such a big part of the country’s ethos, people don’t use what they consider energy wasting, unnecessary appliances. After people wash their clothes, they hang them out to dry on clothes lines either outside or in a laundry room. All of this is in marked and curious contrast to the United States where a washer-dryer set is as standard as a car in the garage and a hamburger joint on the corner.

The Dutch are also multi-lingual, smart, progressive people. They are warm, kind and generous people with a good sense of humor. They tend to be accepting with many people, and are always politically correct. And for a country with legalized marijuana, they have less drug addicts than in the States.

Clearly we’re talking about two very different countries and both have their strengths and their weaknesses. I love my life here, and I also cherish my connection to my European homeland. After all, had I not become an American, I wouldn’t have my best friend, Gwendy, my marvelous classmates who keep me entertained, or Chick-fil-A, which gets me through so many mornings. After, the Dutch might have their bicycles, their progressivity, and their pancake houses. But – poor dears – they don’t have Spicy Chicken Sandwich Deluxe. God bless America!