So Many Flags...

As our European adventure is coming to an end, it is time to return to the United States - for good this time.  To kick of our return, we are embarking on an epic road trip across the country.  And as we travel, it's giving me ample opportunity to have some reverse culture shock.

So, what are the things that stand out to me when I first return?

The first - flags are everywhere here.

Maybe it was because we were in rural East Coast small towns.  Maybe these towns are holding onto their unbridled colonial enthusiasm.

Every house has a flag.  Every store, every post office.  We would sometimes drive down roads that had a flag on every phone pole.

In Europe, the only place that I know that loves their flag as much is England, which has used its flag as a design for pillows, pants, even the paint jobs for cars.  In continental Europe, not so much.  The only times an abundance of flags are seen is during the World Cup or other football matches.  Some have hypothesized that an overabundance of flags can illustrate overwhelming nationalism, something that partially led to the tragedies of WWII.  In any case, I think I saw the flag for the US or the UK more often than I saw any other flag, even the flags of the countries I lived in.  

The Most Dutch of Days

It's been hot here in the Netherlands - getting into the low 30s (the high 80s / low 90s).  It may not seem too hot to you, but in the Netherlands, it's humid and there is no air conditioning, which means that sometimes inside the house is hotter than outside.  And there is no relief, not even at night, when temperatures inside the house raise to 32 and won't go down for days.

On one of these hot days, we decided to get out of the city, actually looking for wind (in the form of a nice breeze from the North Sea) by taking out bikes and going on a bike ride that almost reached the North Sea.

Bram, with friends Ivona and Harish, as we just begin the trek.

As we head out, we realize that this will be the most Dutch of rides, as we head out along a narrow path along one of the major canals, typically used to bring cargo in from the sea.

A cargo ship.

Then turning north, heading along yet another canal.

Check out the sign... cows ahead.

Let's just say the sign did not disappoint.

Which later led to this awesome picture - can this get more Dutch?

Local wildlife.

Finally, we reach the location of our lunch - placed near another windmill!

View from the windmill, over a bridge that crosses the canal, that works via cantilever.

Bridge rising.

Bram ordered a "salad".  It was mostly meat.

Back on the bike ride, Harish and Bram talk while biking.

And I take pictures while biking!  Haha!

Trees along a road.

A field of anti-Bram.

We reach a cute, tiny town, that is having its market day.

Even the trees are happy here.

More wildlife, this time in action!

Turning back to Groningen.

We took this ride on the Forth of July.  And who else did we run into but the Statue of Liberty!  What?  That's crazy!  A statue of Liberty in the middle of the Dutch countryside!!!

And other less patriotic statues...

#1. Papaoutai

And at number 1 is Papaoutai (Where are you dad?) by the French singer Stromae.  It looks like it takes place in the fake town from the 40s that is the nuclear test site in the newest Indiana Jones.  The video shows the struggles of a young man as he questions why his dad is never around.  The song itself is awesome, and the video answers the age old question: what does it look like when a mannequin dances?

#2. Chandelier

It's amazingly well done.  At number 2 comes Sia's Chandelier, which features the eleven-year old Maddie Ziegler.  Maddie's dancing is amazing, and she is an incredible and talented dancer, not just as an eleven-year old, but as a dancer in general.  It is heartfelt and every once in a while, you can see the typical sweet goofiness of an eleven-year old seep through.  It's also refreshing that the singer herself doesn't feel the need to be in the video and take all the credit.

#3. Happy

Pharrell Williams' Happy will make you feel happy.  It always works for me.  Several people get to have their chance to dance in this video, but what makes it cool is that these people are from all walks of life, backgrounds, economic statuses, body types, ages... but they have one thing in common - they can all dance.  There is even a 24 hour version - where you can listen to the song on loop and watch people dance for literally 24 hours.

#4. Thriller

It was mysteriously absent from NME's list, but Michael Jackson's Thriller made mine!  It's like a full length feature film, complete with end credits and the disclaimer that any similarity to persons living, dead, or undead is purely coincidental.  More than 30 years may have dimmed the acting and special effects, but the dancing and music is just as awesome as the day it was released.  Added bonus - watching Bram do the zombie dance every time I put on this video!

#5. Sugar

As perhaps the most famous wedding crashers of all time, Maroon 5 go around L.A. in one day crashing as many weddings as possible, surprising wedding guests as they break into their song Sugar at their wedding receptions.  I don't know if it's staged or not, but I do think that at least some of the weddings are real - you can't fake the look of confused bridezillas about to explode as they see something not going "as planned" on their wedding day, as stages and curtains start getting set up during their receptions.  But these looks quickly change to bewildered joy as the band is revealed, singing to cheering fans.  Some of those reactions can't be faked.  Anyways, whether it's real or not, it always makes me smile to watch this video and to see people doing nice things for other people on their special day.