an interesting conversation I've had twice:

[moominmolly]

me: (skating)
interlocutor: How'd you get here?
me: I skated.
int.: You brought your skates with you?
me: Yup!
int.: Oh, wait, you're American. Of course you brought your skates.
me: Um, what?
int.: Well, all Americans skate, right?
me: (still in silent "huh?" mode)
int.: Sure! Old people, kids, everyone!

__________________________________

Apparently my boss here has been describing me as "sporty" and is a bit frightened of me. This makes me giggle. ("Why can't I be 'Sporty But I Have Other Interests Too Spice'?")

This morning's tally:

slugs: seven
drawn bridges: two
peppy old ladies on mopeds: three

Also, a whole roof full of construction workers waved at me and shouted a friendly "goede morgen!"

Comments

[srd.livejournal.com]

Seven slugs you saw, or seven slugs you didn't see in time?

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

seven slugs I slyly avoided, thankfully.

[ectropy.livejournal.com]

*mad giggling*

The construction workers waved and said 'good morning'...!!

I have sooo got to move back to Europe.

[dilletante.livejournal.com]

did you explain that Americans are really couch potatoes, by and large?

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

No, I just didn't have the heart. Would you have? :)

Oh right

[srd.livejournal.com]

I remember us tallying stuff too, when our class had a field trip to amsterdam (teacher gets out city map and says "You are not allowed to go into this area!" - we kept meeting people there... incredible. even the teachers).
We had something like
Thrown out Suitcase: 1
Used tampon: 3
Gay Pedophile: 1
Lonely Bike-Locks: innumerable
Hole in Wall: 1

And some 15 year old tried to sell me stuff. "Hey, you want grass?" "no" "Oh, I see. Heroin? Cocaine?" "No" "Crack?" "Got ice?" "Uhm, no"

Re: Oh right

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so, the red light district is appropriately seedy. :) There are just so many accidentally beautiful things that make me happy, and so much life, that I'm completely smitten with the place.

[baronet.livejournal.com]

In Amsterdam, even the construction workers have good taste. Certainly, if you skated by me, I'd want to get your attention...

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Hee! And here I thought they were just impressed by my new floppy lycra pants. :)

[(Anonymous)]

Good for you for being mistook for a native! I similar experience on my hike out to KNSM Eiland, a few miles east of the old city. Two people, both in cars, asked me how to get to Centraal Staation in Dutch.

Spreekt u Engels? Spreekt u Engels?

Jake.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Cool! Well, you don't look very American. That probably helped.

What's KNSM Eiland? And I found myself walking by the sex shop you recommended the other day, but they weren't open... I'd had Female and Friend (?) recommended to me as well. I'll just have to check them bosth out.

[vokzal.livejournal.com]

In other words, I should try to figure out how to use a skateboard? :)

Wow. That is cool, though.

So what do natives look like?