Myrtle Claus
It's that time again: the summer holidays have started. The youngest has no school until sometime in mid-September. Something that often arouses surprise in the Netherlands. Three months vacation, what a long time!
But those three months are really necessary. Not because the school-going youth has to recover from an extremely intense school year. That in itself is okay. It is the summer temperatures that make it necessary.
You notice it already in May, when the rising mercury makes those last stretches extra heavy. The energy level is low during the day and the concentration is hard to find. And everyone daydreams about a dip in cooling water.
tropical panic
I have noticed that this explanation does not really provide understanding with moderate Dutch temperatures and drizzle. That understanding often only comes when, somewhere at the end of May, the Dutch weather conditions start to resemble those of an Italian spring.
With a morning temperature of around 20°C, which easily rises to over 25°C during the day. Weather that is defined as 'tasty' in our family.
Reports in the Dutch media about heat plans and tropical schedules therefore cause surprise among the brood here in the house. A few days warm, what does that mean? Isn't the weather just nice? Why would you call that a heat wave?
And heat plans in effect? Don't you only take those extra measures when the temperature is well above 30°C?
Tropical grid or not?
The word 'tropical grid' appeals to the imagination. It is not as warm in the Netherlands as in the tropics, is it? With those very high temperatures? That would suck; why doesn't that ever happen when we're there? Visiting the Netherlands without a coat is unique!
Oh, it's about adjusted school times because of the heat. "Maybe we should introduce that here as well, from mid-April or something like that when it's as warm as in the Netherlands now." Although, the rector sees us coming! She'd think we're kidding her. We also risk punishment.
Besides, we have to get out of bed even earlier every day. Starting at eight is early enough. And it is best to hold out until one o'clock in the afternoon. We'll open a window to let it blow through. Forget about that tropical schedule, we'll just start our tropical holiday on June XNUMXth!'
Ice-free and habituation
The way in which the Dutch react to summer temperatures is therefore somewhat exaggerated in Italian eyes. On the other hand, the way they react to winter temperatures here is quite amusing in my Dutch eyes.
When threatening freezing cold discussions about the precautions to be taken. And when the first snowflake falls in combination with night frost, panic sets in.
Mayors announce with a serious face that due to the extreme weather conditions of -1°C and threatening slippery conditions, the schools in the municipality will remain closed and the children can enjoy ice-free. One whole day long.
It's fun every year.
Hoop
Maybe they will get used to it slowly, to different-than-different-weather. Just as seems to happen in the Netherlands. Because although all kinds of heat records were broken in our little country in May, I couldn't find many reports about heat plans and tropical schedules.
And recently someone understood without further explanation why school-age youth in Italy has three months.
Maybe they won't get hot or cold here in December from some snowflakes and a night of frost. The youth will not like that: no more ice cream!
Comments