Canadutch
I have a list of things I want to do in my life, my 101 List! One thing I really want to do is become more independent and self sufficient here in the Netherlands. Sure, things are a lot better than they were but I still have a long way to go.
The two things that would really make a big difference is going further with my Dutch courses and getting my drivers license. Both of which I say I’m going to do every year but something always gets in the way. With the Dutch lessons it’s just fear and laziness. The drivers license is usually money. I’d need to take lessons and a test like any other new driver here which will cost anywhere between €1000 – €1500. So what happens is if we have that kind of money to spare, we are faced with the choice between going on holiday or getting my license. Me getting to see my family, or getting my license. Getting the windows on our flat repaired, or getting my license. Pay off our credit card … or get my license.
You get the point.
I can get around well enough with the public transit but that’s not to say I wouldn’t have more freedom if I were able to drive. There are just some things you need a car for and after all these years I’m growing tired, very tired, of depending on my husband to do all the driving.
It would also be handy for traveling. Take going to the south of France for example. That is a fairly long drive and we’d be looking at probably about 15 hours on average including breaks. We break it into two days so that my husband can rest, but I’m a great long distance driver, I’ve always loved it. So it’s frustrating to have to pay for two nights in a hotel and spend all my time in the passenger seat.
I wish I could have traded in my Canadian license but it doesn’t work like that here.
Oh well, one day… I should see if the have gift certificates at the driving schools and ask for lessons for every occasion for the next year! I somehow doubt they do though.
In the meantime I’ll work on getting my ass in gear and getting back into some Dutch lessons. Eventually…
I used Rosetta Stone in combination with the book I mentioned. I found I already knew enough for Rosetta Stone to be a breeze, but it helped me with pronunciation tremendously.. I do agree that’s a job in itself. ;) I really do think I owe everything I know to that book, lol. I swear by it!
I passed the civic integration exam with a B1 level. But I will have to keep on working for the second inburgering test over there.
What about Rosetta Stone? You can download the program and three levels of Dutch for free on certain websites. That is what I am doing before I take the inburgering classes. Maybe that is too advanced for your existing knowledge, but they require little effort other than listening, clicking and sometimes speaking. (Which is enough effort somedays!)
Would you work okay with teaching yourself? I don’t really know well enough how you’ve learned Dutch so far. I used some Prisma books, but they were kind of sucky and taught me next to nothing. What really made me be as good as I am now (and my people seem to think I’m half decent) is the book Dutch for English Speaking Expats, it costed 75 euros, came with a CD… It’s a big book, long book, but if you get through it. I promise it will give you a lot of confidence! I know it worked for me. :) Just thought I’d throw that out there, in case you’re not necessarily one of those sit-in-classroom type of people!
I’m with you 100% on this one!