Becoming Golden

Memoirs from My Time in Holland

Written by Advocate Brownie Ebal

Edited by Kasi Editorial Services

This is a piece from the thoughts in my head, during my two-year residence in Holland.

Crazy day. The cultural shock overwhelms me! This is my state of mind every day.

In Holland, the weather is always rainy. Too often, lunches consist of sandwiches. How much bread can one take?

I miss my home, Uganda: the chaos, the madness, the ability to find food at any time, whether night or day, whether walking on the road or ordering from a local vendor; the bus/taxi stops   we can find along (and sometimes in the middle of) every road. 

In Uganda, a taxi can stop at any location (including the gate of any home) provided it can pick up a passenger! Who needs an Uber, right? Ha-ha-ha!

 I miss the uniquely Ugandan ability to speak, shout, or start a conversation about the government in a bus (or any public means for that matter) while; the conductor’s voice shouts, “Kamwokya, Bukoto, Ntinda” or “Maaso awo!”

Holland is a quiet nation.  No speaking in the train or tram; no food by the bus stop. To get food or a drink, you have to go to a designated shop. There are no roadside vendors to bring services closer to you, the Ugandan way. No roasted chicken on a stick or “gonja” by the roadside. I miss Uganda: the hollers taxi conductors direct at you as you walk; the zealous people trying to sell you a piece of maize or chicken, the boys standing in the streets, or running after vehicles to sell you children’s toys.

In Holland, everything closes by 7:00 pm on weekdays. Unlike Uganda where businesses, especially bars, stay open 24/7, Dutch citizens respect their working hours.

Ability to access food at 12:00 am is the norm in Uganda. There is no need to check the taxi or “boda-boda” schedule.  To board public transport, you simply stand by the roadside and wait. In Holland, the trains, trams and buses are scheduled.  Punctuality is the key to survival. 

Oh well, this is the price of living in a developed country. Everything is time-tabled–scheduled to the last minute. As a result, people naturally expect you to come on time– a miracle in my country!

(Note to self) The traffic jam excuse for being late to any appointment will not work in Holland.  Buses and trams have their own lanes after all.

In Holland, the ability to cycle to and from work amazes me to this day. It is commonplace to see people going about their business cycling in the rain as though it were nothing. You do not need to dodge cars as you cross the road as I was trained to do in Uganda. Holland has a serene atmosphere; you can walk across a road without having to yell at some reckless driver for breaking the traffic rules.

I miss Uganda’s nightlife.  In Holland, a house party is a call to sit or stand and talk for ages about work, the weather and your plans. It is not an occasion for dancing, loud music or food; just lots of drinks and snacks.

At Ugandan parties, you can reach fashionably late, arrive when it is time to eat, and dance the night away. In fact, you can honestly go to a party on an empty stomach and come back full! Sandwiches are not categorized as food to be served at a party.

I am seriously missing Uganda’s crazy quirks.