On the rooftop of Hotel Wyanoke, I had the opportunity to learn more about Milou Vennema, a senior at Longwood University, who came to the United States from Groningen, The Netherlands to explore education, as well as continue her career in basketball. While interviewing Milou, I picked up on excited she was about the opportunity to be in the United States, I think that opened my eyes personally because sometimes I mention that I want to leave the USA and go somewhere more exciting. Milou really helped me understand how America is and continues to be full of opportunities unlike other countries. Although there are small differences within these two countries, we share a lot in common with The Netherlands like our formality and the way we express our individualism traits. 

Cultural differences are very unique but they should all be accepted, it is important for all cultures to try to understand other cultures across the world.  While talking with Milou, I learned that it is important when it comes to communication with other cultures to really listen, because of their languages, as Americans I feel that having conversations with other cultures, it can sometimes be hard to understand because of their accents. Although, we do not realize that we are similar in so many ways, although we are all so different. 

When Milou and I started to really get into things, we hit on the formality rates within both of our countries.  We discussed that while the United States and The Netherlands are informal there are times where both countries practice being formal. Milou mentions that, “the Dutch use an informal but yet direct manner of communication, being formal is not a huge thing, but in certain situations it is expected to be formal.” She mentioned that she has realized that people in The Netherlands as well as America, know when to flip the switch on when to be formal and when not to be formal. “I have noticed that in America, especially at school that Americans call their professors/teachers by their last name where in Groningen we call our professors by their first name.” This is very interesting how both of these countries have similar ways when it comes to formality. 

Another difference between The Netherlands and American culture is introversion vs. extroversion. While America is very extroverted, The Netherlands are too, but in Groningen where Milou is from they are introverted. Bigger cities like New Amsterdam and Rotterdam is where she would travel too because it was normal to talk to people you did not know and make conversation with them, and that is something that she took part in because she knew that she would be coming to America where she would be surrounded by extroverts. “I am not shy as I use to be because being in bigger cities in The Netherlands forced me out of my shell and that has been a big help to me as an international student in the United States. 

The last difference I want to talk about is individualism. When I looked at the numbers for both countries, America had a score of 91 and The Netherlands had a score of 81. After asking Milou she notes that, “Although we are individualist you can see the collectivism when the country really needs it.” I think that is interesting because she bought up how when the pandemic hit, they all came together so that they could overcome it quickly, unlike America where they kind of just did as they wanted. She mentions that when she was growing up she learned to choose herself,  and to make sure that her family as well as herself were always good. America is very similar to The Netherlands when it comes to individualism, they just aren’t as bold about it like Americans are.

At the end of the day, all cultures are going to have many differences but after listening to Milou talk into depth about The Netherlands, I’ve realized that we have more in common than we think. I think after talking with Milou, she has a better understanding on how important it is to learn about multiple cultures within the world because she has experienced it. Across both cultures, all though there are many difference, they are not huge differences. Although we are both so different, we both find ways to adjust when we are faced with uncomfortable things. I extremely think it is important to be more educated about other cultures simply because you may have a better understanding of things. The biggest thing that I’ve learned with The Netherlands and Milou is that even though are cultural are different and the way that we look are different, we are all similar in some way and we are all able to understand and learn about other cultures.