 It's recording So we're looking there All right. Hi guys and welcome to first video in the Netherlands and We are trying very much to improvise with this recording for example because I couldn't carry my lights here and I couldn't do so much with gear. So we even have the camera on a table In our recording that's where we stay now. So, yeah it's been Almost a week since we've been here and I thought that for example. Oh, no, what am I doing? Where's your intro? Hi, welcome to the video to another video. My name is Kwame and this is Hi, I'm Elaine. Yeah, and we make videos about our Lives either in Ghana or now that we're here Just where is here in? In the Netherlands Yes, yeah, just you know our experiences so far the highs and the lows and still experiencing culture shock actually So we thought we'd do a quick video And share Experiences so far especially also quickly enough so that we don't lose light which goes out very quickly. So I For one have not been here Before at this time of the year as in in October which is like autumn so Yeah, I have to first of all say that yeah, I've enjoyed summer the previous times but this one I'm not a really like a big fat off because it's Very unpredictable weather even in the summer it is but this time is just a bit dark and Rainy and yeah, it's really autumn. So I mean, I don't even know I does it in a t-shirt, but For me, I'm wearing a lot of layers like I'm wearing stokes. I'm wearing leggings under my pants I'm wearing a sweater long sleeves small Vests and I'm still like chilly. So and Kwame is just sitting here in a t-shirt And I think honestly there's something wrong with my body, but yeah Because when is his lips are very cold, but then he says he's not cold My fingers get really cold when I take my socks off my feet are cold But I don't feel cold. I don't understand how that works me neither. Yeah, so that's one of the things Plus I think also that I'm fine with the weather in terms of how cold it is because If you're used to heat all the time This I don't know. Maybe maybe it's just me because I see other people She's also living Ghana. So I think it's just me being weird But that's your body is like that. It's not yet. It's not feeling like I need to wear layers Yeah And what about the people? Yeah, so the people what has Well It's still about the same It's been three years since I last came here the last time I was here was in 2018 and I think that was a bit better for me because I'd come the previous year and then I came in 2018 and Then 2018 because I had a longer stay and a bit of my own routine It got easier but one thing that I realized hasn't changed. It's still life in the train Life in the train is still very much Very in my lane in my bubble don't talk to me people are not even lifting their heads up from their phones Or even if they are not on your phones. They are literally looking dead into the air and there's no Unless they work in together. There's no interaction with anybody else if you're an individual It's like don't look at my face. Don't look at my eyes. Don't Do anything kind of thing. So if you're traveling in the train alone as a newbie like me Then you might as well like My friend Farida said in one of her videos She lives in New York now that you might as well just your earphones out It must you should carry it and just close yourself in your own bubble and be there Yeah, but I think that's also what people enjoy probably about it about the train rides They can just be by themselves. So maybe that's how it's a bit of a double-edged thing Yeah, it's either for that or it's just yeah, people just want to be by themselves and that's okay as well But I find it a tad Weird or it's a culture shock for me because That's not exactly how public transport is back in Ghana. Yeah in Ghana. It's it's in the cow. It's it's in the bus with people and Something breaks out in terms of like, you know, a conversation or social conversation or political conversation and boom. Yeah Everybody's talking to everybody. So I don't know if Ghana ever Does the real system if that's what's gonna happen over time? But yeah, that's one of the things that I was still struggling to come to terms with But I guess what she said is right. Maybe it's a time for people to want to be Yeah, I don't I don't know maybe also it changed a bit because of COVID because People used they still wear all these masks and that also kind of Prevents you from reading the other person. So even if you are smiling, you can only see your eyes. So you're not sure Does this person want to talk or it's just friendly and yeah, maybe that also doesn't help. Yeah. Yeah, okay Yeah, that's that's right. That's that's what about the people in general How do you how do you feel? After a few it's almost a week. No five days Yeah, um, I Think maybe because now it's not even my first time or second time or whatever. I think it's warmer No, because when you walk into places or when you encounter people Because you don't seem to newish You tend to notice a bit more than just people who just want to be yelling. Yeah Yeah, so you already know how to read some situations situations and engage a bit of how The people are and with the places that have been so far especially with restaurants or like cafes So far it's been very warm people Attendants are very warm. They're very engaging if they speak the Dutch to you and you don't speak Dutch And they switch me to English. They are very nice. They're asking like, you know, some even go to the point of asking What was when we're getting the SIM card for example go to the point of asking like where you guys from? Oh, how is it there and you know making conversation and everything whilst you're attending to us? Yeah, so Yeah, that is Yeah, I'm also surprised by the surface in Netherlands because everything comes so quick And also There was even a guy on Saturday I went we went for coffee or I went for coffee come was there with me and then he's like He brought the coffee and I like a few minutes as he came like Is everything satisfied and I just laughed because I was like, yes, I'm very satisfied Just because it was so genuine I'm knowing down and they do ask but it often feels more like something they have to do then This guy was very genuine so that was very nice and the speed Yeah, this is It's not like it's not like when they when when you go to a restaurant and you order something and They they gonna In order to like buy time You'll be there waiting for the food after maybe 10 minutes or five minutes And then they bring the cutlery like it's almost coming just to trick your mind to think that Yeah, it's almost coming. But here it's just they bring everything they bring everything all together and yeah, so that's that's also nice Yeah, my dislikes are The unpredictable weather. Yeah, so far But that's also a characteristic of autumn. Yeah, so Well, maybe for every season in the Netherlands It's gonna rain it this morning It was raining when we went to do groceries when we came out the sun was shining in the other words of blue skies Literally like Walking to the grocery store was like five minutes and walking inside was about another five minutes or 10 minutes And you come out and it's already blue skies and something you're like. Yeah, it was really crazy Like can you make up your mind for like two hours or something? Yeah. Yeah, so And what about being from going from Majority to minority so now I mean first you were amongst Ghanians mostly black people now You direct the squad to white city. So and they're you're surrounded by dutch people. So how is that this time? Um, it still feels about the same time the previous times I've been here You do notice it, but I'm also the kind of person who In a way likes to read his own name So yes, I do feel I don't feel disadvantaged. I don't feel uncomfortable But how do you notice it? Well, we're just seeing everybody not looking like you all around. That's what I mean by you notice. It's that yeah, you're not in your um Like country or in in where you are a majority or like But it doesn't like if you know where you're going if you know what you're doing if you know your routine It doesn't feel so far as far as I can like have experience. It doesn't feel like you don't Belong yeah I've not gotten that vibe yet That's good. Yeah, so that that's I'm saying it's that I like to be In my own lane and do my things and The food is good Yeah, I think we're also managing with the food. Yeah, yesterday for example, I was in Amsterdam Walking around a lot now. That's one thing Like walking and cycling and actually just being able to go to places with mapped out routes and streets You don't you don't feel it till you get home and you realize that whoa Like you have like almost 30 000 steps on your like You know, so yeah walking is also a thing. That's so walking around. Yeah, it's being Nice when the weather is not misbehaving so, yeah But I do think you're not very fond of a bicycle So if you would like the bicycle then you would do that more and then you walk less it's less Heavy because the walking is a lot. I'm not fond of the bicycle because of The pace at which those who know how to cycle here and live here the whole lives go about it And how they like they're literally almost like you're in my way and you have to signal and Well, you don't have to Really mind them. You just do your own thing as long as you don't do anything dangerous. Yeah for somebody who Of course, you're not doing anything dangerous for somebody who Is aware of the road rules. For example, I as a driver in Ghana when somebody is driving Me, yeah, so now you're the other way around. It's a good experience. No I think I think we should try it more. Yeah, so maybe I'll try cycling or maybe But yeah, that's that's what makes me not like really, you know, plus, yeah I feel that you are much more settled In your finding your way around When you don't have to worry about the way you are moving around as well So if I'm walking and I'm lost I can stand somewhere and be like, well, can I meet check? Yeah, you know, okay So that's where I pass this where I go But in cycling it's like but then you can do the same you can stop And on the side and then check and then go adding another Factor to it machine than your own body But the holiday is also about trying new things Yeah Way to okay Yeah, okay, so bicycle. Yeah, so that's about my Another culture shock thing which Still not used to or still getting used to is the fact that you can just open the tap. Yeah And just drink from it Yeah, the water I also still have to get used to that I'm still getting used to it I I thought I just do it, but I'm still getting used to the fact that you can just pick up your glass and just And drink because in my head In Ghana, I never have to do that. I don't even want to you know, I only fetch the water into kettle warm it for tea or something And I have a water dispenser or you buy a bottled water or sachet water But you just hear nobody nobody even wants to buy water for any reason unless you're a tourist and you're in town Yeah, you just don't need it. You just open the tap and I'm just like Should I really be drinking this? You know so, yeah, it's mental gymnastics, but so far So good and we're losing light. So if I start getting really because I don't have lights I think we should actually just No, I think it's good to also share. So one thing That we're experiencing is in Netherlands everybody has So everybody's vaccinated or unless you don't want to Oh, yeah, um, but then so we have a vaccination card from Ghana Um, but in the Netherlands they have a QR code or actually in the whole of your Union, yeah But it happens to be that if you're in Netherlands and you don't have a social security number Like Kwame and you cannot register for a QR code Which means that sometimes we can be turned down into restaurants and it has happened once So far so far But it's it's for us. It's a bit difficult to navigate because I mean you're excited to go to places and you want to go and then maybe we want to get in Because of this you get there and they can scan your QR code because it's Yeah, and some of them are just like, oh, we don't care. Don't worry, but they actually can get How you say fine fine for it So some are a bit more hesitant And I've tried to research whether it's possible to get like a temporary one or maybe I don't know But the only thing they do is that you can test for access. So then you you do a test which is for free Which is good. Yeah, but it's only valid for 24 hours. So that would mean that if you want to be going out a lot You have to be testing every 24 hours if you want to be super sure you get in Yeah So that's a bit of a hassle, but um, we are also planning to visit some other countries possibly and there they actually have a temporary QR code. So it's really different from country to country and in Netherlands. This is a bit of a Hole in the in the policy or something. I don't know. Yeah, so it's a bit frustrating and Luckily a friend of us gave us a tip that you can just email ahead of time to find out if it's okay to come If you have a it just makes it a bit less spontaneous because I mean we're on holiday We don't really know like where we want to go in the morning But yeah, yeah, we just try to move around it and Yeah, it's okay But it's good to know that this can be a restriction if you come to Netherlands I hope they will fix it. Yeah that it will be developed because I know for example in france they have the temporary one but I think the Netherlands doesn't care or I don't know they're busy with other things Yeah, it's a bit frustrating. Yeah, but in in in Amsterdam for example When we got to the restaurant to go eat lunch I was with a friend and When the lady asked us do we have the QR code can she can scan with the my friend just said no We don't have the QR code And then she said oh, then it's fine. You can just sit outside. So it's more like To be indoors where it's enclosed Yeah You have to show the QR code But if you want to sit outside and sitting outside is you know 50 50 chances You know there's sunshine or there's rain So the convenience of sitting outside Will might force you to want to go inside and if you want to go inside Yeah, but I have to state that it doesn't make sense this policy because we came into the country with this card But then I cannot enter your bar Which I think is ridiculous then they should have said at the entry This is only valid for decision for traveling. Yeah for traveling, but nothing like that when you get here. Maybe we'll do a quick test And give you a QR code, which is temporary for the time you'll be staying here Yeah, something like that. Yeah, even if it's even if it's something that's paid Maybe you just do a test. Okay. You are vaccinated and you are negative So you get this temporary QR code, which you can be using to go around the Netherlands For the duration which you're here I think that would be much easier for most tourists who are coming from different countries Which don't have this european system of a QR code. So yeah, yeah true and I think a lot of Like my friends and family they also weren't aware of this because they are all vaccinated They have to QR code. So they're not like worried about it. But then we say like This will happen and we're surprised. Yeah, they're like, oh, I thought it would be like it was a good system And had it worked. Well, it works if you fit into the boxes, but if you're not fitting into the boxes Then it doesn't work. So, um, it's okay. So I'm also I'm going to transfer mine also into QR code But of course when I'm with Kwame, I won't show my QR code because then they will I can't go inside. And then not and then I can go in. So it's a bit of a Yeah, a bummer. Yeah. Yeah, but I think it's also part of the reality We are currently in so we just have to roll with it. Luckily, luckily You can at least test for three 24 hours and it will be testing But I still think it's a very ineffective way of moving around when you want to Go to places spontaneously and every time you want to go to somewhere you have to plan it ahead And test before you can go around. Yeah And especially I can get it if you're not vaccinated that you should be tested because then you can transfer it But if you're vaccinated, you are less of a risk. Yeah, so then it shouldn't be like that But anyway, that was the covid run. Yeah, and I think that's about our Experiences so far. Nothing maybe you can share if there's anything you're looking forward to or any plans you have here Yeah, I'm looking forward to Collaborating or even making Short possible short films while I'm here of people that I can find just simple social stories or Artists collaborations just film them make short documentaries I'm looking forward to traveling That's if I mean we can find our way around to the other European country that we want to go to I'm looking forward to meeting more of Elaine's friends and Enjoying the food Not so much the weather and and the bread and the bread. No, no And yeah, having a good time and and and making sure I come next time in summer Yeah, yeah So, yeah, that's about the update. It's been good so far and Yeah, and we're doing this from our Airbnb. Yeah in Utrecht. Yeah So part of holiday the part Kwame doesn't like is that we move around Uh a bit more so we were at my our friend's place before and then we found this Airbnb Which is really chill because we have a small garden and like enough space we can also cook ourselves Yeah, and there's a table that is holding the camera. Yeah, there's a window that is giving us lights I hope that it hasn't been lost Because then you can't even see me now But yeah Stop crying you'll be fine So it's been it's been good. Like it's also nice to be in different environments like Do a lot on food do a lot of walks because in Ghana, you don't walk a lot or at least I don't because it's too hot Um Yeah, so it's been a good start of the holiday. Yeah It's been a good start. So, um, yeah, we'll come back your way as as in as in when We'll have new experiences. Maybe even after our travels or After a few more days when we have stuff we want to talk about Yep Yeah, but in between that if we have we have we have the small camera if we Go out and we can film we'll film bits and pieces of our experiences and just share them with you. Yeah So, yeah, this is us. Yeah, if you haven't subscribed. Yes, do subscribe to the channel and Like the video and let us know in the comments if you ever been to Netherlands and what you thought of it Or maybe if you've been abroad somewhere, how did you feel the first few days? Yeah, do you have any recommendation of things we should do? um, if there are any Good food places for Ghana food. Maybe at some point we want to know. Yeah and if you plan on coming to Netherlands did we inform you well enough for Well, I'll come in videos would do that for you. So let us know in the comment section as well And we'll catch you the next one Do we hopefully this is not too wrong Do we Say do we do we Do the volgende keer Do we oh, it's that one Until next time. I thought that was to see Tot ziens Yeah, we're such talkative. Hey, you are