When you ever want to find out whether someone actually is a Dutchie, there are two questions to ask. One being 'Do you like coffee?' and the other 'Can you skate?' Some additional information may be required concerning the last question as due to global warming not everyone knows that you can also 
skate on frozen water, also known as ice. Or you can revert to the trick used in WWII and ask the person to pronounce 'Scheveningen'. For most foreigners a tongue twister. Come to think of it, it might even be a better idea to do so. Based on numerous locations where I stumbled over Tim Hortens, Starbucks, McDonalds and the
like, I conclude that Canadians do drink coffee. A lot. Not only whilst on the go, but also in the cosiness of their own homes. And unlike in the Netherlands where coffee comes in pathetically small packages, they have decent sized containers here. Reusable as well. This will render my first question useless I am afraid, as the answer will undoubtedly be 'yes'.
skate on frozen water, also known as ice. Or you can revert to the trick used in WWII and ask the person to pronounce 'Scheveningen'. For most foreigners a tongue twister. Come to think of it, it might even be a better idea to do so. Based on numerous locations where I stumbled over Tim Hortens, Starbucks, McDonalds and the like, I conclude that Canadians do drink coffee. A lot. Not only whilst on the go, but also in the cosiness of their own homes. And unlike in the Netherlands where coffee comes in pathetically small packages, they have decent sized containers here. Reusable as well. This will render my first question useless I am afraid, as the answer will undoubtedly be 'yes'.
What about ice skating then? For me, one positive answer out of two is good enough. Well, it does not get any better.
Due to arctic air flowing into the Fraser Valley, the temperature has dropped a bit. When I checked the other night it showed -13 C, and the temperature failed to get above freezing during the day as well. Dutchies know what that means. A fierce battle between the ice clubs of Noordlaren, Veenoord and Haaksbergen to organize the first speed skating match on natural ice in the Netherlands. In
Canada where speed skating out in the open is near to non-existent, I nevertheless spotted a few people moving across frozen water. No big deal I know, unlike moving across unfrozen water without any apparent device. That has only been demonstrated twice. Some 2000 years ago in the Middle East, and recently in London by a guy named Dynamo. Ice skating as it seemed is not typically Dutch anymore. That's my second question down the drain. Canadians do skate on frozen water albeit on slightly different skates. Unlike the long shiny irons that Dutchies strap under their boots, Canadians favor curved and rather short blades. And there is a reason for it as well. Hockey. Nope not the girly sport on fake grass, but a sport for real blokes, on ice in a stadium. 
They are quite good at it as well. The local team, the Canucks' is on a roll as they have won most of their matches and are only 1 point behind the leader of the National Hockey League. And unlike speed skating where two people move on an oval track for ages before ending up in roughly the same spot, ice hockey games are far more exiting to watch. There is another thing Dutch 'sportsmen' can learn from it. To stop whining when you have to perform more than twice per week. Take the ice hockey player as an example. The regular NHL season runs from early October to April, in which teams play 82 games. And they have to travel a fair bit as well. Howztat for stamina?!
Canada where speed skating out in the open is near to non-existent, I nevertheless spotted a few people moving across frozen water. No big deal I know, unlike moving across unfrozen water without any apparent device. That has only been demonstrated twice. Some 2000 years ago in the Middle East, and recently in London by a guy named Dynamo. Ice skating as it seemed is not typically Dutch anymore. That's my second question down the drain. Canadians do skate on frozen water albeit on slightly different skates. Unlike the long shiny irons that Dutchies strap under their boots, Canadians favor curved and rather short blades. And there is a reason for it as well. Hockey. Nope not the girly sport on fake grass, but a sport for real blokes, on ice in a stadium. They are quite good at it as well. The local team, the Canucks' is on a roll as they have won most of their matches and are only 1 point behind the leader of the National Hockey League. And unlike speed skating where two people move on an oval track for ages before ending up in roughly the same spot, ice hockey games are far more exiting to watch. There is another thing Dutch 'sportsmen' can learn from it. To stop whining when you have to perform more than twice per week. Take the ice hockey player as an example. The regular NHL season runs from early October to April, in which teams play 82 games. And they have to travel a fair bit as well. Howztat for stamina?!
'Scheveningen' it is then...
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