Talking to Strangers

    (The pictures in this post are only relevent because they were taken the day I talked to a stranger)

A couple of months ago I deided to take advantage of a beautiful Saturday afternoon and ride my bike to a neighboring village to do a little grocery shopping. I had never cycled to Nieuwe Niedorp before so I grabbed my camera and stopped a few places along the way to take some pictures.

The first time I stopped I looked around and didnt see a house or anyone around so I started cllicking away and suddenly out of the bushes came a man and his dog. It seems there was a house behind the trees and Mr. Hand (yes, that is his real name!) was training his year old chocolate lab, Duno, who is a very lively teenage boy!

The picture I was taking when I noticed that I had company!

Now, growing up in the States I am well aware of the dangers of talking to strangers. I also know that I never know a stranger. I can strike up a conversation with an information operator, beleive me, I have done it!! Chatty Cathy has nothing on this ole girl! However, I live in the Netherlands now and really dont think twice about talking to some random man, with a big dog, on a country road where the next house is probably 1/4 of a mile away. No problem!

Windmill in the county Niedorp. I believe that is Winkel, another small village in the area.

 Mr. Hand approached me, giving him the opportunity to see how calm Duno stays when around strange people, and struck up a conversation. He found it pretty interesting to run into some random American in such a small village and was interested in more of my story. After about 10 minutes he invited me in for coffee. WHAT?? you say...and I admit that as I was walking up the driveway the American in me kicked in for a split second and I thought  "I may become a serial killer victem in just a bit" but it was just a quick thought.

Nieuwe Niedorp

After a couple of cups of coffee and very pleasant conversation, which included why I live here, what I do for a living and his interest in learning more English, I left Mr. Hand in his man cave filled with his hunting trophies and continued on my way.

Add a canal and some sheep to that windmill and you have a pretty typical  Dutch country scene

 Later that evening when I was skyping with Tom (who has known me since I was 15 and knows very well how outgoing I am) and telling him about my day, he got this weird look on his face and said "You did WHAT"???? I guess that was a natural reaction. So I looked up about serial killers in the Netherlands and in the US. It seems that in the last 250 years there have been about 125 in the States vs 1 (yes, ONE, een, uno) in the Netherlands in the 1870's. That gave my sweetheart a little piece of mind.

During the time between that Saturday afternoon and July 1, I was invited back for coffee, conversation, blues and beer. Mr. Hand likes company and is a big blues fan. He is also owner of Hand Horeca, a restaurant supply company in this area. Dealing in all the equipment you would ever need for your restaurant. On July 1 his company became one of my clients.

Possibly teaching the dangers of talking to strangers?

Yes, I know the dangers of talking to strangers but if you never talk to strangers you miss out on lots of opportunities! In this case, gut instinct and openess landed me a new client. It also gave me the chance to do a little research and confirm to myself and to others that I live in a pretty safe place.

Till the next time, be safe, use caution but talk to people, you never know what can happen!