Вот еще одна тема на затравку....
Мой друг работает в Голландии на ООН ( медиком)for almost 6 years и он мне прислал такую заменку.
Мы вместе жили в Алабаме, USA, поэтому некоторые сравнени я с ней
Here is what the Europeans are (I believe some of these things will come to US pretty soon):
* On 90% German interstates there are no speed limits. In the left lane, you can go as fast as your car will allow you to. Otherwise, what’s the point to buy a sports car for?
*Pre-employment drug test in NL is illegal. Dutch believe it would be an intrusion into human rights, i.e. you should be able to do what you want on your time off, because it is your time off.
*At our Organization you may purchase beer or wine in cafeteria for lunch. Nobody gets shit-faces. It’s just some cultures used to having a glass of good French wine with their lunch.
*In the Netherlands it is legal to say obnoxious words to anyone, except Jewish people and/or the Queen.
*NL has a legal Paedophile Party. They believe sex with children should be permitted starting at 8 y.o. As they say: children have the right to love. - This one is sick in my opinion and I do not approve it!
*In NL cops do not pull over speeders because the flash cameras are everywhere. Average ticket is about 70 Euro (100$). Insurance companies do not have the legal right to check your driving record. So if you speed, you just pay, insurance premiums do not go up.
*You can not go to the Emergency Room at the hospitals unless you have your family doctors’ referral. However, if you’re dying/trauma-you can. If you call an ambulance for bulls-t like headache you will be fined, because they do not consider that as an emergency. If you do it several times-you may get arrested.
*There is a monthly dog tax, if you have a dog.
*There is an annual car inspection. You pay for it. (Around 60 Euros)
*Homosexual marriage is legal.
*If you didn’t pay your taxes, the government later in the process have a legal right to come to your house and cease your belongings. (TVs, car, etc.)
*If you buy a luxury car there is a luxury tax of about 50%, so the price doubles. Sales tax is 19% on non-food items. You can return empty beer bottles and you’ll get 10 cents per each. (recycling)
*NL people pay a car tax every month. It depends on the weight of your car. Everage-80 to 100 Euros.
*Minimum salary in NL is around 1200 Euro (1700$) after all taxes.
*If you have a mortgage, the government will return almost 50% of an annual interest that you’ve paid at the end of a year.
*Power companies do not check your meter every month-you should do it yourself and mail it to them.
*All hot water heaters are on-demand natural gas heaters (there is no tank) and they are good for 15 years.
*Public transport is highly organised and on time-trams, busses everywhere.
*It takes 5 hours by car to get from The Hague to Paris, France. And only 3 hours, if you ride a bullet train. (200 Euros roundtrip ticket for a family of 3). In France half of the roads are private, very good quality, but you pay tolls. 5-15 Euros per toll.
*Restaurants near interstates serve high quality meals. Fast food is not popular in Europe and considered unhealthy. (This is true). But McDonalds are everywhere. 3 burger meals=12 Euros (16$). Ketchup is not free: 45 cents per single packet. McDonalds in Europe sells beer, if you want it.
*Average income tax in NL is around 40%. But education is free; medical care almost free, good social benefits and retirement.
*If you’re poor the government will provide you with a small apartment (free), food stamps and 800 Euros monthly.-Socialism.
*Maximum legal working hours per week should not exceed: for males-40 hrs, for females 35 hours. Time off (vacation) about one month per year. *Overtime must be paid at the rate of -double your wages.
*NL has a territory of about half of Alabama and population 14 million people.
*Small amounts of drugs in you possession is legal (they call it tolerated to have). You might see teens smoking dope right in the city bus. But they behave O.K. Crime rate in the country is very low.
*Prostitution is legal. More so, prostitutes have rights and a labour union.
*Doctors are not rich. They act as average people. They make good wages, but not 6 figures, like in US.
*Average house (with a small back yard) price is around 400 000 Euros. (600 000 US).
*There are no bad or good neighbourhoods. 1200 sq. feet apartment will run for about 180 000 Euros. If you want to live near the sea, a townhouse (brick, weight bearing, good quality with orange clay shingles/tiles roof) cost (in The Hague) 650 000 Euros (1 mil USD). You will not have the sea view, but you’ll be next to the dunes.
*NL is in the top 6 in the list of the best Countries to live in the world. #1 is Norway for 2009, as assessed by UN.
*GUNS ARE ILLEGAL IN NL! And I think, that’s the way it should be. Also, there is no reason to have a gun up here, as I said; crime is very low, amidst high population density.
*The prime-minister Mr. Balkenende lives in an average apartment in Rotterdam. Queen Mrs. Beatrix may be seen shopping at the city shops by herself.
*If you start demanding a lot of attention to yourself, the sales persons at the stores or malls will tell you, that they are merchants and are not slaves. They will not get fired. They are protected by low. You can not simply just fire anybody, there must be a good reason and you’ll have to pay taxes to support this fired individual.
*At your office, by law, there must be at least one window.
*Good gourmand lunch in Paris (no wine) will run for two of you for about 120 Euros (160$). But it will melt in your mouth!-Very tasty. You will think that, for example, Olive Garden meals are terrible as compare to a good French Brassiere Gourmand.
