Cultural differences

I have lived here now for more than 4 years but some things never cease to surprise me.

One of these things is the habit of making people's private lives a part of daily living.

I think in Holland we do that too, especially with people like Maxima, when she is pregnant or does anything really, all papers and magazines are full of it. However, I don't think if a sport icon or a politician would have a baby it would make the news. It would maybe get a little mention in a magazine like tv program but that is about the most of it.

It is a good thing though for me because I am a very curious person at heart and love to get a peek into other peoples lives, that is probably why I enjoy reading some of the blogs I read so much :)

Anyway... I enjoyed all these stories about babies born and I thought the entire lib dem thing was brilliant, one guy alcoholic, next one gay, next one affair with a rent boy, oh joy!

But then this afternoon on the lunchtime news there was a HUGE item about Freddy Flintoff - he is a famous cricketer (as all proper Brits know) and he has decided to stay in India to play cricket and not fly home to be with his wife for the birth of their second baby.

It was magnificent to see what an emotion that invoked, every program and news item was littered with it, street interviews 'do you think he should be with his wife' and masses of 'scientific experts' and 'experience experts' on 'is this a good decision or not'.

Apart from me not caring what decision the poor guy makes since he can't win this no matter what he would have done, I keep wondering WHY does everybody seem to think they are allowed an opinion about a decision that has to belong solely to the people involved?

Food for thought though.. imagine being Flintoffs partner and say 'I need you here darling' and them losing the match, brrr... I would also say to my partner 'of course dear, follow your passion, I will push this baby out without you, no problem!

:-)