Free Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn Page B

the flowers, and the symmetry of the opening blooms.
    Hundreds of other visitors around us were doing the same. Never had I heard so many different languages at one time. Yet everyone, from every culture and language, seemed to have some sort of equivalent to “Smile” or “Say cheese” right before taking a shot. I wondered what they were saying.
    The visitors also seemed to all say the equivalent of “Beautiful!” or “Amazing!” in their own languages. In a way this field had been transformed into an open-air cathedral, and Creator God was being praised in dozens of languages by hundreds of souls in awe of His handiwork.
    “Did you know that tulips originally came from Turkey?” Noelle asked.
    “Seriously?”
    She nodded. “They aren’t indigenous to the Netherlands, but everyone thinks they are because the Dutch turned them into an export industry more than four hundred years ago.”
    “I’m still amazed at how straight all the rows are.”
    “That’s Dutch precision for you.”
    “This morning I read from the devotional book you left by my bed. The prayer for today had a last line with something about‘let our ordered lives demonstrate Your beauty and peace.’ I don’t remember the words exactly, but I was thinking of that while looking up and down all these rows. An ordered row or an ordered life really does demonstrate beauty and peace, doesn’t it?”
    “My father-in-law would like what you just said. He has a farm.” Noelle bent down to look closer at a wide-open pink tulip. The flower seemed to snuggle to her touch the way a dog relaxes when scratched behind the ears. “When I first came here, I couldn’t believe how hard my father-in-law worked and how detailed he was about everything he did. He was the king of orderly rows of crops and an orderly routine to his life. He was successful in a very quiet, unnoticed way and well respected for his criticism.”
    “Did you say for his criticism?”
    “Yes. His critical comments were highly valued. Individuals took what he said about them or their work with great appreciation. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? This was one of the most difficult parts of the culture for me to adjust to because I’m so big on praise and affirmation. I’m still not sure I fully understand it.”
    “Are you saying that a critical comment is more highly valued than a compliment?”
    “Something like that. Here, when a person hands out praise and compliments left and right, he is considered a flatterer and insincere. More than that, he is seen as… What’s the term? Simpleminded?”
    “An airhead?”
    “An airhead.” Noelle laughed. “I hadn’t heard that termbefore. That’s good. That’s what a person who compliments a lot would be considered. On the other hand, a person who offers constructive criticism is considered caring and smart. That individual tells it like it is, which reflects more thought and intelligence.”
    “I would have a hard time adjusting to that way of thinking.”
    “I did at first. Now I have settled into a sort of hybrid of Dutch thought and American ways. I still hand out far too many compliments and praises, according to my husband, although I have had some influence on him. You saw how complimentary he was of you at dinner last night.”
    I nodded.
    “I’m also still too loud and expressive to be mistaken for a true, hundred percent Dutch woman. Jelle says you can take the girl out of the USA, but you can’t take the USA out of the girl.”
    “I don’t see that as a bad thing.”
    “Neither do I.” With a sly grin Noelle added, “This is one of the reasons your visit is so good for me. It gives me a chance to be my good ol’ US of A self around someone who understands.”
    “You can be as US of A around me as you want.” We were heading toward the gift shop, so I added, “If by any chance they carry American flags in the gift shop, I’ll buy one for you.”
    Noelle laughed. “I doubt you’ll find any. But if we find