... met hoeveel letters spel je dat?

‘Wow, I don't want to offend you, but that story sucks.' Emmeken shrugs when she hears Kurt's words.‘Personally, I agree.'

Kurt and Blaine are sitting with Koen and Emmeken in In ‘t Aepjen, a so called “brown café.” It's cozy and old fashioned and Kurt likes it. It's inspirational.

‘So, is you second name Mariken then?' Blaine jokes, but Emmeken says seriously, ‘Emmeken Marieke Marloes de Graaf. So no, no Mariken, but Marieke which is the modern version of Mariken.'

‘Well boys,' Koen says, ‘What about you two? The only things Ems and I know are the Vogue and the gay part. Tell us more!'

So they do. Kurt's surprised how easy it is. He really likes Emmeken and Koen.

Also, he and Blaine need friends. Sure, there's Els, Blaine has his co-workers and Kurt started befriending interns, like Arala Kisch, but really… they need some friends here.

‘Fiets!' Blaine exclaims a few days later. Kurt looks up from his sketch and he's slightly confused.

‘Fiets?' he asks, ‘What is a fiets?'

‘Dutch word for bike,‘ Blaine answers. He puts a dining room chair next to Kurt's bureau stool and sits down.

‘What's with bikes?'

‘Both Els and Emmeken have them,' Blaine starts, ‘First, I thought most girls just had a bike, like a purse or a bag, but Koen has one too. Then I started realizing how many bikes I saw in the city when I was going to the HEMA. It's typical dutch.

Kurt puts down his pencil. ‘So?'

‘So?' Blaine almost yells, ‘I finally understand!'

‘Well I don't,' Kurt says calmly.

‘Well, I approached Els and she said it's a lifestyle. People don't use it to exercise, but to transport. Even little kids go to school by bike. Then I watched an old video called “Holland, the original cool” and I started thinking.'

‘I still don't understand, babe,' Kurt says.

‘We need bikes!' Blaine states, ‘It's obvious and easier. We're living in the first “layer” and we'll save a lot of money if we have bikes. I'm getting tired of the overcrowded trams.'

‘And it's necessary?' Kurt asks, 'We both know we don't have enough money for two bikes, Blaine. They're around €800. I mean, that's what Isa said.'

‘No, no, no,' Blaine shakes his head, ‘They're around €100.'

‘Blaine…'

‘I talked to Els when we were studying dutch and she said, if I quote correctly, “Don't buy those stupid expensive bikes. They're useless and stupid.” Then I said “Why? I mean, they're newer so-“ but she cut me off and said “Expensive bikes are waste of money. Why getting one of these when you can have an-“ eh ”- omafiets. They're less modern, but that the ideal.”'

‘Why are these so called omafietsen better if they're less modern?' Kurt is still confused, ‘You can better buy an expensive one, right?'

Blaine shakes his head again. ‘It's unsafe. They get stolen all the time, but another omafiets, aka grandmabikes, isn't worthy enough.'

‘Also,' Blaine opens his laptop, ‘I googled “omafietsen” and they're really colourful, Kurt, look at them!'

Blaine shows him several pictures of omafietsen in bright colours. ‘Okay, they're beautiful,' Kurt has to admit.

So they buy two omafietsen. Emmeken knew a cheap, but good, place and went with them for translation, because what the hell do “Je moet de spanning van de spaken in het achterste wiel in de gaten houden,” “Deze heeft een achteruittraprem” and “Vergeet de voorlamp niet” even mean?

Kurt asked for a simple blue one, but Blaine… oh Blaine!

It started with a simple green one, but then Blaine found out they sold tape at the HEMA –the HEMA sells a lot of stuff for bikes- and he couldn't handle himself. He bought all the colours of the rainbow and spent an entire afternoon decorating his bike.

Kurt must say, watching Blaine work like that was really amusing.

And his butt looked good in that old pair of jeans.

‘So we agree?' Daphne asks.

‘No!' Maddie Ruf from Finland sneers.

‘Maddie,' Pedro sighs, ‘We're living in the Netherlands now. We have to.' But Maddie firmly disagrees. Amira Bias from Brazil rolls her eyes.

‘She is so ex'austing.' Aurelie Poulain hisses after the meeting.

‘I feel so bad for you,' Arala says in accented English, 'Luckily, I don't have to room with another intern.' Janet Liz from Canada joins them.

‘I don't care what Maddie says,' Kurt shrugs, ‘I already have a boyfriend who tries speaking dutch in our apartment. So, why shouldn't I try too?'

‘Can't I change with someone?' Aurelie exclaims, ‘Janet, you're so lucky to ‘ave Alice.' ‘Yeah,' Janet says, ‘She's the best Aussie ever.'

‘… so Aurelie got called out. Really, I try to like all interns, but Maddie's just a bitch.‘

‘Sad,' Blaine says, ‘Aurelie seems such a sweet girl.' He sits down too with a cup of coffee in his hand.

‘Okay, we're at our apartment,' Blaine comments, ‘So I guess we have to talk… Nederlands?

‘Ik denk het,' Kurt tries, ‘We zullen, eh… we moeten… eh.. oh fuck it. We should send Els a gift basket because she already taught us some Nederlands.'

‘Vol with HEMA spullen!' Blaine says excited, ‘Zij houdt van!' ‘En… stuff for her fiets,' Kurt adds.

They continue discussing possible gifts for Els when Blaine interrupts Kurt. ‘By the way, ik have another job.'