Gratitude II

After yesterday's diatribe about end-of-semester hassles, I decided there nothing would be as refreshing as to sit back (albeit briefly) and again consider the small but very good things about life down here.

One of the things about life in the US that is amazing, and still pleases me to no end is the endless supply of water and sodas in restaurants. Compared to Europe, ordering a drink in the US is a completely exhilarating experience. In most places "ordering water" is an oxymoron. You don't order water, your waitress shows up, pours you a positively gigantic glass of water with huge clumps of ice and then asks you what you want to drink on top of that. The best part? It's free!
Your sodas come in an equally tall glass, and yes, they are full of ice too. Yes, this does probably mean there is less soda in the glass than you think, but the best part is that if you ask for a soda without ice, the waitress doesn't sigh, pout, or make a face, they just nod, smile, and make sure you get a huge glass filled to the brim with just plain soda.
Compared to this, European restaurant policy regarding beverages seems almost medieval. To anyone who has been to a restaurant in Europe, the following scenario must sound familiar. First, there is no getting your water while you look at your menu. Looking at your menu is serious business, and you cannot be distracted with anything as mundane as a beverage. So instead you sit at your table, and then look around for someone to serve you. Once you have finally accomplished locating a waiter, and convinced them to come over, you can finally order that water, or soda, or juice that you have been wanting. After waiting for a reasonable amount of time, after all, real cuisine takes time, you receive a glass as tall as your hand and as wide as maybe your wrist. If you're lucky there are a few minuscule ice cubes floating around in the glass, if not, you're stuck with a few ounces of lukewarm beverage. And guess what, if you ordered water; it's usually not free. Some places will actually charge you up to three dollars for your tepid tap water. Granted, sometimes they do try to make you feel better by by supplying you with an empty glass and presenting you with a luxurious bottle that has a fancy label and just enough water in it to fill that undersized glass. But the bottom line is that it's still not free.
Now in the US, the waitress will pass by your table throughout your entire meal asking you if you need refills. Not so in Europe, where acquiring a refill can almost be considered a national sport. It's one that requires a great deal of patience, a lot of hand raising, looking around for your waiter, and patience. Oh wait, I already said that. The refill is the same, stingy, size as your original drink, only they charge you the full price for it. There are no free refills in Europe. Just like there is no free parking or free bread sticks.
Maybe I'm a thirsty person. Maybe I'm just obsessed with drinking a lot. I don't know what is going on, but I can assure you that knowing that when I go out, I will have my natje and my droogje taken care of is very comforting.