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Found this in a guidebook I picked up in an Amsterdam hostel a few years ago:

Prostitutes. If you visit one of the women, we would like to remind you, they are not always women. Do not take pictures of the women. Out on the streets, do not shout or use bad language towards these women. Show some respect. If you have any problems with a girl or a pimp, do not hesitate to ask a police officer. We know why you are there and you can hardly surprise us. So have fun, enjoy our city, and respect this neighbourhood.

Whenever I go abroad, it’s hard to adjust. I always experience a vague uneasiness if the hire car’s waiting for me at the airport or the hotel knows I’m arriving.

This week I’ve renewed my passport, changed car insurance, sent a tax return and attempted to pay an electricity bill. Each could have been handled with one call or email. Each turned into a long, drawn-out saga riddled with hidden costs.

Living in Britain, I’m conditioned to expect this. That’s why, when visiting a foreign country, it takes a while to settle in, a while to get used to efficiency.

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