Nayla Chebli-Hausdorfer

June 26th 2008

Age: 37
nationality: Lebanese
Occupation: Arabic language and belly dance teacher
In Amsterdam: 8 years

Why did you move to Amsterdam?
I married a Dutchman.

What do you like to do in Amsterdam?
Cycling and belly dance.

What do you think of Amsterdam street culture,
how the people dress, express themselves?
I think that it’s very diverse; from very modern to very conservative,
from super stylish to super unstylish. I find that the Dutch
woman is taking less care of her looks and her femininity in
order to express emancipation and that the ‘foreign’ woman is
becoming more attached to her origins and trying to show that
with the way she dresses.

Did your style of clothing changed since you live here, and
because of what, these can be emotional, cultural reasons
or and practical reasons such as weather or availability?
Yes my style of clothing has changed since I live here. It has
become much more casual: I now wear jeans and flat shoes
about 95% of the time. This has to do with practical and
cultural reasons: because I cycle a lot I cannot wear a skirt
or a dress or very high heels. The cultural reason is: much less
encounters with friends and family, almost no formal social events
to attend, and people around me are always dressed casual.

Are you influenced by what you consider Dutch culture
or by any other culture represented in Amsterdam?
Of course I am influenced by Dutch culture: I now eat sandwiches
for lunch, I have dinner at 18:00 during the week, I try
to be on time for my appointments, I only go to the hairdresser
to get a haircut once every couple of months instead of getting
a brushing once a week, I don’t get a manicure and a pedicure
as often as I used to, and list goes on...

Are you aware of the fact that 177 cultures are
represented in Amsterdam?
I didn’t know that so many cultures are represented in
Amsterdam. I find that it’s influencing the food and drinks
being offered in supermarkets and in restaurants which are
becoming much more diverse and quality oriented. Actually
Amsterdam people are now expecting and requiring more
diversity in food and better service. It’s affecting programs
being offered during cultural events, festivals, theatres and
concerts. It is affecting people’s hobbies and interests like
for example learning belly dance, flamenco, capoeira, learning
foreign languages and travelling to the countries where the
people around you come from...