The Dutch Have a Word For It

Like any language, in the Dutch there are certain phrases that just dont translate 100 percent. My grandmother, my mother and my aunts would often toss some Dutch in their exchanges and we cousins would look at each other quizzically but still be able to get the gist of what they were saying.

For example, "You look with your 'chachjt'" (phonetical...not proper spelling) basically means "You look with your butt"... This was what was often yelled down the stairs if we couldnt find something in the basement that was out in plain sight.

But the word "Flau" is the word that Im looking for today, because that is how I feel..."Flau". "Flau" means that you dont feel very well and that--near as I can translate it--you have a 'sour' stomach. When you feel "flau" youd arent in-the-bed-sick but you arent up and running around either. Youre just not yourself and your stomach is odd. I suppose its really a touch of the flu.

At any rate, the girl and I are both feeling "flau" and we are going to sit our "chachjt's" down on the sofa and chill. Being "Flau" is usually a 24 hour gig so by tomorrow i bet we are up to our old selves.