Falk Travel Tracks: November 2012

As we made our second round in the roundabout near Ghent, Belgium about a month ago with my parents, we all laughed at the connection we were making to National Lampoon's European Vacation when the Griswald's were trying to get out of the roundabout in London. Growing up, we often referenced how some family mishap was a "Griswald" moment. And trying to navigate the roads in Europe with a semi working GPS definitely brought out the Griswalds in us. Some things never change.

It doesn't matter if you are in City Market in Avon, Colorado, or a 9th Century Church in Belgium, your children are still going to sashay around the isles using their fingers as guns (sometimes machine guns, and sometimes just a simple shot gun) mortifying you to no end. And you are going to look around and see, that of course, your children are the only ones behaving in such a uncultured and uncivilized way. You will slink out of the church, or City Market, hoping they don't burp or fart and fall into hysterics.

Since our cultured vacation to Brugge, Belgium, I have been closely monitoring the behavior of children in the Netherlands to see how they compare to those of my children (as I was beginning to believe that ours were the only 'unclivilzed' children in Europe) and I am comforted in the fact that indeed, children here still exhaust and constantly push their parents. I feel better now thank you very much!

Since being here, we have been introduced to new experiences and traditions. Let's take Thanksgiving. How, you might be saying, is Thanksgiving a tradition here? It's not. But it is in our school staff community. Later this week, we are going to enjoy a staff Thanksgiving held at school. We have a wonderful food technology kitchen and it will be there that the turkeys cook and we will celebrate with any staff who would like to join and bring a dish, American or not (I am attempting grandma's apple pie - doing a test run today). I will still be able to walk by the kitchen during the day and enjoy the smells of the turkey cooking. I may have to find a few more reasons to walk that way!

We will also be celebrating again at the house of American friends, who will be hosting 3 American families for dinner. Thanksgiving has always been about coming together with friends and family. So, even though these celebrations don't come with extended blood relatives, the feeling is similar and a comfort. It's nice to see that this tradition has moved here with us.

The holiday season has also already begun here. Not dissimilar to the US. We have British cable, and are already getting Christmas commercials. Here in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas is a tradition celebrating Saint Nicholas. He is the patron saint of children, sailors and Amsterdam. However, the true celebration is on Saint Nicholas' eve, December 5th or on the morning of the 6th. Like the Santa of the US, there are many stories behind Sinterklaas.

We joined in the festivities yesterday and watched the parade that welcomed Sinterklaas into the Netherlands (he comes from Spain) and his "helpers" Zwarte Piet (Black Peter). Originally slaves, the Zwarte Piet, are now black because of all the chimneys they go down to deliver presents and candies. As one can imagine, there is some discomfort with the Zwarte Piet - but I try to look at them through the unjaded eyes of my children, and see them as the mischievous helpers that they are meant to be. Christmas is also celebrated here, therefore making the season longer and more jolly - we hope!

Thus we will be putting chocolate coins, candies and a small gift in our boys' shoes on the eve of December 5 and we will be putting presents under the tree on the eve of December 24 - hopefully expanding their own views of traditions and celebrations.

Though we are finding many things that are different here, what is really important isn't different. Children are still children, much to my relief, Grandma's apple pie is just as wonderful, and holidays and traditions are still the ribbons that bind people together. It's good to see that some things never change.

Noel

The following are pictures of my parents visit in October, Halloween "International School of Amsterdam style" and Sinteklaas coming to town.

Canal Cruise of Amsterdam

It was a real cold day, we needed something to warm us up! You may be saying...hm, this picture looks familiar...it should! See another post, not sure which one.

In Gouda - yes, the cheese was gooda!

Brugge, Belgium

The mentioned church (picture above) in which there was much sashaying and general foolery.

Halloween, ISA style - a community even put on by the American and British families at school. We go to a designated street and "trick-or-treat" at designated houses and cars. Open to all ISA families, and a real nice community event. A great new tradition!