Dutch meet the Dutch

These clogs are standing at the backdoor. The people who step into them are Erwin and Emma. I found their blog on the internet while looking for blogs about Wijchen. The place were I grew up. Emma has lived for two years in Wijchen. To my surprise I saw that they lived in Christchurch as well. They are newly settled immigrants and just started a family. They have a wonderful addition to their family; a beautiful baby boy named Tobin. Of course I left a comment which resulted in a visit last Sunday. As a good Dutch tradition when a child is born, people who visit receive a beschuit met muisjes (biscuits with little mice) to celebrate it. When the baby is a boy the mice are blue and they are pink when it is a girl. Quickly we got in touch with our Dutch site and exchanged stories of how it is to live in a different country. Different stories but the same kind of experiences. Thanks guys for the wonderful time we had. This makes me look forward to returning to Holland next year with Mayke to visit family and friends. The tickets are already booked. We just have to count down. Mayke is now even more motivated to learn Dutch at Unlimited and I already planned to stay a night at my friends place and at my cousin's place. The latter is a good friend as well. I stayed at their house plenty of holidays when I was young. I remember sleeping on the Attic. Scaring away the birds from their Cherri trees early in the morning by banging on a tub. Playing in the corn behind their house till the farmer came after us. Building huts underground and having my first kiss, behind a carpet hanging on a wall, from a neighbour kid, while playing hide and seek. When I come to Holland I will certainly go to the market on a Thursday which was at my doorstep when I lived in Wijchen and buy a fresh hearing with unions. They are raw and you eat them as on the picture left. I remember how some salesman loudly tried to sell their products and all the bikes stalled in front of the shops of people who came to do their shopping and buy fresh veggies, flowers, cheese and fish on the market. Of course I will also buy Dutch liquorice and eat croquettes and fricandellen and all the other stuff I haven't seen for ages. Don't get me wrong I love New Zealand but I lived for 37 years in Holland and you can't change that.

Just have to add the link to my dear broo's blog Hollandcorner who posted a video with more typical Dutch stuff and underneath a beautiful poem for moi. More reason to go back!!! Groetjes Marja

Funny Lost Dr. Suess Poem

I love My Job (The lost Dr. Seuss Poem)

I love my job, I love the pay!
I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss, he is the best!
I love his boss and all the rest.

I love my office and its location, I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and grey, and piles of paper that grow each day!
I think my job is really swell, there’s nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers, I love their leers, and jeers, and sneers.
I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it won’t care. I love each program and every file.
I’d love them more if they worked a while.

I’m happy to be here. I am. I am.
I’m the happiest slave of the firm, I am.
I love this work, I live these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.
I love my job - I’ll say it again - I even love those friendly men.
Those friendly men who’ve come today,In clean white coats to take me away!!!!

Maori language week

A hongi - touching of forehead and nose

Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud) was first settled by Maori about 1000 years ago. According to the Maori, Kupu was the first explorer who came across the Pacific on his waka hourua (voyaging canoe) from his original homeland, Hawaiiki (which is believed to be near Tahiti), to his new home country Aoteroa.

European settlement in the 19th century meant a loss to the culture and language from the Maori. But since the 1970s, Maori culture, language and custom have enjoyed a profound revival and since the Maori Language Act of 1987, Te Reo Maori has been one of the two official languages of New Zealand. Estimates of the number of Maori speakers range from 100,000 to 150,000.

This week is Maori language week so we can make an extra effort to learn the language. More Maori will be spoken on TV. A soap was undertitled in Maori for example and even google New Zealand is offered in Maori. Here is a practise in Te Reo Maori:

Kia ora. Hi.
Kei te pēhea koe? How are you?
Kei te pai ahau. I’m good.
Ka nui te ora. I’m great.
Me koe? And you?
Ka mau te wehi! Awesome!
Ka kite ano. See you again

Aroha (Love) Marja

Mistakes

courtesy of google

It was late. In the light of the oil lamp John was mixing ingredients to form a medicine. Than he made a mistake. John accidentally added carbonated water instead of plain water to his recipe. John took a sip. Mmmm this tastes delicious and refreshing, he thought It was 1886. The man was John Pemberton He just invented Coca-Cola Especially when trying something new we tend to make mistakes. Through trial and error we learn. There are not that many people though who turn mistakes into opportunities or learn from their mistakes. We cover up mistakes or we tell people off when they make a mistake.Did you ever hear somebody say "oh come here I'll do it from now on. This is already the second time that you make a mistake." Some hear it often when they are young. A door is closed for them. They don't get the opportunity to learn anymore. The more risks you take in your life the more change you make a mistake. I think the reason that people are afraid to make mistakes is that they are too often panalysed for it. That's why they invented brainstorming to come up new ideas. The rule is that no idea is strange or get ridiculed. Every idea is valid. People feel than safe and are not afraid to make mistakes. The creative juices flow. The most successful people I think are the ones who persevere. If you are able to deal with the feeling of frustration and rejection you move forwards. A great thing is that you still can build self esteem in a child by allowing him to make mistakes and not making a big deal out of it. When the child becomes an adult they will deal with mistakes a lot better. Of course you have to take calculated risks or you let a child do things you can think he can handle. You have to try new things that are safe. Just as a pilot can't take a risk a young child can't take too many risks either. If you do make a mistake, stop and think. What did I do wrong. How can I do it better next time.I make this mistake many times. Every time I diet I am too strict for myself I can't keep it up and stop but....I make the same mistake next time. In many things I have to learn to think first and find new ways of behaving. I have to learn from my mistakes. By the time I learned from them all I will probably be old but a lot wiser. Therefore we can learn a lot from old people. Don't make the mistake to ignore them. They carry a lot of wisdom. If At First You Don't Succeed Author Unknown Failure doesn't mean - "You are a failure,"It means - You have not succeeded. Failure doesn't mean - "You accomplished nothing,"It means - You have learned something. Failure doesn't mean - "You have been a fool,"It means - You had a lot of faith. Failure doesn't mean - "You don't have it,"It means - You were willing to try. Failure doesn't mean - "You are inferior,"It means - You are not perfect. Failure doesn't mean - "You've wasted your life,"It means - You have a reason to start afresh. Failure doesn't mean - "You should give up,"It means - "You must try again. Failure doesn't mean - "You'll never make it,"It means - It will take a little longer. Failure doesn't mean - "God has abandoned you,"It means - God has a better way for you. Wish you a lot of mistakes today, Marja

Stone grill

The school holidays are over. I had to work extra but we still had time for fun. It's winter so too cold for the here popular BBQ. We Dutchies brought from Holland a stonegrill however. It was very popular when we left. In Holland it rains a lot therefore we have all these indoor things; fondue, gourmet and the stone grill. We invited some friends, kids friends, friends kids, friends kids friends (You get it) The foto's are from two different occasions.

Part of the food. I made some Dutch potato salad. My mother always used to make this for 2 days when it was kermis (fair) in town. There was wine for the adults, and meat for the grill.

The stone is heated electrically and everybody bakes his own piece of meat. Easy for me LOL

Underneat the stonegrill you can put some gourmet pans to bake some mushrooms, onions or an egg. Everybody ate well.

O o Time for a long walk now.

Don't follow the crowd

(picture courtesy of google)

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. Friedrich Nietzsche

Usually I am easy going. Don't make much fuss about a lot of things. One of them is that as long as the house is clean that's fine. I don't care when books are lying around or when the place looks untidy. I am aware that others find this basically important so I do back them up when possible. I find it however difficult to compromise on living a relaxed live. Some people can nag continuesly about small things. Leaving a cloud of stress behind. It's not worth it. When I have the possibility to learn something interesting, give some kids a good time and teach them something or have a walk and talk with a friend. These things are much more important. I like having people around but I realise that I am not the easiest. Yes most of the time I am easy and fun loving, but......

I make up my own mind about everything. It is also a part of being Dutch. They have an opinion about everything and love to share it. They simply call it discussing something. When I was young there were nights when we would "argue" as friends till the morning about something and I enjoyed that. It keeps your mind fresh. You had to come up with good arguments and sometimes you had to admit that the others arguments were relevant and made your view invalid and so you changed your mind.

I often heard that people find that the Dutch are being confrontational and sometimes oppositional. When I sense that I can't speak my mind, mostly in a different culture than I just keep my mouth shut. Except when I see that the things I believe in are violated or when I want to improve something than I become a rebel. Which means I will be called stubborn and Difficult. This difficult woman doesn't care and hold no grouches against anyone who says I am.

Most people are other people, Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. Oscar Wilde, De profundis, 1905

Do not believe in anything (simply) because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

Do not believe in anything because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything (simply) because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

But after observation and analyses when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conductive to the good and benefit of one all then accept it and live up to it.

The Buddha

New Zealand's shame

The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children. ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

No New Zealand is not that great in this aspect. 15 years ago NZ signed "the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Children" Nz hasn't lived up to the promise at all. It is a national shame and I am shocked at how often on the news they tell the sad story of a child that has died by child abuse in their own home. A place were they suppose to be safe.

I often wonder why the rate of abuse is so high in NZ. I think it has many reasons. Alcohol and drug abuse, poverty, teenage pregnancies etc. Another one is bad parenting skills.
When the anti smacking bill came through I was happy and a lot of children were happy. I was highly surprised how many people were strongly opposed. I talked to people and they were passionately telling me that a smack wouldn't do them any harm and that little children need that to listen. I totally disagree. They also wanted that nobody could interfere in their parenting.

Probably it is a lack of alternatives people can come up with in teaching children how to behave. Also it is only a short time ago that physical punishment was still allowed in schools. My husband told me that when he was young, children got strapped on the hand with a ruler at school. The tolerance for Physical punishment might be higher therefore.

I have given a tick a few times because I was overly tired and frustrated . I felt extremely guilty and have offered my excuse to them. It is my responsibility to ask for help when I can't cope or remove myself from a difficult situation. Children should never be at any risk. They should be highly valued They are the future.
I have never given a tick or any other form of physical punishment given out of choice. There are
many, much more effective ways to teach children.

The government should do more to help at risk families. I work in the field and know that much more money should be put into this area. There is a huge difference here between the poor and the rich but it is in the best interest of all that there should be a social system and channel more money toward the ones in need. Parents should be helped to give their children at least a place were they are safe. It is a right and we are all responsible. It is time to do more about it.

Bless all the children in need, Marja

Orana Wildlife Park

It's school holidays and for the first time in days a beautiful day so we decided to go to the zoo. Mayke and Callum were coming with me. We had a 1 1/2 hour walk around the park stretched out over 80 hectares. We were lucky and had a close up view from many animals

Reflection in the water

A lion on a cage of people Yum nice meal

Mayke and Callum

Orana Wildlife Park

Meerkat in the spotlight

Otters now look all over here

Bird who's got the blue's

Black and White ruffed lemur . "Hurry up I am not comfy sitting here"

The mirror

Last week I couldn't let go of something and was trying to figure out why? The following gave me the answer. I saw something what I didn't like about myself.

"Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself." From the 10 lessons of life.

The Mirror

The World Is Your Mirror

The good you find in others, is in you too.

The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.

After all, to recognize something you must know it.

The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.

The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.

The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.

To change your world, you must change yourself.

To blame and complain will only make matters worse.

Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.

What you see in others, shows you yourself.

See the best in others, and you will be your best.

Give to others, and you give to yourself.

Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.

Admire creativity, and you will be creative.

Love, and you will be loved.

Seek to understand, and you will be understood.

Listen, and your voice will be heard.

Teach, and you will learn.

-- Unknown Author

Lessons to be learned.

Growth takes time and is revealed by change. You can cheat a little bit with affirmation and visualisation. Sports people use it a lot. They visualise their moves and their over winning and it seems to increase their changes of success. I believe to a certain extend in the law of attraction although I haven't practised it much yet. The law says according to Wikipedia "That , a person's thoughts (conscious and unconscious), emotions, and beliefs cause a change in the physical world that attracts positive or negative experiences that correspond to the aforementioned thoughts, with or without the person taking action to attain such experiences" I think it is not enough and you won't get there without the hard work but it certainly helps a lot. When you are in a positive frame of mind you are much more likely to get what you want. I certainly have attracted some things in my life, I wished for without much effort. So maybe there is more to it. What do you think? Furthermore a beautiful song of Barbra Streisand; Lessons to be learned

♥ Barbra Streisand - Lessons To Be Learned - The most amazing videos are a click away

Lessons to be learned

They say
there's a universal plan
for every woman
for every man
I do believe
there's a higher power
but in our darkest hour
it's hard to understand
so we start to question
start to doubt
we lose faith in what life's all about
why did the right road
take the wrong turn
why did our heart break
why'd we get burned
just like the seasons
there are reasons
for the path we take
there are no mistakes
just lessons to be learned
don't give up
keep on looking deep inside
let your heartbeat
be your guide
cause there's a gift
for those who keep believing
you'll find what you've been needing
is right before your eyes
you'll hold the answer
in your hands
and then you'll know
you'll finally understand
why
why did the right road
take that wrong turn
why did our heart break
and why'd we get burned
just like the seasons
there are reasons
for the path we take
there are no mistakes
just lessons to be learned
no matter how many times
you stumble or fall
the greatest lesson
is loving yourself
through it all
why did the right road
take that wrong turn
why did our heart break
why'd we get burned
just like the seasons
there are reasons
for the path we take
there are no mistakes
just lessons
lessons
to be learned