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