Christmas 2007

Our first Christmas in 

Amsterdam was much more low key than in the US.  Perhaps it's because it's not as commercialized here in the Netherlands or it's because the Dutch celebrate on Dec 5th.  We're still adjusting to all the new holidays.

  

 Abigail has been writing Santa Claus letters (daily) about what she wants for Christmas.  She would like a pink bike with a baby seat for her babies.  The look on her face on Christmas morning when she saw the stockings and the pink bike was priceless.  It was hard for her to focus on the rest of the presents after that, all she wanted to do was go for a bike ride.

 


 

Christmas in Dusseldorf

We decided that Amsterdam just wasn't into the Christmas spirit and heard they know how to celebrate in Germany.  We decided to load up the car with the family and head off for a 5 hour round trip drive to Dusseldorf.  We called Che and Wendy and they said they would meet us.  God bless them.  They made the drive with their 2 month old girl.  They are brave and up for almost anything.   

The rumors are true.  The streets are decorated with lights and Christmas images.  There are markets set up where there is food, wine, beer, sausages, ornaments, and all kinds of Christmas nick-naks.  Abigail ate a one foot long bratwurst (her first ever) and we all had roasted chestnuts.  There are Christmas carolers singing in English and in German.  It did put you in the Christmas mood.  We ended the evening with some large beers and a heart attack on a plate.  There was more sauerkraut on the plate then most people eat in a year.  It was great and on that note we called it a night.  Next year we are going to go earlier in the season.

 

First Goodbyes

We have just learned that we will say our first goodbye to our good friends the Talwars.  We always heard that the hardest part of this experience would be having good friends leave and leaving good friends.  We didn't understand that until now.  We have only known them for a short time but we consider them as dear friends and will stay in touch with them wherever they decide to relocate to.  Amy and I are betting on India and if that comes true, we will be adding a blog entry about visiting India.

Vijay, I thank you for stopping at Amy's office and introducing yourself.  If you did not do that, I am not sure that we would have met and I know our transition to the Netherlands would have been much harder than it was.  Nita, I thank you for including the token "dad" in your daily journeys around town.  I know I got much more out of this experience with you around then I would have without you.  Abigail is sure going to miss your kids but I am sure they will keep in touch.  We want to say thanks for everything and successes in where ever it is you settle on living.

We are lucky that we are going to be able to go to Egypt for the holidays with the Talwar Family before they have to come back and pack up.  I am sure we will have experiences there to talk about for a long time to come.

Abigail & Sinterclause

 

Abigail got to experience Sinterclause with her Dutch school.  I think she was a bit confused with the tradition as she was wearing a Chinese dress on dutch Christmas but it is the thought that counts.  She got her face painted so she could be a Zwarte Pete.  She sang songs in dutch and even got to sit on Sinterclause's lap.  Not all the kids got to do that.  When Abigail woke up on the 5th of December she found new PJ's in her boots that were left by the fire place.  She was so happy.  Now it is onto Christmas and the real Santa Clause.  She wrote Santa a letter requesting a pink bike with a baby seat on it for her baby.  I hope Santa gets the letter in time.

Happy Holidays!!

Seasons Greetings from Amsterdam, Netherlands...

It's our first holiday season away from the US.  While it's not the same without our friends and family, we are very lucky to find some new friends to share in the holiday celebration.

Here are some photos from our group family photo shoot from Amsterdam.  

Don't be surprised if you see these photos in your Christmas cards.  

Sinterklaause

It's the start of the Christmas season here in the Netherlands...

St. Nick arrived from Spain yesterday on his boat and rode his white horse through the streets. He is accompanied by his black slaves (!) named Zwaarte Piet (literally "black Peter"), who carries sacks of toys and coal. The toys are reserved for children who have behaved well during the previous year, and are placed in wooden shoes left on the back porch for this purpose. Naughty children receive a lump of coal. Now they say the Zwaarte Piet is not a slave but he gets his color from coming down the chimney. They celebrate Sinterklaause on December 5th and that is when they do gift exchanges.

Try explaining this one to a three year old. We are working on it. Now we are figuring out that her English friends and her are comparing notes about what their parents are telling them. We are all getting on the same page now. Santa Clause and Sinterklaause are cousins....

We are getting ready to have Thanksgiving with some of the other families we have met here. It will be fun to get together but then it is right into full Christmas mode.

Apple Picking

Abigail and Dad were able to join her pre-school in an apple picking outing. It was quite fun. I was able to meet most of the Dutch parents and see her play with her new friends. We were able to walk right up to the trees and pull the apples off. Abigail thought it was fun and she even ate an apple with the skin on (her first time). Her teacher names are Suki and Efita and they are by far the best in her school. They really plan allot of events for the kids. The boy in the last picture is her new best friend. He is from India and is the only other kid in her class that speaks English. They are even starting to be able to switch between Dutch and English quickly.