Woo so yeah random updates. Again. Because, you know, I suck at regularly updating a blog. In my defense, I do write in my diary every day, so I'm not going to totally lose everything that's going on here, but for you curious people in the US it's not so nice when I don't update my blog. Sorry n stuff.
Had a meeting with my AFS person on Wednesday. I will be changing families, THANK GOD. I would feel sort of bad about being glad to change, but I'm so irritated by my host family's antics that I don't care anymore. My biggest problem with them is that they never say anything outright; in preparing to come here I was told countless times that the Dutch are very direct and I should be prepared for that, but in actuality it is the complete opposite. I never hear about any problems unless it's third-hand or so. My host mother email's Julia's mother, who emails Julia, who may or may not mention something to me...it's madness. I would rather have someone incredibly direct than someone who never tells me anything at all.
Today Julia and I went down to the Rijnhaven (local harbor on the Nederrijn river) to see the arrival of Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is kind of like American Santa Claus--the names even sound similar--but there are slight variations in the legend. Sinterklaas arrives with his helper, Zwarte Piet (Black Peter...incredibly un-PC, yes, but supposedly he's black because he's a chimney sweep, not because he's a slave. Yeahhh, whatever you say.) on a boat from Spain. Today this part of the legend was upheld magnificently, as Sinterklaas arrived on an old-fashioned boat flying the Spanish flag and accompanied by a small army of Piets. There was even a marching band made up of about 15 members, ALL of whom were dressed up as Piet. I was under the impression that only one Piet figured into the legend, but hey, whatever floats Sinterklaas's boat. OH I'm good, I know. I guess multiple Piets isn't as ruinous to little children's hopes and dreams as multiple Sints would be. Anyway! Yes, so they arrive from Spain by boat, then proceed to leave sweets in the shoes good little children have left by the chimney. BUT if they find naughty children, Piet stuffs them in a sack and spirits them away to Spain. Slightly disturbing, yes, but I suppose the German version, in which Piet carries something to beat the children, is equally disturbing. I guess American kids are lucky when they get just a lump of coal instead of being taken away/beaten. Oh yes, and all of this takes place on December 6th, not the 25th. And thus far I have seen no connection with Jesus in this holiday. But hey, I go to a Christian school...I'm sure they'll find somewhere to insert Our Lord and Savior.
And now it is picture time.
Julia and I with Zwarte Piet!
Sinterklaas and Piet down on the shore, shaking hands and distributing pepernoten.
Sinterklaas and the 30+ Piets are on that green boat to the right. Notice the Spanish flag it is flying. There were also kayaking Piets throwing pepernoten at whoever they could reach.
So yes, more about this event...there were SO MANY people! Sinterklaas and the Piets arrived on the boat at about 1 PM, then walked around on a preset path with metal barricades (like the ones on the Today show!) to greet people. The Piets handed out pepernoten to the children while Sinterklaas appeared generally useless, just shaking hands and such. The children gave Piet their lists like American children would write a letter to Santa...it was quite cute. One girl jumped the barricade and ran up behind Piet to give him her list, which Julia and I found adorable. Anyway, after they had made that circuit, the Piets began hiding themselves away in random corners of the city and Julia and I saw several in the course of our random Saturday wandering. AND THEN there was a parade, complete with military band, Sinterklaas in a horse-drawn carriage, and Piets on donkeys. Leuk, for serious.
These are pepernoten...just as useful for throwing as they are for eating, and there seems to be an endless supply of them crushed on the floor of my school. Always. Today there were so many of them about--in little children's hands, in Piet's bag, crushed on the ground--that the very AIR smelled like them. It was rather festive, I'm not gonna lie. I am mailing some home to someone who shall remain anonymous for now, so Plattsburghians BEWARE! for these deadly holiday projectiles.
2 comments:
If you want people to learn something, do it right. Your page shows a picture of "kruidnootjes", not "pepernoten". For a picture of pepernoten, look at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Pepernoten001.jpg/180px-Pepernoten001.jpg
They don't just look different, they taste completely different as well.
Oh, and it takes place on 5 december, not 6.
Considering I can't comment back because "gewe"'s profile is private, I will clarify here.
I showed a picture of what the kids in my area call pepernoten. I am aware that they are kruidnootjes, as THAT IS HOW THEY ARE LABELLED IN STORES. I am also aware that they taste different, but thanks for informing in such an aggressive style.
Considering that I celebrated Sinterklaas myself, I'd say I also know that it's the 5th of December. I do live here, do I not? Incidentally, the actual saint's day is the sixth of December and the holiday is celebrated on the real day in Germany. The number was a typo.
My blog isn't intended to teach. It's just my observations from my year as an exchange student. If you want to read it, read it. If you don't, I'm not forcing you. I never made any claims about being a definitive reference on the Netherlands...but hey, if you'd like to make such a blog, be my guest. I won't read it, but maybe someone will! =]
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