Category Archives: Culture

Winter’s Last Hurrah

Posted on March 14, 2018 by

The birds are starting to chirp at 6:30 and it is light when my eldest leaves on his bike at 7:30. These are things I have been anticipating eagerly for some time now. I am happy to be heading into … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, iceskating, Seasons/Weather, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Adaptation

Posted on November 1, 2017 by

  I have written before about juggling two cultures and all the traditions and holidays that come with that. Fourteen years in I feel like I am starting to get the hang of it. Halloween was the first big US … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, Holidays, Homesick, kids, Moving back to the Netherlands, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

1468

Posted on October 1, 2017 by

Dates like that with visible history still blow my mind. This church we passed on our bike ride today was built that year. The sign says it now serves as a starting point for some pilgrims walking to Santiago de … Continue reading →

Posted in Bikes, Culture, History, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Huttenbouwen

Posted on August 19, 2017 by

It has been a very unique experience, I think, moving back to a foreign country that was my home for nearly a decade after being gone for the past five years. So much is familiar.  And so much is foreign…still, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, kids, Moving back to the Netherlands | Tagged , | 6 Comments

The Dutch and their Bikes

Posted on April 21, 2015 by

Just a little intermission from my California Saga… Maarten passed this video on to me, and it is such a fun brief explanation of why the Dutch rode – and still ride – bikes.  This daily biking is one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bikes, Culture, Things I Will Miss | Tagged | 2 Comments

Archery in Clogs

Posted on February 26, 2015 by

Through the years I’ve documented the kids doing things in clogs. I was fascinated to learn when I moved there that the old-style wooden clogs (that I figured were just a tourist commodity now) are still very much used by … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, kids | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Sinterklaas

Posted on December 9, 2014 by

We had a low-key, cozy Saint Nicholas celebration this year; since moving back to America, Sinterklaas has taken a back seat gift-wise, just as Christmas did when we were in the Netherlands.  Balancing and celebrating both traditions has always been … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, Holidays, The Netherlands (from the US), Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Smith Lake 2014

Posted on November 13, 2014 by

We headed out right after school yesterday, stopped to pick up Maarten at his work and drove out to Smith Lake West of Kalispell.  Sam was excited and nervous to try out his new skates from Oma and Opa: His … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, iceskating, kids, Seasons/Weather, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

The Old Year

Posted on December 31, 2013 by

I like the Dutch term ‘Old Years Day’ more than the American ‘New Years Eve-Day’.  It puts the focus on the year just past rather than rushing headlong into the New Year, as we Americans are perhaps apt to do, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Holidays | Tagged | 4 Comments

Thankful

Posted on November 29, 2013 by

I’m thankful for so much, really, it always is hard to narrow it down to a short list.  But right now, the last few days, I’m especially thankful for ice.  Clean, hard, clear ice and the chance it gives us … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Holidays, iceskating, Montana/America, Nature/Landscape, Seasons/Weather | Tagged , | 4 Comments