Sinterklaas Pakjes Avond and Another Love Letter

Happy Sinterklaas! I know that is not the correct thing to write. But for someone who was an immigrant (legal) in The Netherlands for over 27 years, that became my way of greeting on this special day. And our son greeted me this way this morning on our iMessage communication. 

So Happy Sinterklaas! 

Source: http://www.meuknieuws.nl/trailer-sesamstraat-en-de-woede-van-de-sint/

Bring on the pepernoten!!!

Now on to another Love Letter to my parents back 35 years ago.

21 november 1979

woensdag

Beste Mother and Daddy,

I am at the American (Rotterdam) school as I write this letter. My students are in their P.E. and Music classes, so I'm free until the bell rings at 3:10 p.m. I've had three good days working here, and the money helps, too. Especially with a trip to the U.S. in the making.

This Saturday night we'll go to a birthday party for J's office friend. I'm about birthday-partied-out. It gets a little old after a while. Especially since each birthday is like Christmas. But at least I'll get to dress-up and maybe learn a little Dutch.

Next week-end (Dec.1 and 2) we'll go to Olst for a 12 1/2 year wedding anniversary party and for Sinterklaas. We will draw names for Sinterklaas, but I'll still give all J's family a small gift. That's the American in me I guess.

Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. there will be a service at the Pilgrim Father's Church in Delfshaven. I will attend it and then go to my Dutch lesson at 2:00. I also hope I'll have time to pick up some Christmas gifts before I come home. Most American companies here have no Thanksgiving holiday. I suppose American families have a big dinner in the evening or not at all. We'll have chicken and pumpkin pie. Turkey is too expensive, and I think it is too dry anyway. The elementary kids had a Thanksgiving dinner today, and it smelled delicious. The school has no cafeteria, so I ate a cold cheese sandwich and smelled the good food.

If I could just work three days every week it would be great. That is about $100 for three days. The extra money would come in handy. I always see things I would like to have. J. doesn't want me to spend my money in my savings account. He said we could live on what he makes until I get a permanent job. I suppose that I should be glad he feels that way. I can draw more interest from my money in a Dutch savings account, so I may transfer some money at Christmas. I don't know for sure yet.

Well, I'll close and get my things together to leave. We have leftovers tonight, so I'll relax when I go home.

Take care and we'll be there this date next month.

Love,

Linda