Since Moscow I looked forward to get closer
to Belgium and Holland so I can eat the things I know again, speak the language
I know, but most of all to shop in the shops I know. I could not wait to eat
‘drop’ and ‘stroopwafels’ (typical Dutch sweets and cookies) and last Monday I
was very excited that we were off to Antwerp in Belgium. We went with a very
very fast train – The Talys from Paris to Brussel and got off in Antwerp. 
But, now that we are in Belgium and close to Holland
again I realize that South Africa is my country, my home. “I am proud to be a
South African.” There are some people
who
asked me which country I liked to live, where I feel more at home. At first
I did not know which country was my home country. I was born and raised in
South Africa, but in Holland I have family, my mom & dad are from Holland.
I have a South African and a Dutch passport & I like to go to Holland and
see my grannies and grandpa and have delicious products like kroket, drop,
stroopwafels, cycling in the rain (ha-ha). But in South Africa I feel more at
home, because of my friends and school. I also like the country with the
weather, the different people and exciting environment. To go to the beach or
have a picnic in Kirstenbosch, hike or cycle or do nothing and relax in the
sun. I miss it and I am so glad that I have my phone and skype to stay in
contact with my friends. This week was also great since most of my friends had
winter holiday and had plenty of time to skype and Whats App!
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| Yum, Dutch chocolate milk, with biscuit on a rainy day |
While we are travelling and seeing all the
different countries I also realise how special South Africa really is. In a lot
of countries there is something I do not like. Cape Town becomes a paradise
where you can drink the water from the tap, have sunny and most of the time
blue sky, can talk English and can speak with people, have all kinds of food,
have nature and birds. I always thought these things are everywhere, but now I
see that often there is something missing.
RAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| My shopping !!!! |
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| Ellen (the birthday girl) + MOM |
After a few days in Belgium where we slept in
a beautiful house with a garden we were looking forward to cycle in the forest
and do shopping on our own. Sadly we had rain rain rain rain and more rain and
did not go anywhere. Luckily we got picked up by Granny & Granpa who came
from Holland to try their new car. We stayed with them for 4 nights. The first
night I ate a kroket ( traditional Yummy Dutch...) The second day we went very
early to surprise my mom’s friend Ellen Voets who was turning 50. It was a big
surprise since she did not know of our visit. Ellen’s mom and dad brought us to
her house. We first waited in the car, but we were quickly called that Ellen
was getting cake so we went in the house. We heard her coming through the backdoor
so we silently tip-toed to the nearest room, which was Ellen’s bedroom. She was very shocked to find us there!! Happy
Birthday!!!
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| While Shopping went into a shop full of buttons |
Unfortunately the city of Eindhoven was very
wet, but I did get my Orange dress which I had seen some months earlier in
Berlin. I had been saving for it and hoped it was on sale due to the bad
weather, but it was still 15 Euro. Surprise!@@ When I got to the counter to pay
for it my granny & grandpa had already bought it for me!!!!!THANKYOU GRANNY
& GRANDPA!!!
Another typical Dutch thing is the Fair. I do
not know the word for it, but it is an amusement park on wheels. It stays only
a week in a city and then it moves to somewhere else. You can take crazy rides
and scare yourself with weird attractions. It is very expensive in Euros and
the rides take only a few minutes. So more fun to look at than to do!
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Today dad and Steven will fetch us and bring
us back to Antwerp. I seriously have to stop eating the delicious, yummy, Dutch
sweets, cookies & cakes because I feel small pimples coming up. Is this
part of my growing up or is it because I love SWEETS. |
| Attraction park |
Hopefully
the rain will stop and we will have some nice days to go and see Brussel or
Antwerp.
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| Granny & grandpa |
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| Is Steven going to throw up? |
DANKJE JE WEL
LOESJE
