The world of Gospel

Last week I've been to New York for holidays with a friend. Wow! That city really is amazing! I can tell you a lot of stories about we've seen and what we've experienced in the city that never sleeps. One thing that really amazed me was a complete new experience to me - The world of Gospel.

On Easter morning we went up to Harlem, 120th street to join a Gospel ceremony. It would be the first time in my life to visit one. Of course I've seen it on tv and heard about it. Also in Amsterdam you can visit these ceremonies.  Well ceremonies, I'd rather call them energizing parties. Wow, I was stunned.  It already begun on the streets, the outfits of all the people. They'd really done their best: dresses, suits, heads, bags, socks, fingernails. Everything, everything looked great. And all the people were so kind. Of course what helped was that they were quite used to visitors with an extra stage for us and everybody who could not join all ceremonies from 8 Am till 2 PM.

The first person we met happened to be the priest's wive, we found out later on when she got up on the stage. The ceremony started immediately with singing and swinging. The priests I'm used almost fall asleep during their own speech, but these guys were full of energy. The crowd put their hands op in the air, shouting, singing, even crying - tears rolled over cheeks. Nobody was afraid to show their emotions and to share them.

Even now I think back about it I already get a smile on my face and wish I could go back. I think you should see for yourself and experience the joy and happiness.

                                                                      

Would you stand up for a girl?

Again I learned a lot from my participants in my workshop Dutch Habits & Traditions, yesterday. The two hour session always seems to be too short - there is so much to discuss about cultures, food, nice holiday locations, or even nice places to live for a certain time... Poeh, life is a bit short i'm afraid.

Workshhopping means, in this case, take actively part in sharing your experiences and together come up with solutions and opportunities how to feel yourself at home in The Netherlands. It seems easy, but again it turned out to be a bit more difficult then expected - people are nice, helping you out, showing you the way, but then they continue living their own life again - and please feel welcome to do the same...

A very funny question I got from one of the participants who has his origin in Colombia and has been in NL for just a month now: 'Is it appropriate to stand up for a girl in public transport?'

That was a very new question to me. Therefore my amazingly smart helpfull answer was: 'ehhm well, let me think. I guess it's not inappropriate.'

How would I react? Would I be surprised? Or would I take it for granted? A couple of reactions popped up into my mind:
- Do I look that old????
- Wow, there is my prince charme!! (without the white horse I just didn't recognize him that easily)
- Watch you money, he is just trying to distract you
- There must be something worng with that seat or the guy next to him is smelly. Don't trust it

What would your reaction be, do you think?

The Dutch and their.....

BIKES!!!

Its getting spring here in Amsterdam!! Last weekend the weather was perfect: sunny, blue sky, being outside without a jacket. What do we do when the weather is this beautiful? Yes, we go riding our bikes! Moving yourself through Amsterdam brings the most typically and funny views. Of course I was riding my bike myself  as well. This time with my brother-in-law and our eyes caught one Dutch pic after the other. I would like to share some typically 'How Dutch' ride their bike' views:

Tulips tulips tulips, they are everywhere! We decorate our bikes with flowers and baskets. We sit together on one bike, children in front, at the back, in seats, in baskets. Even dogs get their own seat. We 'park' our bikes where ever we want, in the canals, up in the sky.

Weird Dutchies with their bike-mania...