Pregnant Lady

Sunday, 17th of February 

Getting up early on Sunday - not everybody is used to that.

But we could sleep 30 minutes longer than on a typical working day. At least

something.

On the way to Kapelle it has been a tight squeeze in the car, but I won't explain it in

detail.

Safely arrived in the church, the service began with the soft voices of the children

choir. While everybody sang composed, I found a tiny sentence in the programme:

"Introductie nieuwe vrijwilligers 2013 Atlantic Bridge"

Shock!! I asked the other volunteers, if they knew something about it. No. Fear in

their eyes. When Peter Moree began to speak about Atlantic Bridge we calmed

down, thinking we were safe. But then his inviting gaze in our direction and we

knew we have to come to the front and introduce ourselves in front of perceived

thousands of people.

We stuttered something and some bad words just slipped out of Noel.

After the service I met Joop, who took me to his home, where I should meet his wife

and his daughters Esther and Debby.

We had some cups of tea and delicious homemade appelflappen.

Then the crucial sentence of Esther: "Do you like horses?"

It came out, that they have 2 Shetland ponys and that Esther rides a horse for two

girls, who are not very often at home.

So, I ended up on the beautiful horse called Lady, which expects a foal in May.

I had a great time and felt really happy. Thank you family Joosen, especially Esther!

When we came back to their home, soup and bread (the typical dutch lunch) waited

for us. Zeer lekker!

In the late afternoon I met the other volunteers at Manon's.

They all looked very happy...

Wietje, Germany

Axel Sunday

If I had to choose one thing I will remember the Netherlands by, it wouldn’t be the tulips, or the coffee shops, or the windmills, or any other touristy images the rest of the world usually links to this country. What impressed me most about Holland are the lengths the Dutch have to go to just to stay dry.

Because large parts of the province of Zeeland (Sea land) are below sea level, storms and high tide used to be a constant threat for cities and villages. But, it seems like the sea has definitely lost this battle. People have seen to that. So when driving through Zeeland, our Dutch guides mostly draw our attention to dikes, locks and dams that hold the water back.

The same happened when we went to Axel for a Youth Group Meeting. Before the trip, whenever we told someone that we’re going to go to Axel, they would immediately start talking about the underwater tunnel built some ten years ago, connecting this peninsula with the part of the province bordering with Belgium. Tons and tons of concrete…that’s all I can see.

…

The Axel Youth Group Meeting was a lot of fun. If I weren’t that bad with Dutch names I would have listed them all here. Maybe next time ;)

Dinner, introductions, casual atmosphere…

And the openness of the Dutch to joke at their own expense. The youth from this club were asked to prepare a short sketch demonstrating the most common stereotypes attributed to their country and nation. Not surprisingly, thriftiness, the perception that everyone is on drugs, and wooden shoes were the first things that sprang to everyone’s minds.

It was great meeting enthusiastic and smart young people. Hopefully we will have many more fun Sundays with them. 

Klara, Croatia