On my first date with Dennis, he told me about Sinterklaas. A few weeks later, he sent me a box filled with fun and adorable Sinterklaas gifts and a letter from "Sinterklaas" himself. So, this year, it was decided early on I would visit for Sinterklaas. I think I booked the ticket over the summer when Airbaltic was running a sale.
Of course, over the summer, I would have no idea that the first weekend of December would be so very chaotic. Balancing two grad classes, the end of the first semester and unit, plus all the holiday stuff going on at the school, the idea of a weekend away from it all sounded great. The idea of not having my weekend to maintain the balance was alsoa bit stressful.
The night before I was supposed to leave, Dennis messaged and mentioned that he still wasn't feeling too well and had gone to the doctor only to find out his tonsils were infected! He was given a handful of pills and did his best to assure me he was healthy enough for me to visit. I was already ignoring the stomach bug floating through the school and didn't want to take any chances. But I also really missed him. So, I finished packing and checked-in for the flight!
Between his tonsils/pocketful of pills and me finally stepping out of work mode, we had a very quiet and unambitious weekend. We eventually braved the cold, rainy weather and drove over to his parents' house. From there we biked into town. Because even on a cold, rainy day with infected tonsils he is totally fine to ride around on a bike. I struggled along behind :p
Dennis showed me all the Sinterklaas decorations and Christmas-time shops around Assen. The museum was also hosting an American Dream exhibit and the whole town was covered in American flags. We sampled a few pepernoten, checked around the HEMA, and cruised back to the house. The rain had mostly let up so we took Bobby for a little walk and then headed back to the cottage for Dennis' next pocketful of pills and of course a nap.
That night we went out to dinner with his whole family. I was finally able to meet his sister and spend a bit of time with everyone. The conversation was split between Dutch and English, and maybe drifted into mostly Dutch by the end. Obviously, I didn't understand everything but happiness and fun can easily be understood in any language. One of the things I have always missed most living overseas is family dinners and gatherings. It wasn't quite the same as being with my own family, but it wasn't that different either. I loved getting to know them!
I think I was asleep in the car before we even got back to the cottage-- Dennis is learning of my super ability to fall asleep nearly anywhere! I did wake up to find that Sinterklaas had visited! He left more pepernoten and other delicious chocolates and cute stickers! Then it was a lazy breakfast, a quick stop at his parent's house to say hello to grandma, and then it was off to the airport for me and Belgium for Dennis.
It was a very quick weekend which between sickness, stress, and winter weather wasn't very eventful. I don't expect this to be the best Sinterklaas I will have, but it certainly wasn't a bad one either.
Of course, over the summer, I would have no idea that the first weekend of December would be so very chaotic. Balancing two grad classes, the end of the first semester and unit, plus all the holiday stuff going on at the school, the idea of a weekend away from it all sounded great. The idea of not having my weekend to maintain the balance was also
The night before I was supposed to leave, Dennis messaged and mentioned that he still wasn't feeling too well and had gone to the doctor only to find out his tonsils were infected! He was given a handful of pills and did his best to assure me he was healthy enough for me to visit. I was already ignoring the stomach bug floating through the school and didn't want to take any chances. But I also really missed him. So, I finished packing and checked-in for the flight!
Between his tonsils/pocketful of pills and me finally stepping out of work mode, we had a very quiet and unambitious weekend. We eventually braved the cold, rainy weather and drove over to his parents' house. From there we biked into town. Because even on a cold, rainy day with infected tonsils he is totally fine to ride around on a bike. I struggled along behind :p
Dennis showed me all the Sinterklaas decorations and Christmas-time shops around Assen. The museum was also hosting an American Dream exhibit and the whole town was covered in American flags. We sampled a few pepernoten, checked around the HEMA, and cruised back to the house. The rain had mostly let up so we took Bobby for a little walk and then headed back to the cottage for Dennis' next pocketful of pills and of course a nap.
That night we went out to dinner with his whole family. I was finally able to meet his sister and spend a bit of time with everyone. The conversation was split between Dutch and English, and maybe drifted into mostly Dutch by the end. Obviously, I didn't understand everything but happiness and fun can easily be understood in any language. One of the things I have always missed most living overseas is family dinners and gatherings. It wasn't quite the same as being with my own family, but it wasn't that different either. I loved getting to know them!
I think I was asleep in the car before we even got back to the cottage-- Dennis is learning of my super ability to fall asleep nearly anywhere! I did wake up to find that Sinterklaas had visited! He left more pepernoten and other delicious chocolates and cute stickers! Then it was a lazy breakfast, a quick stop at his parent's house to say hello to grandma, and then it was off to the airport for me and Belgium for Dennis. It was a very quick weekend which between sickness, stress, and winter weather wasn't very eventful. I don't expect this to be the best Sinterklaas I will have, but it certainly wasn't a bad one either.
