My First Christmas in Holland

How did I celebrate my first Christmas in Holland?

The Christmas this year was the first time that I didn't celebrate it  in my own country - Philippines. For the whole 21 years of my life, I always celebrate Christmas with my family in the Philippines. But now, I'm living now here in The Netherlands and trying to establish my life here. I could say that it was sad to be far from your loved ones but there was also in the other side that would experience it for the first time and make you happy. So it was really mix emotions of  sadness and happiness. But still, there are some ways to ease your longingness with your loved ones such as sending mails to them, calling them on phone and the most accessible now is using the Internet- Skype, Yahoo Messenger, MSN, Facebook etc.

Last 10 December 2011, me and Dennis attended a Christmas Party here in Almere with the Samenleven ladies together with their families. I joined in Samenleven ( a group of Filipinas who got married or had relationship with a Dutchman) before I arrived here in Holland. I saw their website while searching informations about the Civic Integration Exam. I found it interesting where I could meet them here in Holland and be friends with them. Ate Ranessa was the first one I meet. She was also living here in Almere and we study in the same school. She was very kind, friendly and helpful. She gave me a lot of advices about the life here in Holland, how to study Dutch, our school and a lot of things. She invited me on the party and encouraged me to attend it. We went there where I met them all personally. We had a great time there where we ate different, delicious dishes which prepared by each of families, gift-giving and received each one of us a present, and the children practiced 'Mano po' which was the Filipino gesture of respect.

Here in The Netherlands, the Dutch people celebrate Christmas for two days: 25 and 26 December. They call it 'Eerste en Tweede Kerst dag' (First and second Christmas). These two days are spent with family, singing carols, playing games, watching movies, reading Chritsmas tales and indulging in holiday feasts.They eat a large breakfast or brunch and a special Christmas meal. Some people plan and cook a large meal with a range of luxurious foods at home. These meals could include game meats, roast pork, fondues or gourmetten (the most typically Dutch Christmas meal, a style of eating that involves a grill on the table so that everyone can cook bite-sized pieces of meat and vegetables themselves). Second Christmas Day is often spent visiting family or, weather permitting, going ice skating or on an outing. Leftovers are enjoyed on this day.

25 December 2011 - I had a wonderful Christmas dinner with Dennis, Jeroen (Dennis' brother)  and their father, Ton. I prepared Chritsmas cookies, lumpia shanghai and coffee for snack time and a gourmet schotel for dinner. For the lovely dessert, we had vanilla and chocolate nuts ice cream. After that, we exchanged gifts where we had our raffle names last time we celebrated Sinterklaas. This was the list of gifts what we received that day: Anne- small wallet and pantoffels, Dennis- a gift card worth of 20 euro, Jeroen - 100pcs of DVDs, and Ton- a Yatzee play game.

 26 December 2011- Dennis, Jeroen and I had a delicious dinner with Chicken Rollade, vegetables and baked potatoes. I made a Leche Plan for our dessert.