SL at Wok de Mallejan

Big smile on our faces and full stomach - That's what I could describe the gathering yesterday at Wok de mallejan with my Samenleven Family. Few weeks ago we were invited by Ate Lana via Facebook and it would be KKB (Kanya-kanyang bayad), meaning 'pay your own meal'. First we were not sure if we were going to attend it because Dennis was unsure if he was going to work on the same day. But later we decided to go and I had a craving for dumplings.

 Wok de Mallejan is a Chinese restaurant in Maarssen. They offer different Chinese and Japanese dishes but they are more popular on wokken.  For the wok, Wok Mallejan offers an extensive choice of many kinds of vegetables, meat and fish. You make your choice and their chefs make it ready for you. At the Dim sum buffet you will find the different snacks available in steam baskets. At the wok area, you will find also Teppanyaki. For example, you can choose from Teppanyaki steak, lamb, and salmon.

 The lovers of Japanese cuisine can also indulge in the Sushi Buffet. There is also a hot and cold buffet. Soup and other appetizers are included. They serve also a fondue. Small or big group, adults or children... this restaurant is for everybody and for sure you will enjoy your food trip here. :)

Wokken

January-March 2012 Samenvieren

Yesterday was another Samenvieren(party/event) that organized by my Samenleven family. It was a party to celebrate all the birthdays from January to March that held in Elburg where the owner of the house was the Family Groothand. This party was optional if you want to join or be the host of it. It was organized by some of the active members of SL Family in order to get together and improve the Dutch-Filipino relationship. Me and Dennis had a great time to celebrate our birthdays with Samenleven family, got to know them better and had quality bonding with them. As what we expected, it was the same routine as the previous parties. Potluck of food courtesy by the celebrants/hosts and gift giving from the guests. All of us had fun in the party. I hope it will not be the last time and have more gatherings with Samenleven Family.

Another Year For Me

Last March 3, 2012 was my birthday. It just remind me that I am not a kid any more and growing up as a matured woman. Mostly, I celebrated my birthday with my family and few close friends. But this year was different because I celebrated it for the first time not in the Philippines and away from my family. But still, I am happy to celebrate it with my loved ones here in The Netherlands especially my liefe schatje, Dennis.

I didn't throw a party on the day of my birthday because we were  also invited in two different parties. We decided to attend those parties so we didn't need to make ourselves busy in organizing a party. We went first to the party of the two boys of one of the close friends of Dennis. We received the invitation letter last January and the wish list (cadeaulijst) of the kids (It is normal here to make a list of what you want as presents) so it's going to be easy for us to choose gifts for them. Few weeks before the party, we need to confirm if we were going to attend the party. Normally, Dutch don't feel comfortable to the people who are not announcing or making appointment  that they are dropping in, not only during birthdays. We arrived there around 14.00 in the afternoon and greeted the hosts through saying, "Gefeliceteerd (met je Verjaardag)" and kissing them three times on the cheek.

In a traditional Dutch birthday party, you will enter the room with the chairs and go and congratulate everybody who is already there with the birthday. You go around the circle, people already sitting there stand up, you shake hands, say "Gefeliciteerd", and if there's a female involved, kiss three times on the cheek. This means that if you come early, you'll have to stand up for every new arrival, and if you come late it'll be a lot of work to go visit everybody. Then you take a seat in the circle. Usually someone will come and offer cake and coffee. Mostly, the ratio is 1:1, meaning you will receive one cup of coffee and one piece of cookie/cake. Once offered second serving of coffee, you may get another round of cookie.  Sometimes, they offer you some finger foods like chips, mini kroket or bitterbal, toast with salad and slices of cheese cucumber , olives, sausages. Then, they will offer you  again drinks. Regarding the cake, brought in to the celebrant with a song “Lang zal ze leven”, the Dutch equivalent of Happy Birthday. People here in The Netherlands hang birthday calendars to remind them of the birthdays of all their family and friends. When a Dutch person is unable to visit the birthday party, a card is always sent to the celebrant. When you are the celebrant and received some gifts, you need to open the gifts in the front of the person who gave the gift to you and say how nice/beautiful the gift and say thank you in dutch "dankjewel".

The second party was for Rene, the boyfriend of Nanthicia, my Thai Friend. We went in their house after dinner with the host of the first party. Nanthicia lives in the same street with us so no worry for us when we go home late or drink alcohol without worrying to drive. On this party, you will also expect the same procedure of  typical Dutch birthday party but it is little bit more loose than the other one. We gave the Bacardi white rum as a present to Rene. I was also surprised that they gave me a birthday cake. How sweet of them to remember my birthday! We drinked and ate while listening to the music and watched some funny videos. Of course! A lot of conversations on that day. 

 

The next day, we invited Ton, father of Dennis to have dinner with us. Again, another surprise for me... a bouquet of flowers and gift card from Ton. Actually, he asked me what  present I want to receive on my birthday. I was thinking if I would tell him to give some personal things, maybe, he would buy the wrong thing that's why I decided just to have gift card which I could choose gift on my own. I baked also an apple tart on that day and it was nice that they loved it. In our dinner, Dennis made his specialty, lasagna and after that, we had coffee and slice of apple tart while watching TV. 

My birthday became more special when I received the greetings from Robert and Kaye-lin, the children that I am taking care of . Birthday artworks that made personally by them just for me. 

My schatje, Dennis had also presents for me. He gave me a personalised mug with a sweet message on it, solar alarm clock to wake up me early when I have school, and my advanced birthday gift, winter boots. Even I don't ask him to give me presents, he still always surprise and think of me. Being sweet and thoughtful are some of the characteristics of Dennis that makes me more fall in love with him.

Yim Siam for Dennis' Day

 

Simple but memorable, that's how I can describe the birthday of Dennis. A week before, we just had a little conversation how we could celebrate his birthday. Dennis always asked my opinion in everything. For this situation, I've told him that it was depend on him because that day was his day. So it's up to him what we were going to do on that day. But still, I suggested to eat in a restaurant with his father and brother because we didn't have yet dinner outside with his family. Throwing a party was a nice too but a lot things needed to prepare.So he agreed to me and asked which restaurant could we celebrate his birthday.  I suggested to eat in a Wok restaurant because I missed also eating Chinese food.  But when Dennis talked his father, he suggested to eat in a Thai Restaurant and said that it was great food there. So we were in dilemma on that time where we were going to eat but on his birthday, we ended up in Yim Siam. I wanted also to try new things for me. Me and Dennis never yet eat in a Thai Restaurant and we are curious how good the Thai food is.

 

5 February was the birthday of Dennis but we decided to do it on the evening of  4 February(Saturday) so we could have more time there and no worry to wake up early for the next day. It was nice to experience this unique cuisine that balances the flavours of salty, sour, spicy and sweet and combines the freshness of fragrant herbs such as lemon grasses/leaves. This kind of herbs is popular to put in the soup,Tom yum goong which is made of stock and fresh ingredients such as lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce and crushed chili peppers. This soup is one of my favorite Thai foods but sprinkling of fresh chopped coriander leaves (Cilantro/Chinese Parsley) on it  is not suited for my taste buds but still, this kind of leaves have bring health effects to our body. A study found that both the leaves and seed contain antioxidants and  have antibacterial activity against Salmonella choleraesuis.

A New Page For Book 2012!

We will open the new book.
Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity
and
its first chapter is New Year's Day.

 With the beginning of year 2012, a new era begins and with it comes new hopes and new opportunities. Every year teaches us some of life's most important lessons, and with that learning we put our step forward into the new year. Many of us take New Year's Day to look back at the past year. Some of it we'll never forget. Some of it we'll want to forget. We draw resolutions if we want or need to change it. We make commitment by ourselves, aiming for a goal to achieve them by the next New Year.  If we succeed, we’re the better for it, and if we fail , we still have chance to try again for the next New year.  For this year 2012, I just want to improve more my Dutch and have confidence in speaking with it. I hope I can make it by the end of 2012 so I can find a better job or continue studying in a Dutch school with my Nursing degree. I do believe that nothing is impossible if I will strive hard for and accomplish it. 

My First New Year's Eve here at Holland

Fascinating fireworks, arousing parties with live musical performance and fun and laughter is what marks the beginning of a new year. Our celebration for New year 2012 is just a simple party with full of enjoyment and laughters. We invited few of our friends named Eric, Frank, Rene, Nanthicia and Dennis' father. Actually, our main plan for the upcoming New year is to celebrate with my cousin, Cristina and her family in Middelburg and later have short visit in Antwerpen, Belgium but when we heard from Dennis' father the he would celebrate alone in New year's eve as well as Dennis' friends, Eric and Frank, we decided just to be here at home and throw a small party with them. I prepared  Filipino dish - fried rice, Adobong manok with pineapple chunks, and embotido for dinner as requested by our visitors, Eric and Frank. They brought traditional Dutch foods, appelflappen  (small deep-fried pies filled with apple) and oliebollen (deep-fried balls with powder sugar) and some cocktail drinks. Father of Dennis brought a bottle of Champagne and his Yahtzee game where we could play while waiting for the clock to turn into 12. After having a great dinner, we decided to play a Yahtzee game. We had fun playing on it where you throw five dice and make more point scores to make certain combinations. While playing on the second round of Yahtzee game, Nanthicia and her boyfriend, Rene arrived  and brought with sushi and  Heineken beers. They arrived after dinner because Nanthicia need to work on that day. We had  a great time while waiting for the year 2012. Watching music videos, sharing experience, drinking, and eating some chips, sushi, toast. Pon was another sweet Thai friend of mine who was also the mother of the children I take care of, shared with us her home-made oliebollen and greeted us personally. At 12 o´clock midnight, we greeted each other a 'Gelukkig Nieuwjaar' and had toast of Champagne. After that, we went outside to watch firework displays

New year in Netherlands

Dutch New Year (Oud en Nieuw) consists of Oudejaarsavond (New Year’s Eve) on December 31 and Nieuwjaarsdag (New Year’s Day) on January 1. Families gather together at home to play board games and watch traditional summaries of the year by popular Dutch comedians on TV. The streets become deserted and even the bangs of premature fireworks taper off to an creepy silence as the midnight hour approaches. There is also a long tradition of eating foods, which contain a lot of oil or fat, such as oliebollen and appelflappen.

On the evening of December 31, may people hold or attend parties to celebrate the end of the past year and to welcome the New Year. In some towns and cities, public parties are held or public bonfires to burn Christmas trees are lit. At midnight, people kiss each other and wish one another "the best wishes for the new year" and may hold a toast with champagne or sparkling wine. In addition, many people and some organizations let off fireworks to mark the start of the New Year. In a number of towns and villages, New Year's Dives are organized. This involves taking a dip in the freezing cold North Sea at Scheveningen beach in the Hague.

 New year in Philippines

Additionally, midnight mass or media noche is one of the significant New Year traditions in the Philippines. Also, firecrackers are very famous in this place and have a big role in the New Year practice in Philippines. Skies is lit with divers sort of firecrackers which signifies prosperity and happiness all through the year. In the Philippines fireworks are recognized as “paputok”.

Christmas 2011

Sinterklaas is also for adults!

Traditionally, the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas on the eve of 5th December, with festive family parties when gifts and surprises are exchanged. This celebration is the most awaitng event of most children here in Holland, which children sing Sinterklaas songs and put their shoes next to the window or door, or, by the fireplace or heater, along with a nice drawing, a wish-list and a carrot or hay, and maybe a saucer of water, for the horse. Children are looking forward in the next day or on 5th December to receive presents from Sinterklaas if they are behave well, that is the idea believed by the children where Zwarte Piet keeps a record of all the things they have done in the past year in a book and that good children will get presents from Sinterklaas, but bad children will get chased by Zwarte Piet with a stick. Most of the parents, significant family members or friends are the only who put presents on their shoes or dressed like a Sinterklaas so as many children as possible get a chance to see Sinterklaas and get a present. The main reason for this is to teach the children what is good  and bad, and the thought of gift-giving or sharing with others.

Sinterklaas Slinger

Sinterklaas is basically for children but here in the Netherlands, adults also join on this celebration. Dutch people love to have fun with their family and friends especially making surprise to them. The element of surprise is a small gift may be wrapped in a huge box, or it may be hidden and require following clues to discover where it is. So yesterday, me and Dennis, including his father and brother, held our first Sinterklaas celebration because we would not have much time to do it on 5 December. Even we don´t have yet kids in our family, we decided to celebrate it just to have a family bonding with fun, enjoyment and surprises. I told Dennis that it would be more fun if we were going to play a game like what we did last year together with Dennis´friends. But I planned to divert this game which suited for us  that would make interesting and enjoyable for the father and brother of Dennis. I was thinking to make a Sinterklaas board game with full of consequences and rewards but I was lucky to find the same board game I was thinking of in one of the stores here and it was nice that it´s not so expensive to buy it. It was also the same game where some members of the Badminton club held their Sinterklaas celebration last Friday night. I bought also a Sinterklaas decoration (Sinterklaas slingers) to feel more the spirit of celebration. It was great that all of us were enjoyed and surprised last night. 

Sinterklaas cadeautjes

Sinterklaas board game

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Sinterklaas 2010 

The Glance of Royal Palace in Amsterdam

Last 23 of October, I had chance to go back and enjoyed strolling around the Amsterdam with my schat, Dennis. The main reason in going there was to attend the Expatica Fair  entitled "I am not a Tourist" at Beurs van Berlage which was located in the heart of Amsterdam. My friend was the one who had an idea to go there. She was one of the volunteers on that event, invited me and gave me two tickets. I was little bit curious what I could see, know or learn on that fair. We decided to go there so we could have something to do in the weekend, not only stay at home.

The Fair enriched some informations, resources and fun for the recently arrived, more experienced expats or for those long standing residents here in The Netherlands. Besides that, there were foods, entertainment and exhibitions featuring works by both Dutch and international artists. The new comers were really benefited from this event because they acquired a lot of informations in how they would establish their new lives here in The Netherlands.

Me and Dennis didn't stay longer in the fair because we wanted also to explore other things. We decided to have walk and go to the place around Amsterdam that we had not yet visited. Dennis asked where I would like to go and I chose the Royal Palace of Amsterdam because I remembered before that it was closed when I had my first visit in Amsterdam. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is situated on Dam Square. It is one of the three Palaces which the State has placed at the Queen's disposal by an Act of Parliament. It is used for Royal Events like reception of the foreign heads of state during their visits in The Netherlands, the Queen's New Year reception and other official receptions. 

   

I was amazed with its Empire-style furnitures and decorative arts which includes wooden and upholstered furniture, bronze chandeliers and original wall hangings. About half the collection was left behind by Louis Napoleon and others acquired during the later reigns of Dutch Kings William I and II. The Palace was originally built as a town hall for Amsterdam's administrative and judicial authorities. We visited 17 rooms, hall and galleries that feature the Empire collection, as well as hand-painted ceilings, grand marble floors and epic sculptures and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. There is also a free audio tour that tells about the history of the Royal Palace and it is provided in different languages. I chose English coz I'm still not good in Dutch. I did enjoyed in my tour around the palace. I took some pictures, not so much but at least I had proof that I took glance from the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.

 

 

 

 

 

Join the Club!

Every Friday night, we have our training in Badminton and we received our official membership card last Friday. So we can play as many as we want in the Badminton Club.  It became more fun that Dennis' father was also come with us in the training. He is really good in terms of sports. Even he is already old, he can  still play good and think wisely. Additionally, it's nice that I'm starting to become cordial with other players. I can now start conversation with them (more in English..of course!^^, ), unlike before, I'm shy to talk to them. I found out they were so amiable and congenial. I feel that I'm belong now in the club wherein we are gathering every Friday just to share our common interest which is the Badminton.

BBQ Party

Yesterday, the boss of Dennis invited us in their small Barbecue Party to have fun together with their other colleagues. His boss was the one who host the party and the idea in going there with their women (wife or girlfriend) came from his wife which made us (women) more enjoyable and had chance to meet them personally. Their house was strikingly beautiful with its mixed modern and old style. When we arrived there, everything was already prepared. Tables covered with white cloth, chairs, foods, drinks and grilling stand with burning coal were already set in the yard where you could find a small pond with different small fishes, outdoor fireplace and some candles, and lanterns on the tree branches. But it took two hours before we started to grill because we needed to wait for their two colleagues who got stuck in traffic jams. But still we had much good time in grilling, eating, drinking and socializing to each other.

Having a Despedida Party

When you are going to search for the meaning of "Despedida", it means farewell or Good Bye. Traditionally in the Philippines, a Despedida party (Farewell Party) is held for someone who will be away for a long time, like those immigrants. It is also same thing for those who will resigned or retired on his/her work. This party can be planned or organized secretly by one of your family, friends or workmates. Your family and friends would wish you good luck for your new endeavour in life.

In my case, I didn't have an intention to throw a Despedida Party coz it would cost you money and time to prepare. But Dennis was always insist me to have this party so I could have time to say 'Good Bye' formally to my family and close friends before I would go to the Netherlands. It was just simple party but memorable. Our family was complete that time and most of my close friends attended on this party. I was so glad and enjoyed on that day but still, I felt little bit of loneliness every time I would think that I would be far from them. It was really hard to say Good bye to them but I should need to be strong and try to be happy in facing my new chapter of  my life. 

A surprise gift for me from BUGIRLZ.

Dinner with the Thais

Thailand Dinner (Nov. 11, 2010) Slideshow: Ellehcar’s trip to Vlissingen, Zeeland, Nederland was created by TripAdvisor. See another Vlissingen slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.