The Mother Land (NL)

This past weekend I visited family in the Netherlands. It was so great to see them. I spent Friday with Hans, my cousin, working in the fish store. I actually put on the apron, cut up the fish, fried 'em up, and served the clients. Of course, everyone thought it was cool that an American girl who spoke some Dutch was in the store!

Friday night, after a hard day's work, I surprised my opa and oma. They had no idea that I was coming and so when the doorbell rang, I ran downstairs to greet them. They were so thrilled as was I. I started bawling because it was so overwhelming. After I recovered (smile) we sat at chatted and some other family came over as well.

Saturday morning I went with my aunt and uncle to their store and put in a good 4 hours of "work"/watched everyone else do their thing. After, we picked up my opa and oma to run some errands and visit more family. We went to visit Hans in his store and I had to see opa and oma fillet (1 l?) the hering for old time's sake. I enjoyed thouroughly all the memories they shared as we drove past their old house in Duin Dorp and they recalled the "olden days". Johan, my uncle, took us all to an Italian restaurant called "La Galleria" at night. Opa and I danced the fox trot to a 3 piece band and I pulled the "whipped cream trick" on oma. It was such a great night. The next morning I left early for home after getting a Starbucks in the airport! so good!!

The display case at Han's store...looks big...I shouldn't tell you that there's a mirror there as well.
Hans and I fileting fish.
Opa chowed down about 4 hering...you can imagine the heartburn he felt later!
Oma with her dainty fingers getting all dirty. She was so worried about smelling like fish, and to think that she did this for half her life!
The whipped cream trick.
At the store. Oma, Hans, Johan, Opa, and me!