Holland Days

Watching the parade...it's a bit of an odd shot, but they both LOVED it, and Mekaia clapped and waved almost the entire time, even though there were no clowns, music, or other exciting things...just floats from the provinces of Holland.
Groningen is the province my Opa is from...

We went to Lynden on Saturday to celebrate Holland Days and to get in touch with our Dutch side (not Nu and Dad!). I wanted to know more about the Dutch culture, food and dancing. Well, we had a really fun day, but I have to say, I was a little disappointed by the dullness of my cultural heritage. Maybe in Holland it's a bit livelier.

The costumes were great, loved them, and the flowers are a great part of the culture too.

The only food that was there was cheese, and I don't recommend buying anything with the label "Squeaky Cheese" after samping that. It really does squeak.

The Gouda was good though.

The Dutch don't seem like an exceptionally musical culture, although there was an accordion troupe. Enough said.

The Klompen dancing was not as unique as I thought it would be...basically square dancing in wooden shoes. And the teacher called it 'playing' instead of dancing for those who might have trouble with the d-word. Funny, funny. After watching the dances, I further understood my own lack of aptitude with graceful body movements otherwise known as dance. I don't think it's a cultural trait.

So, we had a lovely day with Mom and Dad, ate hamburgers on the grass in downtown Lynden, got back in touch with our Dutch roots (somewhat), ate funny-tasting cheese, and successfully got Lesina's head unstuck from between the bars of the fence at the koi fish canal in the Dutch Village Mall. And no one was detained at the border.