Hallo!
Amsterdam is crazy! It is absolutely ginormous, and I have pretty much no idea where I am most of the time. We have a super "gezelig" (There isn't really an exact translation for that one. Gezelshap means companionship, if that makes anything clearer.) layout in our 4-man apartment. We got our Christmas tree already set up, and it feels just like a house. We live with the Zone Leaders, Elder Dearden and Elder Bruneau.
Elder Bartolini is my new companion. He is from Peru, and he is a really cool and funny guy! He isn't really a lover of the rules, so sometimes we clash a little on that, but I think this is going to be a really fun transfer. When I came in all of our investigators were Spanish, so I am hoping to pick up some Dutch investigators so I can actually do something :). His Dutch is pretty minimal, so I end up doing a lot of the talking on the doors. My Dutch has really gotten a lot better, and rarely do I not understand people.
I have quite a few photos, so I will let them do the rest of the talking.
Sinter Klaus came to Nederland on the 11th, so we were surprised while we were knocking with a hundred or so "Zwarte Petes" (I looked this up just in case you are curious like me: The Zwarte Piet character is part of the annual feast of St. Nicholas, celebrated on the evening of 5 December (Sinterklaasavond, that is, St. Nicholas' Eve) in the Netherlands, Curaçao and Aruba and on 6 December in Belgium and Luxembourg, when sweets and presents are distributed to children. The characters of Zwarte Pieten appear only in the weeks before Saint Nicholas's feast, first when the saint is welcomed with a parade as he arrives in the country (generally by boat, having traveled from Madrid, Spain). The tasks of the Zwarte Pieten are mostly to amuse children, and to scatter pepernoten, kruidnoten and strooigoed (special sinterklaas candies) for those who come to meet the saint as he visits stores, schools, and other places. Traditionally Zwarte Piet is said to be black because he is a Moor from Spain. Those portraying Zwarte Piet typically put on blackface make-up and colourful Renaissance attire, in addition to curly wigs, red lipstick and earrings. In recent years, the character has become the subject of controversy, especially in the Netherlands.)
I have some super nice winter socks, but everytime I wear them they rip out my leg hairs. So I decided to shave them... I won't be wearing shorts for a while :)
Knocking in Hoofdorp. (Old area)
Last photo of the beautiful Haarlem station :(
Elder Ocampo posing in the forest on the way to an appointment :)
First Photo of Amsterdam! The Centrum is amazing!
Elder Bartolini posing with an extra large leaf :)
Sinter Klaus came to Nederland on the 11th, so we were surprised while we were knocking with a hundred or so "Zwarte Petes" (I looked this up just in case you are curious like me: The Zwarte Piet character is part of the annual feast of St. Nicholas, celebrated on the evening of 5 December (Sinterklaasavond, that is, St. Nicholas' Eve) in the Netherlands, Curaçao and Aruba and on 6 December in Belgium and Luxembourg, when sweets and presents are distributed to children. The characters of Zwarte Pieten appear only in the weeks before Saint Nicholas's feast, first when the saint is welcomed with a parade as he arrives in the country (generally by boat, having traveled from Madrid, Spain). The tasks of the Zwarte Pieten are mostly to amuse children, and to scatter pepernoten, kruidnoten and strooigoed (special sinterklaas candies) for those who come to meet the saint as he visits stores, schools, and other places. Traditionally Zwarte Piet is said to be black because he is a Moor from Spain. Those portraying Zwarte Piet typically put on blackface make-up and colourful Renaissance attire, in addition to curly wigs, red lipstick and earrings. In recent years, the character has become the subject of controversy, especially in the Netherlands.)
I have some super nice winter socks, but everytime I wear them they rip out my leg hairs. So I decided to shave them... I won't be wearing shorts for a while :)
Knocking in Hoofdorp. (Old area)
Last photo of the beautiful Haarlem station :(
Elder Ocampo posing in the forest on the way to an appointment :)
First Photo of Amsterdam! The Centrum is amazing!
Elder Bartolini posing with an extra large leaf :)
I love you all! Have an amazing Thanksgiving!
Love,
Elder Thornton
Love,
Elder Thornton
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