Sinterklaas in Addis Abeba 9december 2013

On december 8th our Dutch Sinterklaas party was celebrated at the Dutch Embassy. Sinterklaas arrives usually two weeks before his birthday, December 5^th,  in the Netherlands and on the evening of the 5^th he and his black Peters distribute presents, through the chimney, to children that have been good this year. In many families it is a custom that you give each other presents, but more important than the present is the poem that accompanies the present, saying something about the characteristics of the receiving person, or about silly mistakes he or she made.  Instead of a poem you can make a characteristic disguise for the present, imagining something the person would like to have but cannot get. I once got a clock from Sinterklaas (my dad made it) with 20 hours in it instead of 12, because I always had so much to do, that I was always running short of time. 

Anyway, we went to the Embassy, also because we had been celebrating Sinterklaas here 24 years ago, in the same compound, with at most 16 Dutch and half-Dutch children, amongst which our own. I can’t describe you how different it was this time. 

At the entrance there was no way one could avoid the colourful beer-bar, there were a hundred Belgian and Dutch children and their parents and there was a lot of noise:  Sinterklaas songs were broadcasted, a bit too loudly for our ears ( but maybe we get old!). 

The children were asked to get ready for Sinterklaas, but they were only interested in the sweets: pepernoten. Robert and I looked behind the scene, where Sinterklaas was getting ready and that was fun!  There was the old embassy building, not any more in use now, and the garden we remembered, where I taught the 8 Dutch children Dutch on Saturdays.

We had the pleasure to meet the now grown-up children of our friends: Gertjan Becx ( his parnets worked here at the ALERT lerosy hospital 24 years ago)  and Harm Haverkort, son of my intervision group friend Bertus. This next generation is continuing the good work!  Time to talk with the Agricultural attaché  was pleasant and useful too.  All together a very pleasant afternoon.