As I am doing my research on my World War II novel set in the Netherlands, I am discovering something very interesting. I’m a second generation American. My grandparents came from the Netherlands in the late 20’s and my dad was born a few years after that. What is surprising to me is how much of the culture we have retained. As I learn about what they are like as people, I’m finding how similar I am to them. Though second generation, I’m shaped by my grandparents’ native country. I think I’d feel quite comfortable there. I’m a neat freak who likes everything just so. I love plants and my house is full of them. I remember when my dad visited there, he commented on all the plants in my cousin’s house. They are big potato eaters and I love them, too. The list goes on and on. I’m really feeling very connected to my Dutch, and especially Frisian, roots. (Friesland is a northern Dutch province with its own customs and language.) Even if this novel doesn’t get published, because I wrote it I’ve learned much about where I came from and the influences that shaped who I am today.
Very neat!
That’s so interesting, Liz. I found exactly the same thing when we visited the UK last year. I am 3rd/4th generation South AFrican, yet so much British culture remains in us. My grandmother always expressed such concern over the fact that we didn’t wear an undervest all year round! If you know what the summer heat is like here… well, I’d probably die with a vest on! but when I went to the UK and experienced the weather there (in contrast with ours) I can understand why the old people wore vests all the time!
Actually, with the dutch heritage, we might actually have some things in common (I have a bit of Dutch blood too, and my husband is half Afrikaans which is of Dutch descent!)