Welcome Sinterklaas and Piet

nieuwsbrief@looijetomaten.nl
6/12/2013
Tomato
Talk
Welcome Sinterklaas and Piet
By Cynthia Boekestijn
assistants managed to keep up with Americo and catch him but
by then, they had lost Sint and the other 2 assistants!
On Saturday the 30th of November, Sinterklaas and 3 of his
Piet and Americo did manage to find their way to Looije but
assistants visited Looije. Sinterklaas had heard about Looije
when they arrived, Sinterklaas was nowhere to be seen. Sint
tomatoes being especially tasty and he was curious to find out
had lost his way among all the large buildings and greenhouses.
more.
Luckily, the other 2 assistants managed to point Sint in the
right direction and they all finally arrived in Maasdijk at
With his horse and 3 of his assistants, all called Piet, he
the Nollaantje address. Inside, all mums and dads and their
travelled to the Westland area, looking for our packaging hall
children were waiting anxiously in the beautifully decorated
in Maasdijk. On the way here, Sint fell off his horse Americo,
canteen. The holy man was welcomed with cheerful Sinterklaas
after which said horse immediately galloped away. One of the
songs and the party finally got going.
Sinterklaas called all children to his side one by one
and talked to them. Of course, Sint knew exactly which
children were really good at dancing or handicrafts and
who was a real star at football. After all the children had
sat on Sint’s lap for a moment, they were given a handful
of sweets by Piet. In between, everybody sang and
danced with the assistants and even Sinterklaas tripped
the light fantastic briefly! After all children had been for
an audience with Sinterklaas, it was time to distribute
the presents and to say goodbye.
The Sinterklaas celebration was a great success! And,
Sinterklaas and his assistants have already told us that
they will certainly return next year!
100 visitors
Burgerveen sees an increasing number of visitors and
certainly led to some fun moments.
we can only applaud this development! The groups tend
to vary between 6 and 50 people but, from time to time,
After the presentation, it was time to go into the
there is a real peak.
greenhouses and tell the group a few interesting facts
about the tomato plants. Because of the size of the
A few weeks back, we experienced such an event;
group, Robbert and Erik had to stand on a chair so
we had 100 visitors all at once! To start with, this
everybody was able to see them and hear them clearly.
meant a few adjustments in the presentation room
but, eventually, everybody managed to fit in just fine.
Having that many people in the presentation hall
On to the next guided tour!
Thanks!
Last Friday, Josianne had her last working day at
Looije. Of course, you can’t say your goodbyes
without a farewell drink. Josianne is going for a
wonderful new challenge without tomatoes. A
tomato allergy makes working in the greenhouse a
little less pleasant ;).
Josianne, many thanks for all your efforts!
Nederlands!
My name is Marek. I have worked at Looije Naaldwijk
approach the students in a very positive way. If you
in various positions for more than 8 years; most
want to stay in the Netherlands for a longer period
recently as a ‘twister’. I started the Dutch language
of time, I strongly advise you subscribe to the Dutch
course organised by nl-jobs 18 months ago. I finished
language course. It has taught me an awful lot that I can
this language course with a positive result and feeling
put to very good use, both in my private life as well as
pretty good about it.
at work. And, even more importantly… these language
courses are free of charge!
I was asked to tell you all something about this course
and get you interested in taking part yourselves. Many
of you might think: why would I go on a course like
that? After all, I’ll soon return to Poland and I probably
won’t learn anything anyway….
When I first came to the Netherlands, my plan was
to stay for just 6 months. However, I have now lived
and worked here for no less than 10 years and regret
not having started the course a lot sooner. I met many
nice people, the teachers are very pleasant and they
Warm regards, Marek W.
Column
Stress in the Vermeulen home
Sebastiaan Vermeulen
from the presents and
sweets they are given.
Since the 16th of November, the Vermeulen home has
The price we all pay
been the target of a “stress virus”. This virus originates
is approximately 3
in Spain and is transmitted by TV images and visits of
weeks of stress and all
Saint Nicolas. It has an incubation period of less than
that goes with that.
5 minutes. As soon as images of Sinterklaas and his
So does this have any
Zwarte Pieten (‘Black Petes’) have been spotted, the
benefits?
virus strikes almost immediately.
In the Vermeulen home, we do consider it worth the
Symptoms of this virus are general nervousness,
trouble. It is fun to see how the children are absorbed
agitation, waking up early and having trouble sleeping.
by the story of Sinterklaas. They watch the Sinterklaas
The symptoms are worsened by placing a shoe by the
news on the telly every day and talk about how the holy
fire and through singing Sinterklaas songs. By giving
man’s assistants Zwarte Piet and his colleagues made
the affected persons some attention and regularly filling
a mess of things once again. On certain days, they are
the shoe with a small gift or some sweets, the symptoms
allowed to place their shoe near the chimney and they
are reduced. All in all, the virus causes stress in children
always add a carrot for the horse and sing a song. The
up to the age of about 8 years, before disappearing
next day, there’s lots of excitement when they find the
without a trace after some 19 days of consecutive
shoe filled with sweets or a little gift and of course
suffering .
Zwarte Piet has usually played a prank.
It is certainly worth considering what makes it all
The whole period is rounded off with ‘Pakjesavond’ on
worth while. We are the ones that keep the dear Saint
the 5th of December, when gifts are exchanged, after
alive. We enjoy seeing how children derive pleasure
which peace in the house returns until next year.
BIRTHDAYS
Wessel Sloof
8-12
Pavels Semjonovs
13-12
Ron van der Lugt
10-12
Katarzyna Gozdz
15-12
Damian Klimczyk
10-12
Michal Latosinski
18-12
Joanna Chmielewska
11-12
Grzegorz Krzysztynski 19-12
Urszula Maciejewska
12-12
Michal Kalus
Andris Pampavs
13-12
19-12
What keeps you busy...
Paulina Dębowska
Hello! My name is Paulina Dębowska. I am 29 years
people over here and every day brings something new.
old and originally from Sochaczew, a town in the
Masovian Voivodeship (Poland). Currently, I live
... in the world?
in Vlaardingen. I have worked at Looije for over six
I keep myself up to date with all news from Poland
months.
as well as the rest of the world. Recently, I was
particularly shocked by the disaster in Latvia. Kind
... in your personal life?
Polish acquaintances who were very enthusiastic
about the Netherlands advised me to come here.
I don’t regret that decision at all. I really like the
country and I am thinking about settling here for
the rest of my life. That is why I have started learning
Dutch. It is difficult but I am convinced that I will do
better as time goes by.
In my leisure time I like to relax by listening to
the music that I collect. I also love swimming and
watching a good film and my favourite animals are
black cats.
... in your work?
My job consists of packaging tomatoes in boxes
and on dishes. I have got to know many interesting
regards to everyone!