It was difficult for me to come up with an idea for an Initiative Project, but in the end it might have been because I was trying to come up with something too big.
I was playing around with ideas for projects to do with the children, or to work together with other volunteers, or to organise something for the workers at the organisation I worked at. That last one stuck with me, and, combined with the realisation that during my last year I had been very busy with discovering what the Dutch culture really means to me, I decided to do a small Dutch cultural event.
During my EVS I have done a cultural evening on a few occasions, but never at my own organisation. I requested the opportunity to do this event, and right before I left I could use some of my time for the event I called ‘Räägime Hollandist”.
I invited co – workers and prepared traditional Dutch sweets, for example ‘poffertjes’, which are little pancakes, made in a special pan. I also tried my hand at ‘tompoezen’ but the result was so entirely different that I just called them ‘Esther style’.
During the presentation I explained the difference between Holland and the Netherlands, discussed the rules around marijuana legislation, challenged the listeners to try to pronounce the Dutch ‘G’, and held two small quizzes. The contestants could even win a little prize, which was of course; Dutch cheese!
All in all, the small event was a fun way to teach others something about my culture, and to discuss the differences between our cultures. And, maybe more importantly; the snacks were good 😉
Esther stayed in Estonia for 12 months within the project “Be the Change II” which is funded by Erasmus+ European Voluntary Service program.
