Dag 15 (22 Feb)

Because I got lost in the building, I was 5 minutes too late today. The Turkish girls Derya (Daarja) and Ayse (Aisje, you can also pronounce it as ijsje, you can hardly hear the difference) had already started the presentation of Turkey. Because there are 4 Turkish students and the country is so big, there will be 2 presentation on Turkey. Ayse and Derya discussed the festivals (badrams) in their country. They really know how to party in Turkey!
They also showed us the differences between regions in Turkey, especially folkloristic differences such as regional clothing and music.
Another thing they talked about was the entire engagement-wedding ceremony. This is a happening of a few years and is very interesting to know as a foreigner. Ayse is already engaged but she’s only getting married in 2 years from now. I asked if this was the same for everyone and it isn’t. Some people get married after 6 months, others after 2 years; it depends on circumstances.

In the afternoon Mrs. van der Leer took us to the Laurenskerk. They got a typical Dutch boy, Edgar, to take us there. He will guide us on more excursions.
The Laurenskerk is a huge church in the centre of the city. It was partially bombed in the Second World War, just like the rest of the city, and it was one of the very few buildings that was still standing. Well ‘standing’, the roof burned and there was a part ‘of’ the church but the rest was standing.
Just like most protestant churches this church was very ‘bald’ on the inside (at least, that’s what someone who is used to catholic churches thinks). There were a few organs, one of them being the biggest in the country.

After this excursion we went to Dudok. Dudok is very trendy (and expensive) bar/café in Rotterdam, very near to the Laurenskerk. Dudok is nationally famous for its cakes. To test if they were any good, I ordered ‘chocoladetruffeltaart’. Now, I have to admit, it was a good cake but a bit too much. Nice to know is that Dudok cake can also be bought in other Rotterdam bars and cafés because it’s just the best the city has to offer. Then you can read on their menus: “Dudok chocoladetaart”. It has to say Dudok because it has trademarked his name and 2 recipes. It is said that especially the Dudok apple pie is heavenly. I didn’t test it and will not test because I don’t like apple pie (unlike all the Dutchmen).
Just like in Hotel New York (where we went with the kickbikes) you could also have ‘afternoon tea’ in Dudok. Then you get a range of teas, specially selected by the chef and only made in one town in England, and a range of pies and other things to eat. It looks really fancy but you have to have time and money (€ 16,80 for one person) for afternoon tea.