Since housemate Jeff is Dutch, and Swiss, and occasionally British, we get to experience lots of new and exciting cultural traditions. This Sunday it was Samiclaus day (Sinterklaas Day for the Dutch, as Jeff explained it), a day best known to me due to the essay by David Sedaris in which he explains that the Dutch think that Santa Claus is the former bishop of Turkey who summers in Spain and arrives with an entourage of "six to eight black men" and who may or may not kick naughty Dutch children. Jeff pretty much agreed that this version of the story is correct.
What I did not know from the David Sedaris essay was that on Samiclaus/Sinterklaas day it is traditional in Swiss homes to have something called a raclette meal. The raclette involves a special grill with slots underneath the heating element to place slices of special raclette cheese that crisp instead of melt when subjected to broiling. This cheese is then placed on top of tiny boiled potatoes, chicken, peppers, brussel sprouts, and other things- some of which are grilled on top of the heating element of the raclette machine.
It is indeed a magical meal. For his generosity in setting this up and sharing his traditions with us, I am almost certain that Jeff will not be kicked nor almost-kicked by the former bishop of Turkey this year.
After dinner, people where kind enough to help me with my final project for negotiations by reading a case that I had prepared and acting it out. Since it is finals week (well, week one of two), all emphasis is on finals projects and studying (mostly for evidence).
Monday night I had dinner with Nell, my friend who was with me in China. We talked about how law school was a lot like just spending three years on a very long series of job applications.
I wish I could be there for fun things like this. Or fun things like moving Josh into his apt.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to not be doing a 3 year series of job applications, however. Eeesh. I do have two school apps due Saturday, though, so please feel sorry for me.