SOMSEN HORIZON

Volume 2, number.4 - November 1999

TOGETHER AND APART a two-part journey to Florida by Derk and Jacqueline Somsen Ben en Hannie Somsen, our parents respectively parents-in-law have been married for almost forty years. Of course we understand that being together for forty years is a considerable amount of time, but certainly not exorbitant. After all this happens regularly in every family and of course fifty and sixty year anniversaries are also possible Ben [396] and Hannie [397] will be married exactly forty years on December 16, 1999. Besides the party that will be held for the nearest family and friends they decided to organise this two-part journey with the sons and daughters-in-law. And that's what we did. In April, Ben went to Orlando for one week with his sons Derk [413], Jeroen [414] and Arjen[ 415], and Hannie did the same in October with daughters-in-law Jacqueline [2049], Djoeke [2053] and Babette [2056]. Ben and sons As tough guys we left on Saturday April 17 from Schiphol with a direct flight to Orlando, Florida. Arjen enjoyed the delicious Beer while Jeroen and Derk inspected the stewardesses. The overall conclusion was; OK. After all, they were 'All made in Holland'. Our emotional stability was tested when we collected our rental car. We found ourselves in a hall with approximately eight hundred people in a long line for the desk. We did not know that this was possible, and squeezed each other to make sure that we were awake. We would have to wait for a number of hours. Of course we were creative and caught a lost employee. We were finished in 15 minutes. We were very happy. The first day in Orlando was pure relaxation in the swimming pool of the Caribe Royal Resort Hotel combined with a short visit to the town. In the days after we passed: Epcot, Kennedy Space Center, Magic Kingdom, Universal studios and Island of Adventure. On Wednesday evening we paid a visit to Roger [2387] and Marily [2388] Somsen. Their son Jon [2389] and his wife Caren. Our common ancestors are Berend Somsen [224] and Hendrika Boland [302]. Their son Jan Hendrik [308] and his wife Hendrika Rauwedink [309] left on 7 July 1881 from Aalten to Baldwin. From this marriage 15 children were born, and absolute record in our family. So, Roger and his family already have almost 120 years of history in the United States. In front of Roger and Marilyn's house Orlando, FL. USA 1st row l-r Ben, Roger, Jon, Karen 2nd row l-r Jeroen, Arjen and Derk Derk and Jon knew each other from the reunion, but also for the others it was a nice evening where we got a delicious meal. In principle this was the only good meal we got this week. We admire the wonderful house and its situation right by the lake. Of course a pretty family picture was also made. Jon and Carol tipped us to go to Island of Adventure on Thursday, a new park besides Universal Studios. This turned out to be a perfect tip indeed. For a reduced price we could enjoy a number of previews It was really so new that some shops did not yet have floor covering.

Women together On October 2 the ladies faced the same journey. 'All alone', that is without the men, we leave to Schiphol. Especially Ben was worried whether 'his ladies' would manage alone. This was no problem at all. We really enjoyed a week with the four of us. The days were filled with visits to the different attractions that Orlando has to offer. Unfortunately we did not manage to make a family visit. Also the weather did not co-operate, only one day without rain, and that in 'Sunshine State Florida'. It did not spoil the fun. Of course we also contacted the home front. To be honest, we were also curious how the men would mange 'all alone'. We returned on Friday with a lot more luggage than on our onward journey, because we did do a lot of shopping and we could spoil our children with presents. This ended our America visit. Happy together in Orlando, FL. USA l-r Hannie, Babette, Djoeke and Jacqueline NATIONAL HABITS by Theo Somsen[227] While travelling through the endless and also the United States of Northern-America, we did not only meet a lot of nice people. We also learned about ourselves, because while travelling a mirror is repeatedly held up to your face. This made us conscious of numerous Dutch habits, which Americans deal with in a completely different way. In my diary I noted over 20 habits which Americans and Dutch deal with in a different way. No doubt there will be more and also more meaningful. Here I describe about ten: · From many houses the national flag is waving all year long; a habit that Dutch do not know. · Certainly in the countryside of the USA most houses are made of wood and not of stone like in the Netherlands. · Upon meeting, a lady is kissed only once; this contrary to the habit in the Netherlands to kiss each other three times. · Americans drink weak coffee. Dutch strong. · In the USA you drink your alcoholic beverages inside. A culture of pleasant outdoor cafes where one can also drink (e.g.) beer is unknown to the Americans. · The toilets look somewhat like a baptismal font; they are filled almost up to the edge with water. A rare phenomenon in the Netherlands, where you can study your accomplishments, if desired, before flushing it. · On the beaches, top-less bathing is only allowed for man. In the Netherlands a lot of women also take this opportunity. · In the country of advertisement you hardly see any stickers at the rear of a car. Compare this to the Netherlands! · Smoking is allowed practically nowhere, so Dutch devotees have to find creative solutions. · On cemeteries one often also writes the name of the partner of the deceased on the grave stone, together with the date of birth, but without a date of death. Maybe some writers on the other side of the ocean can add to this in the next issue? Copy is welcome.