Sure, I am Always Talkin’ Food, but I work as a volunteer Dutch language teacher for Ukrainian refugees on the side. For privacy reasons the names in these columns are fictitious.
‘Ik ben, jij bent, hij/zij is, wij zijn, jullie zijn… (I am, you are, he/she is, we are, you are)'
In chorus the group repeats the Dutch verb forms with the different personal pronouns.
Then I step up the difficulty level: ‘I am Dutch and you are?’
I make an inclusive gesture to the whole group. The early adopters lead the way: 'We are Ukrainians.’ The rest follows.
The makeshift classroom in the neighborhood library filled up quickly this morning. The class had to be interrupted time and again to add new chairs and stools.
An advertisement for free Dutch language classes on a contact site for Ukrainian refugees received no less than 120 responses. Fortunately, not all 120 responders have actually shown up. But there are a little more than is comfortable.
Some attendees speak English and other languages, most speak only Ukrainian.
I make them all repeat: ‘We are Ukrainians.’
‘But not Nadir.’ Galina points firmly.
The whole group is now looking at Nadir who is looking at me uncomfortably. I guess he is one of those African students who suddenly found themselves in the Ukrainian war and managed to get away despite the extra problems they encountered.
With the expression “Je suis Charlie” in mind, which has been popular since the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo, I reply, 'We are all Ukrainians'.
After class Nadir approaches me timidly.
‘Can I stay in this course?’ he asks in English.
‘Sure you do,' I reply.
‘But I'm not Ukrainian.’
I ask empathetically whether he studied in Ukraine when the war came.
'No, I am from Cairo, Egypt. I am studying aviation engineering at the university here in Amsterdam.'
I look puzzled, 'Then how did you end up in this class?'
'I saw an advert with "Free Dutch Lessons" on the internet.'
Rye with suet
In the Netherlands, the tradition of eating freshly baked rye bread (roggebrood) is not as common as with our eastern, northern and north-eastern neighbors (plastic containers with factory made rye bread do not count). Fortunately, more and more artisanal Dutch bakers like Fort Negen in Amsterdam rediscover the art of freshly baked rye. In the Ukraine they like their rye bread thickly spread with suet or lard (reuzel in Dutch). This can be bought from a good butcher, such as Louman. Top it off with some fried onions.
Fort Negen, Jan Evertsenstraat 31, Amsterdam.
Slagerij Louman, Goudsbloemstraat 76, Amsterdam.