commenting on how well I spoke Dutch, I got nervous, began doubting and made mistakes. At home, we also made it a point to speak Dutch with our daughter and I read Dutch bedtime stories to her.

For the newcomers here and for those who are here in Holland to stay, may I offer you a few advices.

Number 1: Try to learn the Dutch language as quickly as possible. Practice a lot and ask your partner to correct your grammar and pronunciation. Listen to the Dutch news, read Dutch newspapers, children's books and consult a dictionary if you do not know the meaning of certain words.

In the summer of 1974, my husband who was working for an airline was assigned his first foreign assignment in Lima, Peru. It was the beginning of a series of postings abroad. Our daughter and I joined him wherever he was posted. We went back to Holland in 1976. Our daughter was two years old and went to the local "peuter" class. We lived in the small village of Zwaanshoek and were lucky to have very friendly Dutch neighbours, also with children of the same age as our daughter. We would bring our daughters to class and enjoyed coffee mornings every now and then. We became good friends and until now contact and visit each other.

A second piece of advice: Cultivate friends not only with Filipinos but also with Dutch and other nationals. In so doing , you broaden your outlook and get a better understanding of each other's culture and values, thereby learning to appreciate each other's cultural differences.

In 1978, my husband was assigned to work in the Philippines for two years. Our daughter, then 4 years old, went to the Montessori School. In no time, she learned how to speak Tagalog and English fluently. Still we spoke in Dutch at home. Our daughter acted as interpreter for both her "oma" (grandmother) and my family when my mother-in-law visited us in Manila. Together with other Dutch and Belgian expatriates, we observed traditional Dutch holidays like "Sinterklaas" (Saint Nicolas) - the American Santa Claus) and the Queen's birthday among others.

After our wonderful stint in Manila, we were transferred to Lagos, Nigeria and lived there for four years. Our daughter went to the Dutch school. I worked as a volunteer music teacher conductiong my lessons in Dutch. I also gave piano lessons to children as well as adults of the expatriate community. I had a very talented Nigerian student as well. I am lucky in my chosen profession in that music is universal, and I was able to practice it wherever we were assigned.

From Nigeria we went to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. We lived in a compound built by a Dutch company with streets named after flowers like Gladiolenpad, Leliestraat, etc. Women are not allowed to work in Saudi Arabie but in the privacy of our compound I could safely give piano lessons and recitals. I was swamped with pupils, children and adults in no time at all. Our daughter went to the Dutch school where she completed her elementary education. She then entered Junior High School at the Dhahran Academy. Even in the desert St. Nicholas came to visit and brought gifts to the Dutch and Belgian children. I was always there with my keyboard to greet him and his entourage while the public sang the usual Sinterklaas songs. My daughter was also dressed up as Zwarte Piet. Once, My husband and I organized a Sinterklaasavond at our place with other couples of different nationalities complete with "surprises" and "gedichtjes". We first explained to the couples what the celebration was all about. My husband dressed up as "Sinterklaas" with my daughter as "Zwarte Piet". He handed out "pakjes" and sang Dutch songs which I taught our guests beforehand. It was an enjoyable evening and our foreign guests were given a taste of Dutch culture

From Saudi Arabia, we were transferred to New York. There we stayed from 1989-1992. We lived in Centerport, Long Island. Our daughter went to high school there, but after her 11th grade she decided she wanted to go back to Holland to finish her high school. So she went back and finished her I.B. International Baccalaureate at the Rijnlands Lyceum in Oegstgeest. In the meantime, I worked for a short while as pianist to a Junior Musical Theater Group in Huntington. I applied for this job after I saw an advertisement in the Pennysaver, a local advertising newspaper you get in the mail and was in the habit of reading.

A third advice: By developing the habit of reading local newspapers, you will know what activities are going on in your neighbourhood, the advertisements on what jobs are being offered, what your local officials are planning concerning community developments. Be an active member of your community.

I went back to Holland for personal reasons in the Spring of 1992. I found a place in Leiden. Here followed a grey period in my life which I would rather not go into too much detail. Suffice it to say I suffered a blow and at that time, I felt I was at the bottom of a pit

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