Where My Story Begins
I grew up on a Dutch-Caribbean island where we were encouraged to be curious, imaginative, and fully alive. My earliest memories are simple and sensory: muddy feet, sandy weekends, family filling our home with stories and food, and traditions that crossed cultures and generations. My mother and grandmother were at the center of it all, shaping our days with tenderness, strength, and everyday care that taught me what love looks like.
A Childhood Woven with Wonder
Christmas in the Dutch Caribbean carried a kind of magic all its own. We celebrated both Sinterklaas and Santa, which meant welcoming Santa twice. On December 6th, with no chimneys on the island, we left our shoes by the front door, believing Sint Nicholas had a magic key to slip inside and leave our gifts. The night before, we wrote poems and sang Sinterklaas songs aloud, convinced that if he heard us, he wouldn’t forget our house.
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