It' s been another looooooooong day...

[naelany]

I only got a short nap this morning, trying to stay up most of the day so I could actually get to bed early tonight. Dustin's done the same thing and is now heading to bed (yeah I know, early lol). I'll be following suit once I'm done on here I think.

I tried searching online again, actually narrowed it down to a specific area, but that didn't help much. I know the Zaanstreek was there in the Middle Ages, I found that much out. Also found out that the town now known as Zaandam, didn't exist yet, but Oostzaandam and Westzaandam did. I've always had an affinity with that area, so I figured..why not. But! I haven't been able to get any further then that! It is so incredibly frustrating! I've got half my family looking in Holland, another Dutch friend's also checking into it for me and I've joined several groups just in the mere hopes of getting an answer! So far, to no avail though *sighs deeply*

I have found out some interesting things though, about life in general then, for the Low Lands anyway, not sure if it's the same way everywhere. Well...was...you know what I mean.
- dyeing wool and spinning wool was considered a woman's job, where as knitting was considered a man's job. Knitting was a main source of income back then
- a woman did not take her husband's name when they married, but retained her own name
- a woman could work the same jobs as men could, though mostly they stayed around the house. Men however helped out as much as women did in the housekeeping and taking care of children, as their work was mainly done at the house. Also, when a man died, it was fairly customary for the woman to take over his job and actually get his place, or a place of her own in a guild.

The knitting bit strikes me the most, I'll admit that. Given how people look at it as being too feminine these days *chuckles*. Don't get me wrong, the whole equal opportunity thing is also of high interest, but the knitting's just funny and interesting at the same time.

Oh, something else I wasn't aware of: Tsar Peter the Great learned (and I'm not sure of the right wording in English, since I got it off a Dutch site) shipbuilding in Zaandam. I think if I understood correctly though, that right after he'd learned the trade, he went back to Russia and was less then pleasant there. *shrugs* I couldn't get much from the site about that. Then again, I couldn't get much from it period.

*sighs* It's kind of sad to think that what I just wrote, is the most I've been able to glean from over a week's worth of internet searching *shakes her head sadly*. I've had a few sites stating certain books about the subjects though, but they're all Dutch and therefore not available to me here. But, since my family's also looking, I'm hoping they'll check them out. I can't really ask them too, seeing they're all strapped for money too and the only ones that have the time to go anywhere like a library, are unable to due to their health. *shrugs* We'll see where it gets me I guess. So far though, it's been quite disheartening.

Ok, I think I'll go to bed now. I'm getting tired and I'm starting to ramble and make typo's. Night!

Comments

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

She doesn't really :P we're on the name_that_song together and I got sidetracked into her journal. I'm Belgian, actually, but I've been studying in the Netherlands for about the last 6 years.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Gotcha! Coolness though, I'm certainly glad you stopped by ^_^ I really would appreciate any help you can give, because frankly I'm stumped at the moment.
*giggles* hey, think of it, you'd get a chance to go around the country and visit museums and stuff ^_~ I'm not sure, since it's been a few years, but if memory hasn't failed me completely, I think there may be more information found in both the Zaans Museum (in Zaandam, obviously) and the Historisch Openlucht Museum in Arnhem. The latter one's huge and has 3 different routes in it I believe, and they've got stuff from all over the country and different times and stuff. I wish I could go myself, but alas that is not possible. If you do end up doing something as silly as that though, take pics and post? Would love to see ^_^
I went when I was an itty bitty girl, so I don't remember much about it.

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

I love visiting museums :) haven't done that a lot around here. Maybe I can do a visit to Arnhem on one of my free weekends *ponder ponder*
Maybe a couple of ppl from my RPG society wanna join in, it would be a cool 'uitstapje'.

When do you need to finish your costume? Because I think books are easier :)

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Whenever I get around to getting the info, getting the material and can get to a place to sew it at lol. We're very tight at the moment, so it'll be a long while before all the material's together, which is why I'm starting early, to give myself that time, if you know what I mean.

I'm just peaking at your LJ and was reading something about sword fighting? Are you into SCA-type stuff too?

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

Yeah, heh, I know what you mean. Good idea, planning ahead is a wise choice.

I'm not sure what you mean by SCA, but I'm definitely hooked on to LARP after this weekend, and I already liked tabletop RPGs. If we're talking about swordfighting, yeah :) as soon as my ankle is healed I will be joining practices.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

This is what I mean by the SCA (http://www.sca.org/) ^_^, what does LARP stand for?
What's wrong with your ankle?

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

It looks familiar, but I don't think we have members on it. I'd have to ask around. LARP stands for Live Action Role Playing. Getting dressed up and acting without too much of a premeditated script!

I sprained it, and it's still in a soft cast. Need to wait another couple of days before it can go off.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Ouchie, hope it gets better soon then.

It sounds similar, I know there's a Dutch one as well, let me see if I can find you the link for it...

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Here it is (http://www.dielanden.nl/ver-geschied.asp)

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

Oy thanks :)

[naelany.livejournal.com]

You're quite welcome ^_^ Maybe something to work on for yourself while you're at it *giggles*

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

Stun all the Knights of my society with my knowledge and cunning *grins* sounds like a plan!

[naelany.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* yeah! ^_~

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

Darn, I totally forgot to ask about it. Btw, I added you :)

[naelany.livejournal.com]

forgot to ask about what???? *is slightly distracted at the moment*

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

The SCA. But I am in the LARP committee now!

[naelany.livejournal.com]

LOL! Oh cool! By the way, don't you have summer break coming up?

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

Myeah, but I'm not a regular student anymore so I have vacation like all the other 'normal' people.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

define "normal" ^_~

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

I can't ;) I'm afraid I'd be one of them!

[naelany.livejournal.com]

*laughs* if you can say that, the answer is most likely "no, you wouldn't be" *g* And that would be a good thing ^_~

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

Probably ;) I have this inkling that if I'm normal the world should be a different place.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

*laughs* it probably would be... but then, being different makes the world more...interestin ^_~

[ellinoora.livejournal.com]

That's very true *nods* and interesting = better than boring, obviously.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

of course ^_~