- 1 Nov 2005
- 446
- 39
From the Netherlands
Hello to all,
Thank you for letting me join the Japan forum. Although I now live in the Netherlands and I am Dutch, my heart stayed in Indonesia, the country where I grew up.
In former Dutch East Indies, today Indonesia, were many Japanese, also in the town Malang where I grew up. The Japanese were considered like all westerners, they had shops, they were hairdressers, photoshops and so on. But not many Japanese children went to the Dutch schools, most went to Japanese schools. While living in the Far East we learnt far more about our neighbour countries than the children in Holland.
Then the war broke out, and we met a completely different Japanese, a military Japanese. I don't want to go in details, I know that all wars are horrible, all I will say is that the Kempeitai killed my dad, and that is something that has hurt me very deeply.
Why do I like to join this Japanese forum? I have been to Japan in 2000 with a group all coming from former Dutch East Indies. It was good for us to see how people live and work in Japan, to see this beautiful country, to visit the place where the A-bomb fell in Nagasaki. And yes it was in Nagasaki I really
felt at home. I also have two Japanese (ladies) friends.
I now join the Japanese Forum, to learn about Japan, people's feelings, maybe also about the Japanese military during WW II.
I am certain that I am by far the eldest of you all, but I love to learn from you. I have started a website about my youth in Indonesia and the 3½ years of Japanese occupation in that country; www.dutch-east-indies.com
Thank you for reading my letter, wish you all a wonderful day,
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Elizabeth
Hello to all,
Thank you for letting me join the Japan forum. Although I now live in the Netherlands and I am Dutch, my heart stayed in Indonesia, the country where I grew up.
In former Dutch East Indies, today Indonesia, were many Japanese, also in the town Malang where I grew up. The Japanese were considered like all westerners, they had shops, they were hairdressers, photoshops and so on. But not many Japanese children went to the Dutch schools, most went to Japanese schools. While living in the Far East we learnt far more about our neighbour countries than the children in Holland.
Then the war broke out, and we met a completely different Japanese, a military Japanese. I don't want to go in details, I know that all wars are horrible, all I will say is that the Kempeitai killed my dad, and that is something that has hurt me very deeply.
Why do I like to join this Japanese forum? I have been to Japan in 2000 with a group all coming from former Dutch East Indies. It was good for us to see how people live and work in Japan, to see this beautiful country, to visit the place where the A-bomb fell in Nagasaki. And yes it was in Nagasaki I really
felt at home. I also have two Japanese (ladies) friends.
I now join the Japanese Forum, to learn about Japan, people's feelings, maybe also about the Japanese military during WW II.
I am certain that I am by far the eldest of you all, but I love to learn from you. I have started a website about my youth in Indonesia and the 3½ years of Japanese occupation in that country; www.dutch-east-indies.com
Thank you for reading my letter, wish you all a wonderful day,
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Elizabeth
