Sinterklaas will even visit the Canary Islands! Tonight we are all going to the south to see the sint. All the Dutch children have been invited to hotel Barbacan where the Sint will make his appearance. Alex behaved very well the last year, so there is a good change he’ll get a nice gift.
Update: Alex received his present together with a lot of candy. He liked the party a lot and it was nice seing the Sint arrive with a percussion bend, fireworks en the sint in a nice cabrio instead of his usual white horse.
In Spain even the schools are very commercial. If you want a photo of your kid and his entire class you are required to buy a photo package with a lot of extras. The photo package contains lots of small portrait photos, a calendar with photo, a couple of Christmas cards with photo, a key chain with photo and a few bit portrait photos.
Una cerveza por favor. This is a much heard phrase in Spain. It is the way to ask for a beer and it is one of the first sentences I mastered when studying Spanish.
On his way to school Alex often walks past a garage, and there the employees have developed a fondness for Alex. When he passes he will even get a little present at times. Alex often repays the favor by bringing some Dutch treat like stroopwafels or some other tasty treat.
Alex has adapted to the water. After a 
Alex loves to eat food he knows, and if the food comes with a little gift it makes him a very happy boy. Last weekend Alex did not want to go to the Wok. He wanted a happymeal, because he could see the McDonalds right next to the Wok restaurant. After checking with the Wok place it turned out that it would be no problem if Alex entered with his parents and his happymeal and ate it at the Wok.