Idyllic letters from Boerdonk

Just before last week’s trip to California I ordered three copies of an, I am sure to most people, unknown book. One for me, one for my mother, and one for my father-in-law. This book has some almost implausible personal connections: the author now resides in San Marcos, Texas (where my father-in-law was born), but writes about his experiences in Boerdonk, the Netherlands (where my mother was born).

The book, called Letters from Boerdonk, is written by Gary Layne Smith, a retired Air Force Chaplain who was sent overseas after September 11th. The collection of letters depicts his observations on living in the Netherlands through baseball-filled and very American eyes.

The observations are sometimes too idyllic, claiming for example that Dutch kids don’t play with toy guns. (Trust me; I played with plenty of toy guns). But overall the environment and imagery he recounts are very recognizable; in some cases I even know the people mentioned in the book. I have always found it hard to describe the intangible differences between the Netherlands and the United States as they are very much felt in ambiance and atmosphere, but Smith does a wonderful job of highlighting some great examples.

I didn’t buy the book expecting the Great American Novel. In fact, the writing is not my cup of tea. But that’s not at all the point. I am enjoying the book nonetheless; it’s easy and quick to read. There is a Dutch word to describe the feeling I associate with this book and the Dutch claim it cannot be translated: gezelligheid.