What does it mean to be a Zwarte Piet?

You have to give out pepernoten [dime-sized gingerbread cookies popular during this time of year leading up to the celebration of the Dutch holiday Sinterklaas]. I have to go down the pretend schoorsteen [chimney]. Then I have to bloop, 'cause I [do a flip on the ground] like that. Then I also have to do this [another flip]. Zwarte Pieten also do this [a somersault]. They do this also [crazy dance with his tongue sticking out].

They hide the grote boek van Sinterklaas [Sinterklaas's big book, that supposedly keeps a list of all the children to whom Sinterklaas must deliver presents]. I don't know why they hide the book... They don't want Sinterklaas to find it, I guess... Oh, I know! 'Cause they don't need it so much. And Zwarte Pieten also do this [run around in a circle with his tongue out and then fall to be floor].

They have to ask who they want -- if they want pepernoten. Then I just have to give it to you. Daddy's supposed to give the home group a message: You can only a pepernoot if you ask you if you want you.

What do you think we should do with Oma and Opa?

[Elliot's grandparents are coming to Amsterdam this week, starting on Thursday. In preparation for their visit, it seemed appropriate to ask Elliot what he would want to do with his "Oma" and "Opa" while they're in town]:

Show them school. Inside of the school and the outside of the school. I want them to see everything. I'll tell them my friends. I'll tell them the juf [the teacher].

I'll show them all the things in my room. Maybe I can paint the outside of our house; that would be good. We can show them the leaf project [a special autumn decoration that Elliot did together with his Mom, making imprints of leaves on clay and them painting them to create a centerpiece for our dining room table]! We still have to put the candles in them.

Are Oma and Opa coming tomorrow?

[No, not until the day after tomorrow actually].

After tomorrow? After tomorrow?!?! That's not so many days? Oma and Opa! That will be such a surprise!