John And Corie Bulsink Analysis
JOHN AND CORRIE BULSINK foot note 56
This couple were children during the war, living in Wehl a city of 50,000. John's father was a soldier in the Dutch Army, and Corrie remembers talkative uncles describing their war experiences. They knew there were some bombing raids in the early part of the war when many buildings, churches and other public buildings were destroyed. Every two weeks the Germans would search their farm house to see if they had any more food than was necessary for the food stamps they were issued. Citizens would walk miles from the city to their home to exchange clothes for beef, butter, etc.
In the spring of 1945, Corrie's mother saw soldiers coming to their house at Drempt and assuming they were Germans, …show more content…
This property, although it fulfilled their dream of owning their own farm, did not have a house, and consequently they had to live in a mobile home for several years. At first the excitement of owning their own farm was enough to sustain them, but after a year the novelty was beginning to erode and it began getting more difficult to live there. It was in this cramped house that they had Lucy, their first child born in Canada, which was a special moment for them. It was, however, a time when they experienced their first snow storm. In this snow storm, an unbelievable amount of snow covered their roof, and in fact they were not able to get to town for a week. It was a crazy, fun week that could have been dangerous but it was an incredible new experience for them. Gordon Johnson of Walters Falls blew out their lane of snow when John did not have a snow blower …show more content…
To them this meant becoming involved , outgoing and never being afraid to make new friends and taking advantage of opportunities. Rather than being quiet, isolated and “ trapped” within a Dutch cultural group, their idea of success is to become fully integrated members of society and taking advantage of everything that society offers. Their ultimate goal was to participate in Canada the way a native born citizen would. The couple and their two youngest children, however, did not become Canadian citizens.
Their children have become part of the Canadian landscape. John owns Johnny B' s Automotive and Car Care in Meaford. Doreen works in a bank. Lucy is the head administrator in a nursing home in Durham. Helen is married and keeps house for her husband who is a welder. Tony died in 2006 in a automobile accident. Will works on their farm and Carolyn is independent, working part time at Starbucks Coffee, and communicates on her cell phone.
Insert image ( children) here. Back row: Lucy, John and Doreen. Second row: Will, Tony and Helen. Front row: Carolyn. Courtesy of Corrie
This couple were children during the war, living in Wehl a city of 50,000. John's father was a soldier in the Dutch Army, and Corrie remembers talkative uncles describing their war experiences. They knew there were some bombing raids in the early part of the war when many buildings, churches and other public buildings were destroyed. Every two weeks the Germans would search their farm house to see if they had any more food than was necessary for the food stamps they were issued. Citizens would walk miles from the city to their home to exchange clothes for beef, butter, etc.
In the spring of 1945, Corrie's mother saw soldiers coming to their house at Drempt and assuming they were Germans, …show more content…
This property, although it fulfilled their dream of owning their own farm, did not have a house, and consequently they had to live in a mobile home for several years. At first the excitement of owning their own farm was enough to sustain them, but after a year the novelty was beginning to erode and it began getting more difficult to live there. It was in this cramped house that they had Lucy, their first child born in Canada, which was a special moment for them. It was, however, a time when they experienced their first snow storm. In this snow storm, an unbelievable amount of snow covered their roof, and in fact they were not able to get to town for a week. It was a crazy, fun week that could have been dangerous but it was an incredible new experience for them. Gordon Johnson of Walters Falls blew out their lane of snow when John did not have a snow blower …show more content…
To them this meant becoming involved , outgoing and never being afraid to make new friends and taking advantage of opportunities. Rather than being quiet, isolated and “ trapped” within a Dutch cultural group, their idea of success is to become fully integrated members of society and taking advantage of everything that society offers. Their ultimate goal was to participate in Canada the way a native born citizen would. The couple and their two youngest children, however, did not become Canadian citizens.
Their children have become part of the Canadian landscape. John owns Johnny B' s Automotive and Car Care in Meaford. Doreen works in a bank. Lucy is the head administrator in a nursing home in Durham. Helen is married and keeps house for her husband who is a welder. Tony died in 2006 in a automobile accident. Will works on their farm and Carolyn is independent, working part time at Starbucks Coffee, and communicates on her cell phone.
Insert image ( children) here. Back row: Lucy, John and Doreen. Second row: Will, Tony and Helen. Front row: Carolyn. Courtesy of Corrie