“A strange thing happened to me on the way to 3 years in Holland” — @DanMC

I heard that some guy wrote an entire book on twitter recently, 140 characters at a time.

I thought that was what was happening this morning when I saw @danmc from TunnelPoint tweeting away about SinterKlaas. There was a steady stream coming through.

It is fascinating enough content that I thought I’d publish it here so you wouldn’t have to filter for the entire story. Funny thing is, people started responding to Dan’s story and CORRECTING him, in-line! I’ve always said it was about community.

Enjoy the story.

(@danmc said:) SinterKlaas arrives in Amsterdam today, anyone interested in how totally weird the Dutch are should spend some time googling THAT!

(@danmc said:) SinterKlaas is != Santa Claus, not at all, some co-incidence though eh? this guy gives kids presents on the 5th of December…

(@danmc said:) Proof that they are not the same person comes from the fact that SinterKlaas comes from Madrid, on a boat, and is dressed like a bishop.

(@danmc said:) However, I dont know anyone in Madrid who has ever heard of this character, confusing things further, SinterKlaas has “helpers”

(@danmc said:) These helpers are called “Zwarte Piet”, or “Black Pete”, black because they are covered in soot from….where? The Chimneys of course!

(@danmc said:) So, these “Zwarte Piets” run around giving people Pepernoten, or weird little funny tasting biscuits, but I’m talking LOTS of these things.

(@danmc said:) Lots as in we still have some left over from last year, as in if you ate them all you would be like that wafer thin guy from Monty Python.

(@danmc said:) So, you still with me? Anyway, to me, this sounds a little bit like some Dutch guy went on holiday….

(@danmc said:) Had a little too much to smoke, was told the story of Santa Claus and then TRIED to bring it back to Holland…

(@danmc said:) The rest is history…

A note from Mark: This is where it gets interesting. Now people start jumping in and correcting Dan.

(@mariannerd said:) @danmc You left out the best part… the “roe” and the “zak van Sinterklaas”. Did you know he’s actually a Turkish Bishop! Confusing I know!

(@Mylonas said:) He came from Turkey (Myra). In that time many Greek lived there.. we’re both right. (oh Dan what have you started!)

(@danlewisnet said: ) @danmc lol fantastic story.

(@sympmarc said:) @danmc: Your tweet stream about your photos is intriguing. Blog it!

(@Mylonas said:) @danmc e was Greek not Turk! Agios Nikolaos his real name! :)

(@danmc said:) Marianne, Thomas, you guys work this one out…

(@wictor said:)@danmc awesome, sounds like a story daddy tells the kids after he spent a whole day in a coffee shop…

(@bluedude said:) @danmc Wrong again, multiple European countries have had a Sinterklaas tradition.

(@danmc said:) We are all here to learn.

(@EUSP said:) @danmc Dan, I will be consolidating all this into a short story and publishing on EndUserSharePoint.com Fun stuff.

(@sympmarc said:) There we go!

(@danmc said:) @sympmarc Its therapy, the Dutch make me feel like I’m the crazy one, I know I’m not, and neither am I….

(@danmc said:) @EUSP Haha, could have a running series titled “A strange thing happened to me on the way to 3 years in Holland”