Thursday was spent travelling through Wallonia (featuring the most upscale gas stop we've ever seen) to our hostel in Luxembourg. Time on the bus was wonderful, but the highlights of our day clearly were two:

Midday was spent close to Nijmegen at the Indisch Herinneringscentrum Bronbeek, the restaurant Kumpulan, and the Museum Bronbeek. There we were received by members of the Dutch-Indonesian community, several of whom were scholars. With great hospitality they served us food, drinks and conversation, and offered lectures on Dutch-Indonesian identity, integration, and history. We learned not only about Indonesians in the Netherlands but all over the world.

According to Etzinger, "Classical integration theory argues that immigrants preserve their food habits long after they have become assimilated into their new surroundings" (233). Certainly, the Dutch are especially thankful that their cuisine has been seasoned by Indonesia. Rijsttafel, a smorgasbord of Indonesian dishes served over rice, has become a favorite of both the Dutch and its Indo community. Especially interesting is its place in colonial history: only the imperial Dutch elite could afford and would have the gumption to have dozens of dishes served all at once. Rijsttafel was once a display of power, domination, and exhibitionism. Now, it is only delicious.

The second highlight - for those of us with restless feet - was roaming Luxembourg into the blue hour. A breathtaking excitement stirred in all of us as we crossed the fortified bridge, flanked by striking views of the valley, into the heart of the city.