its happening

well, a lot is happening actually-- therefore i'm too busy to update lately! i started a new job 2 weeks ago, and learning new things is exhausting. i want to try hard and make this work, and i don't want it to end up like the previous job. the first week was hard, to learn a new procedure of doing things, but also learning new names/faces, a new work environment, and a new routine. my new job is a fulfillment administrator in the logistic department of a international corporation that sells computer related things. so far, things are going well. in the last few days i felt more at ease at what i was doing. now i'm actually completing something and accomplishing stuff by the end of the day, unlike before. the end of the day is the most stressful for me, as i try hard to get it all completed and deliveries created before i have to leave. the job itself is not that interesting or special, and is not the 'meaningful' or international type job i was hoping to find...but the people there are really nice and the work environment is professional and positive, so therefore it is a much better situation than before. in the first 3 days alone, i felt more respected as a human being and as a worker than i ever did in the last job. it makes a huge difference in my work ethic and confidence. i feel included in the company already. that is the way it should be. why did i stay for 1 whole year at the previous place? how did i make it?

evenings are busy once again, and i'm hardly home before 1030 (or later) every night. dutch classes keep me busy and tired...now i have no time between work and the class to go home for dinner, so for now until december, i will have to bring microwave dinners to work with me and eat on the go. tuesday is basketball, also starting at 7pm, so it will be hard to make it there on time. thursday is a possible free evening, but probably doesn't happen that way! gotta have social friend time too! on fridays i get to have a relaxed dinner with M for the first time all week. that's the way it will go until december.

lately i've noticed that dutch words are slipping into my english thoughts and conversation. this is not nice and doesn't help me at all! i'm losing more and more english vocabulary (some words this week i had problems with: ballerina, cafeteria, confirmation...and many others!)...and sometimes dutch words slip in on the conversation. just small words like "of" (or/if), "als" (if/when), and numbers....but its happening....too bad the normal regular fluency doesn't happen. i am low on dutch vocab as well, and am still unable to make sentences with complicated verb tenses, etc.

the sun has been shining almost every day for the past 2 weeks, which is amazing. i dont think that happened at all during the whole summer! but it has really helped my mood and get through these tough first two weeks of a new job and new routine. its supposed to switch back to 'normal' (rain and cold) tomorrow....the sunshine really makes such a difference, and you only notice that after you live in a place where it doesnt shine on a regular basis. that is one important reason why the US is a better living situation than the Netherlands! so i will go and enjoy the rest of the day while i can!