Winter sunset

Winter sunset
Originally uploaded by dutchlop.

I was looking thru my old pics on flickr, and i realized that one year ago today, was my 2nd leg of my drive back home to WI. I can't believe I left DC a whole year ago. That part of my life is further away by the day now. While it was an exciting time, as i was moving to the unknown...it was also a sad time when i had to say goodbye to some dear people who became my good friends over those two years there. They helped me through some tough times, but I also shared many good times with them too. I miss them a lot. And I also had to say goodbye to those experiences I had there, and to basically: my youth. I was moving from the single life to the 'samenleven', the life of living together. of never being alone without my loved one. It has been nice, this past year, to finally be with M, to have our life together. But it has been also difficult, as I have had to adjust to a new life and new ways of doing things, not only just adjusting to living together. And I haven't had the privilege of having close friends nearby as a support group. In that sense, it has been hard and sometimes lonely time, even though I don't consider myself 'needy'. But as the 1 year anniversary of my move to the Netherlands is approaching soon, I can see how much I've experienced, how much I've learned, and while not necessarily the track I would have thought for myself even 7 years ago, it is the track I'm on. The hard things that come my way, whether my struggle with the language and culture, the job situation, and my own internal struggles, it has been an interesting year and worth it to move here to be with M. Tomorrow is our 6th anniversary. Time seems to go faster every year.

This picture was taken somewhere in western Ohio last year, as I was driving west towards WI. It was a nice drive thru the rural US, and while I was sad that I had just left some good friends and good times behind me, the drive gave me lots of time to reflect on the past and what i was leaving that for and what I was about to do.

I really enjoy driving, and I miss being able to do that. That is my alone time, my thinking time, to sit back and watch the world go by.

Revisiting the past

Vivi, Virginia, me

Virginia, Jill, Tara

Richard and his tower of empty beer glasses

On Tuesday I was able to meet up with some friends of mine from 5 years ago...that I met here in Utrecht as a student. Virginia (Argentina) and Jill (US) are here for a week to visit Utrecht again. Tara (US) has also lived here for awhile. Richard and Martin (Dutch) were 'mentors' in the ESN group. And of course, Viviana (Costa Rica), lives here as well. It was very strange to see them again...just like old times! We met up in Mick O'Connells pub, where we did every Tuesday back in 2002 for International Student night. It was nice to catch up...and to have friends (of my own) around! After several beers, I finally left at 1245am. Which means it was a fun night! :-)