DUTCH STUFF 1.0...

Just something I put together on my last day of work. Not much work got done today as I couldn't stop daydreaming about going to The Netherlands. much of the day was spent thinking about Vondelpark, cheese, riding bicycles, the canals. If I don't physically slap myself I just go on and on, so best some slappage be taken out on me. 

On a last note, go Dutch or go home friends...

THE GREAT...

Here's to remembering the Dutch painter and etcher Rembrandt van Rijn. For those of you who are wondering, yes I have been on google today and thats how I know (I dont have the memory to remember artists 407th Birthdays)

DAYS ARE DRAWING CLOSER...

From today, it's exactly a month till I fly out to The Netherlands, and excitement is starting to build.I received my flight confirmation a few days ago knowing that I am flying Emirates, via Dubai obviously, and am over the moon that I get to take a 30kg bag! I sound like such a girl when I say that but I honestly don't know what to pack so my entire cupboad will have to tag along with me.

It's also exactly 1 week till my work contract finishes, so today marks alot of count downs. From there, its buyig a couple of necessitys, a huge bag being one of them and getting hold of my unabridged birth certificate ( which has taken 2 months already). You have to love South African home affairs.

Some of my Dutch friends have this saying, ' Hopakeetjies' ho-pah-kay-chis, which basically means 'Lets do this/hell yeah'. But according to them its hards to translate, you have to truelly experience what it means. I only hope I will get the chance to experience a Hopajeetjies moment...maybe even a few...

CIRCA 1999...

Here you have it! I suppose I was always meant to travel to Holland and have an adventure, wouldn't' you say?. This photo actually dates back 15 years ago, when I did a presentation on Holland for my Grade 3 class. I remember it like it was yesterday! Some of the souvenirs I showed were ones that my parents brought back from a trip to Amsterdam and I still have the ceramic houses that now sit on my mantelpiece. In less than a month I wont need to look back at this image to remind me of Holland, all Ill have to do is look out my window...

OFF TO THE ' NETHER' REGIONS...

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holland_-_Twee_molens_1900.jpg

For a lot of my friends and family, they may not even know that I am now OFFICIALLY going to the Netherlands. And until I'm there, I'd actually like to keep this somewhat of a surprise.

It's been quite a process filling in all the application forms, emailing through passport documents and the endless information about my interests, hobbies and family life. Because I am actually still an  8 - 5 working girl, all of this has to be done when I get home (and in an exhausted state).

But It has all been worth it!. I was told yesterday that the family that was interested in me, and whom  I had a Skype call with on Sunday night, Officially want me as their Au pair. Makes 2 of us then.

They are located in a small town just outside Utrecht, and about 40km from Amsterdam.

I'm still letting this all sink in so don't doubt that I'm not excited. Because boy oh boy could that be the farthest thing from it...

IF YOU BLINK YOU MIGHT MISS IT...