That will be all, for now

So as I am sitting behind my computer listening to my music and thinking about the last week I realise that this will be my last blog from Ireland.

Have not been in work for the last week which lets face it, is brilliant!!

Had my goodbye party last friday and there were a good 20 people there, shame only 5 people I knew... Now this was of course a brilliant night, first I went to see a friends apartment and that place, omg, was amazing. Am very jealous, as we walked down to the pub I walked past my old and first apartment and picked up a chicken fillet role, how ill miss those! Basically it was a little trip down memory lane.

In the pub after a few beers I started to realise that "damnit I wont see these people for a while" but tried my best not to cry... I got yelled at by a guy who was in the female bathroom.... I told him to "atleast wash his hands" after using the LADIES ROOM, and he told me to go:  "wash your face BITCH"... I didnt really know what to say and neither did any of the other girls in there but sure I thought it was funny anyways. Specially as there is never realy anything on my face I can wash. I am pretty sure freckles are there for life right?
Then people started going home and it was time for me to go and catch my bus, I failed miserable and ended up getting a taxi home from Heuston station to Kildare town. NOW for anyone wondering how much that would be and would it be worth it? NAH NAH NAH its not.... cost me 85 euros good thing I didnt get sick in the car because that would have added another 90 euros to my bill. Just for the record I didnt get sick at all.

Got to spend my last Paddys days which was spent with uncle Aidan so thats always a good one. Nothing weird though, sorry to disappoint my faithful readers, no falling down, no making "snow angels" on the ground, it was a pretty well behaved night. (dont be sad though, pretty sure the first week in Holland will give yous plenty of embarrassing (for me) storys).

As I am writing a long my cousin comes in and has to say goodbye because she wont be here tomorrow for our goodbye breakfast. Sad moments.

Yesterday as I was trying to wake up I got a call from and old colleague (week old) to say he was in town and if I wanted to go for coffee, now I said yes because we hadnt said goodbye yet. We ended up driving around the county and stopped wherever we thought we could get some good pics, he introduced me to a "fish-eye lens"brilliant little thing. I now want one. Nice and sunny day and probably the healthy-est thing Ive done in the last week!!

That was basically my last week here in Ireland. Of course there was/is (still) a lot of packing going on. Nothing fits in the cases so I might wear a lot of clothes. Marvin you might be looking for a round/fat lady coming out of the baggage hall.

Now things to look forward to back home? I have a job interview on Thursday, nothing fancy but sure it will do.

We have a summer trip to Italy to book and plan. Lots of plans to go to the gym and get the sexy beachbodys on, in all fairness we might just all end up looking like whales. I am lazy and I drag people down like that!!

Go out with the gang and just continue where we left off. Have to find one of the girls a boyfriend. I am good in embarrassing my friends too so shouldnt be that much of a problem to walk up to a guy and tell him about my pretty friend in the corner.

There are concerts to go to and festivals to try and get tickets for (that is wishful thinking btw).

But most of all what I want to be doing is travel around, go see other countries with the wonderful boyfriend, get sunburned (probably A LOT), get lost, end up sleeping in the car. All of these things are possible when youre me!!

Basically this post is a mess, sorry about that, so much stuff in my mind and things to be sad about but things to look forward to. Anyway next post will be from the flatlands but Ill still write them in English, no worries there.

Slán

Home and home

Home sweet home.

Is something a lot of people say whenever they get back from their holidays or after a stressful day at work.

What happens though if multiple places can be home?
For me, Holland is home because I was born there, went to school there and made my friends there. I feel at home at my aunts place and my grandmothers. Ill grab a drink from the fridge and wont even feel weird about it.
Home because I can cycle with my eyes closed and know exactly where to turn left or right. Home because corners or streets have a story or a memory attached to them. Home because I had my first job there and could spend my first hard earned money. Home.

Ireland for me is also home. Going on holiday every summer as a kid I always stayed with family and now their homes feel like mine, drawings and pictures on the wall remind me of summers, playing with the cousins. The sewing pieces my grandmother has on the wall that I used to look at every time I walked up the stairs. The football pitch where I won a price for “the most improved player of the week” (a little sad, I know). Climbing the round tower each year and waving at the family down below. My first own apartment ever, was in Dublin and that is an experience that I will never forget. First time away from the nest in a country you didn’t grow up, you learn so much about yourself and others. Ive learned who my friends are and that not all people are nice.

Both these countries have given me so much to remember and to think about that it is very hard to think about where do I want to spend the rest of my life? I love Ireland, the countryside, the fresh air, the pubs and the music. But I hate the public transport and the healthcare system. I love Holland mainly for my friends and family but I have also learned to appreciate the healthcare system and public transport, the fact that you can cycle nearly everywhere.

The first year that you are away from your home that you’ve always known is exciting, you are still discovering and there isn’t a lot of time for missing, the year after that you are more used to the country and start to get annoyed with things which will make you miss your first home.

I have decided to move back to Holland within the next month, I handed in my notice in work and am moving out of my apartment at the end of this week.

Am I making the right choice? I will never be sure but I think for the moment I am. I will miss Ireland and my family and friends that I made but for now Holland is where I want to be.

Maybe in 4 years Ill be back for more now that I know what I can expect but no one can know anything for sure.

Point is, that home is where the heart lies and at this point in life the heart lies in Holland.