It’s hitting me that we live here now. When people ask me where I’m from, it’s a bit confusing. I first want to say the Bay area. But then I wonder if I should say that I’m from Amstelveen. And when I write or think about home, is home in Sunnyvale or is home in Amstelveen? Home used to always be Thousand Oaks in my mind. But then the last few years Sunnyvale was home and felt like home. Where is home when you move?  I guess now home is where my family is and when I say I’m going home, then home should be where they are now. But it’s still confusing. Does that make sense? Where do you consider home?  

So now that I’m settling into my new home, I have work to do. Today we brought the kids to their new school to meet with their guidance counselors and to meet with the health nurse. Did you know that their school has a full time health nurse every day? And she hired a dentist to come to visit the school every month to ensure that kids are having the proper dental care. We even got to see the dentist’s office on campus. How cool is that? And this nurse was so sweet and smart and has been loving her job for the past 21 years. I think I have a crush. I loved hearing her speak and explain what was needed and what was offered and what to expect. I think they will take care of the whole child at this school and I can’t wait fo them to start – for several reasons!    They gave the kids this cute little book that the students wrote to help new kids from all over the world feel welcome.

In between appointments, we drove around the town, getting familiar with the roads and shops and the layout of the  city and how everything connects. Our town is very quaint and there are a lot of services available.

After we got home, I had to make some calls. IKEA hadn’t called me back to replace the table with the missing parts from last week. Here you have to call a 900 number for customer service and they charge you 15 cents per minute!! Can you imagine that? And there is usually a wait time of 5 minutes!  UGh – I don’t really like that process but my hands are tied. They said they are sending me a new table by mail and it should be here soon. If not I should call back. I also need to call back to get the assembly guys back here to assemble it once it arrives. Details, details.  Not easy when they are speaking Dutch to me. Luckily they’ll try to speak English too. I’m so thankful for that!

I had a new experience today. I called to make a hair appointment as my hair is drier and frizzier than ever and I couldn’t even stand to touch it or brush it. I rode my bike into town and figured out the new locking system. Parking in the town center is challenging and expensive and biking or riding are much better options. Luckily, the hairdresser also spoke English and was very friendly. He blew our my hair straight and shiny and I love it again. The little things… 

Later when I was home and cleaning up the house, I looked out and saw these swans swimming on the canal. Aren’t they beautiful? I just had to stop to watch them.

Isn’t he pretty?

I got to talk to my family again today. They were camping together at Twin Lakes until the rain came crashing down so hard and it sent my sisters home a day early.  My mama also got really sick. Luckily, she only has a flu bug but when I called she was at the hospital with a fever and chills that must have scared them when it wouldn’t come down. When she heard my voice, she started to cry a little bit. This made me very sad too, as I can’t get back (home) to her very quickly as I normally could. But I know if I needed to, I could always go back. I felt the distance today. But am so happy to say that she was leaving the hospital today and was heading back to camp. She is such a strong woman! I love you mama.

Hope you all had a good day! xo