3 Three weeks, three countries and three birthday parties in a row

My new year

I just realised that within the last three weeks I have been in three countries: SA, UK and NL. It was my birthday in January, so why not celebrate my birthday in three different countries? Just before I left South Africa, I organized a combined ‘farewell party’ and an ‘early birthday party’. It was a very special evening.  Andrew, my parents and brother from the Netherlands and my in laws, including my brother and sister in law from Singapore, were there as well.

Then a couple of days later, I flew to the UK. I celebrated my birthday with my family in law in London. I also invited some South African friends who live here.  My family in law made me feel very special on my real birthday. They decorated the house with balloons in the colours of the Dutch and the South African flag. They also wrote a lovely text: ‘Gelukkige verjaardag Cora’ on a heart balloon. On top of that, there was a chap knocking on the front door. He put a huge bouquet consisting of one hundred flowers in my hands. And out of his car also came a big box of chocolates and a beautiful card with a lovely text, signed by my husband.  So special!

During the last weekend of January I flew in less than an hour over the ‘Noordzee’, to the Netherlands. It was my mum’s birthday.  So I had my ‘’birthday after party’’ as well. I enjoyed spending time with my own family and friends. I can’t say I feel lonely. No, I feel very celebrated with all special people around me in different countries! And I love Skype, Gmail, Whatsapp and Facebook, so I can easily stay in touch with the world but most of all with Andrew.

Last year I had a special birthday too. I celebrated my birthday with my parents, my brand new husband and some friends from Cape Town. We were still in Cape Town because of our wedding day. It was awesome.

I have come to realise that I am very fortunate with all great people around me. This and also Skype, makes starting off, being without Andrew for a little while, in a new country quite bearable. When my Dutch family and friends asked me loads of questions about the transition to the UK, I realise how helpful is it to have a network of such loving and encouraging people around me. I do have my ups and downs as I am taking little steps in the process of finding a house and work, but my family in law who I am staying with and all South African friends who took this step as well, are such great support!

My new church

Joining a church is very helpful to meet new people in a new city. I recently started joining a church in the area Andrew and I would love to live and to work.  This was the church where my sister in law used to go to when she lived in London. Andrew is friends with the senior pastor and knows some people there. So when I introduced myself, some people would say ‘I have met your husband before…’ When Andrew and I were in London last September, I met the pastor for coffee.  Last Sunday after church, he invited me to have lunch with him and his wife.  That was so kind of them, they are great people. They gave me good advice about finding jobs in that area. They also invited me on the annual church weekend away for the following week. I thought what a nice opportunity to connect with new people. So I got over my insecurities of barely knowing people and joined the church for the full weekend. I got offered a lift to the venue by a couple from the church. That woman works at a school, so there wasn’t any silence in the car as we drove to the venue. She gave me all sorts of advice about schools in the area. During the weekend I met so many new people. The programme was full of fun activities, and sessions.. So when I went to the sessions or the restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I just asked ‘is this seat taken?’ and introduced myself to people and started chatting. What a great way to get to know people and to let them know that Andrew and I are looking for jobs in that area. Nowadays it is all about networking. The funny thing was, that there was a livestream during the sessions. So during tea breaks I quickly went to my hotel room, switched on Skype and chatted with Andrew, asking him what he was thinking about the content of the sessions. Although he was 10.000 kilometers away, he was still joining me! I am looking forward to become more involved in this church.

My new running routes

I love running. During my job and house hunting, I often take a break and go outside for a run. I recently discovered two amazing running routes. Normally Andrew and I would run our ‘5 kilometers airport run’ ALONG the airport in Port Elizabeth. Now I ended up running AT the airport in London and the one in Amsterdam! The Netherlands is a 50 minutes flight away, just like Port Elizabeth – Cape Town. I got invited to stay for the weekend at my parents’ house. So off I went. My family in law offered a lift to the airport. Unfortunately we ended up in three traffic jams!  I whatsapped my two brothers, telling them I would probably miss my flight. My brother from Rotterdam quickly looked up on the web how long the traffic delay was and if hopefully, the plane was delayed. Conclusion: there was a loooong queue of cars and the plane was on time. So I already made up my mind that I was going to miss my plane.  There was nothing we could do, so why waste all energy on getting upset. We even giggled about the fact that I had put my running shoes on!

In the end, 3 minutes before the gate would close, we finally arrived at the airport. During the drive, we invented an efficient system to get me out of the car as fast as we could. So this was the plan: My uncle would drop me off as close as possible to the entrance of the departures section. My aunt would then quickly run to open the boot and get my suitcase. Then I would quickly run to the gate. But of course something went wrong… there was a child lock on my door because they often have their grandchildren in the back of the car.  So a couple of giggles and a couple of seconds later, I ran off. Luckily I had my running shoes on.  It felt like I was running the marathon because there was no end! I ran to the gate but all off the sudden at the security check the beep went off. I said sorry did it go off, because of ehhh, my earrings? No, the computer just randomly picked me out. So my running shoes went off and I had to stand with my arms wide for at least one minute… So off I ran to the first screen I could find. It told me… my flight was delayed. All of the sudden I changed gears, from 5 to 1. Okay, so a delay of first 30 minutes and later on even one hour. I was so happy! Until I realised that due to the delay, I would probably miss the last train from the airport to my parent’s house! So I quickly phoned them over Skype to let them know I might probably get stuck at Amsterdam airport, on the other side of the country. I was pleased I had booked myself close to the entrance and I only had some hand luggage. So that would save me loads of time waiting.  And of course, as I arrive at the gate, they told me the luggage storage on the plane was full. They had to put my hand luggage with all the big suitcases and I could collect my luggage at the belt in Amsterdam. They were very strict so there was nothing I could do, but just prepare myself on the plane for my next run. So I went up in the air and before I knew I was down again. I quickly got off the plan, ran from the furthest gate all the way to the passport control. Another plane from Turkey had just landed and half of Turkey was waiting patiently in a looooong queue at the passport control. There was a couple standing next to me and all of the sudden they told her sorry but your passport has expired in 1999. A big discussion in broken English… but at least I got a bit forward in the queue. And off I ran to the most furthest luggage belt. Luckily my bag was already there, so I quickly picked up my hand luggage and ran towards arrivals. I almost ran past the ‘nothing to declare’ section and then I realised I had to slow down because of mister officer who might be thinking my running would be a bit suspicious. Of course mister officer asked me a couple of questions and he let me go through. I knew I had to be at platform 1, the most furthest platform at the airport. I found out that I had three minutes left before the train would depart. So I had some time left to activate my ov-chipcard at the machine. I hopped on the train and at 00.30 am I got off and saw my dad, waiting for me to pick me up at the trainstation. What an adventure, but there I was! I had an amazing weekend. I went shopping with my mum, met with a friend for coffee, smiled at my dentist because of the checkup, had my favorite pudding at my parents’ house, went for a drink at a nineties party with friends from secondary school, met with loads of family on my mum’s birthday. And on Sunday before my parents bought me back to the plane, we had a coffee at my grandma’s house. A couple of hours later we arrived at the airport. One of my friends came to see me at the airport for coffee as well. And then off I went again. At the arrivals in London, my uncle and aunt were picking me off to take me to my nephew’s birthday.  So it was a busy but very pleasant weekend, full of fun! I am excited about the future and looking forward to have Andrew with me again. But as I am waiting for the job, our new flat and of course Andrew to come down here… I just make the most out of the present moment!

My new niece

When I just got back from the Netherlands, I received a whatsapp message from my pregnant sister in law. She would be induced the following weekend. So that would mean I would become aunt by then! Of course I wanted to visit them in the hospital. I contacted my mum to find out when they would go to the hospital and asked if she could keep a secret! I looked up for some flights, but booking a last minute flight would cost a fortune.  I ended up going by night bus and boat via France and Belgium to the Netherlands. Luckily they were in a hospital in Rotterdam. That city is situated in the South West part of Holland, close to Belgium. So it saved me quite a bit traveling time by bus. My family had no clue I would be waiting at the hospital. You should have seen those happy faces when I rocked up during visiting hours. And you should have seen my happy face when I saw my cute little niece Julia! What a beautiful baby! What a precious moment to be there with my parents, brother and the brand new mummy and daddy! Everything is going well with the baby and the mother.

I like Joyce Meyers quote: 'Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.' So as I am applying and waiting for the right job and for Andrew to come to the UK, I am making sure I have a right balance between sorting things out and having fun!