back to Holland - break between impressions

Hello everybody!

This is going to be sort of a boring message, as there are no weird African stories to tell at the moment and no exotic pictures to show. Because I have been in Europe for more than 2 weeks. And only now I realize I could have taken some Easter pictures or nice photos of the tulip fields around here.
I am currently in Haarlem at Erik’s cousin’s place.
But step by step:
After I came back (quite flights, no delays …) I went to Dresden with the night-train. With 4 drinking and partying Germans in my sleeping-department I did not get more than a few minutes of sleep. But Mom picked me up at the train station, we had a fantastic breakfast, my grandma came and my brother with his girlfriend and son. He is now 5 months old and weighting an amazing 8 kg. I am a very proud aunt! I met friends, had a good time with Mom, also visited my Dad, one of my cousins came along with his wife, and just enjoyed being “home”. Only the cold weather!! How do you people bear this? How did I? I am freezing cold all the time!
Now, I am back in Holland. I stayed at my dear colleague Sadiye’s place for a few days and enjoyed being with “my kids” … actually her 2 sons, which I saw being born and growing up in the past 2 years.
I applied for a visa for Mozambique which I hope somewhere this week. We booked a flight for Friday. And then I can join Erik again. Finally. After 3 long months.
I think I have been irritating many people with talking about Ethiopia all the time. But I was so filled up with all the experiences. I needed to talk through it over and over again. And it is interesting that I realize some things only now. Apparently I got so used to the circumstances over there. And now that I tell people about it, their feedback makes me realize how strange and how different things can be in Africa.
So being here in Europe helps me “process” my experiences from the past 2 months. And now I start to feel ready for Mozambique. Because after leaving Ethiopia I did not feel like going there at all. I did not want to leave Ethiopia. But now I have settled my mind about Ethiopia and I feel free to start my new adventure and I am beginning to look forward to go to Mozambique.
I the meantime I see Holland through my new pair of African eyes: how nice and clean everything is, al the tulip fields with thousands of flowers in all the colors of the rainbow, the straight forward landscape… it has its charms…and it almost seems exotic to me, like a real vacation!
The internet connection in Mozambique appears to be terrible. So I still don’t know how easy (or rather how difficult) it will be to keep the blog up to date on a regular basis. That’s why I signed into facebook and I will see which way will be easier to keep you informed about our life and our experiences there. In Ethiopia I was able to answer emails regularly. That might be more difficult now. I apologize for that!
Big Hug to all of you!
Anna