Learning a new life
Door: Melanie
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Melanie
17 Oktober 2012 | Frankrijk, Parijs
It is a well-known fact that people can learn everything. They can learn to talk, to ride a bike, and apparently they can even learn to live in another country.
Today, I read all the blogs that I have written when I was in the USA three years ago. I re-lived everything all over again. I dreamed away to the far land of the USA and to the amazing time I have had over there. And what hit me the most was the amazing enthusiasm with which I had written all those blogs. It made me refresh the memories that I have from that period. Because even though I still tell people that I have had an amazing time over there, the real reasons why had faded away. I could feel in those blogs how much I wanted to stay abroad and how much I did not want to go back to the Netherlands. And then I realized that I am living abroad again, for more than a year now, without even consciously realizing that.
When I read the reactions on the blogs in the US I was surprised by the amount, the content and the senders of them. Many people were interested and amused by my stories and everybody was happy to meet me again once I got home. Now it almost feels like it is not special anymore that I am living in another country. Or maybe my blogs are not that interesting anymore ;). Or maybe people do not care anymore because they think that the friendship is different or gone now that I am not able to see them regularly. One thing is sure; many things happened in the last three years and I was mostly shocked by the fact that I feel so much at home (especially in our apartment) that I do not always realize that I am still experiencing a time abroad. It should be a good thing but I am just a bit confused about all the things that happened to me in the past few years.
One thing is sure; if I can get used to a life in France, then everybody can get used to everything. There is only one secret everybody should know: stay open-minded. Give everything and everyone a fair chance. Seriously, I am a neurotic control freak who wants everything in her life to go a certain way. And if something changes in her plans she freaks out. This still happens every now and then but I am also progressing at the same time. Something that not everybody would have expected. So can we please all stay optimistic?
A few months ago I felt like I was going through an identity crisis. I did not really know who I was or mostly where I belonged. While I was still defending my Dutch habits every day I also started to defend the French habits. Maybe I am a Denchie, or a Frutchie now.. Who knows? All I know is that I should call myself a rich person because I am lucky enough to have daily fresh baguettes and good cheeses while I am still having stroopwafels in my kitchen cabinets ;).
Let’s be honest, it is great to be part of a culture. So why should it be a problem to be part of two?! I do not see it (anymore..) :). Especially when your second culture is famous because of their strikes. It is the national sport of the French; go on strike whenever you have a chance. Studying for two years at a French university would not be complete without a real strike. So luckily they decided to go on one during the first two weeks of the academic year. After four months of ‘vacation’ in Italy ;) and three months of real summer vacation I got two bonus weeks in case I needed a bit more relaxation. Ah well, can a person ever be too relaxed? I do not think so! Anyway, this week I finally started my classes and I am (still) excited about this second year of the master. I am supposed to get more practical knowledge about my psychological field so that I can actually manage a job once I am graduated. So let’s stay optimistic and nail this year as a real Denchie!
Today, I read all the blogs that I have written when I was in the USA three years ago. I re-lived everything all over again. I dreamed away to the far land of the USA and to the amazing time I have had over there. And what hit me the most was the amazing enthusiasm with which I had written all those blogs. It made me refresh the memories that I have from that period. Because even though I still tell people that I have had an amazing time over there, the real reasons why had faded away. I could feel in those blogs how much I wanted to stay abroad and how much I did not want to go back to the Netherlands. And then I realized that I am living abroad again, for more than a year now, without even consciously realizing that.
When I read the reactions on the blogs in the US I was surprised by the amount, the content and the senders of them. Many people were interested and amused by my stories and everybody was happy to meet me again once I got home. Now it almost feels like it is not special anymore that I am living in another country. Or maybe my blogs are not that interesting anymore ;). Or maybe people do not care anymore because they think that the friendship is different or gone now that I am not able to see them regularly. One thing is sure; many things happened in the last three years and I was mostly shocked by the fact that I feel so much at home (especially in our apartment) that I do not always realize that I am still experiencing a time abroad. It should be a good thing but I am just a bit confused about all the things that happened to me in the past few years.
One thing is sure; if I can get used to a life in France, then everybody can get used to everything. There is only one secret everybody should know: stay open-minded. Give everything and everyone a fair chance. Seriously, I am a neurotic control freak who wants everything in her life to go a certain way. And if something changes in her plans she freaks out. This still happens every now and then but I am also progressing at the same time. Something that not everybody would have expected. So can we please all stay optimistic?
A few months ago I felt like I was going through an identity crisis. I did not really know who I was or mostly where I belonged. While I was still defending my Dutch habits every day I also started to defend the French habits. Maybe I am a Denchie, or a Frutchie now.. Who knows? All I know is that I should call myself a rich person because I am lucky enough to have daily fresh baguettes and good cheeses while I am still having stroopwafels in my kitchen cabinets ;).
Let’s be honest, it is great to be part of a culture. So why should it be a problem to be part of two?! I do not see it (anymore..) :). Especially when your second culture is famous because of their strikes. It is the national sport of the French; go on strike whenever you have a chance. Studying for two years at a French university would not be complete without a real strike. So luckily they decided to go on one during the first two weeks of the academic year. After four months of ‘vacation’ in Italy ;) and three months of real summer vacation I got two bonus weeks in case I needed a bit more relaxation. Ah well, can a person ever be too relaxed? I do not think so! Anyway, this week I finally started my classes and I am (still) excited about this second year of the master. I am supposed to get more practical knowledge about my psychological field so that I can actually manage a job once I am graduated. So let’s stay optimistic and nail this year as a real Denchie!
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17 Oktober 2012 - 21:33
Wil:
Thanks again Mel.
Let's stay optimistic indeed.
Life is giving so many opportunities wherever you live.
Maybe you are not just a Denchie or a Frutchie but even a Filidenchie or Frinipuchie or a......
Or is that making it too complicated?
From your looks, you cannot however hide the influence of your mothers homeland!
In one or another way, the culture may have its effects too.
Maybe interesting to find out, where they show up!
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17 Oktober 2012 - 21:40
Soledad:
Good job Melanie. Go for it. Hurray!!!Always remember nobody is perfect. Nice to read something about you again. Interesting! It was nice to visit you in Atlanta Georgia with your sister Laura. And it was also nice to visit you in Italy with your dad. Happy to visit you twice in Paris. Goodluck!!! GOD Bless!!! Take care. Muaahh. -
18 Oktober 2012 - 00:55
Carolina :
Girl:
I keep saying that you def should become a writer, I will be reading all your books from beginning to end plus i will have a collection of them at my place:" home " .
Whenever i read your stuff i get distracted from my ' assignment-world " it brings me energy to keep going and see the bright things in life. :)
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19 Oktober 2012 - 04:34
Ise:
I just clicked on something that I think means I like this, but who knows, I'm just a Mexican girl who's friend with a Dutch girl who happens to live in Paris but who she met in the US.
Love you :)
PS. Oh, I see it on my FB now and it's not porn related.. PHEEEWW! (hey! your dutch qwofrbdojajnaf bwdojfdjnafk stuff it's really complicated) hahaha besososos.
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21 Oktober 2012 - 12:35
Bernadette:
Hey sweet Denchie!
Although it might be not 'special' anymore, but it's 'just' your life now, I'm still enjoying to read the stories of your life. So pleeeaaaassssseeee keep up writing them :) The friends who really care about you will read them or at least you will know who they are, somehow.
Good luck and have fun this coming semester!
Love you sissy!!! KUS! -
31 Oktober 2012 - 09:56
Manon:
Tot zo mellie, ik moet nog even m'n tanden poetsen ;) xx
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
