Bruges, part 2

My time in Bruges was magical. Fleeting, but magical none the less. Everywhere I looked, the sun shone and lit up spectacular buildings,  winding lanes, and chimneys. I was in full tourist mode and I snapped happily away with my camera for the few hours that I had in this enchanting city.

time changes everything

It has been a really rich and good time thus far for me here in Europe. I have lived in the USA for the best part of three years, on and off a little, and I still have moment of extreme culture shock. Strangely enough the culture shock has been most intense over the past couple of months. Every time it arises, it surprises me and scares me. Just one too many "Oh you are Australian" jokes and one too many, "Do you know the Queen?" comments I was right back there: experiencing culture shock.

Culture shock is something that only people who have experiences living abroad can understand. It allows me to meet a German or Chinese student, also living in the USA, and be able to feel more connected with them for a moment that I feel with any of my American friends that I have seen every day for the past couple of years.

When people ask me to explain culture shock, all I can say is that, "it is awkward". I can be in the middle of a stats class at University, or sipping a coffee at Whole Foods or cycling across downtown and all of a sudden I will feel like I do not belong here; in this moment, I am not from here and I do not fit in. It is a bizarre and very overwhelming feeling.

Returning to The Netherlands was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me. However, it also allowed me closure to my fears that I was wrong to move to the USA after just one year of University there. I was able to walk the streets of beautiful Middelburg and know that it is not my home. My heart is not there....it is in Boise.

Time changes everything - it changes friendships and it changes hearts and it changes character. I was able to pick up some Dutch friendships like nothing had changed during the two years that I was away, whilst others just simply were no long there. I am learning that time changes things: it allows healing to take place and it allows love to grow deeper and stronger. I am trying to not fear this, but to just accept that things change and that is ok.

Bruges, part 1

On Tuesday I took myself off on a mini solo adventure from The Netherlands to Bruges in Belgium. This adventure included taking a train, a boat and then a bus. The trip was easy to navigate and my Dutch speaking skills helped me through. Although, I have learnt a valuable lesson. If you are an English speaking tourist on the Continent and you are lost or unsure in any way.....just go to the nearest Starbucks and I can guarantee you that the barista or a fellow customer can help you out (in English).

As soon as I landed last week in Amsterdam I visited Starbucks because I was desperate for a large cup of coffee - something the Dutch coffee stores don't really understand. I proudly ordered my cup of coffee with soya milk IN DUTCH only to have a frustrated barista look back at me, unimpressed, and say, "you mean you want a tall drip with soy?". Every Starbucks barista speaks English.....Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris, Brussels, Dallas, Seattle, London, Dublin.....just plain old English.

The barista in the Starbucks at the Bruges train station was extremely helpful; he provided me with a city map free of charge and even marked on his favorite places to walk and circled all the attractions that were "must-sees" for the three hours I had for my visit. And I didn't even buy coffee. Because, well, compared to the beautiful espressos available on every street corner on the Continent, the stuff Starbucks brews is crap. I took a million photos so, here is just part one of my adventure! I am sure glad that I took this trip. It was a spectacularly beautiful day and I loved every minute of walking the streets of Bruges.

yara with a cup of coffee

Whilst visiting here in The Netherlands it was essential that I spend some time visiting with my sweet friend Yara. Yara is an incredibly beautiful gal, inside and out. Every time I spend time with her my heart is left so very blessed and encouraged. During my freshman year in The Netherlands Yara nursed my heartache over homesickness and boys with endless cups of tea and kind words. I am so blessed to know this lady! The other day I visited Yara at the espresso bar where she works and my goodness she made me a yummy cappuccino.

Middelburg Day One

It is wonderful to be back in Middelburg and to meet with friends at old coffee stores and tea shops that were once regularly visited. In one moment it will seems like no time has gone by, whilst in other moments I feel so very changed, altered and grown. It is hard to share two years of life with my old friends when they ask me how I have been. The truth is that these past two years in Boise have been a journey, an adventure, a lot of fun and very rich. I find it hard at times to share how my heart has changed. I am not the same, and I can't expect that people here will be the same as when I left them two years ago. So, here we all are, getting to know each other again over cups of wonderful european coffee.
And that is just fine by me.

life lately according to instagram

hello! i am safely back in my old Dutch hometown where i use to go to school. it is fairly surreal to be back. so much has changed. so much is just the same. i spent last night partying with old university friends and it was great fun dancing the night away with friends that are so near and dear to my heart. i am looking forward to sharing my adventures here with you, but, for now, let's catch up on life in the usa a little bit! here are some snaps from instagram over the last few months. follow along, username: sargeantsally.

christmas at home / adventures with the pup

sweet sister / the family i am blessed to work with

the greatest room mates / valentines weekend with the beau

spring arrived!

pretty finds / xc skiing fun in utah

utah / conference 

study spot / west wing fun

mr handsome / the place i call home

what a great family i have / mr handsome again

he wanted to buy them all / winter wonderland

amsterdam bound

tomorrow i embark on an adventure back to my homeland. however, before i land in england i shall be spending time in the netherlands with my old university friends. i am so very excited to revisit some beloved places, drink great coffee with dear friends, run along the beautiful canals and eat some delicious sweet treats.
some of you have been reading along with me on this blog for some time and you may remember that this blog began when i first moved to live in the netherlands. i started this blog in order to share my adventures with family, friends and whoever chose to join the journey. i have been slacking lately. well, not slacking....i just needed a break from blogging.
but, since i am returning to where this all started, why don't we start again? amsterdam here i come.