Well, I accidentally disappeared for a bit. I thought I hadn’t posted for just a couple of days, but it turns out it’s been a whole week! #whoops. Anyway, life is going at whirlwind speeds right now, so I thought I’d give y’all a little update about the now and future!
Some good news!
Life update number one is a positive one. I’m ~almost~ on track for my Goodreads goal! I wanted to read 50 books again this year, and last year I didn’t really come close. But now I might make it! In other words, even though I briefly disappeared from blogging and all things Blogmas, I am continuing to read. I put in an order on Book Outlet during Black Friday, and finally received my big box last week. I was most excited for A Curse So Dark and Lonely, which I am reading now! I’ve almost finished it and I’m really enjoying it so far.
Some “huh?” news…
I also quit both my jobs. I have good reasons! Thankfully none of them are that they were shitty workplaces. I don’t think I’ve even mentioned it on here, but for the past 4 years I’ve worked as a Dutch teaching assistant / teacher at a local Dutch school. This is a Saturday morning school that teaches all ages. Despite having to get up at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings, I’ve always loved my job! It’s very rewarding and the students liked me for the most part.:)
Not too long ago I started working at Barnes & Noble as well. As a recent college grad, working only on Saturday’s during the school year wasn’t really gonna cut it. I loved working at Barnes & Noble because my coworkers were great, and the customers not ~too~ crazy. If you ever worked in retail you know how rare that is.
But I couldn’t continue working at either job. Why, you may ask? Well…
Some “what?!” news
This is probably the biggest life update of this post, but… I’m going to grad school! However it will not be in the United States. Truly the only reason for that is that it’s so darn expensive. If I had a million dollars I wouldn’t think twice about staying here. The options are limitless! Unfortunately it may not be. So, I’ll be heading back to the Netherlands soon. Very soon. How soon? Literally a month from now.
What am I going to study? Global Conflict in the Modern Era at the University of Leiden.
Where will I live? At my uncle’s apartment, thank god. I’m so not in the mood for roommates, haha.
Am I excited? Well…. both yes and no. I’m excited to go to grad school. I’m excited to start taking classes again. I genuinely enjoy writing papers. I’m excited to see my friends again.
I am, however, not super excited about actually living in the Netherlands. I can’t really pinpoint why, but it probably has to do with that moving back feels like going back in time. In my mind it feels like all the progress I’ve made will be undone. Even though objectively I know that’s not even possible. Life here is also entirely different. I’ve been back to the Netherlands a couple of times, and though the trips have been fun, I can’t help but feel that I am more relaxed and comfortable in my skin in the United States.
Another part is that I’ll be going into a long distance relationship again. If anyone has experience with that, please send me tips.
Thankfully my semesters aren’t super long, and I can visit the U.S. again in the summer!
So… what’ll happen next?
All this has quite some consequences for me. There’s a lot to think about and a lot I still have to figure out, but for now I’m going to enjoy the holiday season.
Friday my boyfriend and I are taking a little trip to New York City. It’ll be the fifth time that I’m going and I’m super stoked, because I think this’ll be the best trip yet! We’re going ice skating and we’ll take trips to museums. I’ve never walked the Brooklyn Bridge, so that’s on the list as well. And my boyfriend’s friends from NY are visiting too!
Then, we’ll celebrate Christmas together with my family. I’m excited to hand out gifts and get some! Also there was talk about what’s on the Christmas dinner menu, and I’m probably equally excited for that.
I will close the year with a fabulously sparkly golden new year’s party, after which I need to get my butt in the car to go to Florida. My family and I are taking a mini cruise and will spend some extra days in warm, sunny Florida!
But after that, it’ll be truly time to go.
Well, this life update post turned out a little longer than expected. Props to you if you stuck this one out to the end. I think next year will be equal parts exciting and terrifying, but that’s okay. Just as the move to the United States was terrifying, I also know that I settled in really quick. I have no doubts that I will do well in the Netherlands as well!
Find more Blogmas here!
