I was thankful that my boss at camp let me head for home a little early because there was a lot to do and a lot of people I wanted to see. I spent ten days in Holland and soaked up every minute. I was able to attend a friend's wedding, hang out with Sean's friends to catch up, have lunch with Catherine from Ohio State, go on walks and Captain Sundae visits with Emily, spend time with my sister-in-law before she returns to Saudi Arabia, go to a final Rotary Club meeting and get in some quality beach time with my sister. It was so nice to spend days at home with Mom and Dad and they spoiled me by making special dinners eaten in the screen porch and baking a cake (what I wouldn't give for a piece of cake right now). One of my favorite nights was a pizza picnic at the State Park with Dole Whip cones afterward.
In a way, traveling and living abroad is pretty selfish. We think only about our own upcoming adventures and not about the absences we've left behind in our communities and our families. While we view the repeated processes of hugging and good-bye saying as the final, required steps before leaving, others staying behind can see it as breaking away.
It would be simply impossible for me and Sean to live this lifestyle without the support and understanding of our family and friends. My parents handle all of the paperwork logistics and problems that invariably pop up as well as house everything else that I own. They also put up with virtual communication via Skype, letters that take weeks to arrive and missed holidays. Friends show their love with care packages, emails, post cards and are able to accept the fact that we're not around to share experiences in person.
Sean and I are grateful for everyone in our lives who make how we live a reality. Know that we obsessively follow the goings-on of life in Holland and are always hopeful and excited to receive visitors!
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