The end of 2006...

Wow, the year is coming to an end. It's the time of year you start to think of the year that's been and the year that's coming up. It's been quite a year for me, as I'm sure it's been quite a year for every one of you who's reading this too. There's simply no such thing as an eventless year I think :) For me, 2006 has been a year of trying to really find back my place in Dutch life and what I want to do with it, and also finding a sense of home again. Things I still haven't all figured out yet, so I'm sure things will come back in the year 2007 too.

To continue on the end-of-year thing, I had an end-of-year camp to lead with two other AFS volunteers two weeks ago. Was awesome fun :) Really nice group, only 10 students of which five Aussies, three Argentineans and two Costa Ricans. One of the Australian girls was actually at my own end-of-year camp in Oz!! Weird stuff :) The minute she walked in, I knew I had met her before and she did too, so we pieced it together :) But anyway, the group was very easy to lead as it was so small and they were really a coowl bunch of people together. Two guys brought their guitars down as well, so we had the whole campfire jamboree thing going on for a bit as well, apart from having an actual campfire :) There was a bar at the campsite as well, and everyone was allowed to drink alcohol this time, so you fill in the blanks, haha. Crazy times :)

But really, it was a great weekend, I loved it. Rav reviews from all students at the end too :) And for me personally, I loved the fact that I could speak English for the entire weekend. I sometimes get tired of speaking Dutch all the time and miss speaking English to people from time to time. I was even mistaken for an Australian by one of the Aussies at the camp initially!! Besides that, it was really interesting to hear all the stories of the exchange students and their year here, especially from the Australian students as obviously I sort of know where they're coming from and what they'd find different about the Dutchies. It's the other side of things, haha. Funny stories :) And very little sleep had all weekend, but it was worth it :)

Studying for the last few exams before Christmas holidays after that weekend wasn't all that easy though with all that sleeploss, but I got through. I was so glad it was holidays at the end of it though, I was really needing a break :) So now I've already been a week on holidays, filled with relaxing and of course Christmas!! We had the whole family thing going on over Christmas, which was heaps good :) Christmas day was spent with the whole family from my father's side (about 25 people in total, it's a pretty big fam), which is like our big yearly Stroet family reunion sort of thing too. So it's always a big Christmas dinner all together, which was really nice :) Then Boxing Day, my sis and Paul came over in the arvo and we had our own Christmas dinner with just the own family in the evening, which was really nice too. It's what Christmas is always like, heaps of really good food, but most of all, having a good time with family :) Love Christmas :) I hope you all had a really nice Christmas too!!

And now I can't believe it's nearly 2007!! A new year with new challenges, new happenings, new choices to make, new places to go, new people to meet... A year of visiting friends in far away places to build on old friendships maintained, and of keeping up the friendships with those who are here. I'm looking forward to it and I hope you all do too :) So I wish everyone a wonderful New Year's Eve and a very happy 2007!! Bring on the fireworks :)
*Love love love*