Short but long overdue update

My apologies for the lack of communication to all of you at the moment!! It is by no means a sign I have forgotten about you, coz I most definitely haven’t. It’s much more a sign of me not quite having found the right balance again between all the different aspects of my life. Right now, the scales are tipping heavily in the direction of uni as I am busy getting my thesis off the ground and doing an extra subject on the side and I am yet to find ways to divide my time more equally between uni and other things – like keeping in touch with you guys. But here’s me trying :)

That being said, lots of things have been happening lately. I’m enjoying rediscovering my Dutch life and everything that comes with it, and most of the time just easily slipping back into it and picking up where I left off with the people around me. At the same time however I get this restless feeling sometimes and I’m itching to go travelling again, which to me is a clear sign I’m not completely settled back into my Dutch life just yet. I guess that that just takes a little more time, which is alright. Previous experience had already taught me coming back from exchange can take quite some time, so I didn’t expect anything less :) And in general I’m pretty happy to be where I am at the moment.

Even though uni is taking up a lot of my time at the moment, I’m also finding it very interesting. The extra subject on ‘Gender, Power and Multiculturalism’ which I’m doing is fascinating and just makes me look at the world and the way social life is structured in completely different ways. It’s kind of a continuation of my two Women Studies subjects I did at Flinders but more from a cultures-orientated view and I feel like I’m really learning something there. My thesis is on re-entry shock of exchange students/expats (thought I’d study my life instead of yours Kim, lol) and I’m recognising a lot of myself and my experiences after mainly my AFS exchange in the literature I’ve read on it so far. It’s almost scary, haha. Interesting stuff though :)

Other than that, I’ll spare you all the details and just post some of my most recent photos instead :) Believe it or not, I’ve actually become a bit photo-tired and have not been taking as many photos lately, but it’s just a small impression of some of the people in my life right now. Hopefully you all feel a bit more up to speed with my life again and I’m sorry I’m not keeping in touch with you all so much right now. Like I said, I’m trying, and I’ll also try to get those e-mails and blogs coming at you more regularly again. Until then though, I’d love to hear what you all are up to and what’s new in your lives. Hope you’re all well!!
Love Carine