Happy 22 =)

Yes, you've read it right... I'm 22. And feeling the years, haha. Not really. But it feels like this is the sort of age where you're supposed to know what you want in life. Where you're supposed to have figured out your direction a bit more. I'm only just starting to find my way now.

Doing my thesis on the experiences of returned exchange students has got me thinking about my exchanges so much. Sometimes I think even too much. Plus my housemate Maaike is about to go on a 6-month exchange to Latin-America in Feb as well, so the topic comes up quite a bit. Sometimes I wonder what my life would look like if I had never gone on exchange. My whole world would be different. The friends I have, the place I live, the choices I make... I would have finished my master's degree in whatever I had chosen to do in July this year and maybe even working full-time in my first real job already. Maybe I'd have already found my direction and what I want in life. I doubt it though. And besides, like the title said, I'm happy 22. Which must mean I'm happy :)

So I had my birthday, spread out my celebrations over a week, haha. Went out with Maaike and her friend Juliet the Thursday night before my birthday to this uni-party with a very high geek-level, so I turned 22 being surrounded by lots of geeks, but it was a very funny night. I went to my parents' place on the day itself, and Renske and Paul were there as well, so it was a pretty quiet but nice day. Celebrated with my roomies on the Monday after with cake. And then last Friday I had a bit of a b'day celebration with friends together with Maaike (who turned 22 last month). When I looked around the room, seeing all those familiar faces and hearing all the happy chatter filling up the room, I felt so lucky. To have the friends I have, to live at the place I live... To have made the choices I made to have all that. Unfortunately not everyone could make it, but I had an absolutely great time with the ones who were there. We went out later that night as well with a few of us, biking to the city in the bitter cold (we had had our first snow earlier that Friday!!) and continued the fun there. And fun we had, till the early hours of Saturday morning!! I loved it :)

Rest of the weekend was really relaxed as well. Cosy and warm inside while the snow continued to fall outside :) Did nothing much, cleaned the house and made way too much food with Maaike, haha. For a while it looked like my Melbourne friend Kaye was coming for a short visit as well, but eventually that didn't happen and now she's probably coming early Jan next year. Something to look forward to :)

Last week and this week I'm getting things in place for the interviews I have to do for my thesis. Already have 7 returnees who want to help me out and I need about 10, so I'm really happy about that. Nervous about actually having to do the interviews, but I'm looking forward to them at the same time coz I think they'll be interesting :)

In other news, I know it's been a while by now, but yay for Obama being the next US president :) Let's hope he can live up to the expectations. Also yay for McLeod's Daughters marathons in the middle of the week and watching the latest Grey's Anatomy episodes with the roomies. Gotta love it, haha. And last but not least, yay for all of you. For getting to the end of this longish update and for caring enough to read my ramblings, even if you're only reading little bits and pieces :) (I wouldn't blame you, haha) Would love to hear from you all too and I hope you're all well and happy!! Miss you.
Love Carine