Back home

Dear friends,

We been back in the Netherlands for a week and a half now and we’d like to tell you how we’re doing. Coming back was very nice. The trip wasn’t bad. It was a night flight and night flights are never fun. Nynke was able to sleep a little bit, Nick an hour at most. But we managed… Luckily our lay-over in London wasn’t very long. We had to walk pretty quickly to get to our plane, but it was just a little bit late. Luckily the airport security didn’t make a fuss about Nynke’s scissors which we forgot to put in our luggage :-S
After about 10 hours of travelling, we arrived at the house of our friends (where we are staying at the moment since we don’t have a house) for some relaxation time. Our friends were still on vacation (we got the key from someone else), so we had some time (and space) for ourselves. This was lovely! Just a place just for us, able to cook our own food and to relax (because we didn’t have to do anything). We enjoyed the time and were able to relax a bit. Nynke still had some trouble with her intestines, but it was decreasing. She saw the doctor, but they said since the symptoms were decreasing, it would be fine.
The first evening back, we visited friends (who cooked lovely food for us tired travellers) and we had a good time. Just seeing people you know (and who know you) is very nice. You can just be yourself, without having to be careful for untactful statements. We like it :)

During the weekend, we went to Eindhoven to visit family and friends there. We had a good time there, saw family and friends we didn’t see in a long time (including our niece who we didn’t see at all yet) and had a nice time. On Sunday we returned to Amsterdam back to our friends (who returned while we were in Eindhoven). This family of five is wonderful! They’re taking good care of us until we have our own place and its fun to play with their kids (ages: 1, 4 and 7). So all in all, we’re enjoying our time back home. Even though we don’t have a home, we’re still enjoying being back here, simply because a lot is familiar and easier than in Africa.

Coming Monday, Nick has to go back to work. It’s quick, but Nick is fine with it. He wants to go back to work and get back in a rhythm. Nynke will wait a little longer with going back to work. When she will, she will finish up on her research. She’s through with classes and exams, so after her research, she’ll start rotations (working in the hospital for 2 years (without pay) at different departments to get a feel for what it is to be a doctor). After that she will be a doctor and will have to specialize. We don’t know in what yet, but time will tell.
Nick will go back to teach at the laboratory school he has worked for the last year and a half (before Kenya). Officially he’s still a student, but he’ll finish his studies in the next 6 months (hopefully). Then (if possible) he’ll go work there until he’s old and gray (or until God calls us somewhere else).

So basically: we’re doing well. We’re glad to be back and enjoying the little rest we have left. We’re also searching a place of our own to live (any tips are welcome:)) and simply trying to get back in “normal” Amsterdam-like life. We’re biking again (wonderful, if you have good bike), eating the nice yoghurt (which Nynke missed in Kenya) and enjoying life as it comes.

We hope you enjoyed our blog posts. If not: let us know how we could change it:). We also placed a few (new) pictures on the blog, so don’t forget to check them out. Also a few videos! Lots of fun!!!

Our last blogpost will be about things we learned in Kenya, so hold on for one more!
Mungu awabariki! (God bless)