Tagged

I got my first salary today! I'm excited. And I guess pretty shallow to be excited about money...

Anyway, Meghawoman tagged me, so here's my (incomplete) list:

Four jobs I've had:
-Working at the Postbank selling travel insurances (on the phone)
-Working for TPG Post doing research after missing letters and packages (no phone calls here)
-Working for NUON (energy provider) at the customer care department (handling phone calls)
-Working for KLM (my current job) at the reservations department (handling phone calls)
(How do I end up in these kinds of jobs, considering my phone phobia?)

Four movies/shows I've been addicted to: (this one's easy!)
-Felicity
-Friends
-Pride and Prejudice
-Lost

Four places I've lived:
-Blerick
-Franeker
-Hengelo
-Amsterdam

Four countries I would like to visit:
-USA
-Russia
-Poland
-Mexico

Four popular false assumptions about me:
-That I only like sweet girly music (but actually I also like stuff like Garbage and Linkin Park)
-That I'm a good student (I graduated without really studying, I hardly ever did my homework)
- ?
- ?

Four people I look like (or I wish I looked like):
-My sister
-My mom
-Kate Winslet (when I had long wavy hair, I looked a teeny bit like her)
- ?

Four things to do before I die:
-Get married and have kids
-Travel to every country on my list (see post from Aug.19)
-Take art classes
-Learn to play an instrument

Addicted

I rented "Lost" on DVD. I'm totally addicted now.

And, I got a new mobile phone a few days ago. You can download lots of fun songs as ringtones for it. Am now addicted to that, too.

What to do?

Elke's sister

What's this? The information given about me on the Shelter Blog Network has been reduced to this: "Elke's sister".
Is that what I am? Is that all I am? Is that really all there is to say about me?
How about:
The most beautiful ex-Shelter staffmember the world has ever known, the sweetest girl on the planet, the one person you can't live without, the one with the best tea and cookies, and the funnest friend you could wish for!
Just joking. Actually I am just Elke's sister. And proud of it!

100%

Today at work we had a test to see how we're doing so far.
We had to make a test of airport codes and airline codes, and than we had a test of the computer system we work with. And I scored 100% on both!
I'm kind of proud of myself. Even though it was easy and I hardly had to study cause I already knew most of it.
Still.
I'm happy!

Working woman

Yesterday I started my new job. I'm actually at my work now. They provide free Internet on all the computers. Ofcourse I'm not allowed to used it during the training, but I'm on my lunch break now.
So far, it's going well. We have to learn airport and city codes, but I already learned them when I studied Touristic Management, so that's a piece of cake. And we have to learn how to work with the reservation system. But it's similar to the one I worked with before, so that shouldn't be a problem either.
It feels good to have a job. I feel very professional. But I have to get used to going to bed on time and waking up early again. Aargh, I don't like that!
I'm looking forward to the weekend!

Secret wishes

I have two secret wishes. One is kind of realistic, the other isn't realistic at all.

My realistic wish: Becoming a Shelter Jordan manager

My unrealistic wish: Becoming a figure skater (like Irina Slutskaya)

If you could have anything you want, what would you wish for?

What if

One of my favourite songs of the moment is "What if" by Lene Marlin. She's a cool singer from Norway. Here are the lyrics:

What if I don't wanna move on
If I like it as it is
Wanna keep it like this, for a while...forever
Just let me lie close to you
Don't wanna let you go, don't wanna let you go

If I said I want you, if I said I need you
If I said I love you, what would you do
If I said I want you, if I said I need you
If I said I love you, what would you do

What if I don't wanna forget
Don't want anyone but you
Believe me, it's true, for a while...forever
Just let me stay here with you
I don't wanna leave, I don't wanna leave

If I said I want you, if I said I need you
If I said I love you, what would you do
If I said I want you, if I said I need you
If I said I love you, what would you do

And I thought I could, let this go
I thought I would, but now I know
Now I know...

If I said I want you, if I said I need you
If I said I love you, what would you do
If I said I want you, if I said I need you
If I said I love you, what would you do


Am I subtle, or what? ; )

Back in A'dam

Marco wrote on his blog that sometimes you don't realise what you were missing until you have it again. That is so true!
This weekend I visited a bunch of people in the Shelter Jordan and at the Willemsstraat. It was so good to see everyone. When I walked into the Shelter I got all these big hugs from Tina and Katya and Meghan and it made me realise how much I missed them. It even made me cry a little. But it was so good talking to them. And thanks so much for the warm welcome!

I moved into my new place on Thursday. I almost typed "palace" instead of "place". Which would be suitable, since I am Princess of the Netherlands!!!
Anyway, I like it there. It's already starting to feel like home. I already had a bunch of visitors in the last few days. I love having company. So, please feel free to come over!

Tommie after...

And this is Tommie after getting a haircut. Looks quite different now!
I got a haircut too, by the way.

Long lost penguin returned!

It gives me great pleasure to announce that at me and Magda's goodbye party the penguin finally returned!
You guys take good care of him at Willemsstraat!

Tommie before...

One of the greatest things of being home is our dog Tommie. He's so cute!
But he desperately needs a haircut!
So here are some "before" pictures, and tomorrow I'm gonna post some "after" pictures.
He will look completely different tomorrow!

The thoughts that occupy my mind...

if this is true, i thought then, what will i think
will i stay but rather i would get away
i'm scared that i won't find a thing
and afraid that i'll turn out to be alone, but i
i have to learn, have to try, have to trust i have to cry
have to see, have to know that i can be myself, yeah
and if i could i would stay
and if they're not, not in my way
i'll stare here in the distance
but i'll grow up to be just like you, yeah
i'll grow up to be just like you, yeah

These are some of the lyrics of "I would stay"by Krezip.
It's funny how some words in songs can start to mean something different to you, when you relate them to new experiences.

Today I went to my church here in Franeker. It was a good, but my head was somewhere else.
I look forward to going back to Amsterdam, but I'm also a little scared. To be alone...

I think the biggest thing I learned in the Shelter is how important relationships and friendships are. I always thought I was the kind of person that didn't need anybody to be happy.
Boy, was I wrong!
I also learned that God created us in this way. As relational beings. We want to be around others, because that's how God intended it. That's an encouraging thought. I'm not weird in longing for contact with others. The only thing is, I got so blessed with it in the Shelter. I didn't have to look for friends, they kind of came with the job. A package deal: job, house, friends. Wonderful!
I guess it will take a bit more work now. To keep in touch with people and to make new friends. Why am I so scared I can't do it?
I guess I'm afraid to fall back into the way "old me" was.
Shy, insecure, and not truly believing that people like me.
And it's easy to say: All you need is Gods love to be happy. Is it?
I don't know.
But I don't think I should let fear control me.
God provided me with a job and a place to live. I'm sure He'll provide everything else I need as well. Cause God is good!
Praise Him!!!

By the way, I'm reading this book called "Searching for God knows what"by Donald Miller. It's really good. It belongs to Chrissy, actually.
Chrissy: I'll send it to you as soon as I finished it. And I'll send you this CD with pictures that I promised to send you like 6 months ago! :)

It's over

Good Lord, I didn't think this would be so hard!
These are my last hours at Willemsstraat and it sucks!
I feel lost somehow.
But I haven't cried yet.
My parents are coming to pick me up in a few hours.
I bet I'll start crying as soon as I get into the car.
But there's nothing wrong with that.
I think I just need to process some things to get ready for the next step.

Which will be working and living in Amsterdam!
Get your excited pants on! (quoting Ryan)

Leaving the Shelter

Wow, on Wednesday I had my last shift in the Shelter. It feels so weird. I just didn't wanna leave after my last shift, because then it would be really over.
Ever since my last shift I have this strong feeling of fear inside me.
I'm just so scared that all my ideas and plans of keeping in touch with my Shelter friends will not work out and that I will end up sad and alone in my room in Amsterdam.
How do I prevent that? I don't know if I can. Of course it's only possible to stay friends with someone if both people want to stay in touch. So, that makes it something that's impossible to fully control. I guess it takes some trust and letting go. Which is so hard.
I guess I just want to secure my own happiness.
But I think I have to learn to trust God in this.
Please pray for me to trust and let go.
I think I'm gonna need it!

Captivating!

I'm reading this awesome book!
It's called "Captivating" and it's written by John and Stasi Eldregde.
John Eldredge is also the one who wrote "Wild at heart".
I absolutely looovvveee this book. It's all about the desires that women have, and our fears and doubts and where they come from.
It gave me some great new insights on things I never thought about before.
So, I highly recommend it for everyone.
Even men, I think it can help you understand women better!
On the other hand, I read "Wild at heart" and I still don't understand men! :)

Narnia

So, before the whole job-thing happened today, I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia yesterday. Together with 10 other Willemstraaters! That was cool.
The movie was good! And I cried, quite a lot actually.
I thought that the part where Aslan gets killed was just so cruel. Well, actually the part just before he gets killed.
I thought everyone would cry. But no. Just me and Cecilia.

By the way, I thought the White Witch was cool! (even though she's evil)

And, Mr. Tumnus is kinda cute!

But I did get the deeper meaning behind the story, ofcourse.

I got a job!!!

Oh my goodness, I got a job!!!
As an Air Flight Reservation Agent. Which means: handling phone calls from customers who want to book flights for KLM, Northwest Airlines, Air France and Transavia.
I had the job interview this morning and it was pretty intense. It took over an hour. The people I talked to told me a lot about the work and the company, but the more they told me, the more I started doubting if I really wanted this job.
A couple of hours later the job agency called me to let me know I got the job! The woman from the job agency told me that apparently I seemed to be very critical during my job interview, and that's why the people I talked with kept asking me difficult questions.
Anyway, I'm excited!
I'm looking forward to making some money ;)

Wow, can't believe I got a job and a place to live in AMSTERDAM!!!

The 80's rule!

At this moment I'm working at the reception listening to some cheesy 80's music that Dave is playing in the cafe.
It's cool, it's happy music!
Marco wants to organize an 80's birthday/goodbye party. GREAT IDEA!
Sounds like fun. I'm a child of the 80's!
Ooh, Dave's playing "Take on me" by A-ha, love that one!!!

So, I changed the background of my blog again. I'm not sure about this one, though.
I think I'll keep on searching for a better one.

You have two cows...

POLITICS EXPLAINED:

FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and as many eggs as the regulations say you should need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbours help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.
SINGAPOREAN DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. The government fines you for keeping two unlicensed farm animals in an apartment.
MILITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbours decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbours pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair "Cowgate".
BRITISH DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You feed them sheeps' brains and they go mad. The government doesn't do anything.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbours try to kill you and take the cows.
CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
HONG KONG CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly - listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother - in - - law at the bank, then execute a debt / equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax deduction for keeping five cows. The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the rights to all seven cows' milk back to the listed company. The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Meanwhile, you kill the two cows because the fung shui is bad.
ENVIRONMENTALISM: You have two cows. The government bans you from milking or killing them.
FEMINISM: You have two cows. They get married and adopt a veal calf.
TOTALITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: You are associated with (the concept of "ownership" is a symbol of the phallo - centric, war - mongering, intolerant past) two differently - aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of non - specified gender.
COUNTER CULTURE: Wow, dude, there's like... these two cows, man. You got to have some of this milk.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

Life...

I have been really lazy lately. That's why I didn't update my Blog.
Wait a minute, I have not been lazy at all! I had a job interview, I went looking for an appartment and I've been busy planning my future!
Actually, I'm just a bit tired.

I've been surrounded by wise people lately. Which is very good, because they help me in my search of what I want for my time after the Shelter. And at the same time they made me realize that I should relax and enjoy the time I have still left here.
So that's what I'm doing!

Life is still good!