2014 - 4월 mei juni

It hasn't been my happiest, luckiest or awesomest year, but I ain't the person to focus on bad things, so I'll just say I have had fun (but could have had more). 2014 has been good to me (but could have been better). I have been lonely and insecure and lost friends I thought I'd never loose, but I also made dreams come true, met lovely new people and discovered new places.

After the first three months, here's the second first half:


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In April, I was in Korea! and Hong Kong! / fell completely in love with Seoul and especially with Hongdae / also visited Suwon, Busan and Gyeongju, in the south of South Korea / saw lots of old friends again (after 3-4 years!), some who I studied with in Trondheim and some who were exchange students in Groningen / ate LOTS of good food / met so many nice people / smiled basically all the time / visited cherry blossom festivals / sang so much karaoke / loved life and everything and everyone a lot.


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In May, I spent a last lovely day in Seoul / was happy to be back home / was super motivated to write on my thesis / took a break off thesis writing and went for a hike in the south / celebrated 17. mai, Norway's national day, in Rotterdam / finished (!) my MA-thesis / visited Brussels and Ghent and handed in my thesis (!) / drew my parents / boarded a plane to Oslo.


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In June, I found myself a place to live in Oslo for the summer / went on a safari in the Netherlands / enjoyed the oranjekoorts (World Cup madness) so much (!) / ate fancy desserts in Nijmegen / visited Venlo and Groningen and Breda and said goodbye to the Netherlands for now / drank awesome (cheap) beer with some of my favorite Belgians in Brussels, after defending my thesis / boarded a plane to Oslo again / moved to Oslo (!).

Let's stay honest: these months were, without a doubt, my favorite ones of the year. I spent so much time with favorite people, two of my biggest dreams (visiting Korea + moving to Oslo) came true and I didn't know it yet, but I also finished studying.

2014 - januari februari maart

It hasn't been my happiest, luckiest or awesomest year, but I ain't the person to focus on bad things, so I'll just say I have had fun (but could have had more). 2014 has been good to me (but could have been better). I have been lonely and insecure and lost friends I thought I'd never loose, but I also made dreams come true, met lovely new people and discovered new places.

So, here's to the good things, the first little bit of the year - the rest will follow soon:


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In January, I lived back at my parents' between fields and cows / wrote my last exam ever (!) / visited Brussels* and Ghent, Groningen* and Utrecht / saw all my friends in my two old hometowns* / enjoyed the free bits of Eurosonic / started on my MA-thesis / drew a girl who liked my drawings / started teaching Norwegian again / finally got my eyes checked.


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In February, I got (pretty) glasses and suddenly saw so much more / also got a new iPhone with awesome camera / was asked to illustrate a children's book (!) / wrote a lot and saw my thesis grow so much / went for long walks almost daily / gave myself some lovely days off (in Utrecht, in Nijmegen, at home) / kept up on letter writing / welcomed a (very) early spring.


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In March, I continued with the long walks (which obviously is the best thing about living on the country side!) / celebrated carnaval / visited Ikea and Primark, Eindhoven and Maastricht and Venlo / saw my favorite exhibition of the year: the Anti Winter Depression Show / wrote a whole lot more on my MA-thesis AND almost finished it (!) / took some last days off before going to Korea (!) because I worked so hard and the weather was perfect / loved living at homehome more than ever.

Let's stay honest: the first months of the year were quite good, except for the fact that I didn't live close to my friends. And writing a thesis 24/7 doesn't only make you feel smart, but is frustrating too... But hey, 2014 started as good as it could, I guess.

instanovember

November was the first month I was in Oslo without visitors and the first month I was allowed to finally leave the country again. It started off more sad and lonely than ever, but I guess I made a lot of (social) progress, although I'm the happiest now at home.



1 - I went to Denmark (Copenhagen) and Sweden (Lund, Malmö, Göteborg) and this is what I brought back to Oslo.
2 - I was busy translating, writing, wrapping presents and selling yogurt almost all month (and I loved it).
3 - It's so easy to fall in love with (autumn) Utrecht over and over again ❤
4 - And I even paid a quick visit to Belgium / Antwerp, to eat the loveliest lunch (and drink good cappuccino ánd hot chocolate).

& more.

(trying to) Oslove

Oslo. The nature will always be my favorite thing about the city - and the fact that you can see mountains almost everywhere and always (but that maybe counts as nature, too). It's been good to be back. Oslo finally feels (a little bit) like home, although I'm mostly working and don't know that many people to do fun things with. But

• I deleted the Facebook + Messenger app from my phone, so I'll enjoy walking around (by myself) way more than when checking what's happening at home / what I'm missing out on (even though it never really feels that way, as I love being here);

• I wrote a contact announcement to find friends in Oslo. And yes, I felt both embarrassed and proud, but I got lovely responses;

• I have nice plans for when I come back to Oslo again, which almost makes me wish I wouldn't go home. (Hey, kidding!)

So yes, I'm going home-home first! Home to celebrate Sinterklaas, see my friends, my favorite cities, visit my favorite shops, eat all my favorite food and talk Dutch until I've used all the words I know at least once. Aaaaaaaaah, I can. not. wait.