We Went Dutch
Our time in Utrecht has been so valuable. We knew it would be an 'experience' and it was. Some things that we thought would be hard were even harder than we anticipated. Some things were wonderful from the start. We all changed and grew, both individually and as a family. Elena, of course, has spent her toddler years weaving gracefully between two cultures, two languages. And her parents have learned for the first time what is like to be expats and immigrants. Our family has been challenged and changed and enriched by our time here.
Like the Oscars, a few thanks are in order. We wouldn't have had the courage to even make this decision without the inital support of our PhD advisors. Then, of course, all our friends and family who were 'just an email' away for support, encouragement, and friendship - offering to mail packages of food, sending sweet care packages, and emailing news from 'home.' Then, the grandparents, always ready to charge a phone card, fly across the country to help with a move, or relay ordered goods - we were able to push our comfort zone here because we knew we could always rely on them. Of course, to our few friends in Utrecht, Maurits, Brett/Maria/Davide/Luca, all the market friends, our friends in the Nieuwegracht house...thanks for sharing your city with us for a bit.
You may recall that when we moved, our change of address card had part of the poem by Eugene Field
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
sailed off in a wooden shoe.
My mom used to recite that poem to us when Seth and I were kids. Never did I really think that I would set sail in a wooden shoe to my own adventure. But in our wooden shoe we have sailed, not across a sea of dew but through an amazing experience, which now must end. But we carry precious memories.
...Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home;
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea-
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
Please join us at our new blog -
http://justalittlewhile.blogspot.com
to follow along on our new adventures.
Like the Oscars, a few thanks are in order. We wouldn't have had the courage to even make this decision without the inital support of our PhD advisors. Then, of course, all our friends and family who were 'just an email' away for support, encouragement, and friendship - offering to mail packages of food, sending sweet care packages, and emailing news from 'home.' Then, the grandparents, always ready to charge a phone card, fly across the country to help with a move, or relay ordered goods - we were able to push our comfort zone here because we knew we could always rely on them. Of course, to our few friends in Utrecht, Maurits, Brett/Maria/Davide/Luca, all the market friends, our friends in the Nieuwegracht house...thanks for sharing your city with us for a bit.
You may recall that when we moved, our change of address card had part of the poem by Eugene Field
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
sailed off in a wooden shoe.
My mom used to recite that poem to us when Seth and I were kids. Never did I really think that I would set sail in a wooden shoe to my own adventure. But in our wooden shoe we have sailed, not across a sea of dew but through an amazing experience, which now must end. But we carry precious memories.
...Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home;
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea-
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
Please join us at our new blog -
http://justalittlewhile.blogspot.com
to follow along on our new adventures.
posted by Erin K. | 12:51 PM
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