What happened to the stars?

Even though I just missed these seasons (fall, winter) once in Holland, I still have to get used to it. It's remarkable how dark it gets over here at 5pm. Looking up at a pitch black sky and not seeing a single star. The stars that reminded me of my walks in Florida, the stars that connects us all.

In the last few weeks I've been working almost non-stop on school projects. Most of it at school and sometimes it continued at home. So socializing came at night, whenever I could find time.

It's bizarre for some, but our school has two bars on its property (one inside my building and one right outside of it), where friends/students/colleagues can get together for a cup of coffee, a grilled cheesed sandwich (tosti) or a beer (beers are served after 3pm). So after a hard week of work, I too went to the bar, called "Room 99" as in classroom, in Dutch "Lokaal 99". (I just went out the night before, slept for two hours and was at school by 9am, so to drink again was the furthest thing I could think of when I walked in). I met up with some friends, who I owed a beer. And since I was thirsty, very thirsty and they started to buy me beer too, I gave in and drank the beers that were offered to me. We left "Lokaal 99" and went to the center of the city, where we went to a casino, no worries I didn't gamble and after we played some pool. I went home, ate dinner and left for a birthday party that lasted till 1230am. Just to get up at 8 the next morning to work, work, work, and of course I had another birthday party that night and went out afterwards. Just to give you an idea of the crazy life (style) I created and am living.

I did other things too, went out to dinner, crawled out of bed at night on Halloween (which is no big idea over here yet), took a cab and went out, because a friend changed her mind and decided at 1am that she was going out after all, after I put my PJs on…but desperate for a party as I am, I went. (This was the night that I slept for 2 hours). I also had a drink or two with a new friend :), whose family used to be very close to my family, back in "the olden days", it's a small world. It was fun.

What else….I added a second earring in both ears, right next to/above the first one. I had more birthday parties and crazy days and nights I will spare you. I made more new friends (including a bartender and a young cabdriver), as I do every week. I visited my sisters, got a new phone (€25,-), since mine broke. And made plans to go skiing (indoors, in Germany), first time, that'll be fun…

And three people told me that I looked good in the past week, if I changed anything. I couldn't think of anything, looked the same as always…these were people that hadn't seen me for 2-3 weeks though. I understand that not getting your weekly dose of Talitha brings you down :), so when you finally do get to see me again, it's like the sun starts shining again!!

Speaking of my happy, cheerful presence, I too have my moments of stormy weathers. And they came in hard last night when I was out. Receiving a "Hi, how are you" text message from my aunt (Simone, who lives in America) reminded me that I live so far away and that I miss them. Thinking of how we used to talk and laugh. Moment of weakness, but I had plenty of friends that hugged me to death. Anyway, I'm putting my feelings on the table here. Wish I could have it all in the same place, all my friends, my life, my family, which will not happen, so I am dealing with that by flying over whenever I can ($$$). Life wouldn't be interesting without the challenges and obstacles to keep you focused and on the right track.

So that's that for this week, nothing much, just your small dose of Talitha! Enjoy and don't forget the side effects: a smile on your face, a happy feeling, wanting to hug, wanting to dance and positive thinking!

A big HUG for all,

Talitha!