#1 It's (sabbatical) time!

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-Happy 20th anniversary to me, 25th of May 2006 was when I wrote my first post-

Hiiiiii,

So for those who don't know, I have a 6 month sabbatical, starting June 1st (so back to work on December 1st). 

I left work on thursday (May 28th), my last day at the office. I knew I still had so much to do but for a second, it hit me that I was one day away from my 6 month break and that brought a smile to my face :-). It felt so close and yet so far or maybe just unreal. Either way, it's been a long time coming and it's needed. 

One of my colleagues gave me this keychain on thursday 🙏🏽🌷

Leaving the office with a bright sun waiting for me 🤩

I had my real final day on friday the 29th, worked from home that day and I shut down the laptop early afternoon.. that's it, I made it. First order of business, taking a nap (on my new couch) haha! And went to celebrate with friends a few hours after that! And the day after and the day after that as well haha. 

Shutting down

Naptime!

And so it begins :-)!

Monday June 1st

It all seemed to come together today, I was able to get a last minute spot for a passport renewel appointment. I did look at it a few weeks ago and it said that it took 6 business days for your passport to be ready and so I figured I would make an appointment on sunday or monday. Little did I know that June was already fully booked, woops. I figured I could always pay double for an emergency appointment if I had to, but as I opened the page again minutes later, a spot opened up for June 2nd! Check! 

On to the next task. My car needed it's annual check before June 10th and my go-to car mechanic was on holiday last year and I forgot that and so again, I waited till last minute to ask him 🤦🏽‍♀️. I was in luck though! Turned out he didn't go due to personal reasons and so I was able to drop off my car right away! Check, check!

After droppig off the car, I carried half the old sofa down to the basement and almost finished my moms puzzle. It was such a productive day. I feel like it's still the weekend though which is maybe why I did so much in one day, not realizing yet I've got 6 months or something. Just like the tuesday that followed. Went to my passport appointment (after first taking new photos), attended a Zumba morning class, finished my moms puzzle, took my old sofa to the recycling with a friend (took us 2 rides), picked up my car from the garage, went to the supermarket and attended another Zumba class at night. Pfew!

Finished the puzzle, happy mom and happy me!

I told one of my friends that I felt like a retiree, a "pensionada". They always say they're soooo busy haha I felt the same and also because every day seems like a weekend-day now! And maybe that's also why I felt kind of at peace. I felt energetic and work hadn't passed my mind for a second. But to be fair, I've always been pretty good at that. Laptop closed = no more work = done.

I still didn't booked anything but kind of looking into things and trying to make some sort of a plan and I also know that I can't do everything last minute for this first part of the trip as it is high season, the season I usually always avoid. I also still have a lot planned and so I feel like I need to get all that done first. And so it's okay to go a little later, I mean, it's week one!!

Monday June 8th

Here we go, it's been 10 years to the day, that I donated my hair and so I picked today to do that again! Waaaa. I felt excited but also a bit nervous, the good kind though. 

It really felt like this haha and just like the ladies in the movie, I was totally at ease 🧘🏽‍♀️

A little over 40cm, gone!

2016 vs 2026

End result!

On tuesday, I went to a documentary (Mama'ku) about a mom and daughter going back to Indonesia and how some things were unknowingly passed on from generation to generation. And also how the daughter never felt at home anywhere when she grew up. And it made me think. Is that why I travel the world? To find a place where I feel 100% at home, 100% safe, 100% 'senang'? I had that initial feeling of 'coming home' once and that was in Indonesia. And yet I kept traveling the world, but maybe I do need to go back to Indonesia again?

I have to admit though that in the last years, I've felt more and more at home here and have slowly turned my house into a home. But with this sabbatical, I feel like leaving again, like I kind of have to because I can, but do I want to? I do right? I mean it's what I do and it's who I am. Or maybe it's just me, getting older haha.

Last year, when there was a day that I felt excited, happy and a bit restless as well, I wrote something down: There's a fire in my belly... Early menopause or ready for another adventure? It's hard to tell these days 😅 . Fight everything with humor, and yes, even my own thoughts and feelings sometimes.

And so what's next? Where will I go in the next 6 months? A friend asked me that and also what I was looking forward to the most.. my reply was, nothing really, I just want something that will amaze me again, that will bring tears to my eyes, that will excite me, and so not really 'a something' but more a feeling I guess, an experience. But first things first, picking up my new passport!

I picked up my new passport on wednesday morning and applied for my Canadian and American e-visas, they were both approved! And so I finally booked my first flight 🎉! I knew where to start kind of because I want to see orcas (either from Vancouver or Seattle and bears catching salmon in Alaska)! I Am also meeting up with a travel friend, I met in Belize a few years ago, close to Seattle where she lives atm. But I decided to fly to Toronto first, it's a (cheap) direct flight from Amsterdam (one way ticket) and seems like a great city to start in! Leaving next week! 

That's it for now!

Byeeeeeee!

T.

Final note: Please add your name in the comment itself if you leave one, I see almost everything under 'unknown'. Thanks!