Third year in a row.

Hey guys!

For about a week now I have been back from my holiday, but the black hole it has left in my life is absolutely crazy. Not a minute goes by without me thinking back to the two incredible weeks I had. It was utterly amazing, the families and my fellow volunteers. One of the most beautiful places on earth, that's what it is. 

If you have been following me for some time now you might have an idea what place this is about. This year was my third year on that same campsite. For someone who always used to say they would never visit the same place once I got pretty stuck there. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the most amazing campsite in Europe, Domaine de Puylagorge. Domaine de Puylagorge is a campsite in the middle of France, specifically aimed at families with kids with disabilities and their siblings to offer them the holiday they need and deserve. A holiday where the kids can roam and play free, without the help of their parents or the constant supervision of them. A campsite where the parents can actually relax knowing their children are in the hand of the most amazing volunteers. 

I came across Domaine de Puylagorge three years ago when I was thinking of working on a campsite abroad. The target group of Puylagorge, or Puy as we call it, sounded very appealing and so I decided to check it out. After spending two incredible weeks there I decided to come back the year after, and last year the same thing happened so I returned there this year as well. How do you explain this to the people around you? Well, you can't. Believe me, I have tried, but there is no way to explain the peace the parents find there for two weeks, the fun the kids have there and how disabilities are almost the standard, where no one looks up from a wheelchair or where no one gets weird glances for in explainable behaviour. Weird is the normal on Puy. 

My job on the campsite is to make sure the kids have a good time, together with my fellow volunteers we form the animation team. But besides doing the animation we can also be asked to babysit, or to support parents with the physical care for their children. This allows the parents to really have a day off with the two of them or with the not disabled kids. To me it's the best job, well I wouldn't call it a job it really is just a vacation, in the world. This year I got to mentor the same kid I mentored last year, as the kid needed one on one guidance. This kid has CP (cerebral palsy) and is the most amazing kid I know, always happy, always cheerful, and always cheering for others. During our song moment he's always telling the group to applaud for themselves and how amazing their singing is. The smile on his face becomes a smile on my face as well. 

This year was really great as I got to guide that little fellow for the full two weeks of mine and his stay. It was an honour. As a one on one mentor you really bond with the kid, but also with it's (protective) siblings and parents which is something else completely but something so incredible I wouldn't miss it for the world. During the week he started calling me "his Renée" which is also how he came up to me in the morning. Don't get me started on our toilet adventures, petting animals, bouncy castle shenanigans or painting (both paper and each other). It was a blast. 

Another special thing there is that at the end of the week we have this kind of showcase, every animation group does an act and then there are the solo acts kids (and their friends/ parents) do. At the end we say goodbye to the volunteers and families that go home. Every week tears are being shed, hugs are thrown around, final pictures are being taken and phone numbers or email addresses are being exchanged. It's an emotional happening but that's what makes Domaine de Puylagorge such an amazing place. There is a reason our motto is: "friends bring happiness". Puylagorge brings both those things, happiness and new friends. Every single year, and every year there are more familiar faces as volunteers and families keep returning. Also every year you meet new incredible and inspiring people.

Yeah, to me it's the best place on earth. And if you are from Belgium or Holland I would really recommend you check it out or pay it forward!

Lots of love,
ThatDutchGirl96

School has started.

Hey guys!

So it's September, summer is officially a memory, Halloween is almost there, the year is coming to an end and of course worst of all, school has started again. 

Schools all over the world have started again which means that new memories, friends and maybe enemies are about to be made but it also means a lot of new knowledge will be taught to and studied by the students. For most people the start of a new year of school equals the start of a period full of stress, crying, being bullied, having to sit alone during lunchtime and being afraid to fail. I hate it that school has become so known for all the negative things that happen there. You might not believe it and call me a hopeless optimist for still believing this but you have no idea how many great things happen at schools. Yes, I do know that the good things don't make up for the bad and that the educational system that most countries have has the original idea of what education should be about. Education should be available to EVERY SINGLE PERSON on earth whether they live in the USA, the Netherlands or the town ships in South-Africa. We should all be able to go to school, to learn, to go to college and finally get a job. Education should be about teaching kids knowledge they can use in their further lives not about a men who buys 60 watermelons because god knows why? Education should teach kids how to function in nowadays society and not having students work their ass of and still be unable to pay for their students loans and go to school at the same time. 

However, despite all the bad things happening in school and how incredibly stupid our educational system and most governments are for still using it there are some good sides to going to school. Yes, there are so many amazing things that happen only in school. Maybe one day you'll even learn how right your parents were when they said high school or college would be the best part of your life. 

But look around and put on those pink glasses for once. Be that hopeless optimist you never allow yourself to be and look at all the amazing things happening in the halls of your school. Friends are reuniting. People are becoming friends. Even though the weather may say so, summer isn't over yet, everyone is reliving the summer over and over every time they get to talk about it to their friends or in class.

A new year has started which allows you to start over as well. Get yourself some stationary you like, wear your favourite clothes, hug your friends, put all those judgemental thoughts aside and meet new people with an open mind. This new year has so many possibilities, you just have to look around you and sometimes when things seem to go bad again put on those pink glasses. The world has so much to offer all you need to do are the things that make you feel good and make you feel happy. When you are feeling happy make sure to show that to the rest of the world so the world can enjoy your happiness with you.

So, how is your first week of school going? Do you have any back to school advice? If you like it please leave your experiences and/or survival tips in the comments below! Like that we can help each other get through this year together.

Lots of love,
ThatDutchGirl96

Source: http://www.lifehack.org/

Happy Holidays!!!

Hello you lovely people,

That time of the year is finally here. It's the holiday season and Christmas has taken over most of this planet. Whether you live in a country where it's hugely celebrated or not, Christmas is everywhere. A festive storm has passed all over this tiny planet and left a trace of Christmas trees, baubles, tinsel, mulled wine, stuffed turkeys and what not?! 

Tonight is Christmas eve, tomorrow Christmas day and within a few weeks most of the festivities the storm left will be put back in boxes up the attic, or for the tree and the turkey been burnt or eaten. A short period of time in which we all become a bit nicer and more giving. Even though the weather isn't ideal and the cold is horrible and calls for immediate hot chocolate we still love this time of the year. God knows why? 

In Holland Christmas isn't a very big thing yet most of us do celebrate it. I love Christmas and the whole holiday season. Where people mostly care about themselves, around Christmas they seem not to for a little while. Friends and family become more important then ever and the world just seems a little less dark. 

So I just want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and if you don't celebrate Christmas I hope you have a wonderful holiday!! 2014 is slowly coming to an end. 2015 is only a week away!!!!!!!! For me 2014 has been an amazing year and I am so ready to see what 2015 has to offer. This year hasn't been the easiest for me and for a too big amount of people in the world. If 2014 has been rough on you just know that I already am incredibly proud of you surviving up on to this point!!! You have pretty much survived the whole of 2014, 365 days, 8760 hours, 525600 minutes, 31536000 seconds and how amazing is that. 

To everyone out there right now I hope you have the most wonderful holiday season ever and enjoy every minute of it! 

I love you all! Have a wonderful time!

Lots of love, ThatDutchGirl96