My journey through 2016.

Dear 2016,

Our time together is nearly over. Just a couple more hours before we have to say goodbye, a final goodbye as 2017 slowly steps in your place. But for now, we're still together so let us cherish these final moments by reflecting on all the things we did together.

2016, you were a mess, a bittersweet disaster. Globally you shook the entire planet and everyone on it. You had us say goodbye to so many influential people and to so many lesser known people as well. Then there were politics, to make politics a more popular item you decided to spice it up. Let me say you succeeded, more people are into politics now then ever. To say I agree with your choices in politics would be a step to far so let's get over our political differences and say goodbye to this subject already. 

Personally, 2016, you were a roller coaster. You've given me a lot of opportunities, a lot of chances and I took most of them gratefully. Some ended better than others but all of them led to incredible adventures. 2016, you expanded my interests and taught me a long list of new things. I found more time for all the amazing books you had for me and discovered some more literary gems of my own. There are a few adventures I would like to go into more detail about. 

First of all there was Elfia, a massive cosplay event on the grounds of a beautiful castle in Utrecht. I went here with an internet friend of mine and it was one of the best days ever. Elfia has this atmosphere that makes you feel accepted, included and not at all strange. Everyone is dressed differently and able to be someone else for a day whilst at the same time being themselves completely. At this event I met some incredible people and I learned that it is okay to like science fiction and fantasy, and that it's okay to be a bit weird. As long as you like what you do what's the problem? Correct, there is none.

Then there was Domaine de Puylagorge, a Dutch campsite in France for families with disabled kids. A wonderful place where I went for the second time to organise the animation program for the kids. This year I was lucky enough to guide to incredibly interesting and wonderful kids with special needs, and I had an amazing time working with them and getting to know them and their families. One of the most amazing things about that campsite is the bond between families and the animation team and families. On this campsite it's okay to sit down and chat with families, to share stories, concerns and happy memories. The campsite is a safe haven for families with disabled kids, parents can let go of some of the care around their disabled child and the siblings can play without having to worry about their disabled brother or sister for a change. Everyone can be themselves which is a pretty rare feeling when you are a parent or sibling of a disabled child. 

To continue my list of adventures I saw André Kuipers live and visited the space expo and the ESA ESTEC terrain in Noordwijk. For a long time now I've been strangely interested in space and hearing André Kuipers talk about his time in space and running around in the space expo surrounded by spaceships, a recreated module of the International Space Station it blew me away. I was like an overexcited child in there, which I still am when I think back at how amazing that day was, including the four hour road trip my friend and I went on to get there.

Furthermore I went to see Twenty One Pilots and Panic! at the Disco live in November. Two incredible performances with two incredible crowds. Crowds in which I didn't feel claustrophobic or anxious for a change but crowds that felt welcoming and accepting. I sang along, jumped and cried without shame, I utterly loved those concerts.

Oh and how could I forget my visit to the Cat Café and the Vincent van Gogh museum. Yet another amazing day in an incredible year with incredible adventures. Another museum to cross of my long lists of museums I want to visit. It's kind of becoming an annual thing now, going to a museum with a friend of mine to indulge ourselves in the artistic believes of various great painters. It's just lovely.

Yes 2016, when it comes to adventures you were amazing I did a lot of amazing things and met a lot of amazing new people in the process. Also those things allowed me to develop myself as a person. The best example, regarding my personal development, may be my current internship. The internship in the hospital. Another adventure, yet this one isn't over yet. This internship might be the hardest one I've had so far, be the most challenging both personally and professionally. As a nurse I learned a lot, I've become a much better nurse already however there is still a long way to go before I feel qualified as an independent nurse on a ward. Personally I learned to deal with my mental and physical limitations in the work field, how it's better to talk about them and make them known at the start of my internship instead of blocking my learning process with them. 

Something everyone I know knows about me is that I'm diabetic, it's a physical issue that is pretty obvious when people go out for lunch with me or when my insulin pump decides to be a bit dramatic in the evening. Still haven't found an off button for the alarm sounds. The things that only a few people know about me are my mental issues. It's just something that you don't bring up that easily and that I don't really have to bring up as it's not something as visible and obvious as my diabetes is. 2016, however, has taught me that it's important to talk about those issues as well. Ignoring them will only lead to the inevitable breakdown and it will limit you're personal and professional development. 

So to cut things short, 2016, you were amazing. The last couple of years have been full of me learning stuff about myself and me developing myself more and more but this year I honestly thought that process was finished. That I was able to deal with my 'problems' and that they wouldn't trouble me anymore. Well 2016, thank you for showing me otherwise and telling me that there is no shame in being different or having a few more diagnoses. My problems are a part of me and there's no reason to act as if they're not. 

2016 you were an incredible tutor and you helped me plan out the first steps of some amazing adventures I will have in 2017. 2016 you will be missed but 2017 the world and I, are so ready for you. A new beginning, a new year, new chances, new opportunities and most important of all new adventures!

Lots of love,

ThatDutchGirl96

My 2016 goals

Hey there!

2016 has been crazy so far but not just the bad "I can't keep up with anything and I'm watching time fly by without getting anything done" kind of crazy. No, 2016 has also been the "oh my god, this year is going to be so awesome and I have planned so many amazing things already" kind of crazy. The latter excites me most obviously. 

So let's do a kind of in depth view of "my 2016".
My 2016, my 2016 is going to be this amazing year full of awesome days, amazing people, spontaneous trips and cool surprises. 

My 2016 goals:
School goals:
○ Passing the Crossing borders module (a mandatory module if you want to go on an internship abroad).
○ Finally passing my practical test.
○ Proceeding to the third year of my nursing course.
●Finishing and passing my current internship. 
○ Starting an internship in a hospital. 

Life goals:
○ Go on one or more holidays with friends.
○ Buy a new camera and do more photographing. 
○ Turn flipping TWENTY......
○ Actually go ice skating for a change. 
○ Book a surprise me trip!
○ Say yes to (social) activities more often. 
○ Watch more movies from my movie list.
○ Catch up with all the series I'm behind on and start watching some new ones.
○ Get my HBa1c back on 53. (diabetes goal)

Blog goals:
○ Rewrite and redesign Cat Tales.
○ Write more book reviews AND read more books.
○ Write more Diabetes related blogposts. 
○ Write some more nerdy blogposts.

Other goals:
○ Start that youtube channel!

To be continued.....

So far this is how I want my 2016 to be like. This year I want to do even more amazing things than in 2015 which definitely is a challenge I want to live up to. I know 2015 set the bar pretty high yet I truly believe I can succeed. 
2016 I am finally ready for you and I'm going to make you my best year yet. New goals to achieve, new memories to make and new adventures to go on. 2016 BRING IT ON!

ThatDutchGirl96.

What a start.

Hi there!

WELCOME TO 2016!!! The year that all your dreams may come true. The year you will find out that guy you've been having a crush on for ages has a crush on you too. But most of all the year that February has 29 days again!! I'm not too sure about the first two though so I would like to apologise in advance if neither of them happens. 

So far 2016 is going so fast it's unreal. In the two weeks that are 2016 I barely got a chance to sit down, take a moment and just relax. My "good times in 2015" jar remains full and untouched in my windowsill and I haven't been able to write down my goals for 2016 yet either. So yeah this year is kind of driving me crazy already. But hey that's college/adult life I guess...

As I kind of mentioned in my last blogpost I spent New Years Eve in Disneyland which was absolutely incredible! Even at the age of 19 I loved every minute of it! I was completely mesmerized by the magical atmosphere, the beautiful parade, the amazing show on New Years Eve. I might have even shed a tear here and there. One of my favourite Disney moments however was meeting Spiderman. He was so nice and kind and I nearly cried (again). Disneyland just turned me into an emotional wreck. 

On January 2nd I came home from the Disneyland trip and there was like just enough time to empty my suitcase before January 4th came knocking at my door. That day it was time for me to return to my internship. Now I really enjoy being at my internship and I'm really having a great time there but right now it's all a bit much. I work at my internship for four days a week, then there is one day I have to go to school, on Saturday I have to work at my part-time job which means that all the socializing has to happen on Sundays. To top all the madness half of my family has their birthday in January, I have to finish two assignments for school and of course I've become sort of sick. Not in the 'you have to stay in bed because you feel terrible' way, NO that would just be way too easy. I'm experiencing the 'headache combined with a terrible cold but in a way that you can still go to work and do everything you're supposed to do whilst holding tissue because of all the sneezing' kind of sick. So yeah that really isn't very helpful. 

I can't wait until the second week of February when I finally have a week off. A week to (hopefully) just relax, sit down and take a few deep breaths. A week to catch up on all the series I've not been able to watch, a week to finally look back on all the good times of 2015 that are still stuffed inside that beautiful jar of mine but also a week to finally write down my 2016 goals.

2016, what a start! I can't help but wonder how many things you can possibly have in store for me and what a crazy year you will be!

I hope your 2016 has been less of a mess and you're not ill or kind of ill and that you are just enjoying this new year!

Love you lots!
ThatDutchGirl96

Goodbye 2015.

Hello 2015,

It's almost time to say goodbye. Our time together is nearly over. Those 365 days I got to spend with you this year were absolutely incredible and I can't thank you enough for most of them. We had our ups and downs but hey who hasn't? Someone told me it's not really a healthy relationship when you don't have your disagreements or less good moments. I guess so. 

When December 2014 came to an end I was really excited to meet you and couldn't wait for all the adventures you had in store for me. My excitement was well placed as you were amazing. I also prepared a list of goals for us, hoping I would reach them and I did. Most of them anyway. For example I watched Big Hero 6 AND hugged a Baymax (evidence on your right), I went abroad (multiple times), I completed the 25 km walk, proceeded to the 2nd year of University, ate a lot of ice cream, went to a festival AND multiple concerts, slept outside in a tent and I went swimming. A big thanks to you for helping me achieve those things.

You helped me improve my taste in music as well, you introduced me to Halsey, Biffy Clyro, Panic! at the Disco, Walk The Moon and Twenty One Pilots, got me more into Troye Sivan, Chef'Special, Jeffrey Lewis, Fall Out Boy, The 1975 and All Time Low. Yeah, regarding music this year was incredible, I feel really satisfied with my current taste in music yet I hope 2016 can introduce me to even more incredible artists. 2015 you were not only great with music you were also great with art as in during my time with you I visited the Rijksmuseum, one of Holland's most famous museums. The Rijksmuseum was really amazing, so many different artists, styles of arts, centuries of art. It felt great just roaming it's hallways taking good looks at all the pieces of art everywhere and the marvellous architectural structure of the building itself. 
 









Then there was travelling. 2014 and 2013 helped me spend a lot of money on travelling some big plans were made for 2016 as well so with you I had to slow down on the spending money for travelling bit. Thankfully you understood my wish and helped me find the ultimate holiday destination, Domaine de Puylagorge. A Dutch campsite in France known for being a great holiday destination for families with one or more children with a disability. The work I got to do there was great, so great even I decided to go back in 2016. These were two great weeks for a low budget traveller like me this year. However our travelling didn't stop there, hell no. A few weeks after France I went to The Hague with my mum, dad and sister for a couple of days where we visited a Food Marked and went to see Billy Elliot which was amazing. Somewhere in April or May you pushed me and my friend to buy tickets for TATINOF (The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire) in Brighton, UK. Possibly the best purchase of the year so thanks for that mate! This meant we head to go to Brighton as well so on October 30 we boarded a plane and went to Brighton for a weekend. Brighton was everything I could have wished for and more, it was practically the best weekend of my life. Even after Brighton you thought I needed another travelling thing so you gave me that last push to say yes to my friend who asked me to go to Disneyland Paris during New Year's eve. 
So when it comes to travelling you have been more than great for me and I could never thank you enough for the amazing chances you have given me!

 

Besides all the good stuff we went through there were some less good times too. In August my granddad nearly died but thankfully he's a very brave and strong man and I'm so grateful to still have him by my side. Then there were those times where my moods just dropped and the void became stronger again and of course the many times my anxiety tried to ruin my day. Thankfully you were a great companion and showed me how amazing my friends are and that I actually can trust them and am allowed to tell them when I'm struggling with myself.

2015 you have been so patient with me. You taught me so many things this year, sometimes I picked them up quickly and other times you had to pick me up from the floor a thousand times or give me that last push a couple of times before it struck me. You were a massive part in me growing stronger and finding out more about myself, who I am and who I want to become. You taught me that I can do anything as long as I keep fighting for it and keep approaching it in a positive way. Positivity is key is what you always say just as you can't stop saying everything will be fine in the end. Now the end is here, or our end at least and wow you were right. Everything is fine and I have you thank for it.

2015 I'll tell you one last time, THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH, for everything you've done with and for me this year. I will never forget you!

Love you lots,
ThatDutchGirl96