Well, what a ride it has been over the last half year. Moving back from Switzerland to my home country Holland after being gone for 5 years already including also a couple of years in the Caribbean. A lot of people have asked me over the last couple of weeks how it feels to be back, and if I feel integrated again. And also the question if I am happy to be back again. To me, there is no really clear answer to this
Because of course there are so many differences when from moving from the Alps back to the flatland. Moving from the place what was new back to the place where I grew up. But also so much is the same. So am I happy with my choice. There are so many ways to look at this.
One point of course is the landscape. Well duh, this one is easy. Switzerland will win this from Holland any given day. Because Holland is flat and flatter, and Switzerland has a the endless mountains, the snow, and the lakes which are bluer than blue. Yes, Holland does have the canals. But bluer than blue? Not really if you ask me! And also when I look at the region I live in, so much has changed compared to when I left. Loads more buildings, and not all for the better. But a better variety to things? Yes, that is better. The Eindhoven region is a vibrant place I would say!
And yeah, living with the man and being closer to the family, that is actually the reason of course why I came back here. And with this Covid-19 new era, this was not a bad choice at all. Because damn I would be unhappy if I would still be living in Switzerland with this time where travelling was not an easy thing to be doing. Lockdown, quarantines and not being allowed to leave the country because I am a healthcare worker. That was all part of the deal, and honestly I am glad that I not doing this Corona phase from a distance, but with the loved ones around me. And yes this new family member with 4 legs is also part of that deal!
Which is also the mixed feelings part of being back again. Because one of the things that is hard to see as a neutral feeling, is that we are not able to go anywhere. Well, anywhere…life is opening up of course again here in the region. But the last couple of months were not a representable period of time to see if you enjoy being back in Holland again, because locked in and all. But all of those things don’t really seem to matter if you just put it in another perspective.
You can be all over the world, but without having your loved ones around you…It doesn’t matter where the hell you are.
