We Go Together

- Being shocked by the cold in Taiwan (after two months in Thailand) - and feeling instantly at home at my hostel in Taipei, thanks to a group of lovely people.

- A reversed culture shock in Australia - and the decision to follow my heart and fly back to Asia. This was the first time in my life I truly felt homesick. (For a continent, mind you)

- The worst (yet cheapest) dorm in Kuala Lumpur, the best of times in Melaka.

- A totally unexpected reunion with Yumi, at the airport - who invited me in to her home, close to Mount Fuji. Instantly feeling at home in Kyoto. Quakes and a Tsunami. Bullettrains, fear, temples, shrines, cycling and sweet potatoes. Crying for the first time while leaving a country, because I knew I would not be back soon - and I loved the place so much.

- Accidentally erasing 2500 pictures. (Luckily, I will be able to restore them - I just need to get the right software for that. Any help is warmly welcomed!)

- The year I fell in love with Bikram yoga. And went from being a vegetarian to a vegan.

- Meeting up with Dave and hiss happy face, again and again :)

- Taking a train through Malaysia to Singapore, disliking it and flying back to Taiwan. Losing my grandfather. Being embraced by an amazing group of people. Getting a love letter from my new/adopted brother. Swimming in between the Taiwanese people, making a lot of Green Monsters, being called a ‘hippie’.

- Flying back home, living at Etz Hostel for about three months (and having such a great time, with the staff and my dorm mates - as well as countless sleepless nights due to storing people and late arrivals/early departures) Continuing my yoga-practice.

- Buying a new netbook & slowly getting back in to putting my thoughts back to ‘paper’.

- Finding love. Or, being found by love? Hmm.. Falling in love.

- Another trip to Malaysia and Singapore - liking it a lot better now - guess it’s got a lot to do with liking yourself too. (And allowing yourself to shop a little, for the first time during your trip).

- Moving in to a cute little studio, finally unpacking my backpack.

- Yoga doubles. A film festival. Salad bars. Banana soft serve. Regina Spektor.

- Extending my trip - and travel insurance - again and again.

- Deciding to take the leap and go to Canada, because the boy took a massive part of my heart and I can’t live without it. Or him, for that matter.

- Buying a ticket to New York - leaving my time back in The Netherlands up to as little as two weeks.

- Learning to like myself a little bit more - one day at a time.

- Setting up a new project with bestie Petra.

- Being able to laugh again. Out loud. With others. About myself, too.

- The year I let go of a lot of fear, and finally found home. In Asia, but most of all, within myself.

As for 2012…

I’m flying back to Holland. Will be emptying my storage-box (good luck on that, anybody need like…anything?). Get to spend a week doing fun stuff with my mum(!), sleepovers at Petra - working on our project. Will fly to New York, meet-up with some lovelies there. Cross the border to Canada. Will FINALLY see my love again <3. Practice loads of (Bikram) Yoga. Get serious about writing, while ignoring winter. Become a regular at the library. Go juice-feasting with Sabine. Welcome Mum & her bf and Petra. Attend Yoga Teacher training?

Everything is possible - the oncoming year is a pretty blank page so far. But that is fine. Great. My will to discover and live is stronger as ever, as is my trust in myself and the future.

Bring it on, twenty-twelve!