Farewell Holland!

The past few nights were farewell party after farewell party, saying goodbye to all the wonderful and loving friends that I have met over the past six months. This was a very emotional and sad period for me, as you can probably guess. I am cleaning out my room taking down the memories I have built up and trying to fit them in two suitcases. I am still in a weird kind of denial that I'm going to be in Canada and that this is all really over.

Tuesday night Maaike arranged a farewell party from my co-workers at the lab, a group of very special people that showed just how much they care about me. This was a very exciting evening for me, as it has been years since I have had a party in my honour. I felt like I was a twelve-year-old having a birthday party!

We started out in the tapas bar and sat around eating good food. Then they brought out some gifts for me that touched me deeply. The most special is a CD of Dutch songs that they had compiled. Each member of the lab chose one song that is special for them and the CD insert has picture profiles of each person with their song listed on it. It actually made me cry. I also got traditional Dutch treats (stroopwafels and licorice candies) and a book of traditional Dutch cuisine. I find this really funny since I am already obsessed about food and find Dutch food the strangest! THANK YOU so much, to everyone in the lab, for doing this for me and making me feel so welcome during my stay with you. You all are awesome!

After dinner, half of us continued for the next entertainment of the evening, to a show at the local festival. The one we saw was an American show (with an American tent) about how to do Ebay powerselling. The show was more to laugh at then to laugh with, but it was good entertainment. I think that the Dutch audience didn't really appreciate what the American guy had to say, but being Canadian, I found some parts quite humorous. Standing around the show was a real national park ranger, ranger Steve, from Yellowstone. His friend was the artistic director of the show and hired him to hang around as a a living prop.

After the show, we split up and people went their own way to enjoy the rest of the evening. It turned out to be quite a nice bonding moment for some of us and I'm so glad that we had this time together.

Wednesday evening Ricard had the sweet idea of arranging dinner in my honour. So him and Myriam and Wicax cooked me delicious pasta and frittata and we spend the evening chitchatting about life. You guys are the sweetest, thank you so much for doing this for me!


After dinner, we decided to play a game of pictionary. This was a good ol' time where we shared with eachother our memories of Groningen and our views of the Dutch life through silly little drawings and many great laughs.


After spending an exhausting day of running around doing errands and packing, Thursday was my very last night in Groningen. I decided that I want to go back to Sally O'Brians and the Three Sisters, the places that started it all 6 short months ago. My hardcore friends came out with me and we drank our sorrows of goodbye away. I will particularly miss Wicax and Jorn," my boys" from my floor, who have stuck with me through my ups and downs since day one. Thank you for being my bestest friends ever!

*** I will miss you all so very much and I love you all! ***