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Amsterdam.

Friday 27 January 2012

Getting closer to starting a new leg of the journey.

It’s Friday evening. I just had a lovely time with some of my good friends here in Norway having dinner at a vegan restaurant. My meal was an “egg salad” sandwich with no eggs or mayonnaise, yet the flavour was surprisingly like eggs and mayonnaise. I am always pleasantly surprised at how delicious vegan food is (a friend of mine made me a vegan bacon sandwich in Kansas City, which was made with bacon flavoured tofu- sounds weird, but it was very good!).

Good friends. What a blessing they are, and again I feel so rich. Rich because I have such amazing people in my life, in so many different places in the world. Rich, because I have a God who is so committed to connecting me with wonderful people in the places I am sent to.

Monday morning I set off. It seems far off, yet I only really have two days left. This week has been strange. It’s been unsettled, yet like a waiting week where I’ve wanted to make the most of the here and now, yet preparing myself to on to the next....

Monday 30 January 2012

Amsterdam once again.

I’m back in Amsterdam. And this time to make it my home for the next season. It’s strange to be back. I’m sat in my room which is quite empty seeing as it’s unfurnished. Thankfully I get to borrow a temporary bed till I can get one of my own. But it’s a good room. I need to make it my own, but it’s mine and it’s nice. I’m already thinking of small changes I might make... maybe paint a bit, how to put potential furniture into the room... I know I’m going to make it me.

The apartment I live in is right opposite the Oude Kerk in the Red Light District in Amsterdam. It’s nice to have my room at the back of the building as my window is away from the street and probably will be quieter. Although I don’t really feel bothered by noise, I can see it being a nice place to retreat to.

Leaving home (i.e. Norway) is never easy. As I say bye to family I am constantly reminded of living further way. But this time it was a bit hard, yet not as much as before. I am only an hour and a half on the plane away. Of course the whole journey takes longer than that, but in less than 5 hours I’m home which is nice. It also makes it more possible to actually pop home for a weekend even.

Well, started this post earlier today and now it’s time to sleep. It’s been a good and slightly surreal day. Still need to unpack but need to get furniture to unpack into. And there’s other things I need to get in order, but all in due time.

But it’s good to be here. I feel peace and it feels strangely familiar and “normal” to be here. I am here and “it is good and right to be in Amsterdam”.

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