Last night I spent my first night in the new little apartment. What a nice feeling this place gives me. Although it is not very big I feel at home and I have already been able to make it my own with my old and new stuff. Last Monday, my father and Ton and Henk (Dutch people who also live here) helped me lift the large pieces of furniture 2 floors up. At times it was a tickle but after the hard effort came the relaxation. To thank them, I quickly took them to a nearby terrace and we had a nice lunch with a thick pot of beer! I believe it was Heineken.... Yes those Dutch need a bit of a grip even in France don't they?

My landlord, who called me 'Little miss perfect', is also doing very well. He's very helpful and friendly... I think we both forgot the culture differences for a moment, but now everything is fine!

Late last night my friends from cafe De Klinkspaan in Groningen facetimed (is that a word??) me, because friend Marike turned 50 and to say they miss me...sweet.... I miss them too...But they couldn't resist saying that I was quite a 'tasty morsel' on camera...With that they meant the opposite of course...And thank you dear friends? That's why I couldn't sleep all night. Or was it because the impact of the transition was bigger than I expected or because I can't start my small business now because of corona or because I can't get health insurance here yet while De Friesland Zorgverzekeraar doesn't want to insure me anymore or is it because I slept in my new house with new sounds and silences or is it because I actually don't officially have a job yet? I don't know, but what I do know is that in a short time I have already managed to do a lot and am enjoying my new place!

Last week, for example, I bought a new car. After a long internet search and several disappointments, because yes a car search on the French marketplace (any marketplace) is equivalent to the searches on dating apps like Tinder and Happn, I had decided with a "male choose between an old Mini, a sporty Peugeot and a Volkswagen...First away with the Peugeot, it quickly fell off. Then the Mini...I was in love, but knew I shouldn't do this...Recognizable? In the end, the reliable and solid Volkswagen proved itself. I had to swallow but am very happy with it! After each test drive, the "little man" stood with a big smile and sunglasses in the doorway 'looking beautiful' and to welcome us back. He spoke difficult English and we difficult French, but still whole stories with each other. Nice these pleasant encounters?

This sunny sunday morning I'm off to the boulevard of Saint Raphael walked to have breakfast overlooking the sea.

In short, I'm enjoying myself, coming across things, but most of all, I'm very happy!

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