five years ago today.
i was on the brink of major life change. i flew to Amsterdam with no return ticket.
it's funny the things that stand out to me about that day. i remember that i was wearing extremely uncomfortable shoes (but i thought they were more fashionably acceptable by Amsterdam standards.) i remember after having arrived at Schiphol airport, that we went to the Food Market to find some staple grocery items (in case we weren't able to find our neighborhood grocery store.) i didn't realize at the checkout that they weren't going to bag my grocery items--until it was already too late and i had failed to buy a plastic bag to carry them in. i felt so foolish afterwards, carrying my items in my hands--but it was after this first encounter with culture shock that i received the best advice that anyone could have given me in that moment. "Learn to laugh at yourself, because you're going to need to do it A LOT."
...
i don't think i would have believed it if someone had told me that i would still be here 5 years later. it's strange to think that one fifth of my life has been spent living (or working towards living) in the Netherlands. and what do i have to show for myself? i can't say that i have the language down yet (this is especially an area that i need to learn to not take myself so seriously!), i can't say that i've seen any hugely obvious or major life transformations because of my influence in other's lives...but i guess i can say that i've persevered in this journey of faith. i've faced many challenges and trials that i never would have imagined for myself, but i walked through it and came out with a deeper sense of Unfailing Love. i've gotten the chance to see a few places i would have never dreamed i would have a chance to see and experience. but more than anything i think i would say that i've met and become friends with some of the most beautiful and inspiring people. i can forget this sometimes. the day in, day out interaction can dull my ability to see what beauty i have around me.
but looking back over the last 5 years--that is what i would say would be worth every bit of struggle and awkwardness that comes with living as a stranger in a land thousands of miles from what i once knew to be 'home'. the people.
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