September 18th 2010, exactly one year ago, I boarded a flight to Fiji starting my sabbatical, my year off, my adventures, my trip around the world. When I landed again in Amsterdam in June, a new kind of adventure started. Real life, kind of. I had still not decided on where to settle, not even in which country since my desire to live in the United States had not diminished after the past 5 weeks there. However, the financial crisis has hit hard in the US and my wish to move there would be accompanied by a lot of practical obstacles, working permit among others. My first plan was to spend the summer in Denmark, visiting friends and family, enjoying the long light days. And maybe look for a job.
As often happens when I get an idea, things I had not planned start to happen. A few days before I arrived in Denmark I got an email with a job offer in Aarhus. I was to replace my colleague Lotte for 6 weeks when she took some time off. It was a splendid opportunity to get a feeling for Denmark, to make a little money and to see if I liked it. It went very well except my Danish vocabulary had gotten a funny twist to it after so many years abroad. I worked my butt off for 6 weeks. I saw long lost friends and family and thought it would be nice to stay. There is not a full position for me at Rygcenter Vester Allé, however both Lotte and Christine are both quite busy which means that there is potential and since I have 20 years experience and great skills, I believe there is a way to make it work.
Those first 8 weeks were emotionally very trying, though. Breaking up and settling down a new place brings up feelings of immense uncertainty and separation. Uncertainty is part of traveling the world and therefore exciting. Uncertainty in small amounts are like pleasant surprises. However uncertainty in large amounts can become overwhelming. I was still living in a suitcase but not really on the road anymore and I was back in my own country. Good old friends opened their homes to me however I felt homeless as ever and became homesick for all the things I had left behind in Holland. I just felt like jumping into the car, head back to Holland, lock myself into my old apartment, make a cup of coffee and sit down on my old couch and just - be home. All so familiar. Which of course I could not. I sold it all. I had burned the bridges so to speak.
This emotional storm could not go on. I needed to make a decision. I had to give Denmark a whole hearted chance. Lotte asked me to stay in the clinic to build up a patient base and we agreed that I should start September 1st. I went back to Holland for two weeks to finish off open ends and arrange the moving company to ship my stuff. It will arrive next week. As usual, when I take action things happen and within a few days I found a place for rent in Skæring 15 kilometers north of Aarhus. It is a small house a few hundred meters from the beach and just one street down from my brother's.
It is good to have a place on my own. It's good to settle. I believe I make the right decision by moving back to Denmark. At least for now. I will always be a globetrotter and I will travel again, no doubt. Though my adventures are over for the time being I thought I would finish the blog with some pictures from my beautiful little country. Just look at those clouds!
