Eid Mubarak!
The trip is almost over.... for now. I fly back at one minute before midnight to the Netherlands for my sister-in-law's hen weekend (can't wait), the movers coming to pack up and NJ returning back to me (yaay) so we can fly back here together next Thursday. It feels right being here. What do I miss? NJ, my bed, my kitchen stuff; all coming with :-)
It's the first day of Eid today - the feast of breaking the fast. Big celebrations and a minimum of three days holiday (some companies close all week, government institutions get two weeks off). Eid begins the day after religious officials in each country spot the new moon the night before.
It doesn't mean too much to non-Muslims although it interests me being here. It does mean however, that we can go back to eating and drinking in public during daylight hours (which didn't bother me as much as you would imagine). Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have faith, it brings happiness and peace to a lot of people. I just can't imagine believing in something I can't see, touch or feel. Each to his own.
Apart from the hen weekend, it would feel like a necessary trip to go back just to pack up, shut down, cancel stuff and say my goodbyes; although I will not have a lot of time for the latter. I've made some fantastic friends over the last twenty years in the Netherlands, but just like the UK, the special ones will remain my friends. Some have moved on such as to Australia and Kenya and we keep in touch. I have already made new friends here and I'm looking forward to making more. I love meeting new people, as does NJ and the expat community here makes it extra easy and people are so helpful as they all started out new in the same boat at some point.
Eid Mubarak!
It's the first day of Eid today - the feast of breaking the fast. Big celebrations and a minimum of three days holiday (some companies close all week, government institutions get two weeks off). Eid begins the day after religious officials in each country spot the new moon the night before.
It doesn't mean too much to non-Muslims although it interests me being here. It does mean however, that we can go back to eating and drinking in public during daylight hours (which didn't bother me as much as you would imagine). Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have faith, it brings happiness and peace to a lot of people. I just can't imagine believing in something I can't see, touch or feel. Each to his own.
Apart from the hen weekend, it would feel like a necessary trip to go back just to pack up, shut down, cancel stuff and say my goodbyes; although I will not have a lot of time for the latter. I've made some fantastic friends over the last twenty years in the Netherlands, but just like the UK, the special ones will remain my friends. Some have moved on such as to Australia and Kenya and we keep in touch. I have already made new friends here and I'm looking forward to making more. I love meeting new people, as does NJ and the expat community here makes it extra easy and people are so helpful as they all started out new in the same boat at some point.
Eid Mubarak!
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