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 Netherlands

Tanya, 29 December 2008
 Netherlands Wolvega

The End..

I arrived home last Tuesday, almost a week ago! Due to Christmas and all the family visiting for me and my Mum's Birthday, I didn't really have time to write my last story.. But now I have time to write my story. The last message in my diary!

The last episode of my diary ended the 10th of December, so it has been a few days since I last wrote something. The rest of that week wasn’t too exciting. We did some Christmas activities at the Prep school and in the boarding house we had to say goodbye to a few more pupils.

The 14th of December, all the boarding staff and pupils went to Norwich on a big coach to do some Christmas shopping. It was really nice to be in Norwich for the last time and to shop again. The last two hours Windy and I had to take the two youngest girls shopping. Because they are only 11 or 12, they had to shop with a member of staff.
One of the girls still had to buy a dress for her Christmas dinner on Tuesday, so we helped her find a dress. At Primark she found a really nice and cute dress and some shoes.

After the shopping spree we went to Pizza Hut in Lowestoft, but with only the younger ones. The older pupils, Upper 5 and the Sixth Form went back to Southwold to prepare for the Christmas dinner and dance. Windy and I didn’t go to the dinner, but we were invited to go to the dance. So there we were, thinking about how to do our hair and make up with 14-year-olds. One of the girls offered to do my hair and make up, so I didn’t have to worry about that. We had a really nice conversation during her treatment, because she became a really good friend in the last couple of months. Although she is only 15, she is a fantastic girl!
The dance was really nice. We had fun with all the pupils and it was also a good opportunity to do something really nice with the pupils before we left.

On Monday all the prep school children and staff went to the Nativity Play dress rehearsal of the Pre-Prep. It was a story about a grumpy sheep. The pre-prep children are 5 to 7 years old and it is really cute to see them perform their play.
Also on Monday and Tuesday we did a lot of Christmas activities like a Christmas film, a quiz about things that happened this term, Christmas puzzles and all sorts of other activities. In the mornings, most children went to the St Edmunds Church to rehears for their Carol Service on Wednesday.
On Tuesday we also had our Christmas Lunch with the prep school. This meant that the teachers had to clear the table, instead of the oldest year group, Upper 3. We had everything, the hats, the Christmas crackers, songs and even Father Christmas!
At night, there was the Christmas dinner and dance for the younger ones of the Senior School. This time we did go to the dinner and the dance. The dinner was actually exactly the same as what we had for lunch, but that’s okay. Again, it was a lot of fun to be with the pupils because most of them really became friends in the last couple of months.

And then came Wednesday.. The day I’ve feared for more than a month. I’m not good in saying goodbye, so I really wasn’t looking forward to it. It started in the morning, after breakfast. In the dinning hall we had to say goodbye to a girl from Venezuela, who became a good friend. After a few minutes, about 7 people were crying and hugging each other. Also some of the pupils left for another school so a lot of crying there as well. All in all, Wednesday was a really emotional day. When I left Holland, I was emotional as well, but I knew that I saw my friends and family again after a few months. But I don’t know if I will ever go back to Southwold. I really want to though!
At night we went out to Lord Nelson, one of the pubs in Southwold, to have a drink and something to eat with the boarding staff. There we talked to Laura, the “housemother” of the boys house, about how we learn English and other languages and how the English people don’t really have to. We also talked about how we talk English and if we think in English while we talk English etc.

Thursday and Friday we spent most of our time painting in Fawcett house, the boys house. Tim and Laura asked us if we would like to help and then they would arrange food for the two days. The first day, Tom, a swimmer who stayed until Saturday, also helped. We had a lot of fun and at that moment I realised just how much I will miss being there. I met so many nice people and really want to come back one day.

Sunday was the day I was looking forward to the most. My parents arrived at 8.30 and of course the tears came again. After a tour through and around the ground of the school, we went to Southwold for some sightseeing and shopping. At night we went to Lord Nelson (again) and introduced my parents to a real English dish: Fish and chips! They both loved it.
On Monday we went to Lowestoft and a Tesco Superstore near Lowestoft.
It was really nice to show my parents where I have been living and where I did my shopping etc.

5 AM on Tuesday my alarm went off and I had to get out of bed. At 6 we left Southwold to go to Harwich and hop on board the boat to Hoek van Holland. The boat trip was about 6 hours, but it seemed as if I was on the boat for 10 hours. I was so looking forward to see my sister and my friends again…

It feels really good to be back home again. Though I don’t have the feeling as if I haven’t been here for 3,5 months.. I can still remember the family and friends visiting and wishing me good luck and everything. I loved my time in England and I am really glad I had the opportunity to do such a thing.

For now this is my last update. Maybe I will go abroad again during my training, who knows…

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