ABOUT ME
By now you know what this blog is about, so it is time that I tell you a bit more about myself: a Dutchie with a passion for people, wine, writing, reading, riding my motorcycle, alliteration (obviously), nature and being physically fit (the latter partially to make up for the wine part). No kids, one partner, one giant fur baby and a job as a trainer/educator. That about sums it up, and the rest you will learn through my posts if you stick around 😉
But because I also need to convince you of my expertise on the topic of ”how to survive military life”, allow me to elaborate just a little bit more on how I came to be the (rookie) military partner that I am. Let’s start with how I ended up in this weird and wonderful adventure when I got on a plane and left the land of cheese, tulips and coffee shops where no actual coffee is served, with the idea of ‘trying out Down Under for a year or so’. That year became four years, and counting…
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined how my life would turn out. In the spirit of cliches: I came for work, and stayed for love.
I built a life, I fell in love with Australia – specifically the breathtaking nature and the lovely people, and the relaxed way of life. I made new and dear friends, traveled all around, got my diving license and dove in the Great Barrier Reef, got my motorcycle license and cruised around in the mountains, trekked through the red desert in a camper to watch the sun set over Uluru, petted baby kangaroos at tropical beaches and had many more adventures. But it was meeting the absolute love of my life that really made this country home. After all, home is where the heart is (indulge me please, I promise you there is only one more cliche one-liner after this). After three months of intense dating (for the Brooklyn nine-nine lovers among us you could say we went full boyle) Man and I moved in together. A year after that, my Aussie and I decided that we would be moving back to the Netherlands in 2018 for a few years. I missed – and continue to miss – family and friends, Dutch efficiency and directness and cheap beer.
But life really does happen when you are busy making other plans (relax, that was the last one)… Whilst in full preparation for our migration back, the Royal Australian Air Force called to offer Man his absolute dream job. After long and thorough consideration, we decided to take it. A decision that was – and continues to be – equally scary, exciting, promising, wonderful, overwhelming, sad, happy and difficult.
Read The Start where I explain a bit more about D-day which didn’t involve any allied operations to rid us of nazi pricks, but was of equal significance (side note: I am patting myself on the back here for making my first military joke/reference – fits in with the blog theme nicely doesn’t it?): the day we received the life-changing call and the decision-making process that followed it.
But before you go on, allow me to thank you for being here, I am so happy to have you! This blog is an insight into my life, a live journal if you will, and I promise I will try to make it worthwhile your time, whether you are a military partner or not. And if you don’t like what you’re reading I am slightly confused as to why you reached the actual end of this page, and I advise you to go watch Brooklyn nine-nine instead of reading on – no hard feelings.