Wednesday 20 January 2016

...and that's the answer 2

In Belgium
Another question was from Marie Smith who wanted to know where I got my spirit of adventure from. To be quite honest: I don't really know. I grew up in a stable household and I don't think there was much adventure there. However, from a young age, I have always wanted to be where I wasn't. That train that left the station? I wanted to be on it. Even if it only went tweny kilometers down the tracks to the next town and then came back! It was to somewhere I wasn't, it was to somewhere new. 

Adventures in 'how to loose your money and tell the police in Yugoslavia while very hungover'
Over the years, that wanting to go to somewhere else, somewhere new grew until I finally got the chance when I got a phone call from a friend of mine: she hated where she worked and wanted to go home. Unless I could come. I asked my parents, they said okay and off I went. To a place deep in Belgium where I had never been and where they spoke French! I didn't. I arrived by train and waited for my (Dutch) ride. Fifteen minutes, half an hour, an hour, and still I was sitting just outside that station. Finally after more than an hour and a half he showed. He had gone shopping before picking me up! Instead of picking me up and then going shopping!! Idi... Mor... Nincompoop!

In England
That really started my sense of adventure. I only stayed there for three weeks and really loved it. The year after, I made my way to Yugoslavia (as it was known back then) for six months. One month at home and three months in Brussels. Straight on to Sicily, Italy (7 months). One month at home before heading off to the French Alps (6 months), another month at home and then two and a half years in England, before finally moving back home.

In the Netherlands I worked for several temping agencies and did all sorts of low and unskilled jobs: cleaning, factories, kitchens and canteens. All through though, I (again) wanted more. I tried the army, but couldn't get in (too unfit) and then my father gave me the advice to try bus driving lessons. I passed on my second try, got a job at the first try, nearly lost my job over the amount of damages I had those first three months, but seventeen year later, I am still at it.

Adventures in 'snake wrangling'. 
I don't know what the future will hold for me. I hope there will be many more adventures, but where and what they will be? Your guess is as good as mine!

10 comments:

  1. Such an adventurous spirit! You have a great facility for languages as well. That is a wonderful combination. Thank you for answering my question.

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    1. I think my aptitude for languages has certainly helped me a lot in all my adventures.

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  2. Hari om
    I knew we were kindred spirits!!! YAM xx

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  3. OMD! Put down that snake! You are a real adventurer!

    Keep Calm & Bark On!

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. It was a navy-snake! I had it handed to me during the 'fleet days' in the Netherlands a few years ago. He was very nice (and very well fed!)

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  4. You do have an amazingly varied life. Always adds so much to your blogging posts. Watching a documentary about a group of Africans fishing at the edge of Victoria Falls. Is that an adventure you would want?

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    1. Watching documentaries or watching Africans? I would actually love to visit Africa some day, but there are so many things I want to do and I can't split myself up!

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  5. I love that you are adventurous! You have seen so many interesting places.

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  6. When I was little I was (and still am) adventurous too ! I played "getting lost" and wandered around to get lost but always found myself at the church in the middle of the village ! Sad ! lol !

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!