Arriverderci!

Oh, I wonder what Rome will be like, and the best is that I'll know the answer to that in less than a day!

I got my list of things to pack finished, I shopped the last things I needed: mini-packages of shampoo, showergel, hairspray, plasters, some tops, a travel-diary, a pair of shoes - also in the Roman style, so it's a perfect match. My bags aren't packed yet, but I know what to take with me... Only problem might be closing the suitcase!

Okay, being honest, we won't have much time to stroll through the city and be pretty and glamourous, as we have an insane programm. Five churches on the first day only, and there's much more.
Fortunately, I love art, so I won't mind at all. I mean, the sun will be shining, the temperature will be nice, I'll have my friends with me, and these Roman art is really pretty, so what's not to like?
Also, I've read Dan Brown's  Angels & Demons and I'm really inquisitive to the images behing that story.
Positive spirit!

Only thing is that I probably won't be able to use the Internet for a week, so I can't post. But don't worry, it's only till next Friday, and then I'll be back with my dreams, wishes, fantasies, hopes and thoughts to share and to enjoy reading or listening to yours.

 

And who would say no to a week full of sun, friends, gelato, handsome Italian guys and your friends?

I wouldn't, for sure!

So now, I should go packing my suitcase and get some rest... Department from home is at 3.00 tonight!

Stay sunny, stay lovely, stay you!

 

With love, 

Kirsten

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, we've got everything you need 

Roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, satisfaction guaranteed

Roll up for the mystery tour.
The magical mystery tour is hoping to take you away,
Hoping to take you away.

- The Beatles 

An ending and a new blog

Hi!

Hope you all are doing fine today!

Yesterday we held the official end-ceremony for our Global Exploration Project. It was a really nice ceremony, though it took all evening and I was just home at 23.30, feeling terribly tired, very satisfied, but also sad because it now "officially" is over.
I've never wanted it to end, it was such a great time, and the best experience in my life. Now I feel like the chapter has ended, the book is closed and it's done.
But I'm sure we won't let this be the real end. We're a group, we're friends, and December 18th, we have a SingStar-party at Leona's!
Who's in?

But what is sad, is that there are some people we probably won't ever see again, or never in the way we did. Meaning: Frederique from the Mama Alice Foundation, our guides, Ciro and Hubert (with whom we went skating lately), the boys and girls from Ayacucho, the streetchildren, the Indians, all people who were great to us and made us a wonderful trip, but now it's like something is over.

But definitely, I'm going back once. I want to see it all again, as soon as possible. If I could, I would leave tomorrow!
But that's not possible, so I'm going to save money and whenever I can, I'll be back on a plane towards Lima.
And maybe I could visit some of my friend there, then! The boys from Ayacucho, my "Peruvian Boyfriend" Anderson, or maybe even Frederique or Hubert or Ciro...
And probably, some people of the group are going back too, so it would even be the greatest if we could go all together again.

Where would we be if we couldn't dream?

Today's dream is:
I dream of never forgetting all the good that has come to me in all my life, but especially the time I was in Peru. I dream of my friends there living a nice, fair life, without so many difficulties. A world without borders, freedom for everyone.

And now I promise this will be the last thing I'll post here about Peru. I don't know who would like to know, but for the people who do, I've started a new blog: The girl who went to Peru.
I'm going to place more pictures of the trip there, and the comments out of my travel-journal. So, if you are interested, read it, I would say!

We can not change the world. But we can make a difference.

With love,

Kirsten

I told you I would never be completely silent...

So I'm not!

I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE TONIGHT!I want to stay right here, in Ayacucho, and I don't want to go to Cusco (though that is supposed to be beautiful too)
We´ve had such an amazing time here, from Monday til today, with the guys from Mama Alice, a foundation for streetchildren.
They are all so sweet, and leaving today, saying goodbye to them, was really aweful!
I met such a cute guy, his name is Handerson and he´s completely sweet :)
The others are so nice, and now we´ll probably never see them again!
Ew, we all cried so much.
There are no words to explain how it feels to be here, and there´s no time either, so I guess that will have to wait till next time.

With love (from a far and beautiful Peru)

Kirsten

So, I guess this will be the last you'll hear from me...

... At least for a week or three!
Or course, I never will be completely silent, and there are ways to connect to people from across the ocean, so if you think: 'Oh god, I'm going to miss Kirsten,' don't worry!
We will write weblogs over there, and you can follow our expedition here.
It's in Dutch, I'm afraid, but we'll post pictures, too.

And oh, I'm getting more nervous every single minute, and the thought of hiding under my bed keeps going through my mind.
But I won't. I started this, I was the one who wanted to go, and now I'm going to finish it!
I'm not so keen on cowards, and right now, I'm being a BIG one. But I guess it's normal to be nervous and a bit afraid...
And it's only three weeks (yeah right, only...), 21 days. That sounds better.
And then I'll be back with a suitcase filled with experiences, things to tell and lots of souvenirs and gifts!

Always be who you are, no matter where you go. (which in my case means: be a little nervous, be a little shy, be very careful, be clumsy, be a little stubborn and love shopping, no matter where you are)

So... I hope I'll see you all back when I've returned and got my feet back on the ground over here again!
I'll let you know about it.

With love,
Kirsten

A last goodbye...

I stayed at home today, I felt sick. I wanted to go to school, but when I was sitting at our kitchen table, I was so dizzy and went back to bed.
I texted my friends to tell them at school I was ill, and Dorien, the girl I tutor English on Tuesdays, to delay that.
I slept till my phone rang, at about 12.00, Dorien called me to tell she received my message and make another appointment.
But she also told me something truly sad.
She said school was out already, because a boy, Jorrik, had died...
I was really scared when I heard that, I mean, things aren't supposed to be like this, he was only seventeen! I didn't know him very well, he would go to Peru this year, too, so I've seen him a couple of times on the meetings.
Later, I heard it wasn't an accident.
He made the choice to end his life all by himself, he didn't have the strength to go on anymore.
I can't imagine how desperate he must have been, how lonely he must have felt...
It's so sad, and I feel so sorry for his family and his friends.
Guess this makes you realise how vulnerable a life is...
This comes so close, that's what makes it so difficult. I was glad I wasn't at school today, my sister said everyone was crying, teachers, students, everyone was so sad.
I would have liked to have a great time with him in Peru, but unfortunately, he couldn't make it that long.
I wanted to wish his family and close friends all the best, and hope they'll be able to give this a place once.

Dear Jorrik, we all miss you. Your place in our school will stay empty now, but you'll have a place in our hearts forever, and you'll live on in our minds. I hope you're at a better place now, in a happier world.
And maybe, one day, we all will meet again in that place. I'm sure you won't be alone.
Rest in Peace, man.