Fireworks. Everywhere and always.
Ever since Christmas they just keep shooting – from morning to evening.

I was invited to a party last minute, so I didn’t have to spend it alone like last year. My friend’s sister’s boyfriend was kind enough to host a stranger – I couldn’t be grateful enough for such a treatment.
It took place in the heart of Arnhem, so I had to cycle 25 minutes to get there. On the way through our beautiful Town, I saw fireworks go up wherever I tossed my eyes, filling the sky with smoke clouds and sparkling lights.

The upside of taking a bike is that you can use it anytime. The downside, however, is that riding while you’re drunk can be challenging at times, but Dutch people are fearlessly good at that. It’s a fun way to finish off the night, assuming that you can find your bike. Ever been in a parking garage and forgot where you left your car? Same goes for bikes, except that the whole city is a garage, and you can’t press buttons to make it flash or give a sound.

After carefully memorizing the surroundings of my bike, I walked up to the house and was greeted with warm smiles, handshakes and a bottle of cold one to start the night. Even though I barely knew anybody, they were utterly welcoming of a dyed blonde foreigner who just appeared. It was such an unbelievable feeling to “get a place” in their circle so quickly. Back in Hungary I fought for years to belong to a friend group or clique, but I never had much luck with any of it. Here, I was accepted immediately. No more social boundaries, just pure hospitality.

Since everyone spoke Dutch around me, it wasn’t easy to keep up with the pace, but I was very much involved in the conversation, regardless that I couldn’t respond so quickly. My comprehension was around 85%, including the semi-loud music and the increasing blood-alcohol levels. What a wonderful way to practice Dutch and integrate! It’s been a year since I started to study it, and now I’m full blown finally.

The hosts were making sure that the party runs smoothly – There is food, drinks, music. Everything you need to have fun on a civilized New Year’s Eve. There was a professional beer-pong table set up to entertain everybody who wanted to show off their skillshot skills.
“Elleboooog… TAFEL, TAFEL! – laat het liggen…LAAT HET LIGGEN HÉ! NIET RAKEN!” – shouts like that filled the air, while the others were cheering for every incredible shot or block that the players made.

People surprisingly knew their limits. They didn’t go overboard with the drinks, nothing was broken or damaged. There was respect between people and their personal space, no one was closed out or neglected during the party, everyone had some company, or got room in one if they wanted to join in.

When being sober ceased to be the average state, someone challenged the sporty ones to do a competition in the hallway. A bar suddenly appeared, and people started to jump on it, doing pull ups until they fell down like the autumn rain. When my turn came, they wouldn’t let me stop until I did 20.
“NOG ÉÉN, NOG ÉÉN, GEEF ME NOG ÉÉN!¹” – they kept shouting whenever I was about to give in. Even with all the alcohol and lekker worstjes² in our bellies, it was surprisingly funny.

The fridge was full of quality beers, we could barely consume half of it.
There were 5 racks in the corner, 24 bottles in each. There were 12 of us.
You can imagine.

Before the New Year would hit, we prepared a glass of champagne for everybody and started to count back looking at the microwave:
VIER, DRIE, TWEE, ÉÉN – GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR IEDEREEN!³
Prosts, toasts, hugs, good wishes and great vibes filled the air.

A new decade began.

We rushed outside to start shooting – everyone went crazy. The view from the street was astonishing, our city was filled with exploding beauties.
Soon we began singing (Dutch songs, obviously – I didn’t know any of it, which means it’s time to dive into cultural studies, so I can fully integrate) and wishing wonders to everybody who passed us on the street.
It was one of my best evenings, no doubt about it.

A box full of paper was thrown on the street, and suddenly everyone was on a pyromaniac rampage to light up the entire thing. They did, now the streets of our Town were all about burning piles and happy pals.

The place felt so involving. I felt at home, integrated; that I belong here.
This is a feeling I experienced more and more ever since I moved here.
A stranger who is welcome everywhere like Family.

Do you ever wonder if the place where you are is the right place to be?
Over the last decade, this year was the first where I could clearly say “Yes” every single day. The decision to move away transformed a Life of misery into a beautiful gift that I get to experience every minute.
I definitely wasn’t born here, but I believe I was born to be here.
If you feel like you’re not in the place where you want to be, keep in mind that there is a place for everybody. A place you can call home, even if it’s thousands of miles away from where you were raised. Seek it, and you’ll soon realize that you’re just one decision away from finding it – and that’ll change everything.
Just because things aren’t going well today, it doesn’t mean that tomorrow will be the same. There is something out there waiting for you – and you know it.
A wonderful moment, a person, a dream. You know it’s there, and that you can find it. If there is one thing I’ve learned this year, is that it’s never too late to begin.
May this new year be the one where you decide to pursue your dreams and go on a Lifelong journey to find the treasures you seek.

That’s how to kick off 2020.

“You will regret not going for it way more than if you fail a second time.”

– Gary Vaynerchuk

May you have a wonderful decade.
Happy New Year,
Erik

31.12.2019 – Day 344

[Dutch Dictionary]
Nog één/Geef me nog één!¹ – One more/Give me one more!
Lekker worstjes² – Tasty Sausages
Gelukkig niuewjaar iedereen!³ – Happy New Year everyone!