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Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Gone Again
Once more Sara is winging her way to Amsterdam. This time to complete her hockey contract with the Amstelveen Hockey Club, which she began last September. It was so lovely to have her home for nearly two months over Christmas and the New Year. She is enjoying her time in Amsterdam very much, although it's always a wrench leaving home and she's not looking forward to a European winter. Still, she has Europe in all its summer spendour to look forward to. Her contract ends in late May and she is hoping to be able to spend a few weeks travelling Europe after that.
Alice ~ Safe travels to your Sara ~ what a great opportunity she has, and I am sure she will be making the most of her time away.
ReplyDeleteIsn't the internet great at times like these?
Hi Alice, I hope Sara has a wonderful time. How lucky is she to not only visit a new country but also experience its culture as a "native" even if it is just for a while.
ReplyDeleteHope you're coping with her being away. At least with the internet you can stay in touch easily.
Thinking of you both
Catherine
Wow! Has it been almost two months already. That flew by. A safe journey wish to Sara. What a great experience and spring is just around the corner!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky girl to beable to live and work in Europe. She will grow so much from her experiences. I think it is great she has taken on the opportunities that have come her way. Via con Dios Sara
ReplyDeleteWow, it will really be a big change going from HOT summer to COLD winter. I don't know anything about this sport (so I looked it up online), but isn't it played outside in the summertime? Are they going to be playing inside, or practicing for the next season? Or maybe I have it wrong altogether, and she is playing ice hockey? Sounds like an educational opportunity for me...
ReplyDeleteSusan - field hockey is played outside in the winter. Indoor hockey is usually played during the summer – in Australia. Now, isn’t that stupid? It’s too hot to play field hockey in summer here. Actually, whilst Sara has been at home, the indoor competition has taken place in Amsterdam. When she gets back, the team will go to Barcelona for a couple of practice matches before the outdoor competition resumes. I’m not sure what they do in Europe if the field is covered in frost or snow. I guess they have to postpone the matches because it’s too dangerous to play under those conditions. No, she’s definitely NOT playing ice hockey. Like me, she can’t even skate.
ReplyDeleteYour Sara is very pretty Alice... I'm glad you got to spend some time with her.....I hope she has a great time in Europe......
ReplyDeleteAw, Alice, you're going to miss your beautiful 'baby' daughter!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm sure you're also really proud of how well she has done with hockey, and what a well-travelled, independent young woman she's become.
Sending you a hug,
Jelly
Alice, how heart wrenching for a mother to see her child leave for overseas. But as others have pointed out, it is somewhat easier with today's email, blog and also mobile phone access. Only now as a mother can I understand what my mother went through in the 60s when I left for Europe as a 19 year old and stayed for a year - snail mail only, with letters trying to catch up with me as I moved around European cities.
ReplyDeleteWhat an opportunity for your daughter! Has she learnt some Dutch? Wonderful sounding language, to my ears, at any rate.
Val - I guess I got used to the girls being away. Michelle lived overseas for 13 years and Tanya for 7 years, most of that time was before we had internet access and 'snail mail' was about all there was, with the occasional (expensive) phone call thrown in (one 30 minute call to Tanya in Mexico cost me $94). Now it's all so cheap and fast.
ReplyDeleteSara's a bit lazy on learning the language - all the players speak English anyway. Even the players she coaches have pretty good English skills.
Parting is such sweet sorrow Alice. It's sad to see them go, but exciting to think of all they'll experience.....and grow as a result of those experiences. (Kylie went to Bolivia for 12 months as an exchange student). My poor mom was broken-hearted when I flew off to live in America. We went back for 3 and a half years (as you know) sometime after our first 2 children were born and had our third child over there. When we returned to the US my mom could hardly bear it.
ReplyDeleteYour Sara is beautiful! How lovely to see her photo. Thank you.
I guess she is there by now. Hope it doesn't get too cold for her.
ReplyDeleteShe will get used to the cold Alice it's not to bad in Holland and then probably find it very refreshing after the Australian heat. I always wonder how you go through this heat day by day without just melting away.
ReplyDeleteCarol - Sara will know just how cold it is in about half an hour from now, which is when she is due to arrive (9.15pm Aust. time & 11.15am over there). I just hope she is wearing more clothes than she was when she left here ...lol
ReplyDeleteHave a great time, Sara! All the best to you! Bon voyage!
ReplyDelete