Estou na Holanda já há uma década e este se tornou meu lar. Eu precisei de um tempo para encontrar meu ritmo, para me acomodar e ajustar, e para aceitar uma coisa diferente da que eu tinha planejado. Eu recordo de quando cheguei na Holanda. Lembro claramente meu choque, meu medo, minha raiva, dor e incerteza. Naqueles primeiros anos, tentei voltar para a Itália, meu destino planejado, mas a Holanda era onde eu tinha que ficar. Hoje posso dizer o quão longe eu vim nessa jornada não planejada em que aprendi muito mais, mas isto também, é uma jornada através do tempo.
Trabalhei com dedicação, comprei novos guias de viagem, aprendi uma nova linguagem, e, vagarosamente, encontrei meu caminho nessa nova terra. Encontrei outros cujos planos mudaram, como os meus, e com quem dividi minhas experiências. Nós nos encorajamos e amparamos uns aos outros e alguns se tornaram amigos muito especiais.
Alguns desses companheiros de viagem estão na Holanda há mais tempo que eu e atuaram como "guias locais", me assistindo durante o caminho. Muitos me encorajaram e me ensinaram a abrir meus olhos para enxergar as dádivas e surpresas dessa nova terra. Eu descobri uma comunidade atenciosa e carinhosa – A Holanda não era, enfim, tão ruim!
Penso que a Holanda está acostumada a viajantes imprevisíveis como eu, e se tornou uma terra de hospitalidade, buscando saudar e assistir os recém-chegados. Através dos anos, tenho me perguntado o que teria sido a vida se eu tivesse aterrissado na Itália, como planejado. A vida teria sido mais fácil? Teria sido gratificante? Teria eu aprendido as importantes lições que sei hoje?
Certamente, esta jornada tem sido mais desafiadora, e as vezes, eu bato meu pé no chão (ainda faço) e choro minha frustração e protesto. Sim, Holanda tem um passo mais lento que a Itália e é menos cintilante que a Itália.. mas isto também tem sido uma dádiva especial. De certa forma eu aprendi a diminuir a velocidade também, e olhar mais perto todas as coisas, com uma nova valorização para com a extraordinária beleza da Holanda com suas tulipas, seus moinhos de vento e Rembrandts. Eu passei a amar a Holanda e a chamá-la minha casa.
Eu me tornei um viajante do mundo e descobri que não importa onde você aterrissa, o mais importante é o que você faz da sua viagem e como você vê e aprecia as coisas muito especiais e encantadoras que a Holanda ou qualquer outra terra tem para oferecer. Sim, uma década atrás eu aterrissei em um lugar que eu não tinha planejado e estou agradecida, porque este destino é mais rico do que eu poderia ter imaginado. (tradução livre)
**************************************************
Celebrating Holland - I´m Home
"I have been in Holland for over a decade now and it has become home. I have had time to catch my breath, to settle and adjust, to accept something different than I'd planned. I reflect back on when I first landed in Holland. I remember clearly my shock, my fear, my anger, and the pain and uncertainty. In those first few years I tried to get back to Italy, my planned destination, but Holland was where I was to stay. Today, I can say how far I've come on this unexpected journey. I have learned so much more, but this too has been a journey of time.
I worked hard; I bought new guidebooks; I learned a new language, and I slowly found my way around this new land. I have met others whose plans changed, like mine, and who could share my experience. We supported one another and some have become very special friends.
Some of these fellow travellers had been in Holland longer than I and were seasoned guides, assisting me along the way. Many encouraged me; many taught me to open my eyes to the wonder and gifts to behold in this new land. I discovered a community of caring - Holland wasn't so bad!
I think that Holland is used to wayward travellers like me and grew to become a land of hospitality, reaching out to welcome, assist and support newcomers. Over the years, I have wondered what life would have been like if I had landed in Italy as planned. Would life have been easier? Would it have been as rewarding? Would I have learned some of the important lessons I hold today?
Sure, this journey has been more challenging and, at times, I would (and still do) stomp my feet and cry out in frustration and protest. Yes, Holland is slower paced than Italy and less flashy than Italy, but this too has been an unexpected gift. I have learned to slow down in ways too, and look closer at things with a new appreciation for the remarkable beauty of Holland with its tulips, windmills and Rembrandts. I have come to love Holland and call it Home.
I have become a world traveller and discovered that it doesn't matter where you land; what is more important is what you make of your journey and how you see and enjoy the very special, the very lovely things that Holland, or any land, has to offer. Yes, over a decade ago I landed in a place I hadn't planned yet I'm thankful, for this destination has been richer than I ever could have imagined!"
I worked hard; I bought new guidebooks; I learned a new language, and I slowly found my way around this new land. I have met others whose plans changed, like mine, and who could share my experience. We supported one another and some have become very special friends.
Some of these fellow travellers had been in Holland longer than I and were seasoned guides, assisting me along the way. Many encouraged me; many taught me to open my eyes to the wonder and gifts to behold in this new land. I discovered a community of caring - Holland wasn't so bad!
I think that Holland is used to wayward travellers like me and grew to become a land of hospitality, reaching out to welcome, assist and support newcomers. Over the years, I have wondered what life would have been like if I had landed in Italy as planned. Would life have been easier? Would it have been as rewarding? Would I have learned some of the important lessons I hold today?
Sure, this journey has been more challenging and, at times, I would (and still do) stomp my feet and cry out in frustration and protest. Yes, Holland is slower paced than Italy and less flashy than Italy, but this too has been an unexpected gift. I have learned to slow down in ways too, and look closer at things with a new appreciation for the remarkable beauty of Holland with its tulips, windmills and Rembrandts. I have come to love Holland and call it Home.
I have become a world traveller and discovered that it doesn't matter where you land; what is more important is what you make of your journey and how you see and enjoy the very special, the very lovely things that Holland, or any land, has to offer. Yes, over a decade ago I landed in a place I hadn't planned yet I'm thankful, for this destination has been richer than I ever could have imagined!"
Carol Anthony