Luxury life

And finally I've got some time to keep you up to date. It would be too much to tell you everything that has happened, but it involved a lonely christmas, stolen money and iPod on New Year's Eve, a show at the Opera House, meeting a special person and a few holidays.

My first holiday was in Shepparton, where a cousin of my granddad lives with her husband. I got to stay with Jenny and Alan for four days (journey not included). In those four days I've nearly seen all of Victoria. Not to mention experiencing the real Australan warmth, at one point the thermometer in the sun indicated 55 degrees. I loved it. Jenny is originally Dutch (although she's lived here since she was 8) and she knows the culture. After 4 months I could finally eat 'drop' and 'speculaasjes'! Other than that I rode a Dutch bike. I had to wear a helmet and a fluorescent vest. At first I thought it was nonsense to wear that, but after driving on a really big road with cars everywhere and having to anticipate in the car traffic with the traffic lights, I understood why helmets are compulsory here.

When I got back from Shepparton I only had to work for a week. And at this moment I'm on the Gold Coast, in Surfer's Paradise. Not with friends, which is a pity, because the parties here are supposed to be really good. I'm here with the host family. Which makes me experience another aspect of having a holiday. Instead of driving to the holiday destination with a tent in the boot, struggling for hours to set it up and having to walk to the other side of the campsite to have a shower or go to the toilet, which I've done for years with my parents (no offence, I loved it), my hostfamily flies to their destination and stays in a big appartment with a spectacular view on the ocean. The part before the flight was already amazing. After our priority check-in we went to a lounge, where the biggest buffet had been set up and we could eat what we wanted. When we got off the plane, a chauffeur was waiting for us and took us to the appartment. We've been here for 3 days now and all we've done is visiting theme parks, of which I've never seen many in my life.

I've never had any of this a lot in my life. And I must say that I'm not sorry for that. Having such a holiday once is really good, but setting up my own tent, with the neighbours 2 metres away and not having internet for a few weeks is pretty nice. Besides that, I love warmth, and in this appartment the air conditioning is on all day. Effect: Lauri, wearing long jeans and a sweater because she's cold. Then, when she goes outside, she finds out that it's 30 degrees and goes back in again to have a change of clothes. I'd rather have a tent without airconditioining.

I've stopped missing home. Not that I really missed it, but I was looking forward to the moment that I would come through those doors on Schiphol. Not anymore, sorry mum and dad and the rest of the people who miss me, I do miss you too, I just don't want to go home. But don't worry, my return ticket is booked already, I'll be back. One day. Kidding, I'll be back on 27 June. For now I'll count the weeks that I still have to go in my hostfamily (less than 8) and after that I'll have more than 3 months of total freedom. I can't wait!