A lot of time, money, friends, countries and great experiences later I've set foot on Dutch ground again! Here I am, in sunny Holland, having a great time seeing my family and friends again, slightly procrastinating my Canada research. Everything is orange and people are crazy with the world championship, people are out, enjoying the weather. It's really beautiful! But first: Florida:

Wow, what a culture clash!! From Colombia (or rather: south america, because Colombia isn't all that shocking as for instance Ecuador or Bolivia would've been) to South Beach, Miami on memorial weekend! I think the difference couldn't have been greater, with every little thing being so darn opposite. It was fantastic though and the tiny part of me that once made me decide to study cultural anthropology (after which the rest of me went on strike 2 months later) leaped with joy, trying to figure out this bizarre culture that calls itself 'American'. (reminder: I am talking about the USA. Like I mentioned earlier, they rather refer to themselves as American, but there are many other Americans from other countries that will be heavily offended...) Now I think American culture is one thing, then there is Florida-culture - not the same -, then there is Miami, then South Beach and then, creme-de-la-creme: South Beach on Memorial weekend! Could it get any worse/better? (cross whichever you consider wrong) During the day it felt like you're in some baywatch episode, in the evenings it was more like a rapvideo. If only I could have taken my camera out more, because to fully explain what that was like, only pictures really do the talking. I secretly took some, but they don't show it right. Anyway: very very entertaining! But also enough after a few days. Off to Orlando!

I was really looking forward to my little roadtrip on my own in my rental car, but after a story that's too long to tell here and 'een staaltje' very bad customer service from Alamo, the plan fell through and I ended up in a Greyhound bus, arriving at my hotel only at 1 in the morning, instead of 4 in the afternoon. And then, my creditcard didn't work so I eventually only got to my bed at 2am! Thank god the hotelroom and especially the bed were heavenly and I had my wonderful parents to help me. The next days I've spent in Universal Studios, which is kinda boring when you're alone, but you do get to go way fast thanks to the single riders lane, jumping all the lines! And shopping in the outlet malls (Forever 21, I LOVE YOU!! <3 ).

Finally I got my roadtrip anyway and tripped/beached my way up to Jacksonville to visit friends I met Ireland, Anja joining me a day later. We had a great time cooking, riding, eating, going to the beach and watching movies with Bernadette and her family and sightseeing, swimming and enjoying the best of life with Barri and Sue. Special thanks to all of these people, giving us such a fantastic warm welcome in their beautiful homes and being the biggest factor in us having a fantastic time! You are great people, I enjoyed every minute and whenever I have a home of my own, I'd be more than happy to return the favor! THANK YOU!! And thanks for introducing us to Panera's coffee and Dairy Queen's icecream. Hmmm!! Yum! Unfortunately one of the major reasons why I have to do so much running now...

Another roadtrip later, Anja and I arrived in Southern Florida again and visited the Keys and the Everglades. Both stunning in their own way: the Keys with their beautiful bright blue bays and the Everglades with jaw dropping wildlife. The highlight was on our last day, when we took the scenic drive on our way to the airport. Only a little while on the way we spotted our first alligator outside the park, which nearly attacked Anja! When we stopped, it immediately came swimming towards us, then crawling onto the shore and walking straight to Anja! She, of course, ran immediately back into the car, so we watched it from there. It kept coming closer (looking for shade? food? a little love?), so we decided to leave. We didn't want to get stuck with it under our car. I don't know if you've ever tried to lure one away, but I'm no Steve Irwin. After that, we saw alligators everywhere in the swamp that was right by the road on either side, it was so cool! The road turned into a very bad dirtroad with huge puddles, but we thought we were nearly at the end, so kept on driving. We thought wrong... We were only at a fourth or so, but when we found out, we were halfway, the fuel-light on for some time already, only a small bottle of water each and foodwise only a half bag of crisps. Vultures on the road, huge bugs, pather-warning signs next to the road and the heat! Oh the heat... We kept turning off the airconditioning to try and save some fuel, but after only seconds it got so hot, so we waited until it got unbareable and turned it back on. We were slightly worried. I could only think of how ironic it would be to be found dead by the road in the very few last hours of my trip. :) But we made it and it was the coolest thing and we saw tons more wildlife than in the whole bloody park all together! And I took some real cool shots of that gator. :)

And then it was over and we flew back to Europe. Anja and I both liked Florida, but didn't feel very comfortable with the whole bigger-better-faster-more thing. Too organised, too clean, too tidy, too big, too much convenience, just too... Lovely, but just too much. And ain't europe's winding streets and rivers pretty from the air!?!

So now I'm home since nearly a week and I love it! The weather has been very nice (although I have to get used to the 'cold'

) and it's so cool to see my family and boyfriend and friends and colleagues again and hang out and dance and party! Everywhere you look is orange and I had hagelslag and kaas and bitterballen and I watched football. I planned to work a bit these coming two months before taking off to Canada, but I guess that if it won't happen, I'll have no problems enjoying myself here!

My agenda is filling up, the weather is supernice, there is something to do all the time. Summer has started. I'll be back in August for the sequal to my journey, untill then

LEEF! GENIET! ENJOY!

En als je tijd hebt: bel me, gaan we wat leuks doen!

xx

'And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance '