2020, you sure are working hard.

I won't go further on how 2020 has been a haunted rollercoaster. Every month has been a surprise and it is safe to say that everyone is barely holding and are just done with it.

We prayed for a peaceful yuletide season, yet here we are on our second lockdown, a REAL one. The Netherlands is on lockdown from December 15 until January 19. Everything is closed, except stores with essential items, including schools and daycares. Christmas was cancelledt. All holiday plans were halted. 

But despite all of that, as a true-blooded Filipino, we learn to adapt. We chose to see the silver lining despite all the complaints of all the dampened spirits. We tried to make our home as cozy as possible, decorating it to our heart's content so the spirit of Christmas will rub on. We do that until we forget, for a moment, that we are still DEEP in the pandemic. 

My family is still grateful because we are in a state where everything is okay for us. We were not hit hard. We had a low-key pleasant Christmas. All of us are still healthy. I know that is not the case for everyone, and for that, I acknowledge that we are on the privileged side. It may not sound pleasant, but that is the only thought that kept me sane throughout this year. I constantly remind myself to be grateful, for I know a lot of people have it worst, yet they are still fighting each day. 

On a lighter note, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Let us all pray that the light at the end of this pitch-black tunnel will be seen in 2021. We got this! Let's claim it!

What are you hoping for in 2021?
Let's discuss this in the comment box!

Normally November is a prelude from the festivities that will commence before the year ends. But being in 2020, it is safe to assume that everyone wants the year to be over. Apart from living with the pandemic COVID-19 for most of the year, there are still unfortunate natural phenomenas that had made people’s anxiety over the roof. 

Living in the Netherlands, we are included in the list of countries in Europe that went on partial lockdown for most of November. Our neighbour countries went on full lockdown. Festivities in the country have been cancelled, including the much awaited Sint Martin, Sinterklaas and Christmas Markets.

In the Philippines, the country have been struck by, not just one, but two succeeding typhoons which caused flooding in most regions. But despite all these negative things happening around, November is still the month we look back and think of the things we are thankful for before the year ends. 

I am thankful that my family here (and also in the Philippines) are safe. My in-laws were stuck by the harsh typhoons, leaving their house in a devastating state. Despite that, we are still thankful they are safe. We can help them rebuilt things that was destroyed, but nothing compares to their safe well-being.

I am thankful that we are in a country that has put us in a place of privilege. My husband and I kept having the conversation about “What if we were still in the Philippines raising our child?” I am grateful because my anxiety cannot handle all the stressors that the Philippines are having now. Living in the Netherlands is hard for us, but still it is better to struggle here. I can see myself going crazy if we were still raising our child in the Philippines. I know as a Filipino, we are built to be resilient, adapt to changes and live with it. But emotionally and psychologically, one cannot handle that much stressful environment. 

I am still praying that December will be a peaceful month. Hopefully we can still feel the spirit of the yuletide season as we ease out of 2020. Including in my prayers that we see the light at the end of this tunnel of craziness in 2021. 

What are you thankful for this 2020?

Let’s share nice stories in the comments below

We went to Efteling this August to fully enjoy it on summer. Since Daxton had so much fun that time, we decided to go back. This time we opted to stay in Efteling Bosrijk overnight to have an unrushed experience and to try the rides we missed last time (the Sprookjesbos!).

We have been fascinated with Efteling. It has that fairytale vibe without the excessive grandeur that Disneyland offers. It was spooky and magical at the same time. Efteling has three accommodation options namely, Efteling Hotel, Bosrijk and Loonsche Land. We browsed for great deals and found one at Efteling Bosrijk. We got an overnight stay for less that $300 which included parking and entrance to Efteling for almost two days. 

Efteling Bosrijk is a 10 mins walk in the woods/forest going to Efteling. It is a vacation home park with a cabin in the woods vibe. It was the perfect weather during Spetember, ample amount of sunshine and cool weather. In Europe, it is more common to go to a vacation home during the holidays. 

OUR ROOM

Our room is located in the apartment complex way back of the vacation home park, about 5 minutes walk. We didn’t mind it as we get to explore the area. 

It is a 2 bedroom small apartment for four people. It is perfect for small families. The room was nice and up to date. There are extra things inside that made the stay a bit homey. Our room has the view of the playground, and the room came with Efteling TV channel. They were more than enough to entertain Daxton while in the area.

FOOD

Our stay included breakfast which was a good deal. Our expectations were low during breakfast. Breakfast here are mainly continental, which comprised of bread and spreads with coffee for breakfast. Due to COVID-19, there wasn’t a breakfast buffet, each table was decked with an etage of breads and spreads, and a coffee machine at the corner.

The surprising thing is that we were able to request for bacon, fruits and eggs! Milk and Fresh juice are also available upon request. It was one fullfiling breakfast which got us through late lunch. We ate our lunches and dinner inside the theme park .

OVERALL

What do you like about Efteling? 

Let’s share at the comments!

Wake me up when September COVID-19 ends.




But 2020 is quite a year, as if my year cannot get any weirder. These last five years of my life was all about changes, one after another. As I grow old, my resilience and adaptability to change have been stagnant and on a downward slope. I realised that I wanted something permanent, which is quite impossible nowadays. Life will always throw a curveball, and often times, it always hit me in the face, HARD.

I was looking forward to summer and basking in the sun, yet COVID-19 had different plans. And now, I can feel the familiar cold and gray skies looming over. It’s gonna ba a long and very cold 6 months again. I know I mentioned that I love the cold weather, but what I really want is the spring season. Spring is a nice mix of cold wind and sunshine with a low chance of rain. But COVID-19 came and spring was out of the picture.



Despite all the panic and hysteria happening in the world now, we managed to get a quick break and got recharged. We decided to explore the Netherlands on my birthday. I planned a one week vacation, and it was tiring and the same time fun.

Last year we went to Paris and Disneyland on my birthday. It was nice and fun coz Paris is dreamy. I would have like to go back and explore Paris more (even make it a yearly birthday trip!). This year, we went to Efteling and stayed at their vacation park Bosrijk. It was fun for my son for he can’t stop talking about the rides he wanted to go ride on. I can say we had a full unique Efteling experience.


Despite the anxiety panics I had since COVID-19 came, I am still grateful that I have another year to live. Getting older physically and mentally have been slowly creeping in on me. I am back in a maze where I look desperately lost. They say that you get wiser as you grow old. I want to note that as you grow older, you get more impatient. You notice everything is slowing down (or you are actually slowing down).

I guess what I am trying to say to myself is that I need to focus on these three things this year.


1. Be Patient.
Good things take time. Being patient nowadays is a test of virtue. The world is spinning faster every year, and if you always try to keep up, you’ll end up being crazy (or unhappy). Set goals and be patient. Results will not come in an instant, but it will. You have to be mentally well when that happens.


2. You are in charge of your life.
There are a lot of things to complain about, it never ends. But you are the only one who can change the narrative of your life. I know life sucks now, it is cold and COVID-19 makes it much worse. But what are you gonna do about it? It is what you do with the situation that will define the turn of events in your life. Do your best with what you have and was given to you.


3. Hang in there
It may get harder and harder each day, but hang in there. A lot of things will not turn out the way you want it, and its okay. Resilience have been in your Filipino blood. You are like clay, you can be moulded into something useful. You may turn out to be something amazing after a few years. Just continue putting in the work, even though the light is still nowhere to be found. It will come, one day. HANG IN THERE!



If you reached the end of this post, CONGRATULATIONS! I always write these musing every year whenever my birthday comes. I know it’ll be a pain to read through my haywired thoughts. It is the side effect of getting old. ^_^

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

• I brushed up my Dutch and moved forward to the second tower in Duolingo

I am aware that I need to learn Dutch to integrate into society (and start making local friends), but the language is complicated. The inverse sentences and the guttered phonics makes it hard for my deteriorating aged brain. The difference from the American English that I knew my whole life was too broad.

Screenshot of my milestone!