Watering the plants
The first week on the cherry farm was tough. On a hill that used to have grapes, the farmer is planting cherry trees. They are growing quickly, so an irrigation system has to be made. For about 60 long rows, that is not an easy job. At 7 o’clock the…
An introduction to haggling
In Europe I go to the shops and pay whatever the cash register tells me to pay. In South Africa however, I had to get used to haggling. Pay the full price for that awesome African statue on the market and you’ll be laughed at. Then you’re that dumb tourist.…
Tea-time in Taiwan
Taipei is a massive city, but just a short metro ride will take you to a totally different world; Maokong. I went out there to look and walk around. The gondola takes you up to an area covered in green. It is also known for the tea houses. Since the…
Summer city walk: Bondi to Coogee
The sun is back! Beach time! The grumpy bus driver can’t even spoil my mood. Bondi beach, one of the most famous beaches Australia has to offer. Filled with people on a sunny day and close to a boulevard with plenty of refreshments. It is exactly what you see in…
Recently read: cultureshock New Zealand
At the moment I, a Dutch girl, live with a kiwi guy in Australia. Since Australia will soon be kicking my ass out of the country I am exploring my options. No matter what, if I want to stay with my boyfriend, we’ll have to build proof of a life together.…
Cultureshock: Taiwan
I’d never been to Asia and as my first ever Asian destination I chose a week in Taipei, Taiwan. I had no idea what to expect apart from the fact that I wouldn’t understand a word people were saying. I loved observing this culture that’s so different from what is normal to…
Study in Europe with Erasmus
Studying abroad had always been on my wish list. When I got the chance through my university in The Netherlands, I didn’t think twice. The only difficulty for me was choosing where to go. My university had many options all over the world, but since I was only a student and not a millionaire, I also had to look at the financial aspect. Eventually I chose for something close to home and yet something not many choose; an Erasmus exchange in Finland.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Window
A window in a wall on the Island of Elba in Italy.
Counting down starts at day 1
A new month, a new start for me. I’m in Adelaide and have to make my way to the farm in Gumeracha to start my 88 days of rural work. All of this has to be done to obtain my 2nd year working holiday visa for Australia. From Tea Tree Plaza I take a minibus into the Adelaide Hills. Besides the driver there is one other guy on the bus. We drive into the pretty hills and I see farmland and nature. It’s spring and everything is pretty and colorful.
Suit your case
I’ve spent quite a few years abroad in the last decade. I’ll take every chance I get. Going abroad, for whatever reason, is exciting and challenging. For different reasons you pack differently. When I left for an internship in Cape Town, I packed heaps of stuff, because I knew I didn’t have to carry it around with me. Backpacking in Australia for one year requires some more compact strategies. Slowly I developed a list of things I cannot live without.