Back home in the Netherlands

Back in the Netherlands I’m in a busy train on a Friday evening going to my parents. I’ve landed last Sunday evening and Monday I directly started working, so I am happy to start a very relaxing weekend in the East of Holland. The week so far has been nice, and the time went extremely quickly. I’ve met many of my Colleagues and already been to all the Dutch locations of De Baak in Noordwijk, Driebergen and Amsterdam.

Working highlights of the week in the Netherlands so far where a diner in Noordwijk on Wednesday with 20 contacts of De Baak in which we shared our ideas about the concept of “change” with each other, while enjoying an diner a the sea. After living in China and being exposed the constant change over the last year I found myself to feel at home around this group of Change-experts. Thursday I organized a strategy session on Dutch entrepreneurship in Shanghai, which was quite an interesting and useful meeting (sad thing was that 4 people didn’t show up, because of the expected storm that never came). A “weather-alarm” can really scare us Dutchies in our “land of the traffic jams”.

This week I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at my aunt’s place in the middle of Amsterdam. I met already some friends, but many of them I haven’t been able to call. The time I have been able to share with them so far was great. I found that coming back to Holland now for the second time is less exciting than the first time in February. Really everything can become a routine. After the weekend I will return to another ‘home’ in Amsterdam at a friend’s place, where I can stay until the end of my stay in the Netherlands. Much better than going from one place to another, like last time.

My last 10 days in China consisted of my birthday party, which was a great success. Around 35 people joined me when I entered my new decade on the 6th of August. Every body was enthusiastic and complemented about the nice atmosphere. After the party I spend a lot of time behind the computer to finish the text for the Shanghai brochure. The good news is that the text and even the design are finished. Although not printed yet, I will be able to present it on the 1st of September during my international China-presentation at De Baak.

So, all is well in the Netherlands. The only sad thing is that Angie has moved to Beijing now to start her Master there next week. We call and Skype, and after I will have returned to Shanghai, she will come to Shanghai within two weeks. But I must say I miss her not being here with me.