Hello, I'm back in Kemer, with my new laptop.

I really enjoyed the short week in Belgium: I have picked up a suitcase of 40 kg that friends had brought to Belgium, I went for a dinner to another couple of friends that cooked divine, I was in Holland to meet Franco (my ex-Italian-boss) who had run the marathon of Amsterdam, and spent some time with my nefues that really were surprised and happy with my presence. And of course I cannot forget my mother that cooked all those delicious dishes I miss here so much.

Here I am with my new computer: it's really easy now to access to the internet. Unfortunately Blogspot and so also my blog pages were blocked for a couple of days by the Turkish government: I wonder what kind of information offended the Turkish state (on another blog, not on my pages).

Here, things are changing.
First of all, it gets colder. In the mornings and in the evenings I need to wear a jacket. Though during the day we still reach temperatures of 25° and it seems that by the end of the week we will have 30° again.
Zoë has left, is back home, so I have to manage the whole coast (about 30 km): I'm driving a lot...
Fulya is also ending, she passes me the arrival lists of the Germans. ... brr... the idea though to have meetings in German scares me: I'm still not convinced my German is good enough. So I started reading a German travel guide and newspaper.
Marjorie is having the last shows in her hotel.
And Peri seems to be a bit nervous: the end of the season also means a lot of statistics and reports.
And I... well, although I need to do a lot of hotels on the whole coast line, I have a lot of free time. Tomorrow only two meetings and nothing the day after... maybe some time to read a book or watch a film or who knows, to start a course... We will see.

My future is sure and insecure. From the first of November on I will have a Swiss contract. That means I will have (slightly) higher wages, but more social advantages: pension savings and health insurance now will be paid by the company for me. And I also will get a bonus for my languages. But I have taken back my official residence in Belgium, something I really don't like: I feel Italian from may hair to my toes. But there was no other choice.

Future is insecure as I know I will only be in Kemer till half January. Afterwards... we will see. I am "stand by" to go to any destination where I could be useful. Easy for the company: where ever they need someone speaking one or more of the 3 languages I speak, I can be dropped. For me it means that the next destination could remain a surprise till the last moment. On the other hand, in this way it might be possible that for next summer I get one of the destinations I had asked for: Sicily, Amalfitanian cost or Sardegna.

For now I will go on: I'm glad and satisfied about the last 3 months, about the persons I met and all the things I have learned.
And the future: I think it's just a matter of faith.
Or what do you think?

foto

pictures!

One week off…

I HAD to go. I would come to Belgium on Sunday, stand by waiting for a flight at the airport. If necessary on the lap of the pilot, Peri had said. But for the Brussels flights even that was not an option. So I flew to Düsseldorf (Germany) and continued by train. Too late for the party with my family. The youngest children already had gone home and Jesse was fighting against the sleep to see me.

In Belgium, no mist or rain, but it is cold. If the lowest temperature you know is 25°, than 20° is cold in house. I’m sitting here with a winter slippers and a pullover.

Enjoying my free time, copying CD’s, shopping and buying clothes as I have slimmed 15 kg!
Calling some friends I didn’t hear for the last few months or answering those unanswered e-mails; putting some pictures on the internet.

One week holiday, and than back to Kemer for the first half of the winter season.
I will be alone there: Zoë is quitting the job, Marjorie has another destination, Fulya will work the second winter half and Peri has the intention to travel around the world.
Till January 15th I’ll deal with people in Dutch, French and German (ai ai…).

I still don’t know what will happen afterwards, but I’m quite sure I won’t go to Italy as I asked for and I feel rather disappointed about that. I even don’t know where to go the second winter half. My bosses decided above my head and I’m afraid it will be a destination I absolutely don’t like. In that case… of course there are other tour operators… I’ll find something.

But first we make the winter, their should be less work and more leisure time. I have ordered a new laptop, so I should be easier to keep in touch with everyone. I’ll do my best to bring some more news. So keep an eye on my blog…