Farewell Amsterdam

This summer marks our 5 year anniversary of living in Amsterdam... but as many of you already know, we won't officially make it to that mark.  We have a lot of mixed emotions; excitement stirred with sadness, fear and doubt. But after months of resistance the decision to leave Holland and move to Germany has been made.

Jesse has been transitioning into a new role for the last 10 months, traveling back and forth to Global HQ in Herzogenaurach, Germany.  It's an awesome career move for him and since we've had so much time to consider the move, this decision carries great conviction.  We have already moved out of our apartment; cancelled our contracts and memberships, plus we threw a "farewell" boat ride with our closest friends. At this moment I'm looking for a new job in Global HQ and in the meantime, I go back and forth from Nuremberg to Amsterdam once a month.

This change hasn't been without challenges, in fact it's been really hard to let go of our "Amsterdam life", our routine, but more than anything, to let go of our friends. We have made life long friendships here and feel deep connections with these people who have basically become our family. And in our final days Amsterdam looked like a jewel. How can we ever let go of those people/places that have become a part of us?

Amsterdam has written such an important chapter in our lives. We became adults here, we got married here and we discovered so many corners of the world here. I will always have this place in my heart, regardless of where I am. And with that comes a bitter sweet goodbye.

Dear Amsterdam,

Thank you for letting us live in the beautiful and safe neighborhood of Rivierenbuurt, in a small but very comfortable apartment with a big kitchen and lovely landlords. You must have known that number 9 would bring us luck.

Thank you for all the interesting events, encounters, festivals, and parties. For long picnics at Vondelpark and your great variety of shops, cafés, restaurants and bars. We will remember those countless lunch dates and late party nights with our friends. That reminds me... thank you for 3am hot kaas croissants out the back door of the bakery.

Thank you for your museums, your concerts and for being the coolest city to be in on Queensday, on new year’s eve and during World Cup Football.

Thank you for never letting my bike get stolen; Jesse on the other hand has gone through several bikes... which must have been meant to be.

            1. Stolen from the Rai

            2. Hit by a taxi driver

            3. Tossed in the canal due to broken brakes

            4. Locked up and lost the key

            5. Abandon with no lock for another to find

Thank you for boat rides on the canals and beautiful sunsets of red, orange, pink and purple. 

I loved you in the morning when shops where about to open, people on their bikes everywhere and only a hand full of early tourists. Your air was filled with morning light, the smell of baked bread, fresh coffee and new energy for the day. 

Thank you for your incredible diversity of people, nationalities, languages, food, music, religion, architecture, movie theaters, creative and artistic minds and last but not least your constantly changing weather situation. You look so beautiful when the sun comes out; people celebrate it. The rainy days made me appreciate the sunny ones even more and taught me to be content with home maker hobbies while Jesse watched sports... 

Jesse also says thanks for having an ESPN America cable package.

And thank you most for bringing our amazing friends into our lives! They are truly special people and every single friendship is one of kind. It's a fact that we all love you, which has made it all the more fun to share the experiences here together. I will carry them in my heart wherever I go.

Thank you Amsterdam. For being and giving all of the above and much more. It’s been an adventure, a great pleasure and a privilege to get to know you and to spend a few years of our lives here.

So long my dear Amsterdam. May you always stay this way.

Yours truly,

Michelle and Jesse

You should save our new blog and follow us in our adventures as we Become Bavarians:
http://becomingbavarians.wordpress.com/