I write about an eco-positive lifestyle. However, this is also my personal blog. And so, whenever there’s a massive change in my life, I write about it. I did that when I moved to Groningen, moved to Amsterdam, when I graduated and when I started the full-time job I have now. And now, about 1,5 years after my last big update I am sharing one again. I’ll tell you more about this life update: I’m leaving Amsterdam after 2,5 years.
The past 5 years
Let me just give you a little bit of context, if you’ve lost track. In 2019 I got my bachelor of science and decided I wanted to get my master of science in Amsterdam. I then first started a pre-master in Amsterdam, while I lived at my family in Haarlem. That premaster ended in February 2020. The plan was to start the actual master in September of 2020. However, as we all know, COVID-19 emerged. I then decided to have a gap year. But I didn’t stay with parents in Enschede (where I grew up). Instead, I moved to Groningen to live with my boyfriend during that gap year. We had been together for 4 years at that time. It was then when I left my parental home for good.
I enjoyed living together with my boyfriend a lot. However, I still wanted to do that master in Amsterdam. And so, in September 2021, a year later, I moved to Amsterdam by myself. I lived in a student flat at Uilenstede. Uilenstede is a student campus. I moved in with 13 housemates. Now, 2,5 years later, I finished my masters, got a job and it is time to move out. It’s time I make room for a new student.
My time at Uilenstede
Boy, these past 2,5 years at Uilenstede have brought me so much. I didn’t know what to expect when I moved in. I can describe it best as spontaneous fun, all time time. When you live together with 13 people, you never know what’s going to happen. From ending up at a random house party on a Monday night, to getting a Christmas tree together in a shopping cart and playing volleybal in the dark. The bond you create is so special and unlike any other friendship I’ve ever had. You see these people almost every day.
We were in isolation together during COVID, we celebrated a lot of birthdays together, but we also shared sadness (when someone’s relationship ended or they had a messed up day). In the meantime some people moved out (7 in total I think) and new people moved in. I feel so much at home here. I am grateful for everything that has happened. Time flew by to be honest. I’m leaving with mixed feelings. I am excited about the future, but damn, I am going to miss the people and time at Uilenstede.
Moving out of Amsterdam
I am moving out of Amsterdam, partly because I have to (like I said, I have to leave Uilenstede to make room for a new student), but it’s also time for a next phase in life. My boyfriend and I have been together for over 8 years. For about 7 of those, we’ve had a long distance relationship. Honestly, that is becoming exhausting. We have to spend about 5 hours of traveling to see each other during the weekends. We’re both quite done with the distance. We want to live together and start building our life together. I am almost 26 years old, he’s almost 28. It’s time for us to leave the student-life behind.
Where am I going?
I am moving out of Amsterdam to a small town in The Netherlands, near Harderwijk. It’s quite unknown. I am moving in with my in-laws. My boyfriend moved out of his house back to his parents because he had to leave his appartement in Groningen too. We’ll be living at his parents for the coming months. I don’t know how long it’ll be. We wanted to move straight to Utrecht, but my boyfriend is traveling in the South Americas right now so he doesn’t have a job. And since he doesn’t have a job, we can’t get an appartement (my income alone is not enough). He’ll be back on the 17th of February and will start looking for a job then. When he finds one, we can find an appartement. But we won’t know how long both those things will take.
The past few months we have been talking with realtors but we just both need to have a job to be able to considered for a rental in the center of Utrecht. But yes, that is the plan. Utrecht. We wanted to move to a city where we both felt good. I did not want to move to Groningen and my boyfriend didn’t want to live in Amsterdam. So, we met sort of in the middle. Utrecht is nice and central. Closer to both our families also.
Moving all the time
In the past 7 years in my life, I have lived in 6 different places. I am so ready to settle. My boyfriend and I plan on staying in Utrecht for at least 5 years. That gives me so much peace. Finally again, living somewhere for a longer period of time! I have so many plans for in Utrecht. I want to start a vegetable garden, start baking my own bread, start canning food, visit the dodgeball association, and the list goes on. Gosh, I am so excited for this new life!
Yours sincerely,
Romee
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