If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed that 2 people and more recently a 3rd person have been featured pretty heavily in my adventures. This is a special blog post just for them……mostly because I didn’t say Didi’s name enough in the last two posts. 😉.

A few people back home know this, most don’t, and I never told you guys, but the beginning of my trip was really hard. I was alone on the other side of the world, out of my comfort zone and completely overwhelmed. I woke up every single day looking at the bracelet that Kylah made me for my trip and I just wanted to go home and hug those kids.

To make things worse, about a week after I got to Sydney, my good friend, Rosey, lost his battle with cancer. I wanted to go home for the funeral. I was going to go home. Thankfully, a few people talked me out of it, because I don’t know that I would have come back.

Rosey’s real name is Charles Rose and I saw this sign in Melbourne the day before I tried to book my Great Ocean Road tour that ended up being full. He was with me in Melbourne and decided to take me to Tasmania instead.

Anyway, what does this have to do with you guys? Well, things got a little better in Melbourne, but I still wasn’t really enjoying most days. Then came Tasmania and Marcel and Marcel led me to you, because Marcel talks to so many girls 😂. Seriously, sooooo many.

Things changed. I looked forward to seeing you guys everyday and you forcing me to go to the bottle shop at noon, then splitting a bottle of wine, going to bed at 9 and leaving me sitting there with 6 beers left. Maybe some of it was because Tasmania was amazing, but some of that had to be due to the people I was with, right?

Tassy ended, but I knew we’d see each other again, even if you were too hungover in Melbourne. You talked me into the Outback tour and you brought me Mark. Nobody back home tell Dave, but it was a 6 day, whirlwind bromance. It’s not cheating if you’re in different countries, Dave!! Just kidding. Nobody can replace you, Brochacho! Love you, kid!!

The 3 of you are the closest thing I’ve had to my friends back home, except the part where you just start talking Dutch and forget the American Princess is there. We can sit and say nothing or talk about random shit. Tell our crazy stories to each other (ok, mostly my crazy stories, but you have 10 years to catch up), make fun of each other and then go to the bar and drink too much, but still know we have each other’s backs (even if we can’t all feel it 😂😉) and even if the anger is fueled by rum!!

When I say, “Je bent gezellig” (stop laughing Didi or I’ll tell everyone!! ), it’s because I know what it means, even if I can’t actually say it right. You’re comfy, cozy; you guys feel like home to me!! It’s my favorite Dutch word too, Katja, even if I only know 2, hahaha. Broekzakbier (pocket beer) is a tough one to beat.

So thanks for being awesome, judging me unconditionally and accepting my weirdness!!

A blog post all about you guys is so much better than any medal you could ever win, Katja, except maybe a Nobel Peace Prize. Seriously, everyone back home will be jealous of you guys now. It’s an honor to even be mentioned on my Facebook page, let alone a whole blog post. Just in case you still want that medal though…..

Stay awesome!! Enjoy the rest of your travels!!!! Don’t get raped or robbed!!

I’ll bring the shenanigans to Holland!!

*This isn’t meant to take away anything from the other great people I’ve met so far, Didi, Katja and Mark are just better than you. 😂😂😂😂 I’m kidding. I just spent so much more time with them. (Like 2 weeks)