Important: This blog was updated on June 9, 2021 after I entered Rematch. I have removed the photos of this host family and made their names fictitious.
Chaos
The past weeks have been chaos. On Thursday, February 25, we received the news that all appointments at the consulate for March have been canceled due to the travel ban because of COVID
The next available appointment at the consulate was on 2 September. I immediately informed Hanna (my host mom) about the news. She immediately reassured me and started arranging the papers for a NIE exemption, this is an exception that allows au pairs to fly to America under special circumstances. To be eligible for this you have to meet strict requirements and luckily my host family meets them.
In the first instance I would have to go to Belgium for this, but eventually there were places available in April at the consulate in Amsterdam.
Change of plan
on Friday March 5th I got a message from Hanna that the plans actually had to be changed. The NIE exemption scheme would expire on March 31st, once you have been accepted for the NIE exemption you must fly within 30 days. If we did not opt for this exception, we would not know how long it would take before I could fly to America, there are au pairs who have been waiting for months and even more than 1 year before they can leave, I am very lucky that my host family meets the strict requirements and that I leave even earlier than planned. Finally I had my appointment at the consulate in Amsterdam on March 29, where the application for my NIE exemption was accepted !! The official new departure date then became Friday April 23.
My visa and then ...
On Thursday, April 1, I picked up my passport with visa in the Bilt. Then it was really official and I could start preparing everything, or so I thought, but then another quarantine period came. From Thursday afternoon April 1 to Wednesday evening April 7, I was quarantined with my best friend, his parents and with another best friend of ours. The 3 gentlemen were upstairs in isolation because they tested positive and his mother and I were in quarantine downstairs because we tested negative. Instead of being busy with my departure to America, I was now busy to take care of the gentlemen. Fortunately we got off well and did not become infected, unfortunately the gentlemen were very ill, one of which was so serious that he was picked up by ambulance and was in hospital. Fortunately, I was later allowed to pick him up from the hospital under strict conditions and we were able to surprise his son with that on his birthday.
Dear Erik, Inge, Phil and Mitchell, we got through it so well, I am proud of us. A special time that we will never forget.
And then you are out of quarantine, that crazy period is over, I became an aunt on Friday, April 9 and then it is almost time to leave...
All preparations are done, I have successfully completed my training school. Incidentally, it was a great week with interesting lessons, nice teachers and the best group of girls from all over the world that I still have daily contact with. I've passed my U.S. First Aid and CPR course, I've had the Mantoux (tuberculosis) test, gotten my health certificate, arranged my international driver's license and at the time of writing this I've taken a break from packing my suitcases.
Proud auntie of the beautiful and sweet Jaevey Lahiru
Last working day and final training as a Gymnastics coach
On Friday April 16, after being employed for 6.5 years, I had my last working day at Plus Kolkman. I Received gifts, My colleagues came to the store to say good bye, customers who came by especially. A nice ending. Jeroen, Simon and Jurgen thank you for all the years that I have been able to work with you at Plus Kolkman!
Also that day after training and coaching at the club for about 17 years, I gave my last training. A nice farewell. I received many appreciations from the parents and received many nice cards and gifts from the kids.
Farewell party
Saturday, April 17, a corona proof 'Drive Thru' was organised for me, in the end it was not completely 100% corona proof because you want to be able to say a decent goodbye before you leave for at least 1 year, so I have that risk taken for granted. It was a very nice day and it was great to have seen so many people and also nice to see that lot of effort has been made. I have really enjoyed it.
Departure
Thursday morning I have to do a COVID test in Zwolle, because I am not allowed to fly without a negative test result. I am really looking forward to my departure Friday despite the long journey, about 26 hours in total. At Friday morning 9.15 am I will leave from Schiphol and then I have to two stopovers in America, first in Newark and then in Denver. From Denver I fly to my final destination Spokane where I will arrive around 9:15 pm their time on Friday evening. It is 9 hours earlier there, so in the Netherlands it will be 07.15 on Saturday morning.
Friday April 23, the day I leave I will be 22 years old. So we start right away in America with something nice because on Saturday we are going to celebrate my birthday there, how cool !!
End of the update
This is the end of the blog for this time, through all chaos in recent weeks it has come online a little later. I am already looking forward to my next blog I'm going to write in America and will go about my travel journey and the first week in America.
Until the next blog !!
Love kaylee
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