Happy New Year 2009!

Every year I write a Christmas letter to friends and family but this year I missed the deadline! So, here is my New Years greeting for 2009!

Happy New Year 2009!

As you read this we hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas holiday with family and friends! I just didn’t get ready on time this year to send our annual Christmas letter before Christmas so here is our New Years greeting for 2009! We have had a very busy year filled with many memorable moments.

After 11 years abroad I moved back to Sweden and this time brought with me my family. The last ten years we have lived in several countries around the world and naturally talked a lot about Sweden. Last year we decided that if we wanted to give the children a chance to experience Sweden for real we would have to move now, before they get to old. We also wanted to experience something new and different and so we ended up in the small town of Ulricehamn located about an hour drive from Göteborg in the south of Sweden. I got a job as International coordinator at the municipality of Ulricehamn and Jochem is commuting between Sweden and the Netherlands.

During our Christmas holiday last year we bought a house in Ulricehamn and in January I travelled to Sweden with the girls to look at schools. In mid February I finished my work at the embassy in the Hague and a few days later the moving truck brought our belongings to our new home. Needless to say January was a crazy month and when we celebrated Ingrids 9th birthday in February we did so with 100 moving boxes in the living room!

On the 15 of February we arrived in Ulricehamn and two days later the builders arrived to start the renovation. After two weeks we realised that living in the house during the renovation was not ideal, so we moved out into a small cottage in the forest. Living in the forest in a winter landscape with foxes and deer walking by was quite an experience for us all. Naturally the renovation took a longer time then expected but in May we finally moved back to our new home. We now live in a typical Swedish red wooden house with a surrounding garden with apple and peer trees.

For the children this was a year of many changes and many new experiences. They go to a small Montessori school with 10 children in each class situated in a charming old brick building surrounded by a large park-like playground. Elsa (8) felt at home right away and has made some really good friends. For Ingrid (almost 10) the move was a bit more difficult but I think she has now settled in quite well enjoying school and different sports (soccer, golf, tennis). Nils (5) had some difficulty with the Swedish at first but now he speaks very well. The children spend a lot more time outside nowadays and we are all enjoying the beautiful nature surrounding Ulricehamn. We have tried to make use of all the sports opportunities here by taking up golf, skiing, sledding and this summer Jochem bought a boat. We also bought a summerhouse in Vegby, 15 km south of Ulricehamn situated 30 meters from a lake (hence the need of a boat :)!).

Summer went by too fast but we enjoyed the company of many visitors from Sweden, the Netherlands, India and South Africa. Great to see you all and thank you for coming!!! Next summer the renovation of our summerhouse will be finished and ready for more visitors! We had a fun family reunion in Stockholm in June where the children met up with their “Stockholm” siblings whom they had never met before. Ingrid and Elsa are now planning our next Stockholm trip, as they don’t want to loose contact with their newfound family :)!

Jochem started a second company in the Netherlands this fall (Apiron) and travelled quite a bit this year (to the US, Australia and Europe). I spend most of my time in Ulricehamn but had some time for visits to Belgium, the Netherlands and Latvia. I really like my job and work in a great team. We still have to work on expanding our social network but the people of Ulricehamn are friendly and helpful so I think we will be successful!

In a few days time we move into 2009. For us 2008 was an intense year and now it is time to enjoy life a bit more. Jochem will be working in France in 2009 but will go to China and Japan in February. Usually he spends 3 days abroad and 4 days in Sweden so the travelling is not too bad. 2008 was a baby boom year among family and friends. My sister Hanna gave birth to little Ellen in January and enjoyed this so much that she is going for a second one in May! Una, Arnold, Marlou, Felien and Siem also joined our world (and if I forgot someone I apologize!). Congratulations to all parents and newcomers!

We wish you all a great new year with lots of new and happy experiences!
Lots of love from all of us!

Ingrid, Elsa, Nils, Jochem and Ulrika Geeraedts