My last week in Holland :(
This morning I opened my eyes and the first thought in my head was "this is my last week here". (By the way, I always forget whether to put periods outside of quotes or inside quotes. I just asked Meghan the other day and I've forgotten again). Did I do it right? ANYWAY, I was having trouble processing that this is my last week. So, I got out of bed and went down stairs and found Krista, our "house parent"in the living room.
Krista is interested in people's re-entry experiences. She always e-mails ex-staff members after they've returned to their home culture to see how they've adjusted to their new but also former life. Krista busted out a sheet of e-mail correspondences she's had with people during their readjustment time. Here are a few quotes. Keep in mind many of these people speak English as a second language...
"Krista told me it would take about 3 months to get settled again, I laughed when she told me. But it's true!! I find it very difficult to adjust".
"Well I must go , but I hope that everything is well. Amsterdam is in my mind everyday and in my prayers, I am a changed person and I will never forget it".
"So, I've been back from the Netherlands 4 and 1/2 months. It seems far but still really present in my heart. It is a long and difficult process to be in my country again. I have so many memories there in Amsterdam. I'm missing everything a lot. But life is going on and I need to get involved in things where I am".
If you are a former staff member reading this blog I would love to hear about your re-entry experience. Post a comment!
posted by Melissa @ 3:58 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Wow- it never occured to me that coming back would be another adjustment. I will start praying for your last week and your adjustment in being back in the US!
love,
beth
Uh oh. Mijn nederlands is niet goed. Maar falafel en bier klinkt wel erg goed. En ik ben het mee eens dat Beatrix en Balkende erg treurig zullen zijn dat ik weg ga. een echte nationale ramp. Later.
Ik hoop je deze week te zien Benjamin.
OK so here's the rule. With quotes you put the period before the closing quote, but with ( ), you put the period on the outside.
But seriously, I can't wait to see you! And if you haven't been reading my blog because I rarely post anymore, somehow I got into UPenn. I just found out last night, and I'm so excited.
Love you!!
Michelle is right, with one addition, and this is where it gets confusing. If you are writing a research paper, and you are quoting a source, you don't put punctuation inside the quotes (unless it is an ! or ?); you put it after the parentheses.
Like this.
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will see it to completion in the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). I think it looks weird this way, but this is supposedly the way it is supposed to go.
Have a great last couple of days, and I will be praying for your re-entry. (this makes you sound like an astronaut!)
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