Is our stay in California coming to an end?

I really have to share this and I will do my best to keep this post short.

We are probably going to leave the States before the end of this year!

Even though all the years here we were never certain how long we are going to stay, this came as a shock to me.

Honestly I've never planned to die in California and I do miss our family and friends.
It can be a bit lonely over here...

Yet thinking of moving again and overseas with a 4 year old makes me feel nauseous.
O.K., let's start again in another country! But for how long for this once?!

Tae Kwon Do

Last Friday I enrolled Maarten in Tae Kwon Do. He is thrilled.
I know nearly nothing about karate and compared to his dad I would never even consider it for my child.
But already during the test we both got very enthusiastic and Maarten loves every minute of the training.

Originally I was looking for some kind of activity which would help Maarten to channel his abundant energy. He is probably still too young for tennis or soccer but here he can already start to train his physical skills.
I enjoyed watching the class and I'm pretty confident that Maarten's training will not result in violence and aggression.
What I really like that the training highly emphasizes good listening, respect, and good manners. We can truly use that lately!
In Maarten's case it's also a wonderful opportunity of socializing and interacting with others.
He has to answer in a strong clear voice when the instructor asks a question.
This is actually great for practicing his English. He is an excellent talker in Czech or Dutch but he is still kind of insecure when it comes to speaking English.

I only wish it wasn't so ridiculously expensive.
So far, the only real downer here is the fee.

"Koláč" or the language labyrint at the Kooij family

Maarten is busy with his elephant scissors cutting paper in pieces = slices of an imaginary pie.

Maarten: Pappa, wil je een stukje koláč.

Papa: Ja, dank je.

Mama: Weet papa dan wat koláč betekent?

Papa: Ja, collage, toch?

Mama: Nee, koláč is Tsjechisch voor vlaai.

Maarten: Nee, het is geen fly, maar een koláč!

Mama: Koláč betekent vlaai.

Papa: Ooh, ik kan dan beter taartje zeggen.

Roadkill

I remember my relatives in New York shaking their heads when they heard about my flight back to Europe on the 4th of July.
Then, I didn't understand.

Now I know better.
While living in this country we've learned that during this particular weekend our home is probably the best place to relax.
Unless you don't mind to deal with large crowds and heavy congestion of course.

Most of the people are out of town to celebrate this America's favorite holiday.
Compared to all campgrounds, hotels, beaches, parks and other popular places, our neighborhood looks rather abandoned.


Also today during my daily bike ride I don't encounter anyone.
I mean anyone alive.
Only dead animals along the road. Usually I see dead raccoons, squirrels or skunks. You probably know what happens when skunks are frightened or cornered. I've noticed they release the foul-smelling fluid also when they get killed!

Another 'strange' odor hit my nose early this week. This smell really made me gag. Poor little fawn.

About one mile further something pretty large wrapped in carpet lied right on the shoulder. There was a big threatening sign attached to it. I didn't feel like approaching it and I caughed only 'Whoever did this, you are...'.

On my way back someone couldn't restrain his curiosity and partly removed the carpet.
Awful sight!
Loads of predatory flies were surrounding the corpse.
Obviously someone hit this big deer and he or, maybe someone else driving by, chopped the deer's head right off!
Now the wrapping was removed, you couldn't help but notice, it had no head!
How gross!!!
Is this the way you claim a deers head?! Who would make a trophy of roadkill?

I've called the Animal Control and now the carcasses are removed.

The place stays haunted by the headless deer, but as for me, I'd better go now and join the partying folks!