This is a quote from Woody Allen, I believe the original is an old Yiddish proverb “We plan, God laughs.” but you get the idea. Every time I heard this sentence I would laugh, I could always relate to it but not as much as I do right now…
Why so? you may ask. Here is why.
I was flying back to Holland on the 1st of August. My plan was to stay at a friend’s place for a few days, find myself a new room and move in, settle down, get my boxes out of the storage space.
Well… This obviously didn’t happen.
I had made some resolutions over the summer. To do sports regularly, eat less pasta and more vegetables and overall have a more organized life.
Well… This obviously didn’t happen either. When you fail at the first step, which is finding shelter, it becomes impossible to pursue the other steps.
My parents were flying in the day after me and so I crashed at their hotel for a week before I started house-hopping. (A shout-out to all the people who opened up their doors and couches to me and the many more who offered to do the same, I am eternally grateful. Once I get the keys to my room, there will be a party and you will all be honorary guests!)
I really improved my survival skills this past month, as I didn’t even have a suitcase and lived off plastic bags with only a few pairs of clothes. It’s not easy being a Nomad! (If you are a future International Studies student and you don’t understand this sentence, just wait around for the upcoming Global History lectures! And the Mongols! Okay sorry, I’ll stop making inside jokes…)
I also wanted to write many, many posts during this month about how it is to start university, how El-Cid was in my experience etc. but… Well yes, I was busy being homeless.
I can’t complain though, since the last stop that this house-hopping brought me to is… Paris!
Side-note: I did find a room; I’m only waiting for the 1st of September to receive the keys and enjoying Paris in the meantime. Thank God the pressure and the stress is off my shoulders, I won’t lie at one point I may have had a nervous breakdown by a canal and I may have had some shots with a bartender at 2pm.
Hoping all the best for the still homeless.
Au revoir, with love from Paris!