Life between chapters

I’ve lived in the Netherlands for almost ten years now,
but every once in a while, I still find myself in situations
where I have no idea what to do.

Today was one of those days.

We were expecting heavy snowfall, and although the school where I work would remain open (but no lessons), they recommended that we stay home.

When it was time to get ready for work, the snow didn’t seem that bad, so I started debating whether I should bike there.

“It’s not safe. But how bad can it really be? Maybe I can do it. What does an ‘orange code’ actually mean? Maybe I should stay home…”

That’s when I realized I had never experienced anything like this before and genuinely didn’t know what the right decision was.

I know what you might be thinking: What is there to debate? Stay home, you looney!

But for someone who grew up in a tropical country, it’s hard to imagine what to expect from weather like this.

It reminded me of when I worked in Brazil on an international project with volunteers from all over the world.

The Dutch volunteers always wanted to sit in the sun, despite all of our warnings:
You shouldn’t do that—it’s dangerous! You should only sit in the sun before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

You grow up knowing this. You understand the sun and the consequences of too much exposure.

But those poor Dutch volunteers would sit in the sun until they were completely toasted, while all the Brazilians sat in the shade, watching in disbelief that they wouldn’t listen.

Now, after living here for so many years, I understand how much you value the sun when you only see it a few months a year.

I do the same. When the sun is out, I run outside.

And I’ve learned that when you’re faced with something you’ve never experienced before—something that was never part of your life growing up—it’s hard to know what to do.

It reminds me that in life, you’re always learning. Every day.

Whether you live abroad or not, it’s a constant process.

And it reminds me that we should always be kind to people.

You never know where they come from, what they’ve lived through, or what they know.

People are different—and that’s the beauty of being human.

Now, as I write this and look outside, I’m glad I stayed home.

Biking six kilometers in this weather wouldn’t have been smart.

Lesson learned.

Living abroad keeps reminding me that learning never stops — and neither should our kindness.