Colleagues: Those we spend most of our time with outside of friends and family.
I consider myself really lucky to have such wonderful ones!
We share so much, and some have become true friends, sharing both joys and sorrows.
And of course, we never miss a chance for a selfie!
Yesterday was bittersweet.
We celebrated the retirement of our manager, the visionary who founded our organization.
We wanted to give her a send-off as special as she is, so we planned a day-long celebration.
We rolled out the red carpet (literally!) at our first location.
Former colleagues, board members, and even some of the children she'd worked with over the years came to share stories, laughter, and gifts over coffee and vlaai.
The visit from the local school children was particularly moving.
They came to express their gratitude for her dedication to creating a safe and nurturing environment.
Her work has been foundational for our organization.
In true Dutch style, we then hopped on our bikes and cycled to our second location.
Our retiring manager enjoyed a ride in a bakfiets, complete with music to keep the party going.
The afternoon was dedicated to fun and games: can throwing, shuffleboard, ring toss, and even spijkerpoepen (nail pooping – a Dutch party game - don't ask hahaha).
The day proceeded and entered a more emotional phase.
To honor her memory, we offered our manager a lovely statue made by a local artisan and gave moving speeches.
We also sung a song we had rewritten specifically for her.
Tears were shed, very certainly including mine.
All that emotion and activity made us hungry!
Our colleagues prepared a feast featuring our manager's favorite: stamppot, a traditional Dutch winter dish.
Think mashed potatoes, kale, and various smoked sausages – comfort food at its finest.
The day ended on a high note with a lively polonaise to the exit.
Singing and dancing, we said our final goodbyes to our wonderful manager.
(I attempted to include a video, but encountered an error during the upload process.) 😢
Completely worn out but full of happy memories, I finally got home.
I put my aching feet up, enjoyed a relaxing series, and then drifted off to sleep, replaying the day's special moments.
Goodnight everyone, and wishing you a healthy tomorrow.
Wishing you all the best in life and much health.
📷 Photos: Owned and shot by me with an iPhone 14
🔡 Text: Translated from Dutch to English using DeepL.com
This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io
