It was my first time meeting my host mom, she hugged me as soon as she saw me. I felt the warmth of her love. She looked at me with a bright smile and with her euphonious voice, she said "Nice to have you with us and everyone is waiting for you at home, Samyu!". And when I looked at my host sister Juliette, I became more joyful than I was. She smiled at me and I never forget. Or more accurately, I will remember it. I met her first in India and I don't know if it was destiny- called. 

We both collaborated as presenters and she visited my place and my family on Diwali to celebrate it with us. Even if it was just for a day, her sweet voice and the way she adjusted to our Indian lives left a remarkable footprint in all our hearts. She was kind and thoughtful at the same time.  We were about to leave Tim's place and the clouds darkened. 

Mom had put my suitcase in the trunk and we sat in the car. It started raining and it was so relaxing. I heard raindrops pattering against my window and it seemed as if the sounds were inviting me to become a part of them. 

As soon as I got out of the car at my host's place, I met my host dad, younger sister, and brother. My host house was beautiful outside and inside. It all started with "Welcome home" to "How was your flight journey?" As we began to spoke a lot, at that moment I knew I had the best host family I could ever ask for. Later, Juliette helped me look around the home. I refreshed myself and went to my room. I, Juliette, and Sacha lived on the second floor, my mom dad and Michiel lived on the first floor. I tried looking out through the window but it was dark. I saw nothing but the blackness of a chilly spring night. And the night passed.

Saturday 9:00

I woke up late and went down to the dining hall. I saw smoothies prepared and placed on the table. My mom said that I can have them and they all had their breakfast already. She sat with me with a mug of coffee and asked what we can do for today. We discussed and concluded to shop for groceries. It was my first morning in the Netherlands.  My dad took me out to receive my new bike(bicycle). Cycling is so common that I had regretted asking whether they were cyclists or not. "We aren't cyclists, we're just Dutch," came the response.

I am one short mankind but the seat of the bike was higher than I could sit. So, we had to return it to the shop back. Later, We got in the car and the sun shined brightest in the morning when we went to a bakery first. 

Then we went to Grote Markt(market). It's the heart of the city and continued buying vegetables and fruits needed. I looked at every shop as if it was something new to me. Slowly there was a change in the temperature. The shiny bright morning later changed into mist and cold. There was dense fog everywhere. Everything looked hazy. Things at a distance were hardly seen. As we finished shopping, we went to the car and it started raining again.

Saturday 2:00

I, Juliette, and Sacha decided to bake cookies and cupcakes. Sacha makes deserts that make you happy with its mouthwatering taste in every bite. In the first attempt itself when trying to crack an egg, I made the place smell weird and untidy. I failed the mission but continued to help them as they were really calm and kind, said: "It's okay, it happens." We baked, baked, baked the cupcake. Once we were done with it, my dad took me out to a bike shop. I went around enjoying the smell of tires, looked at all bikes they had. Finally, I found a bike for myself. It was white in color with its brown seat and flower prints all over parked outside the shop. I really loved it as soon as I saw it. I sat on it and I felt comfortable. "Yes, that's my bike", I screamed inside my head.

We went back home and my dad took me out for training. My bike had no brake, so one needs to pedal back to brake which I am not used to. I rode it once, twice, thrice but still, I did not get used to it. He tells me to pedal and brake. Brake! Brake! Brake! He really took his time and taught me to bike. He was calm until the very end. All of a sudden, It started hailing(pellets of ice and hard snow). None of us expected that! It fell on my head as if someone was throwing gems from heaven, it was cold and I absolutely loved it because it's my first time!

It only poured for about 10-15 minutes still seeing them closer was the most blissful for my eyes. I continued to bike for some more time and we went back home to have our dinner. We decided to watch a soccer match at Tim's place but then it got canceled. The next day was liberation day,  so my host-parents decided to take me and Juliette to a drama theatre. 

Saturday 8:00

It was time for us to see the memorial day video. There was 2 minutes silence moment in the middle of the video for the ones who died in World War 2 and were in the war. It was new to me again as we've never had such memorial services in India. The whole city was quiet and all we heard were crickets chirping. It was 14°C and it rained. We cycled to the museum and everything was fine before I reached the Odeon theatre. It was wet on the road and there was a slope, I braked when I reached the destination, my bike skidded. My dad tried to catch me but I lost my balance and fell on the road. It was embarrassing. People looked at me from afar but I kept telling myself that it's fine, it's okay and it happens.

We parked our bikes, went inside and all four of us were laughing at thinking about what happened outside. Everything became normal later because my host took care of me well. It was one of my unforgettable moments. The drama was about the time when the Netherlands marked their liberation, the struggles they faced, and the family that lost their lives and bonds. It was all in Dutch, yet Juliette helped me understand it. I found something magical about them standing on stage singing songs related to the pictures displayed. For me, there was something about it; a sense of being part of the history that went all the way back through time. The one that was on that stage - yet so very connected to each individual seated in the theatre. 

While on our way back home through the dark, we rode. All I heard was the click of the chain as the momentum increased and distance gained. Windows on either side were in darkness or light and my nose started to freeze as I peddled harder. Thanks to my dad who never left me alone in the darkness I felt.

I needed something hot and as soon as we reached, I sat in the dining hall and had a cup of hot chocolate. There was no sense in my nose, and all I did was shiver because I was cold and I am never used to 4°C!
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Missing Zerina, Yusef, and Lewis? Stay tuned for my next chapter.

I hope you also had a good time with me on my first day in Zwolle. I am so very grateful to you all! This book has reached 500+ reads and 200 votes. It wouldn't have happened without your love and support you showered on this book. Thank you!

Much love ❤

Just Dutch and Indian things:
Diwali - An Indian festival of lights and firecrackers.
Liberation day - marks the liberation of a place, similar to an independence day.