Two weeks ago a very good friend whom I met at university, Charlotte, left to Senegal for als long this may last, maybe forever. After we got our degree, she went to Yoff, a suburb of Dakar to work in an organization for street-children. She would only stay one month, but during this month she met a Senegalese man and when she came back in Belgium she was just devastated, missing him like crazy. She's gone back for three more months and was offered a job at this organization. So she decided to just go for it and two weeks ago she left her family and friends. We had a great party in the garden of her home to celebrate. She's doing a great job over there, and I think she's done a great thing overall; to give up our Western comfort and familiarity and go living in a new, totally different environment, in the hope to find love and solidarity.

for my beautiful redhead...


Here's Charlotte and me with a bunch of the greatest friends I have...


me and the lovely ladies Orfee and Charlotte. The exaggerated smile was on purpose...


[Edited 6/27/05 4:36am]
[Edited 6/27/05 4:43am]

Ok, since it's rather sad this thread went down so fast, I'll give it one more chance.

Since you're obviously not interested in my friend Charlotte ... I'll add a question so you can relate to your personal life...

Ever had to say goodbye to a good friend, not because death tore you apart, but because of a noble decision one of you took?

MarieLouise said:

good luck to Charlotte ...and to answer your question yes I've said bye to my two closest friends Ocean and Harriet to come over here to England ...and I'm absolutely dreading it when I have to say bye to the beautiful people I've met since I've been here

I'm not going anywhere

Well, yeah. I moved away from all of my family, my friends, and career after I got married. It was really hard at first, but I visit so often now, that I never feel like I'm gone for good.

Now if these people would just come visit ME more often! My younger sister hasn't been out to see me for almost 8 years. (she's always broke) But I see her about 3 times a year though.

minneapolisgenius said:

You moved from ... to?

My boyfriend has moved from Portugal to Belgium eight years ago. Only his father has been here once, and some of his friends. I don't get it.

senik said:

I will surely visit her, I hope to do that with my boyfriend around New Year... To spend new year's Eve on a Senegalese beach, doesn't sound bad at all to me.

MarieLouise said:

One of my friends is thinking of leaving Belgium next year but she hasn't made up her mind yet. She wants to join 'doctors without borders'. It's gonna be weird if she decides to leave Belgium.

I think its great that she's thinking about doing this. I admire people who do this. I once thought about it too but now I have decided that there is a lot to do over here too.

MarieLouise said:

From the U.S. to Holland.