:: gezellig ::

Almost 8 years ago I left New Zealand with one 20kg backpack on an adventure that has never really ended. I remember sitting on the aeroplane during one of those long flights towards Europe wondering what on earth I was doing! I knew no-one in the destination I was headed for, but I knew it was right and I suspected that my world was about to become much larger and richer. It has, and I love that. The next six months spent in Holland, Argentina and Brazil are some that I treasure the most among all the experiences I've had.

I fell in love with the Dutch culture, which is not surprising considering I had 28 fellow students on my Discipleship Training School (DTS) and lived in a lovely little village in the beautiful eastern part of Holland. There I gradually picked up some of the Dutch language until I could string together some phrases and have (very) basic conversations with friends. 
One word I heard from time to time which has stayed with me ever since is gezellig. It's not necessarily a pretty-sounding word, having the throaty 'g' at either end (I finally achieved the sound after gargling toothpaste at the suggestion of my roommates!). But it's one that is rich and beautiful in meaning. My friends tried without success to translate it into English for me. It's one of those words that, as much as we'd like it to be, can't be translated...the meaning is so multi-faceted!

Here's how it has been described to give you more of an idea:

:: Gezellig ::  depending on context, gezellig can be translated as convivial, cosy, fun, quaint or nice atmosphere, but can also connote belonging, time spent with loved ones, the fact of seeing a friend after a long absence, or general togetherness. The word is considered to be an example of untranslatability, and is one of the hardest words to translate to English. Some consider the word to encompass the heart of Dutch culture.

The word has always stuck with me. Maybe for two reasons - to me it really does encompass the heart of the Dutch culture that I experienced and enjoyed so much during those few months of living there. My friends were wonderful at creating a creative, bright, cosy, heart-warming atmosphere anywhere. Their homes seemed so gezellig with bright colours, creativity and moreso because of the general use of lamps in place of overhead lighting, which is one of my favourite features of a home...so cosy! 

Wherever I live, I have realised, I like to create an atmosphere that is gezellig and I find, since having the girls, that I do even more so. Anything that catches the essence of cosy, fun, bright, lamp-lit (if possible with a cosy fireplace too!), playful, creative, imaginative inspiration and time with loved ones. 

Like fun activities, huts, canopies, fresh baking and hot chocolates. Sometimes the ideas don't make it to reality, but they inspire me nonetheless! 

I think it's something subconscious in many ways, in that I'm often not aware that much of what I love to do (creating an atmosphere that is fun, creative, cosy to spend time in and inclusive of people and creates a sense of belonging) links back to the particular value that is represented by this word. Hence my enjoyment of changing the furniture around from time to time and making trips to IKEA (!), and being inspired creatively through a number of websites and blogs. If I can pass on this sense of creating environments that are "gezellig" in the full sense of the word to our girls I will feel like I've succeeded in at least one of my parenting goals!

I hope I've given this word some justice in my interpretation of its meaning. My Dutch friends can feel free to correct me!

I wish you all a week that is full of gezellig moments :o)