How is the Feeling to Meet Family You’ve Never Met [Part 2]

The Flixbus arrived earlier than the supposed schedule in Amsterdam from Berlin . I glanced through the windows while listening to Better Together by Jack Johnson in my earphones. A peace morning, as I watch the bus approached Sloterdijk Station.

I pocketed my phone into my denim jacket and gathered all my belongings before I headed out to collect my small luggage. Glanced to the elevator near the bus stop, I noticed a lot of people waiting for it, so I decided to take the stairs. It should be fine since I just carried small luggage.

Anxious for no reason whatsoever

As I already planned to eat breakfast first while prepared myself to meet my family that day. I have had contact with my cousin about the meeting. Unlike Joon, who likes to speak Bahasa Indonesia, Jantje, my other cousin, started the convo with Dutch, but I found it fascinating. 

“Hi Cindy, hoe gaat het? Where are you at the moment, I’m curious. Do you think we can meet up this weekend? If so, what day? I’m at my job, I can commute by bike, and now it’s raining 🙁 well I think I’ll work a bit longer. I hope the weather is better at your location.” 

“Hello, Ik ben goed. I’m in Berlin at the moment and it is windy here. I will be back on Saturday. So probably will arrive in Amsterdam on the early morning of 24. Can we meet on Sunday?”

I smiled, reading our texts when I was in Berlin. Such a heartwarming conversation from someone I’ve never met. We texted a lot; he also sent me his picture with his mom. Somehow I felt like he was trying to shorten the space between us as we’d never met before—a sweet thing for sure.

No Joon today, he seems to be busy, according to him. So I would meet my other cousin, Jantje, with his mom, and Joon’s mom. I thought there would be Joon so that it wouldn’t be awkward. We plan God decide, right? I would be meeting the family without him. Though I’m trying my best to not nervous, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t, but our texts made me reassured. I thought that all this nervousness was for nothing.

The Feeling to Meet Family You’ve Never Met

I decided to come to the meeting point earlier and probably get some shit done on my laptop in the coffee shop around. Once I took a quick look, it was already time to meet the family. I slipped my laptop into my backpack, finished my coffee, and walked outside the station.

The meeting point is in front of Amsterdam Central Station, a popular place where a lot of people gather there almost always. While my left hand pulled my suitcase, my right hand was texting my cousin, telling him that I was in front of the station.

 “Are you there yet?” a text popped up on my phone screen. “Yes.” a quick reply from me, and not long after than someone tapped my shoulder. 

“Hey! Cindy?” A big man greeted me in front of me, followed by two middle-aged women behind him and one tall guy. I stoned for a couple of seconds, but their smile drove my remaining anxiousness away completed.

“Hey, Jantje!” I smiled back and hugged. He kissed me on the cheek twice before I pulled my self away, “Three times Cindy, that Dutch way of greeting” he smiled, then he leaned again to give me another kiss in the cheek. After that, his mom, who is my aunt, gave me another three times kiss on the cheek, followed by Joon’s mom. “Remember that from now; it’s a dutch greeting,” Jantje told me after we share our hugged each other. I smiled, and we laughed.

A lovely feeling

My aunts went to each of my sides. We walked away from the station. “Let’s grab something to eat, what do you want to eat.” Jantje’s mom asked me while we walked.

“I wanted to eat Dutch food for sure, but Joon said Dutch only eat Dutch food at home, so I guess I’m up to everything as I have no idea. I’m not picky, though, so everything is fine.” I surprised myself as I talked like we’ve been together for a long time. All of us burst into laughter. It felt so lovely.

After strolling around, they decided to make a stop in Hema and grab some snacks. I already felt something off about this, a small start of a meal? I don’t think it would be just a snack. Or is it just me who thought like that? 

To be continued…

[Part 3 will be the end of this How is the Feeling to Meet Family You’ve Never Met, Stay tuned!]

language note: 

hoe gaat het means how are you? ; 

Ik ben goed means I'm good