Plans for coming year

It is coming closer.. my ‘big trip’. Only two weeks and one day! An ‘adventure’ that I will never forget. It feels strange to say that, it makes it feel like it is a bigger trip than it is in my mind. I think that I am not completely aware yet of what awaits me. I will see so many cool things and meet many interesting people. I can not wait! Two more weeks now to finalise some things and, to say goodbye to my friends and family.

My plans for the coming year:
22nd of August I will fly to New York, where the World Merit 360 will start in the early morning of the 27th of August. But before that, I will have a few days to explore life in NYC! Luckily, on the 23rd of August Rachel will be in NYC as well (remember her? The lovely girl I met on my trip in Norway;)).
At the World Merit 360 we will work on action plan 001, to tackle the sustainable development goals (SDGs). My projectgroup and I are working on SDG 10: Reducing inequalities within and among countries. Ofcourse, a good action plan needs preparation, and that is what my project members and I have been working on last months, weeks and days. Finally, we will present the action plan at the headquarters of the United Nations.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have supported me to be able to attend the Merit 360! So, mum, dad, Adri & Brechtje, Piet & Petra, Grandma, Gré & J.C., Tiny & Bart, Lieke, Marijke, Sjoerd, Sanne M., Carlijn, Lieke, Iris, Marisa, Kristel, Tim, Archi & Lodi, a big thank you!
P.s. If you want to find out more about the SDGs and the World Merit 360, click on the links below ☺.

So after NYC, I will go to Lima, to learn some Spanish. Thanks to Fabiola and Rachel I have an address there where I can stay ☺. I stay at a couple, who usually have 2 German volunteers in their house and 1 other person. So, during the time that I am there, ther will also be 2 German girls. The people I am staying with are really nice, as I have heard from Fabiola (who have lived there). They do not really speak English, so I really have to study very hard on my Spanish skills! Yesterday I talked to the son of the couple, Luis, luckily he does speak English, so I can ask him everything I need to know. The couple and their son will pick me up saterdaynight, as I will arrive at 11.20 pm. So kind! The monday after I will go to the university of Lima to ask if I can do a Spanish course, I hope that I can start very soon! I will also look if I can find a waterpolo association ☺. According to the internet there is one! So that should be fine as well. After I have learned to speak some Spanish, I would like to do some volunteering. But, first things first ;).
Anyway, I am looking forward to experience it all! ☺

And the short version:
22nd of August → Fly to NYC
27th of August → Start World Merit 360
8th of August → Present action plan at the UN
17th of September → Fly to Lima
17th of December → Fly to Amsterdam
2nd of January → Fly to New Zealand
After 1 or 2 months Fly to South Asia
Final home coming: July (?)
SDGs: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300
World Merit 360: http://members.worldmerit.org/assets/home/