Hey! School is out for summer. Hooray! Why does it feel like I have so much unfinished business, though? Not going to stress like last year. I promised my colleagues that I would shut off for the summer, and I intend to go through with it. Yes, this might feel like a direct response to my article from last year, “Mi no por baha cu vakantie”; that’s because it totally is. Let’s see how a year has made me more mature (or nonchalant? Nah…). 

English For Now

Oh, I’m writing this one in English. It’s much easier for me to finish the story and edit later. However, I pinky promise that my upcoming articles will be in Papiamento for the rest of the summer. I’ll only be writing once a week, though, with a break between the last week of July and the first week of August. Just being fully transparent here.

Grumpy? Me?

Okay, so what the hell happened this year? I can’t get fully into details, but I will say this. I’ve enjoyed my job this year more than last year, managed the stress of work more adequately, and I believe that I was less grumpy this year too (but I will need to double-check that with my husband, since he is the one who called me out on it last year). 

In my Control

What felt different? For starters, as cliché as it may sound, I only focused on things that were in my control. I still occasionally cussed when things didn’t go my way, or when my hands were tied (which was often), but I never dwelled on things that I couldn’t control. Past versions of me would say that I finally became the conformist that I so desperately tried not to be. Has the fire in me finally been extinguished? Please! Stop with the drama. But in this line of work, you have to choose your battles, or you’ll eventually be extinguished for real. 

Didn’t Burn

Not going to lie. This past year has been tough. I spontaneously decided to join a pre-master’s program at the University of Aruba last autumn. I mean, it was on my to-do list, but joining last year wasn’t in my plans. Somehow I couldn’t say no. So, yeah, when I decided to join other side courses at the beginning of this year, I feared I was heading for burnout. So I did what I do best: I tried my best. Everything that I did, I did trying my best, hoping for a positive result based on my merits, and if it wasn’t enough, nobody died. It will be okay, and I will keep trying. 

Still in Touch

An old friend who is not with us anymore always told me that it’s important to find out what a specific situation is trying to teach me, what I can learn from this process. And yes, her calm yet firm voice is always at the back of my mind during difficult times or when I feel lost. But I sort of developed my own line to help me, too. Because let’s be honest, when you’re in distress, your mind will be highly clouded, and sometimes you won’t be able to think rationally.

But Did You Die?

So I choose to ask myself a simpler and less complex question: what is the worst thing that can happen? Just try it sometimes. You will be surprised that the answer is actually not the worst thing in the world. Hell, you might even come up with a solution or two to help you out. But I mostly use it to help me understand that whatever I’m feeling in the moment will pass. It soothes, and it grounds.

Let it Burn

So yeah. No whining on my behalf this year. But to be fair, I had every reason to be upset last year. Normally I’m not much of a complainer. I’d rather look at the bright side of things and search for solutions, but I couldn’t manage the fire and decided to do what I do best: write. 

Farewell 2025-2026

To conclude, I think people are right when they say you shouldn’t become friends with your colleagues, but the people that I directly work with have made the school year more bearable. That, and the tunes in my car on my way to work. I’m extremely proud to finally bring one of my strongest qualities to the workplace: my amazing sense of humor. Only my closest people know of that side of my wonderful personality (totally not being sarcastic here). Yes, I’m a bit of a joker (not always grumpy). Hopefully I’ll loosen up a bit more throughout the next school year (but not too much; I still need to coordinate, but that’s not only up to me). After all, there is no I in team. And we do it together. 

One Last Thing

This summer, I intend to look for the best writing spots on the island. Yes, I’ll go café hopping. Today I stopped by Café Moon. I actually managed to focus (without my own music blasting in my ears) with their lo-fi tunes. I ordered their Dragonfruit Fruit Tea, and it was super refreshing and not too sweet. Highly recommend. 

Awo si. Thanks for reading. Till next time.

Love,

Jammita