It's nice to hear about your updates!

I am also going to the US soon - over Easter. I have some mixed feelings about travelling there because of the political situation but most of my family and a lot of my friends are there... It's complicated.

I'm also planning a trip to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in May, getting there by overnight ferry to the Netherlands, and coming back on the Eurostar from France. Planning to see a couple of people from this community while over there - you know who you are if you see this.

I've also been learning more French - I'm actually taking lessons now, with an online tutor. It's been really fun and, I know this might sound odd, but almost "healing" for me in a way. I had a very negative experience with language learning in school and a somewhat negative experience beyond school, and had a lot of feelings/beliefs like "I am just naturally bad at languages" etc which I am trying to challenge now. My french tutor is very patient and also focussed and doesn't let me get distracted and slip into just chatting/replying in English (it's an immersive lesson). I feel like I am being able to unlearn some negative feelings I had, and actually enjoy language learning.

Soon I might be even be able to say something in a Francophone country... Perhaps, order a croissant... Or 360 croissants (trois cent soixante croissants 🥐👀