In this “Away from Home” post, I am very pleased to write about my first solo journey to the Netherlands and all the amazing experiences I have had! Thanks to Yoast, I had a priceless opportunity to attend Yoastcamp in Wijchen. It was everything and more I thought it would be!

I started my journey on October 1st at 8am [which was supposed to start at 6:30 am] from Dhaka and reached Schiphol at Amsterdam around 4:30pm. But I reached my hotel in Nijmegen at 10:58pm Dutch time. Within this time, I changed train once and took the bus once. For someone who have never visited Europe, this is definitely a brand new experience. This is the longest but the most enjoyable journey I have had so far!

Here, I take the chance to say a big thank you to all the very friendly and gentle people in Netherlands and to my colleagues Mazedul Islam Khan, Michael Brian Tiña and others who helped me with proper information about the bus and trains to reach Nijmegen. Life is easier and enjoyable when you are surrounded by great people and it teaches you to be a better person.

Day One: Dinner on Boat!

In the morning, I was too tired but still joined the breakfast to meet my lovely colleagues.

Yoastcamp started with dinner in the pancake boat on Waal river in Nijmegen. In the evening, I had a very wonderful walk from hotel to Waal river with my colleagues. It was a great evening with full of sunshine and we had a great time.

Day Two: First day at Office

Happy Monday!

We start our journey together from hotel to Wijchen at Yoast HQ by train. Seeing everyone for the first time in the office was really great. We had the opportunity to work with our colleagues in the same desk! This was a good way to exchange ideas and knowing each others working process. I use one of two tricks everyday in my task now 🙂

Later, a part of our team met at Donatello for dinner [Italian restaurant] and it was a blast!

Day Three: Work, Group photo, team building work

At Yoast HQ we complete some of our scheduled activities. Apart from the daily tasks, we had some team building activities that were super fun. Loved to diffuse the bomb and how it exploded some of us! The paper tower was fun activity too!

We take the group photo at Yoast campus. The sun was generous and created beautiful environment for the photoshoot. Here I am with my lovely colleagues in a same frame. You can also find the pictures here on Twitter.

In the evening, I joined others at Camelot for dinner, talk and take pictures and laugh a lot!

While walking back to hotel, Laura, Ritchel and I had a very enjoyable and heart-to-heart conversation on how we women manage our activities in our hometown!

Day Four: Work and Official dinner by Yoast

It’s middle of the week. So in the morning we do some of our scheduled work, attend an awesome presentation by Jono Alderson.

In the evening, we had the previliege to attend a dinner at Lieve Sophie in Wijchen arranged by Yoast. We had a great time, awesome food, enjoyable conversation.

Maike and the team arranged halal dish for me which I loved a lot. So much so that I have been trying to recreate the recipe ever since! Thank you so much Maike and facility team for such a thoughtful step!

Day Five: Visiting the Openlucht Museum, Arnhaam

We are almost at the end of the Yoastcamp! How quickly the time flies!

In the morning, we had a session with our partnership team where we have shared our ideas with the team. After some regular activities, we started our journey from Yoast HQ to the Openlucht Museum in Arnham.

It was very special for me as I loved all the old cottages, barracks of Turkish and Moluccan people, farms, horse driven oil mill and café Tante Stien. The tour absolutely won my heart. Also, I enjoyed learning a thing or two about dutch history. Our guide was a lovely woman. She was honest, kind and had a great sense of humor!

Ow! we found a cat and she enjoyed our company! What more we can ask for!

Day Six: Work and party in the Evening

No matter how much we want, time really doesn’t wait for anyone. It goes even faster when you enjoy things!

So it is the final day of Yoastcamp. In the evening, we had an awesome party in Wijchen. Seeing everyone dancing was very enjoyable. Thank you team Yoast for arranging it. Again Maike and facility team didn’t forget to make a special version of food for me in each course! Seeing everyone dance was a great scene. Thanks to Maike who confirmed I can enjoy the food as much as the others. You are awesome Maike!

As I leave for hotel that night, I was saying goodbye to everyone, I felt my heavy heart. I had such an amazing time! Within these few days everyone seems so close!

There are loads of other special moments that have adorned my days in Netherlands! Funny incidents at Openlucht museum, the Dukenburg station incident, my colleagues always saving me from hitting a cyclist coming from other side of the road, the morning walks with Jeroen, the wonderful weather, the bella ciao tune on piano in Nijmegen station, calling my husband late night – I took so many happy memories with me as I flew back to my country. It is, by far, one of the most amazing experience of my life!

Can’t wait to meet everyone again in person!