Sheila & Peter Click Here to go back.
Peter and I first met by me signing his guestbook on
November 6, 1998. That same day I checked my guestbook
and there was an entry from Peter. He also had left
his ICQ number when he signed the guestbook. When I
got on my ICQ, I believe the next day, there was a
message from Peter. I replied back to Peter, and we
added each other to our contact lists. Peter had sent
me a chat request, and he starting telling me about a
woman who had just broken his heart. I was trying to
cheer him up, and I also talked about myself. We then
began chatting, emailing, and leaving ICQ messages
every day. Peter is very talkative and so am I so we
had a lot to talk about.
Peter asked if I ever saw a picture of him on his web
site. I said no I did not. He told me he had pictures
on his web site. So I went and looked at his pictures,
and I noticed he had a nose ring *smiles* which looks
so cute on him. He looks like a rebel but he is not.
Peter and I made great friends, and we had so much in
common. He had asked me if I wanted to have a cd by
Global Exit and I said sure. He had previously sent me
some MP3 files of them and I liked them. He sent me
2...one with their autographs and one to listen too.
About a week and a half later he asked if he could
call me, because he just wanted to hear my voice. I
gave him my phone number, and he called me the next
day while driving in his car. I almost melted when I
heard his voice. He sounded so sweet. By this time I
already started to feel love for him.
After a couple more days we started flirting. He would
say things like maybe I love you, and I would say the
same thing back. He would say it is going to take him
a while to get over this girl, but maybe he is kind of
over her already. So I told myself I really like this
guy he is sweet, cute, funny, and we have so much in
common. One day out of the blue I said, "I love you
Peter", and he said he was already in love with me a
week ago. *smiles*
We started talking about meeting in person, which I
thought would never happen. He said that it would be
romantic for him to come over at Christmas time. I
warned him on Christmas Eve the whole family gets
together at my grams...he didn't seem to mind.
On December 17, 1998 Shane (my younger brother), his
friend Josh, and I went to Philadelphia International
Airport to get Peter. It seemed like forever for his
flight to arrive. His flight had a 2 hour delay, and
we kept watching the TV screens for his flight to
arrive. After a while, we got up and walked around and
after some time we went and sat down again. As we were
watching the screen it showed his flight was arriving
very soon. It stayed there for 20 minutes...he should
have landed all ready. Next time his flight was
supposed to show up on the screen it wasn't there. All
three of us looked at each other with shock. I had
noticed some security people sitting behind the
screens so I went and asked if they knew if this
certain flight had arrived. One of the guys said they
were already in Customs. We were like argh. So we
hurried to Customs not knowing where it really was so
we had to keep asking people. Finally we arrived at
Customs, and luckily Peter told me what he was going
to where so I could find him. As soon as some people
cleared out of my view I saw him. I was so nervous I
just walked up to him and lightly tapped his foot. I
told him about what happened and asked about his
delay. He had told me he was in Customs for almost 20
minutes, and he was so afraid I wasn't going to show.
He also said he was going to buy a ticket back home.
What a day!
My brother Shane started talking to Peter as we were
leaving the airport as if he knew Peter all his life.
I was so happy that Shane hit it off with him right
away, and I also felt at ease with them talking to
each other. Shane was even kind enough to carry his
luggage. While this was going on I kept saying to
myself should I kiss him. I didn't know what to do. I
looked at Peter and smiled and he leaned over and
kissed me. I felt I was in heaven.
When we arrived home at 12 midnight, after a 3 hour
drive to Lock Haven. When we got home we watched the
movie Highlander, Peter's favorite movie. I had gotten
it from my work (I worked at a library).
Unfortunately, I had to work while Peter was there. I
couldn't take off, because I used up my days when I
had a bad case of the flu and broke my foot in April.
I dragged Peter to work with me every day. I told him
he could stay home, because Shane said he would stay
with him. He said he would rather be with me. Finally,
one day he did stay home, and my father took him to a
carlot. (Peter loves cars, and he wanted to see some
of the American cars.) He got to drive a Camaro while
I was working. I think that is all he talked about for
weeks.
We didn't do much during his stay, but if you know
Lock Haven there isn't much to do. However, my family
and I took him to Williamsport and State College to
see all the Christmas lights. He thought it was so
awesome how we went all out for Christmas.
Peter was stunned by the sizes of our stores, how big
the food is, the sizes of the houses, and the sizes of
the yards. If you are familiar with Holland,
everything is small and the houses are very close
together.
On December 24, 1998 we were officially engaged. Peter
had asked me before he came over if I would marry him,
of course, I said yes. We had bought rings for both of
us. My ring has a purple stone (I forget the name)
that is shaped like a heart with little diamonds
around it. Peter has a gold ring band.
Peter left for home on December 26th. We kept kissing
each other the whole time we drove back to
Philadelphia. He asked me not to cry, and I said I
won't. I stood in line with him at the airport till I
couldn't go any farther, and then I gave him a big hug
and a kiss good-bye. He kept looking back as he walked
down the hallway to board the plane. When the plane
took off I went to the bathroom and cried. I was so
depressed with him leaving it was like half of me was
gone.
When he returned home we talked about me going to The
Netherlands. I was scared to death, because I never
flew before. Plus I was never away from my family
longer than 3 days. Well I went over there on January
23, 1999 and stayed for 2 weeks. I loved it over there
and loved flying.
I was surprised by the sizes of most of the roads. A
lot of their roads are only big enough for one car but
it is a two way street. When we went shopping we went
to this one store to get Peter film for his camera,
and a guy walked in with a beer in one hand and a
marijuana joint in the other. I was like holy cow!
Peter told me that they have places here that are
called "Coffee Shops", but they don't sell
coffee...they sell drugs. I was to Amsterdam once
during my stay, and I must say I didn't like it at
all. Also, my first night there I woke up a little
scared, because I heard all this noise. Peter said
don't worry it is just the wind. (They have big wind
storms here.)
I don't know how the conversation started or who
started it (I think Peter did), but we talked about
who would move where. Well it ended up me going to The
Netherlands. However, Peter had to sell his beloved
car an Alfa Romeo, in order for us to have enough
money. So on April 17, 1999 I left my job and moved to
The Netherlands.
I could stay in The Netherlands up to 3 months then I
had to apply for a residence pass. I can't remember
when we went to apply for it, but I received my pass
on August 17, 1999. I have to go back on May 7, 2000
to renew my pass for another year. By the third year I
can decide to be a Dutch Citizen or stay an American
Citizen.
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