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NEWS FROM THE KUYPER'S

 

A Big Hallo with hugs from the Kuyper Family in Bahrain!!!

The year continues to fly by as we approach the fourth month in our new country, Bahrain! All we can say … it wasn’t an easy move with Piet in Bahrain and Sonja wrapping up Smile and trying to sort out the house before the movers came in, and the Kuyper Kids were writing their yearend exams.  It was hectic!!!
Pearl Roundabout

But we made it and are settling into our new lives here in Bahrain, also not easy, everybody was away for the Summer Holiday, so ‘no’ new friends for the kids during that time.  And of course the school issue … expats always, but always struggle to get places for their kids in new schools, a major problem here in Bahrain at the moment.  But after all the tears both the kids are in school eventually.  Gerard’s school is on one side of the island and Sonique’s right on the other side of the island … fun and games for Mamma Sonja to get them to school and back home again, she sometimes spends up to 3 hours on the road per day, not funny.  There is still some days that we all think this wasn’t the right move, we should have stayed in the lovely Dubai.

Arcapita Head Quaters (The Final Product)

Arcapita Project in progress

Arcapita Project site and a view of Bahrain Financial Bay

Arcapita Project site

Piet enjoys his new project, a few weeks ago they moved into their new offices and he’s getting used to all the new people around him.  But so far so good and he really enjoy Bahrain.  He’s just worried about me and the kids and he just want to see us happy in Bahrain without any tears. 

I must just tell you all, I have to give my husband credit, he did a superb job in finding us the most beautiful villa and he also bought me a stunning new car.  I am so blessed with my wonderful husband.

Our Villa

Our Villa

Piet bought us a ski boat … at last he made his dream come true.  He wanted a boat since we arrived in Dubai 3 years ago.  We can’t wait to go out on our boat, but they are busy re-spraying it and with Ramadan, it takes them longer than expected.  Within the next 2 weeks we will be able to go out on the boat and we will update you on that.

Sonja doesn’t have much to add to this addition at the moment … still busy finding my feet and it seems to take much longer this time around.  I am still missing Dubai and my wonderful friends a lot.  Myself and Gerard flown to Dubai the beginning of September (to see the orthodontist) and boy, can I tell you, it was much harder to say goodbye this time around.  I was nearly in tears all the way back to the airport.  The two of us fly to Dubai again on 27 October; this will be the last time going back to Dubai to see the orthodontist. Eric, the orthodontist will be taking off Gerry’s braces and he will have the most wonderful Hollywood smile after this trip.

Gerard changed so much in the past few months.  He was so worried about not getting into school; he sat 5 entrance exams at different schools without any luck.  Then we tried Al Hekma International School and he was so glad to hear that he was accepted and got a place, although he is the only South African in the school, but that does not bother him at all (60% of the students in the school are Bahraini & Saudi Arabs and the other 40% are GCC Arabs with only a few Europeans).  Gerard got chosen as Secretary for the Student Council and we are very proud of him, he really settled in well into his new school and all of this just after a short 3 weeks.
Gerry

He started playing football at the Bahrain Rugby Club on Thursday afternoons.  He also joins 2 Clubs at school.  He takes extra English and math’s after school at the moment and also started Kumon to help him with his maths.  He’s having a busy, busy schedule at the moment, but enjoys it …

Sonique is still our little busy bee, but is becoming a real girlie now …
Sonique

Settled into her new school straight away and just loving it.  Although she was the one that we were worried about getting a place in school, she was sorted first.  She met up with her new class mates before Summer Holiday and that was the best thing that we could have done.

 She is so happy, she joined the school choir (told me the other day, she was nearly in tears as the one song they sang, reminded her of EIS (Emirates International School) in Dubai, they sang the same song there last year.  Bless her. 

She got quite a hectic schedule as well… she is playing football on Sunday afternoons, Drama on Monday afternoons, Cooking on Tuesday afternoons and Dancing on Wednesday afternoons at school.  She also started netball at the Bahrain Rugby Club on Thursday afternoons.  But that is just Sonique … must be busy all the time.  Ha-ha no more time for TV and computer.  In between she also has extra English classes after school and started Kumon to help her with maths.

Luckily we know some people here in Bahrain from the old Gaborone (Botswana) days.  We stay across the road from Wynand & Carol Moolman and their 3 kids; Zan, Niel & Erica.  We also met up with Chris & Cindy Bramhall and their 2 boys.  Piet & Chris work together.  Amazing … if you are in construction you always meet up with people that you known before in your life somewhere in the world.  Looks likes the social live here in Bahrain can get quite hectic … can you believe more hectic than in Dubai.

Our Turkey holiday was also great fun, we enjoyed it and it was great seeing a different part of the world, we will upload some photos soon.

We hope to hear from you all soon!!!

Have a great week; we’ll be back soon with some more news about what’s happening in our lives!

Love

Pieter, Sonja, Gerard & Sonique van Nikkelen Kuyper

Bahrain