Happy & Healthy

An ode to the best sister on earth

Are you sisters? Really? From the same mother and father? We’ve been hearing it our whole lives. My sister is as blonde as can be, a lot taller, slimmer, and has envy-inducing green eyes. Yes, we are both half Indonesian. No, I am not adopted and she is not from the milkman. That would be quite a strong story at birthdays, by the way.

In short: Malou and I don’t look alike. Not even in character. That sporty thing of hers, those genes, eh, I don’t have that. I can concentrate for hours and she can’t even for a minute. She is good at everything that has to do with games and I am the overly competitive loser who really tries her best, but loses and then gets childishly angry. I think I once threw a Risk board across the room screaming during a Sinterklaas evening. I’m still being teased about it at birthdays, no joke. Anyway, I’m on the right track career-wise and do what I enjoy, she is still searching. I can sing a note or two, but when she brings out her inner Adele, earplugs are no luxury.

Now you might be thinking: Kiek, where are you going with this airy side/I story?
I get it.

The point is: we have one thing in common and that is our wanderlust. And thanks to that annoying jerk, she’s leaving me and I can hardly handle it. Okay, okay, leaving is a big word, but she’s going away with her love Arthur for a long time to Australia. Tomorrow the family gathers to wave -and especially to roar- at Schiphol. Now the question remains: with whom do I make Paris unsafe during Fashion Week? Whose clothes do I steal now? Whose grammar Nazi do I play now? Who is now the Beyoncé of my Solange? The Kylie of my Kendall? The Nana of my Dikkie? (okay, inside joke). The advantages of the story: I have a good reason to go to Australia this summer, I’m now the favorite child at home (because, hey, you shouldn’t emigrate) and we will probably have hysterical Skype conversations about the crazy rituals down under. Can’t wait. Dear sis, goddamn, I’m going to miss you. And you know what they say, right: “You’ll never know until you go…” – your passport.

P.S.: send me selfies with kangaroos.

P.P.S does this sound familiar to you? Have you also ‘lost’ a loved one to abroad? God, that sounds drastic by the way. Is there a self-help book ‘How do I survive without my sister?’ Francine Oomen? Anyone? If you have tips to make this a bit bearable, email me at kiki@amayzine.com. Who knows, I might write an article soon with your help containing the best tips. We need to unite a bit as ‘left-behinds’ of course. Duh.