Travel & Hotspots

MARIE-CLAIRE IN MALIBU

Marie-Claire Witlox left Amsterdam to live in Los Angeles for half a year. And yes, it is exactly as she expected…

In the 90s, I couldn't stay away from the TV. Right after school, I watched ’The Bold and the Beautiful‘ with my mother, followed by ’As the World Turns‘ and ’Santa Barbara‘. After quickly doing some homework and having dinner, I loved to settle down on the couch on Thursday evenings for ’Beverly Hills 90210‘ and ’Melrose Place‘. I was invested in everyone from the series, and they all felt like family: Brooke and Ridge, Lily and Holden, Kelly and Cruz, Brenda and Brandon, Alison and Jake. Sigh... I fantasized that I was in high school, walking through the halls of ’West Beverly High‘ with Brenda and Kelly, a stack of books under my arm, speaking English. How I would have loved to have gone to school in America back then. With great respect, I take my children to school every day, all the way to the schoolyard and even into the classroom. I would love to stay there all day; it's that much fun. No wonder I sign up for almost all the parent volunteer activities, much to the delight of my kids. And this week was a celebration. A field trip! The school trip went to the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles from Malibu in a, yes, original yellow school bus, and I got to go along. With smeared sandwiches, fruit, and water, we set off. My group and I strolled past African-American art and dinosaur skeletons. The 3D film about all the national parks in America made me immediately plan a camping trip (even though I don't even like camping!). What a wonderful day and what a joy to have experienced a bit of school in America.