Hi from The Netherlands

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Do you have something else to keep you busy each day in stead of work? I spent a lot of time in my hobbies and interests, but it's still hard to find things to do that are really challenging, but not so much that I get in a state of sensory overload. Still searching for the right balance I guess.
I'm not planning to work in a factory any time soon. At the moment I'm in contact with an organisation that maybe able to help me find part time work. Finding something that I can enjoy is far more important for me than the money it makes. So fingers crossed and let's find out what the future will have in store.

I would find it easy to keep myself busy. I am unemployed, I am now in a training program where I have to spend my whole days. In the first 6 weeks of my unemployment though I was home all the time. During that time I went with a smile to bed in the evenings and was already looking forward to the next day and being free to do the things I like to do and to having the energy to do them (unlike when I come home in the evenings from work and all my energy has already been drained out of me). I also got up with a smile in the morning and was looking forward to the day ahead! When I work this isn't possible because then I have extremely limited energy and time. I also know though that in the longer term it would have depressed me a lot to be alone at home the whole day, everyday. So part time work would be great.

I hate the fact that the majority of my life should be directed to working for someone. Therefore if I can get a part time job one day and live off it I should be content.


What kind of organisation is it?

It's an organization that helps people with ASD to find work. They assign a jobcoach, try to find out what interests you and where your strenghts lie. When that had become clear, they may be able to bring you in contact with certain company's that can offer you a job.

The training program you mentioned seems to be prety intens but I guess it's a good thing to have some sort of project to focus on. Feel free to PM me if you like to talk some more in private.

Hi and welcome , understand anout trying survive in a N.T work world . Just not a real practicality
For many A.S people . Am finding myself wearing earplugs and sunglasses alot , just to be outside.
Hope you find this place supportive if nothing else have seen a prevailing uncurrent of humour that seems to go on here. Wish you the best.

Haha. I see that you've found the Mountain Goat law of location on your signature! Haha!

Pure Luck... hit enuff buttons and one day something will happen?
LOOOOOOOOLZ

Thanks for the support! I like that most people on the forum have a real positive attitude. There's certainly a decent laugh to be found here. I haven't managed to be real funny myself in my replies (yet), but maybe it's because English isn't my native language and I just need a little more practice.

For some of us , am thinking besides support , this place can be a exercise in sillyness . Humour is not a requirement here, but found it helps alot in life .
Eine nederlande ist sehr gut .
Die sacher wird siche veil spas machen ?
Yes and my german is not so good either .
Glad you are here.

(People that live across a ocean , just might have a different point of veiw)

Actually, in The Netherlands we speak Dutch, not German. (We call it "Nederlands"). German is spoken in Germany, the country next to us. To make things even more complicated, the German word for "German" is "Deutsch", which is pretty similar to the word "Dutch".

Yes am aware of these facts, best , i could on short notice as some sort of
A greeting , did count on the proximity of the 2 countries .
For what it was worth .

Hi,

You've been on here a couple of months longer than I. And you have a history in IT, just like me. And you're from The Netherlands: ik dus ook, however nowadays in New Zealand.

I can relate to your symptoms. We have a lot in common.

An important difference: I self-discovered my Asperger's about 5 weeks ago which happened to be over 2 years into my retirement.

So whenever you need a fatherly arm around your shoulder, PM me. Feel free to talk Dutch to me; it's my native language which I still use on a daily basis.

Bitte ...?

Hi AugustD,

I read your first post in the 'Getting to know each other' section a week ago and I admired your courage to leave The Netherlands and start a new life on the other side of the world. I haven't been comfortable travelling longer distances since a few years, so emigrating wouldn't be an option for me I'm afraid.

Thanks for reaching out to me and offering a Dutch ear to hear me out. It made me think about my social life and I thought it to be a good idea to expand a little bit about that. I do have some friends at the moment who I see once or twice a month but I belief for me it's important to have some people close to me with whom I can have a good time on a more regular basis. Feeling somewhat lonely was also one of the reasons I signed up for this forum and another (Dutch) ASD forum, although I expected in advance that it would probably not lead to new close friendships, mainly because most people on here would be living miles apart from one another. I do like being able to speak out on here about certain subjects though, and respond to the messages from others.

One of the reasons why it's hard for me to find new friends or to intensify contact with my current friends is that most people of my age have work or are in a relationship (or both) and have a greater level of independence. Sometimes that makes me feel isolated, and though I do feel capable of understanding the way society works, it's almost like there's a rift between me and the rest of society.

Most important in my situation, I belief, is staying open for opportunities of meeting other people like me and being aware of the fact that some positive aspects of life come to you at times you aren't expecting it.