Dutch love for a Buddhist monk
In the third series of the KRO's Liefs Uit… programme, Yvon Jaspers follows eight Dutch people in love who would do anything to build a future in the Netherlands with their foreign partner.
After sometimes months or years of working on the residence papers, Michael, Simone, Ellen, Anne-Marijn, Vincent, Camiel, Suzan and Jeniffer welcome their great love from Chile, Laos, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Africa, Mexico and Turkey to build a common life here.
Yvon Jaspers follows the couples in love over a long period of time, from the moment they say goodbye to family and friends in their country of origin and the reunification in the Netherlands, which has been long and intensely anticipated.
Yvon Jaspers regularly visits the couples in their new shared lives and sees how the foreign partners try to settle in the Netherlands. Not only does she witness how the foreign partners become acquainted with Dutch customs, look for a job and make new friends. She also sees funny but sometimes large cultural differences. Naturally, homesickness and boredom set in and other inevitable relational hurdles must be overcome.
KRO's Liefs Uit… shows how the foreign partners are received by their new environment and what it is like to find your feet in the Netherlands as a newcomer. But also what it's like for those who already live here. Because an exotic partner choice is not always understood. Michael and Lorena, Ellen and Bismark, Anne and Thusitha, Vincent and Lynn, Camiel and Daniel, Suzan and Aziel and Jeniffer and Metin show whether the fire of their love can withstand the Dutch climate.
Simone and Keo
Episode 2 is about Simone and Keo a monk from Laos whom she met in Thailand. Simone: “We always think that the Netherlands is the most fantastic country in the world, but we sometimes forget that there is more than just working and earning money. I hope Keo doesn't have to give up his pure nature to survive here. Keo was a monk when we first met.”
During her trip through Thailand in 2009, receptionist Simone (34) met her great love Keo (27). Keo is a Buddhist monk and has been living in a temple since he was seven. Simone is immediately impressed by the charismatic Keo, but she suppresses her feelings for him: a monk must live celibacy and a love affair is forbidden.
Yet Keo also feels a click with Simone and they exchange contact details. They can't even imagine that this is the first step in their unique love story. Two years later, Simone visits Keo in his native Laos and after six fantastic weeks together they know for sure: they are madly in love and want to continue together. Keo departs as a monk and the couple embark on a long bureaucratic journey to live together in the Netherlands.
Once in the Netherlands, another great wish of Simone is fulfilled: she is expecting! Keo is now working in a garage in Deventer and luck is smiling on the couple.
Will the spiritual Keo find its footing in the materialistic West?
KRO's Liefs Uit… September 12, 21.30 Netherlands 1.