Muphey's Law

Yes, it was for sure Murphey's Law on Saturday what could go wrong went wrong.

So let me start the story of the Ball in Heidelberg.

Saturdaymorning I woke up early since I went to bed not late at all :)
I still had to do some shopping, first I started to by some batteries for my camera, and I went to the center to some new black socks :)
When I got home, the rain started... so when I left for the meeting point at Oostplein it was raining so with almost all my luggage I left my house.
Right at twelve I was at the meeting point, Kati was already waiting there for some time in the rain without an umbrella. There we had to wait for some moments on Patrick our driver :) First we had to pick up a cable for Hoi Lam, and then I found out that my suit was still hanging in my house :)))

So first we went to pick up the cable and then we parked for some moments the car at my place to pick up my suit. Finally we could leave Rotterdam at 12.20 to go to Eerbeek, yes the metropolis Eerbeek :)) When we arrived there, we called Hoi Lam, and she was still shopping with her mother and sister.... so we waited for 30 minutes on Hoi Lam. Since everything was against us, we took to offer to drink a Chinese Tea. We had some nice tea with cool candies and cookies.

Then we left finally our travel adventure to Heidelberg. On our way to Heidelberg when it was already dark and raining, there was an accident on the highway, and in Germany they just close the highway.... so we had to find a new way :))) And also due to the darkness (no lights next to the highway) and for some time really heavy rain... we couldn't drive that fast. Before we were near Heidelberg I asked Anna from Heidelberg for some more streetnames, since the one I had written down was not in the TomTom. Anna wrote me three other ones back... and all were not there, long live the NS Tomtom :)))

So on my gut feelings of two years ago we entered Heidelberg and went to the alttown. After a short while we found by chance the sandgasse street :) But then the next obstacle was there.... where is the gym. We turned right while we needed to turn left... and after some time we found out :) So we finally got there at 19.45 :) Then we really needed dinner, we were hungry... after some huge discussion where to eat we finally found a nice bar, which also made pizza's. We ordered 4.... and yes just three came, after some minutes we asked when the fourth would come.... and they forgot that one, and still needed to make that one... Murphey's Law in Optima Forma :) At 22.45 we finally entered the Castle :D Instead between eight and nine as planned..... How nice :) But now I had a lot to write here ;) I always look on the brightsight of life!

The band was cool and played great dance music, and then I mean music to dance the ballroom and latin dances on. I met many friends, and had a good time. We left at three in the night, and went to my KING SIZE matress :) Anna Gabriel from the CD also slept on my highest matress :) There were already two huge matresses so I thought that mine would be the same.... but mine was even 10 cm higher :) So at least we could beat the other locals with that, since AEGEE-Paris 12, AEGEE-Leiden 17 and AEGEE-Amsterdam 20 persons.... and we just 4....

I wouldn't sleep since many people were snorring but ok :) At least I had a nice matress :)

SUNDAY

We got up after 10, then finally Beatrice came to wake us up, already many people were awake. After we were awake, we put all the stuff in the car and went to the Brunch and at 13.15 the guided tour started. It was a nice tour and we left Heidelberg at 14.30; this time less delay and I was home at 20.15 :)

Berlin Pics - Saga 2

Buying tickets :)

Cool statue

Nice Square

Jona our guide telling us about Berlin

Berlin

Remembering the wall and check point Charley

Crazy pic of me

Mixing old and new builings

Nice photo in Berlin

Having the coffee I paid ;)

Bene and me :)

Bene, and also her cousin on the left

Italian whom studied in Rotterdam, and didn't saw Holland yet ;)

First working week

Monday - Moving

I thought it would be a good day, to start my first working day with moving from one office to another... But besides that I was moving my stuff around and coordinating the movement, many people came to me and asking all kind of questions... was a crazy day :)

Tuesday - Vodka party

This day I unpacked all, and checked if everything went alright during my one week of absence. Already in the train back from Osnabrück, I called Koen, since no news about a social meeting by mail or internet; so we arranged a post NYE drink at his house with some friends. At eight I was at his place, Patrick from Rotterdam (celebrated NYE in Turkey), Ankie from Tilburg (celebrated NYE also with Koen in Berlin), Alfred from Delft (celebrated NYE in Leiden) came also. We started with a nice Vodka mix with lemon, that was just 12,5%; then we moved on to the one I drunk in Osnabrück the vodka with blutorange 17,5%... then I just poured in all the 4 glasses a bit of drink three, Patrick was not drinking since he came by car, the herbal vodka Aga gave me. Koen thought it was still 20%, and 20 minutes before we wanted to go to the unofficial social meeting, he poured my glass full... and this vodka is 40% :) The real stuff, and so nice :)) Of course I was able to drink all, and we went by car to the social meeting where we met Alexander, Maaike, Paul K., Steef and Job. At 2.30 Ankie and me left, at 3.30 we went to sleep :)

Wednesday - working till late

In the morning Ankie left together with me, and in the subway we said goodbye. My work was finally a bit less stresfull. I could even read a old thesis about lobbying :) I needed that since that evening I would write my final thesis proposal. I worked on that till 02.00.... was a nice working evening :)

Thursday - again working till late

At ten I had a meeting with my boss about the thesis, he gave me some advices but mainly about symantics :) This day I cooked normally, I made Macaroni a la René :) After that I went again working on my paper. I stopped again late, this time at 01.00 :D

Friday - Party Time!

D-Day :) But before I showed my proposal to Nicole, a coworker of mine, and she got me this far that I took the step to finish my studies finally. She was very critical... but she helped me a lot. When I had the meeting with the department boss, where I want to write my thesis, she was so enthousiastic... she is even willing to pay my costs if I would travel to Brussels even to London... why not :) So, I left that meeting with a good feeling. She gave two names whom could help me within her department, when I saw that one was still there working late, I went to his office and talked about it. Next wednesday I have a meeting with him :)
When I was finished with all of this it was 18.45; then I called Lara, since she wrote me an sms earlier. We made a dinner date at the best Italian restaurant, Alberto Getti :) We had a great dinner there. After dinner I rushed to the photoshop, to pick up my colored pictures from Berlin. I was home at nine and just 50 minutes later I left again :)
Since Koen and me do crazy things together, like inviting some friends to go to Rotown for a drink, and afterwards to the Vibes, a nice disco. I arranged Chris the Greek, and Diana the Activity Committee leader :) Koen asked one of his friends from Haarlem to come along. It was a nice time, after the disco we went to the Sjeik to eat some Dönner :) Since Diana is living near me, and she was wearing high heels she couldn't walk home, so we shared a taxi to her place. I came home at 06.10 :)

Saturday - new TV

Since I came home that late, I didn't went to bed. At nine they brought my TV, and I went to bed directly. But it was hard to fall in sleep since it was so light... I got out of bed at 16.00 :)

Osnabruck

So, I left at 12.37 Berlin, a three hours trip was ahead of me. It was a nice trip, where I could rest a lot, since these days in Berlin made me first of all sick, and second of all due to the fact of all the parties we had, my body was tired :)

When I arrived at Osnabrück Hbf, Maria was waiting there. I was not the only one whom felt sick. Maria worked 7 days in a row, to have the days of during my stay in Osnabrück free, and from working so much she became sick too. We walked to the pub of the students, Balou. It was a nice place, the whole walls were with jungle book scene's. We drunk some capuchino there. And played a long game of chess. It was a long time that I played chess, it became a remise :)

Then we went by bus to Maria's place. It became time for dinner, so she cooked for me a nice meal. In the evening we watched together with Katja (also from Russia) the movie Van Helsing, which is a nice thriller about Vampires and Dracula, so I was drinking the great tuica I took with me from Berlin from Cristi :) After the first movie Katja left, and Maria and me watched Auberge Espagnol - wiedersehen in St. Petersburg. It was a cool movie. We went to bed at 3.

The next day we didn't got up that early. After Maria ate something we went swimming... that was so cool. We had a lot of fun. First we did eight lanes of swimming and then we went to the fun part of the swimming pool, we went to the ... while we were waiting to get down on the .... a small kid passed through and went before all of us, then he tried to do the same again, but then we stopped him we had a nice long discussion with him, and the kids behind us also :) Because you need to be 8 years to go down. When we went to the whirlpool, they had two, the small kid came again to the one we were, I had a lot of fun with him. After this we went to the waterfall, we had some fun there, and then Maria went to the shower, while i swim just to more lanes in the other bath; before taking also a shower.


We walked home, and refreshed ourselve before going to the center. Maria went to the libary to study, and I went shopping since the museum would close in 30 minutes. I made a nice picture nearby.

I really like Osnabrück, it's a small town, but have some great shops. At 19.45 we met at Neumarket to go for shopping, we bought some wine and Vodka blutorange. Just after 8 we arrived at Maria's place and we were invited to a birthday party of one of the inhabitants, she cooked all day. It was a great dinner. We left the party at 1, since we were both tired of our sickness, we just watched one movie: Sin City. It's a great movie, one which you have to see more then once to get all. It's a movie shot in Black & White, and sometimes something has one color. You should really see it! We went to bed after 3.

Saturday.... the day of leaving Osnabrück and Germany, since we went two nights in a row late to bed, we didn't got up that early, but still around eleven :) So not that late :D
Maria went with me to the station, we said goodbye in the Bus, since she had to go to work...
It was a nice travel, this time I did it within 5 hours :) I came home at 18.00, while I left Osnabrück at 13.18 :)

These days I will remember for always, this was the best start ever of a new year....

If it will stay like this, 2007 will be my best year ever!

Best NYE ever!

Yeap, with 100% I can tell you that these days in Berlin around the NYE made the change of the year unforgettable.

At the great host Jonathan, gathered 11 wonderfull persons, Guillaume and Patrice from France, Cristi and Ioana from Romania, Silwia, Agnieszka and Kasia from Poland, Fabienne from Switzerland; and also Maartje the second Dutch person.

It's amazing to gather such a mixture of people... all with their specialities and all with their own Cultural backgrounds.


Let me try to get back in memory lane, Saturday 30 december the adventure started...

At 14.30 I met, for the first time in my life in real at Utrecht Central station, after having some short chats with her before, Maartje. Since we were both on time, we could even take one train earlier then I planned, after we bought some stuff for underway.
We went to Amersfoort to get on the ICE to Berlin. In Amersfoort railway station we bought two different newspapers (which we didn't read at all) and nice cappuccino and coffee (thanks Maartje), we left to Berlin. It was a long travel from Utrecht, six hours "trainhours", and all the time Maartje and me talked.
I was already prepared so I had 1,7 l. of drinks with me ;)

During the trip I had a strange guy sitting "next to me". When I sat down, he came to me if I had the reservation, and since I had it, I could say yes, and he left again... during the first 5 hours he sat at several places (sometimes came for a visit to get something) and in the last hour he finally sat down next to me, and talked with us.
He's studying psychology; and he knew Breda better then Maartje, while he's not from that town and Maartje is living in. The other connection was that they both now Nijmegen well.
When we finally reached our destination, we said goodbye to Piotr. When we were at the station I sent a sms, as we agreed upon, to Aga, suddenly she called me. It was hard to hear, and till now I still don't know why she called me and what she said. Because I thought she wanted to meet us at Alexander platz, but when we got there; I sent another sms, as agreed the day before, she called again... I was so confused. As if I can't find my way, while I have the adress on the map of Berlin which I bought the day before... I'm not from a small town in Poland :P

When we got out of the U-bahn, Fabienne and Aga just got there. It was nice, so they could help with the luggage. :) Maartje had a very heavy backpack... :))
The appartment was very close to the station, so we didn't had to much to walk. The people ate already, since it was ten in the evening; so Maartje and me, when out for some Kebab :)

It was a nice evening, the dinner was great, and we went to bed late :) And as almost nomally I was the last to enter bed :) And I kept doing this all the time during my stay in Germany.


Sunday, the last hours of 2006.

This day started a bit later, and also it took some time for the eleven persons (5 man) to take shower, since there was just one. Normally just three guys are living over there, so no problem... but now it took ages to have all a shower, it reminded me about Napoli and 20 showers for 700 persons :))

We had our first guided city tour by Jonathan, he showed us some parts of east Berlin. We saw some interesting buildings, we had a nice tea break in an Arabic tea house. Then we needed to go home to prepare for Ner Year's Eve. Besides preparing dinner (Fabienne, Jonathan did most), we also needed to dress up :D
Besides the 11 people present two more Germans came for one night sleeping at Jona's appartment, and besides them one lady from Argentina and four more German girls. The dinner was great. At 11 o'clock we celebrated for the first time New Year, since in Romania it's one hour later, and I sent then right away an sms to Cata.
At around 11.25 we left to the Oberbaumbrücke. We just came there before midnight. First we were standing in the middle of the bridge, that was notthat safe so we left to the right side of the bridge. We brought some champagne with us, and I had the graanjenever with me from Ketel 1. It was really a cool celebration, even I met a stranger, whom suddenly offered me Chardoney and he had some Dutch backgrounds. Then we met one of Jona's friends, he had some fireworks with him, since I normally I always buy fireworks I was more then Happy to help that guy, but it was very windy on the bridge and out of the five rockets I burned twice my finger, but it was worth it!

Maartje was very very drunk, Sylwia and me walked her home. When we got home, the first after party started. In the end I was left with the three Polish ladies, suddenly we ended up drinking Tequilla. We drunk 4 in a row :) Was very nice :))
I really don't know at what time I went to bed, the only thing that I know that the first night I had in my room the two Romanians but the went to the sisterhood of Bitches room and also Patrice slept there, so just Guillaume and me slept in one bed :)


Monday, the day after...

We really got out of bed late, and since we needed a brunch and shower, we just left the house at four in the afternoon.. It seems that in the beginning we would see Berlin only from dusk till dawn, since we had a strange rithme of living. We had another tour by Jonathan, this time we went also to the Ampelmann Shop, that guy is the person you see on traffic lights in Germany, this is the only thing from the east, they will take over in the west of Germany. It's a cool shop.

Then we went for a drink at the High End 54, it's the a really nice place, you don't think that when you enter the building :) We had some drinks and then we went further in the building and went to one of the "galeries"; the funny part was that the guy is from Holland, but he made great stuff.

After eating something from the Kebab, we went to the holocast memorial, it's really interesting during the night, gives you a strange feeling. There we made also the gost photo, you can find in the first picture blog entry. When we got home at 8.30; Our host made some nice homemade pizza's.

Since I ate a lot of the Kebab, I didn't felt like eating. We had a lot of fun, for sure me with Maartje and Fabienne, in the end even Ioana helped those two girls. We ended up all in the same room, but again in the end Guillaume and me ended up in the same room.


Tuesday, the first person left :(

On this day Fabienne left at 7.15 in the morning, she was the first one to leave... Most of us were awake and said goodbye, but I was to tired to get out of my bed... but I was there mentally ;)

That day we saw again some more of Berlin, by out wonderfull host, and we even went this time inside the Holocast Memorial. It's something you shouldn't miss. After visiting it, we went for a drink nearby; When the bill came, and since I had only the 50 euro bill left, Patrice challenged me... he said: will you pay for us. Then I got the bill, and went to pay it... they were amazed :) Never challenge me with something like this, if I'm in a good mood.... ;)

Jonathan needed to do something so his girlfriend Sylwia did the last part of the tour to the east side gallery, it was very nice, it's a part of the wall which is now used as a art gallery. We ate in the pizzaria under the U-bahn stop Warschauer Strasse. It was really funny. The Italian pizza baker was so cool :)

This time no home party, after the great pizza, we walked home, refreshed and then went to a nice bar. They played there very cool music and there was also a fast playing tablesoccer; so we pleayed some. That evening we didn't made it to late, we made some nice interesting video shots, and at three we went to bed, but Guillaume went out on his own and came back at 4 in the night :) So finally my roomie came back.


Wednesday, the day of goodbye...

The first friends whom left were Ioana & Christi, and not that much later also Guillaume & Patrice. At eleven Maartje left also back to Holland. After I took my shower and helping with cleaning the house, I went out to get some lunch. I made some girls happy with marzepin crossants. I ate some nice sweat stuff :)

At four I left again the house, this time with Kasia. I carried her heavy bag to the Ostbahnstation, after i did that, I went to Benedetta, my goodfriend from Padova, whom is already living for 2 years and 8 months in Berlin. We have been together in the Culture Working Group, and she made the first CWG event in years with my help. The fun part is, that the hostel I found then for that event, she is working there now.

After drinking first some tea, we went out for dinner. So I ended up with eight Italians, speaking Italian... but next to me was sitting an architect student whom spend an Erasmus in Rotterdam and also she loved to make photo's so we talked a lot. After dinner I went home, I rested, and went to bed early at one; as normally I listened music, so I went really to sleep at 3.45


Thursday last moments in Berlin...

Thursday morning was the day Aga and me left also Berlin, in different directions, and different places. Aga went home, she left after 12, I went before since I needed to get up at a different station, the hauptbahnhof. After saying goodbye to the host Jonathan and Sylwia, since they needed to do something, I was alone with just Polish, since the evening before one of the two other inhabitants of the house cameback and he's from Poland and he brought two more with him :)) Since I left at 12 the house, I just managed to get my train... on my way to the next stop in my vacation: Osnabrück.

Berlin Pics - Saga 1

A Dutch guy named Piotr we met on the train to Berlin

What can I say besides: Ready for party!!!

Jetz get los!

High End 54, a really nice pub

Aga and me

Group picture before the Brandenburger Tor, but where is it ;)

Chrissy from Romania and me

Schön

We are gosts, Ioana is the only non Vampire :))

Let´s party before new year

Before we had a nice dinner

The young ones playing...

Wonderfull Arabic tea house