Artistic & Cultural blog LIVE

Spain 27th January - 1st February 2009

2009-02-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

Let's start with my latest vacation, I know I still have to write about the wonderfull time I had in Heidelberg, but that will come; it's a promise!

So, on Tuesday 27th of January I left Rotterdam at 9.20 by car to leave to Amsterdam Schiphol, with my best friend whom I knows for 21,5 years. At 13.00 our flight to Madrid was about to happen; our first vacation together in many years. We arrived just 15 minutes late in Madrid, and we went by metro and a nice walk to our Hotel Victoria 4, a three star hotel. Normally when I travel, I use to stay at friends places, but now we had chosen to stay in two hotels.

After refreshing after a long journey, we went out for dinner. When we got home from dinner, it was to early to go to sleep, we walked around our hotel to have a drink and found a great bar, Café del Soul. It's an amazing place. As you can see they have the same "chairs" as in parque de Guell in Barcelona. We had an amazing evening there, and we got home after 2.

On Wednesday was the first meeting planned, namely with Lola. We met her at plaza de puerte del Sol, this is one of the most important square's in Madrid, here the center of activity is placed. We went for a nice drink in a place where they had internet; which we used twice after our meeting with Lola. After the coffee, we went for a nice walk to the Opera and the .... . Then it was time for lunch, so it was around 2 o'clock. We went to the beerstation a nice place, and there we had a three course lunch. We all took different things, and it was all delicious. After that we had a small walk, and we had to say goodbye to Lola, since the next day she would leave for a long weekend trip for ski-ing :)

Back on track

2009-01-13T01:15:00.000-08:00

Finally!

A new entry in my blog.... soon will come more, as I am back on track.
Instead of sitting home, I am travelling again, and also less and less home :)
There are already many travelplans in my head, and most of them will come true!

So soon more news from me, on my blog!

See you somewhere in Europe!

HUgs,

René

Budapest August 2007

2007-08-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

Budapest with the woman I love

On Friday 17 August I left after work to Budapest.

The next day before I went to the airport to pick up my love, I did a walk around Budapest.

The Gellért hill, with the saint Gellért statue.

One of the many bridges which cross the Donau, Erzsébet híd.

The Parliament in the background

One of the many churches on the bank of the Donau.

The Chainbridge with the lions, Lánchid.

The Red Bull Airrace was in town, on Monday they had the race.

Saint Stefansbasiliek.

Nice art ;)

A nice park in the middle of Budapest

The museum right in front of Mariann's house.

The plane which brought my love.... a bit later but I was so happy!!!

Catalina in front of a Church

The Gellért hill

Catalina with in the background the bridge Szabadság híd

The Gellért Hotel

The monument for Imre Nagy with my baby

The Partliament

This was a great weekend with my love, and we are very thankfull to Mariann, since we stayed in her house, while she was sick and at her parents... I hope she will get well very soon.

More SU

2007-07-29T01:24:00.000-07:00

Waiting on the SU participants (Sebastiaan with pax Milena)

Vatan whom waited with me all day on the participants

Rogier with the pax Iva and Vitek

Having a drink in the old harbour

Kodak photo moment at the bridge

It's not cold (nou frig)

Boats and boats, bigger and biggest :)

"The Rotterdam" cruiseship

Holland America Line (Old) and Montevideo (new)

Las Palmas buidling with a fishrestaurant on top

The Erasmusbridge

Heineken Experience in Amsterdam

Van Gogh Museum ;)

The Dam in Amsterdam

Sleeping beauty Pedro :)

SU visiting city hall

2007-07-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

Visiting the local party: Leefbaar Rotterdam

The first cup of tea and coffee

Having fun

The room of the elderman

Drinking tea and coffee

Waiting on the mayor of Rotterdam

Some explaination how it will work

Listening to Ivo Opstelten, mayor of Rotterdam

The mayor is speeching

Tour in city hall is starting, painting of the queens on the wall

Explaination in the main hall

Patrick getting married with Natasha :)

Look at the painting at the wall in the first class wedding room

Explaination of the welcome hall

The council room

The wedding photo :D

Nice craftsmanswork

Waiting outside before the rosegarden of the cityhall

Rotterdam city

The libary of Rotterdam

More of Rotterdam

The Zoo

2007-07-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

On Thursday 28 June, the city government had a communicationcongress in the Rotterdam Zoo. We were mainly inside, but in the evening we had a nice walk though the zoo, but no flash allowed so difficult to make the photo's without a stand. Here are some :)

The Oceanium of the Rotterdam Zoo

Look at the left down, there are the sharks hidden ;)

Unknown birds to me :)

Birds has space in Rotterdam

Closer :)

A nice statue in the zoo

Our Eliphant family

The beach

2007-06-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 20 June 2007

While waiting for my friend I took photo's of my city hall

The heart of the center

Party the World Trade Center

The world trade center in the center of Rotterdam

A part of the skyline of Rotterdam

Meijendel, a great natural area

The beach

The other side of the beach

The sun

More sun

The birds

The beachhouse where we had a nice drink after one hour walk

The sun drowns in the sea ;)

Boats nearby the beach

The lonely Cowboy

Tuesday 5 june 2007

2007-06-06T04:45:00.000-07:00

This day was a nice day. I surprised my collegue with being at 8.07 at my workplace, she asked: "if i felt out of my bed", since normally I'm at work between 8.45 and 9.10 :) The workday was quit relaxed, better then the weeks before, which were full of stress.

When I got home, I started to clean a bit my house, since Werner (my best friend) would come for dinner. At 18.30 he came and we went shopping near to my house; We bought the ingredients for Indonesian food I would cook that evening: Nasi Goreng!

When we got back, I started to cook, and it was a nice dinner; we had even a nice dessert... Pudding ;)))) We talked a bit more, before we left the house for a walk down memorylane at the lake near my house.

Just before 10 he left, I went online then for just a moment, and even chatted which was a nice surprise, before I went to the social meeting of AEGEE-Rotterdam. That was a long time ago, that I have done that. It was a nice evening, and as usual I was then late home... 0.45; I went to bed at 2, but I managed to get up at 7.45 to leave the house 20 minutes later, and when I got at work, my boss said if I'm sick :)))

Enjoy life!

First weekend of June

2007-06-04T05:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm back :) Less stressed, not travelling anymore all the weekends :)

Saturday 2 June - Meeting old study friends

Today was a beautifull day. The sun was shining, and I went to Middelburg to meet my three old study friends. I've started this tradition in September 2004, and this was the fourth time we came together, we had a break of a year.

The center of Middelburg.

I travelled by train to Middelburg, when I got out of the train, I was fast and got out on the side of the river. The fun part of this story is that from Roosendaal, Sander whom lives in Breda stept in the same train, but he got out on the otherside of the track, where Ronny was waiting for him to pick him up with the car.

A nice windmill on the west side of Middelburg.

But I had a nice long walk of 25 minutes and in the meantime as you can see from the photo's I was using my time to take picture.

When I arrived also the third friend André with his wife Sonja were already there, they drove already the day before from Germany to the parents of André. There we found out that Sander and I were in the same train, but I didn't mind walking since it was a great sunny day.

After drinking some drinks, and also stories of what we did the last months, this time I had a lot to tell, we went to Vlissingen, to have a walk on the boulevard next to the beach since it was such a great weather.

Here is where my friend lives :)

There we took some more drinks before we went to a great restaurant where we had a marvelous dinner, I started with a nice tomato soup, to have as main meal 4 different kind of meat grilled, so end with ice, cream with fresh pineapple!

Sonja, André, Ronny and Sander relaxing in the sun in Vlissingen.

After the dinner, we walked a bit and then went back to Middelburg by car. When we arrived there we checked the internet for the trains, and it was good that we did that, otherwise I would have been very late in Rotterdam, now it was already 23.36; This time from Middelburg till Roosendaal, I travelled with Sander together.

Sunday 3 June 2007

Finally!!!! What? Yes? No? I don't believe.... I could get out of my bed on the time I wanted :))) Since there was one person to give me a missed call at eleven, got out earlier then expected, but I was still rested ;)

Classical performance in the Center of Rotterdam, really cool!

I worked then a bit on some AEGEE stuff, and at two I went to the city to buy my food and also I have been looking for a nice present; I think I found already the right gift, but as usual I need more time :))

The beach on the Maas :)

It's really a cool place.

Working on old boats in the Old Harbor

Photo's Training Luxembourg

2007-05-31T03:55:00.000-07:00

Getting to know eachother

Nice Lunch in Youth hostel in Luxembourg city

Doing Business to get reimbursments :)

Kadri working for her EVS, others waiting and relaxing.

The nice Castle in Hollenfelds

Group work

Presentation by the director of the Hollenfelds Youth Center

Explaining the history of the Castle of Hollenfelds

What a week....

2007-04-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, it seems that my life in AEGEE-Rotterdam is lately a stormy one. At the local Agora, the second part of it, some days ago in Rotterdam, I asked outside the meeting, since there was just the board and one other member which I can trust very well, a question to the board members. Because it's hard to have all four board members together and also talk then privately.

I asked them how they stand to the idea, that I might want to dismiss one person since he is just acting in his own will. I was just playing with this thought. This was very confidential, but one of the board members, even the one whom has political background, talked with the friends of this person, and even reveiled my name. So, then the trouble started. Of course they told that guy what I was trying/planning to do, and even they told him things which were not true.

So, this person called me, since I was really not in the mood to communicate with this person, he put me some deadlines, to set up a meeting. Since he wanted to talk with me, but I really don't want to do that with him.
So, he said he would make it public on our local list, if I would not react within his deadline. I asked the board directly to prevent this, but they were not strong enough and this guy was not listening (what he never does). So, suddenly people are throwing away my good name and reputation in AEGEE-Rotterdam. And not just this guy, also friends of him.

I didn't felt like reacting on this through the list, but since the president wrote something which is not correct on the list and which is essensial, I will write today my defence. Also since last Friday a good friend of mine came for dinner and told me that I should do it. Because it is not fair, and the President is not fullfilling my request.

Besides this also at work, it was "What a week".

Tomorrow, Monday, we should have started at work with the new digital way or working at my department at the city hall. I have been working on this in the last three weeks like crazy and for sure last week. When I got home last Thursdayevening after a meeting at seven in the evening, I went checking my emails from work at home...

What I read there, I couldn't believe........ They postponed the new way of working till mid/end of June....... aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I went crazy, everything I set everything apart so I will make this project a success, even did less work on my thesis, and what do they do... postpone it... Me went crazy.

So, Friday I went demotivated to work, since I didn't felt like working. I had a meeting with Jochem about some ICT stuff, then lunch with him and Patrick, and after that I did some things, but not much. I went also earlier to home (wanted one hour, but became just 30 minutes), since three people came to me to have a nice dinner.

That was a nice evening, they left at 22.30; So the end of the day was great!

Let's see what the coming week will bring.... Thursday going to Milano.... can't wait.

CoolTEAM meeting Luxembourg

2007-04-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

I went on 30 April to Luxembourg to the CoolTEAM meeting in Luxembourg, I stayed there till Sunday 1 April.... no it's no joke :)))

Flavio, Sibel, Jolana and Ale

Eating time in the Youth Hostel

Cool place Luxembourg

Art how cool!

Group photo around the logo of Luxembourg Cultural Capital 2007

Nice building

Sculpture

Group meeting....

Sibel, Aitor, me and Melek

Ilayda loves the dog I gave last time...

Love is in the air :)

The CoolTEAM loves Ale... and we were missing Mehmet :(

Can you understand now why it was a COOLmeeting ;)

The heart of Luxembourg Cultural Capital 2007, one of the 2 exhibition halls

Sibel, Emine and Melek.... all Turkish... allthough Emine is now Luxembourgish :))

Nice building

How stupid people can be

2007-04-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday evening, instead of being happy to have rescued the mini-exchange with AEGEE-Paris, I'm very angry.

How come? Tuesday at midnight I was called by Kati that AEGEE-Paris reacted surprised that we are coming this coming Friday (yes, tomorrow) to Paris and that we expected to have nine lodging places; I asked Kati to forward me that message. So, when I got home I reacted to our contact person in Paris, before I went to bed way after midnight.... and remember I'm still a working man ;)

The next day I was in huge contact (discussion) with Paris, and in the end of the day we had 4 sleeping places, instead of the nine requested and needed. So, I also asked then my friend from the Model European Team, Annika if she had place, and tried to do my best... by finding more places.

Today, while it increased from 4 till 5 places in the morning, I proposed to in case Paris wouldn't find places, to host 4 people in a youth hostel. There was some huge discussion about this proposal besides the board also the advisory board, the board was still on my side before the one and only final relieve came, Paris can put all the nine people at the same Presidental house....

Then I needed to find still the van for 9 persons, since I was not sure it could go on, I didn't made the booking yet... by calling the 6th car rental place, funny here is that it's the closest to my house, i finally found the 9 persons van.

So I thought it was all fine, so I send to the selected nice participants all the info they were waiting on....

Then it happend. First Patrick of the board called me that they had promised a place to a certain guy, whom might get active in the SU committee, I said we didn't agreed with it (the activity committee selected the nine persons), and the nine persons whom are selected are going, no more changes.
Then Marco, the guy whom I love so much since he lately destroyed my hat rack, called me that the board decided that the Turkish guy will be not accepted and that they will take this Dutch guy with them. I said to Marco, I don't accept this, he said the board decided, so I gave him (by sms) the phonenumber of the Turkish guy to tell him the sad news, and right after that I wrote my resignation mail to the board, the president of the activity committee, and the advisory board.

I really had fun working together with Kati on the events we organised. It was a long time ago, we had such a great person whom is so active and willing to help us in any way. It's really a pity that this will not continue.
But this action of the board really made me do this, I will follow them now critical on their actions, I will not help them anymore with the activity committee events, europorter (local magazine) and exchange committee... let's see what will happen... I saw what happend in the first 4 months before I stepped in.

This was the right decision to make, now I can focus more on my final thesis, because of AEGEE in general and AEGEE-Rotterdam in special, my work on my thesis is going to slow.

So, how stupid people can be is refering to the decision of the board of AEGEE-Rotterdam.

Enjoy Life!

I am doing that to the FULL max :)

Greetings from a Sunny Rotterdam,

René

Network Meeting Maastricht

2007-03-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

9-11 March 2007

Friday after work I went to Maastricht for the Network Meeting. I went by train, and of course I had a delay, since there was something happened before on that day, the intercity stopped at Lage Zwaluwe en Breda Prinsenbeek, even on the second one, persons had to walk to the front of the train, since the platform was to small for this long intercity. Due to this fact, I just missed in Eindhoven my connection to the train to Maastricht, so I could wait for an extra half an hour. When I arrived in Maastricht, I just saw my bus leaving in front of my noise, so since I was the DJ of the party of that night and it was almost ten, I took the taxi to the scouting house. When I arrived there, nothing was happening yet. Around eleven we planned to start the party, but we had a small problem; we needed three plug ins since we had a stereo, laptop and my external hard disk with the music. We had to wait for more then one hour for a simple thing… in the meantime I played some of my cd’s, since I prepared myself for such events. It was a nice party because it was also European Night, at four in the night the DJ went to bed.

Saturday we started with the nice movie of Al Gore, an inconvenient truth. After the movie we had a discussion about environmental issue’s, if AEGEE should start a working group or a project team, or do nothing… After the lunch we had a short walk to over the Belgium border, and then it seems some miscommunication started, we went on drinking something in a bar, and had some good discussions, while we should have been already some time back in at the scouting place. The next point on the agenda was the AEGEE-Café. There were five tables, with different topics, where you could discuss those, while drinking some coffee. The topics, were Culture, Education Unlimited, Commissions, Comité Directeur (CD) and International Politics. There were some nice discussion on the different tables. After a short break, Nadine Karbach gave a work shop about Network Stereotypes. It was a cool workshop. Then the Maastricht organization organised a nice dinner for us, before we went to a party. We went to their social meeting place, which is named BarRock, so a nice rock café. But they invited a member to be the DJ, and this German guy, was really lousy. He was playing by a play list and he played just house music… that was terrible. I even left the party at twelve with Laura and Nadine. Terrible.

On Sunday the day started with the workshop “The Great and Mighty Tolerance Workshop”, by Michal from AEGEE-Maastricht, it gave insight in how free different people are in different situations. After this interactive workshop, Laura from the CD gave a workshop about Summer Universities (SU). She started with a presentation, and afterwards we talked about good and bad examples of SU’s and how we can improve SU’s. Then another interesting part started of this Network Meeting the discussion about the next Flagship project for the year 2008. Laure from the CD was leading this meeting and after a group discussion, we had four smaller groups, which discussed in more detail four idea’s for the next Flagship project. After this we presented all four proposals. In each network meeting they will do this, and Laure will collect all idea’s from the network and make great plans out of it. This was the last workshop of the meeting, we had a evaluation round and then the goodbye part started. It was a nice experience, and I could see that the Netcom was still searching for the right way to organise such a meeting. Already at one Theijs, the president of AEGEE-Europe came to Maastricht, to have with me a one hour meeting face to face about the structural changes we want to make within AEGEE. It was a nice discussion with Theijs and Laura, and I’m sure in one year our association will work better! At 6 they left, my train left at 18.23; so I had some time to buy some stuff for the nice travel of 2,5 hours. I came home at quarter past nine.

Travelling in the East

2007-02-27T07:47:00.001-08:00

Thursday morning I woke up at six in the morning to do some packing for my travels to Gliwice. At ten my flight from Amsterdam left to Budapest, a great city which is in the middle of some nice cities in the East. My good old friend Mariann picked me up from the airport. Before we would left Budapest, we went shopping and eating a good lunch, since we had a long travel in front of us, from Budapest to Gliwice to join the European Boards Meeting.

Finally at three o’clock we left Budapest on our way to Gliwice. The first thing we needed to do were to by passes to drive on the highway in Slovakia and Czech at petrol station, but we bought them in end at the border between Hungary and Slovakia. The first part was very easy, since we had driven this way already once together, it was more tricky when we had to go through Bratislava, from one highway to another, but we managed easily.

Then the nice way through Slovakia began in darkness and rain, it was quit easy till we were reached the border with Czech, somehow we had to drive though this country just for 32 km :) The real struggle started in Poland. They have really small boards to show the way and also if you missed it once, then suddenly the road is splitting… and when it’s raining like hell and dark, those once upon in a lifetime small signs can be missed easily ;) As we also did twice and then you just have to make an educated guess, left or right :D

The toughest although was the city before Gliwice, Rubnick. When you enter that city you see the plan of the roads, and also nr. 78 to Gliwice…But then… we searched for 40 minutes to find the damn road and if we didn’t asked an old Polish man in his very small car: “Do you know the road to Gliwice” and he answered something back in Polish, we both had the idea he would bring us to the right direction, and he did. Seven hours from departure we arrived at our nice Hotel. After we refreshed ourselves, we went out to the first party of the EBM. The place was a little bit to big, but still nice.

Friday the plenary started early, but I arranged to be exact on time when they needed me for the first meeting I had to lead; a two hours meeting about the strategy, the part of the diversity programme. It was a nice meeting with quit some people. After the lunch the first workshop round started, I was helping the “Culture in Motion” workshop from Nadine Karbach and Veronica Dumitrescu. I was there just for the first part to help Vero out. We had some cool energizers. After the coffee break, I took my own break another two hours of workshop would have been to much for me. I went to the computer lab, to spend some time behind the internet and work even for my boss ;) Also Judith from Utrecht asked Mariann and me to help her with her workshop. We agreed to give the second part of her workshop.

The second party was the European Night, it was close to our Hotel, so we went late since we wanted to take some rest before partying, the people had a lot of fun, since they have been drinking a lot of Alcohol already. I drunk some nice Riga Balsam and another drink. Since the music was not that good I went back to my hotel to get my mp3 player, for some good stuff since the laptop had mainly Polish music. So, there again me playing the DJ :D
Now the party could start, I found later on Mariann dancing with the main organiser, and I danced with Iryna from Kiev whom I met at the opening conference of Education Unlimited in Stuttgart. In the end there were just two people dancing… Mariann and me :)

We could stay till the last persons since we knew that our programme would start at 12.30 with lunch :) After that Mariann and me went to the computer lab to find info we needed for our workshop about CST Migration. We worked already for many years on the Case Study Trip Migration together and finally in the end we gave a workshop together.
At four in the afternoon, when we finally found our place, we gave the workshop together; first we talked about the project and then I divided the group in two to have one discussion about Migration (Mariann leading) and the other about Integration. After the two separate discussions we had a group discussion to end up our workshop.
After this workshop ended at six, the day was not ended yet for me. Network Affairs, Theijs and me would lead a discussion about – Quo Vadis AEGEE “Statutory reforms”. It was a huge group, and we discussed several issue’s concerning the agora, attendancy of the plenary, reducing nr. of participants, one fun agora one real one, extension working hours, starting at Thursday, etc. Another 1,5 hour discussion the future of our dear association. We stopped after nine in the evening… real diehards at work.

Then the most interesting party of all. Since we worked till late, and the party place was in the same street of our hotel, we went late, when we walked to the party place we saw already some blood… so interesting place we said.. after one hour we were all asked to leave the place, since one of the members of Gliwice was beaten up into the hospital, and Gliwice were not sure anymore about our safety. So, we all left to the gym, where Gliwice made a party place… we had a lot of fun, except the ones whom were trying to sleep… no more sleep till 3 at night. The best party of the event it was!

Sunday was an early day, already at ten in the morning I had to be present to lead another meeting about the strategy plan, to draft the action plan. There was now a smaller group, but I didn’t mind, we had some good brains together to make the draft action plan, and after the second round of one hour we had time left to do some work on some other parts of the strategy, then we found out that some people were sleeping, since this couldn’t be the strategy, there were actions in the strategy… So a huge discussion, we had with the CD, Chair and some people whom knew they were talking about. Due to stress and Laure didn’t listened to me, she made a bad presentation of the action plan… but in the end all will go right.

In the evening we went with a big group to have a nice dinner in a Polish restaurant. After this wonderful dinner, we went to the dorms to have a small after party.

Monday morning we checked out our hotel at eleven, and we left at twelve Gliwice on our way to Auswitz. We were now not alone in the car, we had also Alexianne from Malta and Juha from Finland, so we had all four wind directions in the car, since Mariann is from the East and me from the west :) When we got to Auswitz it was windy and also raining. We took the tour, which was a good decision. It was very impressive this place, full of history. It was good that we didn’t went directly to Krakow, but first visited this place. After the four hour tour we went on with our journey to Krakow.

It was a nice ride to Krakow and the Hostel Giraffe was easy to find. If you ever go to Krakow sleep in this hostel you will feel home. We all stayed there and when we were settled we went to the centre hunting down some dinner. Marcin from Krakow joined us at the dinner place and gave us after dinner and after discussing the second world war, a nice 1,5 hour city walk in the dark. At midnight the tour was ended and we went home.

Tuesday morning we got up normal time, Juha left early since he had to catch an early train to Warsawa, since I don’t need breakfast, the two ladies made one for them self. In the meantime I could sit behind the free internet…. And they talked a lot… we left at 13.15 finally the Hostet...
We went for a short walk and also for a nice lunch in Nikita Bar, a Russian Bar. That was really a nice place. After this we went to the Hostel, since Mariann and me had a nice ride home, 6 hours :)
We left Krakow at quarter past five finally, a bit later then I wanted, since now we will see again the nice landscape in dark. Just before midnight we arrived in Budapest, where we ate a nice soup together before arriving home.

The next day I was very sick, Mariann took care of me. Somehow I managed to get on the plane, and got home late in the evening back in Rotterdam.

Osna in Rotterdam

2007-02-12T06:51:00.000-08:00

Friday – Cleaning my apartment

Friday morning I was called by Job that one lady wouldn’t come to Rotterdam, and that person was one of the two drivers. So there was a small chaos… what to do???? Trains, something else… After some sms-ing and ICQ contact, they arranged and I was informed that Katja from Münster didn’t went hitchhiking as planned but driving four people from Osnabrück to Rotterdam, what a nice person!

The whole day I was cleaning the house. I did all the rooms, I started with my living room, then with the bathroom. In the meantime I went to the supermarket to buy some drinks, since the meeting point was my house in the evening. In the afternoon I went to the centre to buy some stuff. In the afternoon, I cleaned the kitchen and also the rest of the bathroom. After the dinner, I started with the sleeping room, which was a big mess, since the last weeks I cleaned my living room by putting stuff from there to my sleeping room, so it looked like a storage room :)

I wasn’t finished with making order in my sleeping room, when Kati came at half past eight. Not that much later came Lars and Job. Lars had a nice home made German cake with him, and also Kati had some candies with her. So, we had something nice to eat and drink while waiting on Osnabrück. Also since they all three were there, I could do some more getting order in my sleeping room. At eight the first car arrived in Rotterdam, they drove to the central station, and didn’t knew how to come to my place. They didn’t prepared for all, no maps, no address, no print out of the map I’ve sent. :)

I told them where to go to which street and also which neighbourhood, when I didn’t heard for 20 minutes anything I called one person. They were still at central station. So, I called Jochem to get the phone number of his cousin Pieterkoen, since he was on his way to me by car. While I was calling Jochem, Pieterkoen called me on my other phone. So I was talking to both on the same time, which was a bit confusing for them :)

Pieterkoen drove me to the Central station, and there we picked up the group. Julia went directly with Pieterkoen to his house, since he was lodging this Ukraine girl. I went in the car of Clement. With my guidance he drove us to my house. In the meantime the other car arrived at my house.

When I entered my apartment, Maria told me there is a good thing and a bad thing, the good thing is that they all arrived and the bad thing is that the hat rack of me was fallen down out of the wall…. Mister Marco was the last to hang his coat, and there were to many on them, and it broke out of the wall. So, when everybody entered my crib, we were there with ten friends from Osnabrück and nine persons from Rotterdam. So, it was a full house. After a small talk, I divided the people under the lodgers, and they went home, to bring their stuff and then the meeting point was eleven at the Irish Pub for the first party!

Maria and Maja were staying at my place, we walked from my house to the Irish pub, but some were a bit slow we came at 23.50; instead of 20 minutes we walked 40 minutes…. But we were still not the last. The band was very good as usual, and we had to leave at 2.30 since then the pub closed.

A group went to have some food, Kebab, and therefore I had even one more person at my place, the presidente of AEGEE Osnabrück, Irena. So we went to bed around 4. At eight I was already awake, but I got out at 10.15; I made, after shower and shopping at the supermarket, I made the brunch for the three ladies.

Saturday – the longest city walk & Honda Party!

After brunch we walked to the city hall, we arrived at 12.50 a bit later then I hoped, but it was ok :). Since the weather was not that nice, some rain came out of the sky, Pieterkoen arranged six big umbrella’s from his work, the free newspaper Metro; and that was great. Lars and Job made a great plan of the city tour.

We had some stops, the first was in the St. Laurenschurch, where they also could see some pictures how the city centre looked like after the bombing. After that we had another “lunch break” stop, most of them bought the BIG warm “Stroopwafel”, the typical Dutch treat. We walked then to the Saturday market, where we gave 30 minutes time to do shopping and eating, many persons bought kilo’s of cheese, and besides Job, Irena tried the Dutch Haring. Our walk continued with the cubic houses, and most of them even went inside this museum, I went also inside, I could have gone in for free since I come there often with friends, but I talked with the owner about the latest news of all the cubic houses, nowadays the costs 200.000 euros for instance.

After this we walked to our social meeting place, Pardoen to have something to drink. We continued our city walk, by going over the Willemsbridge to the south side of Rotterdam. From there we walked to the Hotel New York to end in Café Rotterdam for another drink and also another Dutch treat bitterballen. Finally the last part was the walk over the Erasmusbridge and in the outdoor maritime museum.

We made groups for the dinner afterwards. Some people went first to “the Act” to buy some stuff, green stuff ;) I made dinner for 4 ladies, Nasi Goreng and as desert Dutch “Vla” with whipped cream. After this they refreshed themselves and we went to the Hondo party at Rogier’s and Arjan’s Crib.

It was a great party, there came many members of AEGEE-Rotterdam, I could be the DJ, and many people joined the Hondo game, with the Rotterdam style ending Gold Strike! Also later in the evening some people were kissing….. The party ended at 5.30; again three ladies slept at my place and we went to bed after 6 in the morning….

Sunday - Museum and Swimming pool

At 10.30 I was able to get out of my bed, and already at 11.15 the first participant arrived the nice Chinese girl. At one all the participants were at my place and also some lodgers. Most of them went to the museum and shopping, just Maria, Irena and me went out to go swimming.

This was great, in this way we could relax a bit more. At ten before five we were home, I was scared to be the last, but we were the first. Some 20 minutes later the rest came, and the left all back to Osnabrück.

After they left and we said goodbye, Lars, Job and me went to the Chinese to buy dinner, and we ate at my place. At seven they left, and I was home alone again ;)

So, it was a wonderful weekend, I hope the next mini exchange will be as great as this one!

Photo's Heidelberg Gala

2007-02-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

My friends from AEGEE-Paris

European Active friends!

Hoi Lam and Patrick from AEGEE-Rotterdam

Ines and Wouter - Dutch and German Love :)

Somebody from Heidelberg, Duygu and me ;)

Muphey's Law

2007-01-22T04:05:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-12T07:20:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-01-06T12:19:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-03T01:23:00.000-08:00

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

24 hours Berlin

2006-12-31T09:19:00.000-08:00

I`m now 24 hours in Berlin and it`s GREAT.

We are in one big appartment with 11 people and 6 nationalities. It`s so wonderfull. I will tell more after the NYE :)

Have ALL a safe and great NYE!

With LOVE,

René

After C...

2006-12-27T13:12:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, I took this week off since I had to prepare well for my days in Germany. I will stay from 30 December till 4 January in Berlin. With Aga and co ;)
On the fourth I will go to Osnabrück, I left there a shirt :D I will stay there till the 6th or 7th; not sure yet. I left my bed at noon, and started to copy music from my cd's to my pc. And had several chats. I left my house at half past four to do some shopping. During that, I met Lucien with his Romanian girlfriend Laura from Cluj. That was a nice surprise, since we tried in the last two weeks to fix a dinner date... :) They will leave on Friday for the new year to Cluj. We talked a lot during this extended shopping. I bought one present for my host in Osnabrück and some extra food :) I came home at seven. I cooked at nice my dinner, nice macaroni :)

Thursday, First day of real shopping :) I got at 10 in the morning again, i'm getting into a nice rythem :) On this day I went earlier to the center to some shopping. First I went at after one, to the hairdresser, since my hair was really long :)) After my hair was cut, I went to my special shop for shirts, they had already sales, so I bought instead of the planned one special, three shirts in the sale :) After that I went to buy some nice parfum :) Then I went to center, since this I did all in my old neighbourhood. There I bought even a new TV :) It will be delivered on Saturday the 13th of January since I will be away to Germany from 30 December till 7th January :)
I had a Culture Working Group meeting starting from seven o'clock in the evening till nine. After I changed my status Cata started to chat with me. We talked till after midnight. Also I had a nice long chat with Aga. We started later, so we ended up also later till 10 past 1 :)

Christmast Time

2006-12-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

Monday as we called it in Holland First Christmas Day :)
On this day I went to my aunt (my sisters sister) to celebrate with my mothers side of the family Christmas. So my Aunt, Grandparents, parents, the youngest daugther of my aunt was there with her boyfriend, daugther and son :) I came at four, and the older daugther of my aunt came at half past four together with her husband and two sons. So a full house. We had as dinner High Tea. Not really my choice of Christmas dinner. I left my aunt at 20.20 since everybody had already left to a birthday in the family; but since I would be the only of my Generation I didn't went. When I got home, I went online and had some chats with friends, I went to bed after one.

Tuesday - is called the second Christmas day. Some people go then to the big shopping area's where they sell furniture, but in our family, we use it to have another day with the other part of the family. So I went this day to my parents, I came there at three, right at the same time as my sister, with her husband and my nephew. My grandma, aunt, uncle and 2 male cousins were already there. This time there was a real dinner. As soon as my father has time, you will see them on this blog :) I made the pictures with his digital camera :) We had nice discussion during the long dinner, even about the differences of Culture :)))

I left to home at half past eleven. It was truly a nice Chrismas Day!

Crazy week

2006-12-22T09:45:00.000-08:00

Tuesday after work I went to my parents to have dinner there. Also Richard with my nephew were there, and after dinner I played with my nephew. That was so cool.

I didn't went to the "unofficial" last meeting of AEGEE, I stayed home.

Wednesday came by surprise Jaap with some nice Olibollen en Appelflappen since the end of the year is coming and we talked about the upcoming exchange and AEGEE in general.

Thursday was the day that I bought my new phone, since it was getting hard to send an sms with my older one and also my "abonnement" was passed, so I could by a new phone with a new contract of 2 years :) I bought of course a Nokia since that's in my eyes the best phone. That afternoon we had the Christmas drink at work, I came there one hour after starting time with Nicole, and we just missed the boring speeches and we could start directly with drinking :) After this meeting which I left at 5, we should have another coffee drink with just my boss and another direct collegue, but my boss was busy till 5.20 and then we drunk some more and talked about the coming vacation days. I left work at 6, since I had a meeting at the University about the exchange with St. Petersburg with Vatan and Jaap. At 8 my best friend Werner called that he was early and in front of my door, I told him that he could come with his car to the University to pick me up; since the meeting was almost ended. When I got to my house, we went first to buy some food, since I didn't had yet time to have dinner, and at 20.40 I was eating my dinner. Werner stayed till eleven. That was nice. We talked about life and woman.

Friday, my last working day of this year. When I got at work, it didn't took a long time that I received a phone call that there was a problem with the movement. One of my collegues left the day before without finishing packing, so I could pack part of her stuff, when I finished that, I walked away and just at that time 9.40 she was walking in the office... I was so angry, I left without saying anything to her, before I would do something I would regret afterwards. Late in the afternoon, she wrote me a sorry email, which I forwarded to my boss, without comments still.

This was the day of the packing, because besides packing for her, I needed to pack my own stuff; because on the first day of the new year when I will go back to work, I will move to another office. I managed to pack all, and also do my last task for closing the financial year. I had a nice lunch with some of my collgues. And after that I packed the last remainings, and had a coffee with my colluege.

It was a crazy day as the last 3 weeks. But my last of the year :)

When I got home, I was so tired that I almost felt a sleep on the couch. At 8 I became a bit awake, because I knew that Koen van Baekel had his Birthday, and I was invited... first I talked with some persons, also Mariann, to talk with her, if she would come to Rotterdam, or if we would go both to the European Board Meeting in Gliwice :) It seems we have decided to do the last :))

At 9 I ate my soup, and at 21.30 I left to Rotown, where the first part of the party was. When I arrived, there were no drinks on the table, I said what kind of party is this... One person said we waited for you ;) And the party begun. We had a nice time there, more and more people came. At 1 in the night we went to the disco Vibes, it was my second time there in a short time. We stayed there will 4.45; then we went to Sjeik a place to have some food after good party ;)

At 6 I came home, I checked my mails, watched the news and went to bed at 6.45.....

Then Saturday morning... I woke up at 10.30.....WHY????? I got out of bed at 13.30; Already in the night I received an sms of my former roommate from Alicante that he's in town :) We made arrangements that I will be at 5 at his place to have dinner. First I went to the center to do some shopping. I bought new clothes, picked up some photo's and bought the new CD of Henny Vrieten, he is one of the guys from Doe Maar, which is the band of my childhood and I was fan of this band. Then I went to Juanma, he cooked Paella :) How cool. I love it :) After dinner we talked a bit, and then we made the agreement to go out, he would be at ten at my place. So I went home at 7.30 by metro this time, no 45 minutes walk ;) When I got home I went online and had a nice chat with Laura and Aga. Exactly at ten, he was there amazing... I still have some Dutch habbits :)) We talked again a bit and then we went walking to the center and deciding where to go...
We went to the Irish pub, where the band Be Where was playing... It was great! They played all kind of pop/rock music and also U2 and The police :)
We didn't stayed to long since I went out last night till very late and Juanma needed to go back the next day to his parents and needed to be fresh for Christmas Eve. At 1.20 I was home. I had a chat with Maria the night bird, and at 2 we went to bed.

Sundaymorning I woke up at 8 and got out at 11.40... Went online and chated with my sister a bit and also with Aga.

Sunday & Monday

2006-12-19T02:50:00.000-08:00

Sunday... a relaxing day. I got up late, first I went to the pc to do some work and at 14.20 I left the house to do some shopping. Instead of what I intended to buy, I bought some new clothes :) After that I went to my grandmother to surprise her with a visit. Also my parents and aunt and uncle were there. I was home at five, where I cleaned a bit the house and also went again behind the PC. At six I left out for dinner, I bought nasi goreng :)

In the evening I had chats with Nihan, Maria and Aga, and even more people. I went to bed again to late :)

Monday... another crazy working day. I was on time this week, since I have my new alarm :) The movements are going well, till now no complaints :D I had another chat with the person whom is in charge of the European Youth Capital 2009 Rotterdam; I might get involved in this project :)) So, it seems finally I get to do what I love to do!

When I got home, I cleaned my house since Natasha was coming for dinner. I cooked this time Nasi Goreng, which is totally different then the one I bought the day before, so no problem for me :)
Natasha enjoyed her dinner, and left at 21.30; after she left I joined the Cultural Working Group Board meeting. I was even managing that meeting. It was nice to have a meeting with 7 enthausiast persons!

Late in the evening I had again chats with Nihan, whom will go back to Turkey on Tuesday and also with Aga, and shortly with Cata :)

Saturday - Cleaning city

2006-12-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

It was amazing, I got up at 10.38 in the morning... I was already awake for two hours. I went online. I talked with some friends, and at one I received an sms that they Nihan, Clement, Beatrice and Verim will not come to Rotterdam just will visit Amsterdam. So I send a new one to ask them till when they would stay in Amsterdam. I left already the house, with the possibility that I would jump on the tram and go to Amsterdam.... and yes they would stay till 2 or 3 in the night in Amsterdam; so it was worth to go still at 3 to Amsterdam. I arrived at 16.20 and in 10 minutes I was at the meeting point and just a few minutes later my friends were there... I didn't had to ask where they just cam from... ;) Why does people come to Amsterdam besides the red light destrict... ;)

I showed them around in Amsterdam, I went to the "begijnenhof" which is in the middle of the center, but so quiet.... also there is an English Church. Then we went for a nice long walk before we had dinner, after dinner we went to the Leidseplein to have some nice drinks. It was possible to skate there on the ice :)

Nihan and Beatrice watching the iceskaters

After we watched the persons on the ice, we went first to the Irish pub, a hole in the wall, which was ok. Then we walked again for 30 minutes and ended up at the same square to drink some more in the Rock and Roll bar, that was cool. A Harley Davidson in the bar ;) Jimmy Hendriks Posters, etc :) After drinking here again one drink, we went on with our pubcrawl :)

The Harley Davidson

Me, Nihan still from Aegee Çanakkale, Clement and Verim.

Isn't it nice :)

Nihan

Isn't it cool? ;)

But first they wanted to see the redlight destrict when it was dark, and they just had visited one street and not all the nice small streets ;) So, we went back to our meetingpoint and then the redlight destrict... as "nice" as always. On our way we found a nice Irish Pub, where they had live music. So after walked a bit more, we went back to that Irish Pub. The guy had just his guitar and voice, but it was so great. Real music!

Kevin the musician

We stayed there till 1, then we walked again to another place where they should have had live music, but that was already ended, and since there was a Hells Angel was the guard at the door I didn't want to go there anymore. We ate "krentebollen" at the Leidseplein, which is a Dutch treat during the weeks before New year. Then we walked back to the trainstation, since there car was near that place, and I needed to go back by train. I was lucky. I came on the railway station at 1.35, and at 1.42 the train should leave, but it did at 1.50 :) I came in Rotterdam at 3, since I was so sleepy I took a taxi, and got home at 3.15 :)

Another working week

2006-12-16T02:19:00.000-08:00

Monday - Overslept

Since I slept that much in the weekend, I overslept on Monday, so I was one hour later. I didn't felt guilty since I worked on my free days Friday and Sunday. It was again a moving day... so a real crazy day. When I walked home, I went to a shop to buy a alarm, so I would not overslept that easy anymore, since if i touch my mobile a bit different, it's not snoozing but silent again. :)In the evening I had nice chat's with two great people whom I met in Osnabrück Nihan and Maria.

Tuesday - New job one

The new alarm worked fine :) I woke up on time. This day was cleaning up the mistakes the relocators did the day before and also prepare the next day, with checking if the guys were already packed etc. And this I do all besides my normal job... and it's the end of the year. So, I will work again at least one day between Christmas and New year, since I can't do all...
In the afternoon I had a talk with the boss of the departement where also the International Office is. It was a nice talk. We never had done that before. Let's see if I will work there in the near future :)
That evening I went also to AEGEE, but a bit later then normal, and I also went a bit earlier home, since I was still not recovered from my trip to Osnabrück. I walked my way home with Job, he lives near my house, and we talked about a lot of things and also if Osnabrück is coming, he's willing to do the city tour... that's cool. I came home at 1.30 :))

Wednesday - New job two

Already at 11 in the morning I had another meeting with another boss about another possibility for me to work at the departement of "Inkoop en Ondersteuning", it was a good chat, but not as nice as the day before. Again people moved, but this day it went smoother. In the afternoon I had a kind of chat, by email, with Patrick about my coming to the Christmas dinner, because the day before I told him I would not come, since a lot of things happend, and it didn't felt right anymore. In the evening Lara came for a visit to have a nice dinner together. Since she couldn't come with me to the Christmas dinner, she was leaving the next day to Germany to meet her boyfriend, I sms-ed Natasha whom went with us to Osnabrück, she was also willing to come along with me, so I informed Kati, and she also joined in ;)

Thurday - Nothing special

I really don't know what to tell about this day.... Oh yeah we had our "Christmas dinner" in de Dijk. This place is really an eating café, there was no christmas atmosphere, and then the menu. It wasn't christmas like... Ok, I had good company with Natasha next to me, so for me it was a good evening. But it could have been so much better. I took as usual the photo's, and also in the end of some couples, but this year there were hardly people willing to do this... what is happening... After 12 we all went home, no after party in the center, where are the good old days....

Vatan, me and Rogier

Natasha and me

Friday - another job opportunity

Another day of moving out people from one office to another. Also my boss told me that I should go to another boss, since on that departement soon there will be an opening on a treasury function, which is better for me and also pays more :) It's a nice job, but for I think it's to much finance, and I want to leave that path. But maybe I can use it in my talks with the boss of the International Office... :)
This evening I was so tired, that i went even offline for two hours.... deadly tired I was. I talked again with Nihan and also Aga, besides some CWG boardies :)

Photo's Osnabrück & Münster

2006-12-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

Lars and Job in the German train

Kati and Chris at the Weihnachtsmarket in Osnabrück

Sleeping Greek

Nihan from Aegee Çanakkale, Maria from AEGEE-Osnabrück but Russian, Kati from Rostock, Chris "the greek" and Patrick, at least one other Dutchy; just after Lunch

City tour, Job (the third Dutchy) talking with Ann-Marie from Osnabrück; Lars (German doing internship in Rotterdam) with Kati in the back.

New guy, my great host Clement!

The new lady with the sunglasses is our guide from Slovenian, MaJa

Relaxing a bit

Real germans at the weihnachtmarket

Main Church

Maquette of old Osnabrück

Having Lunch on Sunday, me, Maria and Chris

Another church on our way to the trainstation

Nice building

What can I say!

Münster

Some nice buildings in Münster

Isn't it cool?

Closer

Chris waiting on our Capu

Last church we saw in Münster

Osnabrück rules!!!

2006-12-11T09:19:00.000-08:00

At Friday I left at 13.30 my house to the trainstation. When I got out of the tram, I went to the bankautomate for some money, and at the same time Kati got out of another tram to do the same. Already two persons were waiting there, and 10 minutes later all were present and accounted for. I bought the tickets, and also some drinks for underway.

Then the travel started at 14.37.....

In 5 hours we should have been in Osnabrück.... but the NS wouldn't have been the NS if we wouldn't have delay... with 40 minutes delay we came in Enschede, there we had to take the train to Münster, but we took the wrong train, so we had to change the train in Coesfeld, a well-know big town :)), and we almost left Patrick and Job behind, they didn't watched out where we were going. When we finally got to Münster, we had to change again the train. With a 1,5 hours delay we arrived at 20.52 in Osnabrück. It was a nice travel, for sure for Chris, because he thought Osnabrück was just 2 hours away.

When we arrived on the train station there were like 10 people waiting for us with a nice Osnabrück flag. We went first to the office, to put our stuff away. They got a key to enter the University, which is cool. Then we went to the Weihnachtsmarket. We ate there bratwürst :) And other real German food and drinks like Gluhwein :))

At 22.45 we went to get our stuff and to go to our hosts... Chris and me hooked up together and we picked really the best spot. Right in the middle of the center was our place, just 50 meters from the meeting points :) Also when we arrived there, we drunk some nice alcohol, like Vodka, Redberry Likör, wine, and beer. With nice reggae music on the background. Also from whom wanted there was more then just Alcohol.... ;)

At midnight we left to the party place, we came there at 0.20; It was an interesting Disco. first R&B, Soul music and later House music :) We left between 2 and three. Then the fun started. Since some missed the taxi, Maria came to our place. So, besides the hosts Clement (from France), Bastian (real Osnabrück guy), there slept: Nihan from AEGEE-Çanakkale, Chris from AEGEE-Rotterdam/Thessaloníki, Maria (born in Russia) and me :))

Chris, Maria and me slept in one room, it was cool. Chris was drunk, so Maria and me, made a lot of fun out of him. We started sleeping after 6 :))

At 10.00 my alarm was ringing, and I was the first one to get out, and take a shower, then Maria, and off course as last our Greek guy :)

We met at 12 at the mensa. We had there a nice hot lunch, it was cool that the University Kantine was still open and working. Then we went to the center. First waiting on our city guide, whom was living there for three months and she is from Slovenia. She came late but she had a good reason. She lost her wallet last night and inside was her ID, which she needs in one week to leave for home to celebrate Christmas together with her Family. So I arranged to do first shopping and other things in the center and to be back at 15.00, and then have the city tour. I went with Chris, Job, Lars and Ann-Marie to visit some Churches and the Räthause. It was a nice cool walk.
Then we had our good well prepared city tour. She had written all kind of facts of houses, churches, etc. It was splendid. And long :))) More then three hours. The end was a bit strange, just half the group decides without consultation to climb the Dom tower. So, some of us, like me, were standing outside in the cold waiting for some. That was not social at all. Then we had to move on to the last place of the city tour, but some went slow and Patrick really had to find a place to do his needs... So he went to the near Mac, which was just 3 minutes further. Then we split up for dinner, Chris and me wanted a Hot meal, which was fast to buy, and the others wanted to cook on their own. But Patrick was still at the Mac, and his friends were first not willing to move 3 minutes to pick him up. I was so upset that I just left. And because somebody forced the others, they all left to pick him up.
Clement, Chris and me first bought some wine for the European Night, and then went to Iskendar kebab shop, to buy Döner. His house was like 50 meters away from that place, so we ate at Clements house. Nihan came after dinner with her friend from Sevilla when Chris was sleeping and I was relaxing by listening to music. Later even a friend from Çanakkale. Before going to the party we drunk a bottle with just the five of us of Yeni Raki :) That was cool :))
We went by bus to the party place.

At the student house they had their own football table, so as at home we started to play. When all were there we started with the European Night, we drunk Boswandeling and Graanjenever. Even before the karaoke started we suddenly left. Most of them wanted to go to Ann-Maria's place, but Chris and me went with Clement and Nihan to a great Disco. It was so cool. When Nihan was so drunk that she was sitting with her head between her legs, I went with her outside so she could... ;) Then me and Chris left with Nihan home, and Clement stayed and gave us the key. Just before our house we met Maria, whom want to join again the crazy people and not the silent ones :))
Chris and me, put Nihan in bed, and Chris played some guitar, and we talked. At three Chris went to bed, and Maria and me talked further till after 4 :) At 5.10 Clement came home, so I had to open the door. I wrote two sms at 4 to Kati and Patrick to set the leaving time at 11, and not at 10 as Kati wanted and Chris and me at 12.

So, i woke up early 9.30 and again as first outside, etc. At 10.09 I got an sms from Patrick that they were already at the trainstation. They left without us. That made me change. Because I was already not happy when I looked at the map, that we would go to Cologne. So, since Chris have been there 8 times before, we went instead to Münster to drink a coffee. Before we went with Maria to have a nice lunch in Bar Celona.
At 13.18 we left to Münster, we stayed there for one hour, drunk our Capuchino and saw the city center. Then we left to Rotterdam. And of course there was an accident so we couldn't go from Gouda directly to Rotterdam, we had to go by Leiden, so 35 minutes delay... I came home at 20.45 to eat my dinner.

Germany

2006-12-08T03:57:00.000-08:00

Berlin here I come!

Yes, twice Germany. Today I will go with 6 members of AEGEE-Rotterdam to Osnabrück, for 2 days and on Sunday we go to Cologne. And at the end of this month, I will go to Berlin, to celebrate there New Year with Aga.

Soon more news, I go now to pack my stuff, in 30 minutes I'm leaving to Germany!!!

Sinterklaas

2006-12-06T04:01:00.000-08:00

It's 5 December, that means Sinterklaas! I was a little bit late this day at work, since I didn't slept well during the night. It was another crazy day at work. I could have left at 4 o'clock, but I left at 16.30; then I did my last minutes Sinterklaas shopping.
I had to buy gifts for my father, he wanted a calendar of Rotterdam. I couldn't find the one he really wanted, but at least i found one 3 minutes for closing time of that shop a nice calendar. Then I had to buy still some more stuff, Luckily the music store was still open, so I could buy blank cd's. It was really terrible weather at that time... it was raining like hell, and I had no more umbrella since that weekend he died. And I had to walk to my parents house to have there dinner. So, I came sooked wet at my parents, how nice.
Also my sister, brother in law and my nephew were there. We had a nice dinner, as usual. After dinner I packed the three gifts in special sinterklaas-paper, and to the calendar, also the poem. Because on this side of the family it's the custom of writing poems.

Then by car we went to my grandma, where also my aunt, uncle and two big cousins came. It was a cool evening, a lot of joy. And nice presents. I received a calendar of Monet, and the latest book of Maarten 't Hart, my favorite Dutch writer. At eleven we left my grandma's place. Then I went directly to AEGEE, where we also celebrated Sinterklaas. The two activity girls Kati and Natasha were Sint and Piet :) It was cool.

We left at 1.00 o'clock in the night, and as usual the exchange students and me... not the board as they should be the last ones leaving....

I got home at 1.30 and went to bed at 2 :)

Once and never again

2006-12-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

There is me again. Three posts on one evening :) A record. Also phone call of 1 hour 12 minutes, second record of the day.

Nothing has lost, insight gained.

Not sure where I will be with the new year still though.

Probably not Berlin, but I have still hopes.

And it was just coïncidental that I went offline at the time Aga came online.
Kind of bad timing ;)

Life goes on!

For sure ours!

One more try - as George Michael sings.......

"Patience"

2006-12-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

It's like a conversation, where no-one stops to breathe
Is it my imagination, or did God already leave the table?
Such destruction, and pure white castles in the sand
No time for introduction
With all that money changing hands

And the satellite says, "Take a look at all we have"
But the old man says,
"You want my family, for your liberty...I can't do that."

Look into the eyes of any patient man
Whether they be amber, green or blue,
There's a piece of God staring back at you
But they see our children, and the old folk fend for themselves
They see our broken women
On imaginary shelves

But the satellite says, "Won't you people look at all we have?
Don't you want it?

Can't you see the things that you lack?"

Children in his arms, he turns his back.

George Michael

Monday

2006-12-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have such days, which you would like to skip, even before it started. Today was one of those days.

I was already awake before my alarm went off. It felt like it was in the middle of the night, but it was already 6.45, so in 40 minutes my alarm would go ringing... I was not happy with that fact. I really couldn't get out of my bed. Finally I got out of bed at 8.15;

So, I was late at work. Just came in at 9 :) The day was busy as expected, again a meeting about timeregistration. I worked on the coming movements, etc. Nothing really special to tell.

At 17.15 I went home.

It is strange. First of all nobody home or nobody to wait for. And also I had to made the one phone call I didn't want to make. I was to early, so I have to wait two more hours...
The worst moments of my life... they look like it takes days and not minutes...

So, I had time to update this blog. Tonight I will know where I will spend my new year, I hope.... Some people are waiting on their requests...

Soon more!

empty weekend

2006-12-03T11:18:00.001-08:00

Saturday 2 December - Sinterklaas

At 6.20 Barbara left to Ljubljana. After that I didn't slept anymore, but I stayed in bed till noon. Then I received an sms from Lara, that she was so cold last night in her new place; if I could join her for shopping. First we agreed upon 2 o'clock, then she changed it to 2.30 and when I was there at that time, she was usually late. So, first I went alone to buy two presents for my nephew, and then even went to Sounds to buy the new CD of George Michael, TWENTYFIVE. Then finally Lara was there and we went on shopping spree, for sleeping stuff :) When we were done, we went to my place, so she could check internet. Then she left home. I ate Patat and at 7 my parents picked me up, to go to my aunt to celebrate "Sinterklaas". I even got two presents :) I must have been a good boy :)
We left at 11. For a short while I chated with Aga. And went to bed at 1.

Sunday 3 December - Relaxing time

At 12.15 I finally got out of bed. Already at 8 I watched at my clock... awake not nice.
When I got out I checked emails etc. I went in the afternoon to the center to walk so time, to check the new mobiles, and also do some shopping. I got home at 5. In the evening I ate Hawaii Pizza. After eating, I helped Vero with some CWG stuff. Also had a nice chat with Rogier, Kati, and even Aga after 10 :) I went to bed after 12, I read again two chapters of the last book of the trilogy of Gareth Nix.

Barbara

2006-12-03T08:10:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 29 November

It was another crazy day at work. I had discussions with my boss about the upcoming movement from our collegues from one office to another, also about the timeregistration system. It was also crazy since this was my last working day of the week.
When I got home, I cleaned the house with the vacuumcleaner.
At 19.10 Barbara Bolta, came to my house. She would stay for three nights at my place, since Koen Berden's will have his Promotion on Thursday. We went shopping together, since Lara was stuck in trafic. When we got home, it didn't took that much time Lara came home. I cooked my own Nasi for the ladies. They liked it :)
After dinner Lara went to a Spanish movie; while Barbara and me watched Hildalgo at home on my dvd player. Lara came home very late like 0.45; that was amazing so late. It was a nice movie Hildalgo. At 1.30 we all went to bed.

Thursday 30 November - The promotion

Free of work, but not really, since I was the official photographer of the promotion of Koen. I got up at 9, since I wanted to leave the house at 10.15 and go there relaxing... When I got out the shower, Barbara got up. We went walking to the University, it took us 25 minutes. We just arrived before the family; so on time. Then I had to come to Koen and his two paraniphen: Betina and Jan-Peter. I was told how the ceremony would talk place and made some nice photo's in the "peeskamer", the sweating room :) The ceremony started with a 15 minutes presentation of Koen. After that all the different professors (even one from Warsawa) ask him questions, this took another 45 minutes. Then the profs deliberate if he would get the Doctor degree. And he received it! Then the reception started. Instead of just congratulate Koen, and move on; they all talked with him... since there were many people, it took such a long time...
Then almost all went to the Erasmusbridge to join the lunch on the Spido, a nice boattrip on the river while having lunch and drinking some wine afterwards.
Then a smaller group went for dinner at the mexican restaurant in the old harbour. It was really nice food; and since Jaap was sitting near us, we drunk some nice cocktails :)) Then I went home to refresh myself. Then together with Lara to the Irish Pub, to have a good time there. Since Lara went to the Les Anciens meeting in Budapest during New Year, she knew some oldies. It was a nice evening, which took us till 2.15; Lara, Barbara and me got to bed around 3.30 :)

Friday - 1 December - Lara's moving out...

When we were able to get up, Lara and Barbara had some lunch. Lara went to her new appartment, Barbara and me helped her with all the stuff to carry it downstairs. When Lara left with a full car, Barbara and me went walking to the Cubic Houses, since she wanted to see the insight of such a strange building; how can you live there. The owner was also there, and he was nicely surprised to see me. I used to come there quit often. After the cubic houses, we went to the media market to bring my 6 film of Koen's promotion. After that we bought ... and walked to Dudok to have a coffee and "Appeltaart", Betina and Lara came also to join us. We talked a lot, and went for another walk to my house. We went also to Albert Heijn to do our shopping. I made couscous for the ladies this time. Barbara went to Koen for the Les Anciens meeting, and Lara and I went to her place to help her with the heavy luggage. When we pulled it three floors up, we went by car back. She went to Salsa lessons and I stayed home. Waiting if Barbara and me would go to the movies still or not. She came home at 22.45 so no more movie... which was a pity. We talked till 1, then we went to bed; since Barbara had to leave the house at 6.25 :)

Agora

2006-11-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

Here the story about the agora on special request ;)

Moving around Italy

Wednesday was my first travel day. From Rotterdam to Rome. I had a nice flight and also I didn’t had to wait a long time like in Amsterdam, just 1 hours before the flight I was at the airport and not 2 hours. When I arrived in Rome, I had to take a train to the centre. They really know how to take money from the tourists, 11 euros for 30 minutes trip. The nice thing was that four people were waiting for me at the train station, Duco & Rogier whom came by car earlier to Rome all the way from Rotterdam, and Bobby from Sofia and Arjan whom came earlier that day by plane from Vienna. We went by bus to the Youth Hostel. When I was installed, we ordered some nice pizza’s. We are in Italy, so let’s eat Italian. After the dinner Arjan, Duco and me went outside and left the lovebirds together. We gathered on a nice square nearby the hostel to sit and drink (at least the other guys, since we had beer and wine). We found out that Duco can’t handle cheap wine :) It took him a ages to sent a simple sms to a lady from Minsk… Since the day before my trip was the Halloween party, so I didn’t wanted to make it that late but still it became.

The next day we went by car, all five persons to Napoli. It was a nice trip, we sung some songs of André Hazes during the trip. When we arrived at the agora place, we went to the registration to get our nice badges. This time not as in Torino where some people had to wait five hours, it went rather easy; maybe because some guys from Valetta were helping. After that we went for a short tour by car around Napoli. Sometimes Napoli looks like eastern Europe, so old and dirty. The sleeping place was not even in a gym, but two big halls, where they just had toilets, not even a showers.
So, what did the Italians do again… showers outside, but even the first day they were not there, and when they finally came, they were not connected, when that finally was solved, no warm water in the beginning. Welcome to my worst Agora….
At five I was ‘forced’ to join the meeting with European activist “Quo Vadis AEGEE”, it was a nice meeting. Although I’m not sure what will be done with the outcome. Before the party we had the official opening of the agora, with the mayor of the city, and other important VIP’s. The first party after that was ok, it was in a disco which was in a restaurant.

(never leave your tent unguarded)

My first night was not that nice. My stuff was in Room 6, and I slept in Room 5; but beneath the working lights… the whole night they left on. Then it became also freezing cold during the night a nice start of the Agora.

Friday was the day of the workshops. Naturally I was at the beginning of the agora. Then all the locals can call “present” if the chair call the local during the row call. Nowadays is a kind of battle between the locals whom has the nicest song, so it takes for ever. Normally Rotterdam have a nice horn, but our dear president didn’t dare to take it with him, and the theme of this agora was “Time for daring”! After all the first plenary introduction stuff, there was the time for the first workshops timeslot. I went to the workshop given by Olivier Genkin and Julia Hoffmann both of the International Politics Working Group, with the title “Bigger – Better – European integration?”, there were some statements, and by moving from one end to the room, it showed if you were in favour, against or in the middle. There were around 50 participants. The statements were like: “Romania and Bulgaria are joining to early” and “The EU is and should be a Christian Club”. It was very nice workshop.
After the lunch I went to the workshop of the Culture Working Group and Find Europe Coordination Team, namely “Cul-Tour: check out Culture in AEGEE. The workshop began with a card game, the goal of the game was to make the participants more sensitive for different cultures, for being aware of minorities and how it feels to communicate without a common language. Directly afterwards we started a discussion about time perception and about time value in different cultures. It was a great workshops with around 30 participants.

(Cul-Tour workshop of FECT together with CWG)

After the workshop we had a short coffee break, then we had the second plenary of the day. After the dinner we had a nice party. It was the best party of the agora, it was a cool place with even a swimming pool!

Since the programme of the Saturday morning is not that special, I left with the guys from Sofia and Rogier to Pompei. We went there by metro and train. It was a nice and cool place. A lot of old stuff. Worth to see. We headed back to the Agora. I was on time to see the last minutes and results of the prytanium of the European Boards Meeting working format. After the coffee break, there was one of the most important happenings during the agora the presentation of the candidates of the Comité Directeur. After the presentations of the 6 candidates, there was a big line of persons whom wanted to ask one or more questions. Most of the questions went to the new secretary general. The first problem was that he didn’t understand English very well, and also he don’t know a basic task like the General Mailing, which is the mailing before the agora with the agora booklet, flyers of events, other important stuff; and not answering emails.
This evening was the worst party of the agora, it was at the agora place itself, a big white hall, with no acoustics, and way to big. There was a life band playing, but mainly hard core rock. After the band, there was a DJ, which was already better, but still…. So went to bed early somehow with the tenue de ville “jasje” of the president of AEGEE-Europe.

Sunday, the waking up service was not working, I slept through it totally. I got up at 14.30; So I missed my lunch meeting… So I went directly to the “communistic” handclapping ceremony. 2 hours clapping for all the elected candidates, amazing.

After this wonderful clapping event, we had dinner, a nice sandwich. I stayed then with the people from Heidelberg. After dinner I talked with the CWG representative whom is studying in Rome. The nice thing out of this, was that for my days after the agora in Rome, I had a normal bed, and a warm shower. The last party was again at the place on walking distance of the agora where we had also the first party. I ate there a nice pizza at one in the night :)
The party was alright, I had some fun with the Heidelberg/Praha people. It went again late, as usual. The nice thing was, that it was said that everybody should have left at 7 in the morning the sleeping place. But come on it’s Italy! Butt…. the Italians started to wake up us at 7.15 in the morning. I left together with the Roma people to Rome, we left at 10.30 Napoli, Thank god! And came to the beautiful Rome a bit later then we should, the trains are working everywhere the same! The first thing I did when I arrived in Rome was laying down for some moments on a real bed, and after that taking a hot shower after 4 days of survival you know to appreciate the things you take for granted. On Wednesday I flew back to Rotterdam at midnight I was back home in my own apartment, how nice. With in my mind that the next agora in Valetta will be again in a hotel, what a nice dream!

René Keijzer

Rome - Three great days

2006-11-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

Rome

A place if you never have been there, you should really go there. And if you have been there like me, probably you want to go back again :)

Wednesday

Since we went late to bed on Tuesday, we just got out of bed at 10 :) Laura went to the university at 10.30, then I went to shower and packed my stuff. I left the house at 12 to the train station to leave my stuff overthere. Then I went again to the Spanish Stairs, when I got there I wrote an sms to Laura, since we agreed to meet during her break to have lunch together. When she got there we were wondering around to find a nice place to have lunch. Finally we found a cool place, where I ate some pasta and she ate some egg-stuff. Then we walked back to the Spanish Stairs, and said goodbye. After this I went to the river, to have a nice walk there and to see some stuff I saw the evening before while it was dark, to make some nice pictures :) I walked then for some hours next to the river, and also went to the vatican. I didn't went inside. I will do that next time. I just wandered for 5 hours through Rome. It was nice. Just before I had to be on the station I took a fast food bite at the American Virus M. And then I went by train to the airport. The plane left a little bit later, but still was 5 minutes earlier in Rotterdam. We landed on Rotterdam Soil again at 22.50; and I was home at 23.55 :) And got to bed drectly.

Tuesday

Morning, was there any? Not really since Laura and me were both tired, we stayed long time in bed. After 12 we got outside the bed :) Not typical tourist behaviour :)) I went to the Colosseum, since for me that was the most interesting thing to see in the city. Laura stayed home to clean the house. I walked around the Coloseum. And also went again to the Spanish Stairs :) When I was at a nice squere, i wrote Laura an sms, for the meeting for dinner. When I was one hour later at the meeting point I wrote an new one after 10 minutes waiting, since it's not normal for a German to be late. Then I asked by sms Rogier, if I got the number right... and Laura had forgotten to tell me I should have put +39 for the number she gave me....
So I send again a new sms :) So, then I wandered around the Spanish stairs again, but I could make now some nice photo's so it was ok. When Laura finally came, we went to the place nearby the ESN meeting. We ate some fast food pizza, at the piazza Novana, then we wanted to take a short walk... but that became a walk of 75 minutes :) So, we were at the ESN meeting at 23.10, we stayed there for one cocktail, and left at 0.10 to the social meeting of AEGEE-Roma. Where we came at 0.30 :) Not many people were there, and we went on drinking some nice Southern Confort in front of the bar. When we took another one, we went also to sit at another place. At 2 in the night we were kicked out of the bar, since it closed. Since we didn't finished yet the drink, the put our drinks in plastic glasses. We got out and sit down on the stairs next to the bar to talk further and drink our drinks. Then we went to the piazza venezia to get on a bus, but before we ate some nice cakes overthere :) We took the bus back, and came home at 4.00 :) And went to bed at 5 :) Nice time :)))

Monday

It was written that we had to leave the pavilions at 7 in the morning... I didn't expect that they would be this harsh... Butt they started with waking us up at 7.15; really early :)
Somehow I found the energy to get up early. I said goodbye to some friends, and I left together with the members of AEGEE-Rome, to join them on their trip by train to Rome. We had the train from 10.24, and were at Rome just a bit later then we should have; but ok trains are everywhere to late :)
At two o'clock we came at the place of Laura, first I enjoyed the nice normall bed, and then the nice hot shower after 4 days :)) After some more resting, I left to the Spanish Stairs to meet Rogier, Bobby and the rest of the people of Sofia. Also the members of Praha would come, but they had some problems with getting one person in the hostel. Naturally all were late and me early :) But ok ;) Rogier and Bobby came quit fast and with them I ate a fast bite at M. When the other members of Sofia finally came, we drunk some nice Limoncello :)) At eleven I left, since I promised Laura I would be home latest at 12, and I did :))

Sick

2006-11-12T04:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys!

I'm back from Napoli and Rome. I had a great time there, I came back home on Wednesday at 22.50 I landed again on Rotterdam soil :) I was home just before midnight.

On Thursday it was a hard day of work, and after work I went to my parents to have dinner with them. Also my sister, brother in law and Milan were there. After dinner we went to my grandparents, since it was there weddingsaniversery. I went home earlier, for two reasons. First I was deadly tired, secondly I wanted to surprise somebody with my presents on msn :)

On Friday I went again to work, and my healthy became less. I was happy to go home. I felt again deadly tired, and now also sick. That night I slept but not good each 5 hours I had an attack of coughing... At 15.00 Lara brought me a nice tea, and I got outside my bed. Then I went online from 4 till 6, and then Lara came back from shoe shopping, and we went both to supermarket to get our dinner. We made Spagetti. From 20.00 till 1.30 I was again chatting with one person, when she went to bed, i stayed one hour longer online. I went to bed at 2.45, listend to the radio for 30 more minutes and then went to sleep fast.

Midweek

2006-10-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

There has been a break, but I'm back again. I hope that Aga soon will find also some time to update her blog ;)

Tuesday - AEGEE Social Meeting

Tuesday, it was a free day for me :) I will take more and more free days, since I don't want to take that much hours to next year. In the afternoon I went to my mother to bring back the coffee machine, when I got there she asked me to help her out and to buy an internet cable for my father. So I did :) I borrowed the coffee machine, since on Sunday I celibrated finally my birthday for the family. So that evening was a full house for me.

Then I went to the center to buy a new jeans. I walked, as usual, back home. There I worked a bit in the house, like putting the extra chairs back in the cellar, cleaning the floor in the living room, some people didn't put the nuts in their mouth but on the floor ;) etc.

Just before eight Lara came back home. We went shopping almost directly. Because there was no food for dinner yet.... We decided to do something new with couscous. We invented a new way. We bought chicken, and Italian vegatable mix. Besides that we bought some more.

Together we made the dinner, it was nice as usual. I gave a 7,5 for the meal and Lara an 8 :D

Since it was Tuesday, it was the day for the social meeting of AEGEE, I left home at ten o'clock. When I was almost near the bar, I met Chris, great guy from Greece, whom almost left home. When he saw me, he was happy. So both went to Pardoen, where we have our social meeting. After a while also Kati and Nataly came. Kati is from Germany and studies International Communication and Nataly is doing the IBEB programme at the Erasmus University.

From right to left: Nataly, Chris, Kati and me.

So again like the week before, the four of us were chatting the whole time. Some good old times came back, chatting with foreigners the whole evening :)) It was a special day, because Kati and Arjan had both their birthdays!

At 0:45 we all left, and I walked Nataly home, so I arrived at 1.30 into my bed :)

Wednesday - Back to work for two days ;)

Back to work, how nice :) Since one collegue will come back to us, I needed to arrange a working place for her, by Monday. So, I ordered a working place in my room, since that was the only place which we could think of. So, now it will be really full. With two persons it's ok, but three persons and also having all the office stationary in our room, it will be really full. But ok, it's for a short while. Because I was updated on the latest developments of the moving of the people inside the city hall. There has been some pressure on the big guys, and it seems it goes faster now. Let's see if I will sit in the "real" cityhall before the end of the year ;)

When I got home I watched the news, did some chatting, like with my sister, and I went out to buy my food, the "patat" this time, since I didn't feel like cooking. I watched some nice soccer, and I uploaded 5 articles of the OneEurope Magazine on the OEM website. Besides that I had some more chats about AEGEE. Lara went during this evening to a cultural thingy. She came home around ten. Then she had to wash still... normally I wouldn't allow it this late in the evening, but otherwise she wouldn't have working clothes for the next day... so I allow her this time ;)

This also ment we went later then normal to bed, that was nice :) We went to bed just before midnight.

Thursday - What has Europe done

What you should really do is take a look at the website of this banner.

It's really a funny movie. It's part of the Speak up Europe! campaign conceived by the European Movement International and its partners, and one of them is AEGEE. It aims to bring debates about Europe to the 25 EU Member States and thus contribute extensively to the »Plan D« of the European Commission. With a strong network in operation, this would be the largest civil-society campaign discussing the challenges facing the European Union and collecting the opinions of its citizens.

OK, now back to daily life :)

Thurday, it was a normal working day. The new desk came one day earlier, so everything is already, ready for the extra collegue in my room. We had a nice meeting with the guys whom will move us, about where everybody is gonna sit, and which walls we need extra and which should be removed. And it seems it will be really be speeding up the proces, so that's better, since sitting with three persons in my room is not the best. Also I have been working on the invoices, since I had to many bleu things on my desk :)

I left at 17.20; I wanted to say have a nice vacation to one collegue, but she was not there at her place, i waited for some moments, but she didn't came. I walked home as usual. While doing that, I changed my mind on what I should eat, and I went to the Chinese, to buy Nasi Goreng.

So, when I got home, I could eat directly. I expected also that Lara would be already home, since she was planning to come early home since she would leave to Kortrijk in Belgium that evening to see an exhibition about interior design. She came late, hurried like a mad man, and then came just like 5-10 minutes short, and had to call her friend that she could make the train on time, and then she could relax a bit; since the next train would leave the next hour.

That evening I watched the soccer. Feyenoord played against Basel, and it was 1-1; If you have seen the game it was good for Feyenoord, since they didn't play well. But non of the Dutch teams lost. :) I went to bed at 1.10; since was rather late. But the day after I'm free ;)

Another long weekend

2006-10-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday - Pasta

Last working day of this week, it’s nice to have working weeks of just 4 days. We had again some small meetings about the coming movement, and also since next week, one of my colleague’s will come to my room. We have been packing her stuff already in boxes. She has all the office supplies of our department, so a lot to move. Since she has some back problems, I helped her with packing. When I got home, I waited on Lara. As usual we did the shopping together. We decided to make spaghetti that evening. So, I cooked again, but that’s something I like to do, when I’m not alone. At half past nine, I went again online and chatted with Aga till midnight about all kind of things. At midnight I went to bed.

Friday – Free day

Yes, again a free day on Friday. Since I have still many days left, I just took three days off in the first six months, I use them now on Friday’s, on the Friday’s which my colleague is working. I got up at eleven. First I checked my emails; after that I went on working for the CWG elections. I checked if every person whom applied was also member of the Culture Working Group, and three of the nine were not members yet, so I had to send them a reminder. Also I worked on the mail, the Juridical Commission will sent, with all the persons whom can vote, and the persons whom we can ask questions to. It will be strange. For the first time, in years I will not be in this election. I decided that after 6 years of being in the Culture Working Group it’s time to leave it to the young ones ;) Not that I will do nothing anymore related with Culture, I’m still the head of the Culture part of the OneEurope Magazine. The coming issue will be printed in a week. On Sunday we have to send the source file to the printing house in Cluj-Napoca. After doing this, I had a 1,5 hour chat with Aga. Then I planned to go out, but due to the rain I didn’t went outside. I did some house work instead. And also checked some mails from work. Also I finally managed to book my flight to Rome. I will go on the first of November, and will fly back on the 8th. Since the agora of AEGEE will be in Napoli and I never have been to Rome, I decided to take this chance to visit also Rome, which was the highest city on my virtual list of cities I still want to visit in Europe. Now Berlin is the highest :) At five I went online again, and chatted with Aga till quarter past seven, since I then went to have dinner. I made soup and Lara heated up some couscous from Wednesday. Lara went before nine to her dancing lessons, while I started again from quarter past 8 till quarter till one chatting with Aga. At one we went to bed.

Saturday – New watch

Just before one I got out of my bed as my Saturday long nap. Lara was still there, her boyfriend was coming this weekend. She left as many times in a hurry, since she though that because of the train her boyfriend missed, she would have much more time. But there are many trains between Utrecht and Rotterdam. After she left, I watched the Formula 1 qualification, because with two races left it’s very exciting. After this I went to the centre to do some shopping. I finally bought my birthday present, a new Swatch watch. After that I went on some more shopping spree. First I thought about buying a book about Rome, but instead I bought a book of Robin Hobb, which is a SF writer. When I got home, a watched a bit TV before I went to by my dinner, “patat”. It was the evening of European Soccer Championships pre-games. First I watched England against Macedonia; and later of course Bulgaria against Holland. We played 1-1; we were better, but we couldn’t win. After the game, I went back to chatting with Aga. I went to bed at 1 o’clock.

Sunday – helping my parents

At one I got out of bed, as normal first checking my mails and also do again some work for the OneEurope magazine. At two the I went watching the Formula 1 race. It was really interesting. Alonso won, and Mister Schumacher didn’t reached the finish, so if Alonso will finish with the first 8 in the last race, he will be the champion. Then at 10 past three I watched somehow my, and saw that I had to leave my house already 40 minutes to be at three at my parents place to help them with removing the furniture; so that on Monday they can come to lay new carpet. I was at my parents place at 20 minutes before 4; a bit late, but still on time. My nephew and brother in law were also there. I left after five. When I got home I got the invitation of Koen, to drink with Asia something later that evening. At quarter past seven Lara came home to refresh, since she would have a meeting with her boss this evening. At ten past nine I left the house to meet Asia and Koen at subway station Delfshaven, to have a nice drink or three :) We had a nice time, at quarter past twelve we went back home, since Asia had to go to the conference the next day and I had to go to work. When I came home, I went directly to bed, before sleeping I read some pages in the book of Robin Hobb.

Last weekend of September

2006-10-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

Friday – free day

Yes, my weekend started already on Friday since I took a free day :) I woke up at eight, my normal getting out of bed time; but I could stay in bed longer. I already got out at eleven, which is not normal for me on a free day.When I got out, I first checked the internet. Then I did something which I promised myself a long time ago, to clean up my bedroom. So I started, I filled one garbage bag during this day. When Lara came back from work, I was doing the dishes. We did the shopping together, we were supposed to eat together the nasi I was cooking, but she was in a rush and needed to go fast to her Salsa lessons. So, I ate alone, I went online to chat with some friends. Even with a friend from laserquest whom I didn't spoke for a long time, Mause. That was really nice. When Lara got back, she ate the cold dinner. And asking me if I would join her to a salsa party. I had to think, since I have been once to a salsa place in Budapest, and didn't feel like going, since there I went after a short while away from that place. But somehow, I wanted to give it another try, so I joined Lara, we left at 23.30 by car. At midnight we got at Sorgh en Hoop bar, where they have on Friday have salsa party. Lara enjoyed the time we stayed there, she danced, while I was watching. After two hours, the limit of one kind of music had reached my limit. We got home at 2.30 and went to bed at 3.

Saturday – Kralingse Forest

After the afternoon, I got out of bed. It was a relaxing day. First abit again, checking emails and chatting with my sister. Also we didsome cleaning in the house. I really got the clean up fever :D Sinceit was such great weather for the last day of September, Lara and mewent for a walk around the lake in the Kralingse forest. When we hadwalked half way, we sat down and enjoyed this last September sun. When we reached home we rested first a bit. Since Lara didn't felt so good I went to AH to do the shopping for the weekend. We decided to eat potatoes with green beans and some meat. I even bought the biological meat, that surprised Lara ;) I cooked the dinner. And as I don't like doing the dishes, Lara is doing that job. In the evening we watched TV, first we watched Paul de Leeuw, and after that some other programmes. At 1.30 we went to bed.

Sunday – More cleaning

At twelve I got out of bed, I watched the Formula 1 in Shanghai. After that I went again in the cleaning mode. I had filled another garbagebag fully and I brought it downstairs, since I cleaned a lot. It's looking now almost as if I just moved in. It has been a long while, since it has been so empty mybedroom. That's a nice feeling. I didn't had the feeling to cook, and also I needed my weekly "Patat". So, this time we ate separately. Because Lara don't like "patat". After the dinner I watched the soccer games, while Lara was doing her homework for the Dutch lessons.
Before midnight I went to bed.

Wonderfull days

2006-09-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

Thursday – Feyenoord

Already over the half of the week, at least the working week, that’s always a nice feeling. Since my boss was not there, and also some more co-workers it was a lame day. No meeting this day which could break the day. When I got home, I did my natural routine, checking my mails, watching the news and waiting till Lara comes home, so we could discuss what we will eat :) This evening we did it simple. She ate the pasta of yesterday with some adds, and I made chicken soup. Since it was the week of the European soccer matches, we could watch again some nice soccer games. We watched together the game of Feyenoord. They were playing against Sofia, first we were 2-0 behind but in the end we played 2-2 which is quite ok, for the shape where Feyenoord is in now. And Lara could learn another word “strafschop”, which means penalty. After the game we discussed which movie we could go the other day, since one of my colleague’s gave me a AH filmweek card, which gives us the second ticket for free, so it would be a waste of not using it. We decided to go to the Da Vinci Code. But it would be the movie theatre on the south side, which is nor Lara nor my favourite place. But ok. :) I loved the book, and what I had seen from the trailers it could be a nice movie.

Friday – movie night

Almost weekend!!! Last working day of this week. Today I had a meeting which broke my day, that was good. It was hopefully one of the last meetings about the subject of the crises room. We have been working on this already for a year, so I really hope that we soon can close this ‘project’. It’s nice and not that nice to work on Friday’s. It’s nice because you’re not disturbed that much since many co-workers are having a free day. But on the other hand it’s not that nice, since not that many persons are working so less social contact. Like today out of the 5 persons around me, just one worked besides me. This evening Lara cooked, she made white beans with unions and broccoli. This was really nice. We went out at 20.20, which was smart, because when we wanted to take the tram to the movie theatre, the first two were with “don’t get in” on it. Finally the third 23 tram was allowed to use :) In the past if you had booked your ticket before you had to get it at least 30 minutes op front, that’s why I planned to be there 30 minutes before. But they have changed their policy, now the persons can get their tickets till the last minute, and since the movie we wanted to see was sold out, we could wait for another 30 minutes and try again. So we walked a bit around, went to the riverside, where we tried to make a photo with Lara’s digital camera, but we didn’t succeed. When we got in, we had to stand again in line, but it was worth it. We got two places, just on time and the movie the Da Vinci Code was very nice. We both liked it. The film ended before the last tram left, so we were lucky. But I didn’t had enough ‘strippen’ anymore. They didn’t came to check us, so I thought it would be ok. But then they came to us, so I talked us out of the problem, but we had to get off on the stop right after the bridge. Which for me was no problem, since it was a nice night walk next to the river. We got home after one in the night.

Saturday – walking in the center

Weekend! Since we had both a long week and needed some time, we got up late, and of course me later then Lara. We went by foot to the centre, we both bought a newspaper, me the NRC and she a German newspaper. Then we went to Swatch shop, since I need a new watch, because my watch is not looking that nice anymore. So I was looking what I could buy as birthday present, since that day is coming near. Then we walked around the centre, and we went also inside the city information centre, where there is a big Marquette of the city of Rotterdam. Also they have two big pictures, one with the centre before the bombing in the war and one afterwards. And this is impressive, that's why I almost always take foreigners to this place. While we were inside this information centre we met Jaap and Koen together with a friend of them.
We went walking further, we found by excident the hostel where Lara’s mother will stay when she will come to Rotterdam, to celebrate Lara’s birthday, which is one day after mine :)
We went back home, got the shopping bags and went to the AH. Where we bought the food, for the dinner. We cooked together. We ate potatoes with green stuff and smashed apples together with biological meat. It was a nice dinner. After dinner I went finally online and had a long chat with Aga, since she got back home that day from her seminar in Brussels. Lara went out in the evening for Salsa dancing, since she really loves that. I was a bit tired and I’m not that eager to go to a salsa bar, since I have been once in Budapest and didn’t liked it, so I stayed home. She left around 22.30. When Aga and me stopped chatting at 2, Lara came back, a bit frustrated. First of all the place didn’t open till 23.00, while on the door was written 22.00. Then she had to pay like 8 euros to get in, while there were hardly any people. So she also checked another place, which was at least free of charge. But also there were hardly persons. So, she went back to the first place, but even at 1.30 there were just around 30 people and 4 people dancing, so she came home frustrated. She explained her adventure to me, and then I went online to see where she could go. So, maybe next time she has more luck. At three we went sleeping.

Ad: Cultural Working Group

2006-09-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

Look how cool!!!

Busy days

2006-09-14T05:46:00.000-07:00

Monday – interesting dinner

Monday morning as usual is a working day. This morning was a crazy one, because I wasn’t there on Friday there was some work left from that day and also since Monday is the day of the stuff for the agenda for the city council, and it was a messy day. First I needed to sort out one agenda point from last Friday which was needed to put on the agenda on the coming Tuesday agenda. Normally you have to hand in these stuff one week before and not just 2 days before, so it was a lot arrangements to be made. Due to this messy morning my whole working day was strange. I went back home also a bit later then normal. I watched the news and some other stuff on the TV. At 7 o’clock Lara came home from work. She made some interesting dinner. Biological meat which was ok, but with some kind of salad made of chicory, unions and small tomatoes; and that was really interesting. We talked a bit and then she went out to call her boyfriend, and that took really a long time, she just came like 1¼ hour later home, I was just on the point to send an sms to ask her if she is ok. And then we went early to bed.

Tuesday – the Bowling King pin contest

This morning I managed to get a bit earlier outside my bed to say hi to Lara, but due to the fact that I needed some things in morning, I was not really earlier at work. This was a more normal day, nothing really interesting happened. After work I went directly to the snack bar to get some dinner, French fries and a “fricandel” ;) Some AEGEE members maybe knows how our dear Rotterdam member Roel eats them. LOL. Since Lara talked with a colleague after work time, she just came home at 19.50; and I really needed to leave at 20.05 to get the tram to the place where will be the bowling. So, we had a short chat, and I left to have a nice evening. It was a nice big group bowling, all together like 18 persons. I was on a bowling lane with Arjan, Pieter-Koen, a girl from Belgium, a guy from Lithuania, and a girl from Ukraine. We had a lots of fun. First the girl from Belgium either threw a strike or nothing at all. On the first lane, our dear mister president Koen won with 103 points, on the other lane Paul won with 101 points. The battle was interesting at our lane. Till the very last throw it was interesting, and everything could happen. Pieter-Koen had 110 points, and I had like 105 till turn 9, so if I would throw 6 pins or more I would win it….. and I threw even a spare and ended on 124 points, which is not bad at all. After this bowling we went to the café Pardoen, to have some nice drinks. Also AEGEE-Delft came on a visit with also some international students so it was a really busy evening at the social meeting of AEGEE-Rotterdam. At 0.30 I went back home with the last subway, since I didn’t felt like walking back. I got home at 0.50 and I was silent enough to not wake up my roommate. Normally I would check the latest news and look if I have some new mails, but this couldn’t be done this time, since I would woke up then my roommate. So, I go now more and more earlier to bed.

Wednesday – watching soccer

Since the evening before it was rather late than normal, and there is a difference between standing on the terrace or laying down on the couch, it was hard to get up, so no early good morning. Today at work I had a meeting about time writing. We are still struggling and also we as project team, we have doubts if this is what we do now also what the organization wants. So let’s see what the next board of directors meeting will say about our thoughts. For the rest a quite normal day. Before I left to home I wrote an sms to Lara if it would be ok, if I would make pasta for us. She wrote me back, but I didn’t received that sms at all. But ok, she got home just before 7 and we talked first about the last evening and what we had done during the day, and then I proposed to make the pasta. She was already thinking about having dinner outside the door, since she didn’t feel like cooking so she was very happy that I offered to cook pasta. Then we went together to the shopping market, where we did the shopping. Since she really likes to eat real food, she bought the meat, which means biological meat… I cooked the pasta and she really liked it. The meat was funny, it was a kind of though, and I remember from Monday when we ate the other meat that she said this meat is more though since it’s natural meat, so I really had to work on it to make it smaller :)
After the dinner we watched together the soccer game of Manchester and Celtic, she also loves to watch soccer. It was a nice game for sure the first half. During that I also learned her some Dutch words like “mooie” and “hoekschop” during the game. After the game watched still a bit TV and went to bed just after twelve.

The long weekend

2006-09-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

Friday was the day that Aga would come to visit me in Rotterdam, the bus from Poland was suppose to be at 7.20 in Rotterdam near the train station. So my alarm was ringing at 5.30 in the night :) I got an sms from Aga, when she arrived in Amsterdam that she has like almost one hour delay. That was nice, since I was then already outside waiting for the tram, so I could go back home and do some dish cleaning :) When I received a new sms when she was in Utrecht the delay was something like 40 minutes, so I could leaved almost at the time I got that message, I was just ready with the dishes.
When I was waiting near the train station, I spotted the bus, and strangly enough the bus was not stopping, but driving through. So I went walking where the bus was going, till I lost it outside my eyesight. When the bus stopped at the Erasmus bridge, Aga sent me an sms where she was. So the first day started very nicely. It was the first time that they stopped that this place and the company didn’t told the passengers before, so a nice surprise early in the morning. By tram we went to my house.
Since Aga just slept around two hours in her bus trip of 18 hours, she went to bed to catch some more sleep, since that evening we would go to a party where I was the DJ :)
When she woke up, we went to the shopping mall to get stuff for the lunch and dinner, and we had a nice lunch. Finally we went for a nice walk in the sunshine through Rotterdam. I showed her some nice places of Rotterdam, like the famous cubic houses and Erasmus bridge. And we had a nice cup of tea and coffee at Hotel New York, while we watching some brides and brooms. We continued our walk through Rotterdam, back home. I made the dinner, potatoes, smashed apples with red cabbage and some meat. After that we had the great Dutch desert: Vla met slagroom! After dinner I needed to hurry to pack my DJ stuff, since at eight, we planned to go to the party place to install myself. When I finally put on the first song, the first party animal arrived, so right on time. Since I had some international music with me, I really made one Bulgarian girl happy since I played without knowing her favourite Bulgarian music, and also the Polish people I made happy since I got a nice CD from Aga with some cool Polish music. That was really nice, much better then some Dutchies whom were asking all the time terrible music. I asked Beti to come to the party, but she was to tired; so she had sent Jaap instead and he entertained us the whole time when he arrived, and giving us nice Bacardi coke. In the end it was more Bacardi with some coke, then the other way around. At 3 o’clock we were standing outside, after having sung some Dutch songs before leaving with the organisers, waiting for the taxi, since I didn’t want to walk all the way home with the DJ stuff. So we went to bed around 3.30 :)

On Saturday we went after a nice nap, to the supermarket to get fresh bread and milk for the lunch. After the lunch we went for another touristic walk in Rotterdam, we went inside the St. Laurenschurch for instance. We went also to the Festival which took place in the Witte de With street, which is our cultural street of Rotterdam, with a lot of galleries and museums. For this years edition, they had put on all the buildings on the street pink spots :) even on the church! After seeing so many interesting things we went to the old harbour to drink something and also to decide where to have dinner. We went to a restaurant to eat a nice pizza, near the movie theatre, so we could easy go afterwards to the movie theatre. While we were eating I was called by Lara whom is from Frankfurt and doing an internship at Atelier van Lieshout. She joined us, and then she told us about her first 9 days of her stay her in Rotterdam, and her adventure with her place to stay, since there has been some miscommunication. She was planning to stay in a hostel from Sunday on, and since I would have space from Sunday on, I offered her to stay at my place till she finally can stay at her new place. So, for some time I will have again a nice roommate :)
After the dinner we went to the cinema, to see the movie the Sentinel, it was an interesting movie, with Kiefer Sunderland and Michael Douglas. After the movie Lara went home by car, and Aga and me walked home next to the river. We even saw one of the famous Radio DJ’s in Holland Giel Beelen on our way home. We came home at one in the night.

Sunday we woke up pretty early, since we wanted to see still the windmills near my house. So, we went their to play Japanese tourist, going to the two windmills, and making some photo’s and leave! LOL
After this we went to the central station, since Aga went by train to Brussels. That was at 13.24; I would supposed to meet Lara at two, but since she had to give her key to somebody, which didn’t showed up on time, we met later; during the waiting, I went to the centre to see the Rotterdam on wheels, which is a nice yearly event. I watched for some time, before going back to the station, since I asked Lara to send me an sms when she thought she would be in 10 minutes at the central station. But due to this nice event, there were many unexpected traffic jams for Lara, but I didn’t mind since I was waiting in the sunshine, it was really wonderful weather, 23 degrees on the 10th of September!
Ok, we had also a nice time to drive home, with all there traffic jams around the centre, but we made it.
After we had put Lara’s stuff at my place, we went back walking to the centre to go for me again to the Festival. Where we have seen again some new interesting things. After this we went to the old harbour to have something to drink. And while we were sitting there, Arjan came there with his friend and they joined us for another drink. Then we all left together to go home to prepare some dinner. Since Lara had some potatoes left, we didn’t prepared soup as I thought, but potatoes with smashed apples and green beans. And even a bit desert. In the evening we watched the movie Fahrenheit 9/11, that was really an interesting movie. Already at 00.15 we went to bed…. which is pretty early for me.

Daily life 4

2006-09-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

Here I am again, a bit later then I should write, but ok. Last Friday I didn't had a free day as the last two weeks :)

My week started on Monday you could say. Then I invited the SU committee over to my place to have some nice time. To talk about the SU and also some other stuff :) Besides this we watched the movies which was made during the SU. It was a nice evening.

This week was a more of TV week, I watched several nice serials like Stargate, CSI, NCIS, Prison break :) Besides this I had some chats with some international friends.

Tomorrow I will go to the center of Rotterdam, to see how the Harbour Days are :) Another weekend full of activities in the hart of Rotterdam. That's why I love this town, also that's the reason why our city is the events city of Holland :) Almost each weekend in the summer there is something to do in Rotterdam. In the evening I will go to the birthday of my cousin. Also I will see my parents after there vacation in Germany :)

Next week will be a cleaning week for sure :) Since Aga will come on friday morning to Rotterdam and will stay at my place. Today I started with some cleaning of clothes, since I also needed my DJ t-shirt for Friday :) But you all know about this, it will be cool.
Also I'm thinking where and when to spend my fall vacation. It seems that Italy will win in the end. There will be the fall agora in Napoli, but the main reason would be Rome. I really needs to see that city, it's very high on my list of cities I want to visit :)

So let's see how that will work out.

Daily life 3

2006-08-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

Another week, a more active week :) Not today, since I had a free day of work. And that was good, because I went several times late to bed this week, so I needed some time to get my freshness back. I'm getting older :)

Thursday I had a normall day, but due to the fact I partied till late on Wednesday, I felt really tired, I had a meeting in the morning... it was tough ;) In the evening I had some nice chats after two evenings without chatting with my international friends :) On Wednesday there was the cocktail night of AEGEE-Rotterdam, during the Eureka week (introduction of student life to the fresh first year students). That was really cool, and of course the mojitos of the miami vice movie couldn't be missed. And this all for free!!! We really have to thank our own Rotterdam cocktail master Jaap for this, he gave liters of great cocktails to the association. The night before we had our famous Pipenight :) This means that you can drink the special beer till the pipes are empty for the prices of a normal beer :) So, two great nights.

And then Sunday, it rained till 14.30, while the Rotterdam city racing should have started at 14.00 :) We have now nice photo's of our prime minister and mayor of Rotterdam in an open old car totally wet :)) But at 14.30, the sun came back and sometimes a cloud with some rain, but that didn't stop me to go to the Rotterdam city racing.... and it was amazing! Great sound! I love the sound of a Formula 1 car. It's not good for the ears, but still...... it's so cooooooool.

Last but not least, Aga is coming to Rotterdam on the 8th. I shouldn't tell my bed yet how early I have to get up, since she will arrive in Rotterdam at 7.20 in the morning :)) How nice. And the great part will be, in the evening I will be the DJ at an international student party, so it will be a long day :)

No plans yet for this weekend, besides cleaning the house since on Monday the summer university will come to my place for a nice evening :)

Enjoy life!

Daily life 2

2006-08-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Anonymus or not?

Another week has passed by. Where there was a discussion, on more then one blog about being Anonymus or not ;) As written by another person "the person maybe likes to be invisible and unknown", and why not respect that wish of that person is my question?
Some persons perform better and/or feel better if they are working behind the screens instead of working in the spotlight. Maybe this can enlight why some persons like to be anonymus on the internet :D

Yesterday was a special day, it was the birthday of my nephew, he became 2 years old. After my work I went directly to my sister, where I ate together with family. It was a nice evening, and as usual he got very nice and a lot of presents... what can "Sinterklaas" still give? ;) I came home late, and after the news and sport I went to my bed.

On Wednesday I didn't went to skate, but coming week, if the weather will be fine, I will go again. Then the group will be probably bigger, and also the route is different then the last time, we will then also go on one of the main roads in Rotterdam, poor cars ;)
This week I watched the soccer game between Holland and Ireland. We won with 4-0 :) So a good day for the Dutch soccer lovers. Yesterday was a bad day, for Feyenoord, since our striker Dirk Kuyt left Feyenoord and went to Liverpool. It's very nice for him, but difficult for Feyenoord to find in such a short time such good striker.

This weekend there will be another great event in Rotterdam. Monaco aan de Maas :) Some real Formula 1 cars will drive in the center of Rotterdam, it will be a great spectacle! I hope the weather will be fine, because last weekend the rain spoiled the 10th birthday of the Fast Forward Dance Parade, instead of the 350.000 thousant, there came just 200.000; I remember from last years edition (was the first time ever) that it also rained. I was then there with a Chinese girl whom was studying in Maastricht :) It was amazing. Great noise :))

Next week will be a really AEGEE week :) On Monday the Eureka week will start, this means that many first week students will come to Rotterdam, to learn what it means to study in Rotterdam. So, AEGEE will have on Tuesday evening a pipenight, and on Wednesday there will be Cocktailnight, so after skating I might go drinking some nice alcohol :) And on the Monday after this week, there will be a "meeting" of the SU committee at my place. It will be hopefully more a social evening then a real meeting :) Let's see! So, three meetings in 7 days.

Have a nice week!

Daily life

2006-08-10T00:53:00.000-07:00

In these posts I will put some news about my daily life, not that it's so adventurous, but maybe interesting in the future to see what I've done with my life :D

Yesterday (Thursday) it rather normal day, I've worked, went to my parents to have dinner. Also my sister, brother-in-law and my nephew Milan were there. When I got home I was to tired to get behind my pc and chat with my friends. Went to bed rather early.

Tomorrow the Fast Forward Heineken Dance Parade will be in Rotterdam, for the 10th time. There will be 40 trucks with dance, trance, techno, drum & bass and eclectic. There will be national and international DJ's, like Benny Rodriques vs. Cleon Macnack, Erik E, Armin van Buuren and off couse Michel de Hey. So, I might go there to make again some nice pictures, and also feel the beat of the parade on the Erasmusbridge... that's an amazing feeling :)

On Wednesday it was finally possible to join the wednesday night skate. The week before it was raining, so it was cancelled, and the week before that one, it was just simply to hot :) It was cool to join this 16km skate trip through Rotterdam, on the normal roads (where normally the cars drive) with almost 10.000 participants! I went there this time with my sister, she went for the first time, brother in law, and the father of a friend. Also Karin, of AEGEE, found me in the crowd.

Saturday was also a nice day. After shopping in the center and picking up some new photo's, I had a dinner date with the president of AEGEE-Rotterdam. It was a nice meal, where we spoke about stuff of the association, both locally and European. And off course also about other stuff ;) After the meal we went to Pardoen for some nice drinks. When I got home, I made another arrangement for that evening, to meet Lara from Germany, whom I helped a bit with finding a room in Rotterdam. She will stay her from September till the end of February, she was here for the weekend with her boyfriend. Just the week before I got on a call from her on my mobile, she got my info from Olivier G.; that was a nice surprise. But if you're so long in an European Student Forum as me, that's something can happen. Together with two other AEGEE members we went that Saturdayevening for a drink at Concordia, a place where normally a lot of international students are, since the International Student Houses are right behind it, due to the fact that the study season hasn't started it was now quiet.

Till next time!

The city I love

2006-08-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

The Old Harbour

Cubic houses (yes they really live in here!)

The Pencilhouse, blaakstation and Cubic houses

Schielandmuseum

The Bridge - Erasmus (nick: The Swan)

The bridge "Hef"

Strudel pie

2006-08-04T04:41:00.000-07:00

Written by Chiara Ridolfi

A strudel pie it’s like an album by Belle & Sebastian,
it’s like sleeping in the back seat of the car
while in front your parents are taking care of everything.

Strudel pie is safe,
the government might fall
or you might be fired
but inside of a strudel
you will always find
warm apples and raisins.
Nicely baked,as it should be.

Article: Pavese

2006-08-04T04:34:00.000-07:00

Written by Alessandro Pelicioli

Cesare Pavese (1908 – Turin) graduated on Walt Whitman poetry, was first of all a good translater of English Literature, and then a writer of novels and poems. Altought his name is famous in Italy, just a few number of Italians read and appreciate this author, and this is due especially to the themes and the style of his works: in his novels he “make up the most dense, dramatic and homogeneous narrative cycle of modern Italy, and we must consider him as the richest poet in representing social ambiances, the human comedy, the chronicle of a society. In all of his pages it is easy to recognise an extraordinary depth where one never stops finding new levels, new meanings, because each one of Pavese's novels revolves around an hidden theme, something unsaid which is the real thing he wants to say.” (ITALO CALVINO – Italian conterporary writer and friend of Pavese).

The most important things that we need to realize before get nearer to this author is to recognise in his need of express himself, a “metaphorical screen for his existential condition “ and a solution for his internal conflicts, that will end, after a bad concluded love story with the american actress, Costance Dowling, with a perfectly lucid suicides on the 26th August 1950, when before swalling a strong dose of barbiturics he left this annotation in the first page of his last book, writing : "I forgive everyone and ask everyone's forgiveness. OK? Don't gossip too much." Much of his work infact, can be read as justify for living, where the suicide is destiny for someone that have no more words: at the end the satisftaction of a work, with all its anesthetic qualities, just wearies.

He is the father of an unknown prose technique, a new kind of literature that is a realism but with a neorealist experiment, and we must consider him as an authentic teacher and popularizer of realistic literature, also because he tried to make strong and to defend himself with his humanistic culture against every irrational dispersion in the artistic center.

In his works we can find his complex character, introvert and distant but at the same time also fascinated by friendship and companion, consisting in a big dichotomy between the loneliness and the need of love, city and the hill (will always remain in the writer’s mind as birth – beginning place), intellectual and man without instruction, man and woman, reality and dream, pleasure and pain, to born and to die, person busy in the politic and without any interest, and between almost every situation and his reverse, that represents in general the theme of division, frustration, the dilemma and the impossibility of reconciling different aspects of one's life, if you are not able to accept yourself, and want to become someone else.

The themes, that can be considered as something of autobiographic experience, speak about man and woman that live their life in a “enormous theatre where, more frankly than anywhere else, everyone’s drama was acted out”, that are used, for their meditative nature, to a natural introspection, for justify their life. There are a lot of beautiful pages made by the description of the psychological situation of the man definitely closed in a moral jail, in an absolute incommunicability, and the impossibilitiy to partecipate in the history, because they are not able to compromise. Further more Pavese is well known also for the usual theme of the return to the origin, for a mental pilgrimage to the mythical places of the infancy, contemplated with pleasure as the only way to draw the fullness of the provision and the awareness of every destiny.

Even if the works of art of Cesare Pavese are not full of optimism, they have the merit to permit everyone to get aware about themself, because if you read this author you can taste, and keep away from you the example of some existences made of no sense, where the person is used to live without coscience, just for work, occupation and pleasure, and for this pressed by a destiny that they can not fight, because they are always lacerated by the veil of the memory.

====================================================

C'è una ragione perché sono tornato in questo paese, qui e non invece a Canelli, a Barbaresco o in Alba. Qui non ci sono nato, è quasi certo; dove son nato non lo so; non c'è da queste parti una casa né un pezzo di terra né delle ossa ch'io possa dire “ ecco cos'ero prima di nascere ”. Non so se vengo dalla collina o dalla valle, dai boschi o da una casa di balconi. La ragazza che mi ha lasciato sugli scalini del duomo di Alba, magari non veniva neanche dalla campagna, magari era la figlia dei padroni di un palazzo, oppure mi ci hanno portato in un cavagno da vendemmia due povere donne da Monticello, da Neive o perché no da Cravanzana. Chi può dire di che carne sono fatto? Ho girato abbastanza il mondo da sapere che tute le carni sono buone e si equivalgono, ma è per questo che uno si stanca e cerca di mettere radici, di farsi terra e paese, perché la sua carne valga e duri qualcosa di piú che un comune giro di stagione.

There is a reason why I came back to this village, here and not Canelli, Barbaresco, or Alba. I wasn't born here, that's almost certain; where I was born, I don't know; there isn't a house or a piece of land or bones around here that I could say, “ Here is what I was before I was born. ” I don't know whether I come from the hill or the valley, from the woods or from a house with balconies. Perhaps the girl who left me on the steps of the Duomo, at Alba, wasn't at all a country girl, perhaps she was some landlords' daughter, or else two poor women from Monticello must have brought me there in a vintage-basket, from Neive or, why not, from Cravanzana. Who could tell what flesh I'm made of? I've traveled enough round the world to know that all flesh is good and worth the same, but that is why one gets tired and tries to put down roots, to make land and country for himself, that his flesh might be worth and stay a little more than a common round of season.

Cosí questo paese, dove non sono nato, ho creduto per molto tempo che fosse tutto il mondo. Adesso che il mondo l'ho visto davvero e so che è fatto di tanti piccoli paesi, non so se da ragazzo mi sbagliavo poi di molto. Uno gira per mare e per terra, come i giovanotti dei miei tempi andavano sulle feste dei paesi intorno, e ballavano, bevevano, si picchiavano, portavano a casa la bandiera e i pugni rotti. Si fa l'uva e la si vende a Canelli; si raccolgono i tartufi e si portano in Alba. C'è Nuto, il mio amico del Salto, che provvede di bigonci e di torchi tutta la valle fino a Camo. Che cosa vuol dire? Un paese ci vuole, non fosse che per il gusto di andarsene via. Un paese vuol dire non essere soli, sapere che nella gente, nelle piante, nella terra, c'è qualcosa di tuo, che anche quando non ci sei resta ad aspettarti. Ma non è facile starci tranquillo. Da un anno che lo tengo d'occhio e quando posso ci scappo da Genova, mi sfugge di mano. Queste cose si capiscono col tempo e l'esperienza. Possibile che a quarant'anni, e con tutto il mondo che ho visto, non sappia ancora che cos'è il mio paese?

So for a long time I believed this village where I wasn't born were the entire world. Now that l've seen the world and know it is made of many little villages, l'm not sure I was really wrong as a boy. One goes about by sea and by land, as the youngsters of my time went to near-by village fairs, and danced, drank, brawled, brought home the flag and the broken knuckles. They make grapes and sell them at Canelli; they gather truffles and take them to Alba. There is Nuto, my friend from Salto, who provides with wooden tubs and wine presses the whole valley up as far as Camo. What does it all mean? You've got to have a country, if only for the pleasure of leaving it behind. A country means not to be alone, to know that in the people, in the trees, in the earth, there is a part of you, that stays there for you even when you are not around. But it isn't easy not to be restless there. I've been watching it for a year and I run up there from Genoa whenever I can, yet it eludes me. These things you understand with time and experience. Is it possible that at forty, and with all the world l've seen, I shouldn't yet know what my country is?

From “ THE MOON AND THE BONFIRES” Cesare Pavese

Visit's of friends

2006-08-04T03:18:00.000-07:00

As I have travelled a lot in the recent years, and being still active in an European Student organisation, I made a lot of friends all around Europe. And sometimes some of these friends come to Rotterdam. Already this summer I got visits from Budapest and Ljubljana and probably also soon from Poland ;)

I'm still searching where I want to go for one week, to visit a friend, somewhere in Europe :)

New start

2006-08-04T03:09:00.000-07:00

Here will come besides stories of the editor, also articles and photo's of others.