Last night we went to a club here in Utrecht to go see DJ Aphrodite....part of the drum and bass scene. We expected to be the old ones in a crowd of 16 and 17 year olds...but there were actually older people there (20's). It was very crowded, as this was a small club. Not much space to dance around...as drum and bass is a favorite of M's. He and his friend Christoph are so fun to watch dancing. They are in their own world. Its cute, and its funny. Christoph's friend Wolfgang (aka 'Wolfy-baby' by Christoph) was also along for the fun. The place was packed with all these 'kids'...and its funny to watch how people dance and how they dress. I've never been to a rave before, but this was probably pretty similar to what its like. We had to wait through 2 other lesser known DJs first, then finally at 145am, Aphrodite came on. Its pretty intense music...'music' if you consider that kind of stuff music. I like it its fun, but after 20 or 30 minutes, it all is sort of the same thing...I think my ear drum even blew out because the music was so loud. Since it was so crowded, and M didn't have the space to dance as he'd like, we left at 3am. I think the club was open til 4. So of course we slept in for half of the day, til noon. Missed half the day, but the weather was just spectacular today. So perfect, in the 80s.
http://www.myspace.com/djaphrodite
Queen's Day is Monday, but the party starts tomorrow...Flea markets and partying all over the city. Some real Dutch culture to explain and document! :-)
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Missing the foam
Since the weather is so nice out, I'll keep it shorter than usual today. Yesterday was very busy at the hostel, and I checked in many Italians...I also made some coffee and espresso on the machine. I attempted several cappuccinos, but i can't get the milk to foam...I don't know what I'm doing wrong. So basically its a coffee with warm milk. it still tasted good. but it wasn't the right thing. i was supposed to leave between 7 and 730, but I ended up there til after 8pm because it suddenly got so busy. I also cut some more cheese slices...fun times. Since yet another soccer game was on tv, I didn't really spend any time talking to the Dutchie.
So, today I have the 'day off'...but its already mid-afternoon...I have to go to the grocery store once again - its like i go there everyday :-(
Tonight I actually am going out and enjoying some night life. I'm going to a concert at one of the clubs here in Utrecht, listening to some drum and bass. Finally! I can act my age again! Gotta get out and go to a bar/pub/club for once!
Have a fabulous Friday!
So, today I have the 'day off'...but its already mid-afternoon...I have to go to the grocery store once again - its like i go there everyday :-(
Tonight I actually am going out and enjoying some night life. I'm going to a concert at one of the clubs here in Utrecht, listening to some drum and bass. Finally! I can act my age again! Gotta get out and go to a bar/pub/club for once!
Have a fabulous Friday!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Cutting the cheese (and other randomness of the week)
Seems I've been lacking in the entries this week. M came back from the USA on Tuesday morning, and I had to work in the afternoon, where I checked 2 people in. It wasn't too busy since a big group of German students had already been checked in the previous day...so I was lucky on that one. Today I do the same thing, I hope its not too busy! I also learned how to do a very Dutch thing...cut cheese from a cheese wheel on a big cheese cutter block. That actually is a bit difficult to cut the correct thickness of a slice of cheese. It took me awhile, I wasted a lot of slices (but that will go to the workers making toasties if they want) and I also had a few slices myself. I love cheese! This was for breakfast the next morning.
So the wonderful things that M brought back for me from home: wint-o-green lifesavers, lots of easter candy, my oboe, clothes, Kraft fat free Zesty Italian salad dressing, my dad's rice-crispie treats, 5 magazines to read including Marie Claire, NG Traveler, and US weekly! :-) Also, many recorded episodes of The Amazing Race and The Office, which I can't wait to watch! Yeah!
Yesterday I had my first class for my weekly Dutch lesson, with a group that is organized by a neighborhood organization, and is subsidized by the EU, so the cost is very affordable. Yesterday was kinda of crazy, and I was told it usually didn't run like that and they do usually study things. It was a group of less than 10 others, and they were not Turkish and Moroccan women as I had thought. There was a British woman, 2 Spanish girls, a woman from Sri Lanka, and another girl I'm not sure where she's from. I found that my level is probably a bit higher than theirs, since I have taken 2 classes in the past. But it is still good for my growth in the language to at least dedicate 2 hrs a week with others. Soon I will enroll in other classes anyways, so this is fine with me at this point.
I also played basketball again last night with the Dames team. It is a workout..and its fun too. It was pretty warm here yesterday, in this upper 70s I'd say, so it was pretty hot in this gym, even at 830pm. My bike pretty much broke down so I walked at least half way home, more than 1/2 hour, before M came with a wrench/tool to tighten the handlebars...they were just twisting off to the side if i put any weight on it, which is very dangerous! I had to stop suddenly for a car or other bikers and I pretty much wiped out a few times. Its fixed for now.
The funny story I had to share with you all....when M was in SF last week at the AAG conference, a person approached him and asked if he'd like to perhaps take part in a program on the History Channel related to geography and geomorphology. They were looking for a nice Midwestern looking person (M thought this meant WASP..white anglo saxon protestant...which is probably true). So he said sure, why not. But they didn't really explain much more than that, so he was not prepared for the 'interview' on Thursday morning, as to what they may ask or answers he could prepare. But, turns out this program is some sort of travel show and what he was auditioning for was to be a host! And the show would travel to 10 or 12 cities around the world and discuss the geography/geomorphology of that city/region. Such places they mentioned as possible locations: Shanghai, Mumbai, NY, SF, etc etc....So he auditioned to be a host of a tv program in the US! I'm sure the chances are slim that he may get it, but it would be sooo cool! That would be my dream job!!! Funny experiences in America! I've lived there24 years of my life and never have been approached by a scout for anything! Well, it must be his tall striking looks....and bushy brown hair and scruffy beard. He hasn't cut his hair in 4 months...haha...maybe that's the relaxed Euro look now. So if he doesn't get a phone call, he should email them...so at least he has some contact information. I thought it would be a nice sales pitch if he suggested that they could do a program and the both of us could be the co-hosts...since most people travel in pairs or with partners...it would be a good representation of real travelers...and we both have a geography background and we'd have double the perspectives on a place- the American and the Northern European. And what a great way to present a global travel program, than with a global relationship! I even dreamt about it last week, that we were hosting a show...hey, I gotta get excited about something you know!
Yesterday I had my first class for my weekly Dutch lesson, with a group that is organized by a neighborhood organization, and is subsidized by the EU, so the cost is very affordable. Yesterday was kinda of crazy, and I was told it usually didn't run like that and they do usually study things. It was a group of less than 10 others, and they were not Turkish and Moroccan women as I had thought. There was a British woman, 2 Spanish girls, a woman from Sri Lanka, and another girl I'm not sure where she's from. I found that my level is probably a bit higher than theirs, since I have taken 2 classes in the past. But it is still good for my growth in the language to at least dedicate 2 hrs a week with others. Soon I will enroll in other classes anyways, so this is fine with me at this point.
I also played basketball again last night with the Dames team. It is a workout..and its fun too. It was pretty warm here yesterday, in this upper 70s I'd say, so it was pretty hot in this gym, even at 830pm. My bike pretty much broke down so I walked at least half way home, more than 1/2 hour, before M came with a wrench/tool to tighten the handlebars...they were just twisting off to the side if i put any weight on it, which is very dangerous! I had to stop suddenly for a car or other bikers and I pretty much wiped out a few times. Its fixed for now.
The funny story I had to share with you all....when M was in SF last week at the AAG conference, a person approached him and asked if he'd like to perhaps take part in a program on the History Channel related to geography and geomorphology. They were looking for a nice Midwestern looking person (M thought this meant WASP..white anglo saxon protestant...which is probably true). So he said sure, why not. But they didn't really explain much more than that, so he was not prepared for the 'interview' on Thursday morning, as to what they may ask or answers he could prepare. But, turns out this program is some sort of travel show and what he was auditioning for was to be a host! And the show would travel to 10 or 12 cities around the world and discuss the geography/geomorphology of that city/region. Such places they mentioned as possible locations: Shanghai, Mumbai, NY, SF, etc etc....So he auditioned to be a host of a tv program in the US! I'm sure the chances are slim that he may get it, but it would be sooo cool! That would be my dream job!!! Funny experiences in America! I've lived there24 years of my life and never have been approached by a scout for anything! Well, it must be his tall striking looks....and bushy brown hair and scruffy beard. He hasn't cut his hair in 4 months...haha...maybe that's the relaxed Euro look now. So if he doesn't get a phone call, he should email them...so at least he has some contact information. I thought it would be a nice sales pitch if he suggested that they could do a program and the both of us could be the co-hosts...since most people travel in pairs or with partners...it would be a good representation of real travelers...and we both have a geography background and we'd have double the perspectives on a place- the American and the Northern European. And what a great way to present a global travel program, than with a global relationship! I even dreamt about it last week, that we were hosting a show...hey, I gotta get excited about something you know!
Monday, April 23, 2007
A is for Antwerp
This weekend I visited the Belgian city of Antwerp. Over 500,000 people live in this city, the largest city in Flanders, the Dutch speaking northern half of Belgium. I've only stopped here at the train station twice, both times in 2002, and a lot has changed since then.
The first thing you see when you arrive in Antwerp is of course the train station. The station itself is in a beautiful building, built between 1895 and 1905. There is a huge dome at the entrance of the building, and the station itself is covered by a glass and metal vaulted ceiling. The building is made of stone and marble, and every single inch is decorated. Its quite amazing. In the last 5 years though, much has changed. It used to be a station that was not a thru - station, meaning you enter on your track and then it goes in the opposite direction to continue on to the next station. In the last five years, they have undergone a huge reformation, and there are 3 levels of tracks, four tracks are at the lowest level, some 60 feet below ground level, however the center of the station is all open and you can see the top level from the bottom. Its quite amazing and quite modern, even though the entrance/building itself is 100 years old. These lower tracks, and the tunnels that these tracks travel through were built to of course help the flow of train traffic through the city and speed up the travel time. Antwerp is on the main line from Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris. Now this station can be a thru-station, and the traffic continues on below the city. In fact, these tracks just opened for travel less than a month ago. I was really really impressed. This is the best train station I've ever been to.
Outside of the station is a large open square. Cafes line one side, and the Diamond museum and the entrance to the Zoo are on the other side. The main site in Antwerp is the Grote Markt, the town square, with beautiful houses/buildings from the 19th century in Flemish Renaissance style. Town squares and buildings are much more ornately decorated and exquisite than in the Netherlands. They are decorated with gold painted statues and statues of the Virgin Mary are often found on many buildings throughout the city. Town squares are much more 'simple' in the Netherlands. In Belgium, you get the feeling you are more in Paris, with metal works and more gold and more color.
The cathedral dominates the 'skyline' of Antwerp. And I was always pleasantly surprised that it seems after every few 'blocks', you enter into smaller 'squares/plazas' with cafes...it was very nice. There are many different churches to visit in Antwerp, although we only went inside two. Below is a picture of the inside of Onze Lieve Vrouw (Our Lady) Cathedral.
Fashion is also a part of Antwerp. You can see that people here, young and old, dress a bit more fashionable, and that they at least took time to put their outfits together. Not as much punk as the Netherlands (I contribute that punk look to H&M's inexpensive definition and selection of fashion). A store called the "Fashion Palace" is shown below.
We stayed in a B&B, which was very nice, but still seemed they were working on fixing up the place. I had the feeling that I was in some WWI era romance story, with a breakfast/dining room decorated by stained glass and a skylight over the table also in stained glass. The building was 3 stories high, we had to walk up steep narrow steps to the top. The floors were wooden boards (untreated), and the ceiling was also like a wooden attic. There was an Art Nouveau feeling to the place. Actually, I think most of Antwerp and Belgium is a center of Art Nouveau. Maybe that's why I like it so much! :) I really like that style in art and architecture. Below is the Breakfast Room of Casa Luca, where we stayed (www.casaluca.be). The floors in the eating area, kitchen, and entrance hall were all mosaic floors.
We walked around quite a bit, did a bit of shopping, and went to three museums on Sunday - Ruben's House, The Photography Museum, and the main big Art Museum. We were lucky enough to be visiting Antwerp during a wonderful weekend- all the museums were free entrance on Sunday! There was also the 2007 Antwerp Marathon on Sunday as well. We also rode the trams quite a bit. The public transport there is great, and very affordable. The weather was perfect too. It was a very enjoyable weekend.
The first thing you see when you arrive in Antwerp is of course the train station. The station itself is in a beautiful building, built between 1895 and 1905. There is a huge dome at the entrance of the building, and the station itself is covered by a glass and metal vaulted ceiling. The building is made of stone and marble, and every single inch is decorated. Its quite amazing. In the last 5 years though, much has changed. It used to be a station that was not a thru - station, meaning you enter on your track and then it goes in the opposite direction to continue on to the next station. In the last five years, they have undergone a huge reformation, and there are 3 levels of tracks, four tracks are at the lowest level, some 60 feet below ground level, however the center of the station is all open and you can see the top level from the bottom. Its quite amazing and quite modern, even though the entrance/building itself is 100 years old. These lower tracks, and the tunnels that these tracks travel through were built to of course help the flow of train traffic through the city and speed up the travel time. Antwerp is on the main line from Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris. Now this station can be a thru-station, and the traffic continues on below the city. In fact, these tracks just opened for travel less than a month ago. I was really really impressed. This is the best train station I've ever been to.
Outside of the station is a large open square. Cafes line one side, and the Diamond museum and the entrance to the Zoo are on the other side. The main site in Antwerp is the Grote Markt, the town square, with beautiful houses/buildings from the 19th century in Flemish Renaissance style. Town squares and buildings are much more ornately decorated and exquisite than in the Netherlands. They are decorated with gold painted statues and statues of the Virgin Mary are often found on many buildings throughout the city. Town squares are much more 'simple' in the Netherlands. In Belgium, you get the feeling you are more in Paris, with metal works and more gold and more color.
The cathedral dominates the 'skyline' of Antwerp. And I was always pleasantly surprised that it seems after every few 'blocks', you enter into smaller 'squares/plazas' with cafes...it was very nice. There are many different churches to visit in Antwerp, although we only went inside two. Below is a picture of the inside of Onze Lieve Vrouw (Our Lady) Cathedral.
Fashion is also a part of Antwerp. You can see that people here, young and old, dress a bit more fashionable, and that they at least took time to put their outfits together. Not as much punk as the Netherlands (I contribute that punk look to H&M's inexpensive definition and selection of fashion). A store called the "Fashion Palace" is shown below.
We stayed in a B&B, which was very nice, but still seemed they were working on fixing up the place. I had the feeling that I was in some WWI era romance story, with a breakfast/dining room decorated by stained glass and a skylight over the table also in stained glass. The building was 3 stories high, we had to walk up steep narrow steps to the top. The floors were wooden boards (untreated), and the ceiling was also like a wooden attic. There was an Art Nouveau feeling to the place. Actually, I think most of Antwerp and Belgium is a center of Art Nouveau. Maybe that's why I like it so much! :) I really like that style in art and architecture. Below is the Breakfast Room of Casa Luca, where we stayed (www.casaluca.be). The floors in the eating area, kitchen, and entrance hall were all mosaic floors.
We walked around quite a bit, did a bit of shopping, and went to three museums on Sunday - Ruben's House, The Photography Museum, and the main big Art Museum. We were lucky enough to be visiting Antwerp during a wonderful weekend- all the museums were free entrance on Sunday! There was also the 2007 Antwerp Marathon on Sunday as well. We also rode the trams quite a bit. The public transport there is great, and very affordable. The weather was perfect too. It was a very enjoyable weekend.
Also not to be forgotten -- is the food! The highlight for me is the usual stereotypical foods- frites, waffles, and beer! But its all true- and its all good. I had of course some wonderful Kriek (cherry) beer, and seriously the best chocolate covered Belgian waffle! Yum!
I think we will make this 'girls weekend' an annual event. Funny how M is in Wisconsin with my parents this weekend, and I'm here with his. I did learn some interesting stories/tidbits from his youth from his mom and sister. That's always a fun bonus! :-) M returns back to Holland tomorrow morning, and I'm looking forward to it. I've kept quite busy this last week and I've actually not been lonely or upset. But I look forward to his return, of course! I know he has a lot of nice pictures of San Francisco to share, and some exciting stories. I am already aware of one interesting story, but it will have to wait til tomorrow to share with you all!
I think we will make this 'girls weekend' an annual event. Funny how M is in Wisconsin with my parents this weekend, and I'm here with his. I did learn some interesting stories/tidbits from his youth from his mom and sister. That's always a fun bonus! :-) M returns back to Holland tomorrow morning, and I'm looking forward to it. I've kept quite busy this last week and I've actually not been lonely or upset. But I look forward to his return, of course! I know he has a lot of nice pictures of San Francisco to share, and some exciting stories. I am already aware of one interesting story, but it will have to wait til tomorrow to share with you all!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Other Dutch things...
I will try to stop my prejudiced ways and stop stereotyping segments of the dutch population...and i will try to move on from further comments related to Monday's massacre.
I will be gone for the weekend, so this is my last posting for the week. I'm going to Antwerp, Belgium with M's mom and 2 sisters. Its actually only about 1.5 hours away by train, so its not terribly far away. While its still in dutch-speaking land (Flanders)...perhaps the atmosphere will be different there, since it is a different country? We shall see, I've never been there before except for a few different times in the train station (a very nice station, I must say).
I just want to go back in time 2 days....and write a little tidbit on another amusing piece of Dutch culture. The main canal in Utrecht is called the Oude Gracht (old canal). It is very nice and has a wharf at the level of the canal where you can sit and enjoy life at water level...and look up to the life of the city above you. Anyways, this canal runs north-south. I live on the north side of Utrecht. The canal is here too, but there is no longer a wharf or anything like that, its just a canal. Nearby here, is a red light district...and funny enough, it is along the canal here in Overvecht (my neighborhood). I heard about it before, but have never seen it, so on Tuesday, I decided I wanted to ride near there to check it out...and to see what the land is like even further north of here, since I've never explored this area before. So, less than a mile from my apt is the red light district...and funny enough, they are all houseboats! For a stretch of about a mile along this canal are houseboats, and each houseboat has 4 apartments, or rooms basically. and at 5pm in the afternoon, there were girls there, working. And there were also a lot of customers. I'm sure at night its even more shady. But there's a road and people just drive slowly by looking at the girls and seeing who they want to visit. The bike path is next to the road. Its interesting to see the type of people (men) who are walking/driving/biking here looking for someone. Of course there are the young teens, the scuzzy guys, the laborers...but I also saw some decently /normally dressed men...that look like business men. I'd take a picture but I'd probably get in trouble. and plus I don't need some big scary dude coming after me. I also noticed several cars parked there with German license plates. Interesting that they come to this corner of the world in Utrecht. I just think its rather funny...how "dutch" (oh wait, i said I'd stop with the stereotypes)...to have a red light district on houseboats! I didn't look too much, i kept on riding by...to visit some windmills and a castle a bit north of there (speaking of other 'typically dutch' things).
I will be gone for the weekend, so this is my last posting for the week. I'm going to Antwerp, Belgium with M's mom and 2 sisters. Its actually only about 1.5 hours away by train, so its not terribly far away. While its still in dutch-speaking land (Flanders)...perhaps the atmosphere will be different there, since it is a different country? We shall see, I've never been there before except for a few different times in the train station (a very nice station, I must say).
I just want to go back in time 2 days....and write a little tidbit on another amusing piece of Dutch culture. The main canal in Utrecht is called the Oude Gracht (old canal). It is very nice and has a wharf at the level of the canal where you can sit and enjoy life at water level...and look up to the life of the city above you. Anyways, this canal runs north-south. I live on the north side of Utrecht. The canal is here too, but there is no longer a wharf or anything like that, its just a canal. Nearby here, is a red light district...and funny enough, it is along the canal here in Overvecht (my neighborhood). I heard about it before, but have never seen it, so on Tuesday, I decided I wanted to ride near there to check it out...and to see what the land is like even further north of here, since I've never explored this area before. So, less than a mile from my apt is the red light district...and funny enough, they are all houseboats! For a stretch of about a mile along this canal are houseboats, and each houseboat has 4 apartments, or rooms basically. and at 5pm in the afternoon, there were girls there, working. And there were also a lot of customers. I'm sure at night its even more shady. But there's a road and people just drive slowly by looking at the girls and seeing who they want to visit. The bike path is next to the road. Its interesting to see the type of people (men) who are walking/driving/biking here looking for someone. Of course there are the young teens, the scuzzy guys, the laborers...but I also saw some decently /normally dressed men...that look like business men. I'd take a picture but I'd probably get in trouble. and plus I don't need some big scary dude coming after me. I also noticed several cars parked there with German license plates. Interesting that they come to this corner of the world in Utrecht. I just think its rather funny...how "dutch" (oh wait, i said I'd stop with the stereotypes)...to have a red light district on houseboats! I didn't look too much, i kept on riding by...to visit some windmills and a castle a bit north of there (speaking of other 'typically dutch' things).
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Bowling is popular again
Not the sport per se, but is seems every time there is some gun shooting violence or a school shooting, the Michael Moore film 'Bowling for Columbine' resurfaces. And I don't think it was scheduled, it wasn't just some coincidence. Of course they added it in their lineup after Monday's shootings. Granted it started at 1155pm, and it was a Belgian channel...but it was still on. I think the Dutch hold MM in high regard. its like half the population bases their knowledge and opinion on US culture and laws from MM movies. and i will watch a MM film and find it interesting, I like the fact that he challenges ideas, people, and ways-of-life in the US...i also know he's not 100% correct all the time and I know that he is editing things to his advantage, he is the filmmaker after all. I believe he's working on a new film, which will just add more to the general dutch knowledge base on the USA. I just thought it was a hilarious 'coincidence' that Bowling for Columbine came on...like we all have to be reminded of how crazy and out of control our gun culture is...like there is only one explanation to what happened on Monday, and how it is exactly like columbine. no its not. the only thing in common, these boys were all messed up in the head. and they killed people with guns.
But MM must be secretly kind of happy when shootings like this happen...his movies are shown more often on more channels, specifically in Europe I'm sure, and he makes more money. Smart.
I heard one of the volunteer medical responders on the news today...he said the eeriest and saddest thing was putting these bodies into body bags, and their cell phones kept ringing and vibrating, all their calls being unanswered. that is really sad. these poor people had no chance at all. 2 seconds after he would go in the door, their life is over. all those teachers. why target these people? what the hell would make him so mad? why take 32 other lives ...just take your own!! what the hell made him snap?
I'm sick of all the dutchies pointing their fingers at the US. yeah i agree that we need much stronger gun control laws...but can we all get past that point, its obviously not going to change...and not anytime soon...so move on and stop saying this could be prevented. it can't! if we had gun laws, he would use other means I'm sure. or have an illegal gun. just yesterday the mayor of Nagasaki was shot down and they have strict laws. he died today. no one expected the murder of Pim Fortuyn here in Holland 5 years ago. of Theo Van Gogh in 2004. Shit happens, people will murder others if they are that mentally sick. our gun laws just don't help with that i suppose, they make it easier. i am sure that the real, educated Dutch people do feel the pain and sadness of this all and aren't pointing a finger at someone. i think there's a difference between questioning things and pointing fingers and criticizing. while changing beds at the youth hostel today, the person i was working with (a dutchie) agrees with me...and agrees that a lot of dutch point fingers.
I'm not the biggest patriot or supporter of all and everything US related, but for some reason I often feel I have to defend my native land while here in the NL. Although, I do know i'm categorizing a whole country as finger pointers, i know this is not the case and it is not everyone. i know that there are logical, smart, compassionate Dutch people , who can put aside their thoughts and views on gun control laws, and see this for what it is first of all...that it is a horrible tragedy and 33 innocent, bright, and much loved people lost their lives.
***extra note added***I know its not the Dutch alone, many people in many countries are "questioning" our gun laws and culture of violence...I have only just really read comments from a Dutch website, so that is where I am coming from. I know many americans too are pointing fingers and criticizing...but I think they have the right to more so than other nationals, since its their own democracy and culture that they are living in. I just want to clear that up. I focus on the dutch since I am living here now.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Notes on a tragedy
We're all learning more today about the horrific actions of one student at Virginia Tech. I've been very connected to CNN and BBC today. The news has been on tv all day. I don't think I have been this connected to the news, ever. Perhaps it has to do with my distance from the situation, I just want to learn and hear all I can about the latest details. There is no explanation to senseless violence, yet we all want answers. by watching the news all day (literally), I want to to try to make sense of this. Its not healthy for me to sit here by myself all day watching the news, and yet I still do. I can't help but think of what such horror would be like. Sitting in a classroom, oblivious to what is about to happen. Most students just trying to get through the lesson, grasp the concept, and prepare themselves for finals in 3 weeks. In less than 10 seconds, their lives changed forever. Or ended, without a chance. I never once in my life at OU ever thought that such a thing could happen. No one thinks of that. Now we all have something more to fear. Places where we thought were safe, are no longer safe. Anxiety and panic will become more and more prevalent in young and old people alike. And the professors who you may dread seeing...or are just that to you- a professor- suddenly becomes connected to you in an unimaginable way. He not only has shed light on your educational life, but he has just saved your physical life.
the most impressionable thing in this whole ordeal- this could have been me. For 32 people, it unfortunately was them. Their bright lives ahead of them, suddenly cut short for no reason at all. sitting in french, German, or engineering classes.
I feel horrible for this school, for the students and teachers and for the family and friends of those lost.
What is also significant is the global connected-ness of this situation. The worst shooting rampage in US history may have happened in a quaint "safe" town in SW Virginia, but the victims and the shooter himself, all had connections from around the globe, and we still don't even know all 32 victims yet. We have a South Korean, a Peruvian, and Indian, and an Israeli Holocaust survivor. And many of those killed were in international- related classes, hoping to bridge international relations. Some victims even went to this guy's own high school in Centreville.
And since my official Dutch translator is away for the week, I haven't gotten a clear translation on the Dutch reporting and reaction. I am biased towards media that I can read and listen and fully understand (CNN, BBC). CNN International has been using CNN USA coverage for the past 2 days. But I did look on three online Dutch news media sites. Two of the sites just report the news (as they should), but one offers the opportunity to react and leave comments. Perhaps it is a certain section of dutch society that reads that paper, I don't know. And I know I can't fully understand them all, nor perhaps the tone...but I can tell that there is a large questioning and criticism of the US and our culture, specifically our gun culture. But I have a feeling that the majority of the people who left the harsh criticism and apathetic attitude probably have never been to the US or don't know any Americans personally. They only read what the want and believe what they want. True we have rather loose gun control laws, which varies by state) compared to many other countries. They seem to think if we have stricter laws, this wouldn't happen. But if you have sick people who pre-think this out, these tragedies will happen anyways, with a gun or a different weapon. This isn't just US specific, other countries have had their own, similar tragedies in their own history. Even just today, the mayor of Nagasaki was gunned down by gangsters...Japan has very tough gun control laws and it still happens there. No one in this world is immune to it. But the Dutch seem to point more fingers and scold than sympathize. Its a very "I told you so" attitude. Its a very Dutch reaction in my opinion. Rather stoic and apathetic. Its too bad.
There was even one responder who made a comment on how fake the American people are, which has nothing to do with this situation. it just further proves to me, my prejudices on how catty some dutch people are. they criticise us for being so fake, but there are millions of Americans in such a huge country- all very different. I'm sure he doesn't know any Americans personally. of course i could write that i think all dutch people are rude and catty and emotionless. but of course i know not all dutch people are like that, as there are 16 million different people here, and i can't know them all! But I'm sure all the normal dutch citizens with a heart are very saddened by this event.
Turns out all the criticism against the Americans is not even worth it - the perpetrator was not even an American citizen. Yes gun laws need to be changed, but in our country, i don't see it happening. so we need o move on from there. what needs to be looked at as well is the mental health of our residents and citizens. and getting them the help that they need.
Suddenly its almost 11pm and I'm still in my living room. The sun and risen and set; i don't know where the time went. i didn't leave the apt at all today except for a 1 hr bike ride at 530pm.
the most impressionable thing in this whole ordeal- this could have been me. For 32 people, it unfortunately was them. Their bright lives ahead of them, suddenly cut short for no reason at all. sitting in french, German, or engineering classes.
I feel horrible for this school, for the students and teachers and for the family and friends of those lost.
What is also significant is the global connected-ness of this situation. The worst shooting rampage in US history may have happened in a quaint "safe" town in SW Virginia, but the victims and the shooter himself, all had connections from around the globe, and we still don't even know all 32 victims yet. We have a South Korean, a Peruvian, and Indian, and an Israeli Holocaust survivor. And many of those killed were in international- related classes, hoping to bridge international relations. Some victims even went to this guy's own high school in Centreville.
And since my official Dutch translator is away for the week, I haven't gotten a clear translation on the Dutch reporting and reaction. I am biased towards media that I can read and listen and fully understand (CNN, BBC). CNN International has been using CNN USA coverage for the past 2 days. But I did look on three online Dutch news media sites. Two of the sites just report the news (as they should), but one offers the opportunity to react and leave comments. Perhaps it is a certain section of dutch society that reads that paper, I don't know. And I know I can't fully understand them all, nor perhaps the tone...but I can tell that there is a large questioning and criticism of the US and our culture, specifically our gun culture. But I have a feeling that the majority of the people who left the harsh criticism and apathetic attitude probably have never been to the US or don't know any Americans personally. They only read what the want and believe what they want. True we have rather loose gun control laws, which varies by state) compared to many other countries. They seem to think if we have stricter laws, this wouldn't happen. But if you have sick people who pre-think this out, these tragedies will happen anyways, with a gun or a different weapon. This isn't just US specific, other countries have had their own, similar tragedies in their own history. Even just today, the mayor of Nagasaki was gunned down by gangsters...Japan has very tough gun control laws and it still happens there. No one in this world is immune to it. But the Dutch seem to point more fingers and scold than sympathize. Its a very "I told you so" attitude. Its a very Dutch reaction in my opinion. Rather stoic and apathetic. Its too bad.
There was even one responder who made a comment on how fake the American people are, which has nothing to do with this situation. it just further proves to me, my prejudices on how catty some dutch people are. they criticise us for being so fake, but there are millions of Americans in such a huge country- all very different. I'm sure he doesn't know any Americans personally. of course i could write that i think all dutch people are rude and catty and emotionless. but of course i know not all dutch people are like that, as there are 16 million different people here, and i can't know them all! But I'm sure all the normal dutch citizens with a heart are very saddened by this event.
Turns out all the criticism against the Americans is not even worth it - the perpetrator was not even an American citizen. Yes gun laws need to be changed, but in our country, i don't see it happening. so we need o move on from there. what needs to be looked at as well is the mental health of our residents and citizens. and getting them the help that they need.
Suddenly its almost 11pm and I'm still in my living room. The sun and risen and set; i don't know where the time went. i didn't leave the apt at all today except for a 1 hr bike ride at 530pm.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Run away! Run away!!
This sounds rather comical, and I would love to see 5000 rabbits at once, munching on grass and doing binkies in happiness...but I know that 5000 rabbits in a truck does not mean something good. I would rather be ignorant about this and not know what is going on, because to picture it and to think about it makes me so sad for the 4400 that were caught...they survived one horrific ordeal already- a car crash on a major highway - with big huge cars hundreds of times bigger than them coming at them at high speeds. Let them live in the fields! Leave them be! Poor bunnies!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041600500.html
Rabbits Block Traffic in Hungary
The Associated PressMonday, April 16, 2007; 9:48 AM
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Five thousand rabbits blocked a highway Monday, tying up traffic after the truck that was carrying them collided with another vehicle and overturned.
Neither driver was hurt, but some 500 rabbits were killed, authorities said.
A fireman puts a rabbit into a cage after truck transporting rabbits collided with a vehicle, and some 5,000 rabbits ran in all directions on the M1 speedway near Bicske, 35 kms west of Budapest, Hungary, Monday, April 16, 2007. It took several hours until the rabbits could be collected and traffic returned to normal on the speedway connecting Budapest with Vienna. (AP Photo/MTI, Ferenc Fuezesi) (Ferenc Fuezesi - AP)
The M1 highway _ the main road between the capitals of Hungary and Austria _ was closed for hours while authorities gathered up the animals, Highway Patrol Spokeswoman Viktoria Galik said.
By midday, 4,400 bunnies had been rounded up, but 100 were still roaming the fields surrounding the highway.
"Those 100 are free to go. We will not collect them," Galik said.The ending wasn't so happy for the ones that were recaptured. They were expected to complete the trip to a
slaughterhouse, authorities said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041600500.html
Rabbits Block Traffic in Hungary
The Associated PressMonday, April 16, 2007; 9:48 AM
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Five thousand rabbits blocked a highway Monday, tying up traffic after the truck that was carrying them collided with another vehicle and overturned.
Neither driver was hurt, but some 500 rabbits were killed, authorities said.
A fireman puts a rabbit into a cage after truck transporting rabbits collided with a vehicle, and some 5,000 rabbits ran in all directions on the M1 speedway near Bicske, 35 kms west of Budapest, Hungary, Monday, April 16, 2007. It took several hours until the rabbits could be collected and traffic returned to normal on the speedway connecting Budapest with Vienna. (AP Photo/MTI, Ferenc Fuezesi) (Ferenc Fuezesi - AP)
The M1 highway _ the main road between the capitals of Hungary and Austria _ was closed for hours while authorities gathered up the animals, Highway Patrol Spokeswoman Viktoria Galik said.
By midday, 4,400 bunnies had been rounded up, but 100 were still roaming the fields surrounding the highway.
"Those 100 are free to go. We will not collect them," Galik said.The ending wasn't so happy for the ones that were recaptured. They were expected to complete the trip to a
slaughterhouse, authorities said.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A backwards day
Today was a very long day. Considering I was out last night (wow!) for a girls' night at the movies with my friend Vivi and her other 4 dutch girl friends (we saw Transylvannia...very odd French movie), and I didn't get home til 130am..and then I didn't sleep b/c of the caffine in my cola light. I still had to 'wake up' at 545am, as M had a plane to catch, the 935am british midlands flight to Heathrow, then a flight to San Francisco for the AAG Conference. I'm jealous of course, not only b/c he gets a free vacation, but that he is going to my home country without me! AND i will miss him too, of course! he'll be gone for 9 days! It was a first that he left ME at schipol, and I was left there alone. While it is only for 9 days, I am still sad. Now that I am home alone here, at night, that is when it is most lonely.
But, on the other hand, i had a splendid day in Amsterdam on my own. The weather was beautiful, in the upper 70s, I walked all the way from Amsterdam Centraal to the Museumplein, I spent an hour and a half at the Van Gogh Museum. Always a nice place to visit. Of course on a Sunday its full of tourists/visitors. Then at 1, I met a group of about 12 ladies at Cafe de Jaren near the University in the center. I just recently joined a listserv for young expats in Amsterdam, and some of the girls decided to get together for a lunch to meet some others; we were mostly all new to each other. there were some canadians, americans, a brit, a romanian, south african, greek and belgian. they were all very nice, and the majority of them are here for love- for a dutch boy. we had lunch and some drinks and we were there for about 3 hours. a very nice afternoon. i really need to meet some girls and make some friends. it is important in order for me to make my life here.
then i walked around some more, back to the station and took the train back to utrecht. alone.
i amsterdam. i alone.
But, on the other hand, i had a splendid day in Amsterdam on my own. The weather was beautiful, in the upper 70s, I walked all the way from Amsterdam Centraal to the Museumplein, I spent an hour and a half at the Van Gogh Museum. Always a nice place to visit. Of course on a Sunday its full of tourists/visitors. Then at 1, I met a group of about 12 ladies at Cafe de Jaren near the University in the center. I just recently joined a listserv for young expats in Amsterdam, and some of the girls decided to get together for a lunch to meet some others; we were mostly all new to each other. there were some canadians, americans, a brit, a romanian, south african, greek and belgian. they were all very nice, and the majority of them are here for love- for a dutch boy. we had lunch and some drinks and we were there for about 3 hours. a very nice afternoon. i really need to meet some girls and make some friends. it is important in order for me to make my life here.
then i walked around some more, back to the station and took the train back to utrecht. alone.
i amsterdam. i alone.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Just what we need...another princess...
Well, I'm being a bit sarcastic, but BIG news here in Holland this week. Princess Maxima gave birth to her 3rd daughter on Tuesday night in the Hague. Maxima is the wife of Prince Willem-Alexander, the first in line to the throne, as his mother, Beatrix, is the current Queen. This morning, on LIVE tv (oh oh!), they announced the name of their third daughter, the 4th in line to the throne. This is hot off the presses people...less than 20 minutes old! The name of their child is Ariane Wilhelmina Maxima Inez.
As the news broke on Tuesday night that Maxima was in fact in labor...several great and wonderful citizens of this royal kingdom of the Netherlands gathered in front of the hospital and began singing (the dutch version of) 'happy birthday' and waving orange flags and the such. Really wonderful people, you know? haha
But in all seriousness, it is quite exciting to have another little one in the royal family. Congratulations to the lucky parents on a healthy little girl.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
First Day on the New "Job"
Today I started my new job...well, temporary at that...and its not a job I'm getting paid for. I went from a permanent full time gov't employee, to a volunteer youth hostel worker! I started today, and it was nice. I do have a lot to learn/get used to, as in any other job. From 11 til 2 I worked...for about an hour I helped change beds/sheets up on the top floor, then I learned the ropes on the reservation book. That seems rather complicated, esp with all the combinations and trying to fill all the beds...from 14 bed dorm rooms to the single/double room. Some triple rooms can also be used as doubles or as singles. And you have to be careful with one of the double-bed rooms...b/c its a full sized bed, and most likely only good friends or couples will want to share it...not two construction worker types! ;-) Much to learn. I watched one guy come in and make a big reservation for a large group for 2 nights in June, and then 3 Italians checked in right when I was leaving. It is a very relaxed place, and I think I will enjoy it, esp once I'm comfortable with everything.
Then I had a late lunch at the bakery...a 'Mexican pizza'....and I was craving ice cream so I went to *ahem* McD's and had a Mc Flurry. Rather unhealthy lunch, but oh well.
Then I bought 10 eggs at the market, and came home. My two little buns were waiting for me.
I will work again for a few hours on Friday.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
A Saturday afternoon in Holland
The weather was quite nice on Saturday...and of course, every single table was occupied in all the cafes that we tried to visit...so we did what any thrifty dutchie would do, we bought beer from a grocery store b/c its cheaper...and we sat on the wharf along the Oude Gracht (canal) and drank some beers there. As three out of four of us are not native-dutchies, we could sit and joke about the Dutch...and had to watch out for them throwing trash and bottles in the canal, as apathetic dutchies often do. we were careful not to throw bottles at the canal tour boats sailing by. ;-) I would have enjoyed staying there all afternoon, but other obligations prevented this from happening, but for a good hour, it was quite an enjoyable time.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Color
Yesterday we went to the Keukenhof, a large park, with lots of flowers. It was really very nice, and we were there for a good 3 hours actually! Partly because we were taking so many pictures! The view here is of some of the fields you could see from the park itself. For more pictures, please see my flickr page.
www.flickr.com/photos/caclabots
After the park, we rented a tandem fiets (bike) and biked around the fields and saw lots of color! The tulips aren't totally out yet, most of the colors were white/pink/blue from the hyacinths. We rode to the beach, on the North Sea, and just sat/laid there for an hour. I really almost fell asleep, it was quite nice and relaxing with the sunshine on my face and the sound of the waves crashing.
The park of course was full of thousands of tourists and Dutch people alike. It is 13 euros entrance, but really worth it. I would go back again for sure.
www.flickr.com/photos/caclabots
After the park, we rented a tandem fiets (bike) and biked around the fields and saw lots of color! The tulips aren't totally out yet, most of the colors were white/pink/blue from the hyacinths. We rode to the beach, on the North Sea, and just sat/laid there for an hour. I really almost fell asleep, it was quite nice and relaxing with the sunshine on my face and the sound of the waves crashing.
The park of course was full of thousands of tourists and Dutch people alike. It is 13 euros entrance, but really worth it. I would go back again for sure.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Another Dutch-American relationship...
I'm about a week too slow on this news, but there was an interesting American-Dutch connection last week, in Australia. The World Championships in swimming were held in Melbourne last week. The famous Dutch swimmer, Pieter van den Hoogenband, was there in full effect. He is the pride of Dutch swimming. He's not bad looking either. But while googling him yesterday, I found out he is married and has a newborn son, and he's only 29!!! That's rather un-Dutch.
Ok, those personal comments aside, Pieter's biggest competitor has been US swimmer Ian Thorpe. However, he recently retired from swimming, and the big dawg is now Michael Phelps. This 21 year old from Baltimore is some super hero in swimming, if you didn't know. He appeared out of nowhere at the last summer Olympics and took everyone by storm, at the age of 19. He even broke the world record in 4 individual events just last week! They called him 'dolphin-like'. He beat Pieter by a full 2 seconds in the 200 m freestyle, and Pieter was not even doing poorly!
And all last weekend, the sports news was full of this world championship coverage and shock that Phelps broke 4 WR, and left Pieter in his wake. They just cannot understand how he can be that fast. They cannot understand how he can beat Pieter! Pieter cannot even understand it. He's already rethinking his training and approach to the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing because of Phelps' recent performance.
This is just another example of a flourishing, competitive American-Dutch relationship. Except this one is in sports. :-)
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Someone sniffed out my previous blog posting...
It seems I touched a nerve on my previous blog post, re racism in Holland....read the comments below it by clicking on the link. I didn't even mean to open a discussion on racism in Holland, but rather the fact that the show itself had racist overtones to it! Anyways, I think its fun to get comments, esp from people I don't even know!
So I wanted change it up and not get all controversial and post this image of ...of course, a bunny nose. This cute nose and whiskers belong to Rosie, my bunny.
Last night I played some basketball again with the student league at the University. We actually tried incorporating a play as part of our offense. It probably only worked once, as it was never fully run through otherwise. The guard on the team doesn't wait for people to put the play in motion for it to work...he just takes off and does his one man stunts. I scored once, but probably only touched the ball like 6 or 7 times. Its fun to play with a team again, but its frustrating when some people, who even know how it should be played, still don't work as a team. Oh well, we won. I should just be happy that I'm able to play with them, esp when that is my only time to actually interact with other people, even if it is not so verbal. And I am glad I'm able to participate. I am thinking about trying to join a ex-student basketball association....I would have to practice with the team 3 times, and then the coach would make a decision if I'm good enough to join. There are 2 girls teams/levels on the particular team i'm looking at. They play other girls teams within the province of Utrecht. I would love to join a team where there is some organization, plays are run, and everyone has a role on the team. I will have to look into that.
Today I also kept myself busy...I had a free pass to the gym closest to me, and I went to 2 classes this morning to try it out. I did Bodyshape and Pilates. Pilates is pretty tough, never did that before. I was able to follow along pretty well to Bodyshape despite the language barrier. There is one other gym I am thinking about...they offer more classes during the day time, when I'd like to keep myself busy, since M is home at night. But the other gym is nicer/cleaner/classier but of course a bit further away and more expensive. I can't make a choice!
And M arranged a meeting for me today at 1 with a neighborhood organization, they give some language classes once a week, focusing on speaking, which is what I need to work on. Its interesting, because the immigrants they work with are usually the uneducated non-westerners....they have writing and reading classes in Dutch, and I said that I could also improve on that...and the woman who met with me during this 'intake afspraak' said that was if I needed to learn the alphabet first. She thought this was not appropriate for me, since I have a masters degree. So maybe I will be in a class once a week...I have to wait to see if they have space in a class, and then i'll get a letter in the mail. More waiting time.
But at least some things are happening.
So I wanted change it up and not get all controversial and post this image of ...of course, a bunny nose. This cute nose and whiskers belong to Rosie, my bunny.
Last night I played some basketball again with the student league at the University. We actually tried incorporating a play as part of our offense. It probably only worked once, as it was never fully run through otherwise. The guard on the team doesn't wait for people to put the play in motion for it to work...he just takes off and does his one man stunts. I scored once, but probably only touched the ball like 6 or 7 times. Its fun to play with a team again, but its frustrating when some people, who even know how it should be played, still don't work as a team. Oh well, we won. I should just be happy that I'm able to play with them, esp when that is my only time to actually interact with other people, even if it is not so verbal. And I am glad I'm able to participate. I am thinking about trying to join a ex-student basketball association....I would have to practice with the team 3 times, and then the coach would make a decision if I'm good enough to join. There are 2 girls teams/levels on the particular team i'm looking at. They play other girls teams within the province of Utrecht. I would love to join a team where there is some organization, plays are run, and everyone has a role on the team. I will have to look into that.
Today I also kept myself busy...I had a free pass to the gym closest to me, and I went to 2 classes this morning to try it out. I did Bodyshape and Pilates. Pilates is pretty tough, never did that before. I was able to follow along pretty well to Bodyshape despite the language barrier. There is one other gym I am thinking about...they offer more classes during the day time, when I'd like to keep myself busy, since M is home at night. But the other gym is nicer/cleaner/classier but of course a bit further away and more expensive. I can't make a choice!
And M arranged a meeting for me today at 1 with a neighborhood organization, they give some language classes once a week, focusing on speaking, which is what I need to work on. Its interesting, because the immigrants they work with are usually the uneducated non-westerners....they have writing and reading classes in Dutch, and I said that I could also improve on that...and the woman who met with me during this 'intake afspraak' said that was if I needed to learn the alphabet first. She thought this was not appropriate for me, since I have a masters degree. So maybe I will be in a class once a week...I have to wait to see if they have space in a class, and then i'll get a letter in the mail. More waiting time.
But at least some things are happening.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Keep your groeten to yourself!
Last night on TV, I was introduced to one of the most racist tv shows I can think of ....and so many questions come to mind as I was just totally flabbergasted by this idea..that they even could put it on tv.
This show is called Groeten Terug (Greetings Back), and its on the SBS6 channel. They take these innocent people from the bush of Africa or jungles of SE Asia, who obviously don't live like us or even know about the ways of life and technology in the industrialized world, and they bring them to the Netherlands, and have them do some sort of 'normal' activity (what would be normal here in Holland I guess)...and then film it and show it on tv. Yesterday's episode had some people from Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia. I only saw the part with the people from Ethiopia. I couldn't even watch that whole part. There were 4 or 5 boys/men, and they stayed with a family, who then dressed them up as Zwarte Piets ('black petes') and then go to a school and toss candy to the teenagers for Sinter Klaas (St.Nick's Day). I have issues with Zwarte Piet to begin with. Usually the (white) Dutch paint themselves black and wear these sort of bright clown type costumes and have big red lips, big black afro wigs, a hat with a feather, and gold earrings. I'm told they're from Morocco..as Sint was on his way to Holland from Turkey? Sure. Sounds familiar...black people on boats with the Dutch. Hmmm...
Anyways, it was quite painful for me to watch these Ethiopians, who have never even experienced electricity before..be thrown into these costumes for the entertainment of the white dutch. I think they also paid a visit to the dentist. I felt really sorry for them, that they were being totally exploited but they don't even realize it.
I think those from Papua New Guinea had to join some driving school or something...what a wonderful, entertaining idea! NOT.
Who thought of this show to begin with? Did they think it really was a good idea? Did they think they'd get lots of viewers? And really...how did they manage to get visas (much less passports) to come to Holland...what was the reason..."entertainment show" ???? I mean, the Dutch government has been throwing thousands of asylum seekers out of this country for the past several years, and I have a hard enough time getting a residence permit! Plus, many native white Dutch people seem to have a problem with immigrants to begin with. But yet they 'ship in' several 'exotic' men, and they after they use them for their entertainment, they ship them back out again....and I'm sure these guys don't even know what they are getting themselves into when they board a plane for Amsterdam...who tricked them to begin with? How did they get them to come there? Its so wrong in all ways possible! I am still shocked that someone would even think of this to begin with, and then actually go through with producing it. What kind of country am I living in?
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