Hello everyone ...!
I know, i havent updated my blog for ages, but it was just because nothing really happened last week. But the weekend was great fun, so I finally have something to write about.
friday:
- took me about an hour in Hasselt to find my bank (but at least my "savings" are just used in ethical and ecological good projects, so I dont mind walking around for an hour haha - well, but now I know where it is)
- then I went to Herentals, a small town not far from mine. It was soo cool, visiting some friends, learned some words in turkish (Bir, iki, oeç or something :-D, it means one, two, three, and "Evet" (yes) and "hayir" (no)). It was really a nice time, I hate the best pasta and salad in "mediterranean style". Ah, yes, and I watched the movie "requiem for a dream". Mh. Kinda... different. If u know what I mean.
Saturday:
- Partytime in Heusden-Zolder. No, really. Even though i was a little worried at first because until 11 nobody showed up. nobody-nobody. Not even the nerds.
Okay, so the party was heaps fun, got to know many people and finally DANCED.
- I had a real culture shock, when some people, no, like the mayority (even the girls) where dressed like hell: bathrobes, beards, fake glasses, fake hair... horrible. They were from a youthmovement, which means there are in a group which has obviously such a great identification that they go like this on a party. Amazing.
- Funniest joke I heard: Ben aka the funniest and best person I have ever met haha: "Ay, are u german?" - Me: Yes..? "Didnt you loose something?" - Me: Aehhm... No. "The war?? "
Ahh I love it if people are not so stiff about the german history.
- Party ended at 4.00 and afterwards we went to a neighbour of mine (so random!) to talk, listen to some music, ... yeah, it was fun. Thanks Amanda to come with!!!
Quotation of Fons:"didnt I hear something at 6?"
Sunday:
- Arko and me watched Dirty Dancing for the third time and ate pasta. Yummie, perfect.
Today I will go to the art academie and on thurday I will go to Brussels to a colloquium. So, yes, my work is also fine. Except my language course. But well. Mum: "You cannot have everything." yes, true. But believe me, without skipping I would go crazy :-)
So... nice groetjes from Belgi˨(sorry I ca&nnot handle these dots over the e)
Okay, in the end some things I like or dislike about belgium:
a big credit for:
+ go pass!!! you can ride 10 times through allover vlaanderen for 50 euro!! Yeah!
+ everyone is so kind and helpful and almost everyone can speak english
+ if it is forbidden to smoke on a party, nobody cares. :-D
a minus for:
- rondpunte!! i hate roundabouts, in the bus its very uncomfortable and on the fiets just damn scary :-D believe me, they have ridicously many of them :-D
- bathrobes on a party even though it was pretty funny. Sorry guys, but you gave me a culture shock :-D
- everytime the belgian say: its just about 200 metres, it takes me a loong time to get there.. Personally, I dont think its me... :-D
- the belgian eat everything with mayonnaise!!! I saw a women in a cafe dipping her cheese in mayonnaise and it is also common to put mayonnaise on the salad as a dressing. It might taste good, but I am getting fat!! :-D
okay meine lieben mensen...
Salut!
And xoxo to Amanda, Pixie, Hasan, Bram, BEN!!!!!!, Yosan, Fons, Arko and Marie-Rose. And of course, my :bro:
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
philosophy at the bus station
Hello everyone, or Merhaba, since I decided to learn turkish next year :-)
I went to language class today, I found everything very well, I wasn't lost today! Yeah... :-)
I suppose, that is because I was in such a good mood: I met Amanda yesterday evening. It was fun and it's a nice brerakthrough the daily stuff.
- I am saying "daily" DAILY, wow. I am here for almoszt two weeks now. Unbelievable :-) Reflects that I like it here I guess.
Oke, but back to topic now: I found out more about my classmates - Halima, nineteen, one of the best in class, said that she is married. I almost fell off my chair. First you think: What the hell is going on? And then: Marriage is almost the only and easiest way to immigrate.
With these kind of thoughts I went to the station. I had a question refering to the schedule and so I ask one guy from Ghana.
It was easy to come from "how long do you live here?" to "like 50% of my class is married and at the same time in my age" to "how do you have a successful and fulfilling relationship". Philosophy at the bus station. We talked about the immigrants, about racism,
(I recognize just in this moment that this is very difficult to write about my thoughts and considerations about this. But why? "Fragile" topic. For me, because I am german? For me, because I am a foreigner here as well and don't feel right about judging the people's behaviour without any background?...)
yeah, you see, the conversatie (i know that I need these points over the e!) was pretty deep actually. He was very sure about what the "rule of love" is: patience, understanding and trust. He also got the offer to marry his girlfriend, but he negated, even though "there was something wrong with his documents".
Did I mention that he is 19?
That is really another reality, and I get a glimpse now of what it is like to immigrate, settle down, be not really part of the society by being in this class and talking to people. I was never aware of these things behind the headscarfs, the earrings, the rastas...
Fatime said, that in Germany it is kind of an unwritten law to look your vis-à-vis in the eyes while talking. She said, the germans are trying to read if you are one of the good ones, someone to trust. That's true, ay? I was never really aware of that "law". But of course, I am always trying to catch the other one's gaze.
- Amazing what you learn about your country through the view of someone else.
Ahhh so many serious thoughts! What did I do today after school? I went with one politician, who kind of "brought" the EVS to Heusden-Zolder, through the mining history of the town, which is the reason for the high number of migrants here... It was so interesting! The head of the mines were from the wallonie - so if you belonged to the higher class, french was the language to speak. The really huge houses, the cinema, the social club, the football stadium was supposed to be for the "lucky few". The houses in the cité are for those, who just need some space to live in. Ghettos, so-to-say. In former times, down in the coalmines, everyone was black: Igor, Mohammet, Rustu and Giovanni. But now, since the mines are closed (about 15 - 20 years ago!!!!) there is no more binding element anymore. And thats is the problem.
You can imagine the hierarchy of the employers and the workers like the white and the latinos in Cuba, Mexico, America... I was shocked how far it went. And that it was in the 1960s and 70s, so our times. -.-
So, this was Heusden-Zolder, philosophy, marriage and immigration. And now I can't wait to have Dinner. The days are so long in België (yeah I found the dots!) ooovvv, in the radio is for like the sixth time the song from MIKA "we are golden". België, you are not really up-to-date.
:-D By the way, what is the song about? I cannot figure it out. But I have to admit its kind of catchy. :-D
Salut, ...
xx to Islem (or something) for the cool talk. Thanks to Marc, it was so cool!
And groetjes to Fons, haha, I know you are reading this! :-D
I went to language class today, I found everything very well, I wasn't lost today! Yeah... :-)
I suppose, that is because I was in such a good mood: I met Amanda yesterday evening. It was fun and it's a nice brerakthrough the daily stuff.
- I am saying "daily" DAILY, wow. I am here for almoszt two weeks now. Unbelievable :-) Reflects that I like it here I guess.
Oke, but back to topic now: I found out more about my classmates - Halima, nineteen, one of the best in class, said that she is married. I almost fell off my chair. First you think: What the hell is going on? And then: Marriage is almost the only and easiest way to immigrate.
With these kind of thoughts I went to the station. I had a question refering to the schedule and so I ask one guy from Ghana.
It was easy to come from "how long do you live here?" to "like 50% of my class is married and at the same time in my age" to "how do you have a successful and fulfilling relationship". Philosophy at the bus station. We talked about the immigrants, about racism,
(I recognize just in this moment that this is very difficult to write about my thoughts and considerations about this. But why? "Fragile" topic. For me, because I am german? For me, because I am a foreigner here as well and don't feel right about judging the people's behaviour without any background?...)
yeah, you see, the conversatie (i know that I need these points over the e!) was pretty deep actually. He was very sure about what the "rule of love" is: patience, understanding and trust. He also got the offer to marry his girlfriend, but he negated, even though "there was something wrong with his documents".
Did I mention that he is 19?
That is really another reality, and I get a glimpse now of what it is like to immigrate, settle down, be not really part of the society by being in this class and talking to people. I was never aware of these things behind the headscarfs, the earrings, the rastas...
Fatime said, that in Germany it is kind of an unwritten law to look your vis-à-vis in the eyes while talking. She said, the germans are trying to read if you are one of the good ones, someone to trust. That's true, ay? I was never really aware of that "law". But of course, I am always trying to catch the other one's gaze.
- Amazing what you learn about your country through the view of someone else.
Ahhh so many serious thoughts! What did I do today after school? I went with one politician, who kind of "brought" the EVS to Heusden-Zolder, through the mining history of the town, which is the reason for the high number of migrants here... It was so interesting! The head of the mines were from the wallonie - so if you belonged to the higher class, french was the language to speak. The really huge houses, the cinema, the social club, the football stadium was supposed to be for the "lucky few". The houses in the cité are for those, who just need some space to live in. Ghettos, so-to-say. In former times, down in the coalmines, everyone was black: Igor, Mohammet, Rustu and Giovanni. But now, since the mines are closed (about 15 - 20 years ago!!!!) there is no more binding element anymore. And thats is the problem.
You can imagine the hierarchy of the employers and the workers like the white and the latinos in Cuba, Mexico, America... I was shocked how far it went. And that it was in the 1960s and 70s, so our times. -.-
So, this was Heusden-Zolder, philosophy, marriage and immigration. And now I can't wait to have Dinner. The days are so long in België (yeah I found the dots!) ooovvv, in the radio is for like the sixth time the song from MIKA "we are golden". België, you are not really up-to-date.
:-D By the way, what is the song about? I cannot figure it out. But I have to admit its kind of catchy. :-D
Salut, ...
xx to Islem (or something) for the cool talk. Thanks to Marc, it was so cool!
And groetjes to Fons, haha, I know you are reading this! :-D
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
driving by bus can be surprisingly scary :-D
Hello everyone,
I have to say: I am not really good at driving by bus. Or at least, I am not lucky about it. My line is always the one who is late or crowded or somethingsomethingsomething. So I was so proud today of taking the right line, which just takes 30 minutes from school to where I work and carries me to the gemeentehuis right in time.
Well; at least I thought it would.
Until some kids (YES, KIDS. Which means, well, I would say from 13 to 16) were too noisy and were playing with the "stop"-button. That scared the bull-like bus driver that much, that he didn't drop us (noone.) off. No way. We stayed in the bus, waiting for the controlleur, and the driver drove about ten times the same little circle through Zolder. Around the Gemeentehuis, where I had to be. Actually.
Dammit.
First I thought, there would be something wrong with the brakes. But no, the bus driver was scared. And probably wanted to show who the "mighty boss" is. I interprete this as a kind of discrimination and unadequate punishment. The scary kids were turkish. I stand right next to them, to me, they didn't do anything. Well, maybe they played with the "stop"-button. But the bus driver played with much more.
________________
The cool thing today was, I tried to speak dutch to people. And they understood me! That was so cool :-)
Tonight I am going to Hasselt to visit Amanda and at the same time break through her boredom after work. Wow, I am so glad that I am not that alone. Sooo... I am waiting what the day brings. Hopefully Pasta or Fritjes. And a good talk with my latvian heart.
Salut! Tot morgen!
xoxo to Mama en Papa. Tim, Herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Fuehrerschein. Ich wusste immer, wer von uns beiden der bessere Autofahrer wird haha :-) ... Amanda, see u. :-)
I have to say: I am not really good at driving by bus. Or at least, I am not lucky about it. My line is always the one who is late or crowded or somethingsomethingsomething. So I was so proud today of taking the right line, which just takes 30 minutes from school to where I work and carries me to the gemeentehuis right in time.
Well; at least I thought it would.
Until some kids (YES, KIDS. Which means, well, I would say from 13 to 16) were too noisy and were playing with the "stop"-button. That scared the bull-like bus driver that much, that he didn't drop us (noone.) off. No way. We stayed in the bus, waiting for the controlleur, and the driver drove about ten times the same little circle through Zolder. Around the Gemeentehuis, where I had to be. Actually.
Dammit.
First I thought, there would be something wrong with the brakes. But no, the bus driver was scared. And probably wanted to show who the "mighty boss" is. I interprete this as a kind of discrimination and unadequate punishment. The scary kids were turkish. I stand right next to them, to me, they didn't do anything. Well, maybe they played with the "stop"-button. But the bus driver played with much more.
________________
The cool thing today was, I tried to speak dutch to people. And they understood me! That was so cool :-)
Tonight I am going to Hasselt to visit Amanda and at the same time break through her boredom after work. Wow, I am so glad that I am not that alone. Sooo... I am waiting what the day brings. Hopefully Pasta or Fritjes. And a good talk with my latvian heart.
Salut! Tot morgen!
xoxo to Mama en Papa. Tim, Herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Fuehrerschein. Ich wusste immer, wer von uns beiden der bessere Autofahrer wird haha :-) ... Amanda, see u. :-)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
strange
Hello everyone...
yesterday I had my first day in language school. I was of course a little nervous, I guess my very bad sense of direction might be the reason for of it :-) No, seriously, there must be something wrong with me.
So I sat in the bus and the closer we came to the "PCVO moderne tale"- centre, the more people with grey bags with these words printed on it were there. At the station were I need to get out, there were just the "anderstaligen" (Anderssprechende), as it says on my book, in the bus. The "anderstaligen" with headscarf or dark teint. I felt helpless but at least I was not the only one who can't even ask the bus driver in dutch where to get out. Because I speak english fluently, I have never really realized how much a proper comunication has to do with feeling home. I mean, these little daily conversations at the bus stop, in the bank, with the neighbour which name you always forget.
As I finally found my class and a seat in the very crowded room (kinda odysee til I arrived there) we learned these little basic sentences like "Whats your name?" (Hoe heet jij?) and stuff like that. Thanks to my hostdad and privat teacher Fons it was very easy to follow and I had time to think about the people partcipating in this course.
One girl, Fatima, came from Marroko. She is not much older than me and lived already in Spain and Germany. Now she tries here to settle down for the third time.
Koshima, my neighbour, is from Japan. She is already married. Maybe fifty percent of the girls in class are already married.
Fatima said, the people are cold here and not really open. I havent experienced that way, to me everyone here is very friendly. Probably because of my english, that sounds so western. -
Fatima, everytime she comes in class, says good morning, is laughing, makes the atmosphere friendlier, not so "strange". When the day is cloudy and grey she says: Oh, we are lucky, it is still not that cold.
I admire the people in my class. They are leaving home, trying to settle down. Of course, some really integrate, some not. The whole immigration debate. But now I see another point in this whole immigration topic, since I am a stranger myself: It is brave leaving home. It is difficult. Fatima is still optimistic, every morning.
Yesterday I felt like a stranger here, "lost" kind of. Everytime I say a word others know, she is not from here. It is a strange sensation not to be part of something, whatever it might be.
I took the wrong bus then. Again I was lost. Across from me sat a handicapped (?) man. He was mute (stumm). And then he started to talk to me by gesticulation with his hands. He recommended the market in Hasselt, the jeans are pretty cheap but good, told me when the fair starts, because we saw the roller coasters. He also made fun of these arrogant BMW-drivers and we spoke about food. Without words. No dutch, no german, no english, no arabic, nothing. I didn't feel strange anymore.
I took the right bus, I think.
Today I was very positive finding my way. I am not lost anymore. I just take the wrong bus, walk the wrong way. I think being lost has nothing to do with the sense of direction. It is an attitude.
Thanks to Fatima and the man in the bus.
yesterday I had my first day in language school. I was of course a little nervous, I guess my very bad sense of direction might be the reason for of it :-) No, seriously, there must be something wrong with me.
So I sat in the bus and the closer we came to the "PCVO moderne tale"- centre, the more people with grey bags with these words printed on it were there. At the station were I need to get out, there were just the "anderstaligen" (Anderssprechende), as it says on my book, in the bus. The "anderstaligen" with headscarf or dark teint. I felt helpless but at least I was not the only one who can't even ask the bus driver in dutch where to get out. Because I speak english fluently, I have never really realized how much a proper comunication has to do with feeling home. I mean, these little daily conversations at the bus stop, in the bank, with the neighbour which name you always forget.
As I finally found my class and a seat in the very crowded room (kinda odysee til I arrived there) we learned these little basic sentences like "Whats your name?" (Hoe heet jij?) and stuff like that. Thanks to my hostdad and privat teacher Fons it was very easy to follow and I had time to think about the people partcipating in this course.
One girl, Fatima, came from Marroko. She is not much older than me and lived already in Spain and Germany. Now she tries here to settle down for the third time.
Koshima, my neighbour, is from Japan. She is already married. Maybe fifty percent of the girls in class are already married.
Fatima said, the people are cold here and not really open. I havent experienced that way, to me everyone here is very friendly. Probably because of my english, that sounds so western. -
Fatima, everytime she comes in class, says good morning, is laughing, makes the atmosphere friendlier, not so "strange". When the day is cloudy and grey she says: Oh, we are lucky, it is still not that cold.
I admire the people in my class. They are leaving home, trying to settle down. Of course, some really integrate, some not. The whole immigration debate. But now I see another point in this whole immigration topic, since I am a stranger myself: It is brave leaving home. It is difficult. Fatima is still optimistic, every morning.
Yesterday I felt like a stranger here, "lost" kind of. Everytime I say a word others know, she is not from here. It is a strange sensation not to be part of something, whatever it might be.
I took the wrong bus then. Again I was lost. Across from me sat a handicapped (?) man. He was mute (stumm). And then he started to talk to me by gesticulation with his hands. He recommended the market in Hasselt, the jeans are pretty cheap but good, told me when the fair starts, because we saw the roller coasters. He also made fun of these arrogant BMW-drivers and we spoke about food. Without words. No dutch, no german, no english, no arabic, nothing. I didn't feel strange anymore.
I took the right bus, I think.
Today I was very positive finding my way. I am not lost anymore. I just take the wrong bus, walk the wrong way. I think being lost has nothing to do with the sense of direction. It is an attitude.
Thanks to Fatima and the man in the bus.
Monday, September 14, 2009
sleepy weekend
G'Day everyone...
tomorrow my language course will begin: yeah! But the most important words I've already learned: push/pull if u are going through a door. Then you avoid the curious gazes that immediately appear if you can't open a door properly. So: trekken and druwen might be useful :-)
all in all the weekend was sleepy, me and arko watched a few movies and did just nothing but being lazy. heel goed.
groetjes, sara
xoxo to Maike. I am so glad :-)
tomorrow my language course will begin: yeah! But the most important words I've already learned: push/pull if u are going through a door. Then you avoid the curious gazes that immediately appear if you can't open a door properly. So: trekken and druwen might be useful :-)
all in all the weekend was sleepy, me and arko watched a few movies and did just nothing but being lazy. heel goed.
groetjes, sara
xoxo to Maike. I am so glad :-)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
candy
Hey everyone, or better: cheers!
First night out, trying to socialize :-) So, Amanda and me went to Genk to taste the belgian beer. And, voila, we found a nice irish pub [After a weird meeting with a flemish ATM/ cash machine]. Cocktails just 3€, good music, a lot to talk. And we learned again something: the belgian beer may be served on 0.25l bottles, but the shots are totally full-grown. Which means: 5 cl of Jäger. Wow, respect!
Because our aim - socializing and talking to some belgians - was about to fail, we decided to go to the "Belgiek". Damn crowded, music way to loud and so exactly our taste of a good friday-out-pub. We went in, and, voila: it is pretty easy to get to know people. And the drinks for free :-P Since the last person in the pub knew we where foreigners and therefore interesting, the evening was pretty fun. Koen poured me a "Duvel", which means "Devil", a pretty strong beer which tastes damn good. BUT: It is pretty annoýing if about everybody in this bar is worried about your health: "Hey, German, you know this is pretty strong beer?" - Yes, I know, thanks a lot. After half a glass I gave up and decided to drink coke :-)
So, all in all, the Belgiek was fun and, on top of that, some nice persons carried us home. Thanks, guys! I am sure, Amanda wouldn`t have found the way home :-) ha, kidding.
We arrived in the hotel, sooo tired... but Amanda turned a movie on, just to fall asleep. But the movie was so impressive, so moving, I really needed to watch it til the end. In my sleepingbag on the floor. Hey, it wasn`t uncomfortable. I was surprised, but my back is still the same as it was before.
So, the film: watch out, everyone, this movie is an obligation: "Candy" with Heath Leadger [mhh :-( ] about the strong love and shit life of two junkies. At the end I was wondering: If you let your true love go, isn`t this the best proof for the strength of it?
I think so. I swear, this movie sweeped me off my feet.
Unfortenately, the alarm was too early. I went to the bus station [attention now!] at 12.30h to take the bus to Genk Station. I ended up in Heusden-Zolder at 15.00h. The time this 15 km (!!!) trip took me made me missing my car. Three hours! Thats almost Barcelona.
But the good thing was - because I thought I was on the wrong bus I got out too early [totally me, i know.] - I found a very nice shop here in Heusden which sells everything you don`t really need. So I bought a white umbrella with roses. Mph. That prepared me for the half-hour-walk home. So, Heusden-Zolder is very big actually.
Home again, I called my little sis: Happy Birthday, babe! and, yes, I have to admit, I was a little homesick. Yes Yes Yes I know I coulnd`t believe it also.
And now I am waiting for the next things to happen. [After an exellent dinner I have to say.] Mhhh please couldn`t a car fall from heaven so I could go and DO something? :-D Or a train which carries me to Brussels, where like everyone ELSE is. Well, next weekend.
...
xoxo to Saskia. Don´t desperate. Everything is ending up good. Miriam and all my wonderful, big italian family :-) xxx to Dorien. I miss you, but you know, ay?
Salut...
First night out, trying to socialize :-) So, Amanda and me went to Genk to taste the belgian beer. And, voila, we found a nice irish pub [After a weird meeting with a flemish ATM/ cash machine]. Cocktails just 3€, good music, a lot to talk. And we learned again something: the belgian beer may be served on 0.25l bottles, but the shots are totally full-grown. Which means: 5 cl of Jäger. Wow, respect!
Because our aim - socializing and talking to some belgians - was about to fail, we decided to go to the "Belgiek". Damn crowded, music way to loud and so exactly our taste of a good friday-out-pub. We went in, and, voila: it is pretty easy to get to know people. And the drinks for free :-P Since the last person in the pub knew we where foreigners and therefore interesting, the evening was pretty fun. Koen poured me a "Duvel", which means "Devil", a pretty strong beer which tastes damn good. BUT: It is pretty annoýing if about everybody in this bar is worried about your health: "Hey, German, you know this is pretty strong beer?" - Yes, I know, thanks a lot. After half a glass I gave up and decided to drink coke :-)
So, all in all, the Belgiek was fun and, on top of that, some nice persons carried us home. Thanks, guys! I am sure, Amanda wouldn`t have found the way home :-) ha, kidding.
We arrived in the hotel, sooo tired... but Amanda turned a movie on, just to fall asleep. But the movie was so impressive, so moving, I really needed to watch it til the end. In my sleepingbag on the floor. Hey, it wasn`t uncomfortable. I was surprised, but my back is still the same as it was before.
So, the film: watch out, everyone, this movie is an obligation: "Candy" with Heath Leadger [mhh :-( ] about the strong love and shit life of two junkies. At the end I was wondering: If you let your true love go, isn`t this the best proof for the strength of it?
I think so. I swear, this movie sweeped me off my feet.
Unfortenately, the alarm was too early. I went to the bus station [attention now!] at 12.30h to take the bus to Genk Station. I ended up in Heusden-Zolder at 15.00h. The time this 15 km (!!!) trip took me made me missing my car. Three hours! Thats almost Barcelona.
But the good thing was - because I thought I was on the wrong bus I got out too early [totally me, i know.] - I found a very nice shop here in Heusden which sells everything you don`t really need. So I bought a white umbrella with roses. Mph. That prepared me for the half-hour-walk home. So, Heusden-Zolder is very big actually.
Home again, I called my little sis: Happy Birthday, babe! and, yes, I have to admit, I was a little homesick. Yes Yes Yes I know I coulnd`t believe it also.
And now I am waiting for the next things to happen. [After an exellent dinner I have to say.] Mhhh please couldn`t a car fall from heaven so I could go and DO something? :-D Or a train which carries me to Brussels, where like everyone ELSE is. Well, next weekend.
...
xoxo to Saskia. Don´t desperate. Everything is ending up good. Miriam and all my wonderful, big italian family :-) xxx to Dorien. I miss you, but you know, ay?
Salut...
Friday, September 11, 2009
het weekend begint op vrijdag!
hello everyone,
i am back for good now :-) no kidding, it was a really nice day today.
Yesterday was the first day of work in the gemeentehuis, which I basically spend on facebook :-) no, serious now: it was a good day, got to know everyone and did some things that had to be done. As I said: no internet on the on-arrival training [which is actually positive I guess].
Today I had a life like "een prinsess": I saw "Heusden-Zolder in one day", which means a very good trip through H-Z, the centers for elderly and youngsters, for pupils... furthermore I´ve seen the old mining buildings [which document the old mining history and are basically the reason why this community is very multicultural, or better to say: there are many inhabitans from turkish, italian, polish... origin. You can ride with your bike [ohh bike riding: one second!] to "little turkey". This expression is not supposed to be insulting.]
So, I got to work with my bike. After I got lost yesterday [I´ve seen a lot of Heusden-Zolder at least] I was more careful this time. But the belgian seems to love roundabouts [Kreisverkehr]. Have you ever used a roundabout with a bike? Hell, I swear, that scared me to death!
I am sure everyone recognizes me as a foreigner just as he watched me rijden met mijn fiets. :-D
Also today I noticed that the belgian seems to like english gardens. Its nice to watch these eagerly planned gardens. Like in the Auenland. [Marco that was for you!xx]
Later this day we will eat some typical french fries, which are actually frenchd fries, which means that they are cut in a specific way [and, this is to the belgian proud: they were invented in Belgium, not at the frenchies. Haha.]. Mhhh I love them. But these dinner-lunch thing is the reason why I am always hungry over here. Dammit :-) [Mommy, miss you ;-)]
But today I`ve eaten like the best salad ever. And the first time since I´ve been to OZ, I´ve eaten these dragon fruits - yeah! There are so smakelijk. Haha yes guys, I am learning.
I really feel like going out tonight, see my latvian heart, taste some jupiler or, better, Palm. [Almost Veltins, meine lieben Sauerländer...] By the way, since we´re talking about drinks: everyone tries the drink-yoghurt with framboos [ähhm himbeere, ähm...raspberry]! Its great.
Okay everyone, I can smell dinner [mhh]...
Greetings to Dresi, Marco, Hannah und Saskia. I miss time out, lads :-)
Thanks again for the guiding through H-Z. I really enjoyed the day!
xoxo to Amanda, Pixie, Arko, Mommy, Papa, Mirimaus - hey morgen ist Geburtstag! und Tim.
i am back for good now :-) no kidding, it was a really nice day today.
Yesterday was the first day of work in the gemeentehuis, which I basically spend on facebook :-) no, serious now: it was a good day, got to know everyone and did some things that had to be done. As I said: no internet on the on-arrival training [which is actually positive I guess].
Today I had a life like "een prinsess": I saw "Heusden-Zolder in one day", which means a very good trip through H-Z, the centers for elderly and youngsters, for pupils... furthermore I´ve seen the old mining buildings [which document the old mining history and are basically the reason why this community is very multicultural, or better to say: there are many inhabitans from turkish, italian, polish... origin. You can ride with your bike [ohh bike riding: one second!] to "little turkey". This expression is not supposed to be insulting.]
So, I got to work with my bike. After I got lost yesterday [I´ve seen a lot of Heusden-Zolder at least] I was more careful this time. But the belgian seems to love roundabouts [Kreisverkehr]. Have you ever used a roundabout with a bike? Hell, I swear, that scared me to death!
I am sure everyone recognizes me as a foreigner just as he watched me rijden met mijn fiets. :-D
Also today I noticed that the belgian seems to like english gardens. Its nice to watch these eagerly planned gardens. Like in the Auenland. [Marco that was for you!xx]
Later this day we will eat some typical french fries, which are actually frenchd fries, which means that they are cut in a specific way [and, this is to the belgian proud: they were invented in Belgium, not at the frenchies. Haha.]. Mhhh I love them. But these dinner-lunch thing is the reason why I am always hungry over here. Dammit :-) [Mommy, miss you ;-)]
But today I`ve eaten like the best salad ever. And the first time since I´ve been to OZ, I´ve eaten these dragon fruits - yeah! There are so smakelijk. Haha yes guys, I am learning.
I really feel like going out tonight, see my latvian heart, taste some jupiler or, better, Palm. [Almost Veltins, meine lieben Sauerländer...] By the way, since we´re talking about drinks: everyone tries the drink-yoghurt with framboos [ähhm himbeere, ähm...raspberry]! Its great.
Okay everyone, I can smell dinner [mhh]...
Greetings to Dresi, Marco, Hannah und Saskia. I miss time out, lads :-)
Thanks again for the guiding through H-Z. I really enjoyed the day!
xoxo to Amanda, Pixie, Arko, Mommy, Papa, Mirimaus - hey morgen ist Geburtstag! und Tim.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
introduccion
Hello everyone... first I think I have to introduce myself: I am sara from Germany; or better Duitsland and I am doing my EVS in Belgium in Heusden-Zolder. Means, I will spend hyalf a year here in vlaanderen to work here, learn flemish and get to know the belgian culture and, on top of that, kinda "live" or better experience the idea of europe.
So, basically, that is me and why I an here. I arrived on vrijdag, 4th of september in Heusden-Zolder [sounds like Choesden-Zolderrr ;-)]. I got to know my lovely hostfamily and my mentor Veronique. First impression: Belgium is the place to be!
Then I got on the train straight to the coast, where my on-arrival-training took place. I got to know amanda, "my latvian heart", on the train. the ride was okay, lot of talk. Then the messy part of our journey began: where is the accomodation?? basically not at the point which is shown on the map. :-D After about half an hour we finally found "Isara", an old and cosy and home-of-spiders house.
The cool thing: People from all over the world. Nice teamers. The bad thing: strange food combinations and five bathrooms for 35 people. But well, adventure training is never too bad.
All in all the on-arrival-training was GREAT, big letters needed. Made a lot of friends, felt the "international spirit". Thanks guys, was a cool weekend. Things I've learned: Don't give a latvian girl 7 cups of coffee, the belgians are not used to lock doors, the food combinations are still strange (meatballs with hot cherries) and Belgium is still the place to be :-D
...I will continue this blog later, but here a little flemish lession:
ik ben sara - bet u can guess what i means haha
cadeux - present, gift
bloem - flower
konfituur - jam
alstublieft - please
dank u - thank you
... Salut everyone, tot ziens!
xoxo to Amanda "my latvian heart", Pixie "hey beautiful", Hasan xo, Onur, kisses: Mommy, Papa, Miri (nie pleuje!), my :bro:, marie-rose, fons - my privat teacher, and of course arko, het goede jonge :-D
So, basically, that is me and why I an here. I arrived on vrijdag, 4th of september in Heusden-Zolder [sounds like Choesden-Zolderrr ;-)]. I got to know my lovely hostfamily and my mentor Veronique. First impression: Belgium is the place to be!
Then I got on the train straight to the coast, where my on-arrival-training took place. I got to know amanda, "my latvian heart", on the train. the ride was okay, lot of talk. Then the messy part of our journey began: where is the accomodation?? basically not at the point which is shown on the map. :-D After about half an hour we finally found "Isara", an old and cosy and home-of-spiders house.
The cool thing: People from all over the world. Nice teamers. The bad thing: strange food combinations and five bathrooms for 35 people. But well, adventure training is never too bad.
All in all the on-arrival-training was GREAT, big letters needed. Made a lot of friends, felt the "international spirit". Thanks guys, was a cool weekend. Things I've learned: Don't give a latvian girl 7 cups of coffee, the belgians are not used to lock doors, the food combinations are still strange (meatballs with hot cherries) and Belgium is still the place to be :-D
...I will continue this blog later, but here a little flemish lession:
ik ben sara - bet u can guess what i means haha
cadeux - present, gift
bloem - flower
konfituur - jam
alstublieft - please
dank u - thank you
... Salut everyone, tot ziens!
xoxo to Amanda "my latvian heart", Pixie "hey beautiful", Hasan xo, Onur, kisses: Mommy, Papa, Miri (nie pleuje!), my :bro:, marie-rose, fons - my privat teacher, and of course arko, het goede jonge :-D
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