Hello everyone,
I hope you are doing well.
Since every one is asking how long I am still staying and the time is running faster and faster I am becoming a little sad that this adventure is about to end.
Of course, I am looking forward to see my familiy again, our baby-dog which is probably not a baby anymore, my friends, just see how lifes going - because I guess I missed a lot - from a lot of people I don't really know how they're doing.
I just wrote my evaluation with both a smile and a tear - because I can indeed just write things which are so good. And the evolution I made - I am not the same as before (and I was the one who didn't really agree with the words "mental change" which was said in the project description.)
I have the feeling that I am saying "good bye" a lot - but still, i am not really comprehending it.
I had a life here, a new one, which is hard to let go.
But this is also a part of EVS: learn to let go.
A special friend of mine, Amanda, once said: EVS is like a ball which is full of nice experiences, it is kind of "out-of-reality". (I don't agree here - I think it's getting as real as your daily life - just better :-)) And while your EVS goes on, the ball is kind of rolling and absorbing more and more good memories, impulses, things you've learned.
But the most important thing I took from this idea was: The ball continues rolling even when your EVS ends. It's just another step, another part of the journey. I like that thought. Outside there is waiting so much for us to discover...
But I am still wondering how I will feel when I am going back. Strange in my own hometown? everyone is moved to study, some ppl still abroad. it will not be the same, but thats a good thing.
I will just let it happen, go without a plan - it will turn out good at the end. And if not, then it's simply not the end.
I will miss belgium - but it is good to miss things because a) that means that is has been there before and in the case of belgium it will probably stay a little (until the glaciers melt and belgium drowns haha kidding) and b) then you appreciate it more. it's like getting a letter of an old friend or smelling something which immediately brings you inanother situation back in time.
So long,
xoxo sara
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
PRIKKEL
Hey everyone,
I have soo interesting news: I was on the Prikkel-weekend from Oxfam, from friday til monday, with a lot of fairtrade, open-minded ppl and much much information. I want to share some impressions, ideas, impulses with you.
Soo...
first of all: Make IT fair - By the way: Do you know, where the materials used in your mobile phone come from? Did you know, that a little bit from your mobile phone, lets say 1 gram tin, supports the war in Congo? Did you know, that the recycling process from a mobile phone is unbelievable difficult because of the mixture of the different materials? - If you didnt know that, dont dare to have a look at www.makeitfair.org
By the way, if you have an old mobile phone, send it gratis to www.zoozoo.be and even get money for it!
In connection with those information, also have a look at the cradle-to-cradle idea: a recycling system which is based on a circle-system, not a linear one: up-cycling instead of down-cycling - trash becomes material. http://www.cradletocradle.nl/
The story of stuff: We are buying and buying and buying, consuming all the time. Did you know, that just 1% of the things the average US citizen buys will last longer than 6 months?! Did you know, nthat the happiness-index in the US went down, since after WW II the nation of consum was proclaimed? Where is all the stuff going we are buying, eating, consuming, throwing away? Where does the stuff come from? How can a radio cost $ 4.99 if the production costs are pretty much higher? www.thestoryofstuff.com watch the movie and get a lot more answer than you had questions... ;-)
Desertec-Concept: Solar energie is a form of ebergie which is gratis, almost everywhere available - the sun shines for everyone. So a group of scientists came together to think about that - and a revolutionary idea came up: It is a fact, that in 6 hours in the world's deserts the sun gives so much energie to cover the total consumtion of energie in the world for one year. Six hours and the whole energie-problem is solved? Its of course not as easy as it seems, but still - it is easier than you might have thought.
A system from mirrors in the Sahara, or a huuuge parc of solar cells with high-tech connection to Europe (the technique alreadey exists) - this is already going on! (E.g. in California) Interested? http://www.desertec.org or, german: http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/0,1518,658357,00.html
Architecture for Humanity: This is a concept which combines ideas for more efficient and so sustainable buildings. You can not critize something without giving a constructive idea, a solution: How can Haïti be rebuild? How can you give the poorest of the poor an access to water and elictricity? How can we avoid that the developing countries are making the same mistakes we made? How can we combine development with climate change?
http://architectureforhumanity.org
What is the future of fairtrade? Since fairtrade is no longer a brand for treehuggers and old-hippies but a new niche for a special group of consumers of the LIDL, ALDI, Carrefour ect. the question is: What is with Oxfam, Max havelaar ect.? The big chains as mentioned above are cxreating their own fairtrade brands - not always following the philosophy of Oxfam and CO but still - it is fairtraded. (Instead of working with small farmers they are working with bigger fabrics in the South and keep the price lower than Oxfam can do) How much fairtrade is in a fairtrade product?
A critical reportage from CANVAS: http://www.maxhavelaar.be/files/u2/terzake-6-augustus-2009.pdf (nederlands informatie)
http://terzake.canvas.be/uitzending/terzake-68-fair-trade/
Social entrepeneurships: More and more young ppl build up their own business - and combine social responisibility with economics. http://socialentrepreneurship.change.org/
(it even became a new area of studys btw) For example: www.lemonAid.de , www.armedangels.de
Okay okay, we have lots of problems, from C as climate change to P as poverty. But as you believe it or not: There are still ppl with visions, ideas and - probably the best thing - potential. Have a look at the newest ideas at: http://www.ted.com/
Voedselkilometers: How long did your food travel until it lays on your plate waiting for you to eat it? This is an idea to promote local consum from the UK - a little too simple because it just counts the kilometres, not the real impact on the enviroment in all cases (like fairtrade food or food from big plantages which lesson biodiversity ect.) But still - it is a good and funny idea to eat local but think global :-) http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/foodmiles.shtml (By the way: Check your personal ecological footprint at http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/)
Even though there is a lot morte to share, this will be my last impulse for today: The book "Thinking in systems" from Donella Meadows http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Systems-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/1603580557 which deals with the method of thinking more widely and connect problems to learn how to solve them. :-)
Thanks for the attentions and forgive my enthouthiasm :-D
love, sara
I have soo interesting news: I was on the Prikkel-weekend from Oxfam, from friday til monday, with a lot of fairtrade, open-minded ppl and much much information. I want to share some impressions, ideas, impulses with you.
Soo...
first of all: Make IT fair - By the way: Do you know, where the materials used in your mobile phone come from? Did you know, that a little bit from your mobile phone, lets say 1 gram tin, supports the war in Congo? Did you know, that the recycling process from a mobile phone is unbelievable difficult because of the mixture of the different materials? - If you didnt know that, dont dare to have a look at www.makeitfair.org
By the way, if you have an old mobile phone, send it gratis to www.zoozoo.be and even get money for it!
In connection with those information, also have a look at the cradle-to-cradle idea: a recycling system which is based on a circle-system, not a linear one: up-cycling instead of down-cycling - trash becomes material. http://www.cradletocradle.nl/
The story of stuff: We are buying and buying and buying, consuming all the time. Did you know, that just 1% of the things the average US citizen buys will last longer than 6 months?! Did you know, nthat the happiness-index in the US went down, since after WW II the nation of consum was proclaimed? Where is all the stuff going we are buying, eating, consuming, throwing away? Where does the stuff come from? How can a radio cost $ 4.99 if the production costs are pretty much higher? www.thestoryofstuff.com watch the movie and get a lot more answer than you had questions... ;-)
Desertec-Concept: Solar energie is a form of ebergie which is gratis, almost everywhere available - the sun shines for everyone. So a group of scientists came together to think about that - and a revolutionary idea came up: It is a fact, that in 6 hours in the world's deserts the sun gives so much energie to cover the total consumtion of energie in the world for one year. Six hours and the whole energie-problem is solved? Its of course not as easy as it seems, but still - it is easier than you might have thought.
A system from mirrors in the Sahara, or a huuuge parc of solar cells with high-tech connection to Europe (the technique alreadey exists) - this is already going on! (E.g. in California) Interested? http://www.desertec.org or, german: http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/0,1518,658357,00.html
Architecture for Humanity: This is a concept which combines ideas for more efficient and so sustainable buildings. You can not critize something without giving a constructive idea, a solution: How can Haïti be rebuild? How can you give the poorest of the poor an access to water and elictricity? How can we avoid that the developing countries are making the same mistakes we made? How can we combine development with climate change?
http://architectureforhumanity.org
What is the future of fairtrade? Since fairtrade is no longer a brand for treehuggers and old-hippies but a new niche for a special group of consumers of the LIDL, ALDI, Carrefour ect. the question is: What is with Oxfam, Max havelaar ect.? The big chains as mentioned above are cxreating their own fairtrade brands - not always following the philosophy of Oxfam and CO but still - it is fairtraded. (Instead of working with small farmers they are working with bigger fabrics in the South and keep the price lower than Oxfam can do) How much fairtrade is in a fairtrade product?
A critical reportage from CANVAS: http://www.maxhavelaar.be/files/u2/terzake-6-augustus-2009.pdf (nederlands informatie)
http://terzake.canvas.be/uitzending/terzake-68-fair-trade/
Social entrepeneurships: More and more young ppl build up their own business - and combine social responisibility with economics. http://socialentrepreneurship.change.org/
(it even became a new area of studys btw) For example: www.lemonAid.de , www.armedangels.de
Okay okay, we have lots of problems, from C as climate change to P as poverty. But as you believe it or not: There are still ppl with visions, ideas and - probably the best thing - potential. Have a look at the newest ideas at: http://www.ted.com/
Voedselkilometers: How long did your food travel until it lays on your plate waiting for you to eat it? This is an idea to promote local consum from the UK - a little too simple because it just counts the kilometres, not the real impact on the enviroment in all cases (like fairtrade food or food from big plantages which lesson biodiversity ect.) But still - it is a good and funny idea to eat local but think global :-) http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/foodmiles.shtml (By the way: Check your personal ecological footprint at http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/)
Even though there is a lot morte to share, this will be my last impulse for today: The book "Thinking in systems" from Donella Meadows http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Systems-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/1603580557 which deals with the method of thinking more widely and connect problems to learn how to solve them. :-)
Thanks for the attentions and forgive my enthouthiasm :-D
love, sara
Friday, February 12, 2010
i'm on a BOAT
hello everyone
so grey outside - but still - weekend!
i will go on an oxfam weekend with a bunch of dread-locked vegetarian save-the-whales people on a BOAT :-)
haha no kidding, I am sure it will be pretty nice - and i will probably just be talking netherlands for the whole weekend (in case I understand the participants cause its not that if you are able to speak nederlands that you understand the people from AntwArpAn or HHHent ;-)
But besides my worries to get on a boat with heaps of pretty radical people (I really can't stand narrow-minded people, even though they might be right - my mom says we gotta be tolerant!!!) I am really looking forward to this because this is the sort of things we desperately need, isn't it? Information, information, information and a little helping hand for changing something. The weekend will be over fairtrade and the economical futute of it, about climate change and the stock market, international negociations and the impact of NGO's. Sounds interesting, hé? (Haha I am such a nerd - the only thing which keeps me from being a nerd is that I think it's a pity that this weekend is stealing my valentine and my carneval! - Well, I am single anyway, but carneval? A whole town wasted... It's worth a glimpse by the way ;-))
So, just gotta pack my stuff (said easier than it is done, cause we have to pack so much - it's supposed to be cold and dodgy... but I just need some basic stuff like a heardryer, another pair of shoes, my bodylotion, another pair of jeans... ?! AND i bet there are people who just carry those tiny backpacks and have everything they need. I am jealous, me materialistic yes-I-need-this-all :-D) ButI mean, without a hairdryer I am probably DYING on a BOAT with the chance of a broken heater... (my mentor warned me ;-)) I mean, we're not in Australia for a nice and warm work and travel experience... it's more like - 71°noord haha
Sooo... it's eleven thirty now, I should work a little :-)
See you soon - have a nice valentine :-) ....
sara
ps. I hope their are no couples - a BOAT is pretty small ay? :-D Fairtrade love lala
so grey outside - but still - weekend!
i will go on an oxfam weekend with a bunch of dread-locked vegetarian save-the-whales people on a BOAT :-)
haha no kidding, I am sure it will be pretty nice - and i will probably just be talking netherlands for the whole weekend (in case I understand the participants cause its not that if you are able to speak nederlands that you understand the people from AntwArpAn or HHHent ;-)
But besides my worries to get on a boat with heaps of pretty radical people (I really can't stand narrow-minded people, even though they might be right - my mom says we gotta be tolerant!!!) I am really looking forward to this because this is the sort of things we desperately need, isn't it? Information, information, information and a little helping hand for changing something. The weekend will be over fairtrade and the economical futute of it, about climate change and the stock market, international negociations and the impact of NGO's. Sounds interesting, hé? (Haha I am such a nerd - the only thing which keeps me from being a nerd is that I think it's a pity that this weekend is stealing my valentine and my carneval! - Well, I am single anyway, but carneval? A whole town wasted... It's worth a glimpse by the way ;-))
So, just gotta pack my stuff (said easier than it is done, cause we have to pack so much - it's supposed to be cold and dodgy... but I just need some basic stuff like a heardryer, another pair of shoes, my bodylotion, another pair of jeans... ?! AND i bet there are people who just carry those tiny backpacks and have everything they need. I am jealous, me materialistic yes-I-need-this-all :-D) ButI mean, without a hairdryer I am probably DYING on a BOAT with the chance of a broken heater... (my mentor warned me ;-)) I mean, we're not in Australia for a nice and warm work and travel experience... it's more like - 71°noord haha
Sooo... it's eleven thirty now, I should work a little :-)
See you soon - have a nice valentine :-) ....
sara
ps. I hope their are no couples - a BOAT is pretty small ay? :-D Fairtrade love lala
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
kersenpittenkussen en werkloosheidsuitkering
Hello everyone.
I am sitting in front of the computer and try to find a word which could be the superlative of "update". Since there was an article in the "Heusden-Zolder Krant" I am forced to "update" my blog. Even though "update" is, as I mentioned, not really the correct word: the last blog entry was published in November. This date makes me blush... AND moreover: Someone, who is calling herself a friend (won't mention your name, Amanda, don't worry) threatend to DELETE me from her blog-follower's list. Ha, this is the facebook generation: Simply delete people from your list and get rid of them :-D
Ah seriously, hows is my EVS going? - Pretty good. 100% content. Still! Even though at the moment I feel as if I missed to go on winter sleep. But well, I shouldn't whine, in Poland it's minus 27 degrees right now. F***** hell, that's to call cold.
Sometimes I guess it's the revenge of the climate for us failing in Copenhagen.
I took me 9 hours from Cologne to Hasselt - I could have WALKED faster. Just because of the snow breakling down the public transport. Well, probably we deserve that, right?
Just recognized that from November till end of January pretty much happend, I will give a short overview:
19/nov: a "studiedag" round children's rights in the Culturcentrum - because it was its birthday they became 20. Very nice day, worth to mention it here. I followed a workshop from Arnaud Raskin over his mobile schools. He is working in several countries with children in the streets - not to teach them how to analyse Shakepeare, but to show them how strong and great they are. And that they can find a way out, if they just keep on trying... a very impressive concept round how to appreciate humans and how we can learn from them by searching for a solution instead of a problem.
Take a look at www.mobileschool.org
24/nov: Shoppen in Maastricht! Great & girly - and they are several ways leading to Rome :-)
25/nov: my first project started: Christmas in Shoeboxes from children for children in Heusden-Zolder. Even almost nobody is aware of this fact, every fifth child in Europe is "poor". And this isn't just in Estonia or Bulgaria - no, even in France, Germany and Belgium. So we started a project in which the kids collected some toys to pack them into shoeboxes and send them via St. Vincencius to those kids who can't expect that much under the tree. It turned out as a success, even though a german aphorism was right: Rely on someone and you are left alone.
But in the end it wasn't a big deal - and the kids were happy. Nice!
28/nov: Brahim concert in Muze! Very good :-)
03/dec: mid-term-evaluation with my mentor: first of all: dammit, "mid-term" means there are just 3 months over?!
Second: EVS is gewoon de beste keuze die ik had kunnen doen, echt waar! Ik ben heel tevreden :-)
04/dec - 06/dec: short periode home, for my love: gyro wheel - presentation was good even though I had never a muscle ache from this extent :-D
And I hadn't known that it can be so stressy trying to visit all your friends in one weekend. But it was worth it. Sometimes, you just need to go home for a sec.
09/dec: Exposition about human rights "thirty somethings" in Maastricht with the people from Article 27 and Pieter: So good! And randomly I met about 10 german students there. Haha, the world is so small.
11/dec: I am so lucky: Got invited for a dinner from the center for handicapped people and people with special needs because they had guests from there german partnertown Brilon. Cool, ay? Practising my german again.
12/dec: meetingpoint EVS: meeting with some other volunteers and Ex-volunteers to visit a brewery and the christmas market in Brussels. 1. "Geuze" tastes like a mix from beer and champaigne - believe me, don't try. 2. Glühwein tastes good everywhere.
13/dec: I had like the best advent-dinner ever: (I know why I am getting so fat here - constantly invited for havin g dinners... ;-)) Soooo italian, so familiar, so tasty, such a good evening! Thanks to Tienne, Brigitte and Frank.
14/dec: Listen to "The Killers - Sams town, Abbey road version".
16/dec: Oh god, how humilating, EVSers, protest! I had to play the "zwarte miet" - it took ages to clean the black colour off!!!
18/dec: holidays!!!
20/dec: the belgians are kind of paranoid from the snow: about 5 centimetres wet, white stuff laying on the streets forces everyone to stay home and even radio 2 advised not to go out "if it's not really necessary". Someone from the Sauerland had to hide her smile...
24/dec: Merry Christmas. Celebrated Christmas with 20 people with belgian ands polish traditions... how cosy and warm it was. Great. Thanks to my lovely and warm-hearted family.
27/dec: Partying in Gent! And meeting Kate Moss!!! haha
29/dec- 03/jan: Went home for new years and celebrated it with my friends and a lot of Cuba Libre. Thumbs up! And my family bought a puppy. Never thought I would fall inh love with a DOG. How unlikely for me... But well, "everythings's changing and I don't feel the same"...
03/jan: Odysee from Homer is nothing against trying to get from Cologne to Hasselt! Good thing there is Starbucks to sit in for 3 hours, good that there is chocolate to share and get to know some travelling-compagnons - ... In the end we went by taxi to our final destinations. Felt pretty VIP :-)
...nothing happend....daily life in Belgium... (isn't it cool that after a while it is just "normal" living somewhere else?)
22/jan - 24/jan: mid-term-training in Brussels: SO good to see all the group again, haven't seen most of them for more than 4 months! Very nice people, good conversations, nice surprises... and beginning to say goodbye. Even though I have still 1 1/2 months to go, I start to think over: what's next? It makes me nervous, I even find it scary: how much will I miss it here? The belgians always say: Ah, it's just Belgium. But then I meet unbelievebly nice people, gastvrij, warm-hearted, I see Brussels and Hasselt, I am drinking Genever, seeing those lovely pralines ((trying to resist ;-)), living in a family which formed my new home, living in a country which is so liberal and populated with so many free-minded people. And then I say, no, it's not just Belgium. It's Belgium. And I love it.
I think I changed a lot during my stay, learned a lot. Going home will be the next step - a new task.
I prepared for my new project a questionnaire about living in Europe. The last question is: Do you feel as a European?
Someone wrote: "I am a visiter in the world". I will keep this in mind.
And til I go there is still so much left to see!!
Ps to Saskia: Central Park in spring...!
I am sitting in front of the computer and try to find a word which could be the superlative of "update". Since there was an article in the "Heusden-Zolder Krant" I am forced to "update" my blog. Even though "update" is, as I mentioned, not really the correct word: the last blog entry was published in November. This date makes me blush... AND moreover: Someone, who is calling herself a friend (won't mention your name, Amanda, don't worry) threatend to DELETE me from her blog-follower's list. Ha, this is the facebook generation: Simply delete people from your list and get rid of them :-D
Ah seriously, hows is my EVS going? - Pretty good. 100% content. Still! Even though at the moment I feel as if I missed to go on winter sleep. But well, I shouldn't whine, in Poland it's minus 27 degrees right now. F***** hell, that's to call cold.
Sometimes I guess it's the revenge of the climate for us failing in Copenhagen.
I took me 9 hours from Cologne to Hasselt - I could have WALKED faster. Just because of the snow breakling down the public transport. Well, probably we deserve that, right?
Just recognized that from November till end of January pretty much happend, I will give a short overview:
19/nov: a "studiedag" round children's rights in the Culturcentrum - because it was its birthday they became 20. Very nice day, worth to mention it here. I followed a workshop from Arnaud Raskin over his mobile schools. He is working in several countries with children in the streets - not to teach them how to analyse Shakepeare, but to show them how strong and great they are. And that they can find a way out, if they just keep on trying... a very impressive concept round how to appreciate humans and how we can learn from them by searching for a solution instead of a problem.
Take a look at www.mobileschool.org
24/nov: Shoppen in Maastricht! Great & girly - and they are several ways leading to Rome :-)
25/nov: my first project started: Christmas in Shoeboxes from children for children in Heusden-Zolder. Even almost nobody is aware of this fact, every fifth child in Europe is "poor". And this isn't just in Estonia or Bulgaria - no, even in France, Germany and Belgium. So we started a project in which the kids collected some toys to pack them into shoeboxes and send them via St. Vincencius to those kids who can't expect that much under the tree. It turned out as a success, even though a german aphorism was right: Rely on someone and you are left alone.
But in the end it wasn't a big deal - and the kids were happy. Nice!
28/nov: Brahim concert in Muze! Very good :-)
03/dec: mid-term-evaluation with my mentor: first of all: dammit, "mid-term" means there are just 3 months over?!
Second: EVS is gewoon de beste keuze die ik had kunnen doen, echt waar! Ik ben heel tevreden :-)
04/dec - 06/dec: short periode home, for my love: gyro wheel - presentation was good even though I had never a muscle ache from this extent :-D
And I hadn't known that it can be so stressy trying to visit all your friends in one weekend. But it was worth it. Sometimes, you just need to go home for a sec.
09/dec: Exposition about human rights "thirty somethings" in Maastricht with the people from Article 27 and Pieter: So good! And randomly I met about 10 german students there. Haha, the world is so small.
11/dec: I am so lucky: Got invited for a dinner from the center for handicapped people and people with special needs because they had guests from there german partnertown Brilon. Cool, ay? Practising my german again.
12/dec: meetingpoint EVS: meeting with some other volunteers and Ex-volunteers to visit a brewery and the christmas market in Brussels. 1. "Geuze" tastes like a mix from beer and champaigne - believe me, don't try. 2. Glühwein tastes good everywhere.
13/dec: I had like the best advent-dinner ever: (I know why I am getting so fat here - constantly invited for havin g dinners... ;-)) Soooo italian, so familiar, so tasty, such a good evening! Thanks to Tienne, Brigitte and Frank.
14/dec: Listen to "The Killers - Sams town, Abbey road version".
16/dec: Oh god, how humilating, EVSers, protest! I had to play the "zwarte miet" - it took ages to clean the black colour off!!!
18/dec: holidays!!!
20/dec: the belgians are kind of paranoid from the snow: about 5 centimetres wet, white stuff laying on the streets forces everyone to stay home and even radio 2 advised not to go out "if it's not really necessary". Someone from the Sauerland had to hide her smile...
24/dec: Merry Christmas. Celebrated Christmas with 20 people with belgian ands polish traditions... how cosy and warm it was. Great. Thanks to my lovely and warm-hearted family.
27/dec: Partying in Gent! And meeting Kate Moss!!! haha
29/dec- 03/jan: Went home for new years and celebrated it with my friends and a lot of Cuba Libre. Thumbs up! And my family bought a puppy. Never thought I would fall inh love with a DOG. How unlikely for me... But well, "everythings's changing and I don't feel the same"...
03/jan: Odysee from Homer is nothing against trying to get from Cologne to Hasselt! Good thing there is Starbucks to sit in for 3 hours, good that there is chocolate to share and get to know some travelling-compagnons - ... In the end we went by taxi to our final destinations. Felt pretty VIP :-)
...nothing happend....daily life in Belgium... (isn't it cool that after a while it is just "normal" living somewhere else?)
22/jan - 24/jan: mid-term-training in Brussels: SO good to see all the group again, haven't seen most of them for more than 4 months! Very nice people, good conversations, nice surprises... and beginning to say goodbye. Even though I have still 1 1/2 months to go, I start to think over: what's next? It makes me nervous, I even find it scary: how much will I miss it here? The belgians always say: Ah, it's just Belgium. But then I meet unbelievebly nice people, gastvrij, warm-hearted, I see Brussels and Hasselt, I am drinking Genever, seeing those lovely pralines ((trying to resist ;-)), living in a family which formed my new home, living in a country which is so liberal and populated with so many free-minded people. And then I say, no, it's not just Belgium. It's Belgium. And I love it.
I think I changed a lot during my stay, learned a lot. Going home will be the next step - a new task.
I prepared for my new project a questionnaire about living in Europe. The last question is: Do you feel as a European?
Someone wrote: "I am a visiter in the world". I will keep this in mind.
And til I go there is still so much left to see!!
Ps to Saskia: Central Park in spring...!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Why this is the best that could have happend to me
Hello everyone,
WOW - if I'd say "its been a while" I think it would be an understatement.
Because its really been a while :-)
Well, because I recognized that I am not very good at keeping my blog updated, so I will just do short updates and quotes on this blog.
Why I love it being here:
I just got to know so many people - and I am sure some of them are wise. I will just put on some quotes here I want to share so that you got a glimpse of what I am experiencing each day.
"I simply teach my kids to APPREACIATE people. Just for being humans." - Martin, artist
"I come from everywhere I lived at." - Karel, photographer
"Take it easy... and if its easy, take it home." - Dorien, one of my best friends
Why I like it here so much...
...because of the people in the bus which are heading to the same destination than me: the language school. To shy to speak nederlands, they greet with a smile.
...because of the nice and belgian humor. Direct & a little bit "sauerländisch" :-)
...because of the multiculturality. Just sat together with someone from Turkey, Nigeria and Belgium on one table.
Groetjes, mensen!
liebe grüsse an fons, marie-rose, arko, mama, papa, miri & tim. und natuerlich saskia! küsschen an dich.
WOW - if I'd say "its been a while" I think it would be an understatement.
Because its really been a while :-)
Well, because I recognized that I am not very good at keeping my blog updated, so I will just do short updates and quotes on this blog.
Why I love it being here:
I just got to know so many people - and I am sure some of them are wise. I will just put on some quotes here I want to share so that you got a glimpse of what I am experiencing each day.
"I simply teach my kids to APPREACIATE people. Just for being humans." - Martin, artist
"I come from everywhere I lived at." - Karel, photographer
"I think... my childhood was in the forty's!" - Karel, Photographer
"Take it easy... and if its easy, take it home." - Dorien, one of my best friends
Why I like it here so much...
...because of the people in the bus which are heading to the same destination than me: the language school. To shy to speak nederlands, they greet with a smile.
...because of the nice and belgian humor. Direct & a little bit "sauerländisch" :-)
...because of the multiculturality. Just sat together with someone from Turkey, Nigeria and Belgium on one table.
Groetjes, mensen!
liebe grüsse an fons, marie-rose, arko, mama, papa, miri & tim. und natuerlich saskia! küsschen an dich.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
i feel good :-)
yes, ladies and gentleman, i do feel good. Just by accident ;-)
okay, seriously: ( i just recognize that i am AGAIN two weeks not up-to-date)
Last weekend:
- Just exhausting, started on thursday, got to know very interesting people... on saturday Amanda and me in the Versuz in Hasselt. (big discotheek but not as cool as i expected it to be, but we had korting-tickets, so... why not :-D) AMANDA thought that the first bus was at 6 - but no... we waited together with about 30 other youth til our bus came. at 8. So, i was awfully tired :-D
This week:
- I follow a computerlesson now, which drives me crazy because I am pretty bad at it.
- I am ready with school!!!! Best thing ever :-) Now i can finally go to a higher class. But i have to admit, i was a little but sad when we all left. It was also alittle "home", even though it was tiring, boring, unbelievably different people with different backgrounds. But i learned something.
Halima wants to become a nurse but she cant because of her headscarf. She is nineteen and since two years married, she was the most eager person in class.
Fatima admitted that she had a crappy last year and that she laughing to cover it.
Guillano wants to study something with computer and security and studied arts in his country. Hes making his drivers license.
Since Sheyma is married and pregnant she didnt come to school anymore.
Olga is unhappy because she liked her life in White Russia better but her husband is belgian.
Kaori wants to follow almost every class in "volwassenenonderwijs" when she can speak nederlands.
I think these people belong to the most bravest ones I have ever known. They left EVERYTHING behind, stepped in an unsecure future, for better opportunities for her kids, themselves.
How can we dare not to appreciate this power behind those people?
Why dont we accept them, if they are so brave, so powerful in their ambitions?
What chances do we miss if we bring them down?
Which chance do they offer for our socierty?
- This weekend:
Friday: I saw the atomium! I made a postcard picture and enjoyed good music and rain in brussels...
Saturday: Jump in beach party!! Very nice "fuif" (youthparty from far too young til 25) which offered me a useful impression of the belgian youth (besides having a lot of fun of course!!)
- belgians can drink. i was impressed.
- the youth smokes EVERYWHERE weed and i guess everybody knows.
- driving drunk doesnt seem to be an obstacule for going home.
So, all in all, the fuif was great fun and i am so happy that i met finally the people from JH Jovita which are not stubborn Chiros or Scouts (not that i dont like them but in general they are not very open-minded to not-chiros :-))). JH JOVITA is really the most social youthhouse :-D
Sunday:
- meeting with youth council. Horrible headache and very complicated people around. But interesting though.
THIS THIS week:
I feel good. Settled down I guess. I mean, really. Language is better and better ( i have finally the feeling that people understand me when i talk to them).
Oh yes, Belgium, i like you!!!!
On friday my parents will come. and my :bro: and my zus. YEAH!
Groetjes to my lovely family, who is bringing dark bread over here, to the people from JH Jovita which are just so nice, to bram for good music and to octavio and my former class. And to Belgium. :-DD
okay, seriously: ( i just recognize that i am AGAIN two weeks not up-to-date)
Last weekend:
- Just exhausting, started on thursday, got to know very interesting people... on saturday Amanda and me in the Versuz in Hasselt. (big discotheek but not as cool as i expected it to be, but we had korting-tickets, so... why not :-D) AMANDA thought that the first bus was at 6 - but no... we waited together with about 30 other youth til our bus came. at 8. So, i was awfully tired :-D
This week:
- I follow a computerlesson now, which drives me crazy because I am pretty bad at it.
- I am ready with school!!!! Best thing ever :-) Now i can finally go to a higher class. But i have to admit, i was a little but sad when we all left. It was also alittle "home", even though it was tiring, boring, unbelievably different people with different backgrounds. But i learned something.
Halima wants to become a nurse but she cant because of her headscarf. She is nineteen and since two years married, she was the most eager person in class.
Fatima admitted that she had a crappy last year and that she laughing to cover it.
Guillano wants to study something with computer and security and studied arts in his country. Hes making his drivers license.
Since Sheyma is married and pregnant she didnt come to school anymore.
Olga is unhappy because she liked her life in White Russia better but her husband is belgian.
Kaori wants to follow almost every class in "volwassenenonderwijs" when she can speak nederlands.
I think these people belong to the most bravest ones I have ever known. They left EVERYTHING behind, stepped in an unsecure future, for better opportunities for her kids, themselves.
How can we dare not to appreciate this power behind those people?
Why dont we accept them, if they are so brave, so powerful in their ambitions?
What chances do we miss if we bring them down?
Which chance do they offer for our socierty?
- This weekend:
Friday: I saw the atomium! I made a postcard picture and enjoyed good music and rain in brussels...
Saturday: Jump in beach party!! Very nice "fuif" (youthparty from far too young til 25) which offered me a useful impression of the belgian youth (besides having a lot of fun of course!!)
- belgians can drink. i was impressed.
- the youth smokes EVERYWHERE weed and i guess everybody knows.
- driving drunk doesnt seem to be an obstacule for going home.
So, all in all, the fuif was great fun and i am so happy that i met finally the people from JH Jovita which are not stubborn Chiros or Scouts (not that i dont like them but in general they are not very open-minded to not-chiros :-))). JH JOVITA is really the most social youthhouse :-D
Sunday:
- meeting with youth council. Horrible headache and very complicated people around. But interesting though.
THIS THIS week:
I feel good. Settled down I guess. I mean, really. Language is better and better ( i have finally the feeling that people understand me when i talk to them).
Oh yes, Belgium, i like you!!!!
On friday my parents will come. and my :bro: and my zus. YEAH!
Groetjes to my lovely family, who is bringing dark bread over here, to the people from JH Jovita which are just so nice, to bram for good music and to octavio and my former class. And to Belgium. :-DD
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Worry-last-minute
Hello everyone...
So sorry that I didnt manage to keep this blog update. But thats a good thing I think because it means that I dont suffer boredom here :-) No, seriously... So glad that I have most of the time much work. Full agenda is what I like most :-)
I think I start with last thursday which spent in Brussels.
There was a Colloquium about Fairtrade, so exactly my main task at work.
When I stepped out of the station in Brussel-Noord I was in the dodgiest and dirtiest part of Brussels I think.
Waaw I was scared to get shot cause of my white jacket :-D No, seriously, I was glad as I found the way out. (it is not that i haven't had a plan from google maps... It's just - I cannot read them properly I guess). I went in the totally wrong direction but I finally managed it to got the HUUUUGE (and I mean HUGE) building in which the colloquium set place in. I imagine Hilton Hotel like that.
But it just fit to the people who where there: business, buisness, buisness. Like London. I felt so important :-D
The colloquium was very interesting, inspirating. I learned that Fairtrade has actually - as every other thing on this world - a high current market value. A future-thing which is just coming up and the smartest firms and companies are buying/selling fairtrade. (I would like to make an exception on "smart" for starbucks: they are in my opinion just profiteurs. But well, its a good thing in this case.)
By the way, the key-speaker (professor in globalisation, sustainabilty and financies, graduated on cambridge) was one of the 35 biggest buissness women in the world. and she was soo VOGUE. Amazing.
Belgium is so small, it makes me feel secure:
I met some people on the colloquium with which I went in a bar with afterwards. I called also another EVSer, Petar, and he brought another girl. Oh, it was a nice evening... Just a little bit too long. Okay, lets say it honestly: It was nice and I took the latest train back home, together with Kristof, and I was stuck in Hasselt. (Thank you again, Marie-Rose tha you came to pick me up!!!! That was soooo nice. Yes, Fons, and the next time I will walk :-D)
(Even though I had to call Fons haha) But at no time I was scared, probably because Belgium is so small and just in CASE you got lost or anything: ring someone whos living near that place. Amazing.
I never felt so secure as in this country and I do understand (as a GERMAN) now worry-less Dorien (best friend from Australia) when he says: Dont worry until its the time for it.
Worry-last-minute; so-to-say.
And it works, because it doesnt vanish your problems but instead you have more time to enjoy life without them. (Its probably every australians attitude because they also feel so secure in europe, britains backyard, because there is everytime a plane you can take... Haha The size of OZ and EU is almost same, ay??)
By the way, my best friend saskia is now in Australia. I am jealous :-D But I am still saving my money for May 2010. (By the way, what are you saying, if its 2010: Oh-10? 10?)
Oh yes, I havent really talked about the weekend yet... It was nice; even though its the reason why I feel a little sick now. But well, probably worth it. No, Fons, it was 5 's morgens, not 6 :-D
No, really, nice friday. Amanda and me can proudly proclaim that we were in a poker club (and it was soo boring :-D) but we met this amazing girl from chicago. "Reeeeeally, beliiiiieve me, between 19 and 25 is the beeeest time of your life and you need to enjoooooy every second of it!!!" She said she was tired but I swear she was on drugs. :-D
Saturday I spend with chasing cars, german music and a little bit of rain....
The week:
Strange. Felt homesick for the first time, out of balance, everytime close the tears. ME?!
I dont understand either. Mh. Its probably because its really hard to make belgian friends here, because I am neither in school nor in university - where the most people in my age are.
But well, this is kind of the excercise I was searching for, the EVS competition and desease in the same time. Its getting normal staying here and you are loosing home kind of. Its always a good and a bad feeling, i think. But I will probably manage it, I got to know soo many people, well; just mates, but still. they can become best mates, maybe.
(By the way, I noticed that our relationsships are through facebook even more superficial. You add someone and you are friends with. And then you forget about. But you are friends! Isnt it strange?)
Wednesday:
That was yesterday and since then I am feeling so much better. Maybe because of the huuuge rain over here. So nice. Could have watched it the whole night long :-D
Okay I think thats toooo much now, so I am just saying Salut! Tot Straks!
Groetjes aan Amanda (zij verjaart vandaag!!! sweet 19) and Bram and Fons and Marie-Rose and Arko and my nice big italian family. See u soon.
And Jana, i miss you and training!!!! I am thinking about going home for our show :-D
So sorry that I didnt manage to keep this blog update. But thats a good thing I think because it means that I dont suffer boredom here :-) No, seriously... So glad that I have most of the time much work. Full agenda is what I like most :-)
I think I start with last thursday which spent in Brussels.
There was a Colloquium about Fairtrade, so exactly my main task at work.
When I stepped out of the station in Brussel-Noord I was in the dodgiest and dirtiest part of Brussels I think.
Waaw I was scared to get shot cause of my white jacket :-D No, seriously, I was glad as I found the way out. (it is not that i haven't had a plan from google maps... It's just - I cannot read them properly I guess). I went in the totally wrong direction but I finally managed it to got the HUUUUGE (and I mean HUGE) building in which the colloquium set place in. I imagine Hilton Hotel like that.
But it just fit to the people who where there: business, buisness, buisness. Like London. I felt so important :-D
The colloquium was very interesting, inspirating. I learned that Fairtrade has actually - as every other thing on this world - a high current market value. A future-thing which is just coming up and the smartest firms and companies are buying/selling fairtrade. (I would like to make an exception on "smart" for starbucks: they are in my opinion just profiteurs. But well, its a good thing in this case.)
By the way, the key-speaker (professor in globalisation, sustainabilty and financies, graduated on cambridge) was one of the 35 biggest buissness women in the world. and she was soo VOGUE. Amazing.
Belgium is so small, it makes me feel secure:
I met some people on the colloquium with which I went in a bar with afterwards. I called also another EVSer, Petar, and he brought another girl. Oh, it was a nice evening... Just a little bit too long. Okay, lets say it honestly: It was nice and I took the latest train back home, together with Kristof, and I was stuck in Hasselt. (Thank you again, Marie-Rose tha you came to pick me up!!!! That was soooo nice. Yes, Fons, and the next time I will walk :-D)
(Even though I had to call Fons haha) But at no time I was scared, probably because Belgium is so small and just in CASE you got lost or anything: ring someone whos living near that place. Amazing.
I never felt so secure as in this country and I do understand (as a GERMAN) now worry-less Dorien (best friend from Australia) when he says: Dont worry until its the time for it.
Worry-last-minute; so-to-say.
And it works, because it doesnt vanish your problems but instead you have more time to enjoy life without them. (Its probably every australians attitude because they also feel so secure in europe, britains backyard, because there is everytime a plane you can take... Haha The size of OZ and EU is almost same, ay??)
By the way, my best friend saskia is now in Australia. I am jealous :-D But I am still saving my money for May 2010. (By the way, what are you saying, if its 2010: Oh-10? 10?)
Oh yes, I havent really talked about the weekend yet... It was nice; even though its the reason why I feel a little sick now. But well, probably worth it. No, Fons, it was 5 's morgens, not 6 :-D
No, really, nice friday. Amanda and me can proudly proclaim that we were in a poker club (and it was soo boring :-D) but we met this amazing girl from chicago. "Reeeeeally, beliiiiieve me, between 19 and 25 is the beeeest time of your life and you need to enjoooooy every second of it!!!" She said she was tired but I swear she was on drugs. :-D
Saturday I spend with chasing cars, german music and a little bit of rain....
The week:
Strange. Felt homesick for the first time, out of balance, everytime close the tears. ME?!
I dont understand either. Mh. Its probably because its really hard to make belgian friends here, because I am neither in school nor in university - where the most people in my age are.
But well, this is kind of the excercise I was searching for, the EVS competition and desease in the same time. Its getting normal staying here and you are loosing home kind of. Its always a good and a bad feeling, i think. But I will probably manage it, I got to know soo many people, well; just mates, but still. they can become best mates, maybe.
(By the way, I noticed that our relationsships are through facebook even more superficial. You add someone and you are friends with. And then you forget about. But you are friends! Isnt it strange?)
Wednesday:
That was yesterday and since then I am feeling so much better. Maybe because of the huuuge rain over here. So nice. Could have watched it the whole night long :-D
Okay I think thats toooo much now, so I am just saying Salut! Tot Straks!
Groetjes aan Amanda (zij verjaart vandaag!!! sweet 19) and Bram and Fons and Marie-Rose and Arko and my nice big italian family. See u soon.
And Jana, i miss you and training!!!! I am thinking about going home for our show :-D
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