My head is being hunted

VS.











I'm going to Hong Kong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, today I got a call from my contact there who invited me to go to HK for an assessment and meet with some key HR contacts who are going to offer me a 'package'!! The best part is, I don't have to decide if I want to take the job until I get back to Amsterdam... but I'm SO considering it now. WOOHOO!!!!!

A tribute to BBQs

We had a BBQ in our backyard last weekend to clear out the fridge. As you can see, it was nice sunny weather and very delicious :) Note: Gouda cheese on burgers is to die for...

Photo Captions: (Starting on top left, clockwise)

• Can this Taiwanese/Canadian guy (Dave) be trusted??
• *sizzle* *crack* looking pretty tasty mm-mm!
• Me: Oh Cheesy-Burger, I am under your spell!! Dave: Works every time ;)
• Nico: Ooo gas sure travels fast. Me: Hehe, way to keep the fire going!

Big props to Dave for lighting the (coal) grill in under 10 minutes, you know that's why you were selected to live with us, don't you?? ;)

I h8 decision-making

Library to lend out gays and Muslims

23 August 2005

AMSTERDAM — Members of the public will be able to borrow more than books at Almelo Library. In September, people will be able to "borrow"a gay person, gypsy or a Muslim for an hour.

Jan Krol, the head of the library, got the idea from a Swedish colleague who set up a similar "forget the stereotypes" project in Malmo.

People will be allowed to bring the "borrowee" to a cafe for an hour next to Almelo library to ask questions they would not normally dare to ask.

Krol is putting together a group of 10 people — representing different minority groups — to volunteer to be lent out. One of the volunteers is a Muslim woman living in a local asylum seekers centre.

Krol is also chairperson of the Twente and Achterhoek branch of the gay organisation COC.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

--
Interesting isnt it?? Me and my friend are planning to borrow a gypsy. :)

Life has been a whirlwind as of late, and only recently have I been able to take a breather. Finally things are somewhat set.. but still not.. But after what I have gone through, I find myself in a state of utter indecision, where even the simplest decisions are impossible for me. Ugh it is so horrible to be like this!

Anyway, this weekend, we've got the second christening of the TEAM ABN AMRO boat in Rotterdam and I got a free ticket to go. If you dont know already , we are sponsoring 2 boats in the Volvo Ocean Race (a 9 month long boat race around the world), --I cant believe I am promoting this-- but anyway I'll be going for the free food and drinks and concert w/ Kane, a dutch band w/ an extremely HOT singer :D See, it all makes sense after all.

The rest of the weekend will be spent exploring uitmarkt, which is an annual festival in Amsterdam all over town, with shows, music, and other art performances scattered around. Hope it's nice weather!!

O yea, we had like 3 BBQ's in the past week cuz we had company, and we also wanted to clear out the fridge since Nico and Sofie are moving out (Waaaaahhhhh!!! :( jk..) They will be moving together into a very nice apartment, and so I will be staying in our house with a new guy from Canada -Dave- and Robert, the Hungarian. I will be moving too eventually but just in a few months maybe, but for now it will be interesting to see how the house is without Nico and Sofie. (Probably dead). but anyway we'll see. From the BBQs I learned that sausages are only good around 5-10 minutes fresh off the grill. I tried to take a few to work the next day and 'warm them up' in my soup, but they still tasted like (very fatty) rolled up cardboard shreddings. Blech...

I have Achilles Tendonitis

"Women who wear high-heeled shoes often and switch to sneakers for exercise also can develop Achilles tendonitis. The Achilles tendon and lower leg muscles gradually adapt to a shortened position because the shoes prevent the heel from stretching all the way to the ground. When this occurs, wearing sneakers or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is accustomed to, causing inflammation. If high heels are worn everyday, stretching should be done every morning and night to keep the Achilles tendon lengthened. "

So, I have my answer. Owww...

Money ain't a thang

So I had a time span of 30 mins to try to find a pair of nice looking jeans, and I found myself in the DIESEL store of the main shopping street in Amsterdam yesterday. A few weeks prior I had already been scouting for jeans at the Replay store, and well, even though the price tag was demanding way too much from me, I went back twice to try on the same pair of jeans, both times without buying anything. Yes, I should be ashamed of myself, but what the heck, I did it anyway.

So this time, I decided to try and see if I could finally find a pair of DIESEL jeans that fit me well, as I have always wanted to own a pair 'for life'. The lady gave me 3 pairs and after I squeezed myself into the first pair, I knew it was over. I asked her, "Can I walk out in these?" to which she replied, "Well, if you buy them first." So... I went down to the first floor, paid the completely overpriced amount and changed into MY new pair of jeans.

I have never felt happier!!!!!

oh oh gotta go party now, TO BE CONTINUED...

Never 100%

I dunno what's up lately. I seem to always be sick!

Last week after boxing class, I injured my wrists and they were sore for a few days. Then, I got bit by a gang of mosquitos all over my lower left leg, causing me to hobble around like a cripple for another few days (the swelling was horrific around my ankle). Now, my ankle is finally healing and I have found a swollen lump on the right side of my neck! It's so gross, and I've been told it's just a regular lymph node fighting off some kind of infection in my body. But when will it finish???

I just tried to lie down, and it felt like the lymph node weighs 3 pounds on its own, the way it seemed to pull all of my head's weight down. What the hell!? I wanna get well!!!!

Other than the sicknesses, life has been stressful. There are so many decisions to be made and I am not in any position to make them yet. It's like constantly being dangled in mid-air. What is going to happen!!!??!?!?! I'm getting impatient.

Ghetto Superstar

Purchase of the day: adidas superstar shoes
Goal for the next 2 months: be able to move like missy elliott and her crew in her 'lose control' video
Just ingested: Milka Luflee (chocolate bar)
Instead of: Kit Kat Chunky
Feeling: very, very dissatisfied.

Rain, rain and more rain

It's another rainy July day in Amsterdam, and the whole rest of the week is forecasted to be the same. Everything is grey and the air looks thick and muggy. I so do not wanna walk out there in the rain, but, it is the only option as I have no car or other bubble form to enclose me from the cold wind and rain. Grrrr. Where is the nice sun n' beach weather!?!

Been having a pretty fun week and it's thanks to the increase of human contact I've had in the form of telephone chats and skype (add me: wafflerica!) Here are some of the things that made me laugh this week:

Me: He's addicted to salsa.
R: Are you sure it's not salsa n' chips?

Rob (to Max): Get off of me, I can see ur anus!!

C: A midget is any person under 137cm.
Me: How the hell did you know that?!

Me: Does anyone want this last chicken foot? *yum
Ch: I'll eat it!
Me: wtf!?
N (in a distinguished English accent): YOU bitch.

Me: Just wait til you get your face mashed by someone's lips.
A: I wish.

B: Nay... joe-gun meh-ah? hehe

CP: She has those...GOOD VALUES I would say.

oh, and did I mention, i returned home yesterday to find a huge pile of shit (literally) in my bed? Yes, it was Max. That ungrateful bastard!!!!

Dutch WCs: Odour incubators

At work, there are 2 stalls in the bathroom, both with doors that go all the way up to the ceiling and leave only a tiny crack at the bottom. Once inside the stall, there is a (relatively) strong lock that seals you inside this solitary room that fits a single toilet. Most 'WC's (water closets) are built this way, they are, literally, closets, where you are fully enclosed to take in the nastiest odours, produced by yours truly (YOU, not me, well... me too. hehe)

The toilets are structured this way for privacy's sake, something the Dutch favour highly. Since they are the most densely populated country in the world, they really like to build walls (both physically and psychologically!) If by chance you were to run out of toilet paper, you're on your own, there is no way you could ask your next door neighbour to pass you a few squares. Luckily, this has never happened to me before.

Anyway, everytime I go into the bathroom and there is someone who just came out, it is always a toss-up which door I should go into. Behind one door is a fresh, fragrant stall that has not been used for at least 10 minutes. The other door, however, is guaranteed to reek of recent rising wafts of stank from whatever the previous person was doing. The key here is not to offend the person who is currently washing their hands. So.. sometimes even though it is obvious which stall should be chosen (from listening to where the post-flush noise is coming from), I would have to go into the not so pleasant option.

...I don't call them odour incubators for no reason. *gag*

Call me Yuschenko

ahhhhh my face is changing!! somebody help me!!! its bumpy, its itchy, its red... i'm turning into victor yushenko!! have i been poisoned?? what the hell's going on!?!?!?

after a bout of deep thinking...I came to realise that I must be allergic to cats!!

See, it only started after we got Max and Kiek (meet Max below), and they have been playing around/sleeping in my room a bit, so yea, all of a sudden, I am allergic to cat dander. My boss confirmed that she also got allergies upon coming to Amsterdam, and then another Dutchie said to me that he also got new allergies when he moved to Amsterdam. So, there must be something about this city...

My stomach has a heartbeat

Sitting in front of my computer at work on this Tuesday afternoon, I realise I have just stuffed myself with a cup of chocolate vla (aka pudding), a large crisp apple, several cough drops, and 500 ml of water.. all this after a lunch of bread w/ 2 slices old cheese, fruit salad, and a cup of soup.

Feeling already like a blimp, I looked down at my pink tank top-wrapped stomach 5 mins ago to find that it was beating rhythmically in a dooown-UP!-dooown-UP! fashion. If it could talk, it would probably say "(gargle) more food, MORE!!! glub-glub-glub"

Ugh! Must. Stop. Eating!!!

Our Monochromatic Friend - Max

Max

Max likes to sit around. He is laid back, calm and quiet. He has a black triangle on his nose that makes him look like a koala. And his paws prints are perfectly inked in black. I like Max. He is our visitor until mid-August when his owner (and our colleague) comes back from his honeymoon.

Wholesome Swimwear

Watch out Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, these 3 ladies (especially Ms. Slimming Swimmer with a mullet and mustache) might take over the scene!

From www.wholesomewear.com:

"WholesomeWear is a modest line of clothing for "wherever." Our WaterWear is the first to be introduced because the need for modesty in swimwear is greatest and the supply is almost non-existant. Swimwear that "highlights the face, rather than the body" includes an undergarment with bright colours at the neck and shoulders to draw attention to the face. "

What the hell? Let's see them wear that in 30+ degree weather!

NAPOLI pt.2

Fond memories of Napoli...

• the hot sun
• the sandy beaches
• the blue sky
• the piles of garbage on the streets
• the vespas/scooters racing around
• the mini-buses
• the crazy driving
• the flirting romantic men
• the HOT men
• the Jesse Metcalfe look-alike
• the quick-melting gelato
• the half cooked pastas
• the little sauces
• the scorching heat
• wet backpack straps from our sweat :P

It was an awesome time in Naples ... We didn't do the usual tourist thing like visit all the sites and stuff, but hung out with a really cool bunch of people: the AIESEC Napoli Parthenope crew. They included Giulio (thanks for hosting us!!), Franco, Bianca, Camilla, Maria, Anarosa, Luigi & Co., etc. and I will never forget any of you! It was so nice of them to just let us tag along with them the whole weekend. :) With them, we went to downtown Napoli, a cool beach club in Napoli, Sorrento, and the island of Ischia. Me and Ching-Yin also visited the archaeological site of Pompei, where it was so hot we nearly melted into the sand ourselves.

It's true that Italian men are very romantic (*cough*horny*cough*). They don't beat around the bush and they dont' waste time when it comes to hitting on girls. If they like you (which doesnt necessarily have to be beyond surface levels), they'll tell you or show you, depending on how brash he is. It seems that in their minds, there's no use in playing those silly mind games because you're only really wasting time. Think, if everyone just said "I like you" and that person liked them back, hook-ups could happen in a matter of minutes rather than weeks. And that's exactly how it happens in Napoli. ;)

So... lesson learned: Don't waste time and just show your feelings, if you're lucky enough to have any. Hehe.

<--real Napoli Margherita pizza sold by the metre!

Fly, woman, fly!

Apparently these images are too abrasive for bank communications, due to the fact that they are: -funny, -energetic, -different, -eyecatching, -cool, -inspiring, etc.

I ask myself everyday:

What am I doing here?

NAPOLI

We are sitting in the AIESEC Napoli Parthenope office right now and just chilling out. it is amazing how similar all the aiesec offices are around the world. here there is enough space for maybe 10 people to squish, 2 computers, flags from all over the world covering the walls and ceilings, certificates, and a tshirt on the wall with the familiar line: its cool to be..its cool to be an lcp...

its been amazing the whole weekend. we hung out with 2 ceeders from germany and denmark, and a whole bunch of lc members as well and they all were so keen to take us around and party too. we went to the beach several times and oh oops our host is telling me to go now, back into the scorching sun and its time for me to get some more gelato and a nice pasta lunch.. mmm cant wait!!!!!!!! back to write when theres time.. take care everyone!

Invincible no more

You think you're indestructible, you think you're invincible, you think nothing can stop you, until you hit something and DIE.

It goes something like this: While driving, or riding a bicycle, you tend to have those 'close calls', those times when you wonder 'How the hell did I get through that small space without scraping my car on both sides' or 'woa that was close' or something along those lines. Well I had always been a lil cocky in my car/on my bike. I would go dangerously close behind cars (aka tailgating) or swerve around on my bicycle without knowing how the hell i'd get between parked cars and moving cars on my sides, truck mirrors inches from my face as I sped by, getting stuck in tram tracks, the works. Somehow, I always made it thru.

Last night, I learned I am not always so lucky.

I was carrying Ching-Yin on the back of my bike, making a left turn and I saw a girl riding her bike straight, so somehow I thought she would speed up so I could go pass behind her as she rode by, but she DIDNT, and I ran full speed into her back wheel for a full on bike collision. What happened next was a blur: The bike tipped over, I flew off and hit the pavement with my palms and left knee, I hear Ching-Yin going "are u okay are u okay????" and suddenly I'm on my back staring into the starless Amsterdam sky.

At this point I look down and see a TEAR in my jeans on my left knee (and think, o great now Sofie is going to think I copied her ripped jeans look) but how cool is that?? I ACTUALLY RIPPED A HOLE IN MY JEANS FROM A REAL INJURY!! now THATs authentic hardcore!!! :D But looking beyond the tear, I see scraped skin and some blood. :( Anyway my bike seemed to be okay after a kick in the back by Ching-Yin, and now I am hobbling around like a cripple.

I learned my lesson though, I never thought I'd actually hit anything/anyone.. but it happens. I'll TRY to be more careful.. but yea who am I kidding.. hehe.

Cool people

When you're abroad, you tend to meet a lot of people you would never otherwise come across in your lifetime. Some of them you don't quite notice too much, but others have a bigger impact on you and your perception of the world and of people in general.

For example, before coming abroad on my traineeship, I had never met a 'real' Swede, Uruguayan, or Austrian (not to be confused with Australia). All I knew about Sweden was that they shipped their ice hockey players to our teams, about Uruguay - Homer Simpsons 'U R GAY', and Austria - Ahnold Schwarzeneggar, of course.

I find it so enriching (yes fancy wording) to meet people whom I know nothing about, who are from a place where I can't even really imagine what it's like to have a life there. You would think they are very different but the biggest realisation for me was how much the US has influenced the world, in terms of pop culture for instance.

My Swedish roommate is an avid viewer of "Nip Tuck" and "The OC", there is a German trainee claims to be a 'movie expert' and you can take that as truth becuz he just knows so damn many movies (out of Hollywood), my Hungarian roommate is big into brands like Puma and Diesel, and the now very famous Austrian coworker of mine probably knows more lyrics to 50cent's Candy Shop than I do (he definitely has the moves down).

Sometimes it's hard to make a connection with people who are from completely different backgrounds. If you happen to have nothing in common, that's one thing, but if it happens you do, sometimes it's a language barrier that makes one person have less of a personality. Then, you also need to overcome the 'superficial conversations' that are inevitable when you have too many acquaintances from all different parts of the world. The topics never stray far from: the weather, how long you've been here, when your contract ends, where you are from and what it's like there. Repeat 20x and see if you like meeting new people anymore.

That's why it's so nice to meet people that, despite coming from a totally different background and maybe mother tongue, you are able to connect with, on a deeper level of understanding and conversation. Surprisingly, I found this in a thin, willowy Austrian fellow. I've always been a fan of wise, intellectual (yet sickly funny) folk and I have to say that he is one of them.

So here's to you Chris, the guy who can:

• talk forever on philosophical topics, financial topics, relational topics, u name it, all the while interspersed w/ "Ja", "I mean" or "To be honest"..
• shake his butt like no man has ever (wanted to) seen
• squint to have smaller eyes than Asians themselves
• match his eye colour to his hair
• get the attention of everyone in the clubs with his swaying 'loose hips'

Take care, u'll be missed!

Beach boobies

"They have my size!!"

hehe. The last weekend has been crazy hot in Amsterdam and pretty much all of Holland, with temperatures in the low to mid 30's (celsius). Supposedly, this rarely happens in the mostly cloudy Netherlands, where it's said that you only need two seasons of clothing: winter and fall. Therefore, at the first glimpse of sunlight, you can expect to find a Dutchie in shorts.

So, on Sunday, me and Sofie went to Zandvoort, the same place as our beach party a few weeks back, but this time, to get some serious tanning done. I didn't bring any sunscreen, thinking that compared to the average fair person I had really strong skin that could stand up to the blistering sun, but was I ever wrong. I am SO burnt. Not only that, but I have the ugliest tanline on my back, cuz as I was lying on my stomach, the little string around my skirt had shifted itself to lie right across my back, so now I have a striped back. :P It hurts to move now owww, my shoulders!!

The view on the beach was quite interesting as well. There are lil tarps everywhere and beach chairs, and if you happen to take one of them, someone will come around to collect 8 euros from you for using them. There are also people who walk around asking you if you'd like any drinks, and they will deliver them to you after running back to their shops on the boardwalk. Aside from that, a LOT of women were *gasp* topless! Okay, so I AM in Europe.. but I guess I just didn't expect to see that really. The last time I was in Europe (in 1995 w/ my parents on a bus tour) I remember going to a pebbly beach and us all gawking at ONE woman with her top off. This time, they were everywhere!

You'd think it'd be some kinda heaven for guys wouldn't you, but let me tell you, I'd think again. There are women of all ages there, of all shades of tans, and some really should get out of the sun (they're nearly orange or black!!). Their 'assets' are of all shapes, triangular, round, droopy, wrinkly, you name it, its there. And the weirdest thing was, me and Sofie were saying, it'd be okay if they're just lying there, doing nothing but laying still, but these women were doing everything from walking, running, playing volleyball, and splashing around in the water. We weren't used to it at all. :P Oh, and the worst thing I saw has got to be this woman with huuuuuge breasts, and her nipples were like the size of my palms! (For anyone who's reading this who actually has nipples that size, I apologize in advance, please do not take any personal offense to this. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, it's just have never seen anything like that before.) :P

busted!

Today I arrived at the company gym to find a notification on my locker door. It said something like, "lockers are not for personal use, yada yada yada.." :P Yea, I have been keeping my shower stuff in there for months now, but I guess they finally noticed...

So before my workout, I removed the notice and stuck it onto the locker beside mine (hehe) and went on my way. However, after I returned from my workout, I was shocked to find that the notice was returned to MY locker once again!! So whoever did it probably knew I was in the gym, and pinpointed me (dammit!) Aiya.. Looks like I might have to keep moving around to different lockers, or finally remove my stuff :P


The gym lockers.