I said goodbye to Madeleine yesterday, and it was very hard. I actually don't think I'd ever spent 4 weeks straight, almost 24/7, with someone before. It was a bit of a shock and kind of scary to be alone again, and part of me really wished I could've gotten on the plane with her.
However, after a few minutes of crying and feeling like Bridget Jones when she's singing the 'All be myself' song, I realised it would probably all be ok. I also remembered how in Sydney I really loved spending time alone, and not making any plans until the last moment, just so I would only do exactly what I wanted to do. In many ways this is actually a lot easier than doing things with someone else all the time.
The only question is, what do I really want to do?? Sleep a lot, that's for sure. I also wanted to go and buy running shoes so I could go running again, but I don't think that would be wise in this heat (coming up withg excuses is so easy, I love it). Oh, and I'm taking a break from the wine drinking. Hmm, this is starting to sound a bit too much like new years resolutions. Don't worry, we're going clubbing tonight so it's not all about being a health freak!
I can't help but also put this 'what do I want to do' question in a bigger perspective though, with the start of 2009 and my birthday being so near. I think that over the past 15 months I've done quite well with listening to my intuiton and making decisions that made me happy. But what if you ask yourself the question and there are multiple answers, each one making the another one impossible?
For example, what if I would love to be able to see my Dutch friends regularly, but cannot picture myself living in the Netherlands? What if I would love to go back to Australia, but don't have a visa, and don't want to be so far away from, well, everything?
Luckily there are also a few things I do know. Like that I am really looking forward to starting a new job and finally working on some sort of career (make that the best, fastest, most impressive career you've even seen, I'm going to take it seriously this time). That I want to find a place to live and not move for at least a year, that I want to join a gym, or pick up tennis or hockey again. In short, I think I am finally ready for a more 'normal' life. Wow, and all that at the very young age of 27 years & 51 weeks, it's truly amazing!!
In the meantime I am going to make the most of my time here in Buenos Aires, which among other things means taking another week of much needed language classes. When you are Dutch and start using English numbers in your Spanish sentences you know you are not practising your Spanish enough!
Apart from that, there was a recent display of the amazing effectivity with which over-analyzing on one side and over-emotionalizing (is that a word?) on the other can make something fun, easy, and promising suddenly seem....very complicated. This has made me realize that patience and not needing to be in control all the time are qualities I should start practising asap.
And last but not least, I think I am going to eat more steaks, because I am truly sick of eating cheese all the time.
I hope you people up north are ice-skating, and that everyone down south is beaching!
p.s. I will reply to emails soon!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Pictures
Iguazu
Hot hot hot hot hot in Asuncion, Paraguay
Capital city transportation, Asuncion
Faking a smile, finally at the Argentinian side of the Argentina-Paraguay border
Llamas
Salt flats
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Less is more
Who ever thought it was a good idea to write a blog while travelling?! It´s not like I´m Bill Bryson or something. And anyway, I am sure he does a lot of his writing afterwards too.
We are doing so many different things, in so many different places, in such a short period of time, that it´s difficult to remember everything, let alone write something about it. Actually, we´ve found that the only way to deal with everything is drinking a lot of wine. Drinking a lot of wine also helps you get through long, hot afternoons in poor/dirty/boring/chaotic towns. And it really helps you to fall asleep in beds with mattrasses which are older and thinner than your great grandmother.
When we are not drinking wine we are:
- Laughing a lot about things that aren´t necessarily funny
- On a bus
- Lounging on a deserted river beach, where the guys that run the place dash off into the woods with hunting guns
- On a bus
- Admiring the Iguazu waterfalls. There are no words to describe them, go and see them for yourself
- On 3 different buses
- Walking around in the 43 degree heat of Asunción, Paraguay. (I wouldn´t recommend this to anyone, although on the upside, the people are super friendly and everything is dirt cheap)
- On a bus
- At the border bribing our way out of above-mentioned Paraguay because we never got the entry stamp. No entry, no exit, it seems.
- On a bus
- Winning back the bribe money at the casino in Corrientes, playing roulette. (Actually, we were drinking wine and that made us decide to go to the casino...)
- On a bus
- Getting frustrated in Salta, and then very relaxed in Cafayate, a place famous for....it´s vineyards and wine
- On a bus
- Endlessly talking about how cute llamas are, and buying all sorts of llama souvenirs, then finding out that the milanesa (schnitzel) we had for lunch also once used to be a cute llama.
- In a car
- Taking great jump-pictures on the beautiful salt flats ´near´ Salta (pics soon!!)
Three guesses about where we will be tomorrow....
On a bus.
Which will take us to Buenos Aires in just 18 short hours.
We are doing so many different things, in so many different places, in such a short period of time, that it´s difficult to remember everything, let alone write something about it. Actually, we´ve found that the only way to deal with everything is drinking a lot of wine. Drinking a lot of wine also helps you get through long, hot afternoons in poor/dirty/boring/chaotic towns. And it really helps you to fall asleep in beds with mattrasses which are older and thinner than your great grandmother.
When we are not drinking wine we are:
- Laughing a lot about things that aren´t necessarily funny
- On a bus
- Lounging on a deserted river beach, where the guys that run the place dash off into the woods with hunting guns
- On a bus
- Admiring the Iguazu waterfalls. There are no words to describe them, go and see them for yourself
- On 3 different buses
- Walking around in the 43 degree heat of Asunción, Paraguay. (I wouldn´t recommend this to anyone, although on the upside, the people are super friendly and everything is dirt cheap)
- On a bus
- At the border bribing our way out of above-mentioned Paraguay because we never got the entry stamp. No entry, no exit, it seems.
- On a bus
- Winning back the bribe money at the casino in Corrientes, playing roulette. (Actually, we were drinking wine and that made us decide to go to the casino...)
- On a bus
- Getting frustrated in Salta, and then very relaxed in Cafayate, a place famous for....it´s vineyards and wine
- On a bus
- Endlessly talking about how cute llamas are, and buying all sorts of llama souvenirs, then finding out that the milanesa (schnitzel) we had for lunch also once used to be a cute llama.
- In a car
- Taking great jump-pictures on the beautiful salt flats ´near´ Salta (pics soon!!)
Three guesses about where we will be tomorrow....
On a bus.
Which will take us to Buenos Aires in just 18 short hours.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Buenos Aires, you confuse me
As you can see, I keep my promises: (finally) a new post. It might seem like I have been too busy to write, something not all that surprising when travelling. In fact, I haven´t been busy, just really really lazy.
Since Madeleine´s arrival in Buenos Aires we have been taking it easy, not doing much more than walking 500 meters, deciding that that was quite an effort, and then sitting down for a drink and/or food for the next 45 minutes. Still, I think we managed to see a lot of the city and we definitely got a good idea of the Porteño vibe.
Since Madeleine´s arrival in Buenos Aires we have been taking it easy, not doing much more than walking 500 meters, deciding that that was quite an effort, and then sitting down for a drink and/or food for the next 45 minutes. Still, I think we managed to see a lot of the city and we definitely got a good idea of the Porteño vibe.
What Buenos Aires is like? It´s difficult to describe because to me it seems to be a city of contrasts. Sunny and 37 degrees one week, 19 degrees and rainstorms the next, the newest mini cooper showroom, with homeless people sleeping in front of it, heavy traffic that exhausts horrible fumes, but also lots and lots of trees and parks.
My feelings in the 10 days I was there mirrored these contrast: loving it the first day, hating it the days after 
because it was too hot and dirty, back to liking it after having drinks with E., a Scottish girl I had met in Mendoza, loving it again on our last day.
because it was too hot and dirty, back to liking it after having drinks with E., a Scottish girl I had met in Mendoza, loving it again on our last day.Mad and I did some of the standard touristic things: we went to the cemetery where Evita is burried (we couldn´t find her grave and had to ask four different people, it´s in a tiny alley and doesn´t stand out in any way). We also went to a Boca Juniors soccer game, a great experience but highly overpriced. We glanced at some monuments and museums from a distance, but most of our time was spent in shops, cafés and restaurants. But apparently that´s exactly the thing to do in Buenos Aires, so we don´t feel bad about it at all.
At night we went out for dinners and drinks, once with a bunch of international girls, friends from Scottish E., but we also went to a very nice bar with two (also very nice) Argentinian guys. Maartje (my Almelo friend in Sydney) had put me in touch with R., who she met in Sydney when he was studying there. He was happy to meet up with us and take us out. Apart from being good company, R. and his friend T. picked us up from our hostel, held open doors, ordered food, paid, and drove us back again as well. And yes, I do intend for Dutch guys to read this and learn something from it!
In general, we had the best times when we did things that were not in our guidebooks, like finding a fishermen´s pier with only locals (who were there to fish, sursprisingly), and a great view of both the river and the city skyline.
There´s not much of a culture shock, Argentina is very European and it´s easy to figure out how things work. This is very relaxing but it also makes it harder to appreciate the fact that we are so far away from home. Then again, all I need to do is look at the Dutch
weather forecast and then I know that it really is a different world!
weather forecast and then I know that it really is a different world! One thing I did notice however was that Argentinians love to make out in public. There are couples passionately kissing each other everywhere: in the park, at restaurants, on the pavement right in front of a café terrace, in packed bars on ordinary Tuesday nights.. They don´t care and the people around them don´t seem to either.
I wonder, might this be one of those things where ´When in Rome.....´?
Friday, November 21, 2008
The mind works in mysterious ways
Before I left for my trip to Chile and Argentina I was joking with an Arup colleague that I wouldn't be doing any real backpacking, that I would just chill out by a pool drinking cocktails.
This joke slowly started turning into reality when, half an hour before leaving for the airport, I decided to take a suitcase instead of my backpack. A decision I haven't regretted for a moment. After all, both Chile and Argentina have paved roads.
Then, once I was in Chile, I got invited to stay with a Chilean family, in their holiday house in the moutains. I think the pictures say it all. A huge wooden house, all the water directly from the river and no electricity until after sunset, when the generator was switched on. A five star back-to-nature experience. But the highlight of this adventure was the 9 year-old Benjamin, who very patiently kept teaching me new words in Spanish.
But even though I was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery and welcoming people, my mind wouldn´t stop thinking lots of ¨if only´s¨. If only I were here with my own family/friends, if only I spoke better Spanish, if only I could go back to Sydney soon, if only this were my house. If only, and it would all be perfect. Does this mean I am spoiled? Well, obviously I am, but I don´t think that was the reason. I think it was just the thought of being dependent on these people, not being able to leave if I wanted to, to do my own thing. Maybe my year in Sydney has made me a bit too independent. After a severe test of my patience with Latin timing (with everything happening a day later then planned!) we finally got back to Santiago/Valparaíso on Monday night. The next morning I made a dash for Mendoza (Argentina), just over the Andes. And it´s amazing how much better I feel! Mentally I mean, because my body is actually quite sore from horseback riding.
Briefly skipping back to Santiago de Chile again: I thought it was a pleasant city, and Sara (see previous post) showed me some neighbourhoods that I am quite sad not to have been able to explore further. Maybe on the way back. I was also pleasantly surprised to see my favourite tree, the jacaranda. Too bad its blooming season was near the end.
Mendoza is great as well. It´s very, very green and very calm without being sleepy or boring. It actually feels a bit like a Spanish town. (Hmm, how strange....doh)
Some of you might be pleased to hear that I haven´t been able to maintain my vegetarianism. In Chile I did fairly well. Because they eat everything with avocado I would just ask for no meat-extra avocado. But here in Argentina the avocado has disappeared from the menu. Instead, it´s meat, meat and meat. Today I had about 6 pieces of the most delicious (and deliciously bbq-ed) meat ever. I comfort myself with the idea that out here the cows lead happy pampa-lives, far away from over-crowded cages and hormone injections. Yay.
From Mendoza I am going to Buenos Aires (on Saturday), where Madeleine will join me on 28 November. Together we will explore BA a bit more, (hopefuly) go to a Boca Juniors soccer game, and then travel around other parts of Argentina until Christmas. After Madeleine leaves on 26 December, I hope to stay in Buenos Aires to learn more Spanish (with that peculiar Argentinean accent) and maybe find a job of some sort. I am actually going to look at an apartment in BA this Monday!
Over the past week I had about a million ideas of what to write about, but in reality typing a blog on a hostel computer is not ideal. There´s wi-fi in most places, so I can use my own laptop too, but the handy, tiny thing is so tiny that I will develop RSI in every part of my body if I use it for too long. So you see, lots of excuses!
I guess the main point I want to get across is that I am happy to be here.
This joke slowly started turning into reality when, half an hour before leaving for the airport, I decided to take a suitcase instead of my backpack. A decision I haven't regretted for a moment. After all, both Chile and Argentina have paved roads.
Then, once I was in Chile, I got invited to stay with a Chilean family, in their holiday house in the moutains. I think the pictures say it all. A huge wooden house, all the water directly from the river and no electricity until after sunset, when the generator was switched on. A five star back-to-nature experience. But the highlight of this adventure was the 9 year-old Benjamin, who very patiently kept teaching me new words in Spanish.
But even though I was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery and welcoming people, my mind wouldn´t stop thinking lots of ¨if only´s¨. If only I were here with my own family/friends, if only I spoke better Spanish, if only I could go back to Sydney soon, if only this were my house. If only, and it would all be perfect. Does this mean I am spoiled? Well, obviously I am, but I don´t think that was the reason. I think it was just the thought of being dependent on these people, not being able to leave if I wanted to, to do my own thing. Maybe my year in Sydney has made me a bit too independent. After a severe test of my patience with Latin timing (with everything happening a day later then planned!) we finally got back to Santiago/Valparaíso on Monday night. The next morning I made a dash for Mendoza (Argentina), just over the Andes. And it´s amazing how much better I feel! Mentally I mean, because my body is actually quite sore from horseback riding.
Briefly skipping back to Santiago de Chile again: I thought it was a pleasant city, and Sara (see previous post) showed me some neighbourhoods that I am quite sad not to have been able to explore further. Maybe on the way back. I was also pleasantly surprised to see my favourite tree, the jacaranda. Too bad its blooming season was near the end.
Mendoza is great as well. It´s very, very green and very calm without being sleepy or boring. It actually feels a bit like a Spanish town. (Hmm, how strange....doh)
Some of you might be pleased to hear that I haven´t been able to maintain my vegetarianism. In Chile I did fairly well. Because they eat everything with avocado I would just ask for no meat-extra avocado. But here in Argentina the avocado has disappeared from the menu. Instead, it´s meat, meat and meat. Today I had about 6 pieces of the most delicious (and deliciously bbq-ed) meat ever. I comfort myself with the idea that out here the cows lead happy pampa-lives, far away from over-crowded cages and hormone injections. Yay.
From Mendoza I am going to Buenos Aires (on Saturday), where Madeleine will join me on 28 November. Together we will explore BA a bit more, (hopefuly) go to a Boca Juniors soccer game, and then travel around other parts of Argentina until Christmas. After Madeleine leaves on 26 December, I hope to stay in Buenos Aires to learn more Spanish (with that peculiar Argentinean accent) and maybe find a job of some sort. I am actually going to look at an apartment in BA this Monday!
Over the past week I had about a million ideas of what to write about, but in reality typing a blog on a hostel computer is not ideal. There´s wi-fi in most places, so I can use my own laptop too, but the handy, tiny thing is so tiny that I will develop RSI in every part of my body if I use it for too long. So you see, lots of excuses!
I guess the main point I want to get across is that I am happy to be here.
Friday, November 14, 2008
I am in Chile
As the title says, I am in Chile! And it's great. I will post an update later but just wanted to say I had a great day with Sara, an American girl that doesn't look American (and doesn't sound American when she speaks Spanish). She showed me around the city and we both got very red-faced because it was really hot. Not complaining though! I also had my first pisco sour, the national Chilean drink, dangerously nice!
More to come soon!
More to come soon!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
McCain supporters on the Dutch news
In Sydney I succesfully sheltered myself from most of the world's news. This wasn't on purpose, and I don't know if it's a good or bad thing, it's just the way it was. It didn't worry me too much because I figured that if something big happened I'd hear about it anyway.
Hmm, come to think of it, I did quickly check a Dutch news website almost every day, so I am not being totally honest here!
My point is, if the recent trivia quiz at work had focused on current affairs, I would've sucked.
Luckily (?) I feel a bit more involved again now that I am back in Europe. For instance, there is no escaping the financial crisis. Even all my girl friends seem to suddenly know a lot about shares, pension funds and putting your money into a savings account in Iceland (don't). I still think it's an extremely dull topic, although I must admit the sudden collapse of the Aussie dollar, just when I (for the first time in my life) have quite a few savings (in Australian dollars, in an Australian bank account) did make me swear on quite a few occasions. I'm trying to be more Zen about it now. I'm sure it's still worth a lot in Chile and Argentina...
Last week though, the Dutch news had an item covering one of my favourite things: the opinions of the average American. Ok, I know that editing is manipulative, and that they'd rather show extremes because normal, sensible people are less interesting to watch, but boy does it make for some great tv!
They were interviewing people that were waiting to go into a community hall or something where McCain was going to hold a speech. The interviewer asked them if there was a chance they would vote for Obama:
Woman: "Hell no, he's a criminal!!!"
Reporter: "? A criminal? How so?"
Woman (with a look of disbelief that the reporter guy didn't instantly agree with her): "Yes! He's a socialist!" (Socialist pronounced like it's the most disgusting thing in the world)
Reporter: "But is a socialist necessarily a criminal too?"
Woman: "............well,........well,........with his record they wouldn't even hire him at a post office if he applied!!!"
This post office example was repeated by someone else. Apparently people seem to want a president that could just as well have been an employee at a post office. I should hope that a potential president would be slightly overqualified for a job at the post office, but hey, what do I know.
Another lady was very, very concerned that "all the foreign newspapers I read want Obama to win". This to her was a clear sign: "Of course they support Obama and want him to win, they want America to become weaker, they don't want a strong America".
Finally, some shots of McCain saying nothing of any interest. Just yelling: "We have to stand up and FIGHT!!".
Sure, that's just what you need. Spend some more time, energy and some xx billion dollars on fighting. After all, fighting is what makes people happy. Poverty, healthcare, and the environment are nothing but topics for socialists. Oh sorry, that should be 'criminals', of course.
Hmm, come to think of it, I did quickly check a Dutch news website almost every day, so I am not being totally honest here!
My point is, if the recent trivia quiz at work had focused on current affairs, I would've sucked.
Luckily (?) I feel a bit more involved again now that I am back in Europe. For instance, there is no escaping the financial crisis. Even all my girl friends seem to suddenly know a lot about shares, pension funds and putting your money into a savings account in Iceland (don't). I still think it's an extremely dull topic, although I must admit the sudden collapse of the Aussie dollar, just when I (for the first time in my life) have quite a few savings (in Australian dollars, in an Australian bank account) did make me swear on quite a few occasions. I'm trying to be more Zen about it now. I'm sure it's still worth a lot in Chile and Argentina...
Last week though, the Dutch news had an item covering one of my favourite things: the opinions of the average American. Ok, I know that editing is manipulative, and that they'd rather show extremes because normal, sensible people are less interesting to watch, but boy does it make for some great tv!
They were interviewing people that were waiting to go into a community hall or something where McCain was going to hold a speech. The interviewer asked them if there was a chance they would vote for Obama:
Woman: "Hell no, he's a criminal!!!"
Reporter: "? A criminal? How so?"
Woman (with a look of disbelief that the reporter guy didn't instantly agree with her): "Yes! He's a socialist!" (Socialist pronounced like it's the most disgusting thing in the world)
Reporter: "But is a socialist necessarily a criminal too?"
Woman: "............well,........well,........with his record they wouldn't even hire him at a post office if he applied!!!"
This post office example was repeated by someone else. Apparently people seem to want a president that could just as well have been an employee at a post office. I should hope that a potential president would be slightly overqualified for a job at the post office, but hey, what do I know.
Another lady was very, very concerned that "all the foreign newspapers I read want Obama to win". This to her was a clear sign: "Of course they support Obama and want him to win, they want America to become weaker, they don't want a strong America".
Finally, some shots of McCain saying nothing of any interest. Just yelling: "We have to stand up and FIGHT!!".
Sure, that's just what you need. Spend some more time, energy and some xx billion dollars on fighting. After all, fighting is what makes people happy. Poverty, healthcare, and the environment are nothing but topics for socialists. Oh sorry, that should be 'criminals', of course.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Back to Dutch life
Stereotypes are true sometimes. Yesterday I ate two slices of brown bread with some Old Amsterdam cheese. Then I got my bicycle from the shed, the bike that I've had since I was...13? and rode it to my friend's house, without encountering any hills on the way. We drank some cinnamon tea and ate some good chocolate.
No clogs and windmills though. And the sun was shining!
No clogs and windmills though. And the sun was shining!
Karma II
Well, I was right. What goes around comes around, in this case in the form of three whole seats to myself on both legs of my journey from Sydney to Amsterdam. The first flight wasn't full so more people were lucky, but on the second flight every seat was taken, except the two next to me. It made me feel a bit guilty, stretching out and sleeping for 8 hours. But then again, it's not my fault I was the only one generous enough to give away free money!
I'm flying again soon, hopefully I'll have an absent-minded, forgetful day before that flight too.
I'm flying again soon, hopefully I'll have an absent-minded, forgetful day before that flight too.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Signs that make you wonder...
Today I saw two signs that made me laugh.
I encountered the first one when I was jogging in Rose Bay, along the posh, plush, green Rose Bay Golf Course:
"Illegal dumping prohibited"
I might just have to run around to the other side of the course tomorrow, because this suggests there might also be a place where it's "legal dumping prohibited" or maybe even "illegal dumping allowed".
The second sign was in the Botanical Gardens where I was lazily strolling around in the afternoon. (I am a lady of leisure these days, it's not bad at all). In the Botanical Gardens you are encouraged to walk on the grass, touch the trees and talk to the birds. But there were two very big trees with a fence around them. The sign said something like: "Please don't climb over this fence. Branches may drop without warning". Am I supposed to assume that going near the other trees in the Gardens is safe, because those trees do warn me before they drop a branch?
This is pretty useless info and it won't win you a trivia night (for that you need to be an expert in American pop culture and Disney movies), but it's these small things in life that can make me laugh out loud. LOL.
I encountered the first one when I was jogging in Rose Bay, along the posh, plush, green Rose Bay Golf Course:
"Illegal dumping prohibited"
I might just have to run around to the other side of the course tomorrow, because this suggests there might also be a place where it's "legal dumping prohibited" or maybe even "illegal dumping allowed".
The second sign was in the Botanical Gardens where I was lazily strolling around in the afternoon. (I am a lady of leisure these days, it's not bad at all). In the Botanical Gardens you are encouraged to walk on the grass, touch the trees and talk to the birds. But there were two very big trees with a fence around them. The sign said something like: "Please don't climb over this fence. Branches may drop without warning". Am I supposed to assume that going near the other trees in the Gardens is safe, because those trees do warn me before they drop a branch?
This is pretty useless info and it won't win you a trivia night (for that you need to be an expert in American pop culture and Disney movies), but it's these small things in life that can make me laugh out loud. LOL.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Australia's good, bad, and strange from a Dutch point of view
As a social psychology student you are flooded with interesting experiments, facts and fictions about stereotypes. For example, did you know that thinking or reading about old people can make you walk more slowly? Also, thinking about Einstein can improve your exam results whereas thinking about someone stupid (say soccer hooligans, or Mr Bush) will make you temporarily dumber.
In short though, we need them, but they are also a driving force behind things not so great, like discrimination
As for me, I should know better but I actually quite like them and find they make great conversation and discussion material.
So, here are a few of my own stereotypes/judgements/opinions about life in Australia (Sydney):
- Lifestyle:
Definitely more relaxed than in the Netherlands. More outdoor activities, less need to plan ahead, slightly less career focused. Also more open to people that make different choices, where Dutch people would ask: 'but why would you want to do that?' Australians tend to say: 'wow, good on ya!'
- Sydney weather
Big blue skies, light like nowhere else. But also: lots of very heavy rain. It either rains or shines. I like it (when it shines that is).
- Men
Usually one or two out of the following three: too feminine, too macho, too short. This doesn't mean they aren't good looking!
- Women
Less is more...but they take it a bit too literally! I've heard this is typical for Sydney but I've seen in it Melbourne too. At the same time they live by 'more is more': shorter skirt, higher heels, straighter hair, more make-up, more jewellery, more perfume. And coats are for losers.
(With this point I'd like to stress that I know a lot of girls that are not like this!!)
- Sports
I can never remember the difference between rugby league and rugby union (I do right know but only because there was a game on last night), but both are not bad to watch. One thing is for sure, our soccer players have a lot to learn from these guys. After seeing the Aussies play they would be horribly ashamed of themselves for falling to the ground pretending to be in agony. They don't know what pain is!
- TV
Good and bad. It's kind of good that Australian tv is so ridiculously bad: you don't ever want to watch it!
- Pubs
Carpet?? TVs?? I rest my case.
- Traffic
Too many cars in too many places. Crossing lights for pedestrians stay red forever. Road signs are sometimes there, sometimes not, sometimes before the turn, sometimes after...even someone with a great sense of direction will easily get lost driving in Sydney.
- Food
Good and cheap. Or deep-fried and cheap. And always in your face. Resisting is difficult.
- Views
Views of the Harbour, the ocean, the city, the Opera House...amazing! So much better than in a flat country. Not much to see when you are not on a hill. Or when there's no hill to look at. Unless you really love the horizon....
Of course I could go on and on, but let's not.
Australia (and Sydney in particular) is a great place and I will really miss it (heaps).
In short though, we need them, but they are also a driving force behind things not so great, like discrimination
As for me, I should know better but I actually quite like them and find they make great conversation and discussion material.
So, here are a few of my own stereotypes/judgements/opinions about life in Australia (Sydney):
- Lifestyle:
Definitely more relaxed than in the Netherlands. More outdoor activities, less need to plan ahead, slightly less career focused. Also more open to people that make different choices, where Dutch people would ask: 'but why would you want to do that?' Australians tend to say: 'wow, good on ya!'
- Sydney weather
Big blue skies, light like nowhere else. But also: lots of very heavy rain. It either rains or shines. I like it (when it shines that is).
- Men
Usually one or two out of the following three: too feminine, too macho, too short. This doesn't mean they aren't good looking!
- Women
Less is more...but they take it a bit too literally! I've heard this is typical for Sydney but I've seen in it Melbourne too. At the same time they live by 'more is more': shorter skirt, higher heels, straighter hair, more make-up, more jewellery, more perfume. And coats are for losers.
(With this point I'd like to stress that I know a lot of girls that are not like this!!)
- Sports
I can never remember the difference between rugby league and rugby union (I do right know but only because there was a game on last night), but both are not bad to watch. One thing is for sure, our soccer players have a lot to learn from these guys. After seeing the Aussies play they would be horribly ashamed of themselves for falling to the ground pretending to be in agony. They don't know what pain is!
- TV
Good and bad. It's kind of good that Australian tv is so ridiculously bad: you don't ever want to watch it!
- Pubs
Carpet?? TVs?? I rest my case.
- Traffic
Too many cars in too many places. Crossing lights for pedestrians stay red forever. Road signs are sometimes there, sometimes not, sometimes before the turn, sometimes after...even someone with a great sense of direction will easily get lost driving in Sydney.
- Food
Good and cheap. Or deep-fried and cheap. And always in your face. Resisting is difficult.
- Views
Views of the Harbour, the ocean, the city, the Opera House...amazing! So much better than in a flat country. Not much to see when you are not on a hill. Or when there's no hill to look at. Unless you really love the horizon....
Of course I could go on and on, but let's not.
Australia (and Sydney in particular) is a great place and I will really miss it (heaps).
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Karma
Ever feel in need of some good karma on a rainy Saturday? I know just the thing to do.
1. Go on a listless, uninspired shopping trip where you try on two things and buy nothing (oh ok, except for a lentil wrap (?))
2. Decide you could do with some more cash in your wallet as this always comes in handy when at the pub
3. Go to the ATM, insert your card, punch in the numbers, and take out your card
4. Walk away, leave the money in the ATM and so brighten the day of the lucky person that uses the ATM next
Et voila, that's it: good karma created.
Wow, I can't wait for all the good stuff that's surely coming my way!
1. Go on a listless, uninspired shopping trip where you try on two things and buy nothing (oh ok, except for a lentil wrap (?))
2. Decide you could do with some more cash in your wallet as this always comes in handy when at the pub
3. Go to the ATM, insert your card, punch in the numbers, and take out your card
4. Walk away, leave the money in the ATM and so brighten the day of the lucky person that uses the ATM next
Et voila, that's it: good karma created.
Wow, I can't wait for all the good stuff that's surely coming my way!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Back to Blogspot
The bastards at waarbenij.nu are going to delete the pictures from my blog, unless I pay them (again). Enough reason to come back to my blogspot page, which I like much better anyway!
Posts will be in English from now on, to cater for the more linguistically challenged among my friends (aka native English speakers, or other randoms that don't speak Dutch). That said, I'd like to ask y'all (you all) for some open-mindedness when I make mistakes in my English, or start mixing Dutch and English. Hey, I'm only human too.
Last Sydney post will follow soon, and of course I will also let you know what it's like to be back in the Low Lands.
I'm keeping it short now because I am at work. I know it is my last day in the office but still feel like I should at least pretend to be doing some work.
En voor de mensen in Nederland, tot heel binnenkort! Sorry voor de switch naar Engels, maar neem aan dat dat voor jullie geen problemen oplevert, toch?
Posts will be in English from now on, to cater for the more linguistically challenged among my friends (aka native English speakers, or other randoms that don't speak Dutch). That said, I'd like to ask y'all (you all) for some open-mindedness when I make mistakes in my English, or start mixing Dutch and English. Hey, I'm only human too.
Last Sydney post will follow soon, and of course I will also let you know what it's like to be back in the Low Lands.
I'm keeping it short now because I am at work. I know it is my last day in the office but still feel like I should at least pretend to be doing some work.
En voor de mensen in Nederland, tot heel binnenkort! Sorry voor de switch naar Engels, maar neem aan dat dat voor jullie geen problemen oplevert, toch?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
