Space, pancakes, and murder

Having had various people complaining about lack of recent blog post I felt that I simply had no choice but to write one. The silence has not been because of lack of inspiration or lack of stuff going on, quite to the contrary.  There have been posts half finished, or totally finished but for pictures, sat and waiting to be published but I've not published them because of worries about flooding the inboxes of those people who email subscribe... and because I have a bit of an obsession with uploading things in the right order... This post is the only one that is going to be cross posted onto facebook and there'll be a list of 'other posts' at the bottom, complete with links. For now, however, lets have a little overview of the past week, with subheadings because of the sheer length ;-)

Visiting the zoo... and deep space

The only bright side about my science course, so far, seems to be the fact that it includes various trips. I may struggle to understand how one goes about calculating the mass of a black hole but I am quite happy to visit a planetarium and take a trip through space. This was how I spent my Tuesday morning, at Artis Zoo's planetarium. It's not the best planetarium ever, and I believe that it only holds show in Dutch, but there's still something magical about being able to 'see' the universe, even just the night sky, in such clarity.

Serious university students, don't you know?!

To get into the planetarium one has to have a zoo ticket and, as the university had paid for the planetarium trip we found ourselves, at 10am, with a 'free' zoo ticket and no further classes. It seemed only natural to explore a little. Now, I'm a little conflicted about zoos at the best of times... I think that anything that works towards the preservation of species and conservation of our wildlife is a wonderful thing. But all the same, I struggle a little with the sight of animals in such small areas and, if I'm honest, compared to the other zoos I've been to recently, mainly with schools and colleges, the areas did seem a lot smaller. I'd be interested to know if it's a difference in my perception or a difference between countries.

I'd never been to a zoo with dinosaurs before!!!

That said, there were a lot of baby animals which was simply lovely - it shows that the conservation aspect is going well I suppose. Yes, there was a baby zebra. You can see why I was happy! Also, the aquarium was quite impressive and the butterfly house was absolutely fantastic... genuinely glorious. I plan to return simply to take photos in the butterfly house which is a huge expanse of botanical wonders, a little stream with some frogs, and a load of butterflies of all kinds of species flying in groups, alone, eating... it felt like walking through a fairytale. In that regard, I think we were lucky that it was such a gloomy cold morning - we were pretty much alone most of the time.

Pancakes!

Of course, Tuesday was something else special and that is pancake day. Okay, technically it's Shrove

Tuesday but in my family we've observed the eating of pancakes as a tradition rather than a religious thing therefore the day has a rather secular significance but a significance nevertheless. The idea behind the eating of pancakes was to use up all the luxury items before the start of Lent but, as I said, it's become a more secular day although always, for me at least, a family affair.

Every year my parents and I, and my grandparents when they were still around, would celebrate together. We even managed to celebrate the day when we were homeless after the flooding... didn't have a kitchen but still had pancakes!! Each year we'd make pancakes and the batter would always be lumpy (because my dad would get impatient) and the first ones wouldn't be properly cooked through (because my dad would get impatient) and more pancake would end up on the floor than on the plate (because it's not  pancake day unless someone's managed to flip one and get it stuck to the ceiling). My grandma would always tell the story of how everyone got out of school early and how she went to fetch oranges for on the pancakes one day when she was a child. Coming home she saw the school on fire and it was the happiest pancake day. In short, it's a day with a lot of family-time significance and I was kinda dreading it.

My plans were to make and eat alone because I just didn't feel like spending it with my friends. I love them all dearly but it's hard to truly communicate the above when explaining the day. However, having spoken to Leonoor and Laura at the zoo earlier that day I ended up inviting Leonoor round to cook with me... she didn't feel like cooking for herself and I think I knew deep down that the company would be a good thing.

And, we had a really, really good evening!

Only half a pancake got dropped on the floor. I managed to flip successfully four times... and got a carpet burn in the process. Hey, it's a serious sport this thing! I told the story about my grandmother's school which, as the thing my grandmother feared most when she was close to dying was that she'd be forgotten... well, I think it's pretty clear she'll never be forgotten.

We spent the evening, Leonoor and I that is, eating, drinking tea, watching inane but amusing television shows and just chilling. It was a relief from the stress of university and it was a really lovely evening that could so easily have just been me moping.

And a little bit or murder

And then Thursday night saw the rearranged murder mystery party with a rather large group (I think there were eleven of us) set at a film awards party. Considering I'm not the best at circulating at parties at the best of times, I'm more the wallflower type unless I'm firmly part of a group, I don't think I made the best sleuth ever. That said, no-one guessed that Ryan was the one who murdered the poor victim. He had us all trusting him and now we know how good a liar he is... well, I doubt we'll forget that in a hurry ;-)

That, ladies and gents, is the smile of betrayal!

All joking aside, it was a really good fun night which got a mixed group together and, again, it was a welcome distraction from the sheer amount of work I have on at the moment.

On that note, I probably should get back to studying. Yuck!!

Previous posts

These are the posts that I would have intended to post to facebook but that have been sitting in my drafts folder for too long. Other posts may exist but they're more likely to be in rant form.

Midwinter Fair

Christmas tree decorating

The start of semester

Castlefest Winter Party

A brief update

Firstly, I feel that I should apologise for being so silent for the past two weeks. Yes, it's been exactly a fortnight since I wrote a blog post although it's not been for the want of trying. Life has been busy and I've also been ill a fair bit which hasn't been so much fun but has narrowed down the amount of time available! That said there have been multiple occasions where I have sat down, meaning to type, and found myself unable. 

It's not been for want of something to write about as life has been a whirl of social and academic madness. There's been such a speed to things because of the intensive period at university and this means that life has taken on an immediacy that is daunting - indeed I have my final exam in today, a mere two and a half weeks after starting the course - but also beautiful. The moments that have been stolen away from study have been startling in the freedom they have offered. Silly things like cooking for Robbert with Dania to pay him back for teaching us to ride months ago and listening to them both sing as they attempted to give me the confidence to join in have made me, once again appreciate how lucky I am in my friends here. Slightly reckless things like going for a walk in the park late at night with Leonoor, Sonja and Dania have been wonderful moments of freedom from the never ending barreling forwardness of life and, it seems, from the rush of this city. Walking to class each morning, a little earlier than most people, having the path to myself gives me a slowness and a while for reflection where I can take in the colours of the morning sky, the crispness of the dawn, the magnificence of frost as adorns grass areas. It's little moments such as these that have given the past few weeks meaning.

However, I have also really drawn something from the course itself. In my last post, I confessed that I didn't really know what to expect from the pompously titled Global Identity Experience. Now, going into my final exam, I must admit that I'm not really sure what this course hoped to achieve. Nevertheless, it has facilitated some human connection on a profound level. As part of this course we have to undertake a group research project on a minority grouping in the Amsterdam area. My group (full of people I did not know for the most part but who have turned out to be great) decided to focus on Schiphol airport and, after some initial observations, the homeless people living at the airport. it was a great surprise to us to learn that there were any, let alone so many, homeless people living at the airport as it's not someone we naturally expect. Airports are a place you pass through, scrambling to get somewhere and you do not expect or notice those people who are outside of the rush. 

We've spoken to some people living in the airport and, in particular, one interview last Friday touched me on such a deep level. I phoned my mother when I got in and spent a few hours just talking about it and crying. To have so swiftly gained access to a person's inner life, to see the things they have survived through yet be helpless to assist - not that they would want your assistance... or pity - it was hard for me. But also what an honour. I obviously cannot write a lot about this project because I have to respect anonymity and perhaps that is something that has held me back from writing at all as it has had a noticeable impact on my life both in scheduling and emotional terms. It is something that I feel I am gaining from, however, if not as a student then as a human being.

So, this has been a very good way for me to avoid revising and, no doubt, when I get into my exam in exactly one hour I will regret it! I am so looking forward to this exam being over though so I can be ill in peace, tidy my flat, have friends round tomorrow evening, paint all weekend, finish the research project, and greet a February that is full of wonderful social and musical events. Just one exam to go!

This post is not for facebook as it's a bit of a feeling smush and is also really boring, not having pictures and all that jazz.I should probably write a proper facebook posting update soon too. Heh. Does anyone even read this bit?? 

Getting back in the swing of things!

It's been like starting again. The scary leaving home feeling, the nerves about being in the right place, not knowing in advance who's in my class etc etc. It's weird.

Luckily for me, my dad decided mother should book flights over with me; if she hadn't, my luggage wouldn't have fitted within allowance... and I probably wouldn't have been emotionally strong enough to get on the plane. It's not that I didn't want to come back here but rather that I didn't want to leave there. It's hard for me not being around my family.

Anyway, for the next four weeks I'm taking just one course 'The Global Identity Experience' which is basically all day, every day. If the course title sounds vague then I apologise (although it's not my fault) and welcome you to the world of AUC! It's a course that's a mixture of research and anthropological/sociological theory and looks at social identity and minority groupings, particularly in this age of accelerated globalisation. The course itself looks rather interesting, if the work load is a little heavy, and the teacher won me over when he suggested we may like to take our shoes off in class. For someone who regularly wears flip-flops and enjoys going barefoot... well, he's got my vote!

All joking aside, it has been great to be back and to hang out with, and catch up with, friends. Mind you, there was one scary moment last night when, mid conversation, we heard someone scratching on the door... which we also realised was unlocked. Eventually we plucked up the courage went out to see what was going on and found this message on the door:

Can you tell that I've hastily and badly edited out my room number? hehe

Sadly, it wasn't just us who were scared half to death but my next door neighbour as see was looking out the door  and Laura realised (after the event) that she was still holding a rather large knife from cutting up apple pie when she went out to explore.... oops! Mind you, as I got no sleep last night due to extremely loud music coming from that side, I don't feel too bad about it.

So yeah, thank you Robbert for the sweet message <3

Yep, I feel good to be back now :-D

"Happy Amazing Birthday"

It's Monday and the weekend is drawing to a close. My parents have left, class has just finished, there are assignments staring at me with eyes full of judgement. I feel sad to see the end of this time but generally happy that it has been so beautiful.

My parents arrived on Thursday which, quite frankly, was the best birthday gift anyone could have given me. Thursday evening was spent unpacking goodies (clean clothes and cheddar cheese, thank you very much!), eating dinner and generally messing around. It was a normal evening. You cannot guess how good it felt to have a 'normal evening' once again.

Did I ever tell you that my mother hates loud noises?

Friday was my birthday and, after finishing a few essays for a rather tight deadline (I'm sure I fluffed them in my hurry but oh well!), it was time for my parents to return and to celebrate properly. Leonoor and Dania also turned up, bearing pie and candles, bless them! To have the pair of them turn up with edible stuff and twenty candles - they wouldn't settle for any less - was just really special. It's those thoughtful moments that mean the world.

Lighting twenty candles is quite some feat!

Over the afternoon/early evening we were joined by Robbert, who sang a birthday song which was a really special moment, and Thijs, who made me some really sweet 'vouchers' which are going straight into my scrapbook. It was just such a beautiful evening of memories. 

Somehow, all my friends appeared to manage to cope with my dad which is quite impressive considering he tends to terrify people I know... he was on his best behaviour though, I guess! 

Woollen gifts, instantly enjoyed.

Most of the weekend was spent lurking with my parents and, while it was so special for me it's not the most interesting reading for you lot (we went to the supermarket twice - it was really fun and that's not even sarcasm). However, there's one other moment that has to be mentioned and that's when Sonja, who had been ill between her own birthday earlier in the week and mine, bless her, came round. She wanted to come round to bring me a poster, which is up already, but the fact she didn't want to wait until class, wrote such a nice message on the poster, and came bearing hugs was just so lovely. Every day at AUC I am reminded how lucky I am that I have such wonderful people around me.

This is without mentioning the messages people sent. Hopefully I've replied to everyone individually now but as I only had mobile internet I may have missed you... if so sorry. Every single message was special to me from the simple "Happy Birthday" to videos of orchestras playing Happy Birthday in different styles to messages in multiple languages. Thank you every one of you. Thank you for making this weekend so awesome.

There's always one candle...

(P.S. Just for University-Aleksandra  who just gave me a card: Yes, I will continue to write and you are more than welcome to stalk me. Also, drawings of me on flying carpets made of books = awesome. Thank you!)

I swear, there is no logic to riding something with two wheels!

So, finally, after many weeks of deliberating (*), Dania and I agreed to attempt to learn to cycle on the evening of the twenty-third of September two-thousand and fourteen.

Luckily on leaving my room and attempting to unlock my bike I encountered Robbert, one of my neighbours. Seeing my feeble attempts to free my bicycle from various locks, he obviously decided that I was not fit to be set free on his country and agreed to assume the role of 'cycle teacher'. Seriously, I am so, so grateful to him, no doubt as is Dania, because we would have been in a right mess without his assistance and support! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Of course, as the Dutch person, Robbert was the cycling expert and was keen to impart all of his years of knowledge. First lesson: how to untangle your shoe lace when it gets trapped in the bike chain!

It was Dania who freed it in the end with her awesome logic.
She also took this photo :-)

I must say that, all joking aside, I was impressed with how well Robbert managed to break down how to ride a bike as trying to explain how to do something when you have been doing it for as long as you remember... well, that's not easy! I'm also really impressed with Dania who managed to improve so, so much.

As for me, I managed to ride in a wobbly corner-less line. I apparently can't say it was a straight line because of the wobbly nature but all the same! It was also a great improvement from my first attempt at riding this bike (which my mother has named Fiona, by the way). This time, I didn't peddle once... straight into a wall.

So the bike riding adventure has well and truly begun for Dania and I. We're certainly not ready to be let lose on Amsterdam yet but give us a few more practices, and a babysitter, and it just might happen!

(*) Okay, it was about two weeks but that doesn't sound half as dramatic!