" Welcome to the United State of America"

Yeah right. I would almost believe it. Left fingerprint. Right fingerprint. Picture. No, no smiling!! What are you here for? Why do you want to get into the U.S.A.? How fast are you leaving again?

Still I already know that four, five days in the fascinating city wont be enough. I feel as if I want to live here for a year. Maybe I'll get back on that point, but that's something else.
I sat down on a rock in Central Park, eating my muesli-bread.
Already used the subway quite a lot, although that's not necesarry a good sign.
Saw hundreds of those yellow taxi's. And all the huge cars. And crazy people on the subway. And a little lost-looking tourist, with one big and one litte backpack.

I'm getting out into Manhattan. Score some breakfast.

Bah. Bye.

The last three, four, five, days have been crammed. Every second was filled; with a last night of doing the dishes (I washed approximately 5000 plates during my contract-time), a last day at the hospital-restaurant, a last (sliding-)training, a very nice party at my house (with one great result; my goodbye present to the house; the lower part of the toiletdoor is missing now :), my very last game (won with 8-1 :D), a last beer, wave and bye at Confide, C.S.R., and yesterday, it was time for me to close the heavy Perron 0 front-door, for the very last time that I was officially living there. And sometimes, sometimes...., I slept!
So many goodbye's. Collegues phoning me from other buildings, to tell me I should be carefull. Little presents. Goodbye-hugs from old friends at my parents church. Cake. Hugs, and lots of the three dutch kisses in the changing-room. Beer for me during the break in the game, more little presents and beer afterwards. One extra beer after work at LEF. Everybody seems to know that I'm leaving.
And I hate it.

But somehow, I felt like saying goodbye to all the 'I-do-recognize-and-greet-you-but-I-don't-even-know-your-name' kind of people, who I see walking around in Delft. The guys from the snackbar in our street. The cute, quiet doctor I always hope to see at the restaurant of the hospital. The lady at the supermarket. Guys from the footballteam. Neighbours in the street.

Anyway. The goodbye's are almost over. Only some of the ones closest to me, to go.
Than it's time for hi's and hello's. To old friends, and, I guess, to new one's as well.

Easter

2200 christian students, from all over Europe (from 40 different countries) visited Linz, Austria, for the Easter- weekend for a conference of IFES. Services, biblestudy, praying, free time, talks, live music, some sleep, and some more service, worship-music and talks.

The gym at the Kreutzwesternschüle in Linz.

Dinnerhall, everybody got a meal within an hour(!)

Some views; one afternoon we took the steepest railway in Europe, or the world.

Sundaymorning véry early. A park in town, filled with all those students. Trumpets. Halleluja. Singing. Celebrating.

(And cold feet.)

Mhmm. Easter-breakfast.

Main hall, used for services, talks, worshiptime, concerts, etc.

Two well-used free hours (a day) in the afternoon :)

The perfect son-in-law...

Long story cut short; we had to take the train back, instead of the car. Little accident, because of snowfall. This is in the first train, feet still frozen.

Germany.

Sleeping Maaike.

Sleeping Roy.

Sleeping Roel.

We lived in 8, or so, different trains. From 6.30 am till 9.30 pm.

Barcelona!

For four full days, five nights (at a youth hostel), we walked through Barcelona. Arrived Thursday at the end of the day, left Tuesday morning early. We didn't use public transport at all; our feet, legs and knees had enough of it, on Monday night (to be honest also already during the day). My mum and sister envited me on their citytrip, which was tons of fun. In a beautiful, warm city.
Barcelona is a clean city, with a relaxed atmosphere, situated at the Mediterranean sea.

Arc the Triomphe

Some work of Gaudí. He's everywhere in this city.

The Cathedral of Barcenola.

First view at the Sagrada, seen from the roof of the Cathedral.

Colombus, at a height of 50 metres, looking out over the Mediterranean sea.

Quite some picture's of Gaudí's masterpiece; the Sagrada Família. It's defenitely one of the best churches I've ever seen; the whole building is drenched with praise to our Creator. And it hasn't even been finished yet! Lots of things are based on nature, and eventhough it is a place crowded with tourists, the sculptures are so impressive, that the passion of Christ hit me again.

You see the church is still open, scaffolds are everywhere. Should be finished in 2025.

Front.

Impressive.

La Rambla, the busy boulevard which leads to the old port.

National flag, with that lovely clear blue sky as background.

La Pedrera (Gaudí again), with some enthousiast family members.

At Olympic park Montjuïc.

Pool (with view over Barcelona), which is mostly enjoyed by sea-gulls at this moment...

Swiss and French alpes. One hour and fifty minute flight.

We experienced some véry sunny days (even for Barcelona, at this time of year), so we ended up with our eyes closed, faces towards the sun, on a bench, or in a park, every once in a while... Delicious.

Check that fresh, full, green grass... Spanish mothers talking to their children. The birds singing their songs. Sun. Relaxation.

(Good)bye Delft...

Sigh.

• One last month of living in Delft...
• Just 5 more awesome Wednesday night trainingsessions to go...
• How many visits to our cool Perron 0-toilet-with-the-radio?
• And how many sunsets enjoyed on the roof?
• I know there's a maximum of three official matches with my team left...
• And one last, big, or should I say HUGE, party at the Perron 0-party-attic (28th of March, all welcome!)
• How often will I open our fridge door, to steal some food from one of my roommates?
• I know I'll clean my room just once more; when I need to deliver my room
• And how many walks are left for me, through the old streets, on my way to LEF?
• Or how many walks to the supermarket? Or Confide? Or just in town in search for a cd or some fresh air?
• Or should I say 'bikes', if I'm gonna buy a bike this last month, and store it at my parents' house?
• I know there is a maximum of three (!) borrels at Confide left for me...
• How much of my stuff will I throw out, while moving? How many boxes will be left to store, with things I will call 'mine'?
• How many hours of sleep at my matrass on the ground, from where I can see the clock of the New Church, through my little windy window?

Nog diepere zucht... (Even bigger sigh...)

First bullet was shot through the church!

Guess a lot of people don't now this saying, but might be able to guess its meaning.

31st of March: Amsterdam- New York
5th of April: New York - Halifax
25th of July: Toronto - Amsterdam

YEAH! I'm back on my way again! Just impossible to express with words how incredibly good it feels to have booked tickets to Canada again...

Winter

Haa!!
It's cold again; the grachten, which I pass at night, when I'm on my way to LEF (for the dirty dishes) are frozen all over, for the second time this winter. It's nice to be able to wear my new cool cap. Nice to legally hide in comfy warm clothes. And the sun is getting up wíth me, and not after me, so it isn't totally dark anymore when I'm waiting for the tram in the morning, on my way to the hospital. Actually, she is still there when I'm coming home. That's why it happens more and more, that I'm enjoying a colourful sunset, set in a perfectly clear sky. While I'm standing on the roof. With my camera. Later on, the stars become visible, one by one.
Less fun is that freezing draft, which seems to gallop purposeful from one window to the other window in my room right now. Or the chilly clothes I need jump into, on those early mornings.

By the way, today I worked my first day in the smallest of the three restaurants the hospital is counting, where I had a total of three colleagues.
Momo from Gambia.
Yatti from Indonesia.
And Lourdes from Aruba.

See I'm not thát crazy...?

330049 is no more

3. 3. 0. 0. 4. 9. is no longer around.
May you rest in peace.

(Check my comment at the previous post.)

What a weekend!

Wieow. What a weekend!
It started yesterday, when I went shopping with my mum. (Or actually, it all started with a good party at C.S.R. on Thursday night.) Anyhow, I didn't really had a single decent pair of trousers left. So my mum and I had set a date to make it happen. The whole day went very prosperous; we found two jeans (which fit perfectly), a hat, a t-shirt, a nice summer jacket, socks and stuff, ánd some good old Chuck Taylor shoes...
Yeah, I know. Again. But I can't help it, they were on sale. They made me do it.
And guess what!? I bought a new camera yesterday!! It was on sale, just for today and yesterday, and exactly the one that I was longing for. It is a compact camera, but pretty heavy because of the lens; 10x optical zoom. Lots of opportunities, and 6 million pixels. So I'll be back in full swing again.
Something else, very important, is that little sweet sun. She keeps on shining, whole day, today and yesterday. Also when we were playing another football match today, and I can tell you it was pretty exciting. At the end of the 2nd half the score was 2-2, and we really diserved to win. Dozens of chances, but some bad luck. We scored the 3rd goal in the very last seconds of the game! What a party!
And while I'm writing this, my window is still open, because I just climbed down from the roof where I enjoyed food and some loud Bob Marley, plus his Wailers. Nothing more on my back than my new t-shirt. In that sunny sunlight.
And now I'm leaving, to my work at the restaurant, to attack some dirty dishes!

ACN

Lately I did become a (bigger and bigger) fan of the Africa Cup of Nations. I believe that the one that's going on right now, is the 26th, but it's the first time I'm watching and following it. Yesterday, and Sunday, the quarter finales were played, and Thursday the semi-finales take place (Ghana - Cameroon and Ivory Coast - Egypt).
The playing is more enthousiastic, and so are the fans, it's very lively and most players are absolutely not afraid to fall, or get hurt. It's a joy to watch the games.
But anyway, I should get going again; worked at the hospital today, have to work at the restaurant tonight. Had a nice supper; two kiwi's.