Dutch music in Austin part II: Driving with 'Guus Meeuwis'

The first day I arrived in Austin I got to know a Dutch man that lives in Austin. Actually, he turned out to be a far cousin. He and his wife are very warm and hospitable and they made me feel like home immediately.
Last week I was allowed to use his car for a couple of days, just to be able to visit some things I couldn't go to without having a car. Without thinking I turned on the music and guess what I heard. "Er is een nacht, die je normaal alleen in films ziet.." ("Some nights only exist in movies..") by Guus Meeuwis. I laughed so bad, that my friend sitting next to me had to tell me we had to turn right.
Normally, I hate this song, and not just a little, I deeply hate it. You know those clubs, where everybody is throwing beer at each other and is singing odd songs? This is one of those songs, those typically, stupid, easy songs.
Though, hearing the song made me laugh. It made me realize how good it is to be somewhere else and to be able to laugh about things from your own country without missing them or without getting sad.

Please laugh about this movie and realize, if you ever want to go to Holland, avoid this.

Dutch music in Austin part I: Blof -- Oktober

Dutch music was never my favourite. The language has so many rough sounds that I just couldn't call it romantic.

Though, since I live in the United States I start to appreciate it more, it is one of the few ways through which I can hear my own language.

Blof is a band containing of four men; a singer, a bass, an electic guitar player and a keyboard player. Originally they all come from the same island in the south of The Netherlands, the same island as where I was born. Since my mom is really fascinated by their music, I started to listen to it when I was pretty young.

Blof produced a lot of albums, which are all very different but create the same atmosphere. They have a duet with the American band 'The Counting Crows' called 'Holiday in Spain' and they recorded a cd full of duets with people from every continent called 'Umoja'. Blof is going international but they stay local at the same time by recording songs about the island, the beach and the sea; their home.

Their last album is called Oktober, and released, yes, last October. Since my mom visited me in Austin at that time she gave me the album. Blof is planning on releasing another album in spring '09. 'Oktober' is a slow album with a lot of deep and thoughtfull texts, the perfect background album for serious conversations but also very relaxing. Although the music is repetitive, the lyrics are creative, sometimes even incomprehensible.

My favourite song of the album is called 'Eilanden' ('Islands').

It says:

"Eilanden in oceanen zijn lang niet zo eenzaam als wij,

Eilanden komen weer samen, als de zeebodem breekt en verschuift,

Laat me niet morgen pas lachen, maar vandaag."

" Islands in oceans are not that lonesome,

Islands come together, as soon as the bottom of the sea breaks and moves.

Let's not wait until tomorrow, I want to laugh today."

Since I am leaving in eight days, I apply texts of every song I hear to my stay here. It may sound kinda sentimental, but that is actually how I feel about leaving.

'Eilanden' can be interpreted on both a small and large scale. Different islands in The Netherlands, but also, different islands on Earth, different parts of the world. They will come together.

"Let's not wait until tomorrow, I want to laugh today." Yes, I am going to enjoy my last days to their full extend.

Here you find short a video from Blof performing 'Eilanden'.

The end of thanksgiving

It dances.

It is like a feather.

It is like that sculpture called bird.

On my way back to Austin after a wonderful thanksgiving weekend with my friend, I realized how little things create happiness. How good it was to be the guest in a warm family and to be thankfull for everything I experience here. This little piece of nature got stuck on the window of our car and stayed there until we entered Austin. It symbolized our hapiness and the simplicity of simply being lucky. It symbolized how fragile memories are and how bad I want to keep them when I return to Europe.

Hairy fingers on the floor

My friend had dreadlocks.

Correction: my friend had green dreadlocks. Green, fuzzy, short and awesome dreadlocks.

But yesterday, in less than an hour, they were gone.

"Am I going to look like a boy? What if my hair doesn't curl anymore when I cut it? And how short is it going to be anyway?" But from the moment she sat down on the chair at the haircutter she knew everything was going to be alright; no itchy hair anymore and she was looking forward to use normal shampoo again.

When the little brown and green sticks fell on the floor, one by one, they reminded me of the green, hairy and pointy fingers of The Grinch. The dreads were filled with memories from adventures far away and they wanted to hold on to my friend's head. No wonder the haircutter gave her a glass of wine in order to get rid of the pain they caused.

Now, one day later, I noticed relief; healthy hair, natural curls and an amazing chocolate-brown color. We left the Grinch's fingers in the bin and started to build new memories that go along with a cheerful and lively haircut.

"Change is never bad."

2010: Sex and the City II

I admit that sometimes, in the right place and at the right time, I appreciate harcore girly-movies. You know those nights when you planned to go out but it rains so badly that it makes you feel like staying home? On those nights, when you have some friends around, when you make some hot chocolate and sit down on the same place at the same couch until three in the morning. On those nights, I love Sex and the City. No complicated storylines, no complex personalities, just watch and shut up.

After the succes of Sex and the City the movie, Sarah Jessica Parker announced she is working on Sex and the City II, which will be out in 2010. Parker, who plays the famous character of Carrie Bradshaw, is working on the storyline of the movie. After an unexpected and chaotic wedding in the first movie, I wonder what the second is going to be like.

Probably it will contain enough material for a dismissive friday night without any other plans.

Rehab: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Rehab. No excuses, no other difficulties or efforts; just go there and you'll become more famous.

It seems like every celebrity that goes to rehab becomes more and more famous. They say 'negative promotion is promotion as well', which turns out to be true at this point.

If you haven't seen ' Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew', you probably heard 'Rehab' from Amy Winehouse coming out of the speakers somewhere. Varying form Johny Depp, Kate Moss, Ben Affleck and Whitney Houston, to Billy Holiday, Robbie Williams, Elton John and Oliver Stone, they all visitited rehabilitation centers to either get rid of their addiction or to create a different impression of their image.

What doesn't kill your image makes you stronger.

Entertainment trends part V

Bangs were girls things, are they heading to the boys side as well?
Varying from 'Emo hairstyles' to the latest catwalks and from Chace Crawford to Ashton Kutcher, they are catched everywhere.

Entertainment trends part IV

Music in American clubs becomes more American, music in European clubs becomes more European. After going out in both of these parts of the world, it seems that American clubs play a lot of hip-hop music and European clubs go for the clubby-disco trend.

Entertainment trends part III

The nerd look, sexy? After the catwalk and celebrities it is your turn to put on the suspenders.

Entertainment trends part II

Walking around on campus this last month, I met three people wearing fake glasses; glasses without prescription, or even worse; without lenses at all. Although I feel like putting my finger in somebody's eye everytime I see them, just to check if they are real or fake, some people look pretty good wearing glasses.

Entertainment trends part I

T9 in texting: just to make it easier. Did your fingers get sore because of typing messages? Join the trend of T9 (or, predictive typing). Your phone will recognize the words you type only by typing every button once. It takes a couples of messages to get used to it but it works, it is fast and efficient.

Skype

I thought MSN, facebook, e-mail and text messages would be enough. Calling is too expensive, sending actual postcards takes a long time all the way to The Netherlands, but a couple of months ago I discovered Skype.

Skype is able to do all the things I needed: it chats, it knows how to handle webcams and microphones, but it has two additional advantages: it calls and it is cheap.

Nothing beats the sound of somebody picking up an actual phone without knowing he or she just received a phonecall from the other side of the world. Surpise in their voice, happiness by hearing your voice and they are relieved not to sit behind a computer screen themselves.
It works, it is fast and just costs 0.017 cents a minute.

Multilingual dreams

Ever wondered in which language you dream?

This morning I realized I dreamed in Spanish after studying for a Spanish presentation yesterday night. Although I started Spanish classes just one and a half year ago, I was able to say anything I wanted.

Normally I don't even notice anymore if I dream in Dutch or English, but if the first word I say to my roommate in the morning is 'goedemorgen' instead of 'good morning', I know enough..

Let's hope my spanish dream skills will be reflected in my presentation.

What about an old-fashioned weekend at home?

I thought they didn´t exist for twenty years old girls anymore, relaxing weekends at home, but they do. Even now that I am studying abroad I felt it; going home for the weekend and let mommy take care of you.

This weekend me and my friend went to Houston to visit the parents of our other friend. Although I almost forgot what it feels like to come home, to relax and just plan to do nothing, I really enjoyed it. I am not even tired on this sunday afternoon, which normally is my lazy day after a weekend of going out, visiting friends, doing homework and get the least amount of sleep as possible.

A house, covered in unimaginable colors that make it look like a comfortable rainbow shared by a warm and hospitable family. A mom that loves to cook for her guests and that asks them questions until she gets to know them better. A mom, just like mine, that takes care of everybody and that wants other people to at feel home in her personal rainbow. Not a problem at all - even for people from the other side of the world - to feel at home during the weekend by watching movies, eating home-made food and simply by sharing time together.

An afternoon in the Austin AmericanStatesman newsroom

Can you imagine how many people are working for "The newspaper of mid-Texas"? What their office looks like on the inside and which departments are located in the newsroom? Since yesterday afternoon, I can.

Because I was too early for my 1 p.m. appointment with my professor that works at the Statesman, I wondered around on the Statesman campus. The enormous trucks intrigued me and the building was overwhelmingly big and white, which made me wonder if the inside looked that crisp and clear too.

After ten minutes I decided to walk to the main entrance and to get into the security department in order to get a guest card, guest card number 11.
While I was waiting on one of the couches at the main entrance I finally felt like I had a role in this new and for me unknown building. The pen of the women sitting next to me stopped working while she needed to write down a phone number. I offered her one of my pens and told her she could keep it. Afterwards we started talking about her career. She worked at the Statesman years ago, in the old Austin American Statesman building downtown.

The shiny black floor and comfortable brown couch gave me a hospitable feeling looking forward to this afternoon. As soon as my professor entered the building with a big smile on his face I knew I was on the right place at the right time. This was going to be an informative and friendly afternoon.

Wondering about the size of both the printing machines and the newsroom I concluded the desks in the newsroom did not look that crisp and clear as the building did from the outside, they looked rather fascinating; notes, papers, pens, cd's, pictures, everything a newsroom needs was there. I enjoyed my time observing, wondering and experiencing things all these different kinds of journalists did during their daily job.

Leaving the newsroom I felt less like an outsider, looking at those inhuman trucks again, wondering if the stories in the newspaper tomorrow will be edited with my good old pen.

Green Muse Cafe

During this semester I probably drove by this place around twenty times, though, I never noticed this cozy cafe full of laptops, homework and coffee or tea-drinking people.

It took me a while to find it, even when my friend parked her car right in front of the little, white, wooden building. The building has no obvious entrance sign or billboard outside and doesn't look like a coffeehouse at all, except for the enormous coffee cup sticking out of the wall on the right side of the building. The only billboard they have is a little rectangular red sign hanging over the road without any lights on it, which makes it easy to miss during evenings.

Though, discovering this relaxing homework place was quite a relief for someone who finds it difficult to stay concentrated in her own room. The silent atmosphere in Green Muse puts you in a homework-mood immediately; everybody seems concentrated, but relaxed.

The colors in the cafe are well-chosen and every little detail fits together. Although the chairs are not exactly the same, they fit like brothers and sisters. The mostly lightbrown, darkbrown and black entourage of the cafe is decorated by art that features coffee promotions from around the sixties.

Sipping my vanilla tea, I felt the inspiration coming and I was able to do homework and have an interesting conversation with my friends at the same time. Around 11.30 p.m. we returned to campus feeling satisfied. Homework was done, we had a great evening, we got to know each other better: we achieved our goals.

Sinterklaas

Although it may sound familiar because it sounds like 'Santa Claus', you probably don't know him. This is the guy that gives presents to Dutch (and German) kids on the 5th of December, which is his own birthday. He dresses up in a red dress with gold and yellow accents and he has a big hat that points to the sky. He is the man I dreamed of for the first seven years of my life, my hero, the one that made me look forward to December 5th every year. Though, when I turned eight I discovered the worst thing in my eight years of life: he was fake...

How could they make me believe this was real? A man on a white horse that rode on our roofs to throw presents in the chimney sounded pretty acceptable. How could they eat the carrots and sugar themselves when I thought the horse of Sinterklaas ate them? My parents were liars..

Now, thirteen years later, I opened mailbox 274 at St. Edward's University, and what did I find? A little present packed in red and yellow paper, with a little poem written by my friend. After all these years, we all know Sinterklaas doesn't exist, but the happy feeling I got in the first seven years of my life during this time of the year certainly returned.

Who are you?

You could call it an identity crisis, although that sounds a little too depressive.

Last week I had to interview one of the Sisters of the Holy Cross for the university newspaper 'Hilltop Views'. She told me that anywhere she goes, she always considers herself as a 'member of the Holy Cross'. That sentence describes her whole life, here hapiness and sadness, her meaning of 'to be'.

The interesting and in-depth conversation I had with this Sister made me wonder what I would consider myself now that I study here. How can I define myself in just one word or one sentence? I could call myself curious, but that description certainly ignores some other parts of me. I could call myself a European person, but actually I am not that affiliated with just one part of the world.

Dilema, dilema.

Maybe I am just too young to know what I am on both the inside and the outside, to find the consensus between how I grew up and what I would like to become. Is this a symptom of the aftermath of puberty or a mental signal people have when they go abroad for a long time?

Christmas Songs in November

The feeling they create, the lyrics and the melodies. They make me feel like buying christmas presents a month too early and like buying dresses to dance in on December 26 at the annual christmas ball. A tree with countless candles, christmas meals and people around you that make you feel good.

But this year is different. I beg all radio stations around Austin to stop broadcasting christmas songs until December 12. They just make me feel like I have to go home tomorrow to enjoy a christmas meal at the table I sit at year after year, christmas after christmas. They remind me of the fact that I won't be able to study here for another half a year, that I have to say goodbye to those wonderful people I met, that I have to say goodbye to fall 2008 in Austin.

Please stop those christmas songs.

Support at Southside Tattoo

Imagine your best friend is pregnant and is about to give birth on this very moment.

Your instinct tells you you have to stay calm. Give her your hand, let her say, scream or shout anything she wants without you saying anything back. Pinch her hand twice a minute just to let her know you are there. Have a little wet towel in your other hand in case she starts to swet too much and whipe her tears away whenever needed.

This is exactly how I felt last week at Southside Tattoo on South Congress: my friend was getting a tattoo.

Before she got the actual tattoo, the tattoist painted the picture on a little white paper. As soon as he finished I saw her face reflecting fear: the moment was there. She had to lay down on the bed, the hard, white, disinfected bed. The sound of the ink getting into her pores was vexatious, it got onto my nerves and I started swetting myself. We started to squeeze each other's hand even stronger. After half an hour the more than annoying sound finished and we realized the tattoo was done.

Relievement, silence and black ink all over her body.

Then, I realized my other friend came with us to get a tattoo as well. Wanting me to stand by her, to be her towel, tear and hand-squeeze assistent. Of course I insisted, trying to act if I didn't feel anything seeing them suffer.

Television hypes don't always cross the border: Project Runway

I thought is was a joke, you all couldn't be serious, but, to my biggest surprise, you were.

You guys seriously all knew which person from Project Runway designed which dress in which episode and on which day.

It secretly made me giggle during class but luckily I was able to hide that behind my bag. Namely, it is much more easier to explain why I thought that was funny now that I can choose my words carefully and thoughtfully.

In The Netherlands we have Project Runway too. But..

The only times I watch it or hear it is when I am either competely bored or when I need some background noise while doing homework.

Being a twenty years old girl I would even feel kind of embarrased to admit I watched it once just to check it out. These dramakings and queens may create beautiful designs but I have difficulties not to approach this program as just another form of competition on television that is exagerrated in every little detail, another version of American Idol in which they don't test their singing skills but their designing skills.

I honestly can't imagine what would happen in my classroom in Amsterdam, as soon as my male teacher would say he exactly reminds what Christian Siriano designed in Februari 2008.

The Three Sisters -- Theatre Preview

Last weekend I needed to interview one of the players of 'The Three Sisters' in Mary Moody Northern Theatre on the St. Edwards campus. I was priviledged to attend one of their rehearsals, which made me looking forward to the actual performances. I certainly recommend you all to go and see this piece of art performed by 10 students and two professional actors.

'The Three Sisters' is about a family that lives in a little village in Russia. The dream of the family is to go back to Russia, to the place where their lives began. Watching this wish developing, relationships between the characters grow, break, evolve and establish their family bond.

The play, originally written by Anton Chekhov and now directed by Sheila Gordon promises just as much recognizable seriousness that takes place in families as fun that feeds a strong family-bond.

'The Three Sisters' will be performed from November 13 until November 23 on saturday nights and sunday afternoons. Find more information about this play and Mary Moody Northern Theatre here.

Krause Springs

Camping itself is a pretty weird phenomenon. We escape our daily, comfortable and luxurous lives in order to sleep in tents and to look for firewood; in order to go back to basics.

Last weekend I went to Krause Springs to camp with ten friends. Although it was only half an hour away from Austin, I felt like I was miles away from my daily life.

We swam in a natural spring that had a romantic little waterfall and a rope from which we could jump into the water. The fact that the water was really cold at this time of the year could not keep us from enjoying our ability to become one with the nature around us.

Women prepared dinner and men looked for firewood. Instinctively everybody knew what to do and how to do it. Apparently mother nature did a pretty good job feeding us with practical experience. As soon as the fire lighted orange and yellow and heated or cold bodies until our faces started to glow, the first hot-dogs were put on the sticks: ready to be roasted and eated by ten hungry but satisfied students.

Waking up this morning wasn't as warm and comfortable as waking up in East Hall 148, but it was twice as natural, three times as cosy and, this I heard ten times: Let's stay another night.

Obama all over the world

Personally as well as in the media, I found that Obama is famous all over the world.


Tuesday night, 10 P.M. in Austin, 5 A.M. in The Netherlands, I called my parents. Sometimes when I am really excited the only possibility is calling my parents. Of course I knew they were quite involved in the 2008 presidential elections in America, but their reaction surprised me.

" Hello, this is Leo Lemsom...." (Sounds sleepy)
" Dad, he won! Obama won!"
" YEEEAAAH! I can't believe it, thank you so much for calling!"
(Mom, on the background:) " Thanks kid, I set my alarmclock at 5.30 in the morning, to watch the news about the outcome, but now I know it already!"
"Wow, you sound really awake now.."
"We are going to watch the news right now, have fun over there"
Beep..Beep..Beep


Although they didn't talk to me for more than two weeks, they were more excited about the elections than about hearing my voice, pretty impressive.

Also, I found this article on the internet. It is an article from an 'Friese' (a department of The Netherlands) newspaper saying that Obama is in the family tree of a Fries guy. Explaining this by the fact that the name 'Obama' developed out of the name 'Obbema', which is a Dutch name.


Apparently, people are really interested in American politics and and they want to be as close to him as possible. Just think about the influence this election had on people all over the world. It makes you feel thankful you were able to experience this historical moment.

Breathe, it is over and we are fine..

No worries, no excitement about who is going to win anymore, no stress.

It seems like America is taking its time to recover from the time before the elections.

The world realizes how beautiful it is that Martin Luther King's daughter is able to experience this happening. It shows how America changed and how it will be able to change in the coming years.

Living in Austin I feel the relievement of a lot of students that were anxious of the unexpected to happen. But it is over, and after recovering from the stress we had, we are more than ready for 2009!

Obama won the elections

On this very moment I'm bouncing in front of my laptop to let you all know: Barack Obama won the elections!

I'm really excited about it and ready to experience a democratic spark of America starting in 2009, that will be reflected in the whole world.

Election Day

The first thing I realized today when I turned on my laptop was the date: November 4.

Since I am not allowed to vote myself, I would like to encourage everyone to vote.

Tonight is going to be a night that will make history. Be proud to be able to experience this memorable night yourself and be sure you are a part of it by giving your own opinion, by showing your own voice.

Image reading your grandchildren their history books, what are you going to say if they ask who you voted for?

In case you need some re-assurance about who to vote for, please check this site to get to know about the preferences of not only citizens from your own country, but of citizens all over the world.

Taking distance eases decision making.

The earth is breathing

This morning, 9 A.M. I walked outside to make my way to the gym.

I wouldn't call it rain, the drops weren't even tangible, and it lasted for less than five minutes.

Though, have you noticed the smell it created?

The almost asthmatic earth was giving us a sign:

Thanks, I can breath again.

Awkward Halloween hair-cut Mister Busdriver

Dear Mister Busdriver,

Hereby my friends and I would like to apologize about yesterday night.

Being dressed up ourselves made us assume everybody around us was dressed up as well.

Honestly, we couldn't help the fact that we had never seen you before, so that we didn't know your hair looks like Elvis everyday. We just thought we did a pretty good job recognizing the personality you wanted to be for Halloween.

We are sincerely sorry if our remark about your Halloween hair-cut influenced your mood in any way. Actually we thought you did a really good job.

Thank you for your time,

Marloes Lemsom

Halloween: The day after

My expectations were incredibly wrong: I thought people would try to scare me all the time by showing their bloody faces and creepy costumes. Though, they made me laugh. All these people gathered around 6th street yesterday night, they made me laugh.
The way they looked, they way they were dressed, from not even 1 year olds to a 85 years old lady in a wheelchair. I thought it was supposed to be frightful, but all these different kinds of people made my night.

Halloween: The night before

Hereby I present myself as the Beginner, the Entry, the Novice and Tyro of Halloween!

Please don't blame me if I 'Boo' you in an inappropriate way or place. Please act like you are scared when you see me in a costume.

My first time of Halloween starts today..

Ballet Austin: Inaugural Season Opener Part III

Liminal Glam

This choreography wasn't only about the combination; the entourage, the music, the costumes and particularly the light was a big part of it. The light created a web on the floor, which was the energy field during the whole show. The web became smaller when dancers left the stage and became bigger when more dancers entered the stage.

A curtain was situated at the back of the stage, through which dancers entered and left the stage. The curtain reflected wonderful shadows and created a mysterious atmosphere.

A central theme in the music was the sound of a clock. The first word of the title was represented by these two aspects: liminal means treshold. Going in and out in combination with the sound of a clock.

The glamour part of the title was certainly represented by the costumes of both the male and female dancers. Costumes designed by Susan Branch had a glamorous touch. They looked soft and smooth but actually they were made of very stiff material. The colors of the costumes and the light fit together in every little detail.

Although this choreography was abstract, it contained a very clear beginning and end. Because of the fact that the duo-parts represented a big part of the show, it seemed easier to get an actual story-line out of this detailed and glamorous piece of art.

Cowboyhat

I did it!

I bought it!

I'll wear it!

This is unbelievable, this Dutchie finally bought a cowboyhat, now I am one of you guys..

Ballet Austin: Inaugural Season Opener Part II

Episodes

Clear as it may be, this choreography consists of different parts. These parts fit to one another as if it covers one era broken up by particular events.

It could have been the group as a whole, it could have been the couples, it could have been the contradiction represented by the dancers by wearing black and white suits. The seperate details of this show impressed me as if they were absorbing my attention in order to make their point towards the world. Although the story it represented was abstract, watching this choreography puts you in a little black and white box from which you feel you are able to get the specific meanings of every movement out of it.

How simple it may seem to get a story out of abstract and intricate movements.

Ballet Austin: Inaugural Season Opener Part I

Ballet Austin opened its season this weekend in the Dell Hall in the Long Center of Performing Arts in Austin.

According to the show I saw today, this season is going to offer a lot of variety.

The show contained three parts. The one combination I keep repeating in my head is 'Nine Frank Sinatra Songs'. Although titles of choreographies are often figurative, this one was literally true and surprisingly special.

The performance started with a shiny disco ball that lightned the whole hall in all kinds of colors, which created the exact right atmosphere; suits, ties, hats, high heels and colorful dresses. Both the choreography and the facial expressions of the dancers didn't only represent the melodies but also the lyrics of the songs in every little detail.

Figuring nine songs from Frank Sinatra, like 'Something Stupid' and 'That's Life', it came to an end with 'My Way'. Showing how every single dancer represented this thoughtful, stylish and rythmic version of Sinatra in his or her very own way.

Spoiled by technology

Although in general I am pretty punctual, I always lose my keys at the most inconvient times and I can never find the most ordinary and daily things at times I really need them.

Sometimes I wish everything was a cell phone, but without a voicemail please.

'This is the voicemail of your keys, if you want to know where we are please leave a message after the beep" would be even more annoying.

Voting is cool

Voting isn't only a right, a priviledge and a democratic pride, I think voting is pretty cool too.

I remember voting for the first time a couple of years ago in The Netherlands. A voice in my head screamed all day "You are going to vote tonight!", which felt pretty mature for a just 18-years old girl.
Although you may think your vote doesn't really count or you find it difficult to make a final decision, please vote. It will make you feel priviledged, it will make you appreciate the fact that you live in a democratic country and it will make you proud: you have a voice.

By the way, don't you think that walking around the whole day with a sticker saying 'I voted' on your chest looks pretty mature?

I wish I had the right to vote here. Can I borrow your sticker, please?

Comedy debute of the Presidential Candidates

"This campaign needed the common touch of a working man. After all it began so long ago with the arrival of a man known due to Oprah Winfrey as 'The One'. Being a friend and collegue of Barack, I just call him 'That One', he doesn't mind at all. In fact, he even has a pet-name for me: George Bush." - John McCain

"Of course I am especially glad to be here tonight with my distinguished opponend, Senator John McCain. I think it is a tribute to American democracy that with two weeks left in a hard fought election, the two of us could come together and sit down at the same dinner table without any preconditions." - Barack Obama

"I was send here by my father to safe the planet 'Earth'. I got my name, Barack, from my father. And as many of you do not know, Barack is actually Swahili for 'That One'. - Barack Obama

Watch, laugh and wonder about John McCain and Barack Obama

Lake Travis: Oasis

Driving my family around Austin I definitely wanted to show them Lake Travis and particularly restaurant Oasis.

Oasis is a restaurant located on a hill in front of the snake-shaped Lake Travis. Driving all the way to the west part of Austin I found, first of all, a lot of mountains that reminded me of France. The amount of green trees on the hills, the blue sky and the sun shedding light on every little detail made me not only enjoy Austin as a city but also the beautifull nature Austin should definitely be proud of.

As soon as I sat down at Oasis I felt the calmness taking over the experience. Watching the sun moving on top of the hills and shining on the lake I knew I was at the right place on the right time.

Oasis calls itself the 'Sunset Capitol of Texas' which I cannot even negate using one single argument. Watching the sunset while enjoying one of the greatest views of Austin I surely showed my family one of the most beautiful places of this city.

South Congress Cafe

In the middle of South Congress Avenue, the characteristic and somewhat chaotic street that is located as if it is the middle bone of the skeleton of Austin, Tx, you find South Congress Cafe; a restaurant that doesn't fit its name, neither its location. But leaving those aspects out of account the restaurant serves terrificly creative menus served with a slice of modern-and-tasty atmosphere bread.

Eating in a restaurant that looks really up to date and cared for feels even more luxurous when you are located between a lot of vintage and second hand stores. Although the prices are not too high, the atmosphere the restaurant creates is translated into a lot of special dishes that sound neat without even tasting them.

Here you find a couple of dishes I tried myself:

Pesto Goat Cheese Bruschetta: Being a big fan of both goat cheese and pesto I just had to try this. Although you need to spread the goat cheese on the bruschettas yourself, the plate looks really pretty and above all: the taste is perfect, not too strong, not too light.

Very Bleu Salad: Indeed, this salad was very bleu. In case you don't like blue cheese: don't pick this one. In case you like blue cheese as much as I do: eat it, enjoy it and get this overload of blue cheese untill you can't even see it anymore.

Chipotle Shrimp Quesadilla: I just need a couple of words here: shrimp, quesadilla, hot, hot, hot, but: excellent.

Crab Enchiladas: Although I found the taste of crab a little overwhelming I need to compliment the chef again.

Austin Movie Festival: Wendy & Lucy

The importance of economic decisions are a central theme in this movie. A young women looking for a job faces problems that will become crucial for the way things are working out. Losing her car diminishes her ability to be mobile. Especially when she loses her dog that actually is her friend and life-partner her inability to both pay and move become decisive.
The end shows how economic problems can affect the way you treat your loved ones.

You can visit Austin Movie Festival until October twenty-third at several cinemas in Austin, Tx. Here you find the schedule.

The House of Torment: The human chain broke

One of the few advantages of being a short person is the ability to hide. Since my eyes were totally focused on anything unexpected that could happen in front of me, I was glad I found a tall guy standing behind me to alert, calm or pacify me.

After a couple of frightful but seemingly safe minutes I felt some inhuman pufs reaching my neck and merciless shouts numbing my sense of hearing. I knew something was wrong. The human chain broke. The tall guy-little girl chain broke.

Looking back I saw his posture reflecting agony. He was slouching all the way down in order to look smaller and more fragile. Obviously, small people wish they were taller to look tougher, whereas tall people wish they were smaller in order to look more fragile.

At the end we all converged by a shiny, black hearse that was parked in front of the House of Torment, reminding us of how similar people are. Tall or short, brave or fragile.

Time

The first two months of my stay flew away.

I just dropped my mom and sister off on the airport and I realized I am on the exact half of my stay in the United States today.

On the one side I hope time will fly again so that I will see my family during christmas to tell them all my American adventures. On the other, I wish somebody could stop the clock from ticking.

Let's make this second half at least as good as the first, I'm ready!

Presidential candidates changed ties

Tonight the political tie color-rule is definitely broken. I noticed that in the last couple of months Obama was predominantly wearing a blue tie and McCain was wearing a red tie. Tonight during the last presidential debate they both broke the rule. Namely, Obama was wearing a conservative-red tie and McCain was wearing a quite liberal-blue tie. Pretty confusing for the last presidential debate, for the last chance to make your point and to be as clear as possible.

The only one that sticked to the rule tonight was the moderator of the debate: Bob Schieffer. He was as neutral as a moderator needs to be, wearing a blue-red striped tie.

Rejection of Apologies

Forget my previous post. I totally reject my apologies.
Everything I saw this afternoon pointed out that I definitely need to reject my apologies for today’s weather.
What I saw was unbelievable, at least, for me.

People were dancing in the rain. They opened the door and ran outside with big smiles on their faces. I even saw somebody taking pictures of raindrops.

Apparently I was the only one feeling sorry for the fact that these huge and wet raindrops were attacking Austin today.

My apologies for this rainy weather

Everywhere you go you always take the weather with you

Everywhere you go you always take the weather, the weather with you

- Crowded House

Driving on the American Highway

Seeing the wide roads and huge cars, I craved for driving a car myself on the American Highway. This might sound pretty desperate, but honestly, I was.

All students in The Netherlands get a free public transport card, which is why I am used to using the subway, trams, busses and trains every day. I can't even image what Amsterdam would be like if every student would have its own car. It would be far too crowded.

While I drove my mom and sister around in Austin in such a big, black, American car I felt pretty firm. Maybe this is the feeling American students get every day; driving to school in their over-sized, automatic cars that make a funny sounds when they lock it. While at the same time, all Dutch students fall asleep on the backseat of the train.

Buffalo Exchange

Would I call myself a 'tourist' in Austin? Maybe..

But I would definitely call my mom and sister 'tourists' in Austin.

They are coming over for one week. This weekend I started my objective for the coming seven days; showing them the most beautiful and overwhelming places in Austin. But also, showing them the most 'Austinite' places in Austin. Obviously, I had to show them Buffalo Exchange.

Besides buying some clothes I think we did something else too; we were part of the process.

Buy it, wear it, sell it, buy it, wear it, sell it. Not only in Austin, but all over the world.

French Movie Night Part III: Le Fabuleux Destin d' Amélie Poulain

Growing up in a world as big as her own house, Amélie Poulain creates her own world of fantasy and imagination. During her job in a restaurant called 'Les Deux Moulins' she observates people and finds ways to increase their happiness.
By enjoying things other people wouldn't even notice, like putting her hands in sachets of grain or watching the faces of people sitting behind her in the cinema, she creates her own form of happiness as well.
Though, real prosperity, wisdom and succes are about to enter her life from the moment she finds a binder with photos on a streetcorner. Encouraged by a painter that unconsciously and figuratively paints the personality of Amélie, she is ready to enter a whole new world.

Efficient language

"The miraculous city ontwaakt terwijl tout le monde se réveille. Het licht gaat aan et je realise que me gusta la vida; ein neue Tag fängt an."

Some words just sound better in other languages.

Ever heard of 'verschikkelijk' ? Be blessed because 'horrible' makes much more sense.

Also, 'magnifique' sounds way more magnificent than 'wunderbar' does.

It may not seem efficient to use different languages in one sentence, but sometimes there is just one word that perfectly describes what you feel and what you want to make clear. It is about the way it sounds, the atmosphere it creates.

Vienna

Vienna; the city of old-fashioned opera and ordinary Wiener Schnitzels, historical buildings and modern night clubs.

Vienna is certainly a nice city to visit for a couple of days, but don't stay for too long.
The romantic entourage will only look magical for a couple of days, until the point that you get used to walking through a fairy-tale scene, hearing stories about Princess Sisi and seeing carriages with horses on every street-corner.

Not staying too long will make you want to go back to the feeling of being the main person in the Austian fairy-tale.

Chaddick Dance Theatre Part IV: Six Passing

This choreography, made by Kathy Dunn Hamrick, seems very cheerful and lighthearted. Six dancers are passing the stage in colorful dresses and with lively smiles on their faces. It seems like they are friends and having fun together all the time. The choreography contains a lot of different solo and duo pieces which makes it look very alternating.

Although, analysing the choreography from a closer viewpoint made my mind change.

Sometimes having a friend is a temporary thing. People come and go. Meeting new people often goes hand in hand with ignoring people that, in your opinion, don't suit your personality that good. Group forming is a human process too. Some people may fit in a social group, others will be kicked out of it.

Kathy Dunn Hamrick shows this process by presenting ' Six Passing'; six girls discovering friendships in a both delighted and rude, but human way.

Chaddick Dance Theater Part III: A Gambit

'A Gambit'. Although the title doesn't give anything away of the story represented by this choreography, the dance itself has a very clear theme: rivalry.

Three women are trying to beat each other in terms of beauty and attractivity. The three main characters all have a different personality but are showing off their equal obsessions for beauty by wearing the same striking and colourful skirts.

At the end, two of the three girls show that beauty isn't the most important variable by taking off their skirts. By doing this the real figures and curves of their bodies become clear which gives this story both a literal and figurative dimension.

French Movie Night Part II: Avenue Montaigne

"There are two kinds of people in the world; those who answer
the phone and say "Who the hell's that.." and those who say "Hey!"."
- Jessica, played by Cecile de France.

After hearing her grandmother's stories about the purpose of life Jessica is more than ready to start her new life in Paris. Getting a job at the theatre bar gives her life a new spin; she meets all kinds of people and she jumps into the world of art, theatre and audiences. This kind of world seemed like an utopia on the beginning, but turned out to be a scenery of secret relationships and depressive realities. Her optimistic, curious expressions and her exciting appearance make Jessica look like a naïve but reasonable girl.

It seems like the expression "the grass looks greener on the other side" is applicable to countless situations.