Categories
in the netherlands

receita improvisada de schiermonnikoog para 15 pessoas.

ingredientes:
2 portugueses
3 italianas
1 romena
1 finlandês
1 checo
1 belga
1 espanhola
1 austríaca
1 alemão
1 russa/finlandesa
1 francês
1 grego

3 das pessoas têm de ter carro (de 5 lugares cada)
2 mapas (ou mais)
picnic nas mochilas
boa disposição

preparação:
pegar nos ingredientes todos e conduzir até à costa. apanhar o ferry para schiermonnikoog e deixar marinar 45 minutos, ao som de amena cavaqueira. em schiermonnikoog, andar o máximo a pé até alguém se perder e encontrar, disfrutar da paisagem, almoçar à beira mar (matar as saudades da costa e da maresia e aproveitar para provar o mar do norte), jogar frisbee em campos de pastagem não ocupados por vacas, salpicar com fotografias e histórias q.b. e ter cuidado com as areias movediças do nordeste da ilha. voltar ao fim da tarde e não dar muita importância às multas de estacionamento nos vidros dos carros.

ps – aceitam-se sugestões para o próximo domingo!”

Categories
in the netherlands

QoS

vai uma pessoa muito descansadinha tirar os cadeados da bicicleta, no centro da cidade, quando se aproxima um sujeito com um aspecto menos recomendável, tipo os nossos arrumadores de carros.
“jorrwieerr skdaejfwoiueur lksemd aheagaz dlkj soei skkirrlf aieurror ?” (ou qualquer coisa do género).
“errr… sorry. i don’t speak dutch.” – digo eu, já a safar-me airosamente.
“oh! could you please spare me a coin or two? i haven’t had breakfast yet…”, responde ele.

fiquei de boca aberta… que terra é esta em que até os pedintes falam inglês?! e pensar que andamos nós a dar formação aos taxistas para eles saberem o mínimo dos mínimos…

Categories
in the netherlands

oh.

Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe…

fiona apple john lennon
(thanks pedro! :) )

levi watches fc porto’s goals on rtp’s website, and we quickly scan the news on publico to see what’s going on back home, while we wait for a class to start. now that a week and a half has passed, and the initial shock and frustrations were forgotten, everything seems easy. the adaptation period was much smoothed by the fact everybody here speaks english since they were in primary school, and even master’s classes are given in english, to dutch students. and also the other erasmus students’ company helped, of course. we’re all in the same boat here. 150 of us are now living in a which used to be a refugee’s hospital, some time ago. it lacks some conditions (and internet!) and is quite far from the ZernikeComplex (the place where we have classes), but it’s warm and cozy inside, in a strange mix of nationalities and cultures from all continents.
the city is beautiful. really lovely with its small red brick houses and canals that cross and circle it, confusing our sense of orientation. there are so many small details worth exploring, and so many treats to the eye… like an opaque glass lavatory or a bus station by rem koolhaas (the mr. who did the “casa da musica”, in porto).
well, duty calls. :) take care!

Categories
in the netherlands

grrrrrroningen.

(estamos bem.
sem inspiracao, internet ou acentos.
mas com a morada da ikea assinalada no mapa, uma bicicleta com um cestinho e muita cafeina.
beijocas!)

Categories
in the netherlands

people and suitcases

“Don’t leave your wet towel on the table.
It’s time to start straightening up.
In a month or so, another summer will be over.
What a sad demobilization, putting away bathing suits,
sunglasses, short-sleeves, sandals,
twilight colors on a luminous sea. Soon,
the outdoor cinemas will be closed, their chairs
stacked in a corner. The boats will sail
less often. Safely back home, the lovely tourist girls
will sit up late, shuffling through color glossies
of swimmers, fishermen, oarsmen–not us. Already,
up in the loft, our suitcases wait to find out
when we’ll be leaving, where we’re going this time,
and for how long. You also know that inside
those scuffed, hollow suitcases there’s a bit of string,
a couple of rubber bands, and not a single flag.”

–Yannis Ritsos

(because today my dad bought me a bunch of suitcases, subtly reminding me that in a month or so, summer will be over…)