Live

I have seen them on TV, on pictures, on books, on internet, on the eyes of a person ... and the moment for LIVE came out. It just came out of nowhere; I don't know who called it.

It was a fly up beyond the clouds and close to the rainbow; it was the airport; it was new people expecting you and calling your name; it was a shy hug; it was a bike parking lot; it was Dutch cows, English speaking, wind mills, day by day things in a foreign environment, “Where are you from? How do you feel? How do you like it here?” over and over and over again, Dutch students drinking, new language, international people, lots and lots of “Hy, I’m bla bla la from bla bla”. They were broadcasted LIVE in front of my own eyes; I was living them moment by moment.

Landed in progress… ok

Connecting in progress… ok

Contact establishing… ok

Adventure starting…. ok

You are successfully LIVE

Flying high

More than a month I had to prepare for stepping into the next day of my life…and you know what? I really used that time; I was prepared. Until it hit me: Monday morning leaving my home; ok, nothing bad, traveling by train, smiling… and the day passes minute by minute and my freaking out experience is growing minute by minute. Tuesday morning, totally freaked out: I’m going far away, I’m leaving, I’m turning right on my path, it’s all so dark in front of me, stop, go back. Lucky, my last month revealed into me those reflexes that made me keep going ahead despite my freaking out mood. And up on the bus to the airport, and up on my face a big smile of relief: I have chosen to do that, I want to do that, I am happy with doing that…hmm… how could I have freaked out for almost 2 days when now I am enjoying my steps ?!

After enjoying my first airport contact, I’ve got up on the plain. I’m going to fly so high…I am already flying. Hold tight to the chair…hmmm…why should I hold tight? It’s like a bus going faster and faster and shivering and bending in all possible direction…so no need to hold tight. I just can close my eyes and take the pleasure after being relieved of the past 2 days. Downstairs were only big huge white gray clouds; it looked like snow and I wanted to jump up and embrace all that fluffy “snow”, to lay down on it and make angels, to grab a snowboard and slide faster and faster. And my first foreign city…somewhere near Prague…it looks nice. A huge airport in Prague and walking and walking and walking. And up I go into the blue blue cloudy sky. Yeap: again that “snow”. But look: the NEDERLANDS…haha, it’s really flat…and the water…hmm… I guess it’s the ocean. And the sun going down, a beautiful sunset.

My next day is today. Welcome!

Go travel

I will begin with the 8th of October; when I'll find out why I'll let you know :)

Actually it started on the 6^th of October. It was a rainy autumn afternoon on the streets of Utrecht. My first AIESEC conference abroad was finished. I had one wish (among other dreams…) for the coming week-end: go travel.

This was a dream of mine: put my special shoes on, get the sack on my back and walk where ever your eyes lead you. I saw people doing that on TV and that made me wanted it even more.

Now I am far away from home; now I am traveling. I DID IT.

So…it was rainy… it was Friday … some of my friends where next to me … my birthday was coming … hmmm “I’m coming with you to Tilburg.” “OK” … and I begun singing in the rain; I was living a dream. This was my present that I have made for myself (the first one).

Saturday was market day. You get to know so many things about a place and its people if you just go to the open-market; just observer them buying, selling and socializing, meeting friends, smiling to the one next to you. I have finally got to the open-market in the Nederlands after I have heard so many peoples speaking about it.

And there was something more to be added to complete the traveling feeling: sleeping on something else rather than a common bed. I’ve done it before for a couple of times, but this time was different because I was feeling like a traveler.

And it came…Sunday the 8^th of October 2006... early in the morning… I wake up and take a short look at the clock: 08:10 on the 08.10.2006 :) … too early…go back to sleep. Around 9.00 I was arguing very hard with someone in my dream; I heard my phone ringing and I was sure it was a message from that person…but it was my boss wishing me a happy birthday. I cannot imagine how a huge smile rises up on my face; in fact this was the way I’ve been the entire day: with a huge smile inside of me, but not eating it entirely; a quarter of that smile was a said person…

Then, it was my family time: I’ve spoken to all of them and it was wonderful to hear all of them after so long time.

Have you watched Bob Sinclair, Love generation? If you want to know what I’ve experienced next look at the blond boy on the clip. Biking with a great friend in a wonderful sunny day…yeap, it’s really my birthday :). You want to add something special to it: add another great friend (that you felt so open-hearted to you in the previous day) and get a nice dinner in the town.

And the cherry from the top: a group hug when the clock tells you “You are 24 from now on”.

As an ending point the time to go back home came. I was looking to make another present to myself: on my way home, just get down in one station (Den Bosch or Utrecht) and go for 1-2 hours and enjoy the city, without any map or any knowledge of where I am…but I was really tired and my body refused me (but I still enjoy it :) ).

What was my second gift from myself? My smile.