tuesday

My mind has to be really bored to listen to all those stupid thoughts about lucky or bad lucky day.
I think it's only coincidence that when I came here I was receiving unexpected great happy news or unexpected awesome things happened to me, and I also think that it's still coincidence that my last Tuesday are unexpectedly for bad news, moods, things. The good part is that at one point I've got fed up with bad and I just look with merci to my bad luck ... life is short, play more ... love comes back to you ... make love, not war ... just do it ... look, it's raining

AIESEC and “It's up to you”

I have just finished reading again the comments on the great news about Gabiza becoming the President of AIESEC International. Congrats Gabiza!
Her story together with stories of other AIESEC-ers are always remanding me about ''It's up to you’. The easiest thing for me is waiting for opportunities to came in front of my eyes, to be delivered to me, and not being the one that seeks for them, the one that creates them for himself. So far, I think it was also a little bit of luck that in almost one year of AIESEC I’ve been part of an OC, I’ve attended the TtT (Train the trainers), I’ve been to 4 conferences and focused on a traineeship in the same time. I'm totally convinced that giving up on fears and the commodity of day by day life I can seek and bring to life much more opportunities to develop myself within AIESEC.
There is another fact that made me one more time aware of the thing that it’s up to me to do whatever crosses your mind. Since I came to the Netherlands the though of organizing something with and for the trainees keep on bumping in my neurons. Due to different and silly reasons it remained only an idea … and now I saw that another trainee brought it to life. I don’t mind that someone else made it happen; I’m just looking at myself and wondering: Have you ever heard about It’s up to you?
To take it to a higher level, I am wondering which direction I should take. I love AIESEC and I see great opportunities for me to keep developing within it for the next few years … but for the same few next years I have other opportunities apart from AIESEC. Both of them require my full time and dedication. Being sorry for what I haven’t done it’s less and less my way of thinking day by day.
And now I’m thinking … thinking … thinking … It’s up to you!

P.S. Hmmm…this topic looks like a post for my green blog, if I haven’t put it there already :)

five

The strongest reason for me on going in eXchange with AIESEC was personal development, to put order in my life and rediscover myself.
Today there are exactly 5 months since I'm in the Netherlands. There were bad parts and good parts, I've been down in my ugly corners of myself and up on the miracle of living in this world. I've could done much more and I've done things that I've not dreamed about (or dreamed and forgot). Looking to my good time here I'm satisfied.
And as I am concerned on developing my friendliness part and human relationships, I celebrated this moment by a dinner at my place with those that helped me in making it happen: my ex AIESEC buddy, Iris, the TNco in AIESEC Wageningen, Chris, and the two first persons that I've met in the Netherlands, two great friends(Joost and my great TN manager Lisanne). I'm to happy to say more english words about them. All day long I've had a high felling of happiness and smiling. And to complete the list and because I love being around the other trainees ... Mihai(Romania), Eneko(Spain) and Bachar(Sweden).
Dinner and a walk on the Wageningen's dike in the night ... gezellig.
And it wasn't over: I received the first e-mail since I'm here from an old and dear friend from back home. Thanks Catalina.

I will put today's mood in a safe bag and use in every day that it will be raining. And the bad moods I want to trade them for words; anyone interested?

languages

I've heard so many people telling stories about how they forget that they have to speak in a particular language with different people ... and there it came my turn; quite funny for me.
First it happened 2 or 3 months ago while chatting with a romanian: it was english, than french and in the end a few words in romanian. My first reaction on seeing the romanian words: errr, in what language are you speaking?
After that an "aici" slept out of my mouth while explaining something to my boss.
Last week, I did it really great: "Do you want ceai, Mihai?" ... I didn't realized what I was saying until he begun laughing at me :)
And today, another bird flew out of my mouth "poftim?" (with a large smile to my boss).
I haven't paid very much attention to speak in a language or another; it is easy for me to control it (even though sometimes I really feel like talking 1001 words per second in romanian). It really amuses me to hear myself speaking in the wrong language ... hmmm ... I think I will try sometimes to speak suddenly only in romanian to somebody who doesn't know the language; I want to see the expression on his/her face :) ... any volunteer?

Blowing my nose

Today I've been very productive at work: I've filled my whole garbage bag with napkins.

Lately, I've become more aware of how similar humans are and how small this world it is. I've read more and more blogs and get to know more and more people and to my surprise I've discovered so many things in them that are also in me. Words can express so well feelings and images ... and words means also quiet. The human beings are so similar and in the same time so different, everybody is so unique.
I have a hunger for art, literature and meditation and philosophy. It is a totally different sensation than traveling or basketball or technology or black chocolate.

Life time experience

For a couple of days a thought keeps on bumping in my head: what is my part and what is this adventure’s part? This traineeship came on my path so naturally.
I have tried the same thing in 2005 at a smaller scale, I felt exactly the same freedom of myself like this time and I ended it before time in a sad way.

I remember the beginning that lead me here: my inner life written on paper and read by two humans, my eyes closed under an acacia and a undefined black image of my future, the happiest smile on my lips, two days of terrible fears that not even my family or my best friends couldn’t settle them down … and I was gone.

It is a lifetime experience in the way that I faced my naked ego (the entire past, the status of now and the eagerness of my future). The environment: AIESEC, the Netherlands and what I have discovered and I’m enjoying so much: my friends and my family. I’m not nominating any particular name as what they are to me doesn’t fit in words.

How I’m changed or how this is a life time experience I don’t have a clue … maybe you’ll have when we’ll meet on a random street.

smile

The past days weren't quite so sunny as I though ... and I found out last night that I was pretending I'm OK. Some kind of home sick, a little bit of "why I am fucking talking to you? why I'm listening to you?", "damn, I'm far from my native language", "damn, I'm doing it again and again ... stop yourself", and some of "how it would be if I'll ... or if ... or if ...". Not even looking back on the great parts of my 4+ months here couldn't make me aware of happiness. I am stubborn in looking to the bad ... yeah right, this is why I'm smiling.

Anyway, the reason for this post is the video and a story from Loredana's blog (for those of you that don't read romanian ... she did exactly the same great thing as in the video). I've asked for a hug from a stranger (I don't remember if only once) and I receive it ... it made me feel great :)

Year change

Hmmm… now it’s 2007; it sounds really strange for me, even after 7 years I’m still not used to the 2000 counting; I grow up in the 199x and the 21^st century looks really … SF :)

The 12.00 moment got me on the streets of Utrecht with Romanian guys (Cipri and Ionica and girl (Cristina … without Gelu :) ). It was a true Dutch year crossing: it begun raining and we’ve stopped in front of a bike store … to drink the Champaign (much more a bubbling wine, not the French brand :) ) and light up the fireworks. And speaking about fireworks … the sky was full of colors and the streets full of their noise; there were some really cute noise making things: you know the “pétard” that everyone is using in this time of the year … ok now think at 3 meters long line full of them; that’s really a noise making stuff.

And to make it a Romanian celebration we enjoyed the Romanian food (sarmale si carnati udate cu palinca de piersica) and listened and danced on Romanian specific music.

Happy New Year!

P.S.: Romania is part of EU ;)

My Christmas

I wished to spend this Christmas with some friendly and smiley people … and guess what? It really happened. It happened in Maastricht and the people were AIESEC trainees (some new for me, some that I’ve knew already).

I lived a strong Christmas feeling: carols in the background, Santa’s gifts (I got a head massage thing, really good and exciting ;) ; I think it was the only material gift for me this year, excepting the made in Wageningen Bitter from my firm :) ), Christmas tree (a trainee Christmas tree), traditional Romanian food (I haven’t eaten it in the past 3 months and I really enjoyed remembering its taste) and some other dishes from Malaysia, USA, Canada and Turky. Something else happened, something that I’ve missed for a while: long talks until 4 or 5 in the morning, just talking and having fun. On the first day of Christmas I fulfilled again my dream of traveling, this time in Maastricht: a mix of Dutch and Belgium, of Roman and 21^st century views.

Thanks David and Jake.

P.S.: a few days before going there I begun feeling like Christmas: in the middle of the night I wrote Christmas cards for back home.

It comes a time when ...

you shout out loud your happiness, when you love life like you never did it before, when you sing in the heavy rain, when you see only the good things around you ... almost in the seventh heaven :)
I confess, I'm not always like that, but it happens and it happens pretty often. It starts with a song, or with an anonymous smile, or with a hello, or some other word, or I "turn my head upside-down" and see things from a different light, or I feel my friends so close to my thoughts. It's like enjoying every piece of things that surrounds you: a leaf, a rock, a building, a view, the wind or the singing birds, or a warm bed, or just a color.
For the last months I have developed a bad habit of mine: I wake up in the morning smiling, looking forward for the new day ... and I cannot help myself doing that. I'm sorry :P
It's crossing the line to wonderland; enjoying moments of happiness; exploring the world that lies in front of your eyes; discovering your life; going higher and higher than you have ever been.


That's my "Happy New Year!" wish for you :)

Step on it (14)

Maastricht: with AIESEC trainees in the Netherlands. It was a Christmas celebration, but about it I’ll write later :).

I’ve taken a city tour … and it’s truly a very old city, from the Roman times. I’ve saw the defending walls (they remind me a little bit of Sibiu, just a little bit :)). Close to them I’ve seen the classical “zoo” park that I’ve saw almost everywhere in this country: the usual trees and grass and benches, but in the middle you can see dears, goats, all kind of birds, and sometimes donkeys or ponies. We’ve taken a long walk on the streets of the city and I’ve felt the scent of the city: it is much more similar to Belgium and a little bit different from Dutch; in fact I think it’s a mixture of the two cultures.

In the main square there was the Christmas market with all sorts of amusements for kids (I hardly stopped myself not to try them :) ), places to enjoy a hot tea or boiled wine and … the huge vertical spinning wheel, bigger than the one in Groningen … and I’ll say it again: I’m a foul for views from high above :).

P.S.: stay tunned for the pictures

Step on it (13)

Groningen: with AIESEC people. Friday, after work, I’ve cooked and eaten quickly my dinner and jump on the train (delayed bus, crowd and empty trains :) ).

In a few words about this week-end (I left at 18.30 on Friday and got back to my room at 23.23 on Sunday): green and white party, lunch and dinner with around 30 people, skating (for the first time, really good, only one funny fall on my ass :) ), darts, bowling (for the first time, nice playing), pre-party and party, city tours. I enjoyed meeting old friends, new friends from all over the world that I’ve made in the Netherlands, so many friendly and smiley AIESEC people. I’ve got the chance to get to know new lovely people ;).

I have heard so many things about Groningen and now I’ve got the change to taste it; it tasted really good: parks, old buildings, new places, the smell from the sugar factory.

Right now I’m speechless; I don’t have words to describe all the great places I’ve seen and all the great persons I’ve met (or met once again).

Later edit:
I tasted a little bit of the night life too. On Saturday night I went To the Grote Markt and saw all kind of people: hungry, drunk, fancy dressed girls, homeless, from teenagers to old ones, getting out and in from full clubs and bars, a lot of mess, police on bikes, vans, horses, not too many internationals ...
I danced and danced on great music: electronic, house, happy hardcore, AIESEC dances, rock mixes and a little bit of latino and hip-hop kind.
I've taken a ride in a huge spinning vertical wheel (for the first time :)): a great view of Groningen from up above.

Step on it (12)

Gouda: with Anne; feeling the Christmas spirit. Gouda by Candellight

After work I grabbed a shoarma and my backpack and went for the train. I’ve meet with Anne in the train; she jump up in Utrecht (nice way to establish a meeting point :) ) and soon we were in Gouda.

We’ve listened to the mayor and the crowd singing carols. A band of Santa’s were singing instrumental versions of the carols, choirs were singing all around the center, the city hall was enlightened by candles, in the cathedral (a superb building) also Christmas songs … before leaving we’ve stopped near the Christmas tree: a band of around 15-20 young and old people were playing at drums, trumpets and all sort of instruments. I didn’t have to close my eyes to live the Christmas dream.

There were 4 full hours of Christmas for me; I felt it so deep and so warm (even thought it was a rainy and windy weather). A great present from someone up in the sky.

Step on it (11)

Wageningen: by bike on a cold clean Sunday sunset. I was getting bored in my room; a day before I’ve been to Rotterdam and today I missed the change to go further … so … I love my bike :) . I take it out for a short walk on the Rhine valley at noon.

And I couldn’t help myself in the afternoon: I went to the center of the city to do some stuff and I end up taking a tour outside Wageningen. I discovered a little pound next to my ex‑hostel and a bike route on this region. The sun was going down and the sky was coloring in pink, red, violet and to the darkness of the night. Me feet were frizzing; the wind was biting from my cheeks. I was on my bike and I was happy.

Do you remember when I’ve told you that I felt like the blond boy from “Bob Sinclar – Love generation”? Well, … I did it again :)

step on it (10)

Rotterdam: Happy and sunny Saturday morning: wake up let’s go traveling. I was ready faster than ever and had the greatest mood to walk; it was a gorgeous December sunny day. Today I also felt how it is to wait for a Latin person … I don’t want to experience that again; even though Latin persons are much more closer to my feelings I prefer to struggle to get in time with the non-Latin précis time from Nord Europe :)And I’ve been in Rotterdam: a long and very “gezellig” street from the train station to the harbor. To be sincere we were just walking ahead (we: means me, an AIESEC-er from Brazil, a guy and a girl from Spain). While we were still in the train station area I’ve seen my beloved rainbow over Rotterdam … speechless; I hope I will get somehow the pictures to share it with you. And we’ve walked near the canal straight ahead … and we’ve met with Anne and a German friend of her (also a very friendly traveler :) ).

What I’ve saw there: a platform full of flags (don’t remember exactly the meaning), the old harbor (with superb old boats), the oldest sky-scraper in Europe (I think just 15 floors high), the houses in a cube shape, a small and spectacular chess museum (every theme you can imagine for a chess table was there) … and back on the streets of the shopping center and main market to the train station.

Ohhh … Before we proceed to the old harbor we saw a double rainbow embracing the city and a fairy tale sunset.