Life lessons can be learned anywhere..I guess. Even around midnight in a bar...
My friend , darling Miss K., celebrated her birthday in a very big, college-like way: going out to a bar with lots of friends. My first official night out in NYC..must say, it is not that much different from Amsterdam or Chico for that matter.. The night starts with girls dancing with each other; drink in hand, some MTV-like moves..The men (boys, adolescents, members of the other sex) stand and watch, drink in hand...As the night continues and more and more alcohol is consumed the guys join. By this time they are intoxicated enough to not really feel (or at least remember..) rejection..and the girls..eh..have killed so many brain cells that they can't really be hold responsible for the "dances" they do...
So..oh yes..my lesson..I learned it the "hard way"..One of Miss K.'s friends was here in NY for the first time..and at some point he seemed a little lost..standing alone..So I started talking to him for a bit, see if he liked the city and enjoyed his time here...Result: My dear friend Miss E. had to 'save' me on the dance floor - which she did like pro!; we left 1/2 an hour earlier (okay, we were home around 2AM, so that was not such a bad thing after all) and I have a facebook friend request with which I do not know what to do...
I guess on the list "Important Life Lessons" this one should come fairly high..right after "Floss daily" or something..
dinsdag 21 april 2009
zondag 19 april 2009
to communicate
April 17th: I'm having a serious toddler flashback. I'm sitting at my desk feeling strangly unsettled..sort of angry..almost in tears..Reason: I seem unable to express myself well when I talk with my boss. We don't (she does not) understand each other (me). I'm trying to say it right and in different ways. And I think we're actually are on the same page but I'm not sure..so now I'm sitting here, remembering the strange feeling of an upcoming tantrum. Is this how I felt when I was 2? Wanting to say something but not able too? Frustrated to the core? What a horrible feeling it is!
If you think about the challenges we overcome while being very very young; learing to walk, learning to comprehend and vocalize a language wíth the cultural connotations...How could this not encourage us for any challenge we face as grown ups.."hey, I managed to learn how to walk, I'll manage ... ".
However, this was not one of those encouraging days..but it was intersting to experience a feeling I did not remember.. luckily, the weather was a-m-a-z-i-n-g..warm..inviting..spring..almost summer-like, so a good day after all! And yes, I did manage to finish the assignment successfully. 1-0 for the grown up me:) Maturity prevails - no tantrums for me anymore...
If you think about the challenges we overcome while being very very young; learing to walk, learning to comprehend and vocalize a language wíth the cultural connotations...How could this not encourage us for any challenge we face as grown ups.."hey, I managed to learn how to walk, I'll manage ... ".
However, this was not one of those encouraging days..but it was intersting to experience a feeling I did not remember.. luckily, the weather was a-m-a-z-i-n-g..warm..inviting..spring..almost summer-like, so a good day after all! And yes, I did manage to finish the assignment successfully. 1-0 for the grown up me:) Maturity prevails - no tantrums for me anymore...
woensdag 15 april 2009
USPS&I
Right this second I'm thoroughly enjoying a café au lait aka latte..it is pure perfection in a cup. I don't remember enjoying coffee this much - but this is amazing...the soft roasted flavor, covered with the sweetness of steamed milk. Perfectttt! Just like my cup of Pickwick Sterremunt tea my parents sent me 7 (!) weeks ago, but arrived yesterday.
Or 'arrived'..that's kind of an overstatement: Last Saturday I finally found a note in my mailbox saying that the mailman/woman "tried to deliver" but he/she failed (miserably - because I was HOME!! All that was needed was to ring the door bell - exhale..count to 10) and that I could pick it up at my local post office; open mon-fri 8:00-5:00, sat 8:00-4:00. But, if I didn't by the 17th it would be send back.
Taking no chances: Monday morning I will be at the post office! Leaving the apartment at 8:05AM! It's an approx. 5 min walk. Made sure I'd emailed my boss that I might be a little late thinking that I would stand in line maybe 15/20 minutes, take the train and be in by 9:15ish..WRONG..The post office is not around the block, it's 3 blocks down..one straight line though..so I arrived at 8:15..just 2 people were standing in line "Perfect", I think. After a minute I realize no one is being served. "hmmm, DR time-schedule" I think by myself (side note: our neighboring 'hood is unofficially called Little DR, referring to the - I assume - background of most of its inhabitants) which might have been a condescending thought, or a culturally conscious one..either way. Suddenly my eye falls on a note: New Hours: mon-fri 9:00-5:00, sat 9:00-4:00...What? WHAT?? Are you kidding me? So much for 'a little late'. But, what do you do? I need my package..I need to send a gift..So..as the clock moves forward more and more people show up..some leave realizing they will not be assisted for another good 30 minutes. I read a bit..try to listen in on a Spanish-with-an-accent-conversations..observe the amazing safety/protection construction of the counters. There is no, ab-so-lu-te-ly no way to get to any one behind the counter..the Plexiglas is an inch thick, what a world apart from the Dutch post offices.
By 9 the hall is packed; a door opens up and a woman appears "we're sorry but the PCs don't work. We hope to fix the problem in the next 10 minutes - crowd sighs - please have some patience". owhhhhh..GREAT..Luckily I've had a lot of patience training in Trader Joe's...see, comes in handy in unexpected moments!
9:15ish: 3 out of 7 (!) windows open and it's my turn quickly. Send my package..but for picking up I need to be at another window - AARGH bureaucrats!! "thank you," I say and smile. Next window - wait..woman disappears and I end up being assisted by the first lady..
Ooh, USPS..what to say about you.. Do basic services like mail give a snapshot impression of a country's culture? Then what does USPS say about the American culture? What does the TNT say about the Dutch?
Right before I leave a man showed the safety/protection constructions where not just decorations. He flips out about the line..being in line for 5/10 minutes was clearly too much on a Monday morning..and he demanded at the top of his lungs to speak to the manager.. "Look dude, I've been here one-hour-and-a-half..have a little patience" I thought by myself..and walked to the subway.
Or 'arrived'..that's kind of an overstatement: Last Saturday I finally found a note in my mailbox saying that the mailman/woman "tried to deliver" but he/she failed (miserably - because I was HOME!! All that was needed was to ring the door bell - exhale..count to 10) and that I could pick it up at my local post office; open mon-fri 8:00-5:00, sat 8:00-4:00. But, if I didn't by the 17th it would be send back.
Taking no chances: Monday morning I will be at the post office! Leaving the apartment at 8:05AM! It's an approx. 5 min walk. Made sure I'd emailed my boss that I might be a little late thinking that I would stand in line maybe 15/20 minutes, take the train and be in by 9:15ish..WRONG..The post office is not around the block, it's 3 blocks down..one straight line though..so I arrived at 8:15..just 2 people were standing in line "Perfect", I think. After a minute I realize no one is being served. "hmmm, DR time-schedule" I think by myself (side note: our neighboring 'hood is unofficially called Little DR, referring to the - I assume - background of most of its inhabitants) which might have been a condescending thought, or a culturally conscious one..either way. Suddenly my eye falls on a note: New Hours: mon-fri 9:00-5:00, sat 9:00-4:00...What? WHAT?? Are you kidding me? So much for 'a little late'. But, what do you do? I need my package..I need to send a gift..So..as the clock moves forward more and more people show up..some leave realizing they will not be assisted for another good 30 minutes. I read a bit..try to listen in on a Spanish-with-an-accent-conversations..observe the amazing safety/protection construction of the counters. There is no, ab-so-lu-te-ly no way to get to any one behind the counter..the Plexiglas is an inch thick, what a world apart from the Dutch post offices.
By 9 the hall is packed; a door opens up and a woman appears "we're sorry but the PCs don't work. We hope to fix the problem in the next 10 minutes - crowd sighs - please have some patience". owhhhhh..GREAT..Luckily I've had a lot of patience training in Trader Joe's...see, comes in handy in unexpected moments!
9:15ish: 3 out of 7 (!) windows open and it's my turn quickly. Send my package..but for picking up I need to be at another window - AARGH bureaucrats!! "thank you," I say and smile. Next window - wait..woman disappears and I end up being assisted by the first lady..
Ooh, USPS..what to say about you.. Do basic services like mail give a snapshot impression of a country's culture? Then what does USPS say about the American culture? What does the TNT say about the Dutch?
Right before I leave a man showed the safety/protection constructions where not just decorations. He flips out about the line..being in line for 5/10 minutes was clearly too much on a Monday morning..and he demanded at the top of his lungs to speak to the manager.. "Look dude, I've been here one-hour-and-a-half..have a little patience" I thought by myself..and walked to the subway.
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