Party in da (new) House!

Housewarming Parties in Utrecht City Rule!

The week itself was just like any other week. However on Friday I had diner at Olga and Hans and had a great night. It kind of served as practice for the day after, because on Saturday it was housewarming-party-time at Marks new crib ;-)

After a small tour of his house, some beers and lots of French (Dutch) fries we decided it was time for some rounds of KINGS!! Great fun and the ultimate preparation for a night out!



In Utrecht we started in a very laid back bar and we ended in the "Winkel van Sinkel" where we continued dancing to the techno beats until the very early hours... I could tell you exactly how it was, but it would never be as much fun as the night itself... so next time: join us!!



This is what Utrecht city sounds like... PARTY!!!

Even Sven enjoys Techno

Nothing else to tell you! I'm still busy making the last arrangements before I leave and that's it!

Houdoe!!
Ruudje

Yes, they really exist

Wooden shoes, tulips and of course windmills...

Three stereotypical Dutch things that are not entirely correct anymore. Of course, some people still wear wooden shoes, we do grow lots of tulips and in the countryside you can find dozens of windmills. Just to add a little Dutch feeling to this site I posted a photo of an authentic Dutch windmill. So be amazed!! ;-)



This weekend I was just cruising around on Hyves (the Dutch equivalent of facebook.com) and came across a forum topic titled Kunming. Of course I was interested and checked it out. One of the comments was posted by someone named Marc Frencken. Well there used to be a guy with that name in my high school class. When I checked his website I was pretty convinced it was the same guy. Emailed him and after an online chat it appears that he is Kunming for the next one and a half year as well :-) This news got me even more excited to go there! Already a Dutch friend in China and he even likes to cycle... Is this luck or is it just meant to be?!

Besides that I don't have a lot of new information. Went to The Hague on Friday and picked up my Chinese visa and continued to Schiphol to buy a bicycle box to transport my bike in during the flight. The size of the box caught me by surprise a little... even had trouble fitting the thing in the car!

I still work at the printing company, earning money for a very nice laptop I want to buy. That is probably going to happen next week :-) More news will follow when I have something new to tell you (that's the whole idea behind news isn't it...).

Mazzel,
Rudolf

A little bit of everything

Nothing special, but still a good week!

Last week was the birthday party of my uncle and cousin. Got a taste of the new Grolsch bottles and we played some darts. Was the first time I saw that side of the family since I got back from Asia so we had lots to talk about. For those who don't know Dutch culture... the plate on the bottom is filled with little frikandellen and bitterballen (google on them if you want to know more)!!





Started going to the gym again. On Monday was my first session together with Sven. Good to do some exercise, but why does everything have to hurt afterwards... Planning to go approx. 3-5 times a week and get back into shape.

On Wednesday my sister and I decided to make sushi for diner. Not the easiest thing to do, but it always ensures some fun during the preparation and very tasty food afterwards! Those Japanese food know good food!!



On Friday I once again worked at Manger Mangiare (the cooking studio of Olga and Hans). It was a group of really nice people, so once again an evening to remember! They get to make great food and excellent wines and of course I get the same... haha. Doesn't really help to loose those couple of pounds I was planning to ;-)



Afterwards I called my sister again and we went out for a few drinks. Had a great time, but at the end of the night my sister somehow slipped on some steep stairs and fell down a couple of metres, face forward... She is kind of bruised at the moment, but luckily nothing really important is damaged :-) Get well soon, my little smurf!

Saturday working at Parc de IJzeren Man. A rally ended there, so we needed to prepare food for 250 people. Was so good to see everyone again. Felt like I never left there at all :-) That same night my ski-posse had a housewarming / apres ski party at Ronnies new "crib". Lots of beer, chips and sausage rolls later we once again went into town for a party extravaganza... Back home at 5 AM... lol!

A few more weeks and then........ CHINA!!

De Mazzel,
Ruudje

11 April 2007

That's the date I'll be leaving Holland!

The KLM was going to change its student ticket policy on the first of March, so I decided to buy my ticket just before... For just €363,- I bought a one-way ticket to Beijing where I'll arrive at 8.55 on the 12th of April. After a few days in Beijing I'll be heading down to Kunming where I will stay at least until the summer of 2008. Kunming is located in the most south western part of China (see map below). It looks like it is in the middle of the south of China, but "everything" to the left of Kunming is kind of "inaccessible" area...



Leaving Holland for (at least) such a long period has several consequences. I have to cancel the registration in my municipality, cancel my health insurance, cancel my allowance for the health insurance and find a new insurance to cover my ass while abroad!
Besides that I have to think about what to bring with me and what to leave behind. I already figured out that I'm going to send a box of approx. 20kg by mail before I leave and that I'll be taking a 20kg bag, my bicycle and some hand baggage on the plane.

The job I'm hoping to get in Kunming is teaching Economics. My friends there are putting in a lot of effort to get me that job. If that doesn't work out I'll have to start looking for a job when I get there. And most probably that job will be teaching English to Chinese students. No problem at all, but I'd much rather teach economics or business. Oh well, whatever it is going to be, I am soooo looking forward to go back there!

If anyone of you is in the neighbourhood... you are always welcome to drop by ;-)

Hastalavista,
Ruud