Utrecht, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Utrecht, a weekday winter morning on my way from Lombok to Rijnsweerd:
A bum is seated on a bench on Neude. Snow covers the square, is piled up high around him on the bench and partly covers his own person. Except for the layers of snow he is clothed poorly, but he does not seem to mind the cold and with a leisurely smile watches the people hurry by.
Close to his side a large red bag: "Ik ben toch niet gek".
Amsterdam, Saturday afternoon, another freezing day. The Amsterdam underground/ Gemeentelijk Vervoersbedrijf is not being very cooperative and its passengers are confused about their departure, destination and general direction. As always, this creates a rare but cherished sense of community among the Amsterdammers. Enter bum #2, shabbier than the first one, but with a touch of intellectuality: "Duifedrecht! Hij goat noar Duifedrecht, dat saai ik toch! Se souden de befolleking moeten inlichten!"
Later, at Duivendrecht station (he was right, of course) I finally managed to have a closer look at the title of the book he was carrying.
"Carrière Jaarboek".
I still miss my time in Exeter, but not every day anymore. It is beginning to become a memory, a past, a holiday(?).
Last Sunday I made my decisive act of reintegration (I passed the Infiltratiecursus): back in the Stad Amsterdam. I celebrated a wonderful birthday/hello to me/goodbye to the girl who is now in Ghana-party, all over town.
After that, and for the first time in three years of UCU even I would say, cycling through a wonderland Wilhelminapark where a cold and stiff Wilhelmina had pulled up her collar even higher than usual, Utrecht really felt like home. Isn't it curious? Maybe I'll stay here for another year.
...
Anyone still reading this by the way?
...
As if I care....
(well, I do appreciate you, reader; and you too, second reader; and maybe even third: don't be mistaken about that ;-)
P.S. The photos have been printed!
A bum is seated on a bench on Neude. Snow covers the square, is piled up high around him on the bench and partly covers his own person. Except for the layers of snow he is clothed poorly, but he does not seem to mind the cold and with a leisurely smile watches the people hurry by.
Close to his side a large red bag: "Ik ben toch niet gek".
Amsterdam, Saturday afternoon, another freezing day. The Amsterdam underground/ Gemeentelijk Vervoersbedrijf is not being very cooperative and its passengers are confused about their departure, destination and general direction. As always, this creates a rare but cherished sense of community among the Amsterdammers. Enter bum #2, shabbier than the first one, but with a touch of intellectuality: "Duifedrecht! Hij goat noar Duifedrecht, dat saai ik toch! Se souden de befolleking moeten inlichten!"
Later, at Duivendrecht station (he was right, of course) I finally managed to have a closer look at the title of the book he was carrying.
"Carrière Jaarboek".
I still miss my time in Exeter, but not every day anymore. It is beginning to become a memory, a past, a holiday(?).
Last Sunday I made my decisive act of reintegration (I passed the Infiltratiecursus): back in the Stad Amsterdam. I celebrated a wonderful birthday/hello to me/goodbye to the girl who is now in Ghana-party, all over town.
After that, and for the first time in three years of UCU even I would say, cycling through a wonderland Wilhelminapark where a cold and stiff Wilhelmina had pulled up her collar even higher than usual, Utrecht really felt like home. Isn't it curious? Maybe I'll stay here for another year.
...
Anyone still reading this by the way?
...
As if I care....
(well, I do appreciate you, reader; and you too, second reader; and maybe even third: don't be mistaken about that ;-)
P.S. The photos have been printed!
posted by Anna P.H. Geurts | 7:30 pm
