current working conditions

The Delta POEMA Comfort team (my current team for this project) and the other teams as well are moving today to another location. So while the movers are doing their thing, we are currently crammed into a small conference room, waiting for the phone call informing us that our new 'home' is ready for us. In the meantime, I am sitting on a chair that's perfect for my height (my feet are touching the floor!), but working on a table that's too high for me (my wrists are just about chest high when I'm typing).

Of course when we get to the new location, everything still has to be fixed up and arranged. I'd have to reconnect the cables, check the network locations and ensure that my little platform was not misplaced.

My little platform of course was a 'gift' from one of my teammates from Accenture. See, while sitting on my chair (not the one I currently have, but the one I really use in the office), my feet do not touch the ground at all. So that squeaking, squarish thing that resembles those foot pedals on old sewing machines are supposed to fill in the gap between the floor and my feet.

Its worth mentioning too, that we have a kick-ass monitor for our desktops. That, coupled with a rotation software that allows you to make your monitor even bigger by turning it sideways means I can view my photos at original size in pbase and love every single detail of it (of course, only after office hours *wink* *wink*). The downside, the monitor ends up to be too big for me, that I literally have to move my neck when I want to see what's on top or on the bottom of the screen….its like slow motion headbanging for 8 or so hours a day sans the whiplash and the heart thumping music.

I have a dream..

...that one day I will be able to return to Europe with both my parents, my brother and sister and their kids. We'll climb up to the peak of Milan's Cathedral and I will be able to hear my brother remark about the astounding architecture, the unbelievable detail and how long they must have worked and how hard to finish such a masterpiece. I can sit at a cafe in Rome and chat with my sister about what people are wearing and which outfits she'll love to try and how much we missed out on bonding as single women. I'll be able to have raclette with my parents and use the only frech phrase I can confidently speak l'addition si vous plait (bill please). I'll be able to go to other European cities that I've never been to, like Venice maybe, and we can all explore together. I'll be taking a canal tour in Venice and worry about one of the kids falling off the gondola, or of them moving too much to rock the boat.

I also dream that my first visit to South America will be with my friends, and we can all wonder and gush about how revealing the swimsuits and how women can actually wear them. We'll go out at night and party like crazy because after all, partying together in such an exotic place is a once in a lifetime experience. At daytime we'll find some place to just chill and watch people, the most enjoyable past time of all, all the while chatting, talking, and recounting some funny experience we've had in the past.

Maybe someday. I hope someday.

Easter in Germany

Faced with a four-day weekend, whats a foreigner to do in Middelburg? Drive to Germany of course!

I wish I could claim that it was my idea, but it wasnt. It was Kevin who persisted in going to Germany, and I'm glad he did.

We went to Cologne (or Koln) which turned out to be just three hours away from Middelburg. Its amazing how you can find yourself suddenly in another country in a matter of minutes. In our drive to Germany, we went from the Netherlands, to Belgium, back to Netherlands, back inside Belgium and then to Germany. If it werent for the different signs we saw along the way, we never would have known what country we were in!

Coming from a country filled with speed traps, Germany was surprising and shocking. Sure, I've heard of the autobahn where speedlimits are nonexistent, but crossing the border and then suddenly noting the noticeable fast speed that the other cars (including ours!) marked our welcome to Germany. I have to admit I was scared. I was braking half the time, fearing that we wouldnt stop in time to stop what I thought was an inevitable crash with the cars in front. But, nothing happened, we're back and we're safe (yay!).

Now I'm wishing for more long weekends. That way we can cross yet more borders!

Cologne and Dusseldorf

The main attraction in Cologne is the Dom, or the Cathedral smack right in the middle of the old town. Surrouding it of course, are other historical landmarks, architectural sights and oodles of shopping!

Champs Elysees has a wide long street boasting of well-known (and expensive!) stores, while Cologne boasted of pedestrian-packed alleyways lined with shops of all kinds and from all price ranges. Well, okay, mostly still costly stores, but not as pricey as in Paris I think. Rounding a corner would likely find you in yet another historical landmark...a jewish bath place here, the old town hall there, a monestery straight ahead and the house of the famous eu de cologne on the other sie...all the while you'll be jostling with shoppers, window shoppers, bikers, rollerbladers, and tourists.

Of course there are quite a lot of "biergarten" , cafes and restaurants everywhere, with signs of Kolsch beer. Kolsch is Cologne's local brew...and even Burger King serves them! This is Germany of course, home of god knows how many beer brews. Yes, I did try it out, but more on this later.


the Dom cathedral at Koln from inside

Dusseldorf on the other hand seemed bigger, or maybe just less crowded. The biggest crowd can be found along the Rhine river, walking, running, biking, rollerblading or just sitting in one of the numerous cafes lining the river. All around of course, are more historical sights, museums, architectural wonders, cafes, restaurants and tourists.

Maybe it was because we went on a Sunday, but it seemed to me that people in Dusseldorf were more interested in sitting at a cafe or bar having drinks with friends than with shopping....I suppose I'd have to go back when the shops are open to find out.

I love their parks though. They had several scattered all over the city, and surprisingly few are actually in the parks. Again, most of them are having beer (Alt Beer, which I tried of course!).


having a drink along the Rhine at Dusseldorf

an evening in Cologne

March 25, 2005
10:15 pm
Germany time

I have just returned from a Mexican restaurant near Kornigshof (my hotel) to try out the local beer brew, Kolsch. I went alone since Kevin doesn’t drink beer. I started out walking around the vicinity of the hotel to see where I felt like having my Kolsch and as I walk around, I note that the one major thing that differentiates Cologne from Middelburg is that there ARE people walking around even at 9 pm. Sure, the shops are still closed, but just the presence of other human beings speak well of a lively city.

Walking further I find a familiar sign with bold green letters…'STARBUCKS COFFEE'. Wow. I think that’s my first Starbucks in Europe. Of course I didn’t go inside. I have enough of that at home, I need Kolsch.

That was when someone said something to me. In German of course. But I knew it was directed at me, because he was looking at me. And I knew it was not an insult since he did say it quite pleasantly I think. When I shook my head to say I didn’t speak German, he said that what he said was that he doesn’t faces like mine very often. Well yeah, I am Asian after all. And then he said that it was a beautiful night (which it is) with a full moon and all, and whether I'd like to have a drink with him. Uh oh. Did I mention he was much older? Late thirties I imagine. And did I also mention that he wasn’t my type? I said no, I'm meeting a friend, smiled and moved.

Sigh. Funny how I seem to be getting all sorts of lines from older, not-my-type men. Flashback of that night at a club in Melbourne when someone actually tried to engage me in conversation by saying he was just out of prison. Oh boy. Where are those men who will make me think twice about turning down a drink with them?? Oh yes, of course, I cannot forget that Champs Elysees episode when some guy asked if he could meet me the following day. Of course I had just come from the money changer, so despite the fact that he was in his twenties, I was suspicious, and I had to say no.

So..walking around I found two or three bars where people are having beer and god knows what other high alcohol percent drinks. But I didn’t go in any of those. Why? I don’t know. I suppose it’s the same reason why I don't go out much even back home anymore. Noisy places seem to turn me off. That and the thought of another late 30s man who isnt my type trying to tell me some other weird story….that he was a monk a few years back maybe? So I passed those off and found myself a mexican place without a crowd but with Kolsch.

With low alcohol tolerance in mind, I ordered a small glass of beer. 0.3l the glass said. Sure. I can drown down more coke than that.
I had my Kolsch in peaceful silence. Glancing about the restaurant, I found 7 tables occupied in all. All but one were a pair. A few gulps of beer I note that one of the pair didn’t seem to speaking to each other at all. Companionable silence? For their sake I hope so. Sips later I try to think why I passed on the other bars. Again, the answers are the same as those I've already mentioned except that I've admitted to myself that it was fear that held me back. I don’t have a group or even one person with me to fallback on. I might do something stupid like really speak to someone who really was recently in prison. I wouldn’t have someone to pull me out or hide me then. I guess I was afraid too, that I might not find someone to talk to. That would be a disappointment. So I'll stay safe and have my Kolsch at this safe, nice, warm mexican restaurant directly opposite the Cathedral.

0.3liters of Kolsch beer later and I reach my verdict:
1. Kolsch beer doesn’t particularly have a distinctive taste. To my non-discerning and untrained palate, it tastes just like any other beer.
2. The pair that was in one of the tables are just as quiet as I was.
3. It was comforting to find that they actually wash glasses at the bar quite decently...they do scrub them before reusing them.

In Holland, everybody rides a bike.

I am not dutch,and bikes are not my transport of choice.
Or rather, bikes do not particularly like me as the driver.

Which is why Bart ended up dragging me around Warmond in his bike (Thanks again Bart!).

All week long I was looking forward to a nice warm weekend, but as it turned out, Saturday was cloudy, drizzly and cold. It was a good thing though that despite the whether we were still able to go around and wander about.

Warmond is a nice town which I imagine would be absolutely breathtaking once the colors become intense this spring. I was weeks early, the flowers have not yet sprung. But that is reason enough for me to come back.

My weekend with Bart and his family and friends were memorable since I not only saw the sights, but I felt was it was like to really be with a Dutch family their home, their town and their friends. Infinitely better than being on a tour with a handful of strangers and an impersonal guide.

Every place we went to had a story, a history like that of that of the famous and known, only more real, more there.


Bart walking around the grounds of the House of Warmond


windmill on a cloudy early afternoon

mid day urge

Sometime in the middle of the day I stopped because of a sudden urge coming over me.
Lest you think this is R18 stuff, let me stop that thought now.

I started wishing, quite badly, that I had my family and friends here with me.

The way I see it, my trips would be so much more fulfilling if I had them with me.
Sure, it would cost me both arms and legs, but I'd have a heart full of memories to take with me anyway.

Maybe I have a fairy godmother somewhere with more heart than make-up like the fairy in Shrek.
Only, she's still a tear away. Or maybe dimensions away, in some parallel land.

cloudy late afternoon along Vlissingen's beach side Boulevard

When I first visited Amsterdam briefly five years ago, what I saw as the main appeal of the place was the fact that life revolved around the canals. I have no idea if this is what it is like in Venice, never having been there, but the Canal houses were fascinating. These would be of all shapes and sizes, and none of them looked like a boat, though they were on the canal itself. Even those not directly on the water amazing. They were to be like the Victorian houses in San Francisco, but more authentic, and with more character.

With this trip I didn’t really expect to see anything similar even though it is the same country. But apparently, its not just an Amsterdam thing. It’s a Holland thing. Along with 'coffeeshops' and cheese.

Aah yes. Cheese. Oodles of them. More on this on a later post, I think.

Middleburg's Town Hall

Everytime I am lucky enough to head off to Europe, I can never get over the fact that they, unlike us, are able to preserve everything that is of historical significance to them. I can't help but think that whenever I am faced with architectural wonders like the Middelburg Town Hall below. The closest thing we have at home I think is Intramuros, and even that I think we will all agree is not quite being treated with the respect it deserves.

I think it is this dedication to things old and of value that reflect how much of our history we're proud of...

where I am

I found this wonderful site that describes where I am beautifully.

So beautifully in fact, that I felt guilty about not wandering out as much this past weekend. Thank god its Wednesday night...almost weekend-wandering time!

Read up about Middelburg, Zeeland here:
http://www.alltravelholland.com/Holland/Destination_Guides/Regions/zeeland.htm

micropauze

Today felt like work.

It was bound to happen anyway. After all, thats why we're here, on the other side of the world, really. Now I feel pressured and tired at the same time. I would have kept going if it weren't for the fact that stores close early, and we still have to find someplace (cheap) to eat.

What also stopped me from working furiously the whole day is the presence of this trivial little software they have installed at Delta. Every so often, you'd have a window popping up which won't allow you to access other windows, programs..anything. Apparently, it's required by law that people who work with computers have to stop for a few minutes.

There are two types of windows actually, the micropauze window which requires you to rest for around a minute, I think. And then there's the rustpauze which stops you for 10 minutes. They tell me its suppose to suggest the exercises that the user should do, but then since everything is in Dutch, I have no idea where the exercise instructions are.


micropauze on the desktop


stopping for 10 mins

The thing is, we've heard it all before. Carpal tunnel syndrome, poor eyesight, wrist and mouse-arm problems. But only here will they pass a real law about it. I suppose the Dutch are prone to overworking? I wouldn't say the same thing for us back home. After all, breakfast is only a few hours after lunch, merienda is just around the time when you don't want to work anymore, and dinner would be a few hours later.

Not to forget the occassional dalaw at pangungulit sa ibang tao. And email. And chat.

Of course there is the ignore button (Negeer)...but then if its already there anyway, why ignore it. :p

one sunday afternoon

I ought to be outside, walking about this town which will be home for the next few months. But I'm not. Though the sun is shining quite brightly today, I don't feel any urge to move out of my room just quite yet.

That is the weird thing about me. Its takes a while for me to settle in and get used to the idea of being displaced before I can completely dive in and go crazy. Well okay, maybe thats not how I usually am. But for this trip, that is how things are.

And I bring it back to the fact that I've always been reluctant about this trip. Let it be known that before I got here, I had fear and apprehension. That I almost believed that I could not and would not be able to pull this off. Maybe I was doubting my skills, or maybe, just maybe, I wanted an excuse to stay home.

I was enjoying myself immensely, living a non-hurried, non-superficial life where I did what I wanted to do and said no to a lot of things that I didn't want to do. I had just revamped my fun-people circle, due mostly to circumstances that cannot be prevented, tried it all out for size and was almost at the peak of using it to abusive heights.

And then I have to be displaced.

But then, I suppose that's how my life has always been. Living and experiencing something, to the point where it has to be either taken away or changed by myself or some other external forces, and then bouncing back and starting again. Be it work, love, friendship or recreation. Its a pattern that defines my 26 years of existence.

So maybe now I'll head out to explore? Maybe later, when I feel for coffee.
Or maybe I'll toss a coin and let the euro head or tail decide for me. Or maybe not.

A quick walk around Middleburg on Saturday afternoon...too cold to be outside for long! 

revisiting the Paris sights on a snowy afternoon 

arriving in paris at the break of day, with the moon still up in the sky...Bonjour Paris! 

Sunflower garden also at Singapore's airport overlooking the runway and gates 

Orchid garden inside Singapore's Airport 

Roaming at Singapore's Changi airport