Spring term

Hey guys, a lot happened past 7 weeks, I don’t even remember it all. Maybe I should write down all the funny things that happen when they happen, just so I can tell you on my blog. I didn’t forget everything though…

A few weeks ago I joined some societies, I left most, but I stayed with the Trade Fair society. We promote fair trade by selling coffee, tea and biscuits (home baked J) on campus, street and little chill-out nights. And where going to sell our own fair trade cotton hoodies. But most of all we just have fun with the group, and we went out for dinner, on a little social, together. Really nice people there.

In the flat Jay and I do are sangeneers (sandwich engineers), we make our super deluxe egg, avocado, mustard, salad, cheese, tomato (ketchup), burger (vegetarian), mayonnaise, cucumber, ham (just jay), salt & pepper, carrot, and much more, sandwiches! Their really good, come over and I’ll make you one. By the way no one came over this term, bit disappointed guys. I did go to Hannah for a weekend and spent a lovely weekend in Nottingham. It is different from Brighton, or Brighton is different from the rest of the UK, but it was very nice. Really good shopping in Nottingham, it is huge.

Last week it was green week in our uni. One of the stunts was lots of people dressed up green and we made the shape of a hart, yes it was valentines day. We even made it to the education part of the national newspaper ,the Independent. Bit disappointed again, just in the education part. This is all organized by the Eco-warrior society (officially not a society) and we’ll soon be the first eco-uni of the UK. To set an example for the rest of the country.

I told you about ultimate frisbee, the sport I play, this weekend (Saturday night) we were playing EXTREEM frisbee. After a few drinks we found ourselves on the roofs of east slope throwing a frisbee. And last Monday I started a psychology test, I eat 4 free breakfasts and lunches. While eating I do a little test. And they pay me £50, awesome.

A must see film is Baraka.

And Friday it is critical mass again. Friday a month ago I was walking on campus, five in the afternoon, was dark already. Suddenly this group passes me, all with their bikes and lots of lights en music. I asked them what was happening. Then I discovered critical mass. Because riding your bike is not as safe in most places as it is in Amsterdam they try to raise awareness. Basically fifty or more on their bikes meet in town. And then you take over the road together. Driving your bike slowly, to get a line of cars as long as possible behind you, and it’s so many of you, so there is no way cars can pass you. Going circles on the round a bout for ages. And you do this for an hour and a half,  it is so much fun!

More stories next time, oh and I added some pictures a couple of weeks ago (if you haven’t checked them out yet, the link is in the top, very small, alex pic’s.

I’ll probably be coming home march 19 for about ten days.

Cheers,

Alex

Amsterdam

Hi everyone, sitting here back in my room in Brighton, I'm looking back on some amazing weeks I had in Amsterdam. I remember that the last days before I left England a month ago when I thought: ''I wish everyone on campus would just stay here for christmas and new years and party lots.'' I really didn't want to leave.

 The first week back, I helped my mom in the house. Nice and relaxed days, and went to proper dance party with Chiel. That's the only thing I don't like about Brighton. It is not that I don't like dub, reggae, hiphop etc. but they just don't know dance music here. So yeah, I enjoyed that night in club 11. But it was since the thursday after that the fun really started. With a very nice christmas, unforgettable New Year and many happy days in between. 

I remember my last night in holland, lying in my bed thinking about the amazing time I have had. I really didn't want to leave.

I guess I can't be in two places at the same time. If any of you ever finds a way that I could be, please tell me. Ehm, make that three places, because I think I want to be in Perth as well.

All of you in Amsterdam thanks for the wicked times. I'll be back!!  (but since that might take a while, do not hasitate to visit me :)

Alex

Evert Broersma

A couple of weeks ago, on thursday November 16, I lost an uncle. In a very tragic way you wish no one to happen. I never experienced a family loss so extreme. It hurts and will take a long time to comprehend. For the ones who were closer to him, I hope good memories will be stronger then the grief.
I already try to forget this horrible event by thinking about the good memories. It are not to many, but I certainly enjoy memorizing every second. When I close my eyes I can clearly visualize the time Harm and I visited Evert in Austin, that one week I was impressed many times. The more people tell me about him, his adventures and the way he enjoyed his life. The more he is an example to me.

Evert, when you died we lost not only joy. With all the experience you gained around the world, we lost a very wise man as well.

Alexander

(I'm back in Amsterdam this month. So till the first week of januari you can contact me on +31 (0)6 1920 7765

Livin' Life

Hi guys,

All good? I'm havin' an amazing time here, that's why this blog came a few weeks later than expected. As you will see I took some pictures of the area and party's and stuff. I bett you'll enjoy that more than these stories. I'm still gonna tell you some though :)

The Freshers Ball, the party I was looking forward to last time I wrote, was great. Huge marquees with  lots different styles of music and an afterparty/rave in the woods.

But than study really started, have had my ups and downs. Somethings looked impossible, somethings very easy. I guess that's the main feeing when you have a new start. I'm in to it now and as long as I do what I'm asked to everything will be allright. I like it more every week, thats most important :)

And I sport lots, dance in nightclubs, walk 3 minutes to my lectures 5 days a week, drink beers 453 hours a week. You need to do the exercise if you want to sta healthy, right? No, I do real sports as well. Train and play ultimate frisbee and karate jutsu four times a week.

 One girl left our flat 2 weeks ago, we're on a noisy spot next to the bar and with people always sitting on the verge in front of us. Than a chinees guy moved in, but he left before he accually moved in. Someone new should come tomorrow.

Chiel was here for a couple of days, wicked time we had. I woud like to encourage more people to come over and have some fun. You'll see a couple of pictures of what we did. And there are also pics of one of our houseparty's. The last owners of this flat said we had a reputation to keep up, a party reputation. We had 2 so far, and we surprised even ourselfs. The only housepartys on campus that were accual dance partys so far. Very busy, and some people even saw the sun rising.

Brighton is the best place for pub crawls, with lots of very nice bars it is perfect to go to a couple and then go clubbing on the seafront in one of the major nightclubs. I haven't done any of those nights since Chiel left, trying to safe some money by staying on campus and find free party's with cheap supermarket drinks. :)

Well, I let you know more after it happend. Taking my camera with me more often so you'll see heaps of that. I still don't know what to do in december, so if you have any good ideas, please tell me.

Alex - Big Al - Amsterdam -

Alexander