2009 january 12 marks my arrival in Amsterdam. it brough me face to face with a complete stranger. for the first time in my life i'm exploring a completly new place, where i currently don't know a soul...
but i lie, through some life-saving connections, i met Rosanna, exchange student at UvA from Hong Kong, i stayed with her for 2 weeks.
The 1st couple of days was frustrating, the discovering of exactly how many of my previous researched places were scams was a little discouraging, plus the continous horror stories from new friends i was making, and collgues, did not help...
so i began working on wednesday, hoping the connections at work would help, but it made no difference.
[2nd week]
Rosanna made a decision over the weekend to leave a week earlier than originally planned. So i took an extra hour off lunch to see her off. it was quite adventuours, due to some reasons i cannot mention, she was a little mentally incapacitaed when we arrived at the airport, and was unable to deal with her luggage situation (over-weight). But i magically managed to help her through with the process, and she ended up bringing an extra 20lbs onto the plane than allowed, for free...
Tuesday, I met with a guy I was barginning with for a studio, and the deal finally went through. Wednesday, I froced him to sign a lease so that he would not change his mind. Saturday, I celebrated Chinese New Year with asian collgues, and learnt to play Mahjoong. Sunday, I moved in. My current residence: central Amsterdam, china town, one street away from the red-lite heart of the city.
[3rd week]
I was placed on a competition, thus began the 10hr office days with no weekend.
but on Saturday, I bailed on my teammates, and instead, trekked out to Kinderdijk for some Windmills.
my collegue's report on our adventure:
http://flickr.com/photos/ettubrute/3260609417/in/set-72157604459717172/
[4th week]
My collegue's suprise birthday party happened on Friday night, planned by his wife, whom also made us all animal hats to wear during the party. It was good times and great food~
an insert of my close friends from work. They all happen to be asian except for one... it might be due to the chinese festivities that started to bring us together. coincidentally, the only non-asian in the group a friend i made in my previous work-term in Beijing.
The birthday boy is Pan (29), Singaporian. His wife Natasha, also singaporian, have been married for 8 years (cannot imagine, they were already married when they were my age). He gradauted from the AA-diploma and his wife graduated from fashion design from Saint Martins, she has a beautiful portfolio (which deserves it's own post later on).
Shuyan (26) and girlfriend, Vienna (25, aka V) are both from hong kong, graduated with undergrad from HKU and masters from Delft. They are living proof that the architecture world in HK is quitet small... we know some of the same people.
note: V is the MJ master amongst us.
James (24), American-Chinese, graduated Berkley. worked at OMA for half a year before coming to UN. He is the infamous time-lapser that i trekked to Kinderdijk with. will be heading back to the states for masters hopefully fall time of this year.
Brendon (20sth, keep forgetting how old he is), met him in Beijing, he's heading to the AA to do the DRL in september.
[5th week]
Finally managed to make an early (getting off work ontime is considered early when you're on a competition) escape mid-week to make a trip to ikea to get some much needed pillows. instead, i came home with a pillow, some behind the door hooks, a 5 euro blanket, and a strainer (what??)
I've made the decision that my color theme for this term will be various shades of apple green, purple, and greys... (opinions welcomed!) we will re-evaluate success in August...
Invited collegues over to warm my new home on Sunday and we played MJ till 2am before beginning our mornings late on Monday
[6th week]
Managed to convince my dad to sponsor me on my very first DSLR...
Currently waiting for the week to end so that i can catch up on some sleep...
further posts i have promised you just from this post alone ><
- My Nest
- Kinderdijk
- Natasha
Narcissus,
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