A year of meeting many new people, of whom some became great friends. A year in which we were more than ever confronted with the effects that the changing climate is bringing us. A year in which I attempted to start working out on my body again. A year in which leaders of democratic societies suddenly spoke positive about death sentence. A year of hard working, sometimes leading to great results, sometimes leading to big frustrations. A year in which gay rights globally were more and more recognised as fundamental human rights. A year of visiting new countries and meeting new cultures. A year of loosing trust in Dutch politics. A year of falling in love and sometimes loosing hope.
30.12.06
2006 in a nutshell
A year of meeting many new people, of whom some became great friends. A year in which we were more than ever confronted with the effects that the changing climate is bringing us. A year in which I attempted to start working out on my body again. A year in which leaders of democratic societies suddenly spoke positive about death sentence. A year of hard working, sometimes leading to great results, sometimes leading to big frustrations. A year in which gay rights globally were more and more recognised as fundamental human rights. A year of visiting new countries and meeting new cultures. A year of loosing trust in Dutch politics. A year of falling in love and sometimes loosing hope.
27.12.06
xmas & flu
I have been spending over two weeks in Amsterdam now, first finishing work before holidays, then enjoying days off... Christmas I partly spent with my family in Amersfoort, and partly with friends. Yesterday, on second Christmas day I got a cold developing into a flue, hence I've spent today at home.... A bit frustrating as I had been looking forward to be doing things during these holidays. So it's time to go to bed... and I hope to feel much better tomorrow!
6.12.06
Positive mental health
And it's already the third day of our conference in Riga! I've learned a lot in these days, e.g. to understand what Positive mental health means, and we also see how bit the differences in mental health care providers in different countries actually are. It is a really nice week with great participants.
People start getting very tired already, as the many discussions continue during the evenings and nights and there's, a now, obvious lack of sleep amongst many of us. Hence the participants have introduced something new to IGLYO's history: an alcohol evening... As alcohol is an important form of self-harm amongst LGBT people I think it is good that we are considering that this tonight.
29.11.06
Soldiers with fears
It felt like I left home this morning, but in fact I've been travelling a week now.
My journey started in Podgorica, where we organised a first meeting with a new group of gays - unfortunately no lesbians yet. Everybody was very excited and eager to start organising themselves. After that I gave a lecture for the local Human Rights school. People told that we (a colleague from Serbia joined me) were the first gays that they ever saw in real life. It was an interesting experience, people were very curious and eager to learn. A representative of a women NGO's expressed that the masculine and patriarchal society will need a lot of time to overcome homophobia. She spoke about the Montenegrin soldiers. We can only hope that Montenegrin soldiers overcome their phobia and behave like real soldiers whom don't deal with fears for other people.
Friday morning I had a meeting with representatives of the Ministry responsible for police, together with a representative from an international organisation responsible for security. They noted that there are no known cases of homophobia. That's not strange, becuase Montenegro doesn't opress minorities that much, according them. Also Montenegro would have very few rape cases, men would pay so much respect to women that they would not consider raping them!!
Afterwards I spent a nice weekend at the coast of Montengro. Those moments I learn so much on how it really is to live your life in secrecy, how a society not accepting you can completely shape your life towards heteronormative standards. It really hurts to see how it affects people.
Monday morning I got a lift to Tirana. My companion only spoke Serbian, Albanian and Arabic, so we had an interesting three hours. The roads between the South of Montenegro and Tirana are so beautiful. Small roads taking you through mountains, with many cows and chickens on the way. We passed Skodahr, where you'll find small open markets all along the roads, and many people on bicycles, which made me feel being at home of course. In Tirana the traffic was one big mess, at a certain point we were not driving on the road anymore but on the left side off the road, trying to pass the traffic jam. In the middle of the traffic smoke a pig was slaughtered. Later that afternoon I guy severely got beaten up by a group of people in front of my eyes, I was unable to do anything which frustrated me.
Now I arrived in Pristina. Am here for only one day. It is interesting to see groups of activists growing in all countries. At the same time I so much understand the difficult situations in which they are working. Donors trying to push them to deliver results, but at the same time the activists undertaking the work (often voluntarily) have to deal with their personal issues too. The beginning of this year a young gay guy was beaten up by straight people here in Kosovo. Due to his faced opression he became addicted to drugs (likewise many other young people in Albania and Kosovo unfortunately do). A few weeks ago he died of an overdose. Such issues affect young activists, as they stand powerless.
My journey started in Podgorica, where we organised a first meeting with a new group of gays - unfortunately no lesbians yet. Everybody was very excited and eager to start organising themselves. After that I gave a lecture for the local Human Rights school. People told that we (a colleague from Serbia joined me) were the first gays that they ever saw in real life. It was an interesting experience, people were very curious and eager to learn. A representative of a women NGO's expressed that the masculine and patriarchal society will need a lot of time to overcome homophobia. She spoke about the Montenegrin soldiers. We can only hope that Montenegrin soldiers overcome their phobia and behave like real soldiers whom don't deal with fears for other people.
Friday morning I had a meeting with representatives of the Ministry responsible for police, together with a representative from an international organisation responsible for security. They noted that there are no known cases of homophobia. That's not strange, becuase Montenegro doesn't opress minorities that much, according them. Also Montenegro would have very few rape cases, men would pay so much respect to women that they would not consider raping them!!
Afterwards I spent a nice weekend at the coast of Montengro. Those moments I learn so much on how it really is to live your life in secrecy, how a society not accepting you can completely shape your life towards heteronormative standards. It really hurts to see how it affects people.
Monday morning I got a lift to Tirana. My companion only spoke Serbian, Albanian and Arabic, so we had an interesting three hours. The roads between the South of Montenegro and Tirana are so beautiful. Small roads taking you through mountains, with many cows and chickens on the way. We passed Skodahr, where you'll find small open markets all along the roads, and many people on bicycles, which made me feel being at home of course. In Tirana the traffic was one big mess, at a certain point we were not driving on the road anymore but on the left side off the road, trying to pass the traffic jam. In the middle of the traffic smoke a pig was slaughtered. Later that afternoon I guy severely got beaten up by a group of people in front of my eyes, I was unable to do anything which frustrated me.
Now I arrived in Pristina. Am here for only one day. It is interesting to see groups of activists growing in all countries. At the same time I so much understand the difficult situations in which they are working. Donors trying to push them to deliver results, but at the same time the activists undertaking the work (often voluntarily) have to deal with their personal issues too. The beginning of this year a young gay guy was beaten up by straight people here in Kosovo. Due to his faced opression he became addicted to drugs (likewise many other young people in Albania and Kosovo unfortunately do). A few weeks ago he died of an overdose. Such issues affect young activists, as they stand powerless.
22.11.06
100
Blog number hundred was supposed to be a festive one, but I am afraid you will have to cope with my grumpy mood. I am at
First I fulfilled my civil obligations by voting for our new parliament.
Then I took the tram to the other side of
20.11.06
Bad, bad computer!!
Wednesday we have elections in Netherlands. To be honest: it's such a circus that I'm barely following it. All discussions seem so far from reality to me. Today I found a leaflet from the creep above in my postbox. One of his election statements is that he will forbid women to wear headscarfs if they are civil cervants of teachers. Also he wouldn't allow new mosques and regulate old mosques. People like him and it makes me said. Actually I wish that all men whom look like this creature were forced to wear headscarfs so that we don't have to look at them.Anyhow, in one of the most busy weeks of the year my laptop treathens me to give up... Grrrr. I know I should talk bad words about it here as it might even stop working promtly, so let's change subject.
This weekend I spend a very peaceful weekend in Brussels. I really like the city and we've been doing cultural things such as visiting a party full of bald, middle-aged, often-under-influence-of-chemicals men. Very interesting. I also saw a African soul-concert and yesterday I went to the movies. For me the ultimate preparation for the upcoming weeks of travelling.
13.11.06
50 year
Next year the EU celebrates its 50th anniversary. This will happen by celebrations in many different countries. The Commission has taken the initiative to design a logo, which will be different in each member states. Now, even before the party started, Member States are complaining that they have not been consulted about the logo. The French are complaining that all these different logo's fail to symbolize EU's unity. I wonder whether they prefer to have only the logo below, giving up the French one... now that would be real unity . 
5.11.06
Amsterdam at night
It's a few weeks later. Autumn is filled with activitities, there are only a few days that I spent at home in October and November. I've been seeing many good old friends and I've been meeting great new ones lately. Have finished an project application of almost two thumbs thick for a project in Turkey early this week. This weekend was the first and the last in this period to rest a little bit.
So I visited Kees and Marianne in Groningen, together with Jeroen. Groningen is in the very north of the Netherlands, and it smells like sugar beets in the streets. Kees and Marianne are renovating the house that they bought, a project for which I have respect but would never even consider doing myself. Spending a year in dust and in between building materials is something I wouldn't be able to cope with! But fair enough: the first results of their work are great!
Yesterday I went to the museum night in Amsterdam: all museums, but also the zoo, was open at night. We saw sleeping animals and animals that barely sleep at all, which was actually quite exciting! The guide told us for instance that every year a wild male stork returns to his partner, whom lives in the zoo, to fertilize her.
This week I'm up to the Baltic states, for the general assembly of the youth forum.
So I visited Kees and Marianne in Groningen, together with Jeroen. Groningen is in the very north of the Netherlands, and it smells like sugar beets in the streets. Kees and Marianne are renovating the house that they bought, a project for which I have respect but would never even consider doing myself. Spending a year in dust and in between building materials is something I wouldn't be able to cope with! But fair enough: the first results of their work are great!
Yesterday I went to the museum night in Amsterdam: all museums, but also the zoo, was open at night. We saw sleeping animals and animals that barely sleep at all, which was actually quite exciting! The guide told us for instance that every year a wild male stork returns to his partner, whom lives in the zoo, to fertilize her.
This week I'm up to the Baltic states, for the general assembly of the youth forum.
19.10.06
And the leafs stay!
This year it takes unusually long for threes to loose their leaves. Because we had such a nice summer. Finland was already getting yellow, brown and golden colors on its threes. Also in London a few weeks ago the leaves were already falling. But now the year will pass by so quickly, with all upcoming events. I will first travel to Budapest tomorrow, where I'll have a short break before a meeting and a conference in Sofia. Hope to see green threes there!
14.10.06
Poverty and Social Exclusion
Tomorrow I leave for Finland, to attend the Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion, which is organised by the Finnish presidency. The interesting thing is that the presidency paid over thousand euro's for my ticket, to attend a meeting in which we'll talk about poverty. Anyhow, our aim is to address the link between vulnerable grous /discrimination and social exclusion, which will be a big challenge. My visit to Montenegro gave me good inspiration for this. A Montenegrin boy of 25 told me why he consciously decided to remain closeted towards his parents. Coming out would mean that he probably would be forced to leave his family home, disabling him to finish his university and thus having big consequenses for his further personal and professional development.
And it's the first time that I visit Scandinavia, I'm almost ashamed to say this!
And it's the first time that I visit Scandinavia, I'm almost ashamed to say this!
Ramadan
Wednesday I spent a beautiful day in Ulcinj visiting a friend. The weather was beautiful and such a contradiction with the weather in Amsterdam: I got even a bit tanned during my walk along the Adriatic sea. The one-day break was of course much too short, unfortunately I had to hurry home for waiting deadlines .
As I was visiting Ulcinj during Ramadan I experienced how Muslims spent this period. My guest family didn't allow me to join the fasting, as guest I was not expected to do so. This made me feel very uncomfortable, and as a result I wasn't even hungry when my friend's mother prepared me breakfast in the morning...
7.10.06
Millenium
This is the Millenium bridge in Podgorica. It opened last year and the Montenegrins are really proud of it. They even use it as background for their breakfast-show on the television. It was opened together with the new tunnel to the coast of Montenegro, reducing travel time by 60%. The capital also has a new main square with fountains. Podgorica has to look like a real capital! Lesbians are still missing in this city. I have found several gays and bisexual men already, but I am really concerned about the lesbians.
28.9.06
Never ending
These days my to do lists simply seem to be never ending. Most likely because of my biggest handicap - I have difficulties in letting pass by opportunities. Having long to do lists and traveling a lot is not a very productive combination, thus I decided to force myself to finish as much as possible these days. During October and November I'll be traveling a lot.
Yesterday, during the Tuesday table (formerly translated as 'dish', but I know realise this is a self-invented word), we discussed conspiracy theories. Damned interesting! According to a psychologist the existence of this phenomena is closely related to paranoia (which is somewhere at crossing lines between fear and a lack of personal capacity to judge relevance).
Following his explanations I realised that paranoide is something that exists in very diversified gradations. It often has something to do with the burning need to have explanations for anything that happens. "Why did she put the coffee machine off, she knows I always drink coffee in the afternoon!" Those kind of questions annoy me tremendously - the everlasting need for reasoning - thus I am happy to know that they are part of a tiny dissorder.
Yesterday, during the Tuesday table (formerly translated as 'dish', but I know realise this is a self-invented word), we discussed conspiracy theories. Damned interesting! According to a psychologist the existence of this phenomena is closely related to paranoia (which is somewhere at crossing lines between fear and a lack of personal capacity to judge relevance).
Following his explanations I realised that paranoide is something that exists in very diversified gradations. It often has something to do with the burning need to have explanations for anything that happens. "Why did she put the coffee machine off, she knows I always drink coffee in the afternoon!" Those kind of questions annoy me tremendously - the everlasting need for reasoning - thus I am happy to know that they are part of a tiny dissorder.
26.9.06
24.9.06
Breaking barriers
I always found it awkward how small things in life can become huge barriers. When I was young it could take me weeks before calling a friend whom I hadn't spoken to for a while. When I started to live alone I could stare at the pile of dishes for days, nothing happened. Today I have to revise a grant budget, I know it can not be much work, but it feels like such a big thing to start with it. So I spent an eminent amount of time behind my laptop today, not working on the budget and doing absolute irrelevant things (such as writing a blog about barriers).
Barriers are nothing more than psychologic blockades I think. Breaking through them gives such a released feeling. And still they remain. And now I'm going to make another attempt to start with my task.
Barriers are nothing more than psychologic blockades I think. Breaking through them gives such a released feeling. And still they remain. And now I'm going to make another attempt to start with my task.
23.9.06
Blue lines
This week road workers painted blue lines everywhere in my window view. The fluorescend lines indicate that you can not park your car longer than two hours, unless you have a parking permission of the city council. The good thing is that we will have less 'wild parking' in our streets of people working in the city centre. The bad thing is that I really don't like to see this blinking lines when I look out of my window.
14.9.06
Skopje
May 2004 was the first time I visited Skopje. I remember one dark gay bar 'Why not' in the cellar of an old flat, probably a left-over from the time that Tito was in power of Yugoslavia. After that I visited Macedonia a few times, the last time spring last year.
This weekend I was in Skopje again, and until my pleasant surprise several new gay bars had opened. Van Gogh café only is a gay/lesbian bar on Sunday evenings. It had big doors which were all open, and many people were talking and drinking on the street. I first couldn't believe that such a progress had been made, so I asked Ana whether it maybe was the case that nobody really knew that Sunday evening was the 'gay evening'. She answered, "Well if I tell my mum something in the morning before I go to work, my colleagues will probably know what I told her before I arrive at work. Everybody knows what evening it is here tonight."
This weekend I was in Skopje again, and until my pleasant surprise several new gay bars had opened. Van Gogh café only is a gay/lesbian bar on Sunday evenings. It had big doors which were all open, and many people were talking and drinking on the street. I first couldn't believe that such a progress had been made, so I asked Ana whether it maybe was the case that nobody really knew that Sunday evening was the 'gay evening'. She answered, "Well if I tell my mum something in the morning before I go to work, my colleagues will probably know what I told her before I arrive at work. Everybody knows what evening it is here tonight."
EP says stop homophobic bullying at schools
Yesterday we launched our publication on social exclusion of lgbt young people in the European Parliament in Brussels. The Intergroup on lgbt rights together with other MEP's said it would take initiative for a written declaration against homophobic bullying in schools. Together we are going to look for possible interventions and actions in the coming months, and next year we will evaluate what has been done during a second session.Many people attended the session and I can not describe how encouraging all the support we received is. In a year time we will know what the direct results of all our investments are. After all the ups and the many downs I experienced with IGLYO this is a great recognition for the importance of our existence.
7.9.06
Eclectic Impressions
During the last weeks a pallete of impressions passed me. The darker and the lighter colours on the pallete didn't seem to match very well. Maybe that's why I didn't write a lot lately.
Some important milestones are coming up now, and I am glad for that. Tomorrow I leave to Skopje to meet with most of the regional partners of the project I am working on. We will discuss the continuation of the program after it has been on hold for some months. Skopje is a nice city, and I heard it's at least ten degrees warmer than it is in Amsterdam, so I look forward to going.
Some important milestones are coming up now, and I am glad for that. Tomorrow I leave to Skopje to meet with most of the regional partners of the project I am working on. We will discuss the continuation of the program after it has been on hold for some months. Skopje is a nice city, and I heard it's at least ten degrees warmer than it is in Amsterdam, so I look forward to going.
5.9.06
Mysterious socks
After I just sorted out my clean laundry I discovered that I have six dissimilar, single socks. They don't make pairs. Normally I don't study my socks this closely, so apparently I've been walking around with a different sock on each foot many times. On the first sight all of them look identical, black or very dark blue cotton socks in the size 43. But after having a closer look I discovered them some of them have ribbons, some of them have specific seams, some of, them feel smoother than the others, and some of them are maybe one centimeter longer than the others.
I wonder what happened with all my other socks.
Mark Owen (the only person I ever interviewed) once told me that people start wearing more colourful socks once they grow older. All his pairs of socks were identical. Maybe it's better that I grow up too, it would make my laundry so much eassier .
31.8.06
John Blankenstein
Today John Blankenstein was burried on the age of 56. John was gay and arbiter, still a unique combination. He wasn't ashamed of his orientation, even though he randomly received cursing choirs while arbiting important football matches, also on an international level. Great respect to this man whom demonstrated to be a role model for many.Still he almost had a monopoly on being gay and working on top sport level. John often said he know other gay top sporters, married and having children. Today several speakers rightly called upon them to carry on the torch, to honour John and to be a role model for young people.
Earlier this year he coached our gay team in a football match against Moroccans, Antilleans and lesbians. We lost, but for John it was more important that this game was played in respect of each other. I hope that his torch will be carried on.
29.8.06
Goodbye summer
Today I started working again, knowing that I will probably not have much free time until the end of the year. Even though my holidays didn't exactly go like I thought they would be, I still feel ready for the upcoming period. And I thought it would also be nice to redesign my blog a bit, so here you go dear readers.
19.8.06
To friendship, such an endless longing
The house is empty and I need to get back to work. It feels that I have failed in completing an important task, but I will not stop working on it. Bodymarks and identity we do not choose when we are born, and nobody deserves to be damned for loving who he wants to live.
So I recollect my energy and return to work. The short visit to Normandy helped. It was funny to go camping again, just like in my childhood.
18.8.06
Behind dark clouds
Powerless is how I feel, the pain cleaves through my body because there is nothing I can do. For one the hope has seeded but I don't think it is time to give up. There is time we should win yes, but there is no time. No time because time means going back and that is where hope dissapears. Rainbows we have seen, dark clouds above our heads. He deserves to be here now, but he can not live with the thoughts that this could end. So he wants to go back and live his life like how it used to be. Rainbows we have seen, the sun reflecting in the sea. Hope there is, and I prey. Let him live, let him live.
9.8.06
Love and Struggle
The title of the debate I am organising, but moreover the reality of many friends of mine. To love in life the persons they want to love they have to struggle in many other fields of life. The debate discusses the role of the Dutch government in taking the lead in world wide emancipation. Is homosexuality only a luxurious western value which we try to impose on other cultures? Or is it a basic human right? Young people will discuss these and other issues with Dutch politicians.
The topic -love and struggle- is currently also a very central issue in my personal life, occuring in different ways. I think that it makes me stronger in translating young people's needs in politicial work... but at certain moments it also makes takes away all my energy. It seems that the fight of activists sometimes is a vicious circle of frustration and positive visibility, whereas there is such big need for structural support to activities of e.g. lgbt youth organisations.
So it's time for a little break. I'm going to camp in Normandy a couple of days... to unplug from the web and phone. And to breathe some fresh sea-air, eat some fish and drink some red wine... and to have a good time with a dear friend!
The topic -love and struggle- is currently also a very central issue in my personal life, occuring in different ways. I think that it makes me stronger in translating young people's needs in politicial work... but at certain moments it also makes takes away all my energy. It seems that the fight of activists sometimes is a vicious circle of frustration and positive visibility, whereas there is such big need for structural support to activities of e.g. lgbt youth organisations.
So it's time for a little break. I'm going to camp in Normandy a couple of days... to unplug from the web and phone. And to breathe some fresh sea-air, eat some fish and drink some red wine... and to have a good time with a dear friend!
2.8.06
Tuesday dish
Tonight a friend of mine organised a 'Tuesday dish'; a political debate with a group of people during the joy of a nice meal and a lot of wine! A fab idea I think... as it was the first time the format wasn't completely perfect yet, but as it is foreseen to be organised every week from now on, it should work out as a very nice concept!
Finally some relaxed environment to practise my talking skills... we had so many different people, like an artist, a psychologist, social students, old language students, modern language students, a hair dresser, a tv-presenter, a debate-leader, just a lot of fun!
Finally some relaxed environment to practise my talking skills... we had so many different people, like an artist, a psychologist, social students, old language students, modern language students, a hair dresser, a tv-presenter, a debate-leader, just a lot of fun!
26.7.06
Spinning
Today I went spinning, and I don't mean Kylie's kind of spinning. When I entered the gym I was kindly asked whether I would like to join a Tour de France spinning session, which I of course couldn't refuse! I think that one litre of sweat exuded me, at least during the session which took a whole hour... But I like the adrenaline. I found out that the climbing sessions are much heavier for me than the sprints.The class did a good job and was rewarded with free energy drinks and a towel! Tomorrow I'll go to the gym again.
23.7.06
Dublin discoveries
This weekend I was in Dublin with Kris, visiting Ruth. It was simply a wonderful weekend, full of nice discoveries. Tonie, who served us lunch in a nice Dublin lunchroom appeared to be one of the first people who was involved in IGLYO in the eightees. Ruth lives around the corner of Colin Farrell and Bono. The cliffs in Howth are breathtaking. Beer, tequilla and vodka makes you quite drunk. Bars without the smell of cigarettes (smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants) makes you aware of scents you have never smelled before.
17.7.06
Die for love
Tomorrow I'm travelling to Berlin to attend a queer youth conference. Wednesday evening we will commemorate Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, two Iranian young people that were hung last year because they were homosexual.Around the world remembrances will be organised, because we can not even try to forget these two boys, who died for love, as long as hundreds of young people around the world still face the same destiny.
I am sorry for using this shocking picture, but I believe that we will not change anything if people don't see these cruelties with their own eyes.
Treasures
This weekend I was in Utrecht, where I got a tour through the 'Catharijne Convent', a museum about Dutch Christianity. Never I had thought that a museum with a Christian background would fascinate me this much!I guess that this was largely caused by the fact that we got a look behind the scenes; we visited the museum depot where a lot of art was stored; and a friend gave a wonderfull introduction on all the treasures that the museum covered.
It was a perfect cultural contribution to this weekend, in which I did not do much work, but saw family, friends, the gym and disco's instead!
11.7.06
Crazy butterfly
A melancholic mood in the train from Paris to Amsterdam. It is Monday evening the 10th of July, 2006. Across of me a Australian couple is listening to long monologues of a Belgium women who speaks English with a British accent. They do not look to be particularly interested in her knowledge of Australia, which friends of her visited last year. It takes the couple a while before they manage to focus on the book and paper they are reading. It seems they do not dare to look up any more, out of fear to get attacked by another endless monologue.
Traveling first class is not something I am used to, so I enjoy the benefits of getting a meal and drinking a glass of red wine which strengthens my melancholic mood. I can not hide myself in this train. I am seated in a single sit next to the walkway and above of me there is the reflection of other people in the luggage shelf. No chance to express this melancholy in a laughter or tears.
So I decide to look back on a nice board meeting in Reims, which is in the district of Champagne. A visit to the Mumm champagne cellars made me understand the complex production process behind this delicious light golden coloured sparkles. I love it. I work a bit on some articles and try to sleep a bit.
In Brussels the train gets stuck due to technical reasons. Everybody has to leave train and complete wagons of people get mixed up. Some remain for a while without seat, which seems to be a much bigger problem in First Class then it is in Second Class. I start to get annoyed by all screaming people but then I have to laugh about their haughtiness. I love the little adventures in trains.
Traveling first class is not something I am used to, so I enjoy the benefits of getting a meal and drinking a glass of red wine which strengthens my melancholic mood. I can not hide myself in this train. I am seated in a single sit next to the walkway and above of me there is the reflection of other people in the luggage shelf. No chance to express this melancholy in a laughter or tears.
So I decide to look back on a nice board meeting in Reims, which is in the district of Champagne. A visit to the Mumm champagne cellars made me understand the complex production process behind this delicious light golden coloured sparkles. I love it. I work a bit on some articles and try to sleep a bit.
In Brussels the train gets stuck due to technical reasons. Everybody has to leave train and complete wagons of people get mixed up. Some remain for a while without seat, which seems to be a much bigger problem in First Class then it is in Second Class. I start to get annoyed by all screaming people but then I have to laugh about their haughtiness. I love the little adventures in trains.
7.7.06
Book
I'm not a big reader, but in the train to Paris this morning I finished a wonderful book. By absence of men is the story of two boys during the first world war whom fall in love, an impossible love.
"I indeed think, I'm sorry, that love is the indispensable reason of grief.
You have to know that the other before anything, is the one whom causes us sorrow, or will cause. Sooner or later he fails to be there, openly or furtively, concience or unconscious, partly or completely. Yes, he always fails and it is impossible to possess him completely. Possessing: an ugly word, isn't it? I can hear you say it. Despite, whether you want it or not, love eventually is a matter of possessing. Do you love me? Do you love another?
And worse: because the other fails we love him more. Through our hindrance our passion adopts a fixed shape. That is the problem. The perpetual necessity to seduce, to convince, to keep the other with us, to prevent him from going, that is what nourishes our love. We end in a vicious circle in which we of course loose, whilst we thought we were winning, but in we eventually are superseded because we could not win. The love kills itself. "
"I indeed think, I'm sorry, that love is the indispensable reason of grief.
You have to know that the other before anything, is the one whom causes us sorrow, or will cause. Sooner or later he fails to be there, openly or furtively, concience or unconscious, partly or completely. Yes, he always fails and it is impossible to possess him completely. Possessing: an ugly word, isn't it? I can hear you say it. Despite, whether you want it or not, love eventually is a matter of possessing. Do you love me? Do you love another?
And worse: because the other fails we love him more. Through our hindrance our passion adopts a fixed shape. That is the problem. The perpetual necessity to seduce, to convince, to keep the other with us, to prevent him from going, that is what nourishes our love. We end in a vicious circle in which we of course loose, whilst we thought we were winning, but in we eventually are superseded because we could not win. The love kills itself. "
5.7.06
Let the sun shine
The recent heatwave in the Netherlands didn't stimulate me to write much lately! Besides I was rather busy at work and trying to spend my time as efficiently as possible, thus spending my leftover time in parcs and on the pavements of cafes. All other hours I tried to sleep... mostly unsuccesful!
But I love it!
This weekend I'm off to Reims, the city of Champagne, for a weekend-long board meeting.
But I love it!
This weekend I'm off to Reims, the city of Champagne, for a weekend-long board meeting.
26.6.06
Quarter of a century
This weekend me and my sister turned 25. It remains hard to explain that a boy and a girl can be a twin together, people often think that I have two sisters when I start talking about my twin-sister. Also people think that, because we are twin, me and my sister would have a very strong emotional link. That I would have a headache when she has, or that she would cry if I would be emotional, even if she is in Amersfoort and I in Amsterdam.Well, this is not the case. Even though we have a good relation, we don't have links different from other brother and sister relations, for so far as I know them. My parents decided to let us go to different secondary schools, just to make sure that we would be able to develop independently. Contrary, sometimes my mother did dress me and my sister in the same clothes.
Preparing birthday parties is always a bit complicated, because my sister likes other music, has different friends, lives in a different place. So this year we had two birthday parties :)
22.6.06
Social Exclusion
After a period of hard and intensive working it is always nice to see a result! This week IGLYO and ILGA-Europe launched their social exclusion report, a project on which I started thinking early last year. Together with Judit Takács and Evelyne Paradis I worked monhts and months on this project. The credits especially go to Judit and Evelyne, whom spent days and nights on writing and revising the report.
Personally I like the report most because of the every-day life of LGBT young people in Europe is included in the report.
Personally I like the report most because of the every-day life of LGBT young people in Europe is included in the report.
12.6.06
Dentist
Since I was young I've spent a considerable amount of time at the dentist, mainly because the dentist gave me all sort of braces. Only since a while I really start to dislike these visits... Two weeks ago the dentist told me I had several cavities, since I apparently haven't been taken care well enough of my teeth lately. Flossing is not my favourite waste of time.. but now I promised myself to start actively engaging in it...
Anyhow, consequently I spent this morning one hour at the dentist with my mouth wide open.. I really hate this drilling in my mouth!
Go Poland, go!
This weekend Polish authorities have given a great example on how they should treath there citizens. The gay pride was protected very well by thousands of police officers (they looked like robocops), whom even smiled and waved to the marchers every now and then. I was touched by grannies whom were waving to the marchers whilst they were hanging out of their windows on the Warsaw streets. Thousands of people celebrated on this beautiful day their democratic rights, which is a huge victory for the Polish gay movement. Let's now hope that the Polish government will keep on improving their attitude and treatment towards LGBT people, even though I have little hope...
After the Pride we celebrated the good ending in I don't remember how many bars and disco's until late morning... Including a cool performance of Jimmy Sommerville. Those Polish people know how to party!
Istanbul
I agree with those who told me in advance: Istanbul is cool! Unfortunately I was there only for one day, so I had to hurry a bit through the city. In addition the Polish Minister of Education decided to say something stupid exactly on my only free day in between quite some working days... so I spent a large amount of time in my afternoon on making phone calls. But I will come back, that's for sure!
5.6.06
In the army
I'm in a super-hot Ankara! It is more than thirty degrees here, many people are complaining, but I love it! Even though my mind works a bit slower then usual...
What really stucks me here are the stories about the Turkish army. Due to the army being very patriarchal and heterosexual-oriented most gay guys don't feel anything for spending 8 - 18 months in the army. The only way to escape from your army-duty is to get a psychological report saying that due to your sexual orientation you disqualify for the army. (Consciousness objection is punishable with long-term imprisonment...)
Most psychologists require for this testimony pictures proving your sexual orientation. Qualifying photo's have to demonstrate that the concerning boy is anally penetrated by another man. If you are penetrating then you're not gay. Even single guys have to come-up with such pictures. Once you have your disqualification papers for the army this also means that you are disqualified to work for other state institutions. The latter is an interesting case for the European Court of Human Rights, I think.
Oh and don't think that you can keep the pictures afterwards: they are going to be archived! Thus I was informed that the Turkish army actually has the biggest archive of gay porn in the world!
What really stucks me here are the stories about the Turkish army. Due to the army being very patriarchal and heterosexual-oriented most gay guys don't feel anything for spending 8 - 18 months in the army. The only way to escape from your army-duty is to get a psychological report saying that due to your sexual orientation you disqualify for the army. (Consciousness objection is punishable with long-term imprisonment...)
Most psychologists require for this testimony pictures proving your sexual orientation. Qualifying photo's have to demonstrate that the concerning boy is anally penetrated by another man. If you are penetrating then you're not gay. Even single guys have to come-up with such pictures. Once you have your disqualification papers for the army this also means that you are disqualified to work for other state institutions. The latter is an interesting case for the European Court of Human Rights, I think.
Oh and don't think that you can keep the pictures afterwards: they are going to be archived! Thus I was informed that the Turkish army actually has the biggest archive of gay porn in the world!
29.5.06
Sun, here I come
Sometimes things in life happen without having control over them. They make you need to be pragmatic, whereas it is so much eassier to stay living in your dream. These situations can be frustrating and they might hurt, but you need accept them, because you have to move on.
So tomorrow morning I fly to Ankara, to develop a project with local partner organisations. I will spend five days in the Turkish capital, and then move forward to Istanbul, which I have never seen before. I will relax there a little bit, and finally enjoy some sunshine, something that has been lacking here in Amsterdam the past couple of weeks.
Eventually my travel will end in Poland, where I will lead a Dutch delegation which will visit the Gay Pride. Hope that many people will join!
So off for a while!
So tomorrow morning I fly to Ankara, to develop a project with local partner organisations. I will spend five days in the Turkish capital, and then move forward to Istanbul, which I have never seen before. I will relax there a little bit, and finally enjoy some sunshine, something that has been lacking here in Amsterdam the past couple of weeks.
Eventually my travel will end in Poland, where I will lead a Dutch delegation which will visit the Gay Pride. Hope that many people will join!
So off for a while!
26.5.06
Old fashioned blogging
It seems that we are getting pretty old fashioned with our written blogs. On YouTube people have video blogs, which are extremely funny to watch I've just discovered. For instance take a look at the blog of Brooke, a teenage girl from America whom is telling us about here life. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Brookers
YouTube is also great fun because of other video's that are posted. It's a good waste of time on a free rainy Friday morning like today!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAmljaj5stA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPu19jOcJF4
YouTube is also great fun because of other video's that are posted. It's a good waste of time on a free rainy Friday morning like today!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAmljaj5stA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPu19jOcJF4
22.5.06
Holy Shit
This year the UN Commission for NGO's again refused to give consultative status to several LGBT NGO's in ECOSOC. The Holy See delegate said in the commission:
"Sexual orientation is not comparable to race or ethnic origin. In spite of its assertions about human rights, this NGO’s particular interests fall beyond the scope of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international juridical instruments: In other words, what ILGA and its proponents are asking is not for equal rights but special rights; special rights that allow others a leeway for a discreet suppression of moral distinctions in choices and behavior that are of vital concern to the international community and the international order."
It is time that people and instutions blocking certain LGBT people to be protected from hate, violence and discrimination because of who they are, are kept responsible for the consequenses.
"On many occasions that the Holy See has been misunderstood, it is because it has always critically distinguished a homosexual person from his/her choices and behavior. The Holy See has always respected and defended all persons who are entitled to the protection of their fundamental dignity granted not by the State, not by some international organization, but by the nature given to them by the Creator."
And who says that the creator doesn't entitle me, who has sexual intercourse with partners of the same sex, fundamental dignity?
(...)
"The lack of making a stand against public homosexual behavior amounts to regarding homosexuality, as such, “as a positive source of human rights. Tolerance without standards seeks to create a level playing field offering loopholes for suppressing moral distinctions in choices and behavior which would be tantamount to accepting fake expressions of “anarchic freedom.”
I believe thus I can discriminate?
"The Holy See's position on marriage and adoption of children is based precisely on a recognition of a fundamental truth: marriage is based on the union of a man and a woman; the family is based on marriage. In spite of interpretations to the contrary, this is the meaning of the Universal Declaration and the 1966 Covenants. Furthermore new forms of family structure are weaker and less stable."
People, wake up! Already since five years the marriage in many countries can also be an union of a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. This is not an interpretation, but a fact!
"If this stand of the Holy See which hopefully is shared by other distinguished members of the NGO Committee here, were to be taken as an imposition of its own morality, in response it cannot but say that “gay rights laws and the demand for special rights as well impose one view of sexual morality (sexual relativism) on all peoples and then enforce this code of morality on constituents of other groups holding other beliefs and legislations.”
Who are the non-distinguished members? And who try to impose?
"Sexual orientation is not comparable to race or ethnic origin. In spite of its assertions about human rights, this NGO’s particular interests fall beyond the scope of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international juridical instruments: In other words, what ILGA and its proponents are asking is not for equal rights but special rights; special rights that allow others a leeway for a discreet suppression of moral distinctions in choices and behavior that are of vital concern to the international community and the international order."
It is time that people and instutions blocking certain LGBT people to be protected from hate, violence and discrimination because of who they are, are kept responsible for the consequenses.
"On many occasions that the Holy See has been misunderstood, it is because it has always critically distinguished a homosexual person from his/her choices and behavior. The Holy See has always respected and defended all persons who are entitled to the protection of their fundamental dignity granted not by the State, not by some international organization, but by the nature given to them by the Creator."
And who says that the creator doesn't entitle me, who has sexual intercourse with partners of the same sex, fundamental dignity?
(...)
"The lack of making a stand against public homosexual behavior amounts to regarding homosexuality, as such, “as a positive source of human rights. Tolerance without standards seeks to create a level playing field offering loopholes for suppressing moral distinctions in choices and behavior which would be tantamount to accepting fake expressions of “anarchic freedom.”
I believe thus I can discriminate?
"The Holy See's position on marriage and adoption of children is based precisely on a recognition of a fundamental truth: marriage is based on the union of a man and a woman; the family is based on marriage. In spite of interpretations to the contrary, this is the meaning of the Universal Declaration and the 1966 Covenants. Furthermore new forms of family structure are weaker and less stable."
People, wake up! Already since five years the marriage in many countries can also be an union of a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. This is not an interpretation, but a fact!
"If this stand of the Holy See which hopefully is shared by other distinguished members of the NGO Committee here, were to be taken as an imposition of its own morality, in response it cannot but say that “gay rights laws and the demand for special rights as well impose one view of sexual morality (sexual relativism) on all peoples and then enforce this code of morality on constituents of other groups holding other beliefs and legislations.”
Who are the non-distinguished members? And who try to impose?
20.5.06
LGBT rights in the centre of Europe
This week LGBT rights were, probably for the first time in history, discussed extensively at the centre of Europe. The vice-president of the European Commission Mr. Frattini, 
Commissioner of Employment Mr. Spidla, the Council of European Human Rights Commissioner Mr. Hammelberg and the chair of the European Parliament Mr. Borrel-Fortelles were all speaking firm words on how LGBT rigths should be respected as Human Rights.
They clearly said that the assination of gay people during World War II should be recognized at history books so that young people at schools learn about it.
They promised to further explore possibilities for the implementation of an anti-discrimination directeve, and they informed us that a green paper on freedom of movement and marriage is going to be present shortly. This would, in a period of time, also mean for same-sex couples that they will be recognized, even though in some cases the European Court of Justice shall have to decide upon this.
Mr. Hammelberg announced to fully support the Moscow gay pride, remarkable considering Russia's is currently chairing the Council of Europe. Even though remarkable progress is being made in Europe, I again was a bit dissapointed. Mr. Frattini told me that LGBT young people Europe can benefit from a communication campaign about anti-discrimimation the coming years, but will not actively protected from discrimination. This priveledge is kept to employed people. I still don't understand that the European Parliament would not see the benefit of educating young people more progressively about discrimination... Because on a longer term this would have more economical benefits as anti-discrimination policies and programs in the employment sector have currently.
Commissioner of Employment Mr. Spidla, the Council of European Human Rights Commissioner Mr. Hammelberg and the chair of the European Parliament Mr. Borrel-Fortelles were all speaking firm words on how LGBT rigths should be respected as Human Rights.They clearly said that the assination of gay people during World War II should be recognized at history books so that young people at schools learn about it.
They promised to further explore possibilities for the implementation of an anti-discrimination directeve, and they informed us that a green paper on freedom of movement and marriage is going to be present shortly. This would, in a period of time, also mean for same-sex couples that they will be recognized, even though in some cases the European Court of Justice shall have to decide upon this.
Mr. Hammelberg announced to fully support the Moscow gay pride, remarkable considering Russia's is currently chairing the Council of Europe. Even though remarkable progress is being made in Europe, I again was a bit dissapointed. Mr. Frattini told me that LGBT young people Europe can benefit from a communication campaign about anti-discrimimation the coming years, but will not actively protected from discrimination. This priveledge is kept to employed people. I still don't understand that the European Parliament would not see the benefit of educating young people more progressively about discrimination... Because on a longer term this would have more economical benefits as anti-discrimination policies and programs in the employment sector have currently.
Straight prejudices
These weeks I am hosting many guests. It's fun, as it makes you show people around your city which you then see with different eyes. As different people visit me I am taking them to all kind of different places. Yesterday I was at a Gay discotheque with a friend from Slovenia, and tonight I was in a coffeeshop with the American brother of a friend of mine.
Next week two Australian friends are coming over, whom will go to watch the football in Germany. I don't know where I should take them yet... and I especially don't know how to tell them that I have to visit the Mr. Gay Netheralands elections at Saturday.
Next week two Australian friends are coming over, whom will go to watch the football in Germany. I don't know where I should take them yet... and I especially don't know how to tell them that I have to visit the Mr. Gay Netheralands elections at Saturday.
16.5.06
Night train to Idaho
In an hour I will jump into the night train to Strasbourg, where tomorrow I will attend a conference organised by the European Parliament on IDAHO (International Day Against HOmophobia). Finally visibility to homophobia at the same time in different places!
Many activities are organised around Europe, see for an overview of some activities: http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho-activ06.html.
Never before I have been with the night train, so that is exciting! I'm also excited for a lunch tomorrow with the Members of the Intergroup of the European Parliament on lesbian and gay rights, as well with Spidla and Frattini. Curious to see what commitment they make for the coming years.
For more general information:
http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho.html
Many activities are organised around Europe, see for an overview of some activities: http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho-activ06.html.
Never before I have been with the night train, so that is exciting! I'm also excited for a lunch tomorrow with the Members of the Intergroup of the European Parliament on lesbian and gay rights, as well with Spidla and Frattini. Curious to see what commitment they make for the coming years.
For more general information:
http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho.html
10.5.06
Pride and Proud
This weekend I visited the vifth Moldovan Gay Pride. It was great being back in Chisinau: the dedication of people working for and with GenderDoc-M, the hospitality, and the fun made it a pleasure coming back!Even though the organisers faced some backlashes in terms of recognition of the necessity of such event I think they can be proud on the event they again succesfully managed to organize in this part of Europe. It's through the efforts of involving many actors from civil society in the work that the Pride is so widely being supported.
On the pictures you see people being involved in 'forum-theatre'. An interactive working method by which needs for anti-discrimination legislation were discussed. Very touching as real-life situations were projected on the current legal situation. The ban of the actual pride by the Chisinau major, as well the participation of a representative of the Moldovan Baptist community (whom addressed homosexuality as unnatural during the conference), made it clear that there's big need for such legislation!
1.5.06
Work again
My holidays are over, tomorrow I have to start working again. I didn't spend my holidays in a very traditional way this time: I used my hours off from my paid job to work on my unpaid work. That was a rather good experience! The last thing I did during these holidays was representing IGLYO at the Council of Members of the European Youth Forum, in Prato, Italy. At the moment that we were practising our democratic rights by electing new members for two important Youth Forum structures, the gay pride in Krakow was attached by right-winged extremist. Together with many dedicated young people from several Youth organisations I worked on a declaration against homophobia, which was signed by 102 representatives. A result which made me very happy!I really enjoyed these weeks off! I met great and wonderful people, had a beautiful time around Europe, slept several mornings, stayed awake several nights without being concerned about the next morning and thus now feel completely re-energized to start working again.
26.4.06
Relax
Currently I am quite relaxed. Next week I have to start working again, and I realise that these weeks with limited obligations have calmed me down. I have done the things that I wanted to do (which doesn't include painting the bedroom), and even though I am now looking to a big pile of work I haven't finished yet I am happy. Cristian, thank you for the wonderful days!
People's palace
Too short I have been in Bucharest.
Yesterday morning I joined a tour through the people's palace, Ceaucescu's building which he never saw finished. 700 architects and 20.000 builders worked on this building, which is in terms of surface the second large building of the world. One third of the old city centre of Bucharest was broken down in order to provide sufficient place to build it. Nowadays the government is using the building, and it houses a conferences centre. Together with an American delegation I followed a tour, in which the beautifulness of the building was described. No single word was said what Romanian people think about the building, and which offers they have given for this mass monument on the communist era.
A: American Tourist, B: Bjorn, M: Marcy, T: tourist guide
A: So where are you from?
B: I am from the Netherlands, where are you from?
A: Virginia, USA. So you're traveling Romania?
B: Yes, I'm doing a short tour here, went to Brasov, Sibiu and tonight I unfortunately fly home. What about you?
A: Well, we were going on a Danube tour but apparently there is a flood. So now we're doing this.
B: So where do you go after Romania
A: I don't know, it's a tour, we do different countries in Eastern Europe.
B: So where are you going to next?
M: Well we're doing other countries in Eastern Europe
...
T: So this is a conference room made in German classic style, with the heighest ceiling in the building. The patron in the curtains, which is filled with silk, is the same as the patron on the plates covering the heating. The floors are made of oak wood and in there are different sorts of marmer on the columns.
A: Can to chandelliers come down to be cleaned?
T: No
A: So what did Coucezu use this room for?
T: Ceaucescu never used it, he died before the building was finished.
A: Oh, Ceaucescu, I should say Ceaucescu?
19.4.06
Berlin
Yesterday I took some time to discover Berlin. Last Saturday we also did this during Queer Easter, but it was very Queer focussed. Since it was my first time in the German capital I decided to spend one day extra in it, and see some of its sights. I was very tired, so didn't see as much as I could have seen, but saw interesting architecture! Especially enjoyed Potsdamer Platz, close to it there is the new monument in memory of European Jews, which is just so impressive to see!
Deutschland
Yesterday evening I returned from a week Germany. First I spent one week in Werftpuhl, together with almost 100 young socialists and queer activists. It was a beautiful week with hard working and lots of fun. Bettina already wrote it: it's unbelievable how empowering such events are! Making new contacts and building bridges between the work we do. Returning in reality can than be a cold shower... this is how I continued fund raising for IGLYO today... the importance of our work is obviously not experienced by decission makers. So now it is time to become more explicitly part of policies, which is of course much more work and complicated, but maybe even a better way to go on the longer term. So I take a deep breath and continue with my work.
10.4.06
"Balkenende against gay marriage"
During a visit to Djakarta our Minister President visited an Islamic state university. A student asked how he thought about the Dutch gay marriage, on which he answered: "During that period I have voted against the gay marriage, but a majority of the House of representatives supported the legalisation."
Not only Balkenende is indirectly responsible for the infringement of Human Rights whilst making such remarks in his position and in such context, moreover he strongly devaluates his own authority as representative of the Dutch government. It is a State policy that the Netherlands aims to have a 'pioneering function' when it comes to LGBT emancipation.
Most interesting is the fact that he has blamed several Ministers in the past months for not presenting and defending the Parliament's policies, it all just sounds a bit awkward to me now!
Not only Balkenende is indirectly responsible for the infringement of Human Rights whilst making such remarks in his position and in such context, moreover he strongly devaluates his own authority as representative of the Dutch government. It is a State policy that the Netherlands aims to have a 'pioneering function' when it comes to LGBT emancipation.
Most interesting is the fact that he has blamed several Ministers in the past months for not presenting and defending the Parliament's policies, it all just sounds a bit awkward to me now!
9.4.06
Polder living
This is the building in which I live. The old catalogue From polder to city tells: "The cooperative building 'Westereind' in Slotermeer has been developed from concrete completely by J. Rietveld and J.R. Bloemsma. This building with its characteristic blue painted corner-windows was designated for singles."
The city-district in which I live is now discussing whether this building, together with older old buildings in the so called 'garden-cities', will be added to the list of 'city heritage', meaning that the building will be protected in several ways. When I saw the flat for the first time I immediately decided I wanted it, even though it is quite far out of the city-centre. Above all I fell in love with all the light that floods in the appartment on sunny days like today.
Besides its typical post-war building styles this area of Amsterdam is well-known for the high percentage of communists and socialists that to live here after the war. Now it is especially attractive for young poeple, as it offers good quality for a low price.
I miss The Hague
Yesterday I decided that it is official: I miss The Hague! This might sound like a very typical sentiment, and I think that is true. I like the athmosphere in the city, I like its architecture and I like its people. The Hague has a beach which Amsterdam doesn't have, and in The Hague people are just a little bit less stressed than here. Also there are memories left in The Hague, not even of so long ago but sometimes it feels like I left behind a different life in The Hague. One I enjoyed in another way.
So yesterday I decided that one day I will live in The Hague again.
7.4.06
Pizza in bed
Today was an extremely boring day, more or less on purpose. I have barely been outside of bed, well of course I took a shower and I had to open the door for the Pizza-delivery earlier this evening. Sometimes I simply need days like these.... to relax and to catch up missed sleep. It feels like the autumn has started here... again it is raining and the leaves on the trees are growing slower than I hoped.
The good news is that my luggage is back and I have my phone working again. Also there is work in progress... My to-do list is finally getting shorter and that is necessary because the I will be travelling mostly for the rest of the month. I booked my tickets for Queer Easter in Berlin, a break in Romania (can't wait to be there) and for the Youth Forum's Council of Members in Florence.
Yesterday I spent the day with young representatives from LGBT organisations from Latin America. Extremely interesting to hear their point of view. They were very interested in the functioning of IGLYO, and we discussed whether such construction would make sense in their context as well. Personally I think it will, especially now countries in Latin America are seriously discussing the possible establishment of a South American Community of Nations. Unlike the EEC its focus will include a more social perspective which offers chances for social NGO's. Similar to Europe, the differences in South-America are enormous. The Brazilian government actively supports LGBT organisations (mainly in combatting Hiv/Aids), the penal code of Nicuragua however still forbids sexual intercourse between couples of the same sex.
I hope that we will be able to assist the groups in establishing a network similar to IGLYO in South-America. Not only because together we stand stronger in getting access to e.g. the United Nations, but also I believe that young people can make a difference. The access to information that is created by such networks is of vital importance for these organisations, as well is the personal empowerment of young people doing their work in often hostile environments.
The good news is that my luggage is back and I have my phone working again. Also there is work in progress... My to-do list is finally getting shorter and that is necessary because the I will be travelling mostly for the rest of the month. I booked my tickets for Queer Easter in Berlin, a break in Romania (can't wait to be there) and for the Youth Forum's Council of Members in Florence.
Yesterday I spent the day with young representatives from LGBT organisations from Latin America. Extremely interesting to hear their point of view. They were very interested in the functioning of IGLYO, and we discussed whether such construction would make sense in their context as well. Personally I think it will, especially now countries in Latin America are seriously discussing the possible establishment of a South American Community of Nations. Unlike the EEC its focus will include a more social perspective which offers chances for social NGO's. Similar to Europe, the differences in South-America are enormous. The Brazilian government actively supports LGBT organisations (mainly in combatting Hiv/Aids), the penal code of Nicuragua however still forbids sexual intercourse between couples of the same sex.
I hope that we will be able to assist the groups in establishing a network similar to IGLYO in South-America. Not only because together we stand stronger in getting access to e.g. the United Nations, but also I believe that young people can make a difference. The access to information that is created by such networks is of vital importance for these organisations, as well is the personal empowerment of young people doing their work in often hostile environments.
2.4.06
Mr. bad luck is sitting on my left shoulder
The past week I first had a board meeting in Rome, and then I went to the Youth Event of the Austrian Presidency in Vienna and Bad Isschl. During the last event the youth of Europe adopted a declaration, in which we called for more and better jobs, recognition of non-formal and informal learning and for a more structured dialogue of youth with European Policy makers. I am happy that social inclusion remains a corner stone in the future of Europe.
On a working level all was good, but for all the rest it was not a rather lucky week for me. First my phone got stolen in Rome, then my flight to Vienna was cancelled and I had a huge delay. Then I was informed that my nomination for an Advise Comission on the Council of Europe would not be accepted due to statutory reasons, then another flight was cancelled and I was put on a flight with 3 hours delay which only arrived in Amsterdam at 1.30 in the night. My luggage however until now did not arrive...and hasn't been tracked neither.
Happily I met a lot of great people during this week, whom made me forget about the bad luck very soon. Now it is high time to go to the fitness... to reduce the negative effect that all the good eating and drinking had on my body.
On a working level all was good, but for all the rest it was not a rather lucky week for me. First my phone got stolen in Rome, then my flight to Vienna was cancelled and I had a huge delay. Then I was informed that my nomination for an Advise Comission on the Council of Europe would not be accepted due to statutory reasons, then another flight was cancelled and I was put on a flight with 3 hours delay which only arrived in Amsterdam at 1.30 in the night. My luggage however until now did not arrive...and hasn't been tracked neither.
Happily I met a lot of great people during this week, whom made me forget about the bad luck very soon. Now it is high time to go to the fitness... to reduce the negative effect that all the good eating and drinking had on my body.
22.3.06
The third half
Today we played a soccer competition with muslims, latino's, women, and gays, to give a positive signal on the international day against racism. Even though we lost (surprisingly! - and, do I need to explain of which team I was part) it was a beaufitul event. I hope it set an example for many other events to come. We said that we would train for the next competition, so that next time we can also prove gay people are not necessarily bad soccer players.Of course this event draw a lot of media attention, most of them being positively interested. Only a Russian journalist tried to convince me that there were also quite some homophobic situations in the Netherlands lately, and that the situation for us is going backwards. Also he wanted me to say that playing 'against' each other is apparently another signal of radicalisation. Instead I told him that such positive signals should also be picked up in Rusland, and that the Major of Moscow could learn a lot from such examples. Somehow I believe that this interview will not be broadcasted... For the rest I haven't seen how the media covered the event yet, but today for all participants it was a beautiful day!
The third half ended very nice with music and drinks. According to another journalist the fourth half of the game should be a joined shower, and of course I had to agree that this could also improve integration.
On my way home I realised that my football qualities are still quite limited, and that quite some training is need for next year.
11.3.06
Human dignity
In the past days I have wondered what the true meaning is of words such as 'Human dignity' and 'Fundamental Human Rigths' is.
First our Dutch Minister for Integration and Immigration said in a letter to the Dutch Parliament in which she announce to lift the existing moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum seekers to Iran:
"It appears that there are no cases of an execution on the basis of the sole fact that someone is homosexual … For homosexual men and women it is not totally impossible to function in society, although they should be wary of coming out of the closet too openly.”
A similar decission was made for Christian people coming from Iran. Mrs. Verdonk not only based her decission on wrong information and incorrect quotations of respected Human Rights organisations (such as Human Rights Watch), moreover she ignores information that has constantly been made available to her. She is well known for appearing is a 'tough lady', recently she sent back a young girl from Kosovo who wanted to finish her study in the Netherlands and then return to Pristina. According to laws and procedures she did right, according to the opinion in the Dutch society she made a big mistake, with not showing any dignity.
I do understand that the Netherlands is holding a constringent assylum policy, but I can not combine this with the international respected values of 'Fundamental Human Rights' in cases like this. Because it means that we can send homosexuals back if they don't have to fear immediate treat for their life, but only have to be careful 'with coming-out'? Mrs. Verdonk should know what this means for the human dignity of these people. And then I don't even mention the risk for life that people do face! Mrs. Verdonk says that her decission is based on meetings between the European Commission and the Iranian government. Apparently she grants this government more credibility than many respected human rights organisations, and also many Iranian assylum seekers whom are doing everything to make people aware of what is really going on in Iran.
Probably I am even more ashamed of our Minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Bot. It is well known that he has a respected carreer as diplomat. Unfortunately his diplomatic skills still reflect on his functioning as Minister: Mr. Bot does not react at all on human rights violations like this. He is sacrificing values of which the Dutch society is proud, for the sake of.... we can only guess. During the past municipality elections in the Netherlands it was said that the Dutch electorate lost its 'authority and respect'. I also think it lost its own dignity.
It is good that Members of our Parliament have raised questions and that the issue will be discussed later this week. It is already clear to me that both our Ministers will have to confess mistakes they made.
Another side of the story. A quote from BBC News, not even one hour after the news of the death of Mr. Milosevic was announced:
"European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he hoped the death would help Serbia finally to come to terms with its past and allow it to look to the future."
Not much human dignity neither. But this time I am confused myself. I don't have any respect for Mr. Milosevic and will certainly not let a single tear for his death. But should the concept of dignity be so tangible? I am afraid that it is harder to grant respect in the cases that we want to talk about human dignity if we are not consequently practising it. Maybe Mr. Solana could have waited another day with saying this?
First our Dutch Minister for Integration and Immigration said in a letter to the Dutch Parliament in which she announce to lift the existing moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum seekers to Iran:
"It appears that there are no cases of an execution on the basis of the sole fact that someone is homosexual … For homosexual men and women it is not totally impossible to function in society, although they should be wary of coming out of the closet too openly.”
A similar decission was made for Christian people coming from Iran. Mrs. Verdonk not only based her decission on wrong information and incorrect quotations of respected Human Rights organisations (such as Human Rights Watch), moreover she ignores information that has constantly been made available to her. She is well known for appearing is a 'tough lady', recently she sent back a young girl from Kosovo who wanted to finish her study in the Netherlands and then return to Pristina. According to laws and procedures she did right, according to the opinion in the Dutch society she made a big mistake, with not showing any dignity.
I do understand that the Netherlands is holding a constringent assylum policy, but I can not combine this with the international respected values of 'Fundamental Human Rights' in cases like this. Because it means that we can send homosexuals back if they don't have to fear immediate treat for their life, but only have to be careful 'with coming-out'? Mrs. Verdonk should know what this means for the human dignity of these people. And then I don't even mention the risk for life that people do face! Mrs. Verdonk says that her decission is based on meetings between the European Commission and the Iranian government. Apparently she grants this government more credibility than many respected human rights organisations, and also many Iranian assylum seekers whom are doing everything to make people aware of what is really going on in Iran.
Probably I am even more ashamed of our Minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Bot. It is well known that he has a respected carreer as diplomat. Unfortunately his diplomatic skills still reflect on his functioning as Minister: Mr. Bot does not react at all on human rights violations like this. He is sacrificing values of which the Dutch society is proud, for the sake of.... we can only guess. During the past municipality elections in the Netherlands it was said that the Dutch electorate lost its 'authority and respect'. I also think it lost its own dignity.
It is good that Members of our Parliament have raised questions and that the issue will be discussed later this week. It is already clear to me that both our Ministers will have to confess mistakes they made.
Another side of the story. A quote from BBC News, not even one hour after the news of the death of Mr. Milosevic was announced:
"European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he hoped the death would help Serbia finally to come to terms with its past and allow it to look to the future."
Not much human dignity neither. But this time I am confused myself. I don't have any respect for Mr. Milosevic and will certainly not let a single tear for his death. But should the concept of dignity be so tangible? I am afraid that it is harder to grant respect in the cases that we want to talk about human dignity if we are not consequently practising it. Maybe Mr. Solana could have waited another day with saying this?
Dancing snow flogs
I sit at home sipping my second coffee today and wonder myself whether putting my watch around my wrest has become a ritual which is frightening me. I decide that I don't know. Outside some lost snow flogs are dancing in the wind. I watch to the threes and to my happiness I see that they are showing the first signs of spring. Ten more days till it is officially spring, once again mother nature doesn't follow our calendar but does what it feels like.
Then I decide not to go to the gym, again. It doesn't matter, tomorrow I will loose my calories in the gym, today I shall focus on organising my life and work. I promiss myself that I have a good reason for it: first I have to finish my work. I realise that I don't know what work I am going to finish.
Listening to some music that makes me calm. I walk to my bedroom to organise my messy hair which is still in a waking-up condition. Unfortunately I pass my kitchen on the way to the bedroom, and all the dishes make me turn around immediately. In five minutes I'll return to the kitchen and finish the dishes. One hour passes and on the internet I discover that the old president of Serbia probably died. I need to know more about it. Via google I discover that some Dutch travel agency now organises travel packages to different destinations in Montenegro.
Then I start feeling quilty and wonder how I can give this day more sense. So I send three work related e-mails, for which I have to treat myself with another coffee. I try to ignore the mess in the kitchen.
I look at my watch and discover that half of this day has already passed. Now it is enough, I will clean the dishes, organise my hair, finish my work, go to the supermarket and after that I can read. Or shouldn't I confess to this ritual?
Then I decide not to go to the gym, again. It doesn't matter, tomorrow I will loose my calories in the gym, today I shall focus on organising my life and work. I promiss myself that I have a good reason for it: first I have to finish my work. I realise that I don't know what work I am going to finish.
Listening to some music that makes me calm. I walk to my bedroom to organise my messy hair which is still in a waking-up condition. Unfortunately I pass my kitchen on the way to the bedroom, and all the dishes make me turn around immediately. In five minutes I'll return to the kitchen and finish the dishes. One hour passes and on the internet I discover that the old president of Serbia probably died. I need to know more about it. Via google I discover that some Dutch travel agency now organises travel packages to different destinations in Montenegro.
Then I start feeling quilty and wonder how I can give this day more sense. So I send three work related e-mails, for which I have to treat myself with another coffee. I try to ignore the mess in the kitchen.
I look at my watch and discover that half of this day has already passed. Now it is enough, I will clean the dishes, organise my hair, finish my work, go to the supermarket and after that I can read. Or shouldn't I confess to this ritual?
9.3.06
Must be heaven
Yesterday I visited this beautiful mosque in Ankara! Houses of prayer belong to the most beautiful architecture in the world, and I don't know whether I should be happy or said about that. It would be easy to say it is said... but the reality is that they exist and that people like to visit them.That's why I draw a symbolic line for myself: if I have to pay to enter a church or mosque, or any other religious house, then I will not enter it. This was for me a reason for not visiting Vatican city.
Well, I am not going to write an epistel on religion, but will only say that we should look to the beautiful things of religions too! My campaign would be: open all religious houses that respect itself for dialogues on (all) diverse aspects of society!
Luggage fear
It is true: Europe was covered under snow this week! When I saw this thru my the airplane window I was almost sure that my luggage was not going to arrive: it took these poor man 10 minutes to figure out whether the suitcases should go with the airplane, or should stay behind at the airport. And this is how every travel becomes a bit exciting!
25.2.06
Now on Air!
Yes! The new IGLYO website is ready! Me not being a wizz-kid I don't seem to succeed in copying a whole screen into blogger. Well maybe a good reason for you all to take a look on our new website! www.iglyo.com.
Fabio, Alon and Doron really did a great job.
19.2.06
Pristina
And the last stop of this short Balkan tour is Pristina. The week felt good after all, even though it is heavy to do so many visits in such short time. It energized me, as I realise that progress is being made. In Kosovo there was lately quite some media attention: during new years evening two gay guys were beaten up. When they reported this to the police they were harassed by the police officers, about which they raised a complaint. The spokesmen of the police department in Pristina reacted with a statement that homosexuality in Kosovo was still a crime, which is untrue. Pristina is the only entity in this area which has a rather clear anti-discrimination law, which explicitly includes sexual minorites. So the consequense of this all has been that police officers lost their job and the spokesmen was replaced to another area of Kosovo. A lot of media attention was given to the issue, until the moment that president Rugova died.
However it is a fact that the LGBT community lives very isolated. It moves around in small sub-communites, whom hardly communicate with each other. So many efforts are put in building up a community which is capable of defending their granted rights....this is not an easy task!
It was great seeing friends back here. In one and half a year I have seen the confidence of a small group of people growing. For outsiders this might seem like a normal and unimportant thing, but having been involved in these communities for almost two years now I am proud on what these people have reached. Not to forget people here are great fun: we drunk, we sung and we dance like crazy!
However it is a fact that the LGBT community lives very isolated. It moves around in small sub-communites, whom hardly communicate with each other. So many efforts are put in building up a community which is capable of defending their granted rights....this is not an easy task!
It was great seeing friends back here. In one and half a year I have seen the confidence of a small group of people growing. For outsiders this might seem like a normal and unimportant thing, but having been involved in these communities for almost two years now I am proud on what these people have reached. Not to forget people here are great fun: we drunk, we sung and we dance like crazy!
16.2.06
Tirana
After a ride of four hours we arrived in Tirana yesterday. The road to Tirana was bad, especially the part between the Montenegrin boarder and Skadahr, the first 'real' city which we passed. We drove thru many small villages, in which the main source of income seems to be the small trades that people have started along the roads.
The mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama, waschosen as global mayor of the year. 2004. He began his career as artist, but moreover he is famous as a reformer now. A socialist who is standing for rapid changes in Albania. He paints many buildings in the centre in contrasting colours, through which the looks of Tirana have changed in only a couple of years time.
Whenever we talk about gays here we call them communists. Of course in Albanian context this is a save word to use: it has just been only a bit more than a decade ago since the communist chapter of this country was closed. Till here my short update from a cafe with WLAN, in the centre or Tirana. Crazy enough I can update my blog, read my private e-mail, but not access my COC webmail...
12.2.06
Crna Gora
This is, I think, the sixth time that I visit Montenegro. I am sitting in my hotel room, after we just arrived. Just called some people and set the schedule for this 3-day mission. Wednesday we will travel on to Albania.The first time I came to Montenegro ('Crna Gora') was in May 2004. My mission was to find people who wanted to start a NGO on Lesbian and Gay rights. Initially this mission seemed to be succesful, but now, almost two years later, I am back in Montenegro with a similar mission. It is said to conclude that I can probably count the gays I have met here during the past years on two hands. To count the lesbians that I have met I don't even need one hand. It is not that people did not warn me: Montenegro is a post-conflict, post-communist, masculine and religious society, be carefull with what you do and who you meet.
During the first press confence we planned to organise, November 2004, the national football hooligans organised as 'Varvari', announced to react violently on our press conference. We decided to cancel it as we had to take the receveived treaths serious. The Ministry of Internal affairs first couldn't help us. Still a big group of people was searching for us in the city, and the police posted for my hotel that night. One day after I left two activists (one not gay, one not coming from Montenegro) showed up in a television show. (We had already done this when I was still there, but apparently nobody had watched that show). Over 50 'Varvari' surrounded the television studio, happily the police this time did react and protected the activists.
Montenegro is one of the nicest spots I know in Europe. It has a very well preserved nature. Due to the big differences in landscapes it has three different climates. When you land on Titograd Airport (the capital Podgorica was also named Titograd until the fall of the communicsm) you fly over Skadar lake, see the beautiful photo above. The contrast of such a beautiful country with people possessing a truth hate against different oriented people is still difficult to understand.
11.2.06
A Saturday at home
Woken up late and prepared a simple breakfast. Whilst checking my e-mails my eye falls on the window-sill, a ladybird (yes they are still terrorizing my appartment) is catched by a smaller spider. It takes the spider more than half an hour to get the ladybird to its hole, a small chink. I notice that the spider collected 3 ladybirds in its hole now.
Going to some old papers I discover the discrepancy between different existing timelines of IGLYO's future, so I take a while to make one list out of it and send it over to ex board members for a check-up.
After cleaning up a bit (a neverending task) I discover that it's already five in the afternoon. As I want to read the weekend edition of Volkskrant I have to walk to the station to buy one. Because I am leaving for Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo tomorrow I decide that I should also buy a book. Paulo Coelho, because I was told he writes nice books. And a new opinion magazine, probably with many new articles on interfaith clashes.
The days are getting longer and I enjoy watching the sunset out of my appartment.
Going to some old papers I discover the discrepancy between different existing timelines of IGLYO's future, so I take a while to make one list out of it and send it over to ex board members for a check-up.
After cleaning up a bit (a neverending task) I discover that it's already five in the afternoon. As I want to read the weekend edition of Volkskrant I have to walk to the station to buy one. Because I am leaving for Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo tomorrow I decide that I should also buy a book. Paulo Coelho, because I was told he writes nice books. And a new opinion magazine, probably with many new articles on interfaith clashes.
The days are getting longer and I enjoy watching the sunset out of my appartment.
10.2.06
My horoscope for the day
"Today everything annoys you. You have the feeling that you are surrounded with idiots. Control yourself and try not to explode."
1.2.06
Gie
Tonight I saw the story of Soe Hok Gie, a young Chinese-Indonesian guy who grew up in the militaristic post-colonial period in Indonesia, which was ruled by Soekarno and Soeharto. The patriarch was struggling for a true democratic Indonesia, leaving the militarism and communism on the other side. His struggle was brave, and of course he ended up paying the most expensive price possible for his truth believe. It is idealism of people like Gie that fascinates me. Pragmatic reasons often take me away from idealism, they turn my idealism in a less honorable strive to integrity. His idealism was not one of Para-militant protesters fighting against vested powers, but he was an intellectual leader of the Indonesian student movement during the sixties. Later he also published his ideas. He did this during years when the government was not censuring the media yet, soon after the government started. At many days I dare to wonder whether I should let my pragmatism overrule my idealism, I sometimes even wonder why I don’t do that. However the fact is that I do not, and that I contrary believe that I have to respect made choices, even if they’re mine.
“I do not want to be bamboo bending for the wind,
I want to be an oak standing firm.”
Watching portraits like this always make me feel strong, they make me believe in the power that is in people. They make me believe that tomorrow I can change the world. Afterwards a melancholic mood, yes indeed mostly occurring during traveling by train, overrules me and I loose the will to get disciplined tomorrow morning and change my whole life for sake of the world. Still, I hope that tomorrow morning I will wake up being a bit more disciplined in realizing my ideals.
The era of International Film festivals, such as the one in Rotterdam I visited tonight, always fascinates me. Walking through the buildings where the movies are screened makes you feel part of another world for a while. I am not sure whether this is caused by surrounding people who fantasize themselves being part of the surreal world they are watching, or whether it’s just me being in an artistic environment I don’t visit too often. Analyzing movies like these feels like walking on ice: in the middle of so many movie phanatics you soon have a wrong interpretations. Tonight I just left the movie festival straight after the movie, sticking to my own reality of what I saw. Gie, who didn't show much affection to girls, was not gay, I thought. However, the website of the Filmfestival (www.filmfestivalrotterdam.nl), told me that the homosexual aspect of the movie remained uncensored. I have to visit more film festivals!
“I do not want to be bamboo bending for the wind,
I want to be an oak standing firm.”
Watching portraits like this always make me feel strong, they make me believe in the power that is in people. They make me believe that tomorrow I can change the world. Afterwards a melancholic mood, yes indeed mostly occurring during traveling by train, overrules me and I loose the will to get disciplined tomorrow morning and change my whole life for sake of the world. Still, I hope that tomorrow morning I will wake up being a bit more disciplined in realizing my ideals.
The era of International Film festivals, such as the one in Rotterdam I visited tonight, always fascinates me. Walking through the buildings where the movies are screened makes you feel part of another world for a while. I am not sure whether this is caused by surrounding people who fantasize themselves being part of the surreal world they are watching, or whether it’s just me being in an artistic environment I don’t visit too often. Analyzing movies like these feels like walking on ice: in the middle of so many movie phanatics you soon have a wrong interpretations. Tonight I just left the movie festival straight after the movie, sticking to my own reality of what I saw. Gie, who didn't show much affection to girls, was not gay, I thought. However, the website of the Filmfestival (www.filmfestivalrotterdam.nl), told me that the homosexual aspect of the movie remained uncensored. I have to visit more film festivals!
30.1.06
Generation gap
Yesterday we started celebrating the 60th anniversary of COC. A special occasion, for me it was the first time I saw such a big part of the living COC history together. I regret I did not speak to many interesting people. Those who prepared our roads, who fought for our rights when the people wouldn't not accept homosexuals in their family. Those who couldn't benefit from international solidarity, those who were often alone in their struggle for a good and equal life. Most of those important people, such as Niek Engelschman and Benno Premsela are no longer alive, and it's said to realise that the rest of the generation is getting very, very old. Seeing them made me proud of being part of COC, and it gave me new energy to do the work that I am doing.
Sixty years after the first meeting of COC Netherlands (which was called 'Shakespear Club' in those early days), we are meeting on a beautiful location in the centre of Amsterdam. With over 300 people we commemorate the history, but also look forward to all the work that still has to be carried out. Unfortunately there was a huge generation gap. Those who are now in their thirtees and fourtees were under represented. They have benefited from the rights that were granted to our communities in the ninetees. The little discrimination that they faced in their younger years is perceived as 'normal', I think something that the current generation doesn't acknowledge any longer. The norm should be no discrimination. It was nice to see young people represented, two young researchers that wrote about the problems of young (minus 16) LGBT people were awarded a Bob Angelo award (synonime for Niek Engelschman).
The LGBT youth group Outsite from Delft performed with their band 'Straight from the closet' the winning song of the COC song festival 2005, which was a nice contrast with the older generation.And for the rest my weekend has been filled with not doing too much... I met my old school friend Marije on Saturday evening, and went out the evening before. And that means that I'm now gonna put myself together and finish all the work that is waiting...
21.1.06
Judit in Brussels
Yesterday I saw Kris' new appartment in Leuven. Both Leuven as well as the appartment are impressing! According Kris Leuven is a bourgeouis city, full of students and social housing possibilities. A bit of a contradictus in term I thought, but maybe he's right.Today I spent a nice day together with Judit in Brussels. She showed me this nice peeing dog in a Brussels street. Now I am at home trying not to work. Cristian and I are doing our best not to be annoyed by the bad working Skype.
I just red on the internet that the Secretary General of the European Council of Bisshops opposes that the statement that passed this week in the European Parliament which condemns homophobia and calls member states to take acknowledge rights of same sex couples. It would damage family values and would fall outside of the Parliaments portfolio. And I just thought we are trying to separate state and church and acknowledging Human Rights. I don't think that this statement makes mr. Aldo Giordano very popular in his own circles...
19.1.06
Bureaucracy
I missed a big part of my sleep last night because the European Commission told us to redo the budget for the famous A3029 application in their format. Now I knew that they are strict, but thought that my budget was better than their format. Of course that is stubborn, but I thought it was a bit ridiculous to make such a complicated budget in a improvised word format, and made it in a clearer excel sheet. Well, and so I did. Now I am finished and prepared the other documents that we had to send them (originals, they want originals). I think that the whole process of writing this application has cost three of for weeks together now... We better get the money!
Anyhow, now I woke up with pain in my shoulders, which came through the fact I went to the sport school. The pain is welcome because it assures me that I have trained :-) Being in the sport school was a refreshing experience. I suddenly remembered how much I like cardio, but how much I hate fitness... Most of it I can do, but I can't do the thingies for the belly muscles. It is true: I can belly dance but I can not train my belly. Guess I am going to do this at home the coming weeks, so that I can enter and leave the gym without any shame...
Anyhow, now I woke up with pain in my shoulders, which came through the fact I went to the sport school. The pain is welcome because it assures me that I have trained :-) Being in the sport school was a refreshing experience. I suddenly remembered how much I like cardio, but how much I hate fitness... Most of it I can do, but I can't do the thingies for the belly muscles. It is true: I can belly dance but I can not train my belly. Guess I am going to do this at home the coming weeks, so that I can enter and leave the gym without any shame...
10.1.06
Back to work
After the holidays work has started again. LastI have been catching up with a lot of things, and we started the year with a first board meeting together with the new board. I am very happy: we decided a lot of things, many procudures were handed over, tasks were divided and responsibilities were taken. It seems like it is going to be a another very interesting year for IGLYO....
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