The first time I met Vijay I was visiting Curacao in the summer of 2007. I went into town to get my cousin a gift for her wedding. She was getting married about a week after I would be gone, but since we grew up as sisters I really wanted to get her something nice (I did manage to attend her bachelerette party though, still recovering from that one....).
Anyway, so I get into this nice jewelery store in town and asked for my cousin's birth stone. The store manager attending to my needs showed me literally everything he had. Finally he said to me (probably in despair because I could not make up my mind): "Choose any of these and I will give you a very special price, only for friends."
Having heard this line exhaustingly in Mumbai stores I sigh:" O God, don't tell you're from Bombay."
He said:" Yes, How do you know?"
"Well", I reply, " I live there, and I recognize your accent".
He didn't believe me. Really he did NOT. I stood there for a full 20 minutes while he was cross examining me about Mumbai sites. Some examples:
HIM
Where do you stay?
ME
Bandra only
HIM
WHich part of Bandra?
ME
Pali Hill
HIM
Which side of Pali Hill?
ME
Union Park road, near dr Ambedkar statue, off Carter road.
HIM
Which route do you take to the city?
ME
Linking road off, course.
HIM
Which school do your kids attend?
ME
Ecole Mondiale in Juhu, near Amitabh Bachchan's old bungalow.
HIM
Is it a long drive from Bandra to Juhu?
ME
Morning 10 minutes, afternoon 30 minutes, evening one hour.
after this last answer he was finally assured of the fact that I truly lived in Mumbai.
Vijay, as he then introduced himself to me, has been living on Curacao for a few years now. His wife and son are back in Bombay and he misses the city terribly. His fluency in our local language, Papiamento, is not bad at all! But it is in Bombay where is feels most at home. To Vijay Mumbai is the best place on earth.
He gave me all these tips on living in Bombay and finally told me not to trust anyone and not to be to soft. When I want to buy something I should bargain as if my live depends on it and only agree to a price when I think that I it has actually dropped too much. That is survival for you - Bombay style.
I left the store, very happy, with a beatuiful piece of jewelery that I got at a special friends price (at least I think it was good bargain!)
Not long after we first met, Vijay went to Mumbai to spend some time with his family and it seams that the years he spent on a relaxed Caribbean island have somewhat altered his view of his 18 million-plus city.
We met again the next summer on Curacao and the first thing Vijay asked me is how I can bare to live in such a polluted city. "My God", he exclaimed, "the streets are so blokked that it takes me two hours to bridge 10 km! And the crowds! Everywhere there are people. There is always something going on somewhere. Honestly, Monique, I don't even understand why you left Curacao in the first place".
So I had to explain to Vijay that Curacao is indeed the most beautiful place on earth, but that it is mine - like Mumbai is his - regardless of where I am staying.
He had to understand that Mumbai may be cramped and polluted, but that I had already fallen in love with it. That I love the buzz, the sounds, the smells and - yes - the people.
After this Vijay and I met several times. I even met his wife in Mumbai and every time I am on the island I stop by to say hallo and tell Mumbai tales. I tel him what happening, how the cinema's were closed during the Sena riots, how the new scenery is taking shape in the beginning of Carter road and how superb the new Bandra-Worli sea-link is.
He still advised me on how to handle Mumbaikers and - lately - we even have been speaking in Hindi.
Sunday 29 August, 2010
Wednesday 4 August, 2010
Stop globalization now!!!!!
At first it seamed like a good thing, this globalization business. Even I was quite happy with the first developments. But the world we knew as kids has changed.
Even though I must say that I was never allergic to this concept.
Living on a small island that has always depended largely on trade our eyes were always outward. What we bought in grocery stores was mostly imported, what we saw on the TV were american and south american series and movies (The lather were mostly horrendous soap opera's that could drag on forever). Most of our friend were of mixed origin. Hell, we were all mixed-up ourselves! When I last checked I had West-Indian(probably Arawak) , African, Indian, Scottish, Welsch, Portuguese and Chinese blood. The largest portion (25%) being Indian which I suppose explains my recent addiction to Bollywood movies.
Growing up I had a few global pen pals. One in Holland, two in Italy, two in France, one in Belize (this one stopped writing after an earthquake hit the country, oops) and one in Darjeeling, India. I cannot begin to explain to my kids that back then we wrote letters to each other and waited for weeks - months sometimes - before receiving a reply. Nowadays they can chat online, send each other pictures and talk to and see each other through skype. For them it is business as usual.
I remember this cartoon "the Jetsons" that we used to watch. You must know it! All takes place in the future world. My brothers and I used to laugh at the phone they had in which they could see each other, while talking. We though it was the most hilarious thing, soooo impossible. Not.
So many thing is Jetsons have been realized. I guess the makers were visionaries! (Still waiting for the machine though that makes any food or drink you desire. Could use one of those. No, microwave is not good enough)
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that up till now my approach to globalization was quite neutral. Not much would change for me personally anyway. I always make sure to get my stuff where ever in the world they are available.
Until that day.
Ever since I left Curacao to live elsewhere I always went back to buy this special ingredient that I use in salads: Heinz vegetable salad. There is a large and a small tin, but I always bring 2 small tins. I treasured them and they would last for a year until I visited the island again. I could not get them in Holland nor in India, so I had to make sure to have a small stock everywhere I went.
I took them with me from Holland to India and refreshed my stock regularly during our Bombay years. When it was time to leave Bombay we were advised by the moving company not to bring any food in our container as this could delay the clearing process. I panicked! What to do with my tins of Heinz vegetable salad! I had already gotten rid of all other food items, but I could not leave my Heinz vegetable salad behind!
I just could not. Impossible!!
So they came. In my suitcase. It was the only way.
Then that day came.
Back in Holland I was visiting the very very local produce store runned by a Turkish guy called Mehmet. About 5 minutes form our house, set in a very very residential non-global area. Mehmet sells mostly fruits and vegetables of nice quality, but also Turkish breads and sweets that he claims his mom-in-law makes. Mehmet also carries a small array of canned stuff, for the convenience of his customers.
I could not believe my eyes that day when I saw Mehmet stacking a large stock of Heinz vegetable salad. He did not only have the small tins. He had the larger tins too!
OMG, it was a disaster!!!
Not only did I carry two (small) tins of Heinz vegetable salad around the world FOR NOTHING! But now I don't need to go home anymore to stock up.
Here is where I draw a line to globalization. If one cannot long for goods anymore, because they are only sold in far far away countries, what's the point? If you can buy anything you want anywhere you go, does it matter at all where you are?
I should be allowed to cherish my Heinz vegetable salad! Globalization has taken that away from me.
So I say to you, my friends: stop globalization now!
Before it is too late.
Even though I must say that I was never allergic to this concept.
Living on a small island that has always depended largely on trade our eyes were always outward. What we bought in grocery stores was mostly imported, what we saw on the TV were american and south american series and movies (The lather were mostly horrendous soap opera's that could drag on forever). Most of our friend were of mixed origin. Hell, we were all mixed-up ourselves! When I last checked I had West-Indian(probably Arawak) , African, Indian, Scottish, Welsch, Portuguese and Chinese blood. The largest portion (25%) being Indian which I suppose explains my recent addiction to Bollywood movies.
Growing up I had a few global pen pals. One in Holland, two in Italy, two in France, one in Belize (this one stopped writing after an earthquake hit the country, oops) and one in Darjeeling, India. I cannot begin to explain to my kids that back then we wrote letters to each other and waited for weeks - months sometimes - before receiving a reply. Nowadays they can chat online, send each other pictures and talk to and see each other through skype. For them it is business as usual.
I remember this cartoon "the Jetsons" that we used to watch. You must know it! All takes place in the future world. My brothers and I used to laugh at the phone they had in which they could see each other, while talking. We though it was the most hilarious thing, soooo impossible. Not.
So many thing is Jetsons have been realized. I guess the makers were visionaries! (Still waiting for the machine though that makes any food or drink you desire. Could use one of those. No, microwave is not good enough)
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that up till now my approach to globalization was quite neutral. Not much would change for me personally anyway. I always make sure to get my stuff where ever in the world they are available.
Until that day.
Ever since I left Curacao to live elsewhere I always went back to buy this special ingredient that I use in salads: Heinz vegetable salad. There is a large and a small tin, but I always bring 2 small tins. I treasured them and they would last for a year until I visited the island again. I could not get them in Holland nor in India, so I had to make sure to have a small stock everywhere I went.
I took them with me from Holland to India and refreshed my stock regularly during our Bombay years. When it was time to leave Bombay we were advised by the moving company not to bring any food in our container as this could delay the clearing process. I panicked! What to do with my tins of Heinz vegetable salad! I had already gotten rid of all other food items, but I could not leave my Heinz vegetable salad behind!
I just could not. Impossible!!
So they came. In my suitcase. It was the only way.
Then that day came.
Back in Holland I was visiting the very very local produce store runned by a Turkish guy called Mehmet. About 5 minutes form our house, set in a very very residential non-global area. Mehmet sells mostly fruits and vegetables of nice quality, but also Turkish breads and sweets that he claims his mom-in-law makes. Mehmet also carries a small array of canned stuff, for the convenience of his customers.
I could not believe my eyes that day when I saw Mehmet stacking a large stock of Heinz vegetable salad. He did not only have the small tins. He had the larger tins too!
OMG, it was a disaster!!!
Not only did I carry two (small) tins of Heinz vegetable salad around the world FOR NOTHING! But now I don't need to go home anymore to stock up.
Here is where I draw a line to globalization. If one cannot long for goods anymore, because they are only sold in far far away countries, what's the point? If you can buy anything you want anywhere you go, does it matter at all where you are?
I should be allowed to cherish my Heinz vegetable salad! Globalization has taken that away from me.
So I say to you, my friends: stop globalization now!
Before it is too late.
Tuesday 29 June, 2010
Mumbai revisited
In the past three years I have written many stories on this blog. Not always regularly, bot most of the times I had a clue what to convey before I started writing. This does not mean I had the whole story in my head, but at least I knew where I was heading.
This story is different. I have no idea how it will run. The only thing I know is that I have to write this down, now. It is time.
It is with great pain that I parted with Mumbai. A place that I have incorporated in my system and that is now officially listed as one of my homes. It is no secret to any of you that I enjoyed living in Mumbai thoroughly even though life has certainly not been easy all the time. Leaving in such a hasty and uncomfortable way as we left, left an itch behind that was not easy to get rid of.
Back in Holland I had to deal with the fact that my Mumbai days were over, and that was tough. Winter went on forever and even though I had lived in Holland for 18 years, I was never - I repeat: NEVER - very good at winters. The cold does not look good on me. The color of my skin tends to turn into a grayish yellow that is not very appealing. I do not recommend it.
I had gotten used to the humid warmth of Mumbai.But more importantly: I missed my friends that I would see at least on a weekly basis - mostly spontaneously - dearly. Life in Holland is a controlled and organized one. Even informal appointments are often made weeks ahead, very efficient, but leaving little space for the crazy spontaneous moments that I miss so much.
But there are also positive developments to report. We were warmly welcomed by family, friends and neighbors. And the kids are doing well in school as well as socially. They spend a lot of time playing outside with their friends, and picking them up of from school takes me 10 minutes instead of two hours (have to do it myself though can't send Rosy!).
Maarten has a nice job, and I got the chance to set up shop with my bag business (slowly but surely, do not expect any franchises any time soon......)
So life is not bad, but this Bombay-itch just would not go away! So we decided to go back in the first week of may. I swear, it was like arriving back home after a few weeks of holiday! As if we did not leave at all. We felt so at home and the kids remembered! We stayed with Sameer and Shristi and we were so comfortable (have to say this since Shrishti will probably read this), that we ended up not leaving for Rhadika's apartment at all, in which we would have ordinarily loved to stay (Rhadika might be reading this too).
Meeting up with all our friends was a joy, aswell as a bit of a stressfull task, since we only had 8 days to meet up with everyone we wanted to see. And off course the kids had their own priorities.
But we took time to hang out at the Marriott pool (surprising the staff by the way: "you choose to come to Mumbai for a holiday?"), drink coconut water as often as we could (me and Mauch only), visit Crosswords (bookstore), catch a movie or two, go down to kalbadevi for proper business shopping (me only) and have far too expensive coffee and cake at the Taj.
When it was time to go I was sad, but ready. This visit has put everything into a better perspective. Leaving as we left (last year) gave us no time to say our goodbyes properly, hence the itch. Now we could spend time there without the negative stress of the last weeks before the move.
The other thing I got to realize is that even though I miss my friends dearly, I know now that they are still my friends. Time and space has not changed anything. My friends are there and Mumbai will always be my Mumbai.
So we left. Again. But not quite so. And that is ok.
This story is different. I have no idea how it will run. The only thing I know is that I have to write this down, now. It is time.
It is with great pain that I parted with Mumbai. A place that I have incorporated in my system and that is now officially listed as one of my homes. It is no secret to any of you that I enjoyed living in Mumbai thoroughly even though life has certainly not been easy all the time. Leaving in such a hasty and uncomfortable way as we left, left an itch behind that was not easy to get rid of.
Back in Holland I had to deal with the fact that my Mumbai days were over, and that was tough. Winter went on forever and even though I had lived in Holland for 18 years, I was never - I repeat: NEVER - very good at winters. The cold does not look good on me. The color of my skin tends to turn into a grayish yellow that is not very appealing. I do not recommend it.
I had gotten used to the humid warmth of Mumbai.But more importantly: I missed my friends that I would see at least on a weekly basis - mostly spontaneously - dearly. Life in Holland is a controlled and organized one. Even informal appointments are often made weeks ahead, very efficient, but leaving little space for the crazy spontaneous moments that I miss so much.
But there are also positive developments to report. We were warmly welcomed by family, friends and neighbors. And the kids are doing well in school as well as socially. They spend a lot of time playing outside with their friends, and picking them up of from school takes me 10 minutes instead of two hours (have to do it myself though can't send Rosy!).
Maarten has a nice job, and I got the chance to set up shop with my bag business (slowly but surely, do not expect any franchises any time soon......)
So life is not bad, but this Bombay-itch just would not go away! So we decided to go back in the first week of may. I swear, it was like arriving back home after a few weeks of holiday! As if we did not leave at all. We felt so at home and the kids remembered! We stayed with Sameer and Shristi and we were so comfortable (have to say this since Shrishti will probably read this), that we ended up not leaving for Rhadika's apartment at all, in which we would have ordinarily loved to stay (Rhadika might be reading this too).
Meeting up with all our friends was a joy, aswell as a bit of a stressfull task, since we only had 8 days to meet up with everyone we wanted to see. And off course the kids had their own priorities.
But we took time to hang out at the Marriott pool (surprising the staff by the way: "you choose to come to Mumbai for a holiday?"), drink coconut water as often as we could (me and Mauch only), visit Crosswords (bookstore), catch a movie or two, go down to kalbadevi for proper business shopping (me only) and have far too expensive coffee and cake at the Taj.
When it was time to go I was sad, but ready. This visit has put everything into a better perspective. Leaving as we left (last year) gave us no time to say our goodbyes properly, hence the itch. Now we could spend time there without the negative stress of the last weeks before the move.
The other thing I got to realize is that even though I miss my friends dearly, I know now that they are still my friends. Time and space has not changed anything. My friends are there and Mumbai will always be my Mumbai.
So we left. Again. But not quite so. And that is ok.
Saturday 26 June, 2010
uitverkoop sjaaltjes!
Beste vrienden,
voor allen die in de buurt wonen (of in de buurt zijn):
volgende week woensdag en donderdag gaan alle shawls in de uitverkoop. Ik moet ruimte maken voor een nieuwe voorraad (die ik helaas zelf in het najaar in India moet gaan halen) en alles mag weg.
- je krijgt 25% korting op de eerste shawl
- op elke volgende shawl krijg je 30% korting.
Openingstijden:
woensdag 30 juni van 09.00 tot 12.00 en van 19.00 tot 21.00
donderdag 1 juli van 09.00 tot 11.30
plaats: wilgenlei 7
Neem je vriendinnen vooral mee!
Monique Rhuggenaath
Thursday 10 June, 2010
Democracy is highly overrated
(sorry guys, this one has to be in Dutch!)
Ik ben gisteren gaan stemmen, niet alleen omdat het hoort, maar ook omdat ik echt vind dat als je niet de moeite neemt om te stemmen je ook geen recht hebt om te klagen.
Dus ik stem, bijna altijd. Ik stem bijna nooit hetzelfde. Soms laat ik het afhangen van een leuke kop (Hans Wijers), soms vind ik dat het een vrouw moet zijn (Hirshi Ali) en soms is de persoon op dat moment gewoon the best man for the job (Wim Kok).
Nu lijkt het heel erg alsof ik zweef van links naar rechts en terug, maar mijn keuzes zijn altijd bewust en soms strategisch. Laten we elkaar niet voor de gek houden. Partijen kunnen zeker naar aanloop van verkiezingen heel veel praatjes hebben, when shit hits the van zullen ze - eenmaal plaatsgenomen in de regering - moeten doen wat op dat moment voor het land nodig is.
Noem het hervormingen, bezuinigingen, restructureringen: uiteindelijk zijn het de knappe koppen die bedenken wat er moet gebeuren en de marges daarin voor links of rechts zijn minimaal.
Laten we niet vergeten dat er onder Kok een bijzonder streng (rechts?) financieel beleid is gevoerd waar het land zeer bij gebaat was. En de zeer populaire zalmsnip kwam van ... ja Zalm. Het moeilijk immigratiebeleid van Rita Verdonk is vorm gegeven door Job Cohen (over leuke koppen gesproken). Wat is links en wat is rechts? Leuk om over te discusieren, maar eenmaal in office maakt het niet zoveel meer uit.
Ik heb er dan ook alle vertrouwen in dat de serieueze partijen straks weer met elkaar uit komen. Dan kunnen de knappe koppen bepalen wat de komende vier jaar goed is voor Nederland.
Dat Wilders zo een enorme hoeveelheid stemmen heeft gekregen stemt we wel somber. Niet omdat ik bang ben dat hij de kans krijg om zijn programma uit te voeren. Zijn immigratiebeleid is in grote delen zelfs onuitvoerbaar binnen de Europese constellatie (en hier en daar in strijd met de grondwet)en zijn enige andere speerpunt was dat hij op niets bezuinigt. Helemaal niets. Terwijl de knappe koppen het er in ieder geval met elkaar over eens zijn dat er de komende jaren bezuinigt moet worden, linksom of rechsom.
Pure retoriek dus. Zijn beste strategie zou nu zijn om als gebeten hond in de kamer te gaan zitten omdat niemand met hem wil regeren omdat de Haagse elite 1,5 miljoen kiezers negeert. De andere partijen zullen handig moeten opereren om hem die macht te ontnemen.
Die 1,5 miljoen kiezers die op hem gestemd hebben, die overigens voor 50% laag opgeleid zijn, hebben een worst voorgehangen gekregen die ze nooit zullen opsmikkelen. De moslims gaan het land echt niet uit, en bezuinigen zullen we moeten.
Wilders is niet dom. Hij weet dit ook. En daarom is het te betreuren dat hij op deze manier heeft ingespeeld op deze sentimenten.
De sentimenten zijn voor een deel reel, voor een deel gebasseerd op angst en zijn een veeg teken. De gevestigde partijen doen er goed aan om ze serieus te nemen. Dat wil evenwel niet zeggen dat een partij als PVV de kans moet krijgen om te regeren.
Waarom?
Omdat 1,5 miljoen mensen op hem gestemd hebben? Is democratie zaligmakend?
Think again.
Hitler-Duitsland was ook een democratie.
Voor een keer, uw politiek commentator.
Ik ben gisteren gaan stemmen, niet alleen omdat het hoort, maar ook omdat ik echt vind dat als je niet de moeite neemt om te stemmen je ook geen recht hebt om te klagen.
Dus ik stem, bijna altijd. Ik stem bijna nooit hetzelfde. Soms laat ik het afhangen van een leuke kop (Hans Wijers), soms vind ik dat het een vrouw moet zijn (Hirshi Ali) en soms is de persoon op dat moment gewoon the best man for the job (Wim Kok).
Nu lijkt het heel erg alsof ik zweef van links naar rechts en terug, maar mijn keuzes zijn altijd bewust en soms strategisch. Laten we elkaar niet voor de gek houden. Partijen kunnen zeker naar aanloop van verkiezingen heel veel praatjes hebben, when shit hits the van zullen ze - eenmaal plaatsgenomen in de regering - moeten doen wat op dat moment voor het land nodig is.
Noem het hervormingen, bezuinigingen, restructureringen: uiteindelijk zijn het de knappe koppen die bedenken wat er moet gebeuren en de marges daarin voor links of rechts zijn minimaal.
Laten we niet vergeten dat er onder Kok een bijzonder streng (rechts?) financieel beleid is gevoerd waar het land zeer bij gebaat was. En de zeer populaire zalmsnip kwam van ... ja Zalm. Het moeilijk immigratiebeleid van Rita Verdonk is vorm gegeven door Job Cohen (over leuke koppen gesproken). Wat is links en wat is rechts? Leuk om over te discusieren, maar eenmaal in office maakt het niet zoveel meer uit.
Ik heb er dan ook alle vertrouwen in dat de serieueze partijen straks weer met elkaar uit komen. Dan kunnen de knappe koppen bepalen wat de komende vier jaar goed is voor Nederland.
Dat Wilders zo een enorme hoeveelheid stemmen heeft gekregen stemt we wel somber. Niet omdat ik bang ben dat hij de kans krijg om zijn programma uit te voeren. Zijn immigratiebeleid is in grote delen zelfs onuitvoerbaar binnen de Europese constellatie (en hier en daar in strijd met de grondwet)en zijn enige andere speerpunt was dat hij op niets bezuinigt. Helemaal niets. Terwijl de knappe koppen het er in ieder geval met elkaar over eens zijn dat er de komende jaren bezuinigt moet worden, linksom of rechsom.
Pure retoriek dus. Zijn beste strategie zou nu zijn om als gebeten hond in de kamer te gaan zitten omdat niemand met hem wil regeren omdat de Haagse elite 1,5 miljoen kiezers negeert. De andere partijen zullen handig moeten opereren om hem die macht te ontnemen.
Die 1,5 miljoen kiezers die op hem gestemd hebben, die overigens voor 50% laag opgeleid zijn, hebben een worst voorgehangen gekregen die ze nooit zullen opsmikkelen. De moslims gaan het land echt niet uit, en bezuinigen zullen we moeten.
Wilders is niet dom. Hij weet dit ook. En daarom is het te betreuren dat hij op deze manier heeft ingespeeld op deze sentimenten.
De sentimenten zijn voor een deel reel, voor een deel gebasseerd op angst en zijn een veeg teken. De gevestigde partijen doen er goed aan om ze serieus te nemen. Dat wil evenwel niet zeggen dat een partij als PVV de kans moet krijgen om te regeren.
Waarom?
Omdat 1,5 miljoen mensen op hem gestemd hebben? Is democratie zaligmakend?
Think again.
Hitler-Duitsland was ook een democratie.
Voor een keer, uw politiek commentator.
Monday 19 April, 2010
To sleep or not to sleep.....
Het is mijn grootste valkuil en ik ben me er heel erg van bewust. En toch slaag ik er niet in om eerder naar bed te gaan. Het is een familiekwaal, weet ik ook wel. Mijn hele familie van moederskant heeft er last van (behalve een lieve nicht die nu in Stockholm woont, zij valt al om half 10 's avonds in slaap....). Wij van de Llewellyn-tak worden pas rond een uur of 11 's avonds actief.
We hebben er zelfs een woord voor in mijn familie: trans-nocheren ("Anochi" is 's avonds in het papiamento).
Mijn vader heeft zich er al jaren geleden bij neergelegd. Hij probeert mama niet eens te bewegen samen met hem naar bed te gaan. Hij weet na 45 jaar dat het geen zin heeft, en trekt het zich niet persoonlijk aan. In plaats daarvan heeft hij zijn slaapplek verlegd naar de woonkamer. Als ik op Curacao ben treft ik ze ook vaak zo aan: Mama in haar stoel, terwijl ze afwisselend naar de TV tuurt en kleine dutjes doet en papa, op de grond naast haast vast asleep!
Als mama dan om een uur of twee naar de slaapkamer verhuist, maakt ze papa wakker. Soms (ja echt waar!!) laat ze hem gewoon liggen. Ze krijgt hem natuurlijk niet meer wakker omdat hij zwaar in zijn REM-slaap zit.
Zo ernstig is het met Maarten en ik niet gesteld. Nog afgezien van het feit dat Maarten met zijn lagadishi-rug (lang verhaal, laten we het er maar op houden dat zijn rug niet al te sterk is) niet op de grond kan slapen, heeft hij ook eieren voor zijn geld gekozen. Hij gaat op een gegeven moment gewoon naar bed en doet een eenmalig aanbod om mee te gaan.
Behalve als hij vindt dat ik teveel aan het transnocheren ben geweest, dat doet hij gewoon alle lichten uit en zegt: " kom, we gaan naar boven".
Een lange inleiding om te zeggen dat ik deze dagen bijzonder weinig slaap. Met de presentatie van mijn nieuwe collectie a.s. zaterdag schiet dat er gewoon bij in. Ik ben bij lange na niet klaar met alles en de spanning zet zich om in stress. Mijn transnoch kwaliteiten komen we erg goed van pas, want 'snachts verzet ik nu eenmaal veel meer werk dan overdag. Je kan gerust zeggen dat het een van mijn kerncompetenties is.
Anyway, ik hoop volgende week weer te slapen, het schijnt toch goed voor je te zijn.
We hebben er zelfs een woord voor in mijn familie: trans-nocheren ("Anochi" is 's avonds in het papiamento).
Mijn vader heeft zich er al jaren geleden bij neergelegd. Hij probeert mama niet eens te bewegen samen met hem naar bed te gaan. Hij weet na 45 jaar dat het geen zin heeft, en trekt het zich niet persoonlijk aan. In plaats daarvan heeft hij zijn slaapplek verlegd naar de woonkamer. Als ik op Curacao ben treft ik ze ook vaak zo aan: Mama in haar stoel, terwijl ze afwisselend naar de TV tuurt en kleine dutjes doet en papa, op de grond naast haast vast asleep!
Als mama dan om een uur of twee naar de slaapkamer verhuist, maakt ze papa wakker. Soms (ja echt waar!!) laat ze hem gewoon liggen. Ze krijgt hem natuurlijk niet meer wakker omdat hij zwaar in zijn REM-slaap zit.
Zo ernstig is het met Maarten en ik niet gesteld. Nog afgezien van het feit dat Maarten met zijn lagadishi-rug (lang verhaal, laten we het er maar op houden dat zijn rug niet al te sterk is) niet op de grond kan slapen, heeft hij ook eieren voor zijn geld gekozen. Hij gaat op een gegeven moment gewoon naar bed en doet een eenmalig aanbod om mee te gaan.
Behalve als hij vindt dat ik teveel aan het transnocheren ben geweest, dat doet hij gewoon alle lichten uit en zegt: " kom, we gaan naar boven".
Een lange inleiding om te zeggen dat ik deze dagen bijzonder weinig slaap. Met de presentatie van mijn nieuwe collectie a.s. zaterdag schiet dat er gewoon bij in. Ik ben bij lange na niet klaar met alles en de spanning zet zich om in stress. Mijn transnoch kwaliteiten komen we erg goed van pas, want 'snachts verzet ik nu eenmaal veel meer werk dan overdag. Je kan gerust zeggen dat het een van mijn kerncompetenties is.
Anyway, ik hoop volgende week weer te slapen, het schijnt toch goed voor je te zijn.
Saturday 3 April, 2010
101 things to do in Mumbai
As I am still unpacking my stuff, (yes I know I should be done by now but I am sure there is no law against slow-unpacking-of-household-items-after-a-big-move). Anyway - lost my sentence there - as I was saying, I am still unpacking and I found a time out Mumbai magazine with the subject "101 things to do in Mumbai".
It's a great one but it gave me the brilliant idea to make my very own Mumbai list. I cannot say much now but, there will be some similarities but definitely many differences.
Stay tuned!
It's a great one but it gave me the brilliant idea to make my very own Mumbai list. I cannot say much now but, there will be some similarities but definitely many differences.
Stay tuned!
MUMBAI HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!
Yes my friends! We have just booked. We (all 4 of us) are heading for Mumbai in the first week of may. Yes, we did it and we are really looking forward to it. Can't wait!!!
Tuesday 9 March, 2010
It's all about balance!
The universe is playing some cruel tricks on me, I'm sure. It took me some time to figger it out, but it is truly staring me in the face and I finally got it.
This is the deal.
It has been winter FOREVER in this country and this is not from the point of the-island-girl-who-would-rather-be-in-a-warm-place-ANY-warm-place-but-here. No, objectively speaking it has been winter FOREVER!! Winter started in the beginning of november with ice and heavy snowfall around mid-november. Untill december the snow was nice. In january I was in neutral about the cold and the snow since the kids were enjoying it so much.
In February I perceived it as an annoying fact which was cramping my style (try flaunting your worldly goods like beautiful necklaces and bracelets when you are covered from top to toe in woolen scarfs and other warm-keeping materials... you get my point?) This is around the same time that Maurits would rather stay in then play outside telling me that his house in India was much much warmer then this house in this country.
We are well into march and it still freezing! It was snowing again yesterday!!!!
IS THERE NO END TO THIS SUFFERING?????? (I asked myself)
Well the answer to this very obvious answer is no.
Not yet.
It's all about balance. You see. We left the Nederlands in Januari (mid-winter), and we stayed away for about three years. Only to return last october just before winter kicked in. An easy calculation will show, beyond reasonable doubt, that we missed 2,5 winters and to restore peace in the universe (and the hole in the ozon layer), it is imperative for us to make up for this omission.
As a result of this we (and the rest of Holland with us) will have to sit through 2,5 more winterdays. If cold winter normally lasts 2 months, this year it will last 7 months. This means that we will not be leaving the below zero temperatures till the first of may. I feel like a the main character in Salman Rusdhie's midnights childeren whose fate was entangled with the faith of India after independence. (read it! Not because Rushdie is a Bombay-boy, but the book is amazing!!!) So Holland, because we missed a few winters, this has to be done.
Anyway, the sceptici amongst you will surely say that this is close to impossible. To those of you I say:
" Dah!!!"
Read Gabriel Garcia Marquesz, everything is possible!!!!!
This is not my personal frustration talking, but a scientific explanation of a phenomenon that makes even the Dutch long for warmer days.
Mark my words!! Winter will be over in May.
This is the deal.
It has been winter FOREVER in this country and this is not from the point of the-island-girl-who-would-rather-be-in-a-warm-place-ANY-warm-place-but-here. No, objectively speaking it has been winter FOREVER!! Winter started in the beginning of november with ice and heavy snowfall around mid-november. Untill december the snow was nice. In january I was in neutral about the cold and the snow since the kids were enjoying it so much.
In February I perceived it as an annoying fact which was cramping my style (try flaunting your worldly goods like beautiful necklaces and bracelets when you are covered from top to toe in woolen scarfs and other warm-keeping materials... you get my point?) This is around the same time that Maurits would rather stay in then play outside telling me that his house in India was much much warmer then this house in this country.
We are well into march and it still freezing! It was snowing again yesterday!!!!
IS THERE NO END TO THIS SUFFERING?????? (I asked myself)
Well the answer to this very obvious answer is no.
Not yet.
It's all about balance. You see. We left the Nederlands in Januari (mid-winter), and we stayed away for about three years. Only to return last october just before winter kicked in. An easy calculation will show, beyond reasonable doubt, that we missed 2,5 winters and to restore peace in the universe (and the hole in the ozon layer), it is imperative for us to make up for this omission.
As a result of this we (and the rest of Holland with us) will have to sit through 2,5 more winterdays. If cold winter normally lasts 2 months, this year it will last 7 months. This means that we will not be leaving the below zero temperatures till the first of may. I feel like a the main character in Salman Rusdhie's midnights childeren whose fate was entangled with the faith of India after independence. (read it! Not because Rushdie is a Bombay-boy, but the book is amazing!!!) So Holland, because we missed a few winters, this has to be done.
Anyway, the sceptici amongst you will surely say that this is close to impossible. To those of you I say:
" Dah!!!"
Read Gabriel Garcia Marquesz, everything is possible!!!!!
This is not my personal frustration talking, but a scientific explanation of a phenomenon that makes even the Dutch long for warmer days.
Mark my words!! Winter will be over in May.
Friday 5 February, 2010
Maurits
This morning, as we were preparing for school, Mauch came down the stairs and said to me: " Mommy our India-house is totally taklu" (bald).
He speaks of Mumbai often is very preoccupied with the state of the house. Always wondering if there is someone else living in it and who that would be. When he cannot find a toy he would say that it is probably still in his India house. He still mentions his friends - of course - even though it may not be on a daily basis anymore. But on unexpected moments especially Anne, Kees and Hudson are brought up as if he just saw them yesterday. Then many days go by without any remarks and suddenly yesterday he said to me he wanted to go back to his India house because this house was too cold.
Anyway, this morning, there I was, not knowing what so say, but I said: Yes, Mauch, I think it is taklu. It is probably still totally empty.
At that exact moment our cleaning lady arrives and overhears our conversation. She says: "I knew he was missing India, didn't I tell you! (at this point I was a little annoyed since the lady does not know Maurits at all and of course it is none of her business anyway, so I did not reply and she went about her business).
Mauch waited for her to move on and then whispered to me in my ear: " I do not miss Rosy at all, Mommy".
Of course
we all know
this
is
a
lie
He speaks of Mumbai often is very preoccupied with the state of the house. Always wondering if there is someone else living in it and who that would be. When he cannot find a toy he would say that it is probably still in his India house. He still mentions his friends - of course - even though it may not be on a daily basis anymore. But on unexpected moments especially Anne, Kees and Hudson are brought up as if he just saw them yesterday. Then many days go by without any remarks and suddenly yesterday he said to me he wanted to go back to his India house because this house was too cold.
Anyway, this morning, there I was, not knowing what so say, but I said: Yes, Mauch, I think it is taklu. It is probably still totally empty.
At that exact moment our cleaning lady arrives and overhears our conversation. She says: "I knew he was missing India, didn't I tell you! (at this point I was a little annoyed since the lady does not know Maurits at all and of course it is none of her business anyway, so I did not reply and she went about her business).
Mauch waited for her to move on and then whispered to me in my ear: " I do not miss Rosy at all, Mommy".
Of course
we all know
this
is
a
lie
Friday 8 January, 2010
Not yet settled.....
Dear friends,
It has been about a month since we moved into our own house (will post some pics of that next time), but no, we are not yet settled. We manage to unpack many many boxes, but somehow he have not been able to struggle through all of them. It will definitely take some time before everything is ok, but we are getting there.
Meanwhile the kids are enjoying school and enjoying the snow that has been falling these past few weeks. I may not have been born in it, but I do appreciate the snow. What I do not appreciate is the cold it comes with! The Marriott-pool flashbacks have increased this week (I wonder why....)
Hana, Martin and the kids were here. We really enjoyed seeing them! The kids we totally trilled and played again as if nothing happened. A true example of how friendship finds his way through time and space. Will post some pics of that next time too.
Anyway, so far so good. In the coming weeks I will be starting on my bags again. This will surely help me te get my life back together.
Take care!
It has been about a month since we moved into our own house (will post some pics of that next time), but no, we are not yet settled. We manage to unpack many many boxes, but somehow he have not been able to struggle through all of them. It will definitely take some time before everything is ok, but we are getting there.
Meanwhile the kids are enjoying school and enjoying the snow that has been falling these past few weeks. I may not have been born in it, but I do appreciate the snow. What I do not appreciate is the cold it comes with! The Marriott-pool flashbacks have increased this week (I wonder why....)
Hana, Martin and the kids were here. We really enjoyed seeing them! The kids we totally trilled and played again as if nothing happened. A true example of how friendship finds his way through time and space. Will post some pics of that next time too.
Anyway, so far so good. In the coming weeks I will be starting on my bags again. This will surely help me te get my life back together.
Take care!
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