I love this time of the year but it always catches up with me too soon! It starts around the end of November and by the time I am baking my xmascookies I already feel rather the sense that the Holiday season will be a thing of the past once more. Like some of you might have noticed I have not written for some time and that is just because of that fact.
A had a blast with Saint Nick on the 6th of December. He got tons of toys and loved his umbrella that much that he even watched television holding on to it. His father decided that this was also the right moment to get the first real Lego into the house. Well, that day I ended up in the pouring rain looking for some lost Lego-pieces on a parking lot. Turned out that I, the Lego-expert, had put them wrong back on the plane!
Once we had finished the tons of chocolate Black Peters and Saint Nicks and tried to cope with the last crumbs of gingerbread it was time to decorate my classroom and give our house a touch of xmasstyle!! A loves that part. He really helped out this year. Getting all the boxes down of the attic and trying to find the right beginning of our lights! He put his Playmobil Nativity-set under the plastic tree. This year he was even able to identify all the pieces by name.
By now I had to start writting my first report cards as well. Traditionally I had to face the fact that modern technology always has a downside. And that it always takes much longer to get everything in order then you really want. Also the fact that my assistant-teacher was going to leave at the end of this term started to make me feel a bit down.
Also traditionally the three of us ended up with a cold. Kleenex and some traditional weapons against running noses, sour throats and rather sexy sounding voices were called in. A used all the objects he saw fit to leave some of his.
The trip to NYC then started to fill me up with that typical xmasfeeling. I awed once more at the xmas-tree in front of Rockefeller and just gasped at every shopwindow that I ran into. My alltime favourite ones: Saks on 5th Avenue, the Disney Store, Cartier but the one that really made me smile was the one of Sony. They decided to go chocolate this year and once you were standing in front of their store the only thing you were able to smell was exactly!
One of our highlights of the trip was the view on top of Rockefeller!! We went up high in the sky and were able to have many Kodakmoments in the Rainbowroom. The fact that it was freezing cold and the sky was that blue that it hurt your eyes just made it more special.
Of course we ended up in some shops as well and I finally decided to spoil myself with one of these gadgets that I always wanted: a Nindendo DS lite. I now end up training my brain daily and seem to be older then I imagined but I won't give in. I also went for the What is Cooking game and will be able to create some new dishes with the help of a personal coach!
Once we dragged our filled up suitcases back into Belgium I ended up in Leuven for my last classes of the semester. In a few weeks the first examinations will be a fact. They won't be a laugh because it is a bit too much to handle with a job and a family but I will try to pass.
I then passed on the filled in report cards to their rightful owner. Many smiles were to be seen and most of the parents left content and cheerful this time. Next on the programme was our traditional xmasparty at work. We sipped from Gluhwein and ate cake in the shadow of the xmaslights. The first xmascards arrived and so did the first gifts from around the world to put under the tree. A his patience was really put to a test when he was told a million times not to open any of those presents till xmaseve!
By now A and I had officialy xmasholiday and we had to start planning the family xmasdinner. I called in Nigella, Tana Ramsey, Martha Stewart and Albert Heijn! P had the brilliant idea to have his family over and the prospect of having to cook for inlaws didn't make me very cheerful. A had begged me to bake some Madeleines and so I did! And I baked some lemoncookies as well ot fill up the cookiestins. Our house now seemed to look and smell more and more like a place were xmas could be celebrated!
The planning of the menu was one thing, creating the feast was an other chapter. A joined me on the several supermarkets attacks. At one moment I thaught that I was going going to loose it. I had never seen that many people looking for ingredients. A was the only one who seemed to think that this was great fun. My shopping bag was screaming for help but only got some support from some snowmen and snowflakes-lights! Yes, I even have shopping bags that I can only use for this season and I am proud of it! Thank you B-family for across the Channel for these great bags from Tesco!
By now it was 1 p.m and I was trying to cook all the things that I had in store for my most ciritical guests. P was still at work and over the radio they were still playing joyfull music. My house looked like a mess, so did my kitchen, so did A and so did I!!! There and then I lost it and started to scream in order to get all the negative energy out.
To cut a long story short: I managed to let the house shine, deck the table, look decent enough to leave the kitchen and feed the hungry souls. The most critical foodinspector that night was 2,5 years old nephew A and when he had finished tons of appetizers and a mocktail he wondered when the real food was going to arrive!
By ten our house was empty, our dishwasher full, the Champagneglasses back were they spend most of their time, A dreaming of Santa and I felt so light and content. I cuddled up closely to P on the sofa and we listened to the silence. Silent Night was reality8n I slept like a rose that night.
The next day we ended up at my mother's house where we were spoiled and A and his cousins played round the xmastree with santa hats on their heads. We played boardgames and laughed with stupid answers. By ten we drove home with A in his new PJs (a rocket on it!!!) and his new bonnet made in Ecquator (gift of his auntie Lilly)!!!! I was also given my new name by my favourite niece A: auntie Lolly
Today we printed out our traditional New Year's letter (proof to be found in many letterboxes in the next days to come!) and we went to see Madagascar 2. A liked to move around, ate tons of popcorn and asked to wash his hand while the Alec the lion was dancing through the Savanna, Marty the Zebra was spitting the last water to be found out there, and Melvin the Giraf was about to be sacrificed in a vulcano and saved by a gorgeous hippo.
The next days will be quite hectic and fun as well. It will be days to remember and to frame! A will be able to spend quality time with us and we will feel cheerful. We will end up in warm and cozzy homes, eat food prepared with love, read many wishes written with love as well, kiss many red cheeks when the bells chime 12 on the last day of 2008 and feel happy that we are blessed with that many friends and family!
One of my best moments that I have spend with A this holiday season was when he was decorating the house for xmaseve and saw the picture of the grandfather he never knew and granny who died a few years ago. He smiled and then he told them them the story of the birth of Jezus. Yes I felt so proud of him and my heart smiled. The feeling I sensed then was one of believe! I can't really describe it what is sensed like but there and then I knew that the miracle of xmas lives in all of us. Hopefull you had yourself a little xmas as well. We will wrapp this one with love and put a big red bow around it knowing that peace can only be felt when really trying!
vrijdag 26 december 2008
dinsdag 25 november 2008
Arabelle, ma belle (chef)!!!!
Every now and then you end up in foodheaven and this last Friday it was bingo!!! R and N, one of our French speaking Belgian friends, had invited us over to Huy!!! It is not one of these postcard villages and rather surrounded by the so typical industrial fumes and grey plants that you most of the times would rather cruise by. R and N live there already forever and had invited us over before and then it already had been a culinary success but this time R had added the words:'C'est formidable que cette femme faites dans sa cuisine!'
So last Friday I ran out of my lecture to get in a record time to my car, tried to beat the traffic rush, jumped into my outfit, tried to hide my thousand wrinkles and jumped into P's car!Arriving in Huy the first thing that is rather tricky is finding parking space but we managed to find a one rather close to the city center! Huy isn't that big and if you ever intend to go it won't be that hard to find this foodie-heaven! Once you are standing in the middle of the market square search for the smallest building and there it is: restaurant Li Cwerneu! And when you pass over it's treshold you will be in for a culinary discovery lovecruise!
First of all you will notice that there are not that many collegue taste inspectors! Only about twenty a night can book a table and that already makes it a special place to dine! In total you will meet three to four staff members and that includes the chef, if she feels like peeping out of her domain!
The menu is the next surprise and might turn you a bit nervous: only a few courses and one menu for you to choose from. But then no difficult dillemas!! By then we were nipping of one the house cocktails and we were off to get our tastebuds warmed up with some appetizers. Our favourite 'the virtual olive': a real taste explosion in your mouth! R and P then decided to let the man of the house, Pierre and wine connaisseur (in a previous life a car mechanic!) make up his mind about the wines to serve with the food his beloved wife was preparing in her tiny kitchen!
I am not going to describe in detail every dish that passed by that night but they were just so unique and so creative that our respect started to grow for this exceptional ladychef out there working to treat us like king and queens. My favourite courses of the night the goose liver (foi-gras) soup with figues (!) and the violet sorbet. P raved about it till he fell asleep and it really made us remember the moment that we tasted for the first violet candies as a child!
Now and then our glasses were filled up with divine grape flavours that just made the delicious food feast complete. We stuffed the empty spaces that were left over with talks about our latest adventures and by midnight we felt like we were on cloud number nine! Outside the first snow of the season was arriving but here we were sitting in perhaps one of the smallest restaurants of this country we had this warm feeling that makes some evenings memorable!
And if I have not tickled your curiousity then this might help: Arabelle is the lady chef of 2008, exceptional creative with ingredients including plants and flowers, one of the modest chefs I know (she will turn red when you make her a compliment), keeps her kitchen running smoothly by herself, doesn't make it too complicated (what you see is what you get), tries not to go too big (living proof the size of the restaurant), a devoted mother (when you stay long enough you might get to see the youngest resident of the house: a tiny baby daughter) and last of not least her women's friendly ladiesroom! I can rave on for hours but the taste of the pudding is in the eating!
Arabelle Meirlaen is one our Belgian cooking gems to keep close to your heart. So when you happen to drive by Huy next time you might want to leave the highways and check out if Arabelle still has the magic touch! Don't be surprised to see me there because I will be back graving for more of her culinary beauty!
If you really can't resist:http://www.licwerneu.be/
So last Friday I ran out of my lecture to get in a record time to my car, tried to beat the traffic rush, jumped into my outfit, tried to hide my thousand wrinkles and jumped into P's car!Arriving in Huy the first thing that is rather tricky is finding parking space but we managed to find a one rather close to the city center! Huy isn't that big and if you ever intend to go it won't be that hard to find this foodie-heaven! Once you are standing in the middle of the market square search for the smallest building and there it is: restaurant Li Cwerneu! And when you pass over it's treshold you will be in for a culinary discovery lovecruise!
First of all you will notice that there are not that many collegue taste inspectors! Only about twenty a night can book a table and that already makes it a special place to dine! In total you will meet three to four staff members and that includes the chef, if she feels like peeping out of her domain!
The menu is the next surprise and might turn you a bit nervous: only a few courses and one menu for you to choose from. But then no difficult dillemas!! By then we were nipping of one the house cocktails and we were off to get our tastebuds warmed up with some appetizers. Our favourite 'the virtual olive': a real taste explosion in your mouth! R and P then decided to let the man of the house, Pierre and wine connaisseur (in a previous life a car mechanic!) make up his mind about the wines to serve with the food his beloved wife was preparing in her tiny kitchen!
I am not going to describe in detail every dish that passed by that night but they were just so unique and so creative that our respect started to grow for this exceptional ladychef out there working to treat us like king and queens. My favourite courses of the night the goose liver (foi-gras) soup with figues (!) and the violet sorbet. P raved about it till he fell asleep and it really made us remember the moment that we tasted for the first violet candies as a child!
Now and then our glasses were filled up with divine grape flavours that just made the delicious food feast complete. We stuffed the empty spaces that were left over with talks about our latest adventures and by midnight we felt like we were on cloud number nine! Outside the first snow of the season was arriving but here we were sitting in perhaps one of the smallest restaurants of this country we had this warm feeling that makes some evenings memorable!
And if I have not tickled your curiousity then this might help: Arabelle is the lady chef of 2008, exceptional creative with ingredients including plants and flowers, one of the modest chefs I know (she will turn red when you make her a compliment), keeps her kitchen running smoothly by herself, doesn't make it too complicated (what you see is what you get), tries not to go too big (living proof the size of the restaurant), a devoted mother (when you stay long enough you might get to see the youngest resident of the house: a tiny baby daughter) and last of not least her women's friendly ladiesroom! I can rave on for hours but the taste of the pudding is in the eating!
Arabelle Meirlaen is one our Belgian cooking gems to keep close to your heart. So when you happen to drive by Huy next time you might want to leave the highways and check out if Arabelle still has the magic touch! Don't be surprised to see me there because I will be back graving for more of her culinary beauty!
If you really can't resist:http://www.licwerneu.be/
maandag 10 november 2008
(Bo)o(k)bstacles at the Bookfair!
One of the highlights for me, being a book addict, is the anual bookfair in Antwerp! I try to stay away because I end up spending a fortune there. Most of the books you can buy there are in Dutch so when I was graduated I did not go because I had my English bookstores in Leuven, Brussels and the Fnac. But you try to look for excuses and mine is 4,5 years old, about one meter of height and loves a good read!
The first years that A was on this globe I drove there at my own and was able to make my own selection. And yes, it were books that I loved because of the storyline, the content, the drawings and the lay-out! I even went through magazines and newspapers to find out what the bestsellers were for toddlers. Clavis, Davidsfonds, Lannoo, De Eenhoorn and children bookstores De Olifant and Poespas were the lucky ones to get their hands on my money.
A had no choice he had to love these books! He seemed to make no objections and 9 out 10 books he approved of. This little intelectual-to-be made these books then his personal property by adding his own artwork, scratching out words that he found useless and stamping leftovers of his lunch on the pages. The ones that made it on his bestsellers list were dragged into his bedroom.
But time flies by and now A has his own opinion about what he will wear, eat, drink, watch, visit and also read. This meant that I was not in the position to drive on my own to Antwerp. The little rascal was going to check out this bookheaven and make his own personal selection! His mother then had to make sure that he wouldn't get lost amongst all the other hundreds or rather thousands of potential bookbuyers. I can already picture myself with the red cheeks that I am going to show up with at lost and found! And then I still have to mention the typical traps for those younger clients being gadgets, snacks, games, dvd's and tons of stuff that is not a book but makes kids go wild!
Like you can read the prospect of taking A there made me getting sweaty palms. This was not going to be an easy stroll amongst publishers and taking long glances at the recent releases! No this was going to be a funride at the highest speed!
A first of all did not like the prospect of having to walk to the fair. This is not like finding a parking spot when going grocery shopping. I explained him that there were no parking spaces close by but that it was worth the distance. By the time we made it to the entrance he already mentioned the fact that his tummy was making akward noises! But huray A got in for free and I got a 2 euros discount because of my Student ID! Good start!
'Mum, where are the funrides and were are the pencils that I can make drawings with!' All I could do whas shrug my shoulders and hope that he would find out this was a nice place to hang out for a bit. It didn't take him a long or he noticed the first books. I started to pray, hoping that he was going to stay now focused. While walking amongst tons of children books I started to notice the other bookidiots, the heat and the less appealling noises of the fair. I started to sweat and had to get rid of my coat, scarf and A his bonnet and cardigan!
By then A had overtaken some people and started to yell! 'Mum, where are you? ', and he stopped in the middle of a alley filled up with kids, books, toys, puppets, games, grown ups, salespeople and last but not least prams! I hate people that bring their kid in one of these. They keep you from attacking the one book you after in order to make the buy of the year!
Thanks to my son there was a major traffic jam caused by him. Behind him was a young couple with pram. 'Please, Alexander let the lady pass!'. While I was saying this I took a closer look at the father who was lingering next to his beloved wife and baby. 'Uhm, I know this guy but where from?' 'What do you think Brian? Should we get her some or not?' 'Did she just say Brian? And she has got curly blond hair! I only know one combination of a blond girl with curls with a gigantic guy named Brian and a pram!
My son is blocking the way of Kim Clijsters&Co! A was not aware of what the sporty identity was of the people waiting behind him to move. He then noticed some games and screamed:'Look, mum that I want!' Big surprise? It was no book. A was pointing at some toy cooking utensils! By the time Kim, Brian and their sleeping beauty Jada Ellie had passed by my son was baking hambugers on the barbecue! While he was preparing his food Kim made a personal selection for her daughter Jada and then yelled at Brian for her wallet.
A seemed not to be interested in this spectacle and also not in the books. It took some time to push him on and I had to bribe him with a car stickerbook and Smurfs book before he wanted to take a more earnest look at children's litterature!
Two hours later and many more obstacles (that I am not going to mention) we ended up in the car with three plastic bags filled up with books. I am happy to announce that most of these were chosen by my son. He ended up with four books and I with two!
A is now asleep and already turned his stickerbook into a personal item with artistic touches. He was very happy whith his smurfbook and he loved the Fanta he was allowed to drink as a special treat! No mention of the two serious books we had picked out. My personal highlight of the day was the moment when we walked back to the car and A asked very seriously:'Mum, have I been a good boy?' 'Yes, you have been good boy!' A trip to remember and not just because of the books! We will be back next year and I already wonder whose way A will block then?!
The first years that A was on this globe I drove there at my own and was able to make my own selection. And yes, it were books that I loved because of the storyline, the content, the drawings and the lay-out! I even went through magazines and newspapers to find out what the bestsellers were for toddlers. Clavis, Davidsfonds, Lannoo, De Eenhoorn and children bookstores De Olifant and Poespas were the lucky ones to get their hands on my money.
A had no choice he had to love these books! He seemed to make no objections and 9 out 10 books he approved of. This little intelectual-to-be made these books then his personal property by adding his own artwork, scratching out words that he found useless and stamping leftovers of his lunch on the pages. The ones that made it on his bestsellers list were dragged into his bedroom.
But time flies by and now A has his own opinion about what he will wear, eat, drink, watch, visit and also read. This meant that I was not in the position to drive on my own to Antwerp. The little rascal was going to check out this bookheaven and make his own personal selection! His mother then had to make sure that he wouldn't get lost amongst all the other hundreds or rather thousands of potential bookbuyers. I can already picture myself with the red cheeks that I am going to show up with at lost and found! And then I still have to mention the typical traps for those younger clients being gadgets, snacks, games, dvd's and tons of stuff that is not a book but makes kids go wild!
Like you can read the prospect of taking A there made me getting sweaty palms. This was not going to be an easy stroll amongst publishers and taking long glances at the recent releases! No this was going to be a funride at the highest speed!
A first of all did not like the prospect of having to walk to the fair. This is not like finding a parking spot when going grocery shopping. I explained him that there were no parking spaces close by but that it was worth the distance. By the time we made it to the entrance he already mentioned the fact that his tummy was making akward noises! But huray A got in for free and I got a 2 euros discount because of my Student ID! Good start!
'Mum, where are the funrides and were are the pencils that I can make drawings with!' All I could do whas shrug my shoulders and hope that he would find out this was a nice place to hang out for a bit. It didn't take him a long or he noticed the first books. I started to pray, hoping that he was going to stay now focused. While walking amongst tons of children books I started to notice the other bookidiots, the heat and the less appealling noises of the fair. I started to sweat and had to get rid of my coat, scarf and A his bonnet and cardigan!
By then A had overtaken some people and started to yell! 'Mum, where are you? ', and he stopped in the middle of a alley filled up with kids, books, toys, puppets, games, grown ups, salespeople and last but not least prams! I hate people that bring their kid in one of these. They keep you from attacking the one book you after in order to make the buy of the year!
Thanks to my son there was a major traffic jam caused by him. Behind him was a young couple with pram. 'Please, Alexander let the lady pass!'. While I was saying this I took a closer look at the father who was lingering next to his beloved wife and baby. 'Uhm, I know this guy but where from?' 'What do you think Brian? Should we get her some or not?' 'Did she just say Brian? And she has got curly blond hair! I only know one combination of a blond girl with curls with a gigantic guy named Brian and a pram!
My son is blocking the way of Kim Clijsters&Co! A was not aware of what the sporty identity was of the people waiting behind him to move. He then noticed some games and screamed:'Look, mum that I want!' Big surprise? It was no book. A was pointing at some toy cooking utensils! By the time Kim, Brian and their sleeping beauty Jada Ellie had passed by my son was baking hambugers on the barbecue! While he was preparing his food Kim made a personal selection for her daughter Jada and then yelled at Brian for her wallet.
A seemed not to be interested in this spectacle and also not in the books. It took some time to push him on and I had to bribe him with a car stickerbook and Smurfs book before he wanted to take a more earnest look at children's litterature!
Two hours later and many more obstacles (that I am not going to mention) we ended up in the car with three plastic bags filled up with books. I am happy to announce that most of these were chosen by my son. He ended up with four books and I with two!
A is now asleep and already turned his stickerbook into a personal item with artistic touches. He was very happy whith his smurfbook and he loved the Fanta he was allowed to drink as a special treat! No mention of the two serious books we had picked out. My personal highlight of the day was the moment when we walked back to the car and A asked very seriously:'Mum, have I been a good boy?' 'Yes, you have been good boy!' A trip to remember and not just because of the books! We will be back next year and I already wonder whose way A will block then?!
woensdag 5 november 2008
woensdag 29 oktober 2008
To vote for change!
'Who do you think is going to be the next president of the USA?', was a many asked question the last weeks. Yes, I have personal links to that nation. I even have lived there at the time of the presidential elections. I remember very clearly that voting there and here are two completely different things. First of all it is not obliged. You are free to vote or not. Me, I have to face the voting ballot more then once in four years, making it one of the less appealing things of a democracy!Second of all it so easy to make up your mind. Because there are only two candidates! I have to try to make choice out of more then five political parties and numerous wanabe politicians!
I also remember that when we found out that Bill Clinton had won not that many were that happy. It almost seemed that Bill was more popular abroad then at home. It took a while for the Americans to get used to his personal style. Hilary and Chelsea were not that photogenetic as the Kennedys and that even made it harder for them to impress their voters.
In a few days this gigantic nation will face a new tough choice. They can choose for change that might make the difference for many. It so appealing to go ahead and change that one profession that only white people have managed to obtain. Historical it will be quite a story and O will have a gigantic foodprint in many history schoolbooks. But I guess it will take more then just wanting to take on the job.
For the moment O seems to have an eassier trip down campaign lane but it is still not D-day. We know what happened to A when he was up for office. Florida will never be same for the presidential candidates. They have hundreds of lawyers ready to file complaints when needed. Many people ask me if they will vote for O because of the fact that B has done a rather bad job. Well, no! It doesn't work like that.
Once you are in you belong there! Americans seem to be able to detach the man of the job. And for them being the president is a very sacred job. They won't misjudge this person on his/her character. So once in the Oval Office and surrounded by the secret service the average American will believe in their president. He is also their boss of the army and that is quite a job to handle with care. When he pushes the red button they will have to obey!
In the turmoil of the credit crunch and crashing stock markets the new White House inhabitant will have a very hard time. Many American have dreams but only a few seem to manage to pursue that dream. To us it seems very odd that this nation does not seem to take care of the poor ones. In this country everything costs money and health and education you only can obtain if you have enough green ones! Every time when I go to the doctor's I am grateful for NHS!!!
O and MC are two different characters but they are two typical blueprints of what this nation stands for. O, a kid of white mother and black father who has had a very tough childhood but worked very hard to get there. He believed in the fact that when you work very hard and keep trying you will get there! The american dream in the flesh! MC is the very proud veteran who survived Vietnam. He is the guy who proudly defended all that values the USA stands for. He will salute the troops and he will feel what they will feel when they will be send off in the war zone!
I have American friends that I know for sure who they will vote for. I don't judge them and don't tell them to change their mind. It is so easy to tell others what to do. Here in Europe it seems that O would be a better choice. I am still very cautious to state who is going to win because it seems so surealistic to vision O in office. Yes, personal I don't like the idea of SP living in Washington DC ready to take over when MC would stop breathing. But then I am not that close and don't live in the nation who has to right to decide who they want in charge.
Once the votes are counted and we will know who will move in to the WH it will be more important to know who will advise this boy. Many times a president will rely on them. It are these people that will have to make the difference. A president is as strong as his personal team!!! Sadly enough these are most of time not people you get to vote for. They screw up many times but in the end it is the big boss who faces the public opinion.
Joe Klein, one of the political reporters of Time Magazine put it down very nicely:'O does not seem needy. He seems a grown up, in a nation that badly needs some adult supervision.' I will be quite nervous the next few days because the outcome will matter this time more then ever. If MC will make it against all odds then the nation will have a leader that will have to deal with a world desperate for change. If O wins then already there will be change. Just one look at him and it has changed. 'It's time!', the cover of the current affairs magazine 'The Economist' states. And I totally agree! IT IS NOW OR NEVER TO VOTE FOR CHANGE!
I also remember that when we found out that Bill Clinton had won not that many were that happy. It almost seemed that Bill was more popular abroad then at home. It took a while for the Americans to get used to his personal style. Hilary and Chelsea were not that photogenetic as the Kennedys and that even made it harder for them to impress their voters.
In a few days this gigantic nation will face a new tough choice. They can choose for change that might make the difference for many. It so appealing to go ahead and change that one profession that only white people have managed to obtain. Historical it will be quite a story and O will have a gigantic foodprint in many history schoolbooks. But I guess it will take more then just wanting to take on the job.
For the moment O seems to have an eassier trip down campaign lane but it is still not D-day. We know what happened to A when he was up for office. Florida will never be same for the presidential candidates. They have hundreds of lawyers ready to file complaints when needed. Many people ask me if they will vote for O because of the fact that B has done a rather bad job. Well, no! It doesn't work like that.
Once you are in you belong there! Americans seem to be able to detach the man of the job. And for them being the president is a very sacred job. They won't misjudge this person on his/her character. So once in the Oval Office and surrounded by the secret service the average American will believe in their president. He is also their boss of the army and that is quite a job to handle with care. When he pushes the red button they will have to obey!
In the turmoil of the credit crunch and crashing stock markets the new White House inhabitant will have a very hard time. Many American have dreams but only a few seem to manage to pursue that dream. To us it seems very odd that this nation does not seem to take care of the poor ones. In this country everything costs money and health and education you only can obtain if you have enough green ones! Every time when I go to the doctor's I am grateful for NHS!!!
O and MC are two different characters but they are two typical blueprints of what this nation stands for. O, a kid of white mother and black father who has had a very tough childhood but worked very hard to get there. He believed in the fact that when you work very hard and keep trying you will get there! The american dream in the flesh! MC is the very proud veteran who survived Vietnam. He is the guy who proudly defended all that values the USA stands for. He will salute the troops and he will feel what they will feel when they will be send off in the war zone!
I have American friends that I know for sure who they will vote for. I don't judge them and don't tell them to change their mind. It is so easy to tell others what to do. Here in Europe it seems that O would be a better choice. I am still very cautious to state who is going to win because it seems so surealistic to vision O in office. Yes, personal I don't like the idea of SP living in Washington DC ready to take over when MC would stop breathing. But then I am not that close and don't live in the nation who has to right to decide who they want in charge.
Once the votes are counted and we will know who will move in to the WH it will be more important to know who will advise this boy. Many times a president will rely on them. It are these people that will have to make the difference. A president is as strong as his personal team!!! Sadly enough these are most of time not people you get to vote for. They screw up many times but in the end it is the big boss who faces the public opinion.
Joe Klein, one of the political reporters of Time Magazine put it down very nicely:'O does not seem needy. He seems a grown up, in a nation that badly needs some adult supervision.' I will be quite nervous the next few days because the outcome will matter this time more then ever. If MC will make it against all odds then the nation will have a leader that will have to deal with a world desperate for change. If O wins then already there will be change. Just one look at him and it has changed. 'It's time!', the cover of the current affairs magazine 'The Economist' states. And I totally agree! IT IS NOW OR NEVER TO VOTE FOR CHANGE!
Picture Perfect!!
Fall means many things and besides the falling of leaves, stormy weather, winter time, sniffy noses and sour throats in our home it is also cleaning out many stuff and updating our picture frames. Some faces have moved out of our lives and others demand a spot in our house. So we faced some tough decisions. We got out our recent shots and then opened up the first frames.
Taking them out was like ripping out pages of one of your favourite books. Most of these faces we have not seen in ages. We tried but life takes you in many directions and these friends have decided to go to unknown places where we don't seem to fit in. But no hard feelings. One day we might bump into eachother and then we invite you back in.
I also faced the truth that we all grow older and that wrinkles are more visible! Our nephews and niece have grown and so the baby grins make now room for tom-boy giggles!!! Li and Lo (P his brother and Spanish sister in law) don't wear glasses anymore in this picture but wedding rings. A, our lovely niece, looks us straight in our eyes with very dreamy look! G and H are joined by L with in the background the lovely landscape of the Leie. The Japenese temple is now out of the picture but still linked to your backgrounds!
To make sure that we can face the dark winter nights we decided for a breathtaking sunset in Lithuania. P and I selected the background of Barcelona and the Sacra Familia as our personal shot. A is almost hugged to death by his two cousins in one frame. One of our favourite newcomers is the oldest family member uncle J. He looks like he just walked out of 'A few good men' in his marine uniform of the Brittish Royal Navy! I even look prettier in pink with him next to me!
We also have a few frames that will never change. My dad is still standing out there is his brown frame. He is looking rather dreamy with a cigarate in his hands. Ready to face the enemy that will take him away of us. It is one of the very last pictures taken of him. Not a very flattering one but very realistic. Looking at that picture is like travelling through time. Resting at the bottom of that sight is a golden pen. My personal keepsake I have chosen when my mother made the three of us take something personal of him. When I have a writer's block it can give me the inspiration that I desperately seek after!
Picture 2 that will never change is the flower inspired frame filled up with a full body shot of my grandmother. She died two years ago at the blessed age of 94. But I decided for one of those brown, grey and black pics out of the old box that was hidden in the attic. She looks very smart and focused at the same time. That is the way I want to remember her! There are people that have their modern pics changed into old fashioned looking ones and paying a fortune for that. Well, I have the real thing standing out there and she makes me feel very proud of my background. My granny never gave up and so she keeps me going strong as well!
But there are still some empty ones. We know who fits in them. A his godmother N who has travelled last year and now moved in with her beloved P. B and I who we still admire that they try to keep up the spirit while waiting for their adoption child. A and J who have done so many things for us small or big but always with a grand smile! N and G and many children, L and her boyfriend, D and N who now raise two children in the most fruity corner of our nation, R and N who make us feel so connected with the other part of our country that speaks French, I and W who still have music in their hearts, H and J in wedding outfits (we were invited for the Texan wedding but sadly had to recline!), auntie Lily with A and D in Parc Asterix, M and C and their first born son J (who we want to visit in Boston one day), I who gave me a wonderful vacation, and many more have made it to the shortlist.
Have I mentioned the many skylines that we have faced the last years and now cherish? NYC at xmastime, the wonderful restored roof of Beaune Hospice, the champagne bottles of Epernay and the pink holiday house of Santenay are just a few of the places that we want out there to add some color to our lives.
Our personal favourite is a picture taken by my sister L of A, his nephew D and their grandmother. It looks like it is taken for an art magazine. Two four year olds on a sunny and hot summer day. D with dreamy eyes looking straight to the camera, his hair still wet of a dive in the kid's pool and behind him A leaning back at his grandmother who has her hair pulled back in a bun. Her numerous wrinkles are shown very cleary and seem to colide with the youth of her two grandchildren. It is picture full of poetry. Don't be surprised if that will be end up in a the biggest frame of all!
So when I ask the next few weeks for a recent shot then don't let me wait too long because empty frames might seem arty farty but we need color to survive the grey and rainy winter days. Picture perfect is this home means that we have a very colorful life that we share with some special people. Perhaps keep in mind the next time when a picture is taken of you that you might end up here! Ready, steady, smile!!!
Taking them out was like ripping out pages of one of your favourite books. Most of these faces we have not seen in ages. We tried but life takes you in many directions and these friends have decided to go to unknown places where we don't seem to fit in. But no hard feelings. One day we might bump into eachother and then we invite you back in.
I also faced the truth that we all grow older and that wrinkles are more visible! Our nephews and niece have grown and so the baby grins make now room for tom-boy giggles!!! Li and Lo (P his brother and Spanish sister in law) don't wear glasses anymore in this picture but wedding rings. A, our lovely niece, looks us straight in our eyes with very dreamy look! G and H are joined by L with in the background the lovely landscape of the Leie. The Japenese temple is now out of the picture but still linked to your backgrounds!
To make sure that we can face the dark winter nights we decided for a breathtaking sunset in Lithuania. P and I selected the background of Barcelona and the Sacra Familia as our personal shot. A is almost hugged to death by his two cousins in one frame. One of our favourite newcomers is the oldest family member uncle J. He looks like he just walked out of 'A few good men' in his marine uniform of the Brittish Royal Navy! I even look prettier in pink with him next to me!
We also have a few frames that will never change. My dad is still standing out there is his brown frame. He is looking rather dreamy with a cigarate in his hands. Ready to face the enemy that will take him away of us. It is one of the very last pictures taken of him. Not a very flattering one but very realistic. Looking at that picture is like travelling through time. Resting at the bottom of that sight is a golden pen. My personal keepsake I have chosen when my mother made the three of us take something personal of him. When I have a writer's block it can give me the inspiration that I desperately seek after!
Picture 2 that will never change is the flower inspired frame filled up with a full body shot of my grandmother. She died two years ago at the blessed age of 94. But I decided for one of those brown, grey and black pics out of the old box that was hidden in the attic. She looks very smart and focused at the same time. That is the way I want to remember her! There are people that have their modern pics changed into old fashioned looking ones and paying a fortune for that. Well, I have the real thing standing out there and she makes me feel very proud of my background. My granny never gave up and so she keeps me going strong as well!
But there are still some empty ones. We know who fits in them. A his godmother N who has travelled last year and now moved in with her beloved P. B and I who we still admire that they try to keep up the spirit while waiting for their adoption child. A and J who have done so many things for us small or big but always with a grand smile! N and G and many children, L and her boyfriend, D and N who now raise two children in the most fruity corner of our nation, R and N who make us feel so connected with the other part of our country that speaks French, I and W who still have music in their hearts, H and J in wedding outfits (we were invited for the Texan wedding but sadly had to recline!), auntie Lily with A and D in Parc Asterix, M and C and their first born son J (who we want to visit in Boston one day), I who gave me a wonderful vacation, and many more have made it to the shortlist.
Have I mentioned the many skylines that we have faced the last years and now cherish? NYC at xmastime, the wonderful restored roof of Beaune Hospice, the champagne bottles of Epernay and the pink holiday house of Santenay are just a few of the places that we want out there to add some color to our lives.
Our personal favourite is a picture taken by my sister L of A, his nephew D and their grandmother. It looks like it is taken for an art magazine. Two four year olds on a sunny and hot summer day. D with dreamy eyes looking straight to the camera, his hair still wet of a dive in the kid's pool and behind him A leaning back at his grandmother who has her hair pulled back in a bun. Her numerous wrinkles are shown very cleary and seem to colide with the youth of her two grandchildren. It is picture full of poetry. Don't be surprised if that will be end up in a the biggest frame of all!
So when I ask the next few weeks for a recent shot then don't let me wait too long because empty frames might seem arty farty but we need color to survive the grey and rainy winter days. Picture perfect is this home means that we have a very colorful life that we share with some special people. Perhaps keep in mind the next time when a picture is taken of you that you might end up here! Ready, steady, smile!!!
donderdag 23 oktober 2008
Parents and reportcards!
First term is now half way and I am rather relieved. I handed out the first reportcards of the year and that is the first moment that it hits you: parents evening!!! Being a teacher means that you have to communicate not only with pupils, collegues or your principal but also with parents. One of the side-effects of having a job in the education departement and no it is not my favourite cup of tea!
In my last eleven years I have met tons of parents but every time it is a surprise who will turn up and who not. In many cases there are no real surprises and seems it like you are playing the same record over and over. Some parents consider these evenings as a night on the town. They end up telling all their life stories and sometimes it seems like you are rather a shrink!
There are also the stories that belong in a category of their own. And yes, it was bingo last night. I have some colorful parents and most of them are rather realistic if they talk about their own child but you also have the ones who think they their child is enrolled at Zweinstein. And that I am one the one who is going to teach them how to prepare some magic potions to make their learning difficulties vanish into thin air.
'J goes to school here for one year and so far she has learned nothing! And why don't give her more homework!? Five out of ten is so bad for my daughter!! She has got trouble with her IQ but she is not stupid!', were just a few of the sentences that were uttured. I was sitting there just flabergasted and knew that this mother was going to give me a very hard time. I felt so ashamed like I was personally responsible for the fact that her daughter had not turned into a genius! Also my assistant-teacher who was sitting next to me seemed to have a rather hard time trying not open her mouth!
Well, yeah special education is a very nice spot to work. Your pupils keep you focused and they are very grateful audience. It is not a very demanding public because you don't need to explain the latest scientific study. But it seemed that this mother still had her hopes up. She questioned everything and bit by bit I started to feel rather strange. This lady was demanding to make her daughter smarter. Well, how to tell a concerned parent that this is rather mission impossible!?
I told her very calmly that her daughter was trying very hard but that she was having difficulties with understanding everything. J has epileptic fits and there are many times that she did not turn up in class, making it even harder to pick up anything. I don't believe in miracles when I know that kids really try very hard but after three years don't make significant progress. This girl was still not in the dangerous zone and for sure going to graduate in three years time. When she got up ready to leave it suddenly hit me. 'This mother wants to hear something very positive and I am sending her home with a negative feeling!'
I asked her to sit down again and then I explained her once more how our grading system works. J had a 5 out of ten for progress but for attitude and work effort she had a 7 and 8. So for just passing she had worked rather hard with a very positive attitude. 'So if I understand this right I should rather focus on the two other columns?' I nodded and hoped that she would leave now and she did!
My assistant-teacher gave me a rather strange look when she was gone! 'I had to bite the tip of my tongue while she was talking!', was her respone. I nodded got a glass of water and told her to get used to that. V smiled (love that girl, best assistant teacher for years!) and she started to analyse the conversation.
No time to waste the next parent turned up. 'Well, am I happy that my son doesn't have to do that much home work! When he comes home he is so tired of the mental gym that he needs to relax!', were one of his sentences. Perhaps I should have asked him to contact J's mother. Parents are very demanding clients and that is why I always send P off to A's school. I don't want to be their worst nightmare! But then P ends up asking the most stupid questions! I have promised him that I wouldn't mention them on this blog but to be honest it would take a seperate entry to analyse that chat!
In my last eleven years I have met tons of parents but every time it is a surprise who will turn up and who not. In many cases there are no real surprises and seems it like you are playing the same record over and over. Some parents consider these evenings as a night on the town. They end up telling all their life stories and sometimes it seems like you are rather a shrink!
There are also the stories that belong in a category of their own. And yes, it was bingo last night. I have some colorful parents and most of them are rather realistic if they talk about their own child but you also have the ones who think they their child is enrolled at Zweinstein. And that I am one the one who is going to teach them how to prepare some magic potions to make their learning difficulties vanish into thin air.
'J goes to school here for one year and so far she has learned nothing! And why don't give her more homework!? Five out of ten is so bad for my daughter!! She has got trouble with her IQ but she is not stupid!', were just a few of the sentences that were uttured. I was sitting there just flabergasted and knew that this mother was going to give me a very hard time. I felt so ashamed like I was personally responsible for the fact that her daughter had not turned into a genius! Also my assistant-teacher who was sitting next to me seemed to have a rather hard time trying not open her mouth!
Well, yeah special education is a very nice spot to work. Your pupils keep you focused and they are very grateful audience. It is not a very demanding public because you don't need to explain the latest scientific study. But it seemed that this mother still had her hopes up. She questioned everything and bit by bit I started to feel rather strange. This lady was demanding to make her daughter smarter. Well, how to tell a concerned parent that this is rather mission impossible!?
I told her very calmly that her daughter was trying very hard but that she was having difficulties with understanding everything. J has epileptic fits and there are many times that she did not turn up in class, making it even harder to pick up anything. I don't believe in miracles when I know that kids really try very hard but after three years don't make significant progress. This girl was still not in the dangerous zone and for sure going to graduate in three years time. When she got up ready to leave it suddenly hit me. 'This mother wants to hear something very positive and I am sending her home with a negative feeling!'
I asked her to sit down again and then I explained her once more how our grading system works. J had a 5 out of ten for progress but for attitude and work effort she had a 7 and 8. So for just passing she had worked rather hard with a very positive attitude. 'So if I understand this right I should rather focus on the two other columns?' I nodded and hoped that she would leave now and she did!
My assistant-teacher gave me a rather strange look when she was gone! 'I had to bite the tip of my tongue while she was talking!', was her respone. I nodded got a glass of water and told her to get used to that. V smiled (love that girl, best assistant teacher for years!) and she started to analyse the conversation.
No time to waste the next parent turned up. 'Well, am I happy that my son doesn't have to do that much home work! When he comes home he is so tired of the mental gym that he needs to relax!', were one of his sentences. Perhaps I should have asked him to contact J's mother. Parents are very demanding clients and that is why I always send P off to A's school. I don't want to be their worst nightmare! But then P ends up asking the most stupid questions! I have promised him that I wouldn't mention them on this blog but to be honest it would take a seperate entry to analyse that chat!
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