November 2001 Archives

No, I don't have an argue with MJ and no, I will not go back forever. But in December I will be back in Holland two times.

First from December 13th until 16th to be present at the wedding of John and Paula and later from December 29th until january 1st to celebrate a new year.

If you have any interesting and nice activities, just tell me, and maybe you will see me one more time....

Today it is Saturday, the day of the cleaning the house. MJ and I always do the first floor. Or better: MJ is doing the first floor, and I am bothering her a lot, thinking that I am helping her. Fortunately it is not a lot of work, so we only spent some time in the morning doing that.

This afternoon (after lunch, so around five o'clock) we will go to town to do some shopping. I really like the opening times of the shops over here. In the Netherlands shops close at the moment that they open here. On the other hand, I feel sorry for the people working in the shops.

Yesterday somebody tried to phone me during the day. Unfortunately I was not home yet, so I thought that it might be handy to explain something about my working hours.

In the morning, usually I leave at eight o'clock. First I go to Lleida to bring MJ and her sister Cristina to their work. Afterwards I drive to Torrefarera where my company is. I start working at nine o'clock and finish again at half past one. Then I go to Lleida again, pick up the others and arrive home at half past two. Sometimes I don't have to go to lleida; then I leave home at half past eight and arrive home again at quarter to two.

In the afternoon I enjoy a nice meal with the family (in Spain the lunch is the most important meal of the day), and I go back to work again at quarter past three (or twenty to four if I can go to my work directly). I work until 8 o'clock, and usually am home again at half past eight.

Of course there are always exceptions. Sometimes after work we go the pub to drink something with some friends. Usually we go to Scrub. And other times I spent some time in town shopping or arranging some papers.

Anyway, I think it is long enough for today.

Yesterday MJ and I decided to visit the cinema. After a very busy week with a lot of new impressions, we felt that we had deserved it. Our choice was "The Score".

We found out that we were not the only ones who have had a busy week, because the city was full of trafic, looking for a place to park. Normally in the Netherlands the Sunday evenings are quiet, but here Sunday is the day to visit the cinema. After 10 minutes circling around the cinema, we were lucky; a place for our car only 2 minutes walking!

Fortunately we arrived early, because only 10 minutes after we arrived the entrance of the cinema was completely full with people. In their wisdom, the designers of the cinema had decided to place the entrace to the halls, the toilets and the ticket office all in the back of the entrance hall. As a result, it was almost impossible to arrive to the ticket office and to go to the toilet before the movie.

When the movie started, I came to a big surprise: Marlon Brando has learned to speak Spanish really good! And he also had an operation of his throat. He sounded so different... And not only Marlon, but also all the other actors. By the way, I think that this also explains the average level of English spoken in this country: people never hear English in the cinema or on TV.

And yes, the movie was Ok.

Today was the great day.... working at ICG. After a short tour through the building and meeting a lot of people of whom I can´t remember the names anymore (as usual on a first day) I was introduced to Massimiliano. He told me everything about his job and about the company. After three hours of listening to Spanish, my head was at the point of exploding. No more information please!

Fortunately, the Spanish working hours forsee in these situations. After a nice lunch at home I was ready to listen again. Besides listening I also installed Windows 2000 on some computers.

At the end I have a positive feeling about it, but I really have to get used to speaking Spanish the whole day, because now I still have to concentrate too much.

Next to me is the big bag with the last things to take. I only have to pack my laptop and I am ready to go. In 90 minutes my parents will take me to Schiphol airport, and that's it. Tonight I will be a citizen of Alpicat.

I spent yesterday evening at the "Jeugdhof" just like most Thursdays the last 13 years. Sure I will miss that. Just as usual, it was way too late when we finally went home, but this time I had a good excuse since it was the last time.

So far this last message from Harmelen; the next one will be from Alpicat.

Yes, I am unemployed at the moment. Yesterday was my very last day that I worked for Aino and on Monday I will start at ICG. That makes me unemployed for a few days. Don't worry, I will survive this period... ;-)

I can tell you that it wasn't easy to say good-bye to Aino after working 4 years and 7 months for MultiSystems/Avalix/Aino. Yesterday morning I finished the last work. After I went to the baker to buy some pies (I hope that my former colleagues will remember at least the pies: Jeroen? Yes, the guy from these wonderfull pies...). After cleaning my desk it was time to say good-bye. In the afternoon I arranged some practical things like the formal exit-meeting and bringing away my car. And that was it...

Today I have tried to live the life of a typical unemployed, but I was not able to sleep untill 3 pm. Maybe that is why I will start working again Monday.

[Update 2004.01.21]: Removed link to non-existing company ;-)