First blog 2009 | In English and Dutch!

Ik begin met een kleine mededeling: Deze blog zal voortaan in zowel het Engels als in het Nederlands getypt worden om de fans tevreden te houden :) | I'd like to start with a little announcement: This blog will now be written in English & in Dutch, just to keep my fans satisfied :).

Blame it on Florida!
Sick, something I didn't know how to be, because I haven't been sick, really sick, since I was 11 (when I had fever for a week). And here we are, I've been sick on Christmas day and sick again in 2009 for more than 4 days. I blame it on the fact that I missed ONE winter in Holland and am obviously not used to every decease that can come out of a good old fashion winter. And a good old fashion winter is what we have. We haven't had a winter this cold since...I don't know! Anyway, it's probably good that I know how it feels to be sick now, really sick....

Over to some better news!
I went out last week (nothing new there) and I was talking to strangers left and right (nothing new again) and I introduced myself to a guy. The guy replied with: that's not who you are, that's not what makes you unique (try to answer that when you're "drunk"). So I made an attempt, which wasn't good enough according to him. He said that he knew more people with the same qualities and that I had to "sell myself". So there I went, why I don't know, I made a second attempt, blabbing out everything I felt made me who I am today and of course in a convincing tone.

Anyway, the next day, I wondered, what makes me unique? The fact that I've been through a lot and am still always positive and optimistic? Or that I am looking pass all the family history/arguments and try to stay in contact with all of them or is it that I am always trying to do and see everything at the same time, even if it means exhausting myself (with pleasure) by planning 3 or 4 events in one night? Or maybe that everyone gets a chance and I judge you on you, not where you're from or what you look like? Or that I socialize to socialize and not to add people to what might be useful connections in the future? A friend once said, that I might be the only commercial student that is totally honest and truthful (for example those socialize intention), maybe that's it?

Think about it, what makes you unique or are we all individuals that can still be put into "boxes", but more specific, unique boxes than the ones we know? Maybe it's a combination of qualities, like one person could have qualities A+C, the other one could have qualities A+B and you could have qualities B+C. You always think you're different than other people, that you're unique. But when I ask you to tell me, not what you're good at, but what your unique skills are, the skills that determine your uniqueness, do you know what to say or do you too need a second or even a third attempt?

I think everyone has that little uniqueness in him/her even if you don't know what it is :)!

Dutch/Nederlands

Blame it on Florida!
Ziek zijn, iets wat bij mij niet bekend is, omdat ik nooit ziek, echt ziek ben geweest sinds ik 11 was (toen ik een week koorts had). En toch zit ik hier, ziek geweest met kerst en nogmaals ziek in 2009 voor al meer dan 4 dagen. Ik geef de schuld aan het feit dat ik een winter overgeslagen heb in Nederland en ben schijnbaar niet bekend (vatbaar geweest) voor de "ziektes" die een ouderwetse winter met zich meebrengt. En een ouderwetse winter is wat we hebben dit jaar. We hebben al jaren niet zo'n koude winter gehad! Hoe dan ook, misschien is het wel goed dat ik ook eens voel hoe het voelt om eens echt ziek te zijn...

Over to some better news!
Ik ging afgelopen donderdag stappen (niks nieuws) en ik praatte met elke vreemde die ik tegenkwam (ook niks nieuws). ik stelde me voor aan een jongen, die zei: Dat is niet wie je bent, wat jou uniek maakt (probeer dat maar eens te antwoorden als je "zat" bent). Dus ik deed een poging, een die niet goed genoeg was volgens hem. Hij zei dat hij meer mensen kende zoals ik (of wat ik beschreven had) en vertelde dat ik een verkooppraatje moest houden voor mezelf. Dus daar ging ik weer, waarom weet ik niet, ik deed een tweede poging en gooide alles eruit wat ik vond dat mij, mij maakte (natuurlijk in een overtuigende toon).

De volgende dag vroeg ik mezelf af, wat maakt mij eigenlijk uniek? Is het dat ik zoveel dingen heb meegemaakt en nog steeds altijd positief en optimistisch blijf? Of dat ik langs alle familie ruzies kijk en met iedereen in contact blijf? Of misschien dat ik altijd alles tegelijk probeer te zien en te doen, ook als het betekent dat ik mezelf uitput (met plezier) door 3 of 4 dingen in 1 avond te plannen? Misschien is het wel dat iedereen een kans bij mij krijgt en ik je beoordeel op wie je bent, niet waar je vandaan komt of hoe je eruit ziet? Of dat ik vrienden maak (tegen iedereen aanpraat:P), gewoon om lol te hebben en niet om toekomstige connecties te maken? Een vriend zei me eens dat ik misschien wel de enige commerciële student ben, die totaal eerlijk en oprecht is (wat betreft het socializen en de connecties), misschien is dat het?

Denk er eens over na, wat maakt jou uniek? Of zijn we wel allemaal individuelen maar alsnog in te delen in hokjes, meer specifieke hokjes dan die we kennen? Misschien is het een combinatie van eigenschappen, zoals de een de eigenschappen A+C kan hebben, een ander A+B en jij B+C. Je denkt altijd dat je anders bent dan andere, dat je uniek bent. Maar als ik je vraag, niet waar je goed in bent, maar wat jou uniek maakt, de kenmerken die jou uniekheid vaststellen, weet jij wat je dan moet zeggen of heb je ook een tweede of zelfs een derde poging nodig?

Hoe dan ook, ik geloof dat er in ieder iets unieks schuilt of je het nou weet te benoemen of niet :)!

Farewell 2008!

As for my final post of 2008, which I did not succeed to post in 2008, but let's just pretend :), I would like to discuss 2008 of course! I can honestly say that I have had a good year!

I finished my internship in America, where I learned a lot about myself. With thanks to my aunt, who taught me it's okay to cry....and due to that lesson, I've opened up more and wasn't always "Hi, how are you? I am doing great!" Because I wasn't always doing great, but no reason to be depressed or to feel sad for a long time, because I was doing great most of the time! But I had my ups and downs of course.

Since I was often alone in America (walking the dog, driving, working), I developed my passion for music! Listening to music became a daily thing and I've enjoyed more than I did before! So since I got back music became the base of my daily life here. Music helps me to be happy, wake up and to dance of course :)! Where there's music, there's a party and where there's a party, I am! Oh yes, even if the party is in my head :)!

I have spend more time with family and met a new aunt, who is a year older than I am...long story as always in my family! We have a lot in common and get along, so no worries there! Family has always been important to me and is now something that cannot be missed in my life!

I started the Chinese minor (and learned some Chinese) with a new class and a new attitude: no interest in school what so ever...hehe...I was more into enjoying life and laughing on a daily base (which was nothing new for me and easy to do).

I started going out weekly (and mostly twice a week), same bars/clubs, new bars/clubs, parties, house parties and I was introduced to the gay community, where I was always looking for a gay to hug. I always said what was on my mind and wasn't afraid to be honest! And this way I met new people every week and got good friendships out of it. I really enjoyed life and did what I wanted, when I wanted it....I discovered who I was and what I wanted and acted like it!

I finally started traveling, I visited San Francisco after my internship and met up with Maurits and Rik, a truly unique experience! I went to China, Spain, France (Paris) and America again! I also discovered new heights hehe and new ways to get hurt: I skied for the first time (indoors of course)! And learned that I love, absolutely love to fall!!!

I finally had my snow again in 2008, something I looked forward to for soooo long! And to keep an American tradition, I made a snow angel :). I also got sick, OMG! ME, I usually do not get sick...But there is always a first for everything! This caused me lying in bed on Christmas day...my favorite holiday, which I looked forward to for a whole year..But I made it up by going to Soultrain on the 2nd Christmas day (yes, we have 2), my favorite party (only drank water of course, couldn't risk being sick on New Year's Eve as well).

And celebrated New Year's Eve with friends, new friends that I made in 2008! I had a ball, laughed, made lots of picture, drank, texted my whole phonebook 1 by 1 to wish them a happy new year, since I could not text everyone at once!!!!!

So, this concludes that I had one hell of a year and that I am finally able to be, act and live like me, Talitha, Thaat (De Gekste/Crazy), Tali (Don Dali)!!

I wish everyone all the best for 2009 and hope that you will too have an asskicking good year!!!! So farewell 2008 and welcome 2009!

Lots of love, kisses and hugs (because I loveeee to hug), Talitha!