Someone asked me the other day, “What do you miss about your city (Amsterdam)?” I had to think deeply for a while until it popped: Sjaakie Swart. People who know about him would not immediately connect why, but of course, I will explain. For those who don’t know, Sjaakie Swart was a legendary Ajax football…
Tag: travel
“Podunk Tragic Theater”
A Wanderer’s Chronicle: Of Ecological Shops and Cultural Dissonance This morning, I found myself in a quaint ecological shop, where I occasionally indulge in “genuine” eggs and “authentic” wine—as if food requires existential validation. As a conscientious shopper, I’m quite particular about what I put in my Harrods bag (wink, wink)—only whole foods will do….
“Heritage Hypocrisy & Hidden Hyphens”
A Dutch Expatriat’s Musing about Euro-Americans Life as a refugee, ex-pat, or immigrant shares one unmistakable trait: the audacity to plant roots in foreign soil. We’re all just transplants with different labels—though, isn’t it curious how some get to skip the “immigrant” designation entirely? Those who crossed the Atlantic centuries ago now simply call themselves…
“Once Upon a Time”
Ah, the naivety of youth – when I was young, blonde, and thought I had the world figured out.Now I’m older, wiser, and still not hideous enough to scare small children. Progress, I suppose. Picture this: a Dutch ingénue in a land where “progress” was a fancy word people used when they wanted to sound…
Amexit & Brexit
A Tale of Two Gardens: From Dutch Roots to Global Retreats In 1652, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) had a simple plan: plant a vegetable garden at the Cape of Good Hope. It was just a humble patch to grow provisions for passing ships—how charmingly modest.Who could have guessed this little garden would grow…
From Islands to Butterflies
No Need for an Island, Darling: Life Lessons from a Cold War Party Girl Last night, my youngest daughter and I had one of those conversations that start somewhere mundane and end up exposing the layers of generational anxiety we all share. It began, of all places, with real estate prices and her dreamy musings…
The greatest gift; Quirky Quest
Ever wonder why we humans are such peculiar creatures? We’re constantly on this wild goose chase for Significance, as if life’s a cosmic game of hide-and-seek where we’re trying to find our own importance. And boy, do we love our souvenirs from this quest! Picture this: You’re standing in a gift shop of life, surrounded…
MuL & Terminator
Hey there, readers! While brainstorming a title for my new series, I stumbled upon an article that left me feeling completely ignorant. But in a good way. It’s a fascinating read, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Let’s dive into the intriguing world of MuL, or Machine Unlearning. This concept involves the…
Patio and Patria
Dear D As they say above so below or is it underneath…anyway they are referring to mother natures law of micro and macrocosm. Astral planes or plain conspicuous, no matter it functions the same. Also in the human world. So the meddling from our neighbour with the misplaced sense of righteousness is equivalent to and…
The C.O.M.C. Files 