Movies in the Netherlands

On Sunday, I went to my first movie in Enschede. Ana purchased a bunch of discount tickets so we decided on "War of the Worlds" at the local theatre. The first difference I noticed was that movies here have assigned seating. Ana's friend didn't realise I was coming as well and so being the gentleman that he was, had already bought two tickets. Unfortunately for me, there were no unoccupied seats near them so I had to sit away from them =(

As part of Ana's ticket packages, we had food and drink vouchers. The concession was not unlike what we have at home, except the popcorn sizes weren't so big. Also, the popcorn was heavily advertised as "American Style" and how authentic American popcorn salt was used in it.

Although I didn't jump up and down my seat when the movie ended, the movie was actually pretty good. It had its genuinely spooky moments and I lost track of time right up until halfway into the movie when I got my second surprise of the night. Tom Cruise and family had just lost their car and entered a diner to sit down for a good cry. Suddenly, the movie stops and the lights come on! At first I thought the theatre had to change reel, play side B, or some other archaic technical reason. However, the people around me all started to get up around me and head towards the exits and into the lobby. Thinking to myself:

"Gee that was the worst cliff-hanger movie ending ever in movie history."

Catching up to Ana, she told me that all movies have a 15 minute intermission for people to stretch their legs and got to the washroom (this wasn't her first movie here). Personally, I think it kind of ruins the movie or at least disrupts the flow of it by stopping half way and starting again. Perhaps in North America, we have a greater urinary fortitude to watch the whole 4 hours of Lord of the Rings with a 2 litre gallon on coke and a barrel of popcorn without a washroom break. Perhaps the real reason for the delay was for the theatre to earn more money since most people proceeded to the concession stand.

Anyways, the movie started again 15min later and it ended exactly how it was suppose to (as according to the original radio play). It was a new experience for me and perhaps I'll go watch another film (assuming we have discount tickets left) before my time is done here.


LEs

Ooops, forgot Mizu. Here again, the complete AIESEC trainee picture (LtoR): Ana, Shin, Mizuki, Leslie (me), Shangxia 

Trainee Photos! This is the most current photo with all of us in it =) 

Mizuki cutting the cake =) 

Birthday Dinner. Sorry Mizu that you still had to cook 

Birthday Flowers from a mysterious stranger =) 

June 27th – Mizu’s Birthday & Looking ahead

Yesterday was Mizu’s birthday. Unfortunately, due to our cooking rotation, she had to cook last night regardless. However, I made her day better by buying her flowers and a cake. At the Pub later on, AIESEC also had gifts and cake for her as well. Happy Birthday Miz =)

Now for a few things other things I haven’t found a spot for:

My tickets home are booked now. I’m coming home (Calgary) on the 27^th of Sept. My work term is done at the end of July. Connie is coming Aug 2^nd and we’re going to be travelling around a bit. I found a cheap package through Eurolines (bus ticket). For 90 Euros, I can go from Amsterdam-London-Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam. You basically pay once, and book at the start of each leg of the route. I am able to stay as long as I like in each point as long as I get back within 6months from the date the ticket is bought. I have my friend Pia that I can stay with, AIESEC in Paris and Brussels. I also manage to find a cheap flight to Zurich to see my bro for a little bit. Afterwards, we are thinking of taking the overnight train to Prague to see a friend of mine, before returning to Switzerland and Paris and continu2ing through Brussels and back to Amsterdam. So far, this is all preliminary planning and depends on how much money Connie and I have managed to save up. If possible, I want to go somewhere in Germany as well. After she goes home in Sept, I’m meeting up with my family for a vacation in Turkey and Greece. I’ll be back on the 19^th of Sept in Enschede, and the first flight to Calgary is on the 27^th. Fun times ahead.

This week at work, I took part in a big workshop for prospective clients and upper management people. I produced a poster and a power point of my project and set up a table. I felt a little bit like I was in sales as I had to introduce my project to everyone that came by. Another really cool thing is that on Friday (July 1^st), I’ll be having a meeting with the head boss of the organisation. Apparently she knew that I was here on traineeship and invited me to attend this meeting she was going to have with a Canadian delegate. She figured it would be useful for me to be there to listen to her introduction to Dutch Health care. When I first got the note from my boss’s secretary, I didn’t know who she was. It was until I showed a co-worker that they told me that it was the head of the organisation. To be personally invited, I’m feeling quite honoured. So on Friday I will be once again donning my suit and tie =)

OK, that’s it for now. I can’t seem to promise when the next time I update is but I’ll try to maybe write again soon

LEs

OK, you're not suppose to take pictures at the red light district, but Ana's friend did (this isn't from my trip, but I put it up so everyone can see). This was taken away from the main strip but the has a similar setup. The doors reveal the girl and the room. If a guy (or girl perhaps) is interested, they open up and go in. If the curtain is drawn over the door, that means the girl isn't there or is "occupied". The main strip has more doors in a row and is spaced much closer. Also, there is generally a red flourescent light over head each door.

Vic and Keegan going through the gate. It was a fun weekend 

Waiting for Vic's Flight. We just woke up 

Marilyn at the Sex Museum. The fans beneath her really work 

During the Canal ride. I think it's funny to have a no parking sign in the canal. 

At the Van Goh (pronounced "haw", saying it as "go" automatically makes you a tourist). We weren't allowed to take photos (oops) but we only had 20 min to run through the place, so I didn't have time to read the rules  

Fire!!!! A Dutch cannon at the Dutch historical Museum 

A Greek (Roman?) war Chariot at the same museum 

Hehe...a Mummy head. Wait until you see the photo of preserved Mummy feet (just the feet, the rest of the body is missing). This was at the first museum we went to, the Archeology museum 

In Amsterdam. I look weird =( 

Dinner Photo with Shin and Shangxia 

The Chinese Dinner I made. Fried Noodles, General Leslie's Chicken, Tofu and Vermicelli soup, and Sweet&Spicy pork 

Landing =) Mine and Vic's trip were relatively uneventful, However, Keegan had more fun as the wind picked up while he was in the air and extra help had to be called to bring the balloon down and prevent him from floating away 

Vic and Keegan are down below me. The people look small from here =) 

Wow, I'm high up in the air =) 

The Helium Balloon. I'm about to be hooked on to it 

All Strapped up and ready to go 

Waiting for our flight. During the time, we got free samples after another of ice coffee. So good =) note, to those that don't know (L to R) Keegan, Me, Victor (my brother) 

June 23rd-26th – Vic comes to visit!!

Vic was able to grab a cheap flight over from Switzerland to come see me here. Vic’s friend, Keegan, also came over =)

June 23rd

Vic’s flight arrived into Schipol (the airport) after 21:30. By the time we arrived home, it was already almost 01:00 (remember, 2 hours from Schipol to Enschede). We just hung around at home for a little bit and I got to see some of the games that I couldn’t play on my laptop but works on his

June 24^th

Bastards!!!

I awoke the next morning to find that someone had nicked my bike over night. I left it unlocked when I got home since we got home late last night. Someone actually came into the back of our house and stole it (like Miz’s bike 3 weeks earlier). I was so mad, since it’s twice now, and that means I’ll have to spend another 50 Euros on a new bike (so much for trying to save money).

After I calmed down (and gave a beating to the couch), I took Vic and Keegan for alittle tour around Enschede. It just so happens that it was the start of an International fair in Enschede, and there were celebrations all weekend with many stands selling stuff from their respective countries. Since it was Friday (I took the day off), the crowds were light and the streets weren’t too busy. The coolest thing there was the giant Helium balloon set up in the center square. The European equivalent to Tim Horton’s or Starbuck (DE café) was setting up a promotion for their new ice cappuccino drink. With the straw as proof of purchase, people can go on a balloon ride for free. Well, it was really just being lifted high in the air for 5min while men on the ground keep you and the balloon in place and not floating away somewhere. Anyways, the 3 of us bought the drink and signed up for this aerial adventure. It took 3 hours for all of us to have a chance at it due to the heat and wind (the 4 workers had to take breaks in between rides to cool off). It was fun as I was lifted high off the ground and I had a chance to photograph the surrounding environment.

Afterwards, we went to buy groceries (for my bro and Keegan, food was cheap here compared to Switzerland). I cooked a nice Chinese meal that night and made all of my specialities. In the evening, we went for ice cream at the best place in the whole of the Netherlands (voted #1 for 3 years). Later that night, we went out for beers with Shin as well.

June 25^th-26^th

Saturday we set off for Amsterdam bright and early. We had a good deal, for 33 Euros, we got the “I-Amsterdam” card, that entitled us to free entry into 13 museums, discounts on other attractions, free stuff, and 24 hour transit anywhere. With this in mind, we blitz through 4 museums in the span of 5 hours. We also got a free canal tour which we took in the evening. Afterwards, we proceeded to track down and get all the free stuff that the card had to offer. The problem with going to Amsterdam was that I couldn’t find a place to stay for the night (AIESEC Amsterdam…grrrr….) and we couldn’t go home since Vic’s flight was too early in the morning to be able to leave from Enschede that morning. However, we decided to sleep at the airport since a lot of travellers do. Before that however, once it got dark, we visited the sex Museum (very interesting educational experience) and the lab component at the red light district. It was my first time at the Red Light District but it was pretty much what I imagined it would be. It’s kind of like going grocery shopping in the frozen foods sections. You wander through rows and rows glass of doors and looking to see the product (girl) inside and picking out what you like. There seems to be certain sections as well with the American looking ones, the Western Europeans, Eastern Europeans, and the clearance and sales section away from the main strip. All in all, it is still very touristy, and we just followed the crowds of people and looking at all the doors. Anyways, we wandered around Amsterdam for most of the night before we went to Schipol for a couple hours of sleep. Vic went through the gates at 0730, and I went back home to Enschede. It was nice to see Vic again.

June 22nd: Today was maya's last day here before she returns to Japan. She has been back to visit for about a month. Keep in touch Maya =(

The only shot of Peter I have that day. This picture still looks weird to me though