Extra Lesson for my Dutch!

A week after the Autumn Vacation(Herfst Vakantie), my docent, Bruhilde told me that I did great in our exams for the level of A0-A1 and gave me a score of A1+. She asked me if I wanted to transfer into higher level class which was in A1-A2 level or directly went to the class in Staatexamen.Of Course! I want to start as soon as possible in studying for Staatsexamen coz I don't want to waste our money and time in studying the low level of Dutch for the long time. I know that there are possibilities to learn the Dutch quickly like always practice speaking Dutch and studying hard by yourself. But it depends also to your capability to learn another language quickly. For me, I know that I'm not the smartest person  but I can do my best to learn it as much as I can and also through my patience, perseverance and eagerness to learn.

Unfortunately, I need to wait for the beginner class in the Staatexamen because all the classes there were already preparing for the exam. But Bruhilde suggested if I would like to attend an extra lesson that would focus more in Staatexamen. I considered it as a good idea while waiting to transfer me into NT2 class. But I should still to follow lessons in her class and I thought that there was no problem with that because I also learned new things from them. It was nice because it was one-on-one turorial with my teacher(Bruhilde) and would focus what I didn't know and understand. It would take for an hour and start at 2pm every Monday.

Winter tijd!

It's time now to set your clock and advance it one hour from the summer time. If it is now 3 o'clock in the afternoon, you need to move the hand of the clock into 2 o´clock. This is one of the traditions here in Europe to have more lights in the morning when the winter comes. Of course! Each country have different way of adjusting their time. Here in the Netherlands, it follows the Central European Time wherein the time is shifted forward by 1 hour or  2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2) after the Summer months. But when the Summer comes, the time will shifted back one hour from CET or GMT+1. This changes in time always happen in the last Sunday of March and in the last Sunday of October. 

Reconciliation Between Brothers

"Reconciliation means healing estranged relationships and creating new, healthier ones." This phrase was very suited for the recent situation of Dennis and his brother, Jeroen after 2-3 years they didn't talk and see each other. It was really great that they forgot what happened in the past, reconciled each other and ready to move on now. I  felt that Dennis was so glad to have his brother back. I knew that he missed him so much. It was started when their father tried to call his brother coz they heard that Jeroen was ready to have contact with them again. Jeroen told him that he was tired of being alone and wanted to get back his family. For this happening, Dennis felt so much happiness and finally, they would bring back the good relationship with his brother, Jeroen. Afterthat, Dennis´ father told him to call Jeroen so they could talk and arrange their misunderstandings. They managed it well and decided to see each other again. It was yesterday and it was also the first time I meet the brother of my love, Dennis.  I do believe that when you are really love your partner, it is your obligation to accept and treat his/her family as your own family too.So I feel great now coz even I am far from my real family, still I can have my own family too here.

Once in a Blue Moon

"Once in a Blue Moon''  is a common way of saying not very often. This phrase is affixed with the movie, Smurfs. I watched it yesterday and  found it very inspiring and funny. Even many movie critics shared negative reviews on this movie, still it was such an enjoyable film, because it had such good morals in it and a lot of funny lines quoted by the characters that made you think and laugh.

The Smurfs is based on the comic strip by the Belgian cartoonist, Peyo and released by Columbian Pictures as a CG (Computer Graphics) animated and live action feature movie. The Smurfs are a race of small, magical blue creatures living in a fairytale land. Led by the kind and wise Papa Smurf, they live a happy life hidden in the forest. However, they are constantly harassed by the evil (and incompetent) wizard Gargamel and his cat Azrael. He's eager to capture the Smurfs and use them as a key ingredient in his magical potions.

The Blue Moon Festival takes place at every blue moon, which is when Papa Smurf is able to see into the future to tell what it may hold for his little Smurfs, but Papa Smurf sees a vision of the future that is quite disturbing. The vision begins to play out in real life, as Clumsy Smurf inadvertently leads the evil wizard Gargamel to the smurfs' secret village. He warns Clumsy to stay away from the forest because of Gargamel. Gargamel follows Clumsy and destroys the Smurfs village. Most of the Smurfs manage to run toward a safe hiding place.As they scramble to get away from the bumbling wizard, Clumsy goes the wrong way. Papa, Smurfette, Brainy, Gutsy, and Grouchy follow after him, and they all stumble upon a mysterious portal that are transported into New York City, but Gargamel and his evil cat are close behind. 

That is, until they find themselves in the cozy apartment of young married couple Patrick and Grace Winslow. Patrick is a clean cut marketing executive for the New York City based cosmetics company Anjelou, and kind and optimistic Grace is pregnant with their first child.When they find that they have some little blue visitors, Patrick and Grace, well more so Grace, accept the Smurfs and even befriend them. Despite the fact that Patrick's life is turned upside down, the Smurfs inspired him to come up with a "blue moon" motif as part of his company's advertising campaign, which initially was sent by mistake to his employer Odile in place of the intended campaign design, almost causing Patrick to be fired, but was eventually accepted by Odile when she witnessed the moon literally turning blue through a spell cast upon it by Brainy Smurf. He does his best to help them escape Gargamel and get the tools and potions they need to open a portal back home, but in the end, it may be that the smurfs have helped him even more than he helped them. Papa Smurf refers to Patrick as 'Papa to show that he believes Patrick will be just as good a dad as he is.

Relying on the saying, Once in a blue moon: In our lives, we may encounter once in a blue moon some  lucks and opportunities. So when you have it, just grab it and never let it go.

All About Dutch Movies

Unpredictable ending and unique storyline, that is how I can describe Dutch movies. For that reason, it fascinates me to watch more Dutch movies. Other than that,  it helps me also to improve my listening skills in Dutch and learn more some traditions and culture here in the Netherlands. You will notice also that there are just few movies released by this country because they don't have enough or little  funds to market it internationally. All Dutch films rely on state funding that can be achieved through several sources such as the Dutch Film Fund or the Dutch public broadcast networks ('omroepen'). Here are the list of Dutch movies that I've already watched (not in particular order): 

• Alles is Liefde (2007)
• Alle Tijd (2011) 
• Costa! (2001)
• Liever Verliefd (2003) 
• Turk Fruit (1973) 
• Black Butterflies (2011)
• De tweeling (2002) 
• Dirty Mind (2009) 
• Ik omhels je met 1000 armen (2006)
• Ik ook van jou (2001)
• Leef (2005)
• Lover of Loser (2009)
• Swingers (2002) 
• Zwartboek (2006)
   

HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY!

WATCHING MOVIES, is it a HOBBY???

"Some hobbies and interests being the same is always a plus because you have something that you can both participate in and enjoy together."

When I read this text, it makes me discerned that me and Dennis have a lots of similarity in terms of hobbies and interests, one of these is watching movies.We do really love this hobby though we have different taste in genres of movies. He likes action movies, I like more romantic comedy movies. But still, we enjoy being together while sitting in the front of a big, flat screen, watching movie we like and eating some chips or cookies. It's so relaxing and sometimes, it helps you to understand yourself better and realize what objectives in life you have.

But I have a question in my mind, if watching movie is considered as a hobby. It wonders me and try to look for the answer of this question. When you search for the meaning of 'hobby', it is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time, as said by Wikipedia. I saw also some forums tackling this matter and read  their own opinions about this subject, they say, it is a hobby but others say it's not. Whatever reasons they have, let just respect each other opinions and viewpoints because everybody have freedom to share his/her opinion and what their borders in considering the activity as a hobby. So, for my point of view, I consider watching movie as a hobby because we mostly do it everyday after our dinner and we are very fond to watch different movies together. It's so simple but it may temporarily forget our problems and brings us happiness and fun. Besides that, you can learn from it and may apply in your everyday lives. 

One Chance For EK!

The Netherlands National Football Team played again yesterday against the team of Sweden. It was the most interesting game this week for Euro 2012 (EK) Qualifiers. Because the Sweden team had only one chance to go for EK. Sweden should take one or more points from this match at home vs Netherlands to play in Euro 2012 play-offs. Hungary had chances for second place if they win vs Finland and Sweden loose from Netherlands. Luckily, the Netherlands was already qualified for Euro 2012 coz they were the first who got the highest points in their group. So even they would loose the game against Sweden, they would still play in the finals.   

Initially, there were six teams per group who would match to each other and the team at the top of each group would qualify automatically. The second placed team with the highest points total would also qualify automatically. Thus Sweden was also included in the finals coz they won the game yesterday against to our pride team, Netherlands with the score of 3-2. All the football teams who joined this cup were eager to get more points and to be included for the finals. The finals would feature sixteen national teams including the hosts, Poland and Ukraine. So there were already 12 national teams who would  play  in the finals of EK and the rest of the teams would contest to be one of the four teams left.

Now, I couldn't wait to watch Netherlands playing in the finals for  Euro 2012 while sitting on the couch together with my sweet, Dennis and witness their victorious moment.

Join the Club!

Every Friday night, we have our training in Badminton and we received our official membership card last Friday. So we can play as many as we want in the Badminton Club.  It became more fun that Dennis' father was also come with us in the training. He is really good in terms of sports. Even he is already old, he can  still play good and think wisely. Additionally, it's nice that I'm starting to become cordial with other players. I can now start conversation with them (more in English..of course!^^, ), unlike before, I'm shy to talk to them. I found out they were so amiable and congenial. I feel that I'm belong now in the club wherein we are gathering every Friday just to share our common interest which is the Badminton.

First Day At School

When I heard that I would start on 3 October which was today in my Dutch Language course, I felt anxious what would be happened on that day. Monique introduced me to my  teacher so it would not be hard for me to find my class. She also told me that my teacher, Brunhilde would give us an exam which made me more afraid not to pass it coz I still had hard time to understand dutch. So I started to study the book which Monique gave to me and tried to finish it before that day. But I didn't make it! Because I was so busy this past few days. I just only have time to study during night but last friday night, I couldn't coz we had our training in Badminton Club together with Dennis' father. Then, this last weekend, we went to Vlissingen for the birthday celebration of my niece and nephew. I was planning to bring with me the book but I forgot it. But still, I had no time to study there coz we were all busy for two days. When we were going back here in Almere, I asked Dennis to practice me in Dutch while he was driving to home. I knew that I couldn't study at home when we arrived due to sleepiness and tiredness on that day.

At 6.30am, Dennis woke up and prepared to go to work. But before he left, he kissed and hugged me which made me feel awake. I'm still a little bit sleepy on that moment thus, I asked Dennis to set alarm again at 7.30am. When the alarm rang, I stood up and went downstairs to have my coffee and breakfast. Then, I prepared my things and took a shower.

At 8:28am, I just walked going to the bus stop and I'm lucky that when I arrived there, the bus was also arriving there. It took 17-2O minutes travel with the bus and 5 minutes walk going to the building of TTif Company. I started to feel nervous when I'm walking near to the building.When I went upstairs of that building, the first person I saw was Monique. We greeted to each other and told me to wait for Brunhilde. While waiting for my teacher, I talked to a woman who was sitting beside me. She can't speak English but can speak in Dutch and Portuguese. But still I could understand her when she spoke to me in Dutch and tried to answer as much as I could speak little Dutch to her. She could understand little too in English. Then, Brunhilde came and brought me to their class. She asked my name again and if I already had the book. When we entered the room, the nervous I felt a while ago was gone and I just felt happy and excited on that time. Brunhilde introduced me to the class then she distributed the exam to each one of us. I didn't have hard time in answering all the exercises. I just noticed that the exam was little easy for me and I'm little bit confused why others had difficulty in answering and reading the questions like the Turk woman who was sitting on my right side. She asked few times to me what would she do on the exercises. She didn't understand and speak English. When I told her the right answer, still she did the wrong one. She could speak well good in Dutch but it was difficult for her to read and write in Dutch. And also, I just observed to others that they were slow in reading. So I found out that we had different capability in learning. Others can easily learn while others have hard time to acquire the knowledge.

After that, we checked all our answers and had a break for 15 minutes wherein we could go to the toilet or drink tea/coffee. Next, we went to the Computer room where we could do more exercises tru some Language sites or programs on the computer. I sat beside the seat of an African woman. She could speak in English and Dutch but slow to follow and read the lessons that's why I tried to help her and explained the instructions. Our teacher, Brunhilde was walking around the room to check if we were doing right and when she saw my answers, she said, "Heel goed!". I felt great when I heard that. Afterwards, I am done with my exercise and asked Brunhilde if I could go home. She allowed me to go home early and told me if I could wait for her outside the room before I leave. She would talk to me some matters. So I went first to the toilet and went in their office. I saw Brunhilde was already there. She told me that I did great today and had good knowledge in Dutch grammar. She also told me that I am fast learner compare to her other old students who were slow. Thus, she would give me an exam for A1 level next Monday. If ever I would get a good score on that exam, they would transfer me into another class which was more high level than Brunhilde's class (A0-A1 level). So I'm hopping that I can make it and finish my course as soon as possible. I will do my best to learn Dutch quickly so I can communicate well with them in Dutch and find a good job here in The Netherlands. Wish me Luck! :)