Tomorrow is my last school day at the master's degree. After that, we have two weeks of examinations and three months of internship (stage) including my thesis before graduation in July. Needless to be said, I have already resigned myself to not sleeping much (if at all), especially since besides exams we need to deliver quite a few projects.
God, this year's going fast!
Al menos aún no llego al grado Mafaldesco de "Párenle al mundo que me quiero bajar"... ;-)
Showing posts with label I. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I. Show all posts
Friday, March 16, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Sunny!
Since last weekend we have had only sunny days here in Brussels. I had almost forgotten how that looked.
Pity it is so close to our exam period, so there is not really so much time to go out and enjoy it.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Today was a good day
Thanks to all my friends that made this a birthday to remember.
Gracias.
Dankuwel.
Obrigado.
Now, let's get all the projects and exams done. Yatta!
Gracias.
Dankuwel.
Obrigado.
Now, let's get all the projects and exams done. Yatta!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Sweet 16 (+10)!
Today's my 26th birthday. How am I going to celebrate? I frankly don't know.
Funnily enough, it seems it will be a sunny day, which might be a first since usually my birthday is cloudy.
What do you do to celebrate your birthday?
Funnily enough, it seems it will be a sunny day, which might be a first since usually my birthday is cloudy.
What do you do to celebrate your birthday?
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
I hate the flu...
And I can't get rid of it. And just at the time of the year when I just cannot rest.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Attached to people, not places
My fiancée commented once that I was probably more "international" than she was (if there is such a thing) even though she has lived in 3 other countries besides her own, and in my case it's one less. I wouldn't mind moving from country to country that much, as long as the job is interesting, the pay and the quality of life are good and we are together (which of course entails her filling her requirements list as well). However, she referred to a valid point: I'm not attached to the places themselves anymore, but to the people in them. A place is just nature, buildings and maybe a nice view or two, but the people I know (and the people I love) are really what is important.
One example are my feelings to the place where I was born. Even though I consider myself to be healthily nationalistic I don't have an urge to go back and settle there, but just to see my family and friends. The same is the case with Finland. I'm very grateful for my experiences there, but it's a place as good as any, what is important are the friends and family there. Belgium is the same story: if it fills the criteria detailed in the first paragraph I'd stay after my studies are finished, otherwise I'm willing to search for something somewhere else.
The problem with freedom, as a friend says is that "you don't know what to do with it". I hope that's not my case.
One example are my feelings to the place where I was born. Even though I consider myself to be healthily nationalistic I don't have an urge to go back and settle there, but just to see my family and friends. The same is the case with Finland. I'm very grateful for my experiences there, but it's a place as good as any, what is important are the friends and family there. Belgium is the same story: if it fills the criteria detailed in the first paragraph I'd stay after my studies are finished, otherwise I'm willing to search for something somewhere else.
The problem with freedom, as a friend says is that "you don't know what to do with it". I hope that's not my case.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Reinventing myself
The first time I had to reinvent myself was when I entered high school. After a junior high of mostly pretty lousy experiences I had decided that it was time for something else. There I became much more social, and formed many friendships I still preserve to this day.
Later on, I moved to Finland to study engineering. That was reinvention number two: from a upper middle class hijo de papi to an immigrant student in a country far away, with different people and a new language. That went quite well, I'd say. During my studies I was fortunate enough to get a job.
While working, and especially after I graduated, I had to become a business person. That was my third reinvention, as at work I usually was working with people with whom probably initially I didn't share very much, as they were in a different stage in life than I was. However, that went very well and I still keep in contact with many of them, even after my latest reivention.
This last one was coming back to study again, again in a different country (Belgium this time). After 3 years, I came back to writing papers, student parties and being with people my age. So far, so good, I am learning a lot, get along with everybody and have found some new interests and things I didn't know.
After this, I don't know what will happen. I know I need to get a new job (there are some clues on that one) and I will get married. That will be the next reinvention.
As the song goes: every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
Later on, I moved to Finland to study engineering. That was reinvention number two: from a upper middle class hijo de papi to an immigrant student in a country far away, with different people and a new language. That went quite well, I'd say. During my studies I was fortunate enough to get a job.
While working, and especially after I graduated, I had to become a business person. That was my third reinvention, as at work I usually was working with people with whom probably initially I didn't share very much, as they were in a different stage in life than I was. However, that went very well and I still keep in contact with many of them, even after my latest reivention.
This last one was coming back to study again, again in a different country (Belgium this time). After 3 years, I came back to writing papers, student parties and being with people my age. So far, so good, I am learning a lot, get along with everybody and have found some new interests and things I didn't know.
After this, I don't know what will happen. I know I need to get a new job (there are some clues on that one) and I will get married. That will be the next reinvention.
As the song goes: every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
Closing Time: High school memories
On a day like this when I'm meditating about life, the universe and everything, my iPod had the nerve to play Closing Time by Semisonic.
The lyrics are especially touching given what happened afterwards. Phrases such as "time for you to go out, go out into the world", "time for you to go back to the places you will be from" and "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" are as relevant to my life now as they were back then even though I have more experience now.
Every time I hear this song memories come back like a torrent. My high school friends, my feelings at the time, the Model United Nations we were involved in, the work that went into it and the closing ceremony of the last one I was part of, exams, classes, parties, crushes, relationships created, broken and repaired, trips, and the expectancy of entering university and the work that went into trying it in another country.
With this song and Time of your life by Green Day I can just sit down and replay all those moments in my mind.
I can't believe it's been 8 years since I graduated. A lot has happened since then. I reinvented myself and the experience gave me the wings I needed to try something else.
¡Un abrazo a todos ustedes, sin importar donde estén!
The lyrics are especially touching given what happened afterwards. Phrases such as "time for you to go out, go out into the world", "time for you to go back to the places you will be from" and "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" are as relevant to my life now as they were back then even though I have more experience now.
Every time I hear this song memories come back like a torrent. My high school friends, my feelings at the time, the Model United Nations we were involved in, the work that went into it and the closing ceremony of the last one I was part of, exams, classes, parties, crushes, relationships created, broken and repaired, trips, and the expectancy of entering university and the work that went into trying it in another country.
With this song and Time of your life by Green Day I can just sit down and replay all those moments in my mind.
I can't believe it's been 8 years since I graduated. A lot has happened since then. I reinvented myself and the experience gave me the wings I needed to try something else.
¡Un abrazo a todos ustedes, sin importar donde estén!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
I'm confortable here
Basically because I blend in with the general population. Unlike in Finland, people don't usually stare at me in the street.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Today I remembered a high school quote
Heard from one of my English writing teachers:
"Yes, but, and this is a big, big but..." at which point, given that his hand movements resembled a homonimous word with an extra t, everybody laughed.
"Yes, but, and this is a big, big but..." at which point, given that his hand movements resembled a homonimous word with an extra t, everybody laughed.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
I'm not an Arab or a Turk, but so what if I were?
I was talking with another person when he made a comment assuming that I was Spanish. When I mentioned I am Mexican, he apologised profusely. I defused it with a comment saying that usually people think in Europe that I'm either Arab or Turk, because it is the truth.
Although there is some people that try to take advantage of the social security system available in this country, I believe they are as hardworking as anybody. I am taking Dutch lessons with them and they're pretty OK, and I've noticed that they have many businesses that even open on Sunday (something almost impossible in these parts).
Of course not all of them are perfect and culture shock for their communities and the host society is not uncommon, but I believe it has to do with people sticking to the labels of "Turk", "Arab",
"Flemish" or "Walloon", instead of noticing that we're all "Human" with a capital H, regardless of how corny it may sound.
Although there is some people that try to take advantage of the social security system available in this country, I believe they are as hardworking as anybody. I am taking Dutch lessons with them and they're pretty OK, and I've noticed that they have many businesses that even open on Sunday (something almost impossible in these parts).
Of course not all of them are perfect and culture shock for their communities and the host society is not uncommon, but I believe it has to do with people sticking to the labels of "Turk", "Arab",
"Flemish" or "Walloon", instead of noticing that we're all "Human" with a capital H, regardless of how corny it may sound.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
What's my mental age?
Pretty close to my real age, hehehehe.
You Are 24 Years Old
Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.
13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.
20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.
30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!
40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.
You Are 24 Years Old
Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.
13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.
20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.
30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!
40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Multiculturalism and different identities
I was talking with some friends about multiculturalism and different levels of culture identification (what do you feel part of, basically). I, for example, am Mexicano, Chilango/Sateluco, Espoolainen, Uussuomalainen and Brusselaar. I'm a North American, a Latin American, but also Europeanised and with a light Asian sensitivity. I'm the couple to my significant other, son of my parents, member of my family, friend of my friends and alumnus of the different schools I've studied in. I've taken parts of the places I've been to, so I eat a lot of Japanese food, listen to Brazilian pagode and read American sci-fi. I'm a techie, an engineer, a photographer, a linguist and a business person. But most importantly, I'm myself, and I know I'm all those things. I'll use them when I need to, and depending on where I am.
As a friend of mine said: "It's like a snowball, wherever you've rolled some things stick to you". Just be sure they're the good ones.
As a friend of mine said: "It's like a snowball, wherever you've rolled some things stick to you". Just be sure they're the good ones.
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