Alice is wondering...

'Romeo and Juliet', when I was in high school I used to hate this play. I could never sit patiently in the classroom and discuss how tragic it was for two innocent lovers to take their lives away in the name of love. The star- crossed love. But recently I had to watch Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo + Juliet' as I was invited to participate in a 'taster day' at the university. I joined a second year group discussing how Luhrmann's film adapts the very classical Shakespeare's play. Despite young Leonardo diCaprio and his very romantic/boy- ish appearance (skinny, no chest/facial hair/blond and dreamy) I have enjoyed myself re- watching this film quite a lot. First of all, the prologue of 'Romeo and Juliet' seems to be imprinted in my memory as from now on: 'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene..' I come from no dignified household yet still, I know the feeling when you want to go after som...

Monday, 11th of April 2016 On my way home I decided that in the evening I will sit down to read and if there will be enough time I could write as well. When I got home I realized that first I need to clean up the place a bit, cook a dinner, throw the dirty laundry in the washing machine and pay one outstanding bill. When I finally got to paying the bill I looked at three books lying next to each other on my coffee table. I was trying to decide which one to read while I remembered I also have to get familiar with a piece of text for my participation in a 'taster day' at the university (I will join one class to get an idea of what is it going to be like to be a student). As soon as I started up my laptop to search for the excerpt in my e-mail I got reminded that tomorrow is Tuesday and it's time to get a new blog post ready. I feel like I am not able to catch up with everything. Not to mention the war that I have in my mind about several issues. 'Should I send my fa...

Typical Dutch birthday party. I already ate my piece of apple pie (apple crumble pie, of course) accompanied by a coffee straight from the one and only Senseo coffee machine, so now I am politely waiting to be asked whether I wish to have a beer or some wine. Instead of being offered a life- saving beverage the mother of the host walks up to me in her 3/4 white legging and a Miss Etam dress with a clear intention to engage  small talk. First she compliments me with my Dutch (because I had to say 'Gefeliciteerd' about 15 times before I was done with all the birthday girl's family members) and then after looking at me as if I needed consolation and some reassurance, too, she adds: 'So, do you like it  here ?' First of all: why yes, I do! Weed is legal and you can freely speak about using XTC. Nah, just joking. Although it's true. Then second of all: I am not sure if you (addressing this at the Dutch nation) realize, that each time I hear this question I notice...