Tough!

These days are tough. I tell you. One of the toughest I have in years, and it doesn't seem to get kinder YET.

Anyway, I think I'm strangely enjoying every single bit of it, cause I know that even to just have the courage to stand it, is already something not ordinary. And as what a friend of mine said tonight, "If it can't kill you, it can only make you stronger."

I know. I know.
I'm struggling on to survive my very own dream. And I hope to be a better person once I get through this.

reunion!

Yeay!

So, here is the story. When I was in Japan about 4 years ago, I was together with other students from other countries (there were 24 of us, with 4 girls --OK, it was a technological university after all). I remember that we started living in Japan from the same starting point: we knew no one. And the fact that we were such in a new world just drew us naturally close to each other.

A year then passed and everyone returned home. Get together was just out of thought. There was a chance to meet with each other, but for some of us really get together? That's just something that I couldn't imagine.

Especially when those spread around the world. But for the four girls, this was what just happened this weekend! It was so unbelievable!

My Korean roommate at the dorm back then came to Europe for holiday. At the same time, the Australian girl just happened to be in Germany for a while as well. And the other girl is German; she was not far away and excited of the idea for all of us to meet. So, after 3 years since we saw each other last time in Japan, we finally met again in the Netherlands!! Oh, how beautiful things can be!!

It was so good to see them, to hear their story these passed years, and to feel that we still have something in common. The weather was exceptionally wonderful. Warm, sunshine, and blue sky. It was all perfect!

***

Kinderdijk was a good choice for this nice weekend. The view was breathtaking. The smell of nature relived the stress after the tough week. And the atmosphere of friendship warmed the heart.






***
Thank you: Yunsun, Melissa, Annette, and Martina for coming! I was so happy!
It was really a great day!!

Hope to see you all again!
Wish you all a wonderful and successful life!

Today

I learned to be brave and to be confident,
to have courage to present myself,
to speak out my mind and to compromise.

...

And today,
I experienced a meaning of freedom.

Carnaval

It is "carnaval" in the southern part of Netherlands (and also in Germany and Brazil, as a university paper wrote, and some other European countries) from Saturday, February 2nd till Tuesday, February 5th. There was a parade in the city of Eindhoven yesterday, which I missed last year. So, I was so determined not to miss the crowd this year that despite the cold weather (it was snowing early in the morning, but cleared up by the warm temperature), I was able to enjoy it.

Really, it's a festivity! In a country where crowd is not often seen, the moment was just really nice. People (and even the spectators) dressed up. Music and laugh everywhere.

Here are some pictures to share: