I'm squeezing this blog entry in before committing to 48 hours of revelry here in Amsterdam. Tonight is Queen's Night and tomorrow is Queen's Day. Think Canada Day in Toronto multiplied by a factor of ten to account for the drinking culture here in Europe and the 'lax' social policies here in the Netherlands. Every day this week the city has been abuzz with plans for the next two days, orange garland has been strung around buildings, and eight or so outdoor music venues have been set up around the city. Clearly, it's a big deal.
In preparation for the festivities, the past three days have been spent madly trying to complete all my work so the only thing I have to worry about coming this evening is how much orange clothing I have to join the roves of hooligans from all over the country who have migrated to the capital. These days spent at the library were in promise of completely giving myself over to the Dutch way of life for their favourite holiday. Thankfully, I was able to complete all the assignments and readings necessary. I finally sent off my thesis proposal this morning after meticulously working over it for the past six weeks. To say it's great to have it off my desk and in the hands of the powers that be is an understatement.
Today was technically my last day of classes for the course proper here in Amsterdam and actually for the whole of MAIPR. We have portfolio presentations in next week's time, but the major instruction is officially over. Save for the major assignments to compliment the course work, and a week of summer school in Finland, the in-class portion of the work is done. And I couldn't be happier. The focus now shifts (after a break in June and July) to climbing the thesis mountain until mid-December.
Tonight we plan to rove around the city taking in the Queen's Night celebrations. We're leaving ourselves open to see some of the more happening spots, but will stop by two Dutch parties we've been invited to. Once would think that this evening entertainment would demand a good sleep in tomorrow, but it's not possible on Queen's Day! I've invited 15 or so friends here in Amsterdam over to my place for a 10am breakfast to get the day started right. We'll be having breakfast and mimosa to gear up for a full day of Netherlands fun. It's not quite a Pancake Kegger of the old Queen's (University) days, but it's as close as I can get.
Of course, a full description of the day's activities and photos will follow in due course.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: To live vicariously through my experience, google image Queen's Day Amsterdam - it's a mad house. Wear some orange today!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
A Different Kind of Marketing.doc
European Markets are the absolute greatest. I know I’ve gone on about this before, but why hasn’t their popularity made it across the pond? Yes, we have a market here or there but there are at least eight of them in Amsterdam (which is a tiny city compared to larger centres).
I went to the market both Friday and Saturday to score some deals and mingle with the plebs. The Albert Cupymarket is the best in the city. Case in point: carrots, onions, sprouts, TWO small heads of broccoli, and peas for 3.50 Euros. I’ve been a fool for buying produce at the AH – it’s just way too convenient. I picked up a pair of sunglasses to replace the ones I lost for 5E, bought 10 oranges for 2E, and picked up a screaming orange Holland jersey for Queen’s Day for 5E. I also walked by a stall selling summer footwear for 17 Euros (some sleek slip-ons). Worth a trip back for those. Deals, deals, deals. Apparently, one who now knows how to budget and spend frugally in these “tough economic times” is called a Recessionista – if that’s the case then I’ve be one since as long as I can remember. Recesionisters of the world unite.
I also took some time to visit two of the city’s other parks to get a bit more pleasure reading done. The book has proved to be enjoyable thus far. In addition to all this dandying around, I hit the ground running on my assignments. I locked myself up in the library on Thursday from 9:30am – 7:00pm trying to bang out the draft of my essay. If I’ve learned two things in six years of school about my work habits, it’s thus: I must head to a library to be able to concentrate completely on writing an essay, and the thoughts must be vomited out on the screen for the first draft no matter how badly formed they may be. So I “literarily” vomited all of Thursday and was able to muster a good 2200 words. The rest will be called up before the end of next week.
To reward ourselves for a hard fought week, aside from the Bob Rae day, Bec and I went for some drinks last evening. We chose a pub we hadn’t been to before just up the street from school. Like most of the pubs here, it has a smattering of tables outside. We were lucky enough to snag a table right beside the canal. As we nursed a few beers we saw boats of all shapes and sizes float by. I couldn’t imagine a more relaxing way to spend a Friday evening…unless I was on a boat of course.
Last evening, I joined Adam and a few of his flat mates at a club in the Rembrantplein (the really touristy place) for a night out. It was a typical Saturday adventure – lots of people out, lots of great songs, and a late night. One of Adam’s flatmates is an extremely intelligent philosopher. They debated Foucault, Kant, Freud, and all things to do with post-structuralism. I tried my best to keep up, but in the end was then happy to talk about more ‘wordly things.’ Besides, I like to separate my week from my weekend as much as possible.
Today, I had a FOUR hour meeting which started at noon to plan the conference I’ll be helping with in July. Thankfully it’s a rainy day so I can focus on finishing work. The rest of the day will be devoted to refining my thesis proposal which will hopefully land in the inbox of the Director on Wednesday so that Thursday can be spent basking in the revelry that is the Netherland’s Queen’s Day.
Bon voyage to my little brother Todd who will be leaving for a week in Miami followed by a week in Trinidad. I’m completely jealous of the temperatures he’ll be basking in.
Doc’s Prescription of the Day: Markets, pubs, and a thesis proposal, oh my! The prescrip is for the former two, not the latter. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I went to the market both Friday and Saturday to score some deals and mingle with the plebs. The Albert Cupymarket is the best in the city. Case in point: carrots, onions, sprouts, TWO small heads of broccoli, and peas for 3.50 Euros. I’ve been a fool for buying produce at the AH – it’s just way too convenient. I picked up a pair of sunglasses to replace the ones I lost for 5E, bought 10 oranges for 2E, and picked up a screaming orange Holland jersey for Queen’s Day for 5E. I also walked by a stall selling summer footwear for 17 Euros (some sleek slip-ons). Worth a trip back for those. Deals, deals, deals. Apparently, one who now knows how to budget and spend frugally in these “tough economic times” is called a Recessionista – if that’s the case then I’ve be one since as long as I can remember. Recesionisters of the world unite.
I also took some time to visit two of the city’s other parks to get a bit more pleasure reading done. The book has proved to be enjoyable thus far. In addition to all this dandying around, I hit the ground running on my assignments. I locked myself up in the library on Thursday from 9:30am – 7:00pm trying to bang out the draft of my essay. If I’ve learned two things in six years of school about my work habits, it’s thus: I must head to a library to be able to concentrate completely on writing an essay, and the thoughts must be vomited out on the screen for the first draft no matter how badly formed they may be. So I “literarily” vomited all of Thursday and was able to muster a good 2200 words. The rest will be called up before the end of next week.
To reward ourselves for a hard fought week, aside from the Bob Rae day, Bec and I went for some drinks last evening. We chose a pub we hadn’t been to before just up the street from school. Like most of the pubs here, it has a smattering of tables outside. We were lucky enough to snag a table right beside the canal. As we nursed a few beers we saw boats of all shapes and sizes float by. I couldn’t imagine a more relaxing way to spend a Friday evening…unless I was on a boat of course.
Last evening, I joined Adam and a few of his flat mates at a club in the Rembrantplein (the really touristy place) for a night out. It was a typical Saturday adventure – lots of people out, lots of great songs, and a late night. One of Adam’s flatmates is an extremely intelligent philosopher. They debated Foucault, Kant, Freud, and all things to do with post-structuralism. I tried my best to keep up, but in the end was then happy to talk about more ‘wordly things.’ Besides, I like to separate my week from my weekend as much as possible.
Today, I had a FOUR hour meeting which started at noon to plan the conference I’ll be helping with in July. Thankfully it’s a rainy day so I can focus on finishing work. The rest of the day will be devoted to refining my thesis proposal which will hopefully land in the inbox of the Director on Wednesday so that Thursday can be spent basking in the revelry that is the Netherland’s Queen’s Day.
Bon voyage to my little brother Todd who will be leaving for a week in Miami followed by a week in Trinidad. I’m completely jealous of the temperatures he’ll be basking in.
Doc’s Prescription of the Day: Markets, pubs, and a thesis proposal, oh my! The prescrip is for the former two, not the latter. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A Bob Rae Mental Health Day.doc
Anyone remember "Bob Rae Days" back in the good old NDP spend-a-thon Ontario? You'd be hard pressed now to find that kind of government spending happening, but I will remind you that the mandatory days off were unpaid for all civil service workers. Today I took a "Rae Day", or a Mental Health day as some friends like to call it. April has been a busy month. What with two courses and a paper I'm writing (pales in comparison to what I went through at UofT), sometimes a boy just needs a break.
The day began with the free lunch time concert at the Concertgebouw that I have enjoyed going to in the past. Since we haven't had time to go in over a month, Courtney and I planned to enjoy some really beautiful piano playing. It's a pretty funny scene some Wednesdays. The lobby is packed with Amsterdam residents and tourists alike who have flocked to the historic building for an hour of free music. The door to the concert hall is locked and those wishing to enter must queue and hope for a spot. I always arrive about half an hour before the concert begins and never fail to be surprised to find at least a hundred others in line ahead of me. Once the gates open there is a mad, yet organized, rush to get inside. You'd be surprised how competitive people get when sometime is free...yet with limited space.
The concert was wonderful as usual. The pianist played some Schubert and Chopin. I just like to listen and let my thoughts wander. There was a group of young teenagers there on a school outing. I had a moment where I realized I wasn't one of them anymore. Attending lunch time concerts is now a choice and not a mandatory obligation. It makes me wonder if it's the type of thing I'll invest in when I'm making an actual salary. One can dream.
From there we camped out in the beautiful park behind the Riksmuseum (it's the one with the I AMSTERDAM sign). I started a new book called The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. It won the Pulitzer so it should be a good read. I discovered that lying your bicycle sideways on the ground and using the seat for support is a great way to enjoy the park. We faced the sun, snacked on stroopwafels (not quite a 'micmic lunch' but one of your five a day), and enjoyed spring bliss. It's days like this when the work piled up back home seems to float from consciousness. It always gets done, so there is no use stressing over its completion. Besides, I'm chipping away on an essay that isn't fully due until mid-June. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised.
The day got better and better. After soaking up the sun we met Adam and went to FOAM which is a famous photography museum in the city. We had heard about a fantastic exhibit of the work of Richard Avedon. It was a name I had heard before but I really didn't remember why. Turns out I had heard his name because he's one of the most well-known photographers of the 20th century and he passed away not too long ago in 2004. The collection was awe-inspiring. It included 200 of his best shots. He's most well known for the type of portraits he took against a white backdrop where he looked to capture a moment between photographer and subject rather than a posed image. His snapshot of Marilyn Monroe might be his most famous, but I was also really struck by his photos of Andy Warhol and the Factory gang, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Igor Stravinsky, and Samuel Beckett. It was nice to see writers, artists, and politicians displayed alongside the more "popular" film stars. I think I want to find more photography exhibits - his work is really captivating.
After such wonderful pursuits, one gets a little thirsty. To catch the little bit of the day's remaining sunlight, we loafed down on a patio and sipped on a couple of beers. We received a little reprimand from our waitress for pulling our table into the sunlight after it peeked behind the top of a building. Apparently it's dangerous to pull your table into the street. A concert, a park, a photography exhibit, and a patio all in one day. I think I made the most of my Bob Rae Day...my mental health couldn't be better!
Tomorrow will be spent back at the grind, as will the weekend. I'll be sure to pepper in a few social activities to keep things lively. A week tomorrow is Queen's Day - unfortunately not a gathering of QU alumni, but the biggest holiday of the year in Amsterdam. I, of course, have volunteered to host the start of the day's events...but that's for another post.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Can you afford to take a Bob Rae Mental Health Day? Or afternoon even? I think you can.
The day began with the free lunch time concert at the Concertgebouw that I have enjoyed going to in the past. Since we haven't had time to go in over a month, Courtney and I planned to enjoy some really beautiful piano playing. It's a pretty funny scene some Wednesdays. The lobby is packed with Amsterdam residents and tourists alike who have flocked to the historic building for an hour of free music. The door to the concert hall is locked and those wishing to enter must queue and hope for a spot. I always arrive about half an hour before the concert begins and never fail to be surprised to find at least a hundred others in line ahead of me. Once the gates open there is a mad, yet organized, rush to get inside. You'd be surprised how competitive people get when sometime is free...yet with limited space.
The concert was wonderful as usual. The pianist played some Schubert and Chopin. I just like to listen and let my thoughts wander. There was a group of young teenagers there on a school outing. I had a moment where I realized I wasn't one of them anymore. Attending lunch time concerts is now a choice and not a mandatory obligation. It makes me wonder if it's the type of thing I'll invest in when I'm making an actual salary. One can dream.
From there we camped out in the beautiful park behind the Riksmuseum (it's the one with the I AMSTERDAM sign). I started a new book called The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. It won the Pulitzer so it should be a good read. I discovered that lying your bicycle sideways on the ground and using the seat for support is a great way to enjoy the park. We faced the sun, snacked on stroopwafels (not quite a 'micmic lunch' but one of your five a day), and enjoyed spring bliss. It's days like this when the work piled up back home seems to float from consciousness. It always gets done, so there is no use stressing over its completion. Besides, I'm chipping away on an essay that isn't fully due until mid-June. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised.
The day got better and better. After soaking up the sun we met Adam and went to FOAM which is a famous photography museum in the city. We had heard about a fantastic exhibit of the work of Richard Avedon. It was a name I had heard before but I really didn't remember why. Turns out I had heard his name because he's one of the most well-known photographers of the 20th century and he passed away not too long ago in 2004. The collection was awe-inspiring. It included 200 of his best shots. He's most well known for the type of portraits he took against a white backdrop where he looked to capture a moment between photographer and subject rather than a posed image. His snapshot of Marilyn Monroe might be his most famous, but I was also really struck by his photos of Andy Warhol and the Factory gang, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Igor Stravinsky, and Samuel Beckett. It was nice to see writers, artists, and politicians displayed alongside the more "popular" film stars. I think I want to find more photography exhibits - his work is really captivating.
After such wonderful pursuits, one gets a little thirsty. To catch the little bit of the day's remaining sunlight, we loafed down on a patio and sipped on a couple of beers. We received a little reprimand from our waitress for pulling our table into the sunlight after it peeked behind the top of a building. Apparently it's dangerous to pull your table into the street. A concert, a park, a photography exhibit, and a patio all in one day. I think I made the most of my Bob Rae Day...my mental health couldn't be better!
Tomorrow will be spent back at the grind, as will the weekend. I'll be sure to pepper in a few social activities to keep things lively. A week tomorrow is Queen's Day - unfortunately not a gathering of QU alumni, but the biggest holiday of the year in Amsterdam. I, of course, have volunteered to host the start of the day's events...but that's for another post.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Can you afford to take a Bob Rae Mental Health Day? Or afternoon even? I think you can.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A Student Jam in Rotterdam.doc
Back in the UK, I was able to visit a whole bunch of wonderful cities in England. Because I was living in a glorified wheat field at Warwick, these trips proved to be a welcome change from campus life. Here in Amsterdam, there hasn't been such a need for fulfillment outside the bustling city. But I was excited for the day's journey we had planned (Stu, Adam, Courtney, and I) to the second largest city in the country, Rotterdam.
Unlike its flashy and promiscuous counterpart, Rotterdam is more of a modest port city, but continues to evolve after extensive bombing during the war. In Amsterdam, you'll see only a grouping of skyscrapers in the south end of the city, but in Rotterdam they've sprung up all over the landscape. It feels more modern, more business, and definitely more like cities back home. On the train there we passed kilometres of sprawling tulip fields - definitely worth a return with May visitors.
The trip was organized by a PhD student in the department named Hein. He was our extremely informative tour guide for the day. The first stop was the Boijmans Museum. There we saw a fantastic exhibit by video artist Pipilotti Rist entitled Elixir. It was almost as good as the legendary Kingston hangout...almost. The largest space in the museum was split into eight installations that are a collection of the artist's most famous pieces (which have been featured at the Pompidou in Paris and the Church of San Stae in Venice). My three favourite pieces were projected on ceiling mounted movie screens - in each of these spaces, spectators were encouraged to lie on the ground, lie in a bed, or sit on a cushion and watch the dream like video sequences. The videos were mesmerizing; they reminded me of those old-school Fruitopia commercials with the fruit manipulation and Moby-like tunes. It was also nice to wander into a museum and sprawl out on the floor. I don't think they approve of that in the Louvre.
Also at the museum was an impressive collection of art billed as "the history of art from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century." I have to admit that the Dutch Romanticism paintings of men in funny hats and kitchen scenes weren't that appealing. What was memorable were the paintings from Warhol, Kandinsky, Monet, Magritte, and Dali. The Warhol pieces were of Mick Jagger and I was particularly excited to see some of Magritte's work as he's one of my favourites. All in a day's work.
After the museum we grabbed some dinner at one of Rotterdam's most well known music venues. We had to hover for ten minutes to procure a spot on the patio, but since the sun was shining we didn't want to be stuck inside. The five of us enjoyed the first patio meal of the young season. I had fish and chips with a really big salad. It was one of three things that I could identify on the Dutch menu. We also had some beers - it's best to keep hydrated in the sun of course. Hein told us a bit about the history of the city and about Belgium which is where he's from. Before the show we were going to see that evening (oh yes, a full day of European culture) Hein took us on a further tour of the city. There are boats everywhere and even apartments built in diagonally positioned cubes that stick out of a larger residential building. He assured us the occupants didn't live on slanted floors.
The performance we went to see that evening was called The Deer House by Jan Lauwer's internationally renowned Needcompany. They are an intercultural group based out of Belgium that has toured the world. The show is about a group of performers coming together to explore the story of a journalist murdered by a family in Kosvo that had been devastated by the atrocities of war. Its post-dramatic exploration of cultural memory and the intersection of art and trauma was at times incredibly moving, and at others light and meditative. But enough of the academic jargon...it typifies the type of theatre that I'm privileged to see - that of an extremely high calibre.
After the performance we had a post-show debrief (as MA students tend to do) on the same patio we had lunch. Admittedly, after the sun went down it wasn't as warm, but patio opportunities must be embraced. The Rotterdam visit was a full day of Euro Culture - museum, dinner, and a show - that proved to be the perfect way to spend an April Saturday.
Today was spent getting ahead on the work week and catching up with friends and family back home. I was extremely happy to have received a postcard from NYC this past week (much thanks from the friend I haven't seen in such a long time) and was able to solidify flights to Helsinki and Lisbon. The Blue Jays also hit double digit wins far and beyond any other team in the AL East. It figures that the year they get off to a hot start I'm out of the country.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Because I'm not able to, buy some Jays tickets and head out to the park! The team needs all the support it can to continue this pace.
Unlike its flashy and promiscuous counterpart, Rotterdam is more of a modest port city, but continues to evolve after extensive bombing during the war. In Amsterdam, you'll see only a grouping of skyscrapers in the south end of the city, but in Rotterdam they've sprung up all over the landscape. It feels more modern, more business, and definitely more like cities back home. On the train there we passed kilometres of sprawling tulip fields - definitely worth a return with May visitors.
The trip was organized by a PhD student in the department named Hein. He was our extremely informative tour guide for the day. The first stop was the Boijmans Museum. There we saw a fantastic exhibit by video artist Pipilotti Rist entitled Elixir. It was almost as good as the legendary Kingston hangout...almost. The largest space in the museum was split into eight installations that are a collection of the artist's most famous pieces (which have been featured at the Pompidou in Paris and the Church of San Stae in Venice). My three favourite pieces were projected on ceiling mounted movie screens - in each of these spaces, spectators were encouraged to lie on the ground, lie in a bed, or sit on a cushion and watch the dream like video sequences. The videos were mesmerizing; they reminded me of those old-school Fruitopia commercials with the fruit manipulation and Moby-like tunes. It was also nice to wander into a museum and sprawl out on the floor. I don't think they approve of that in the Louvre.
Also at the museum was an impressive collection of art billed as "the history of art from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century." I have to admit that the Dutch Romanticism paintings of men in funny hats and kitchen scenes weren't that appealing. What was memorable were the paintings from Warhol, Kandinsky, Monet, Magritte, and Dali. The Warhol pieces were of Mick Jagger and I was particularly excited to see some of Magritte's work as he's one of my favourites. All in a day's work.
After the museum we grabbed some dinner at one of Rotterdam's most well known music venues. We had to hover for ten minutes to procure a spot on the patio, but since the sun was shining we didn't want to be stuck inside. The five of us enjoyed the first patio meal of the young season. I had fish and chips with a really big salad. It was one of three things that I could identify on the Dutch menu. We also had some beers - it's best to keep hydrated in the sun of course. Hein told us a bit about the history of the city and about Belgium which is where he's from. Before the show we were going to see that evening (oh yes, a full day of European culture) Hein took us on a further tour of the city. There are boats everywhere and even apartments built in diagonally positioned cubes that stick out of a larger residential building. He assured us the occupants didn't live on slanted floors.
The performance we went to see that evening was called The Deer House by Jan Lauwer's internationally renowned Needcompany. They are an intercultural group based out of Belgium that has toured the world. The show is about a group of performers coming together to explore the story of a journalist murdered by a family in Kosvo that had been devastated by the atrocities of war. Its post-dramatic exploration of cultural memory and the intersection of art and trauma was at times incredibly moving, and at others light and meditative. But enough of the academic jargon...it typifies the type of theatre that I'm privileged to see - that of an extremely high calibre.
After the performance we had a post-show debrief (as MA students tend to do) on the same patio we had lunch. Admittedly, after the sun went down it wasn't as warm, but patio opportunities must be embraced. The Rotterdam visit was a full day of Euro Culture - museum, dinner, and a show - that proved to be the perfect way to spend an April Saturday.
Today was spent getting ahead on the work week and catching up with friends and family back home. I was extremely happy to have received a postcard from NYC this past week (much thanks from the friend I haven't seen in such a long time) and was able to solidify flights to Helsinki and Lisbon. The Blue Jays also hit double digit wins far and beyond any other team in the AL East. It figures that the year they get off to a hot start I'm out of the country.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Because I'm not able to, buy some Jays tickets and head out to the park! The team needs all the support it can to continue this pace.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Canal Days and the Sun's Rays.doc
In Canada, Canal Days is an annual marine hertiage festival held in Port Colborne. In Amsterdam, canal day is every day.
April, as I've said, is a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing: it appears beautiful and full of joy, but once you peel back the spring artifice there is a mountain of school work to keep one chained to the desk. I'm currently camped out in the Theaterwetenschap library (theatre science, but of course). We heat actors in test-tubes over bunsen burners to determine their emotional recall abilities and dissect characters with scalpels and protractors to determine their 'super-objectives'. It's all very messy stuff - all in a day's work when you're a scientist though. This section of the library has the AC cranked up unbearably high. If there is one thing I can't stand it's when, during the warm months, indoor temperatures are reconstructed to feel like the cold weather we left behind. I'm thinking of registering a formal complaint, but I don't want to mess with the Head Theatre Scientist here. Maybe the temperature is low to keep the theatre cadavers frozen.
We had long days of class on both Tuesday and Wednesday. I continue to enjoy my Key Theories in International Performance Class. Unlike the first year PhD class in Theatre Theory I took at UofT, which was rewarding but extremely challenging, I actually feel comfortable expressing my ideas and contributing to class discussion. We have only two more classes of it in the next two weeks and then we present our portfolio presentations in mid-May. Once this course ends, it will be the last formal class of my university education. Mucho looking forward to that.
After our classes on both days, a few of us rewarded our efforts with some after-school drinks. Each of the two days we migrated to a patio close to the school (there are a few to choose from) to blow off a bit of April steam. On Tuesday, we camped out on a patio which is situated across from another patio and separated by a bike path. Prime people watching territory. It was a bit funny - all the chairs on each of the patios were faced outward to catch the sun. I'm sure it made an intimidating route for bikers cruising down between the packed groups. Yesterday, we choose a patio further down the closest canal. In addition to tables and chairs outside, people sat with beers on either side of the canal. This type of chilling is too difficult to pass up. We enjoyed a few drinks, discussed our respective thesis proposals, and watched the boats float by in the afternoon sun. If I had to choose the most beautiful feature of the city, it would be the canals. Not only do they provide an easy way to navigate the city, but being surrounded by water is a pretty special way to spent your time. Their brilliance takes on new meaning when the bridges are all alit in the evenings.
Other important thoughts today:
1) In preparation for next month's 'May'hem (read: May visitors) I'm trying to get ahead with my final essay for the term. The abstract is due in a month and the final is due in June. I've started the paper and decided on a topic: Attempts at Intercultural Theatre as Expressions of an Imagined Global Citizenship. Wish me luck. The topic is a bit out of left field, but I hope it pays off.
2) April is half over. This makes me extremely happy. If you're a dedicated reader you know why. If you're not, what's stopping you?! Bookmarking makes returning very easy.
3) I'm headed to Rotterdam on Saturday - it's the second largest city in the Netherlands. We're going to visit a museum, have some dinner, and see a show from the international Needcompany.
The novelty of biking through the city during spring days hasn't worn off. I don't think it will while I'm here. I wonder if it wears off for permanent residents. Probably not.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Sunshine, pure and simple. Even if you can't enjoy it hanging off the side of a canal, open those blinds and curtains and let it stream through.
April, as I've said, is a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing: it appears beautiful and full of joy, but once you peel back the spring artifice there is a mountain of school work to keep one chained to the desk. I'm currently camped out in the Theaterwetenschap library (theatre science, but of course). We heat actors in test-tubes over bunsen burners to determine their emotional recall abilities and dissect characters with scalpels and protractors to determine their 'super-objectives'. It's all very messy stuff - all in a day's work when you're a scientist though. This section of the library has the AC cranked up unbearably high. If there is one thing I can't stand it's when, during the warm months, indoor temperatures are reconstructed to feel like the cold weather we left behind. I'm thinking of registering a formal complaint, but I don't want to mess with the Head Theatre Scientist here. Maybe the temperature is low to keep the theatre cadavers frozen.
We had long days of class on both Tuesday and Wednesday. I continue to enjoy my Key Theories in International Performance Class. Unlike the first year PhD class in Theatre Theory I took at UofT, which was rewarding but extremely challenging, I actually feel comfortable expressing my ideas and contributing to class discussion. We have only two more classes of it in the next two weeks and then we present our portfolio presentations in mid-May. Once this course ends, it will be the last formal class of my university education. Mucho looking forward to that.
After our classes on both days, a few of us rewarded our efforts with some after-school drinks. Each of the two days we migrated to a patio close to the school (there are a few to choose from) to blow off a bit of April steam. On Tuesday, we camped out on a patio which is situated across from another patio and separated by a bike path. Prime people watching territory. It was a bit funny - all the chairs on each of the patios were faced outward to catch the sun. I'm sure it made an intimidating route for bikers cruising down between the packed groups. Yesterday, we choose a patio further down the closest canal. In addition to tables and chairs outside, people sat with beers on either side of the canal. This type of chilling is too difficult to pass up. We enjoyed a few drinks, discussed our respective thesis proposals, and watched the boats float by in the afternoon sun. If I had to choose the most beautiful feature of the city, it would be the canals. Not only do they provide an easy way to navigate the city, but being surrounded by water is a pretty special way to spent your time. Their brilliance takes on new meaning when the bridges are all alit in the evenings.
Other important thoughts today:
1) In preparation for next month's 'May'hem (read: May visitors) I'm trying to get ahead with my final essay for the term. The abstract is due in a month and the final is due in June. I've started the paper and decided on a topic: Attempts at Intercultural Theatre as Expressions of an Imagined Global Citizenship. Wish me luck. The topic is a bit out of left field, but I hope it pays off.
2) April is half over. This makes me extremely happy. If you're a dedicated reader you know why. If you're not, what's stopping you?! Bookmarking makes returning very easy.
3) I'm headed to Rotterdam on Saturday - it's the second largest city in the Netherlands. We're going to visit a museum, have some dinner, and see a show from the international Needcompany.
The novelty of biking through the city during spring days hasn't worn off. I don't think it will while I'm here. I wonder if it wears off for permanent residents. Probably not.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Sunshine, pure and simple. Even if you can't enjoy it hanging off the side of a canal, open those blinds and curtains and let it stream through.
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