It's snowing!

Wow!

For some reason I woke up at 7.30 today. On a Sunday. :S

Anyway, performed my daily rituals of showering and getting dressed. Opened the curtains and this amazing view appeared out of nowhere.

It's snowing in the city. Beautiful!

Stuff that's going on

I'm an Uncle
My brother and his girlfriend had a baby! Anna Femke was born October 9, which effectively makes me an uncle. Congratulations Michiel & Wina! Can't wait to see the pictures...

Friends coming over
Next week, Marko, JJ and Joël will be visiting! I took one week off of work and they’ll (all !?!) be sleeping in my room… :S

Made it to Program Manager
I’m managing a few projects and people at a time now at my current client. The certification preparations are also still continuing.

The weather is changing
Finally, the climate seems to be improving. Most people here might not agree, but I must add I like it being in the 60’s (between 15-20 Celsius) for a change at least. Lot’s of people are affected though. Nearly everybody I know has been sick for at least one day (including myself).

And last but not least
Finally started Yoga… The Turkish baths were OK (too many Russians), but the real relaxing is coming now. Although I’m sore with muscle-ache, I will definitely be going again another evening this week.


Good stuff...

Defining the black hole

Man, there’s so much to say and so little words to describe what I really mean.

A small go at it again below. A little impression not thought trough well enough to take too literal.

The black hole, speaking with Gaulliaume.
Gaulliaume is the person I've been discussing impressions with most. I call him the "Mexican" guy since he’s lived in Mexico City for year. The recurring theme's been the black hole of people. Better known around the world as the part of the iceberg that's harder to reach.

The part that defines people, the part you don't regularly see. Or necessarily might be a better word. We've agreed that at the end of the day, we're both interested in that part the most. We like to pry. We want to know who we're dealing with when we do deal with people. Apparently (and famously) something US people are not famous for being primarily interested in.

Just that it’s a cliché doesn’t mean it's not true. Christine.
US people seem to prefer to define each other by appearance.

I've discussed the "American" stereotype with some US people. And generally they seem to feel upset when I confront them. Possibly for good reason as well. For all I am is a visitor in their country, who gives me the right to question anything they might be doing or have been doing at all? Who gives me the right to judge or criticize or reflect? Nobody. I can’t seem to help it though…

You will change. Dino the landlord.
I also had a chat with Dino the other day. Dino is the landlord I'm being the "Apartment manager" for. He seems to think I'm a great guy. This makes me feel good for sure. But having experienced US enthusiasm for a while, also I exercise some caution in taking anything directly at face value. (People just might reconsider at a whim).

Dino warned me: When I’ll be here for three years, I will think completely different. And when I manage to finally make the money I should, I’ll be trapped in NY.

Reflecting the Dutch (Ton)
Spoke to one of the people I respect most in process level management so far that week (Ton). Please respect the intentions I have here if you’re reading this from the US or UK. Do let me know if you’re affected or interested more, it’s the only way I will learn to do better next time.

Expressed my feeling that the `polder model` levels (niveleert). It seems to work. The difference between the rich and the poor, but more important, the good and the bad are averaged by talking more, by having everybody involved does actually work. It seems more efficient than what happens here. It seems to be something the Dutch should be proud of.

New York impressions to the Californian (Eric)
A friend of Brynn has stayed here for a week. He was considering moving top New York. This was interesting for the way it made me speak about my impressions of the city. The intensity of it all, the crazy ride we’re in.

About the blog contents, anonymous
Oh and by the way, I have had people tell me that though there's a lot of words in my blog, at the end of the day, there's not a lot I'm saying. A gave that a quick thought and must conclude it has something to do with part of the audience I think I have.

People in the US are extremely easy to upset. You might have been able to read my impression of that between the lines, especially if you know me a little better. Interestingly but disconceringly people seem not to be looking to find the truth in New York at all. Some people seem scared of the truth. Hmmmm. I wonder what it means.

Also, I do make an effort to be precise. To say seem and appear as much as possible. Because after 5 months, it's not possible for me to know yet. It's only a first glance. Some stuff might be expressed stronger or completely different later.

Conclusion
Here’s my first attempt to organize what I’m trying to say a little better. Reading it over doesn’t give me the feeling I’m quite there yet. It is however another impression of a part of New York life. From a different perspective again.

Things We Can Learn from a Dog

Doing another quote here, one day I'll be able to write down my own take on wisdom, until then I guess I'll have to pass on others:

For this one, I'm thanking Christine.

"Derive pleasure from life, integrate your work with what you love, and approach life as if there were no limits.

* Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
* Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
* When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
* When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
* Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
* Take naps and stretch before rising.
* Run, romp and play daily.
* Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
* Be loyal.
* Never pretend to be something you're not.
* If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
* When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
* Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
* Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
* On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
* When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
* No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout .. run right back and make friends.
* Delight in the simple joys of a long walk.

About Me: finish each day and be done with it. you have done what you could. some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. tomorrow is a new day. you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

- ralph waldo emerson"

End of summer

As the summer in New York is getting to an end, things are becoming more serious.

Started on my PMP preparation before the weekend and this baby is going to take some of my time. Have been working on it for a couple of hours in the weekend, and today, I was the only one left in the office after 8. The actual guided course will start tomorrow.

For those of you who don't know it, PMP is the formal US approach in project management (http://www.pmi.org/). Project Management Practitioner is the name of the certification and I'll be taking the quiz in November. It's really an extension to the LPMD certification I acquired from Sogeti a while ago and it is different from the PRINCE II certification.

My last assignment has ended and with the start of the new season, tension in the office is increasing as well. I have to say, I'm just happy the peak of my 3-month-in low (dipje) appears to have been the week after I broke my toe.

Summer is ending and the weather is starting to change accordingly. Temperature is dropping to a more agreeable one at night (no coats yet, but it'll happen soon I'm sure). There's still lots of stuff to do (as I imagine will be the entire year) but my need to go out and act silly has been changed.

New Yorkers are hard to understand sometimes. To find out what they want and what they expect is taking more effort than originally anticipated. I´ll update you guys as I go I guess. I've been instructed to slow down by one of my guides (Roland from Australia). Slow down and enjoy the ride. As I am intending to follow his advice, I created a sign on my door saying just that. It seems to be helping. "No-one said it was going to be easy" helped a lot as well.

I’m not quite ready for Yoga classes yet, but I will be finding them soon I guess. Until then, the sign works just fine.

Anyway, that was it for the periodical update I guess, how is the start of spring treating you guys? Did any events happen that I should be aware of?

Speak later, Wouter

Wear sunscreen

Quote: "Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen. "

Chicago Tribune.com: Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young

A little word of warning

Hi guys,

Just thought it to be fair to warn you all. The next post has a different mindset. It's personal, about my feelings and the word I is in there quite a lot. I've considered not posting it here.

I do feel good about expressing this myself, but for people expecting the next lightweight ozoheapy, please skip and go to the Las Vegas story.

For whoever is interested, feel free to continue. And comment as you like.

Take care.

-W

P.s. for the title of the next post; take it as "No pain, no glory". I'm not intending on pulling anything crude without consulting you guys first, ok?

suicide is painless

Ok, got to take it back. I don't like Vegas. I don't.

I went to the US to find more experience. A more extreme environment.

I have been forewarned. My personal values are to be tested. I feel I've been reflecting my personal values on people I've met here. Have been unsure of how honoust that approach is and whether I want to continue. Or actually I had decided a while ago I shouldn't. And I won't.

Breaking my toe has turned me inwards. That and events that have happend including meeting the people I've written about. And the unholiness of Las Vegas. It didn't feel so good.

I feel like doing some personal reflection. I look forward to it. I'm sure I've only just started. I'm not sure how I'll go about doing it. I feel pressured and unexperienced, but the time for it sneaked up uppon me and is definately here.

Fear and anticipation.

I'll work on my patience.

Las Vegas

Gijs was here to visit. The first one to come over from Holland. He's arrived two weeks ago, stayed in my room for a week and then we went to see Las Vegas.

This guy is the best poker player I know by far. He's been playing for a couple of years and now he knows the trick. So when he invited me to join him to visit Vegas, I couldn't imagine someone better to go with.

Las Vegas is pretty cool. It's like a themepark for adults. The strip has 10s of huge 2000+ room hotels which all have a lot of slot machines, roulette tables and poker rooms.

We're going there to make the big bucks. Go there, play the tables and collect some cash. Not that it worked exactly. I must admit, when playing strickly by his rules, we seemed to be winning. But playing over the internet you can play a couple of hundreds of hands, playing in Vegas only allows for 25 hands per hour or so. And when it starts getting boring (because of the waiting on other players), that's when we started betting just for action. Especially after a couple of free beers. And that's when it starts becoming a dangerous game.



After a couple of days, we kinda decided the game was becoming too expensive and stopped playing the tables. Still going out to the nightclubs, saw a pool and a had some decent dinners. Went to see the Grand Canyon on a one day tour and finally went home again.

After I broke my toe on a suitcase lying in the room. I'll be limping for a couple of weeks. Gave me another interesting experience for going to a NY hospital though. (got to use my SSN/health insurace card for one).

Vegas is an interesting place, nice place to visit, don't know about living there. People here have been amazed by my intention of going there for more than 3 days. And now I recognize their impression. 5 days was more than enough for me. Anyone intending to go there: 3 days should easilly do the trick. But maybe for a 2 day trip to the Canyon. Definately recommend that.

Have my SSN!!!

Just wanted to let everybody know I now have received my SSN! This means I might finally be getting paid! (soon... ;))

Pfew.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44821&id=792695121

Some pictures from my journey in Australia; 2001. (See the one and only car I owned... :P)



Thanks Saskia.

Stuff happens

It's been a while since I last published a post. At least that's what it feels like. Stuff happens along the way and I've been wanting to let you guys know. Anyway, here's the summary:

Two people moved out. The most important one for me being Dave. He's the one with the larges room in the house and I've been the person moving over. The process is making me feel like an American in a way. Grabbing the room. Sure, I did as anybody else that might be interested, but in a different way.

Got a nice room twice the original size and 3 windows to show for it. NY Style. Its a lot warmer though. And noizier. But I'm really happy. And I guess it'll be winter soom (it's actually getting a bit colder I think. which is really a welcom change I have to add).



Gijs has come by. He's lived here since last Saturday. Which was kinda cramped before I moved to the new room. But now its excellent.

The new girl replacing Dave (or actually me) seems nice. Met her today.

Went to the Beastie Boys. With a friend of mine, Pamela. That was an intersting experience. One of my friends phoned me up to see what I was doing, come over and stuff happened that made Pamela upset. Weirdest thing is I didn't pick up on it. So we had a chat (unamerican) about it and now I think I'm starting to understand.

Work is getting more boring and more pressure is applied. Which is something to deal with and learn from as well.

Got into the PMP class. Happy about that. And what's better, got 2 people in from my current client.

I thinks the Social Security Number thing is going somewhere. Went to JFK and spoke to another 12 people about it I think. Another 8 hours and 4 times waking up real early well invested. I think I'll have it in about two weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Al in all I feel I'm exposed to the American (NY?) way of doing things a lot more. Which is very interesting. Learning a lot about the differences and the first natural response is one of denial. I'm trying to be open minded about it and it's definately working. Gotta love it guys.

I'l be going to Vegas in 3 days. I've got a week of vacation which I'm going to love for sure. I know I need it and I'll get it.

Met a lawyer through a friend. We'll have some beers tomorrow.

Had a crazy night the other day with colleagues from Sogeti. Good stuff but I was too drunk.

Went to eat in Chinatown. Saw some movies, showed Gijs around town.

Will go to an American birthday party Friday. Looking forward.

Went to the dangerlist party on the pier.

Sorry if this post was kinda all over the place, there's just so much I'm trying to tell I guess. Still in the waterfall of events. Still meeting lotsa new people and seeing lotsa different stuff. Getting tired and speaking some Dutch. I'd like to say more but I guess it'll have to wait.

Love you guys.

Ps. people that'd like to speak to me about anything, I'll be having my vacation next week so now is the time.

Social Security Nr

As you might or might not know, I haven't been paid in the states yet. They're not going to pay me until I have a Social Security Nr (Sofi nr).

Requesting a ssn is an interesting experience. Thisone only involves two government agencies in the US, I can only imagine what it would be like if there would be more involved.

My visa is a working visa. An L1, valid for 3 years. Now with the visa, my passport and the i94 entry card in my passport (the white card), I am able to apply for a card. The process seems fairly straighforward; I fill out ta form, they check whether my entry card is registered with customs and they provide me with a nr.

This may take up to six weeks.

Or so they tell me. If my application is rejected, the letter states, they'll inform me in writing as well. Seven and a half weeks after the application I feel it's about time and I decide to go by the SSA office to make an inquiry. My last time there taught me to be there early, so I set my allarm clock so that I'll be there at 8.15. Which was fine, there were only 2 people before me in line. 1.5 hours later it is my turn.

The Customs office has made a mistake. Two letters in the form were entered in the system incorrectly. Now the people at SSA can see al this. They have a copy of my entry card, a copy of my passport, my visa and the application. I'm informed they'll need to send a letter about this to customs (a hardcopy) and need to wait for their confirmation of the correction. This might take up to three weeks.

I can only imagine this is the way it happens around the world. Bureaucracy at its finest. I wouldn't mind getting paid (its been over 10 weeks in NY), but feel I can't really do anything but wait. And be amazed about how things work in some places.

I'll chase up the progress a bit more.

It's good to work

My day today ended feeling good. I went to a client pitch today with one of the Account Executives. MOSS implemetation at one of the biggest banks in the world (banking is pretty big in NY I must say).

The Sogeti guys here have been trying to get me to be a MOSS expert. I've read the book, done the training and heard all kinds of expert saying how wonderfull it is going to be. But today I saw it for myself.

Not only did I start to see the business case, I could even jump in and help with my knowledge. This feels good. Not only have I shown my added value in the proposition, I felt I was able to demonstrate my personality in doing so. I went in and had a go at wrinting an initial initiation report. Or maybe even a sales document.

Feels good.

Things are starting to slow down at my current engagement. I notice it, my boss does and step by step, new challanges are combing by. This is just a sign of my excitement about the future possibilities. Good stuff.

Life is good

Living in this house has really treated me well I must say. The people here are great and they've been taking me to all kinds of different parties. Having champagne on Mondays because come got his certification and Tuesdays because of the bi-weekly French party and marketing updates from Iris.

Starting to get comfortable at work. I've been getting more responsibility and projects (3 now) which I need to prioritize and manage.

And last weekend I met some more people myself to hang out with. One of them being a girl that has lived in NL for 4 years. One of my neighbors I met by crashing their party at 4 am on Saturday night.

People are starting to plan to come and visit me. And I love the thought of that. Also, I like the impression that by now I'm starting to know stuff to show them once they're here.

Going to Las Vegas in August with my PokerChamp bro, he'll be here for a week first. Then Marko, JJ and Joel in October, that should be good. And then there's Marija and James around newyears if I understood correctly. Adriaan and Albert, I hope you guys can find a weekend in the meanwhile if you wanna stay for a couple of days.

Anybody else interested in coming here, feel free to let me know your plans. I'm here and I will be, and your welcome to visit. Haven't got a lot a space to share, but what I got you're welcome to enjoy. Anyway, take care. Still love y'all. You know who I mean Simone, Roland.

-x- W

Trimming the lurk over distinction

One day Ima go to New York to a bigga hotel.
I go down to eat soma breakfast.
I tella the witress I wanna two piss toast.
She branga me only one piss.
I tell her I wanna two piss.
She say go to the toilet.
I say you no understand.
I wanna two piss on my plate.
She say you better not piss on the plate, you sonna ma bitch.

Later, I go to eat somma lunch at the restaurant.
The waitress bringa me a spoon an an knife, but no fock.
I tella her I wanna fock.
She tellsa me, everybody wanna fock.
I tella her, you no understand, I wanna fock on the table.
She say you better not fock on the table, you sonna ma bitch.
I don't even knowa the lady and she calla me a sonna ma bitch.

So i go back to my room inna hotel, and there's no sheet on my bed.
I calla the manager ana tella himn I wanna sheet.
He tells me, go to the toilet.
So i say, you no unnerstand.
I wanna sheet on the bed.
He say you better not shit on the bed you sonna ma bitch.
I don't even knowa the man an he calla me a sonna ma bitch.

I go to check out ana the man at the desk, he say peace to you...
I say, piss onna you too. you sonna ma bitch.

I GO BACK TO MY COUNTRY

Posting comments

Just modified the settings for the comments here, sorry I didn't do this sooner. I never realized you needed to sign up in order to be able to add comments.

Anyway, anonymous comments have now been enabled, meaning you don't have to sign up anymore.

Want to leave a comment? Just click the comments link under an article or click here or in the sidebar on the right. Select other or anonymous for identity as you like and fill out the form. Happy blogging.

-W

Explosion in the city

One of my housemates wasn't allowed in the 6 train I had used only 20 minutes before. Not knowing what had happened she did arrive here in panic, thinking there might have been a terrorist attack. A steam pipe exploded today at 6.

www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/nyregion/19explode.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

My office building, located at 299 park (49 st) apparently has no power now. I'll need to get in touch with my boss in the morning to determine what to do. I'll keep you guys posted.

And after 3 days

This picture is taken three days after the other one.

When you do manage to keep your bike though, one block east from where I live, there's bicycle polo to play. And don't let the impression fool you; there's about 40 poeple watching and 20 people waiting to go on the field.




Tonight I'll be in Bryant park: http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/thisweek.php to see the movie. Tomorrow's a party in Central park I guess...

A regular Sunday

As you guys know I have a house. And this would be a good time for me to tell you a tiny little something about it. I’m living in New York, on Manhattan, in Chinatown.

Actually, I have been known to refer to my house as a drawer. And that is not too far off. My space is 7,5 by 10,5 foot. About 80 sq foot which would translate to almost 7,5 sq meter. The smallest place I’ve every lived in for the largest amount of money. 1200$, but I got a 100$ discount.

The reason I decided to go live there anyway is the people. There’s 8 rooms in the house and since this weekend we’ve got 10 people living there. 5 French (of which one I haven’t met and including 1 guest), 4 American and me. 5 girls and 5 guys. Come (FR), Thibault (FR on holiday), Iris (FR) and Camille (FR visiting), Guillaume (FR), Anna (US) and Jane (US), Wouter, Dave (US) and Carrie (US).

Now the great thing about this is that there are always people about the house. Either just to relax and listen to some music or to eat something or hag out in a bar. And this is where I wanted to go. Have some people around to spend some time with. People to know where to go.

Yesterday, I got breakfast at the Italian deli, 2 blocks downs from me. French bread, Italian cheese, Italian Parma and some salami. We ate it with 5 of us, the American girl moved in, I went to the beach with the 2 French girls, hung around at a Brooklyn bridge restaurant. Then went back to find out that the American girl decided to have someone else living in her room as well. Spent the evening watching the sequel to the one we saw last week. A French movie, I forgot the name and then went to bed. Great stuff, I had a good day.

Nothing extraordinary though, days like that happen all the time.

So many impressions

Spoke to a few of my family over the weekend. And ofcourse the guys at home that went to dance valley. Great to hear you had a good time guys!

But as I was saying, spoke to my family and they seemed to feel my blog is hard to read in a way. Difficult to find the actual meaning of what I'm trying to say.

See, here's the thing. After having been to NY for over 7 weeks (the actual amount I'm not sure), I find new and exciting stuff hapening to me every day still. Although I've now been here for a while, I feel like it's only been a couple of weeks. That might well be because I've only got my house for a few weeks now. Or because of the fact that still every day, I have new experences. See new stuff, new places, shops and meet people. Whatever the reason is, up to now, it made it kind of hard to just sit down and write up all ithis stuff.

So I guess, still very much getting used to the place. Now don't get me wrong, I do love the experience so far. It's been great. Just capturing several new experiences and impressions that I have every day in a blog like this is pretty hard. I'll give it a go anyway. I'll get it. Eventually.

And yes, I'll post some more pictures soon... :P

Tiesto is confirmed

Vrijdag de 20e: (2 weken) Tiesto in de Hammerstein. En ik ben d'r.

Meer info op http://www.tiesto.com/

Contact info

Wouter's contact info:

Email: wouterst@hotmail.com
Skype: wouter.steenbergen
Phone/txt: (+1) 917 348 0751
Blog: http://wouterst.blogspot.com/

Wouter Steenbergen
240 Grand st, Fl 5
New York, NY 10002-4952

And guys, don't be afraid to leave your comments, ok... ;)

Subscribe info

OK, for everyone interested in subscribing to my blog, I've added a little utility ---->>> Just enter your email address and do the required stuff and you'll receive an email when I've posted a new something. Oh yeah, and I won't be able to see if you have.

En in het nederlands betekent dat dus dat je je kan aanmelden in de dingus aan de rechterkant. Blogarithm. Geen idee wie zich aanmeldt, ik wordt niet geinformeerd.

Got a bike

I guess I told you guys I decided to find a room after about 1 week. Sure I knew I was going to live in the village, but still I wanted to have a look around town. So, dutchie as I am, I bought a bike.

Of course, from living in Utrecht, I knew I should be well aware that people would be trying to steal my bike. I went ahead and got myself a decent lock. Second hand bike: 250$, decent lock: 100$.

In NY, you're supposed to use anything available to lock your bike to. You should have seen the look on the cop's face when I asked him where to in Times sq. Anywhere at all I guess.

The first week I had the thing, 14th street station outside worked like a charm. I guessed that'd be the case anywhere in the city. I might have been wrong.

Check the picture out. (The rack I mounted myself). Be sure to check the peddles and the handlebars.

Time to call my bike shop guy I thought. Howmuch for a rear wheel? He'd get back to me.

NY impression #1

Union sq is always pretty busy. I guess the time is right to go hang in the park. Nice weather, pretty much around 90 degrees out every day since I've arrived.

It has been raining. Not so much though. And when it does, the subway's always one block away to get you to a nice and dry spot.

By the way, the people on the picture, might seem like a lot, but its not. At 8 there'd be half, at 10, there'd be about a third left.

A friend of mine once said at 10 pm: if it weren't for the fact that it's dark, you wouldn't be able to know it's not 2 in the afternoon.

Different vibe all around.

How to translate to English

Thanks to my buddy up in OZ, here's the English translation link:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=nl_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwouterst.blogspot.com

Future postings might be in English, but this'll get you started.
(Makes me sound like Yoda I guess, but it's something anyway)

Working on the subscribe link, it'll be there soon.

wouterst.blogspot.com

Ok, dit is hoe het werkt. De bovenste artikels zijn het laatste gepost (scroll naar beneden om aan het begin te beginnen). De foto's komen er aan en de rest van de tekst wordt ook leuk.
Laat me weten wat je vindt. Grtz en x, Wouter

Kamer gezocht

Na een weekje in New York leek het mij tijd om eens uit te vinden hoe ik een kamer kon krijgen. Mensen op mijn werk hadden verschillende ideeen. AOL roommate finder, the village voice en city habitats zaten ertussen, maar craisgslist werd het meest genoemd. Craigslist is een gratis advertentiesite en daar worden 20 tot 40 kamer NYC advertenties per dag geplaatst.

Voor eenieder die het wil zien: http://newyork.craigslist.org/roo/

Vraag was nu alleen waar ik dan zou willen wonen. Brooklyn werd me aangeraden voor de prijs en zelfs Hoboken in NJ (aan de overkant van de Hudson River aan de westkant) zou een optie zijn. Voor mij niet alleen natuurlijk, hoewel ik me realiseer dat het prijsverschil groot is wil ik uiteraard op Manhattan wonen.

Manhattan is iets van een km of 2,5 bij een km of 20 tot Harlem, wat boven central park begint) http://maps.google.com/?q=loc%3A+greenwich%20village%20nyc

Nou was ik in Oktober in NY geweest om een beetje rond te kijken. 2,5 week heb ik besteed en heb in 5 verschillende hostels gewoon om de buurten te onderzoeken. En mijn conclusie was dat de Village (either Greenwich Village of East Village (rond Thompkins Sq Park) leek mij goed.

In ieder geval, (anyway), daar dus maar een paar kamers gezocht en gereageerd. Een weekje (en zo'n 20 emails) later kon ik 3 kamers bekijken.

Nou mijn idee was om een kamer te zoeken in een huis met meerdere huisgenoten. Op die manier kan ik wat mensen leren kennen die de omgeving en nog andere mensen kennen. En zo begon mijn zoek avontuur.

Stukje over werk

Zoals de meeste van jullie weten werk ik voor Sogeti. Sogeti is een zusterbedrijf van Cap Gemini en zij hebben een visum voor 3 jaar werken in de verenigde staten voor me geregeld. (Op mijn visuam staat ook Cap Gemini). Het is een L1 visum, wat inhoudt dat ik alleen voor Cap Gemini en gelieerde bedrijven mag werken.

Sogeti in New York is een relatief klein bedrijf. De Vice Precident heet Alec en is degene waarmee ik afspraken maak. Er werken hier (slechts) 2 Account Executives, de verkopers die de mensen plaatsen bij de klant, 2 support people (1 HR om cv's te zoeken en mensen binnen te krijgen en 1 mand die administratief werk doet). En dan zijn er iets van 80 consultants van verschillend nivo.

Martin Viklund is een Zweed die hier een half jaar geleden naartoe gekomen is. Hij weet ook hoe Sogeti in Europa werkt (heeft toevallig contact met mensen in NL omdat we daar verder zijn dat hier op het gebied van Mobile Solutions.)

De eerste week was er sprake van een interview bij <>, een pharmaceutise tussenpersoon in NJ. Iets waar ik niet bijzonder op zat te wachten; ik wil uiteraard op Manhattan werken. Gelukkig vonden ze me te ervaren voor wat er moest gebeuren (direct te vertalen naar te duur) en werd dit interview afgezegt.

Op dat moment heb ik maar even Alec ingeschakeld, hij en Andrew waren toch al bezig een nieuwe klant binnen te halen. Ze waren op zoek naar een Sharepoint Architect, zowiezo de technologische richting die mijn Microsoft Practice Director me graag op ziet gaan. Altijd goed om zo hoog mogelijk verkocht te worden dacht ik zo, en Alec regelde gewoon even een sollicitatie bij <> op vrijdag.

Halverwege in week 2 kregen we de bevestiging, <> koos mij uit de 3 aangeboden kandidaten en 2 weken geleden ben ik er begonnen.

Guess what? I'm a New Yorker!!!

Hi guys,

Eindelijk, mijn eigen plekje. Iets waar ik al een tijdje aan toe was zou je kunnen zeggen.

Het is een tijdje geleden dat de meeste van jullie iets van me gehoord hebben. En toegegeven, mijn idee was om eerste een stukje tekst jullie kant op te doen komen maar dingen gaan zoals ze gaan.

Heb het net even gecontroleerd en het lijkt erop dat ik hier al sinds 24 mei ben. Meer dan 5 weken. Wow, time flies when you're having phun eh... ;)

Zoals gezegt ben ik aangekomen op donderdag, mijn bagage in mijn hostel gedropt (een kamer met 4 bedden) en wat gegeten. De volgende dag was ik uitgenodigd om evt ff langs kantoor te komen en dat heb ik dus maar gedaan.