tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47855712380982733382011-07-08T11:29:26.379+02:00Bluenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-87112315283346798812010-05-04T23:07:00.002+03:002010-05-04T23:12:29.162+03:00

Maternity is the time of your life when you see all the cartoons all over again ;-) Lyrics | The Aristocats - Thomas Omalley Cat lyrics

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-75377873618365642372010-02-19T23:46:00.003+02:002010-02-19T23:55:48.166+02:00

The history of the (electric) car (in Romanian)The age of stupid. See the trailer.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-33878752912891311802009-08-19T09:31:00.005+03:002009-10-01T10:33:55.617+02:00

It`s been 11 months since I`ve started my "institutional" job. And as August is a slow month at work, most people being on holiday, I`ve been mostly on my own - I`ve got my own mind back, so to speak. And I`ve been reading this amazing book called "Leading change" - I go to a seminar with the same name in September so I`ve decided to do my homework thoroughly.So, slowly but surely, I came to

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-20646194252011771822009-06-05T23:48:00.004+03:002009-08-19T09:30:36.609+03:00

I have been today with Marie to another "swimming" lesson. It becames more and more boring and dissapointing. There are 10 lessons in total, we have been to 5 so far. At the first one I thought they are just starting - so it was normal not to do anything interesting (for me). However, today as I was pushing Marie back and forth from one side to the other of the swimming pool, I have found myself

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-54374123590052326862009-06-01T12:19:00.006+03:002009-08-19T09:31:45.662+03:00

Quite early in my professional life I have learned you need to trust your boss. People say that you don't get to choose your boss. I would like to argue differently. You do get to choose who you work for. And if things do not work out the way you expected, you can always walk away. This is the beauty of being an employee - you can walk away. People don't always get it. You get to choose your boss

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-15293717440265405692009-03-02T14:42:00.000+02:002009-03-02T14:43:23.329+02:00

The Crisis of Credit Visualized

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-46277173301265911732009-03-02T11:36:00.002+02:002009-03-02T11:49:22.277+02:00

The month of March will see the 3rd edition of Pro Action Cafe Luxembourg. This will show if the cafe is sustainable here, if it answer a need, if it can integrate into the local life. I have put many hopes in the Café, and I have considered it for a long time as the place where I truly belong, my safe heaven and an unlimited source of energy. However, I find myself now at peace with its future,

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-36655602060471437912009-03-02T11:29:00.001+02:002009-03-02T11:34:32.322+02:00

Vicious circle to virtuous circle - collective development spiral

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-63394202163597856232009-03-01T01:44:00.002+02:002009-03-01T01:51:28.260+02:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-5009338791717791602009-01-11T20:02:00.000+02:002009-01-11T20:03:26.751+02:00

First holiday with Marie. Going away with a 10 months old was quite ok, she seemed to enjoy the diversity. Was difficult sometimes, to find places to feed her, places to change the dipper, to remember to take with you the baby food and the changing equipment. We survived, all three of us. However, I was for a week on medical leave after. Not related, of course, it was just a bad cold.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-31013729991050632462008-12-29T10:07:00.003+02:002008-12-29T10:30:04.058+02:00

The year is almost over. It goes leaving behind a feeling of sadness. I don't remember to ever been so unhappy, frustrated, suffering, to have so much longing for something different - and I don't remember having all this feelings at the same time. And my self esteem is so low and I'm even past being sorry for myself, I simply hate myself. My memory is still gone. I do remember more, but I think

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-39928259118094808582008-11-03T14:01:00.002+02:002008-11-03T14:05:53.906+02:00

I'm humming. I'm at work and I'm humming. I love what I'm doing. I seem to enjoy the fact that there is no pressure on me to do it by yesterday (and even not by tomorrow, but for a day after). I am happy that my rose bush seems to be recuperating well and I have high hopes it will blossom one of this days. Marie is in the creche. The rent for November is payed. There are some bills to be taken

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-67958271716756789512008-09-29T12:00:00.001+02:002008-09-29T12:02:45.880+02:00

Have you ever noticed a tendency for your attention to be everywhere but where you actually are? You may be doing the dishes and stewing over a task you have tomorrow. Or changing the baby’s diaper while fretting about something you said earlier that day. You may be talking to a friend while worrying about your trip next week. Where is your attention right now as you read this meditation? Take a

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-87967063190183032752008-09-28T17:29:00.003+02:002008-09-28T17:36:00.034+02:00

Luxembourg. Home. Somehow it seems I never find time to write – either my diary or my blog. I’m not quite sure what I’m doing all day long… Sunday. Catalin discovered in a nearby village a shop that is open on Sunday – until 13.00. So if the weather is nice we can always take a 4 km walk and get the stuff we forgot to buy during the week! It is a pleasant feeling to know there is a shop open and

Bluenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-42089093691679755462008-09-22T22:25:00.002+02:002008-09-22T22:30:22.232+02:00

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-17800458783445859182008-09-03T09:33:00.006+02:002008-09-22T22:32:03.179+02:00

So, here we are, me and Marie, in a foggy autumn morning. The weather changed suddenly, and from the first day of October was cold, windy and rainy. Yesterday we got both all wet - been to collect some cloth I've bought on ebay for Marie and on our way back the trams stoped and a storm started - just the perfect combination to an adventurous evening. Lately I've been much into ebay. I've created

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-41923486295474445642008-08-08T21:27:00.002+03:002008-08-08T22:01:20.111+03:00

Summer came in Brussels, we had more warm days lately. Of course, during a day we have sun, rain, wind and temperature variations - in a mixture that sometimes just drives you crazy. We've been to Luxembourg to look for a home - no luck, but we had a wonderful day. A very hot day, all three slept a long time afterwards - Marie 8 hours for the first time. We are anxious to move there - to finaly

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-83271520578431230262008-07-26T13:03:00.004+03:002008-08-08T21:26:34.808+03:00

Marie is 23 weeks old. Time indeed does fly! It is a stormy weather in Brussels, cold and windy. However, yesterday were 32 degrees Celsius and we went for a log walk - Marie is now discovering the pleasure of observing things around her - which means we can actually sit on a bench in the park, not just walk round and around like crazy.I've got two job offers this months, one in Luxembourg, one

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-74522848504924247672008-07-06T19:32:00.003+03:002008-07-07T01:30:52.820+03:00

This month is all about lavender in Brussels. Everywhere you go, bus stations, parks, flower shops... lavender growing wild or carefully nurtured, filling the air with a distinct fragrance. Marie is old enough to face the world from her port-bebe. And is also old enough to go with her at playgrounds - of course, it is more us using the toys ;-)

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-56703411053592060522008-06-11T18:16:00.002+03:002008-06-11T18:20:19.400+03:00

Today I’ve got out – socially speaking – for the first time since Marie’s birth. Marie is three months and a half now and it is June. June 2008. I need to get my bearings straight.So… a friend came from Romania for a conference, and it was a great opportunity for me not just to see an old friend but to slowly move on with my social life. Because, as my significant other noticed the other day,

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-84093939413922324892008-06-01T23:23:00.003+03:002008-06-01T23:28:40.615+03:00

We had a wonderful day today. The weather was good – warm, but not too warm, sunny, but not too much. The spirits were high and we went to see the Environment’s Day expo and get a bite of the giant omelette.It’s been a while since my last post. Been busy. First of all, we’ve moved from Jezus-Eik back to Brussels. And I had to study for a competition. The good thing about the EU competitions is

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-58561839447572804512008-04-26T08:20:00.004+03:002008-04-26T12:46:47.451+03:00

So, I've been told it's Easter time. Again. Well, things have a tendency of going round and around... the wheel of fortune so to speak. I don't recall much of what I've done last year for Easter, or any of the previous Easters except one. In 2004 I've been to visit my godfather in the countryside. Easter was also in April that year, and in that region was still a bit cold - we had to light up the

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-59652847434143707742008-04-19T18:38:00.012+02:002008-04-21T06:09:40.393+02:00

Catalin and I have celebrated 1 year since we are going steady. As the last couple months have been a bit rough on us, and all the stress is taken its toll, I decided is time to look at the good parts in life too. So this is what helped me get a change of perspective on my life: Chicken with mushroom and rice - Catalin makes the best mushroom I've ever tasted and the chicken is not as bad either.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-71970816927203870452008-04-19T04:51:00.003+02:002008-04-19T05:22:55.740+02:00

When I was growing up, the buzz word was "computer literate". I remember I liked how this sounded on my cv. In a country in which (at the time), PCs where just starting to take over the local made HC, being computer literate was making you belong to a very select community.Time has flied and now everyone knows how to use a computer - even my 81 years old gramda has a clue, even though her

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-39940655527200935062008-04-13T01:22:00.006+02:002008-04-13T02:48:54.852+02:00

The weather is getting better. That's a fact. Marie is growing. That's another fact. I'm out of the tunnel - that's debatable, but I do hope with all my heart is true. I've slept for three hours and I feel like the world is mine. However, I must be careful not to take a look in the mirror, as it would definitely spoil my illusion.We have been discovering the village around us, and the bigger

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-25960063035474852082008-04-05T18:21:00.002+02:002008-04-05T18:35:22.248+02:00

We moved out of Brussels. We are probably living in the smallest village in Belgium - if you walk about 500 meters from our place in any direction, you are out of it. However, the forest is also about 500 meters away, so, if the weather is dry, you can enjoy the silence, the birds and seeing just trees around you. The air is cleaner, fresher and it even seems to us the weather is better here than

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-6549392434183517992008-03-21T15:03:00.004+02:002008-04-13T01:22:26.586+02:00

Time flies. Or better said, I lost track of time. Day, night, they no longer have any meaning. Now is breast-feeding, sleep, going crazy because Marie cries (colic time) and, when I'm being remembered, I eat. It is like I'm in a giant carousel that never stops.Marie is growing - she has more energy than we can handle and she uses most of that energy crying. We have bought her a pacifier, hoping -

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-80308899812422534282008-03-16T23:12:00.003+02:002008-03-17T00:02:01.548+02:00

March 16, 2008. I think today Marie managed to set a new personal record of crying time. She cried about 80% of the time, starting at 7 a.m. - it is true she had a peaceful sleep, and we all managed to get some sleep. However, out of all this crying a lesson emerged. Our landlady came by to see Marie and offered to take her for half an hour, to give us some space. So this is how we've got our

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-41677824674862322132008-03-11T22:44:00.002+02:002008-03-11T23:11:55.303+02:00

March is probably the worst month in Brussels - it rains, it is cold and windy. The temperatures are around 9-10 degrees, but the "real feel" is about 0-1 degrees - that is Celsius. So after a few good days in the beginning of the month, now is rain, rain and more rain. I'm fed up with the Belgian weather, with Belgian red tape...The good news is that Marie is about 3,400 kilos, so is growing up

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-61962374616269916892008-03-11T13:36:00.003+02:002008-03-11T13:50:09.184+02:00

Ok, Marie is... 19 days old. Almost 3 weeks. And since she started her third week of life, things got even more complex. She's more awake, which means she cries more... and at the most inappropriate hours. We don't get much time to sleep, sometimes we don't remember to eat and some other times we just don't remember anything...There are good moments when we go in the park, when Marie sleeps and

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-49198916751780959492008-03-03T11:24:00.002+02:002008-03-03T12:02:18.799+02:00

I should better say no life with a baby. Today Marie decided to cry... for 15 to 30 minutes, after each feeding. This means we don’t get any sleep anymore, not ever the one hour we managed to get before, when she was sleeping.I know babies cry. Somehow, I was expecting my baby not to cry so much. Her crying is more annoying as we only have one room, so no place for one of us to get some rest

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-4342066376586789522008-02-28T17:44:00.005+02:002008-02-28T23:17:23.708+02:00

Last week, about this time, I was in hospital, about to give birth. Now I'm at home, Marie sleeps (finally!) and I am sleepless and hungry. Dad is cooking lunch... or could be dinner... anyway, a meal, because the normal time frames lost their meaning. Everyday I hope I could get an extra hour of sleep, and the day passes so quick... Are there still 24 hours in a day?!Marie is growing, so she

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-50547774047296929822008-02-27T00:28:00.003+02:002008-02-28T17:43:28.213+02:00

The post-partum term is usually associated with post-partum depression. I can see why ;-) I never felt so cold in my entire life - like there is no heat in the entire world to warm me up. I just hope I'm not coming down with something... We had to push the heating 2 degrees up, because I was in physical pain because of the cold.I am tired, I have more painful spots on me than I thought it is

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-18348284383994966992008-02-26T12:43:00.004+02:002008-02-27T00:23:56.337+02:00

My daugher decided to join us one week after Valentine's Day, on 21st of February. She was born at 21.18 at St. Elisabeth Hospital, in Brussels.You can see photos from her first days in her personal gallery:http://picasaweb.google.com/crista.filip/MarieAnd the photos showing the evolution from Crista & Catalin to Mom and Dad here:http://picasaweb.google.com/crista.filip/9MonthsOk, now let's do

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-52090950350072781652008-02-15T01:15:00.003+02:002008-02-15T01:39:54.902+02:00

Heart shaped cake ... and Paella Sometimes, life can be simply perfect :-)

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-39763758588762914262008-02-12T20:11:00.001+02:002008-02-12T20:26:24.989+02:00

Two weeks and a half to go until the due date. Marie is about 3 kg and growing (see photo - well, if you have a kid, you might actually see something, if not, wait till you do and then look again ;-) ). So besides reading a lot about giving birth, breastfeeding and how to deal with a newborn, I am sleeping. Today we've bought the first pack of Pampers - well, first time is always special. I

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-54785852034573917452008-02-09T01:16:00.000+02:002008-02-09T02:32:12.212+02:00

Sounds SF, isn't it? ;-) What do I know about it? A lot more now than I knew this morning, that's for sure. The systemic constellation has been around for over 30 years (like me :-D) and is a process that can help untangling the hidden dimensions in the human relationships (in family life or professional life).Here is what one website on the subject says the systemic constellation can fix for you

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-11773780947363704072008-02-06T21:51:00.000+02:002008-02-06T22:14:39.197+02:00

Last weekend I have discovered the shopping possibilities around my new place. Here they are:- HEMA, my favourite for the good quality/price rapport- Zeeman - a textile shop with incredible low prices- Wibra - a shop with pretty much everything at low prices - no famous brands, but resonable qualityOf course, just 5 minutes from my place is a Yves Rocher shop. All in all, I got over my worries

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-9972309475278551912008-02-06T20:41:00.000+02:002008-02-06T21:27:26.149+02:00

Today I set the third EPSO competition since I'm pregnant. Well, is something to tell my kids about, later in the years to come, because I was such a mess I can't only laugh at myself. It's been an AST competition, so I should have done pretty well, right? Well, not exactly. At the EU questions part, I had troubles remembering things I've read just hours before. The best part was the verbal &

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-64024461764928148022008-02-01T01:17:00.000+02:002008-02-01T01:32:43.070+02:00

So, January is over. Time certainly flies ;-) At least for me, time is relative now. Today we bought a carpet for the bedroom - from a Japanese family that is returning to Japan. I hope we can get some of their spirit too :-) Anyway, it improved dramatically our standards of living - more precisely the temperature in the bedroom, which is now at least 2 degrees higher! Sometimes, a little carpet

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-3953039334689800952008-01-30T21:33:00.000+02:002008-01-30T21:57:27.804+02:00

So it's been now 3 full days at our new place. We have food in the fridge, got friendly with the rabbits - I like the black one who reminds me of my black cat Mau - and we are trying to work out a way of making the heating... heat. I do miss the always hot heating devices from my last room at ICA - sometimes we had to turn down one of the two and every time we were leaving the room we left the

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-41294515995362579252008-01-25T02:39:00.000+02:002008-01-25T03:24:59.367+02:00

So, we are moving out of ICA. On Sunday, at noon. It's the end of an era, so to speak. We are moving in Etterbeek, an area of Brussels I know very little about, so there will be a lot of new things to discover over the next few weeks.Today has been a busy day - morning at the hospital, afternoon on the shopping street and evening at a lovely family dinner.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-14211052887652847042008-01-19T15:52:00.000+02:002008-01-19T18:01:01.066+02:00

January 19, 2008. Me and my man have survived our fist month of living together! Maybe ICA is not a real home for us, but for me it was the closest thing to a home for a very long time. And anyway this is the first place where we lived together as a family. We discovered Brussels together, discovered ourselves and our baby together... Maybe a month is not a long time, but we take it one day at a

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-6183382353542675512007-12-29T18:04:00.001+02:002007-12-29T20:44:36.731+02:00

The food The people

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-72630899616981360472007-12-27T15:13:00.000+02:002007-12-27T15:23:54.924+02:00

The eating committee ;-) And the proud chefs!

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-15120641206733777642007-12-24T02:08:00.000+02:002007-12-24T02:33:21.178+02:00

I have been spending a lot of time with my girl until by boyfriend came to live with me. We had long talks, now I'm having long walks. I walk like a duck - basically because my bones are moving around to make room for the baby. Fortunately, they will come back in their initial position later next year (hopefully!).I do have daily moments of forgetfulness - and sometime I'm not even sure what

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-43702730555549577132007-12-14T00:45:00.000+02:002007-12-14T00:53:46.095+02:00

... was actually not for me ;-)So she's not even born and she's getting all the presents I should be getting! Well, no one said life is fair :-DIt is Christmas time all over again... we have a Christmas tree in ICA and people are packing their suitcases to go home, or go travel - my next door neighbor is going to China!I was thinking I will be happy to spend Christmas in Brussels, however the

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-37699038377698006222007-12-13T00:21:00.000+02:002007-12-13T10:47:45.852+02:00

The two topics above have no connection. Or maybe they do... I've been to my first meeting of Pro Action Cafe this evening. I've been a part of Pro Action when was not yet a World Cafe nor an NGO, but just a meeting of people with ideas and curiosities, and I was curious to see how the concept expanded. I had a lovely evening. I didn't come up with any brilliant idea on how to generate income and

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-60478606218253088162007-12-12T11:56:00.000+02:002007-12-12T12:36:25.996+02:00

On 11 of December, at 11:00 hours, I had my first meeting with a "sage-femme" (a midwife) in Belgium. She's young, fun and her name is Titou. She and her colleague will see me every two weeks until I give birth and she's going to teach me everything I need to know about child labour.She wrote down all my medical details, took a look at my medical check-ups results and asked me to do the 3rd

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-15091293556557757402007-12-09T21:46:00.000+02:002007-12-09T22:28:25.798+02:00

Memory is one of the things we take for granted... until is no longer there. I felt it for some time, but know is no way of kidding myself: I do have a short-term memory loss associated with my pregnancy. However, this is not unusual - about half of the pregnant women report increases in forgetfulness during the latter part of pregnancy and in the postpartum period. So I'm not the first one,

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-51158193576405064502007-12-07T20:05:00.000+02:002007-12-09T21:37:49.959+02:00

If you are a person who uses to talk a lot with yourself, being pregnant gives you an excuse: "I'm talking to the little one". So I get to do a lot of monologues this days, I wonder if she can hear me... well, does not really matter, in a way she already knows everything I know.Space. The final frontier. I don't think the where considering the space in the dishwasher when they wrote the famous

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-44284369497323245222007-12-05T15:44:00.000+02:002007-12-05T16:11:51.621+02:00

So Microsoft found a way of playing nice to the Commission! Innovation has been a buzzword in the EU world for quite some time now. So an innovation day is a PR hit - and I am attending the 4th edition. The logistics are impressive: they set up a tent in a corner of Cinquanternaire park, and the badges have bar-codes and you get scanned every time you enter or exit the room! I mean it does

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-11623762338283579182007-12-03T16:27:00.001+02:002007-12-03T16:30:02.866+02:00

We have celebrated the Romanian National Day in a very Belgian way with warm wine, frits and chocolate;-) In a freezing cold, but in a beautiful world.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-60414695156724007172007-11-30T14:18:00.000+02:002007-12-09T21:39:41.101+02:00

Winter is coming to Belgium. Today we had a rain/snow combination. Discussing the Belgian weather is a normal thing here – and as I was complaining about freezing while going to buy a bus ticket, I said something like “tomorrow will be sun”. And I got a puzzled face from my interlocutor – will be what? Sun! I had to explain in sign language what sun is… and then I got an “Oh, sun!”. Well, it is

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-77478116783396525342007-11-29T17:41:00.000+02:002007-11-29T18:13:52.211+02:00

It's raining. I watch the drops pushed horizontally on the window by the strong wind. I sit next to the heater and I can hear the warm water being pushed in. It's been raining the entire day...A few days ago a decree has been passed in Belgium on how the kids are being enrolled in schools - and as a consequence, queues started forming since yesterday in front of the best schools - parents have

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-92219966777266259502007-11-25T11:39:00.000+02:002007-11-25T11:57:49.836+02:00

Yesterday our festive ICA Saturday evening meal became even more festive because Jim and Anna invited us to a traditional American Thanksgiving day. And they draw a crowd: we were about 50 people – two quarters residents and the rest guests of the residents. We were also from all the corners the world, from Lebanon to Egypt and to Canada and, of course, US. I guess it would be hard to find an

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-80389836567047233632007-11-23T16:33:00.000+02:002007-11-23T16:59:58.973+02:00

This week went by really fast. I had my exam on Tuesday - wasn't that bad, except that on the second part I felt sick and it took me 4 long minutes to bring myself together. I felt kinda bad about this, because the questions seemed easy and I just needed to focus and read them - which seemed impossible at the time, with my stomach having a demonstration.Yesterday was Thanksgiving, I tried to

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-73403586369429300542007-11-18T13:50:00.000+02:002007-11-18T14:18:24.033+02:00

When I first came to Brussels on October 15, I was bursting with energy and high hopes – at least metaphorically speaking, because I was dead tired and with a lot of due tasks. When I came to Brussels on November 14, I was running away from an environment that emptied me of all the energy I had left. It took me a few days to get over the physical fatigue and when I started to look around nothing

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-52403342182216156992007-11-15T10:39:00.000+02:002007-11-15T10:44:14.783+02:00

There is no secret that I don’t have very warm fuzzy feelings when it comes to my family. After all, they made me want to put 2000 km in between us! Today I have returned to Brussels, after 10 days in Romania. With 2 exceptions (one night in Bran, and another in Busteni), I had to spend all the nights at my mom’s place. Love her cats, by the way. And as much as I would have liked to stay a few

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-19924979491088967922007-11-12T09:17:00.000+02:002007-11-12T09:46:31.377+02:00

It's been raining a lot in Bucharest in the last 3-4 days. I don't really like it, the sky is dark and the wind is strong. Traffic jams all around.The medium salary in Romania went up with 27% compared with last year - from 245 EUR to 311 EUR. However if you work in a bank, you might get as much as 1000 euro, also in aviation salaries are a bit over 800 euros.I have just finished the last

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-26014784552100159072007-11-01T19:35:00.000+02:002007-11-01T19:55:08.805+02:00

Today is a Bank Holiday in Belgium. Which means banks are closed. And all the shops and people get a day off. Of course, the Belgian shops are closed, because all the Turkish, Arab and Armenian shops from my neighbourhood are open - work comes first for some people - and everyone has to make a living after all.I have changed my browser's start page, from http://www.euroconcurs.ro/ to http://

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-43157284734798023902007-10-30T11:22:00.000+02:002007-10-30T11:24:49.736+02:00

I have applied for 2 jobs so far and signed up for two career fairs. However, I am strongly aware that in my situation I should have applied for 200 jobs by now. I am a foreigner in a foreign country and I did spend the last two years in another country. So my contacts in Belgium are not as up to date as they use to be…Now I have another dilemma: a company advertises two jobs – one I like more,

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-2487301425640966022007-10-26T17:17:00.000+02:002007-10-26T17:20:24.993+02:00

Today was another cloudy day in Brussels. Was not that bad, I’m starting to get used to this kind of weather. I mean, it’s been cold and hot since the beginning of the life on Earth, and even before – so who I am to argue with things so much more than me?!I had a strange food for lunch, triangle bread filled with some kind of beacon – me and Dana bought it because it looked interesting and

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-50532798906552948612007-10-23T19:55:00.000+02:002007-10-23T20:00:47.317+02:00

So... one week in Brussels! Well, time goes by really fast here – at least for me! First impressions? Nothing has changed, a lot have changed. I changed. Water is the same – it dries my skin to the bone, I think I will finally get the chance to use all the body lotions and hand creams I have bought without a specific purpose in the last year – there is just one problem, I am here, they are...

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-74964256152732539382007-10-17T09:24:00.001+02:002007-10-17T09:44:23.400+02:00

Wednesday is a rainy day in Brussels. However, view from my room is still great. I didn't sleep as well as the previous night but now I had a hot shower and things are pretty much ok.Yesterday I've been to a debate with 4 Romanian candidates to the European Parliament. Learned a lot, and I just had this feeling it should have lasted longer. Nevertheless, the room was full and the people from

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-51623658758462530712007-10-16T07:33:00.000+02:002007-10-16T07:44:08.144+02:00

So, back in Brussels, back at ICA. It was like coming home after being away for a very long time. I feel safe, I feel confident... I would even say I feel happy! Maybe yesterday I had a bad morning, however now I am here, away from everything that could hurt me or make me sad.I have a lovely room at the 4th floor, with a great view over Brussels. I would like to be possible to stay here all my

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-36572132272586542332007-09-12T00:59:00.000+02:002007-09-12T09:48:09.267+02:00

So... I guess I've been busy living ;-) I see the Google people developed a bit the blogging software while I was gone country. Much has happened since my last entry. Some good, some great, some not so great.Anyway, life goes on, as many famous people have said it already. As autumn came, I am back to work - doing the traditional by now Euroconcurs.ro seminars. Last ones. I finally managed to

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-82273440681026054722007-08-15T14:24:00.000+03:002007-08-15T14:38:06.057+03:00

In the last two months something happend to the streets of Ploiesti. They are not better, just different. They get a new layer of concret that will crack in few months and the different will turn to ordinary.Now my grandma's getting a new kerosene meter - courtesy of the State. No improvement for the house, just the meters are now in the street, so the person reading it doesn't have to enter in

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-91691215928833465922007-07-05T19:53:00.001+03:002007-07-05T20:37:31.494+03:00

It's been a while since I've bloged last time ;-) Wanted to write about many things. About a perfect relationship with my boyfriend (which tends to fall under the too good to be true category and I expect to fall apart each second), about the storms in Ploiesti, about the awful hot weather in Bucharest.I live in Bucharest - I share an apartment with a friend. I live in Ploiesti - I share a house

Bluenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-29821203231181435032007-06-24T12:52:00.000+03:002007-06-24T14:13:45.335+03:00

This Sunday is special - it shouldn't be, but it is. Is the second time this year when I go to skate on the Bullevard with Chesnut trees in Ploiesti. The City Hall changed the rules so now the Bullevard is open to the public only on Sundays, and it became incresingly difficult for me to be in Ploiesti on Sundays, as the weekends are usualy for going out of the city, not for staying in. Well, a

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-67210931327812942152007-06-16T12:40:00.000+03:002007-06-16T12:42:37.275+03:00

So, Thursday. Bright sunny day in the dusty Bucharest. Yesterday I’ve got in the mail an invitation from the Romanian Feline Association to attend a conference about the microchip and the passport for animals. So now if Romania joined the EU, our companions should do the same. As I am planning to take my cat with me when I’ll be leaving for Brussels, I decided to attend, despite the short notice.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-30227044270869020242007-05-21T17:49:00.000+03:002007-05-21T19:06:40.098+03:00

I've been listening for a while to some audio books - is more effective than reading, because you can also listen when you are walking, not only in the subway. And as I do a lot of walking, I am doing a lot of "audio reading". Today I came across this self-help book by Dan Millman, called Everyday enlightenment. Basically, is a collection of wise quotes used to illustrate the personal experience

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-49010863982347567722007-05-18T19:34:00.001+03:002007-05-18T19:34:27.898+03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeVwUrEuxhI

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-55492868470223020732007-05-18T12:47:00.000+03:002007-05-18T18:19:20.439+03:00

All I have I carry with me. I came to Ploiesti yesterday morning, after 3 weeks in Bucharest. I loved the city, the garden of my grandma's house, the cats, the flowers, the bullevard. I choose to walk instead of driving and I cherised the time on my own.There is something about this spring to summer period of time that makes you see how alive everything is around you. I passed under this jasmin

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-66015344048888349912007-05-12T10:15:00.000+03:002007-05-12T10:44:37.763+03:00

Andi bought strawberries yesterday. Professionally speaking, I had a great day yesterday. Well, it ended kinda weired, but hei, nobody's perfect ;-) I went to bed very late, after eating a lot, so my stomach is not feeling so great now... Today I celebrate one year since my divorce become final. I am surprised I remembered, but hei, that's the kind of thing that happens once in a life time. Other

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-12879215677467000852007-05-09T13:04:00.000+03:002007-05-09T13:18:58.061+03:00

9Th of May - Europe Day. First time this year when I'm wearing sandals. Kinda scary in the beginning, but then feeling as natural as ever. The weather is fine, I am a bit dizzy, but all in all, it is a great Europe Day.I have bought this big shaworma and it will take me at least an hour to finish it - my stomach rebelled this morning, so I decided to use my traditional cure ;-)So, summer is here,

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-65235746331906754872007-05-05T13:00:00.000+03:002007-05-05T13:29:49.514+03:00

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-24452746091716502242007-05-02T17:48:00.000+03:002007-05-02T18:24:23.912+03:00

Living in a neighbourhood of the working class has definitely some advantages. Like having a really cheap store nearby - kinda like Metro, but smaller and nextdoor. This is the Plus shop located just next to the subway station - a little bit in the back, just for the people who know.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-18852553943973580332007-05-02T09:12:00.000+03:002007-05-02T10:43:14.848+03:00

May 1, 2007. Finally, the Boulevard in Ploiesti was closed for traffic. So I had the chance to go out and skate on an almost empty 4 lanes street. I guess not many people knew the Boulevard will be closed, because it was quite empty in the morning - well, except for a few couples of retired people, that were probably out for their daily walk. So I decided to... just do it. Anyway, I have to

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-19214968341605239592007-04-29T23:18:00.000+03:002007-05-02T10:47:15.512+03:00

Today is Sunday. I don't quite feel it, as yesterday I slept for almost the entire day. After 3 days at Business-Edu, I needed a long, refreshing sleep. Andi sent the dog to some friends - she found someone that will take the dog when she will leave. I felt sad somehow, but I know that, one - I can barely take care of myself so a dog is kinda out the question, and two - I will not be staying here

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-59856344668878225522007-04-25T22:51:00.000+02:002007-04-25T23:14:40.732+02:00

I'm writing this post inspired by a questionnaire a friend of mine asked me to fill in, on the controverted subject of... how to find true love. Today I've been very proud of a friend of mine, who grow up to become an excellent trainer. I felt rewarded by her success. I never doubted this day will come, however it was a very special moment for me. I always feel incredibly happy when people

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-63534212970265024102007-04-23T07:16:00.000+02:002007-04-23T07:40:07.602+02:00

Last evening as I was coming home, meditating about day's learning, I felt for the first time in my gut the fact that you are never to old to play. Mind games, feelings games, anything. Last year I used to think that, as I'm approaching 30, I've been through enough to let myself engaged in anymore games. However, as I was discussing with a friend her break-up and divorce, I sensed that, even

Bluenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-69563948668328319702007-04-17T09:19:00.000+02:002007-04-17T09:36:12.110+02:00

Let me take you on a tripAround the world and backAnd you won't have to moveYou just sit stillNow let your mind do the walkingAnd let my body do the talkingLet me show you the world in my eyesI moved back in Bucharest (I think the word back lost its meaning in the process of so many moves ;-) ). On the entrance in the block of flats someone wrote "God is a DJ". He might be right. How else can

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-878342767376589532007-04-13T22:06:00.000+02:002007-04-13T22:08:58.404+02:00

And a new target for this month: to keep my Inbox on yahoo under 150 messages!

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-21068199191413810412007-04-08T12:17:00.000+02:002007-04-10T12:12:30.617+02:00

The nightThe giftsThe photo tripFirst day I went with Costin at Ghighiu Monastery, only 5 km from Ploiesti. I haven't been there in ages, and this was the first time when I had a camera with me. I took photos for about 4 hours, and I had to stop because my battery died on me (was full when I left home). In the second day of Easter I went to Tiganesti Monastery, about 30 km from Ploiesti,

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-1076363486162940772007-04-07T12:19:00.000+02:002007-04-07T12:43:35.574+02:00

This past week - the week before Easter - was the week when 3 more of my friends announced me they are on their way to Brussels, to work within the EU institutions.Also, I realized I spend one month per year in Brussels - you take a few days from here, a few from there and when you add them up, you get four weeks which means a month. It's all about perspective...It's Easter time: here is one nice

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-19864623573066798432007-04-01T19:53:00.000+02:002007-04-01T20:10:38.178+02:00

March went by as fast as the spring flowers - today are bloomed, tomorrow are gone. March has been my addiction month: I came two realise I came down with 2 of them. One is Internet & movies and the second is driving - but not in the way of feeling the desire to drive to new and exciting places - just to go everywhere by car - shopping, working, the usual stuff. So my mom decided to treat me ;-)

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-82190411701303340242007-03-24T15:14:00.000+02:002007-03-24T16:06:36.120+02:00

What can you write about in a rainy day? Everything! Well, that's quite a broad aria... I will start with my cat - you know, my giant black-as-night cat, Mau. He is 5 years old now (I counted!). And he still thinks I'm the best. I think that's the longest relationship I've ever had in which I had a reasonable low level of arguments ;-)As a specie, us humans argue too much. We fight, we scream, we

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-81707429152620215252007-03-17T20:04:00.000+02:002007-03-17T20:18:25.518+02:00

Today, when I decided to make more descriptive labels for the movies I've seen in the last month, it just hit me: 90% are in the Romance or Romance/Comedy category. Of course, I've seen some of the "serious" ones, like "The Queen", "Lord of War", "Supersize me!" (though that one can get into the comedy section too), "The triangle" (SF), but the overwhelming majority falls under the Romance label.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-15708786938804650732007-03-15T01:20:00.000+02:002007-03-15T01:38:08.006+02:00

Yesterday was a strange day. It started bad, it went on ok just to end even worst than it started. The ok part was the meeting with students of my former Faculty - it was supposed to be a meeting with potential students, but it ended up being one with students, librarians and teachers. Anyway, I enjoyed my time today at the University. The day ended with a huge disappointment - from my part and

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-23965070672409170642007-03-11T15:57:00.000+02:002007-03-13T14:42:26.098+02:00

I guess most of you have seen the movie, it's been released more than an year ago. What I loved most in the movie was not the story, a good blend of romance and fiction, but the house. I am curious if the house actually exists. If someone would have ever asked me what I want to be when I'll grow up, probably I would have said that I just want to be the inhabitant of such a house. A house by the

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-25903503604493197972007-03-08T21:16:00.000+02:002007-03-13T14:55:08.649+02:00

So... 8th of March. 2007. I got a gorgeous bouquet of amaryllis and a few other things that go well with the Belgian beer. I also got other flowers with names I do not know (What's in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet. .). Anyway, was a good day. Done a 4 km walk in town, listening to an audio book about negotiation and meditated a bit about how

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-88528732351849820802007-02-26T19:17:00.000+02:002007-02-26T19:28:45.880+02:00

Overall, I am not that pleased with my participation at the LLL InfoDay. The Grundtvig presentation was a total bullshit and they finished 10 minutes earlier. I am still confused about what program is financing what. Presentations were done too fast and no time for questions was envisaged. In the rooms was cold, still I was falling asleep. Almost all the speakers made references to the coffee

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-27010284591420813962007-02-19T14:15:00.000+02:002007-02-22T23:47:29.012+02:00

Been here for a few days, this is the first time with a decent Internet connection and some spare time (of course, as usual, too much time and too much food given for lunch by the Commission, but what the heck, at least people should enjoy themselves!).Anyway, hard to put in a few words everything I've done in the last days, hope to have more time when I return (wishful thinking). Brussels

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-17270214551281362332007-02-09T22:27:00.000+02:002007-02-04T19:37:20.435+02:00

So... today I've passed with flying colors my final exam at the eBusiness TOT (Training of trainers). It felt good, despite the fact that I still don't know as much php as I want to. It is a progress anyway. For three weeks I had more than half of my working time to something else beside company work. There were moments when I was wondering why I am doing it, if I could go through with it because

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-71882043333137240212007-02-04T13:42:00.000+02:002007-02-04T14:08:36.235+02:00

This Sunday morning did not take off as I expected - that's the main problem with expectations, they never turn out the way you expect - that's way Dickens wrote such a big book about that;-). So as I was walking through an almost deserted city ('cause who the hell wakes up at 9.00 in Bucharest when outside is clouded and all you need is just a feeble excuse to stay in bed?! ), with a tear

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-84630826893194345352007-02-02T23:36:00.000+02:002007-02-04T19:37:20.512+02:00

I've been today for the first time live in a TV show. 1o minutes, but the make-up lasted for about 15'. And all those photos you see on the net with before and after - well, they are pretty much saying the truth. From now on, I will watch with a different eye all the men and women on the news - even this evening I noticed how I was commenting on how the guests had their make-up done. I am really

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-78662571000854461492007-02-02T22:54:00.000+02:002007-02-02T23:16:27.455+02:00

When I was about 13, a pen-pall wrote to me something I never forgot, and I've actually tested throughout my life... "in the important moments of your life, you are always alone". All the exams I've passed or failed, I was always alone in the examination room. All the moments of glory or failure, I was alone with my joy or my tears. With all my friends, my sometimes exotic social life... when it

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-43725753632966614412007-01-30T07:19:00.000+02:002007-01-30T07:31:21.496+02:00

Love is about leaving other people fulfill their dreams, no matter how crazy or unreasonable may seem to you. Love is about disagreeing but defending the other’s right to his/her opinion, place in the world and to the pursuit of happiness (as so lovely puts it the US Constitution). Love is about letting go.Publishing a book is also about letting go. You spend time with a book and it was all yours

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4785571238098273338.post-53212328381616721512007-01-26T23:35:00.000+02:002007-01-26T23:44:35.624+02:00

It just hit me it's been 7 long years since I've graduated from University. Of course, I had taken some post-graduated courses, so I never really felt like I've left the school. Until this year. I had a beginning of the year meeting with a former professor and boss of mine and we just realised we know each other for more than 10 years now. There is a certain significance attached to this number.

Bluenoreply@blogger.com0