Looking Back...

time, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

Last night, I was chilling to some music, and the thought occured to me - I wonder what I was doing on this day last year?

And then I thought... well, I will have a look in my blog, and see what was going on.

It's an amazing thing to be able to trace your life back to specific days, to have an actual account of what was going on with you in that moment. And for me, that is the power of this weblog - yes, it is nice to update everyone on what is happening in my life, but more importantly, and personally, it is a platform for my own memories and self reflection.

Amazingly, as I read my August 31st 2004 entry - entitled "Safe in Montreal'" - I realised that on this exact day, 2 years ago I was leaving my life in Denmark, to work in Canada. At that moment I had no idea, the people I would meet, the memories I would have, the relationships I would forge. I had no idea that Montreal would be a city that would become a part of me - that would define me, and in return I would define it by having been there.

Whats more, I had no idea on that day, writing that entry, that a year later I would be sitting in Amsterdam, writing another journal entry about life in The Netherlands. That on August 31st 2005, I would be at a turning point professionally - a turning point that would ultimately lead me to prolong my time in the Netherlands by another year.

This amazes me. It also makes me curious.

This year, August 31st 2006, I also at a turning point - a creative turning point. This week I am attending acting classes, I am going to comedy on Sunday night, I am painting again, I am starting a project with Arthur which we hope will revolutionise learning within modern corporations - I have decided I am leaving the bank, and moving into a world more alligned with who I am and what I value. I have had a biking accident that has made me think seriously about whats important.

I sense I am at another turning point - and one where I am pushing a huge step into a new direction to be the person I want to be, and ultimately have the impact on the world I want to have...

And I wonder to myself - what will my August 31st 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 entries look like?

And I challenge myself - what should those entries say? Where will those entries be written? What emotions will surround those entries?

What a fascinating exercise into reflection and projection.

WHAT THE...?

So I am sitting at work and my phone rings.

I answer to hear a strong Aussie male voice...

"G'day Maz! How are you?
It's me - SIMON.."

Hmmm...ok. Simon who? I know a few simons, and I do not seem to recognise the voice.

"SIMON GOBERT"

OH MY GOD!

What? Simon is calling?
It has been, what, about 5 years?
Calling from a Dutch Number?

WHAT THE?????
RANDOMNESS

Simon is a friend from University in Sydney; and a pal from my first year in AIESEC. Someone who I have not thought about in years, but whom I remember for all the randomness we shared!

Well after a few inquiring questions I had all the answers as to why he was calling me on a Dutch number after such a long time. Apparently he had met a certain Ukranian girl in his Maastricht Masters programme introduction...

MY OLD ROOM MATE - OLENA!!!

What a small world.
My old room mate, and my old AIESEC Sydney pal; meeting randomly in Maastricht - with a common connection in me.

The world is not that large afterall....

Music of the Moment

I am in a super Keane phase at the moment - all the songs I am listening to just have the exact feelings of where I am at RIGHT NOW. It is crazy... songs such as;

* Is it any wonder?
* This is the last time
* Chrystal Ball
* Fallen

They are elevating me; calming me, joining me in my moments of stillness.

One song is especially relevant: Everybody's Changing. It reflects my feelings of the last month, with several of my closest friends in Amsterdam leaving to continue their international journey elsewhere...

Thank you Keane; musical sanity.

Less than a week...

TILL MADONNA!

Monday September 4th is where it is at!!!

Rediscovered.

One of the great things about having some time alone is that I have been able to rediscover my love of colours, of music and of good juice.

1. Colours

Because I am deciding to opt away from my sexy white ‘you just had a accident’ bandage; I have gone shopping and picked up a selection of colourful head bandanas to cover my injury. This has meant I have now extra colours to co-ordinate with my jewellery, and although I am sure this sounds very ‘girly’ I am happy to rediscover colours that I have not worn in ages – and that I will be wearing in the future months, I have been too ‘black and white’ in ABN AMRO for my likings.

2. Music

Reaching the limit of 4 DVD’s a day – I have once again found my outlet in music. I have been listening again to ACCURADIO.com, for my selection of Broadway, Jazz, 70’s and 80’s music – it has been invigorating. And I realise how much I miss musicals – LIVE MUSICALS. This is something that I intend to change now that I am able to go outside again. I will attend more live performances, more pub bands and gigs, more Jazz and Soul music, and when an English musical comes to Amsterdam – I will be attending. Oh, and yes, there is that Madonna concert I have a ticket too that I have to attend on Sept 4th…. J

3. Juice

Even if you have only seen me a few times in your life, chances are it has either been holding a glass of wine or a diet coke bottle. As sad as it is to admit, these are the most common beverages in my life… oh, and milk if I manage to get to the local supermarket. Not anymore. I have rediscovered the goodness of juice… and how drinking healthy liquids DOES actually make you feel GOOD!

Some excellent rediscoveries!

One of the things I love best about Amsterdam is my bedroom. It is the 'Maz Zone'. It is the place where I come and sit to relax, to chill out, to escape from the world, to energise. It is MY place.

What I especially love about my room is that I have a huge window panel that looks out onto a huge lake – my calming waters. The effect that being around water has on me is indescribable but essential to my overall sanity. So in that sense, having my room look onto the water, and being able to sit on my window pane and feel the water breeze upon me, is simply wonderful.

And it is on this window pane that I sit today; reflecting.

It has been a strange week – and one of many personal realisations, but more importantly questions. You see, I pride myself on being a people person. I love connecting with new and varied people; understanding different approaches and thoughts, and getting energy from new insights. But it has not been until this week that I realised, not only how MUCH I love being around people, but more importantly that for me, being around people is a real need.

It is a non-negotiable. It is like fuel in my tank; otherwise my car does not drive (well at least not as well and comfortably).

Whether it is in social or professional scenarios, I get most of my energy from interacting and building meaningful connections with others… it drives me.

But to realise I how much I really NEED it, well this creates questions in my mind. To see how I can steadily slide downwards when being alone for long periods, well that is something that has also been emphasised this week. I know, I know… it’s great to take time out; to re-energise oneself but I never realised how much of how I see myself is connected to my relationships with others.

This got me thinking; WHO AM I without people? Without the conversations where I feel good because I may have added a smile, a thought, a question to another person’s day; who am I?

And on that note, am I too reliant on others for gaining my sense of self? Do I really have a sense of who I am without the interactions with others? And is it a bad thing to have people connections as a main element of who I am?

Questions, questions….

It’s strange to be thinking about all this because usually I am so busy in life, often having a professional and social agenda that leaves little time for such thoughts – but it is an interesting thing to think about… Who am I when I take away all the people? I take away all the projects? I take away all the things that make me feel good? And how important is it to discover who I am without these elements who build the sense of who I am and what I think is important…
Questions, questions….

Maybe the answer is simple: I JUST NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I am following doctors orders...

and resting.

Although I am a tad naughty, getting up and moving around more than I should, but my roomies soon put a stop to that.

So what am I up too?

Resting on the bed... watching DVDs, listening to my broadway musicals, staring out the window thinking, and occasionally painting.

I think now my head is not hurting anymore, I will start reading some more books and finishing the book that I am actually writing.

I may be back at work next week, we'll see how it goes...

What's so hard about..

a smile?
a nice word?
a friendly approach?

Why do I see it less and less?

Did we mention...

Family 005, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

we LOVE potatoes??

Our Russian Brother

Family 001, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

in action!

Huy

YOU ARE THE BEST!

So I have been getting some motivating and helpful messages from Huy

Firstly reminding me that I am MIGHTY via a website http://mazzy.youaremighty.com

Then, give me some helpful future advice for purchasing bike helmets....YOU ARE A LEGEND!

HUY:

I thought that I could possibly bid for this stackhat - its an awesome fashion statement!

The Government's Powerhouse Museum promoting the stackhat copyrights and design.
http://www.phm.gov.au/collection/database/?irn=59601&search=box&images=&c=

Possibly the coolest stackhat in town
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/25087773/

A pink stackhat to suit your personality!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a111/biancca/stackhat.jpg

Stackhat fever on Google Images
http://images.google.com.au/images?q=stackhat&sa=N&tab=wi

A celebration of Stackhats on Flickr
http://flickr.com/photos/tags/stackhat/

Immobilised but Dutch to a tee!

So, I am immobilised. Plus I am now truely Dutch.

Again, I have suffered another head injury - this time in a Biking accident in central Amsterdam.

It's not the first time I have been rushed via an Ambulance to the hospital with such an injury. It has happened on a few seperate occasions now, but all in Australia. This is my first nomadic, international head injury (and fingers crossed it is hopefully my last). Jokes aside, even I don't think my brain can take too much more trauma!

So again the drill, emergency ward, stitches, tests, scans - and a terrible throbbing pain.

How did it happen?

In truely dutch style... BIKING!

Yes, I got caught in the tram tracks and was propelled head first into the sidewalk, leaving a huge mark on my forehead which I am told should not scar, but we have to wait and see. So about 10-12 stitches later I am drugged up, under room mate survellience and pretty much spending all my time in bed.

Prognosis is good, I will be back at work in about 2 weeks.

It is definately painful, I will not lie - and I am religiously sticking to my strong paracetemol and anti-biotics regime - but I count myself extremely lucky. It could have been alot worse, and although bad now, there will be no permanent damage.

It's pretty strange though as last Wednesday at a dinner party I was sharing about my history with head injuries to some friends who now tell me.. 'Maz, we believed you... you did not need to prove it with another injury!"

A HUGE AMAZING THANK YOU is owed by me towards my roomies, who have been monitoring me by the hour, Ginnie who searched Amsterdam for an open pharmacy to get my medicine, who came to the hospital at the call of the nurse, Masha and Sarika who watched over me, brought food and snacks, made me Vanilla milkshakes... they have been my family away from home. I love them for it. Thanks girls, I am on the mend now and owe you a huge thank you for showing me what real friendship is about.

Ok, this is trying my head, so will go.

I am basically fine, but will be out for 2 weeks, so not many emails or updates, or perhaps even phone calls.

Love and hugs, a recovering Mazzy

OUR HOLIDAY

Holiday-708590, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

See the path we are going to take in September for TWO glorious weeks!

HOLIDAY GALS!

maz and laurz, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

So, it's official... LAURZ and I are going on a HOLIDAY!

Straight after my MADONNA CONCERT... we are GOING to Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Belgium... for crazily cheap prices.

SO EXCITED!

Count down is ON.... *thanks Laurz for letting me shamelessly rip off your blog pics!

HAIL?

73_kids_forgot_umbrellas_hehe, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

This was hilarious, it literally started hailing but from NOWHERE.

One minute sun, then hard rain, and HAIL... people were running for their lives...

TOO FUNNY - Very 'Day after Tomorrow'!

Groupies...

67_band_and_its_gruppies, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

Of a concert band!

OH MY!!!

54_Girls_hihi, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

Morning sunshines...

42_good_morning_girls, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

OFF TO ANTWERP WE GO!

and still more jokes...!

37_party, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

Drinking games...

36_party, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

MING, MANG, MONG... oh hang on, we HAVE a MING!

Hilarious stuff!

Adventurous Amsterdamers

01_Brussels, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

Ming (China), Ola (Poland), Ginnie (Mexico) and Tuomas (Finland)

Last minute... BELGIUM!

02_flower_carpet, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

So, in another spontaneous moment a few of us decided on Friday night that it would be fun to head to Belgium for the rest of the weekend.... afterall, its only 40 euro for a return ticket, so WHY NOT?!

Plus, we were told it was the Flower Market weekend, where the main square in Brussels would be decorated with a flower design - an event that only happens every two years.

So off we went for a RANDOM ADVENTURE to Brussels and Antwerp.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Finding the trainee house which was only '5 minutes' away... YEAH RIGHT!

Drinking games BANANZA... man, how long has it been, and am I getting old!!! Np-one knows the rules anymore...

Antwerpen fun - the randomers, the scrapbook, the classical Belarusian concert band, the chocolates...

All in all, it was a PERFECT weekend!

Roomies in ACTION!

goodbyeamsterdam013-vi, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Lena's Farewell

goodbyeamsterdam074-vi, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Ginnies Birthday

goodbyeamsterdam051-vi, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Ladies

IMGP0764, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Laura, Dennis and Ana

IMGP0767, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Dave and Laurz

IMGP0766, originally uploaded by Mazzy.