National Pride?

We have been always taught to be proud of our nation, feel patriotic and responsible.
I'm probably not the only one whose national pride has been challenged very often.

A lot of my friends were really upset with me when, a couple of years ago, I 'gave up my nationality'.
Actually I didn't have much choice then.

Personally, I don't believe that your nationality can be changed by replacing your passport only.

Should I now feel sad or embarrassed when the recent Czech government collapsed?
I only wonder how 'they' will deal with President Obama's visit next week.

My Pilates Class

I have become addicted to Pilates.
Every day I will roll out my purple mat to do my '10 minutes solution' and every week I look forward to my morning class.
But that's not what I want to write about.

It's about my class, or rather, about my classmates.
There are about fifteen girls in our class.
We have already been meeting for at least half a year but our class is still very quiet.
Completely quiet actually.
No one says a word to each other.

When someone enters the room there is no 'Good Morning' or 'How are you?', 'Hi', or anything similar.
Even our instructor, whom I like a lot, will enter the room and start directly with her class.

Only I kept coming with my stubborn and pretty loud 'Good Morning', just to be sure they could hear me.
This resulted now and then in a shy smile or nodding.
I've grown accustomed to their stillness at last.

Their behaviour still surprises me especially considering the omnipresence of politeness and friendly social intercourse.
Is there something wrong about our class or is there still a lot left to learn about the American culture?

I’ve Just Enrolled to University!

You will need to have a heavily armoured tank behind you to get you through the intake procedure. And ... considering your background (read= no communists consciousness) you shouldn't even consider it!
And they suggested a study of economy. Ehmm...
This was 20 years ago.

After several years I got the amazing opportunity to enroll at the Faculty of Art and Philosophy at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
But!... then Rob got this fabulous job in California and therefore we merrily moved overseas.
There was no reason to worry about my studies in Brussels. Rob's project in Concord, CA was only for 10 months. And the professors would support my 'distance learning'.
Unfortunately, not all of them did!
And when Rob got a permanent position here in San Ramon it became even more clear. I won't be able to continue. I was extremely disappointed. There went all my career planning.
I considered continuing my studies at the local universities. Yet the possibility of moving again next month along with the towering tuition and fees made me rethink that.
Till last year when I got this idea! The Open University would be just perfect for my situation and I can even use my credits earned at the VUB.
So I tried to contact my favorite (ex-)professor and... it took more than a year but I've got my credits confirmed at last!

And this weekend I happily became a student again!

Hiking the Bay Area

Last week I was walking with a friend along Alameda Creek and then we reached the parking lot at Dougherty Hills.

I have been here before and I don't like this place... because of the Mountain Lion Warning Signs!

Also my friends and family back in Europe don't like the idea of hiking in mountain lion, coyote or rattlesnake habitat.
Some even accused us of putting ourselves, and especially Maarten, in danger.

Am I too neglectful?
I really hate the idea of putting Maarten at risk!

That's why I asked people who have been living and hiking this area for years, some even for decades:
How dangerous is it to hike in the Bay Area?

Most agreed that the biggest danger on the trails is humans. Therefore hiking alone, like I do, may be more dangerous for a woman. I've noticed this already...
The best is to carry a stick and a knife!
The question is: Will I be able to use them when danger occurs?


People who hike with dogs, which doesn't concern me, now and then get into trouble with grazing cows (and Maarten doesn't like them either)or with coyotes.
I never thought of coyotes to being a danger to people. It's only a wild mid-sized dog, I thought. We've encountered them several times already and they didn't seem to be interested in us at all.
But, as I've learned, the coyote attacks on humans and pets are increasing. Are the coyotes coming closer to us or do we build our houses in their territory?

It's pretty common to see a rattlesnake while hiking on a hot day, even though till now we've seen only two of their kind.

And what about the most dangerous animal living in the Bay Area?
I guess, I would be extremely lucky to see or encounter a mountain lion.
During the daytime when I usually hike they are probably resting somewhere.
I have never had the opportunity to hike at sunset and I've never made it to hike at sunrise.
At this time of the day you're more likely to see a bobcat. We haven't been that lucky yet. Only once we heard him roar and growl pretty close to our tent, but that was in a different area.

I can't help it but by learning more and more about the local 'natural dangers' I feel even more safe.
I believe if I behave respectfully in the wild and take precautions, I'm probably more safe on a trail than driving Maarten to school on the freeway.

John Muir's Home

We have finally visited John Muir's house.
It's a shame I learned about this extraordinary man only after we arrived to California, but immediately I became his fan.

Thanks to Muir's efforts to protect and preserve wilderness areas, we still enjoy many remarkable places with their natural beauty and wildlife.

Although while visiting parks like Yosemite, I remain a little jealous of Muir and his contemporaries.

Shipment Delivery

Today our new camera arrived. But I don't want to write about the camera itself, even though I'm pretty excited and... at the same time I'm not sure yet if I should keep it...

Anyway...
In California it is very common to shop online. Usually the assortment is larger online than in stores.
And considering my shopping attitude (just ask Rob) this is the best way of shopping ever!

It has been raining for a several weeks and we were afraid that even this quite expensive shipment would be left at our front door, no matter the heavy rain.
And indeed!
The courier put the package on the bench in front of our door, rang the bell, jumped in his car and off he went.
I just wonder if it happens sometimes that the package is stolen or damaged before the addressee finds it.

Just imagine practicing this way of delivery in Holland or Czech Republic!

American Curiosities?

My European friends keep asking me about America, Americans and their way of life.
Almost every day there is something on the News about this country and usually many U.S. series, movies and documentaries are presented on TV.

Do these TV programs reflect the 'American reality'?

To be honest I'm still not able to answer all questions I have got till now and I really doubt that I ever will.

I have already quite a collection of, to me interesting or kind of weird curiosities and phenomenons.
They may be 'typical American'. I don't know.
Since California is the only state I've lived in, I really can't present them as 'typical American'.

Let's say now and then I will write about things that have caught my attention in some way that I've never experienced before in any other country.
And again, this means that I can only compare to Belgium, Holland and Czech Republic.
And it is purely my personal perception.
I have no intention to criticize.
At least I'll try not to.