One day in Leuven:)

This is a quick entry because I wanted to share with you another personal goal that I had set for myself a few years ago which I finally achieve with some help of course...:)

I had to deliver my first seminar... so I talked for 2 hours in front of 40 people, and at the end they all stood up and clapped:)

I was blown away, because I always considered myself just another guy who knows a little bit of this and a little bit of that.. however I got the feeling that I can talk in front of crowds and that I do know some things which can help people... the feeling of being able to share that is AMAZING:)

I really am happy that it was a success... of course I had help, and with out my friends I would not have done it... however I now know that there are no limits for us:) the sky really is the limit.

Talking to 40 people and captivating them is not an easy task, and I can still improve a lot but there is hope:)

eheheheh

Gareth

PS - Did the same seminar the next day.. in the Netherlands (north) and wow, the people are different... It still was a success and I really enjoyed it ... as I was not as nervous:) eheheh what a life I have:)

Another weekend in Venice:)

Hi guys, following my trip to Venice last month... I decided to go again. However this time the idea was to go alone, and take a weekend to think about what I am doing in life... a personal trip... not to meet people, just to look and think about what I am doing in general...well ya that did not really work out for me. As I went on a Saturday and came back on a Sunday... However that night was the Earth Hour...

Maybe you are not aware of it, but the idea was to turn off lights around the world as a symbol to save our planet.. giving the earth an hour freedom if you wish.

So I was walking in Venice and I came across these volunteers, and I thought that I could help, so I decided to make friends and help them with this noble event. IT WAS GREAT. I got to go on a Gondola in Venice when the lights of the Rialto were off, with my candle and my new friends:) IT WAS FANTASTIC. BRUTAL!!!!

This is where they came from:

http://www.wwf.it/client/render.aspx

They were all very interesting people and they made my trip to Venice worth while... thanks guys:)

You know how sometimes you think that people are crazy to travel alone, well if you do it once in your life... you will be amazed to see how much more you can learn, listen, see. It really is a great feeling. I would not always do it, but this one time really made me feel like a better person... How many people would go to Venice, for a weekend and make really good friends there?

It was like a personal goal, if you can do that... well then what can't you do? The answer is simple. We can do anything if we put our minds to it. This is positive thinking...


Carpe Diem:)

Gareth

One night in Rotterdam:)

Hi guys, I decided that it would be great to catch up with some old friends... they were in the neighbourhood... well so they came to Rotterdam. I found out that it actually only takes 1:15 to get from Eindhoven to Rotterdam... so I caught the train like 80% of all Dutch, and went there after work.

The trip was great, and I must admit I have not been to Rotterdam for 6 years.... and boy was I surprised. It actually is really a nice city, really modern, very different from Eindhoven.

I had a great meal with my friends, and of course we had to cross the famous Erasmus bridge...:)

Well what can I say... it was really great and I am sure that I will go back to Rotterdam one day... part of discovering the Netherlands:)

Kamone

A weekend in Dusseldorf:)

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Hi guys,

Well after my weekend in Venice, I thought I should check out Dusseldorf...So I went to Amsterdam to see a friend, had a coffee with her and caught the high speed train to Dusseldorf:) The train is actually very cool:) 2hours... you can hook your laptop to it, it is great. Flying is over rated for short distances, I mean think about it... if you fly, you need to be at least 1h before your flight... you land, and have to go through security checks and then you have to get to the city centre....

IF you go by train... well... Need to be there 1minute before the train, and then you get out in the city centre!!!

Anyway... moving on I wanted to go and meet Pedro... the playmaker and old friend from Portugal...

It was great to catch up with him, he is really a cool guy:) We are not that different, we both left our comfort zone looking for new challenges in life... so I found them in Eindhoven and he found them in Dusseldorf.Had this great meal... Portuguese food in Dusseldorf... well to be honest the international community in Dusseldorf is AMAZING:)

Went out at night... and ya Dusseldorf is pretty cool:) Met a few of Pedros friends....from Spain, Iceland, Japan, Portugal,.... lol what a night:)

(Gudrun, me, Pedro:)
friends 4ever:)

Next day we went sight seeing and ended up spending this great day in a chocolate shop:)

After that had a game of football with some of Pedros Friends... it was really cool to go to Germany to play football... Well the best part was to play with Pedro again... just like the old days: Tropinas852!!!! He still hasn't lost his touch:P

Ya you guessed it I did not take this photo, as the weather was cold, but still it gives you a feeling of what Dusseldorf has to offer:)

Thanks Playmaker for the great weekend:)

I will have to back there again soon:)

Kamone, Ideas, Gerrit:)

Weekend in Venice

Hi everyone,

Life is great... life at The MathWorks is FANTASTIC... each day is better and better.... So after working hard during the week I thought I would celebrate my second pay check from my dream company... so I went to Venice to meet Alex and Bia 2 old friends from Portugal. They had decided to go 4 a week but I went for the weekend....

It took me 6 hours to get from my house to the center of Venice.... only to find Alex, Bia, Rafa, Ines and Susana waiting for me:)

I mean look at this picture... Bia and Rafa.... we were on a boat and their smile says it all:) WHAT A WEEKEND:)

It was great to see Grandao again:) I mean how many times do you meet up with old friends in.... Italy?! lol

Ya that is Ines... a true... "Ideias".... she has more ideas, games, adventures, than I do.... I guess she sees the world differently to us mortals:) Never change Ines...

PS - nice photo:)

I caught a boat to the airport on Sunday... but I must say... this was my second time in Venice... and I really enjoyed it:) I am going back for another weekend on the 28th of March:) I cant wait. I mean the city is romantic, beautiful and full of energy/culture/history:)

At night however it becomes a ghost town.... but that itself gives the place a special feeling....one night in Venice... is like a night in heaven just with a lot more water:P

Gareth