Oh, how I love fruit. It is not like I eat it very often, but that's beside the point. To be honest, I only love strawberries, peaches and pineapple. All the other fruits and fruity-like things are not at all that appealing to me. Of course, every fruit has got its charms, but some - like strawberries, peaches and pineapples - just have got some more charm.
It is not their own fault, but just look at them: a strawberry looks so much cuter than an apple. Those beautiful red chubby cheeks with green spots on it, and that absolutely cute green crown on their little heads... Hmm, lovely.
Or that wonderful orange colour of delicious peaches (well, at least the canned ones are orange:)), and the juicy bite... Hmm, delightful.
And then, the pineapple. They look so summery, feels like you're already on the beach. Just look at its... - well yes, what is it called actually? - ... its crown. It just looks so jumpy and happy! And then the taste when you take a bite... Hmm, delicious.
And the beautiful part of this all, is that you can eat these lovely fruits at one time! How? Well, it is called The Smoothie. Just slice twenty-five strawberries, two peaches and a quatre of a pineapple, put it in the blender, and ENJOY THE SUMMER!
zondag 18 april 2010
zaterdag 10 april 2010
THE essay - Is Social Networking Reality?
Before I start writing this piece, you will have to wait for a second. I have to twitter that I am writing. Press ‘Send,’ and done, thanks for waiting. To start off, this piece is about, oh, just a minute; I received a text message on my mobile phone. Where was I? Oh, yes. This essay is about social networking. Social networking is… excuse me, I have to react to a message on MSN. What I was trying to say, is that - I am very sorry, I just got an invitation from somebody to become his friend on Facebook, I really should accept that first.
This is not exactly what an essay on social networking should look like, is it? Is this social networking about keeping in touch, or is it losing touch with reality? Is it just to make friends, or has it completely lost connection with what the real world is like?
First of all people busy with social networking are very absent. You actually can say anything to them, and they will just agree; for they have no idea what you are saying, but find it rude or disrespectful to just not respond. Social networking and being busy with your profile on Facebook, or chatting with people you barely know, has become addictive. Their eyes are fixed on their computer screen and if not, they are fixed on their mobile phone. At those moments they literally lose connection with reality. To be honest, even though it is quite funny that they agree with you all the time, this kind of behaviour actually annoys me.
Secondly, there is the matter of four hundred friends on the Facebook profile. There is absolutely no way that it is possible to know four hundred people quite well. Many people do not even know the last name of half their Facebook friends. Of course, not all of your friends have to be very close friends, but four hundred? Is this not more a competition about who has the most friends? Mostly people add someone as their friend; because they have a friend that has a neighbour that has a niece they know. In real life most people would not even talk to twenty-five percent of their Facebook friends, just because they do not really like them.
Finally, there is this immeasurable depth of the conversations while people are social networking. Just kidding. If the truth were told, conversing while social networking on the Internet is probably not that useful. Most conversations are about nothing and only held so you will not look like you have no friends, just because you are not talking to someone. Sure, it is not necessary to have very deep and useful conversations all the time, but the percentage of conversations on the Internet that are absolutely useless is high, which is not like reality.
As you can see, I am obviously not in favour of social networking. Of course, there are some good sides, like remaining friends with people from your former school or job. But mostly networking has become addictive for many people. Social networking and maintaining it has become their reality, which is just not the way it should be. In real life you should not permanently be needing a computer screen or mobile phone to make contact with your friends, if they are real friends. It makes contact easier sometimes, but it should not be your only way of keeping in touch. Reality differs slightly from virtual social networking.
In fact, reality is life outside your virtual social network.
This is not exactly what an essay on social networking should look like, is it? Is this social networking about keeping in touch, or is it losing touch with reality? Is it just to make friends, or has it completely lost connection with what the real world is like?
First of all people busy with social networking are very absent. You actually can say anything to them, and they will just agree; for they have no idea what you are saying, but find it rude or disrespectful to just not respond. Social networking and being busy with your profile on Facebook, or chatting with people you barely know, has become addictive. Their eyes are fixed on their computer screen and if not, they are fixed on their mobile phone. At those moments they literally lose connection with reality. To be honest, even though it is quite funny that they agree with you all the time, this kind of behaviour actually annoys me.
Secondly, there is the matter of four hundred friends on the Facebook profile. There is absolutely no way that it is possible to know four hundred people quite well. Many people do not even know the last name of half their Facebook friends. Of course, not all of your friends have to be very close friends, but four hundred? Is this not more a competition about who has the most friends? Mostly people add someone as their friend; because they have a friend that has a neighbour that has a niece they know. In real life most people would not even talk to twenty-five percent of their Facebook friends, just because they do not really like them.
Finally, there is this immeasurable depth of the conversations while people are social networking. Just kidding. If the truth were told, conversing while social networking on the Internet is probably not that useful. Most conversations are about nothing and only held so you will not look like you have no friends, just because you are not talking to someone. Sure, it is not necessary to have very deep and useful conversations all the time, but the percentage of conversations on the Internet that are absolutely useless is high, which is not like reality.
As you can see, I am obviously not in favour of social networking. Of course, there are some good sides, like remaining friends with people from your former school or job. But mostly networking has become addictive for many people. Social networking and maintaining it has become their reality, which is just not the way it should be. In real life you should not permanently be needing a computer screen or mobile phone to make contact with your friends, if they are real friends. It makes contact easier sometimes, but it should not be your only way of keeping in touch. Reality differs slightly from virtual social networking.
In fact, reality is life outside your virtual social network.
The hours after
Yes, it is behind us. The finals have been, I am back home. It has been, it was fun. It was such an experience. But the thought that I can rest now is too enthousiastic.
Why? Because at this moment I have to at least tell YOU about this day.
I experienced today with the thought in mind that my essay was too simple, comparing to the others. I knew that it just wouldn't be good enough. I was really happy that I achieved to be on the Shortlist, and was okay with the fact that that was it. While discussing my essay on stage, they complimented me on my 'experimental language' and my introduction that caught attention. So I was grateful for those compliments, it gave me some confidence. In the little break between that and the prize giving, I thought that if I even had a chance of winning something it would be the Audience Award, because people had told me my essay 'just read easily'. And I might be having the smallest chance of being the Runner-up. But that was all.
Then, the prize giving. Audience Award: Sanne de Boer, she deserved it, she was amazing. Runner up: Wim van den Berg, also deserved it absolutely. Now I knew that this was it. I did not win anything. I was disappointed, but it was okay, I was with the ten best!
So, that was my story about the finals.
Really?
No. There is more. The winner would be announced. Paul Arkwright (the British Ambassador, he presented the prizes) started about 'her' essay, so we all knew it was a girl. Then he went on, he told something about the essay. He talked about an introduction. In my head it went: No, this can't be true. It cán't! But he went on about 'experimental language'. Butterflies were flying harder in my stomach. Rebecca started to pinch my hand harder and harder. Then mr. Arkwright came to the point were he said: "And the winner of this years Young Writers Award is... Renate den Bak!"
It was true. I won.
I was so surprised, still am actually. I cannot believe it, I will be going to England! It still does not feel like it really happened at all.
But it did. And I am grateful for everything the BBC Awards brought me. And I am really thankful that I could experience everything with Rebecca. Thank you, it was amazing!
Why? Because at this moment I have to at least tell YOU about this day.
I experienced today with the thought in mind that my essay was too simple, comparing to the others. I knew that it just wouldn't be good enough. I was really happy that I achieved to be on the Shortlist, and was okay with the fact that that was it. While discussing my essay on stage, they complimented me on my 'experimental language' and my introduction that caught attention. So I was grateful for those compliments, it gave me some confidence. In the little break between that and the prize giving, I thought that if I even had a chance of winning something it would be the Audience Award, because people had told me my essay 'just read easily'. And I might be having the smallest chance of being the Runner-up. But that was all.
Then, the prize giving. Audience Award: Sanne de Boer, she deserved it, she was amazing. Runner up: Wim van den Berg, also deserved it absolutely. Now I knew that this was it. I did not win anything. I was disappointed, but it was okay, I was with the ten best!
So, that was my story about the finals.
Really?
No. There is more. The winner would be announced. Paul Arkwright (the British Ambassador, he presented the prizes) started about 'her' essay, so we all knew it was a girl. Then he went on, he told something about the essay. He talked about an introduction. In my head it went: No, this can't be true. It cán't! But he went on about 'experimental language'. Butterflies were flying harder in my stomach. Rebecca started to pinch my hand harder and harder. Then mr. Arkwright came to the point were he said: "And the winner of this years Young Writers Award is... Renate den Bak!"
It was true. I won.
I was so surprised, still am actually. I cannot believe it, I will be going to England! It still does not feel like it really happened at all.
But it did. And I am grateful for everything the BBC Awards brought me. And I am really thankful that I could experience everything with Rebecca. Thank you, it was amazing!
woensdag 7 april 2010
Lovely summer
Have you jumped out of your bed in the morning yet? Have you skipped around your school already? Have you made even one little happy dance in the sun so far?
Neither have I, but how happy I am with this sudden warmth!
Admitted, it is a bit chilly in the early morning to jump out of your bed. But the sun is shining! After all this snow, ice, more snow, more ice, even more snow - there is sun!
Beautiful sun, warm sun, making-people-happy sun! It makes me so happy, that I place an exclamation mark after almost every sentence I write.
I waited so long for the sun, that I am going to enjoy every minute of it.
Tomorrow, I will jump out of my bed, to enjoy the early rays of sunlight. Who's with me?
Neither have I, but how happy I am with this sudden warmth!
Admitted, it is a bit chilly in the early morning to jump out of your bed. But the sun is shining! After all this snow, ice, more snow, more ice, even more snow - there is sun!
Beautiful sun, warm sun, making-people-happy sun! It makes me so happy, that I place an exclamation mark after almost every sentence I write.
I waited so long for the sun, that I am going to enjoy every minute of it.
Tomorrow, I will jump out of my bed, to enjoy the early rays of sunlight. Who's with me?
dinsdag 6 april 2010
My life on my desk
My diary - absolutely crucial for my daily planning.
My Nikon - my newest gadget.
Postcard from my boyfriend - incredibly important person.
Notepad - for crazy ideas, blogs, or just notes.
CD - absolutely wonderful music.
Hairstuff - for when my hair drives me crazy.
Postcard from my friens - also incredibly important people.
Ballpoints - I like HEMA ballpoints.
Little bottle with childrens lock - almond oil for my eyes.
Mobile phone - my way of socializing with the world.
Bible - indispensable.
Clothes label - I save them, like I save almost everything.
Swirl spoon - delicious in summer (and in winter actually).
Drawing from my sister - family is so important (isn't she cute?).
French notebook - hate it.
Arthistory notebook - love it.
Lollipops - for a happy summer's day.
Mascara - use a bit slmost every day.
Sunglasses - i looove sunglasses.
Little card from Opwekking - I just love Opwekking.
Vaseline - my lips scream for it.
zaterdag 3 april 2010
I have survived!
Oh hallelluja! I have survived! I am still alive and jumping around! This week of horror; hard, really hard work; stress and being nervous has passed, and I survived it.
What was there to survive?
First of all, test week. Yes, again. Three times a year we have test week, and you never get used to them. Studying really hard is never fun, and it always costs loads of energy. But, if that were the only thing you have to survive in test weeks, it would have been so incredibly easy. No, there is a more important part of test weeks, named: Making Your Tests. This is the most energy-costing part. You need to focus, concentrate and fill in the right answer in the right place. This is hard sometimes. Especially when it is a very difficult test.
But that was not the only thing there was to survive. There was also a part that had ‘BBC Awards’ written all over it.
Being on the shortlist also brings a lot of new experiences that are on your ‘Once-In-My-Lifetime-Chance’- list. But it also brings some need to organisation skills, time, and a good memory. Like remembering you have to send in your list with guests for the finals. Or remembering you have to add your photograph if you e-mail someone: ‘Here is my photograph.’ And organisation to make sure you arrive in Amsterdam if you are invited to have a little interview for a clip for the finals (for those interested – we did arrive in Amsterdam, without trouble). Or picking out a dress for the ‘Tea an Cake’ at the British ambassadors residence.
That also takes some ‘survival-ability’.
So yes, I stressed for my tests and some of the tests where not so nice and I worked really hard to get all the information stuffed in my head. And yes, I was nervous for this little interview, but it all turned out fine.
I have survived this crazy week, with tests and interviews and things to do.
And I am fine.
What was there to survive?
First of all, test week. Yes, again. Three times a year we have test week, and you never get used to them. Studying really hard is never fun, and it always costs loads of energy. But, if that were the only thing you have to survive in test weeks, it would have been so incredibly easy. No, there is a more important part of test weeks, named: Making Your Tests. This is the most energy-costing part. You need to focus, concentrate and fill in the right answer in the right place. This is hard sometimes. Especially when it is a very difficult test.
But that was not the only thing there was to survive. There was also a part that had ‘BBC Awards’ written all over it.
Being on the shortlist also brings a lot of new experiences that are on your ‘Once-In-My-Lifetime-Chance’- list. But it also brings some need to organisation skills, time, and a good memory. Like remembering you have to send in your list with guests for the finals. Or remembering you have to add your photograph if you e-mail someone: ‘Here is my photograph.’ And organisation to make sure you arrive in Amsterdam if you are invited to have a little interview for a clip for the finals (for those interested – we did arrive in Amsterdam, without trouble). Or picking out a dress for the ‘Tea an Cake’ at the British ambassadors residence.
That also takes some ‘survival-ability’.
So yes, I stressed for my tests and some of the tests where not so nice and I worked really hard to get all the information stuffed in my head. And yes, I was nervous for this little interview, but it all turned out fine.
I have survived this crazy week, with tests and interviews and things to do.
And I am fine.
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