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Picked up an old hobby...

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Originally uploaded by yilin@flickr

Our Christmas and New Year's holidays were very quiet and relaxing. We started with four days visit in Seville, which brought us some warmth and pre-X'mas sensation. The city is beautiful and people are passionate. We're a bit disappointed by the food though. Landing at snow covered Schipol airport, I am somehow happy to be back as well.
The two days before X'mas were mainly for shopping, food, drink, and household stuff. Chris and I had two big lobsters (from the Chinese shop) for the eve dinner ;) He is enthusiastic baking his pies and tarts. We for the first time spent new year at home, relaxing and pleasing. Meanwhile I had plenty of time to paint, picking up my old hobby...

Frans Lanting - Life: a Journey through time

Isabel Allende tells tales of passion

Our 2009 resolutions

Well it's 1st of January 2009 and Yilin and myself have thought all evening about possible resolutions for the year to come. After some wishful thinking we decided the following:

• regular sport, at least once a week
• a more healthy diet
• search for a house or an apartment to buy
• Christophe to learn cooking if Yilin takes driving courses
  
• Christophe to watch more scientific documentaries instead of (stupid) movies
• establish a basic social network in the Netherlands (means read less, go out more) ;)
• Yilin's submission of a proposal for her Phd thesis
• Christophe's submission of a first article on the issue of sovereignty and conflicts

Ok, it seems a lot, but with some good will we believe it's achievable. Anyway, our post next year at around the same time will allow to reflect on what we achieved and what will have to be reiterated for 2010.

Wedding photos

- click here for more photos -

Summer review

Well, hadn't been here for quite a while. These days have been a great deal of bustling for me. One event after another. Christophe didn't really have had a rest before he started working again. Finally we have all my stuffs moved to The Hague. After several days packing and unpacking, I feel totally exhausted. Today I've a bad cold, got a runny nose, red eyes... oh, my...

Although hectic, our holiday was nice. One month passed much faster than it actually should. We spent wonderful moments visiting Paris, walking the mountains, making jokes. Ten days traveling with camping car brought us lots of fun together.

We had a compact and pleasant wedding in Vienna. Our program was from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. which ended eventually at 11 p.m., first, civil wedding at the city registry office, then reception and lunch at Rennbahn-Freudenau. The city tour we arranged was from 5 to 7.30 p.m. and night visit in MUMOK 8 to 10 p.m. Most guests liked the city tour but not the MUMOK visit. The "bad painting good art" exhibition was not quite the type of art we may understand and appreciate, and both the English and French guides were not fluent, or they probably didn't prepare themselves very well. However, we believe most of our families and friends enjoyed the day being together with us.

The packing directly followed our wedding. (I've lots of stuffs ;) I was unwilling to part with the city I'd been living for 7 years, my first station in Europe, where I learned Christophe. Now I'm in The Hague, at another beginning of my live, starting with my new job at the Uni. The appointment with the personnel department was a kind of lousy. The one who's dealing my case didn't know that I'm holding an Austrian resident card instead of a Holland one, so the application of my working permit had not yet began. Thus I may need to wait quite a while until the administration issues are solved. I wish I can start my job as planned on 15th this month, but I know it's unlikely.

Christophe is sitting beside me now reading news, and meanwhile laughting at my runny and red nose. Packs of tissue paper are lying around me being prepared for my catarrh. Whoever kisses me now is taking a great risk to be infected. Poor love...

Move On

Bought my flight to The Hague on 11 July. Time to go... many things I hesitate to leave behind. Still remaining fresh in my mind is the first day I arrived Vienna. And now, almost time to leave. 30. September, short after the wedding, will be my check out.

My parents will come to The Hague mid of August, and my sister beginning of September. Christophe and I plan for a two-week caravan tour with them down to France and back through Switzerland. We will be in Vienna a week before the wedding and return The Hague on the day after my apartment check out.

So few days I can count that I'll be in Vienna. Hope will still have time to say good-bye to all my friends. Grill party next week!

Getting Married

http://www.yilin.info/wedding
Started preparing our wedding. A job we wanted to do since three years. This time it goes. A right moment, before I move to the Netherlands, beginning of out new life together :) And I'm specially happy today to know that Christophe will come over to Vienna on Friday night. What we've done till now:

• booked the civil wedding at Magistrat
• wedding day at Kaiserloge
• menu and table settings still in arrangement
  
• night museum visit at MOMUK
• a photographer and a cameraman still in arrangement
  
• a pianist for the afternoon
• a bus to transfer the guests
• our wedding website
• sent the invitation per E-mails

We know that it is an uncommon way to send the wedding invitations by E-mails. However we believe it is the most convenient and simplest way for the guests and for us, as our guests are spread in different countries. With the assistance of our website, info is sufficient. Well, what is going to be done:

• complete what are still in arrangement
• book a guided city tour after we know how many people what to attend
• choose wine
  
• book a car for us for the wedding day
• print the menu, table settings and stationary cards
  

So, if we invited you, please reply us as soon as possible if you will come and tell us what events you want to join. An affiliated matter: I found a company to drive my stuffs to The Hague. I will move soon after the wedding which also will become a farewell party.

I'm excited that my parents will come to The Hague mid of August. After three years, finally I have a chance to stay with them for two months :o) can't wait to see them -:¦:-•:*SO*:•.-:¦:-•*HAPPY*•-:¦:-

Comfortably off

I had lengthy phone-conversations with two friends this afternoon. Cao and Chen have been my best friends since my teens. We didn't contact each other often during these years of living far apart. Each of us has been busy, Cao in Shanghai, Chen in Toronto and me in Vienna.

Cao is the only one among us who is married (I'll catch up soon :) He has a lovely six-year-old daughter. I can feel through the phone that he hasn't changed much, hard-working while easy-going. He's a businessman, successful and nice-hearted. Successful businessperson is not difficult to find, but being nice-hearted is handful nowadays, specially in a city like Shanghai, that business is almost equal to hoax and humbug.

Out of his profession he encouraged me to do some trading with him, however I don't feel it my thing anymore. I prefer to get entangled in my books. I know I've changed and I'm well aware that the last six years formed a turning point of my thoughts and values. I immerse myself totally in studying, and will take research as my lifelong occupation. I feel comfortably off with my computer and my love; no need for more.

Chen's immigration experience is much tougher than mine. She works almost full-time beside her study. Her supervisor is definitely a hornet. Five and half years time will probably make her MSc more valuable than some PhD for her. I wish that she will as lucky as I am to find THE ONE of her life and be happy with him together. Somehow everyone deserves it. Being abroad for almost six years let us have lots of common topics. Living far away from home is back-busting. Bitter and happiness are never separated to each other. What gratifies her now is that her parents are going to visit her in May for three months.

Chris and I plan to go to Shanghai or Canada next year. I look forward to the moment to meet my old friends again, introduce Chris to them and them to him.

Good Karma - Instructions for life

These are hooking long on the Internet. They are said to be Dalai Lama's mottoes. When I read them today again, I did strike a responsive chord...

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Happy New Year

This Xmas was probably the most exciting and tiring for me. Christophe's return (I mean not going back to Congo again) definitely added on more to celebrate. Our schedule was full with activities that I hardly found a moment of break in between. Sitting on bed reviewing my last two weeks, it was more a march than a holiday. Am I complaining? Oh, no, I enjoyed it too - except the moments we rushed here and there :)

My flight to Brussels was on Saturday morning at 6:40. Strangely my alarm clock didn't ring that morning. Without the ring of a friend at 5:15, I would have missed the flight. It was the start of my rush hours.

The first weekend we went to De Haan with Chris' father and his wife Bernadette celebrating his 60th. I had my first walk along the seaside in winter. Beautiful but cold - what a surprise. In the evening we had a superb delicious dinner, though it was also impressive in terms of price. As Christophe had been in Africa for three years, it was the first chance after these years that all could be together for a weekend. His father was very happy that all his kids were there accompanying him. The evening was cozy and snug. Nevertheless at the end the birthday-child felt pity for turning to be 60. What shall I say? Perhaps he felt the same as when some women turn over 30 :)

On Monday Chris and I visited a friend in Namur. A cool guy I haven't seen for two years. At the beginning I was even wondering if I could still recognize him. Tuesday to Thursday we were in Den Hague looking for apartment. (Uhm ~~ somehow I have to move too sooner or later!) These three days were the toughest for me. The weather was freezing cold. We went with several real estate agencies, seeing apartments one after another. Somehow didn't find one fully satisfied us. The one we liked most has a kitchen and a bathroom that are badly built. As we don't want to invest too much in a rent apartment, we do expect the landlord will contribute to rebuild them. Till the moment, the real estate agency hasn't yet responded us.

Our trip to Christophe's mother started on Saturday early morning. We arrived her place in Monsistrier, middle of France, at 8 p.m. She has a little house in the Alps. We went every day walking in the mountains or visiting small villages. I had a bit alcohol overdose at Christmas eve, red face plus unclear mind. Beautiful nature, nice food, kind people, everyone rejoiced at being there for Christmas. We returned Brussels one week later, and met Christophe's friends. As some of them got babies, Christophe urged me to have our own.

We spent the New Year's day with Christophe's father and Bernadette. Christophe sorted out the stuff he wanted to take with him to Den Hague. Actually almost everything he stocked at their attic. In the evening Bernadette invited her family for a dinner party. It was comfy. Her family has amicable relations. We had to go to sleep in time because of our early flights the next morning. Now Chris is with a friend in Switzerland and me in Vienna. As always we have lots of photos from the last two weeks. I posted some on Flickr in De Haan and in France.

Just went shopping and bought food to fill my fridge, which was completely empty after I came back. Having been in bed for two days, I feel recovered from tiredness and sickness. I made myself a real Chinese dinner tonight, the first meal of the year at home. I want to take the chance to wish you (although a little delayed) - my friends, my family, or whoever you are - to have a Happy New Year , stay healthy and delightful, enjoy everyday and every moment you spend, let's Cheers for our lives and the coming New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YILIN AND CHRISTOPHE

A tree

Woke up this morning by a call from Christophe. Heard the same sound of rain drops as when I went to bed - it has been raining since days. Chatted a bit with him, knowing that he would go to a friend for lunch, I told him it was raining cats and dogs here before hanging up. A bright light flashed in my eyes while I stepped out my bed room. It was snowing. The first snow of the year. In our yard, there's a little tree has accompanied me these years. Sitting in front of my study desk, I face directly to the yard garden, unavoidable that unknown- name tree. In spring its leafs are harlequin; summer it blooms milky flowers; in autumn it turns gradually golden brown; and in winter it's often covered with snow. Every now and then when I feel tired or frustrated during learning, and need a short break, I raise my sight and observe the tree at its slender but firm and tenacious trunk. No matter the change of its environment, it remains staunch, quiet and elegant. It became my study inspiration.

I'm back!

Oh, I'm back! Feel totally released. I started to appreciate clear water, fresh shower, straight roads... all the little things I took as granted before I had experienced the harsh life in D. R. Congo. Probably I would never have learned how lucky we are without living in black Africa for two months.

Just sorted out some photos we made in Jinja and posted them on Flickr, not yet have time for the ones made in Bunia. I was sick these days. As I turned better since yesterday we visited the Technical Museum today. But now I have to go to sleep as I am very tired and want to take advantage of the presence of Chris for another week or so. Bye thus.

First week in Bunia

In Christophe's office now. Outside, heavy rain. The weather is far different than I imagined. What I brought are just summer clothes that don't fit the enviroment and temperature here. I have to put on Christophe's pullover to keep myself away from cold and mosquitos.

Bunia is located close to the Congo and Uganda border, an hour flight from Entebbe. Living condition here is harsh. Tab water and public power supply is not constant. Water has been backed up in jerricans in case the water tank is empty and the pressure is too low to refill it. The electricity, if there is any, is much lower than sufficient to supply the normal lightening, so that all (foreigners') houses are equiped with generators which generates lots of noise besides power.

Christophe works from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and comes home for 1 and half an hour lunch break. Cooking and other house works are done by two Congonese workers. I would do some reading or learning during the day if there's enough sun light. Evening time we often go to the "MONUC House" or the military camp for dinner. The house we are living is guarded, as security is still an issue in Congo. Walking alone outside may cause danger so I'm recommended not to go out alone. Anyway there's nothing to see in the city except muddy roads.

Last Sunday afternoon, a friend of Christophe's was robbed at home. Four robbers, two guns. The friend and his guards were threatened and later were locked in a room. His house was searched up side down, all valuables are gone. Luckily nobody was hurt or wounded. This case gave me an alarm, a vivid picture of the security problems in Congo. Even the field UN staffs are in unsafety, how about the local people?

The week before I came to Bunia, we went to Jinja in Uganda. That part of the Victoria lake breeds the source of the Nile. We lived in a small resort with a beautiful garden directly facing the lake. During the week, despite having had a short walk to the source of the Nile, we stayed in the hotel, reading, eating, and relaxing.

Here in Bunia is completely different. People living here, except locals, are mostly working for the UN or other NGOs, others are militaries. Life is at the lowest standard, worse than many other African countries. When security or stability is an issue of a country, what more can we expect?

I am adapted, don't feel so astonished anymore as when I saw the "Bunia Airport" at the first sight. It is even not properly built as a bus station. Feeling happy to see Christophe everyday, I will stay in Bunia until September his next holiday and be back to Vienna together. Hopefully the weather will get better tomorrow.

Living in Bunia

Today Christophe sent me some photos of the house which he is living in Bunia. It looked much better than I imagined, could not let me relate it with the one sometimes lacked water and electricity supplies. However it's the situation he has to cope with. His redeployment to Kinshasa will take place in August on an undetermined date. I don't know yet where I'll be by then. The plan is that I go to visit him during my summer holiday starting at the beginning of July. Of course he'll be working most of the time, but at least it's cheery that we can see each other everyday. I'll most likely stay in Bunia until his redeployment then return to Vienna. In September he can probably take three weeks holiday. I look forward to seeing him again.

Fun in Congo

Well, I don't know why, but I never wrote how much fun it can be to work in a UN Peacekeeping Operation. Two days ago I went on a mission on the Lake Albert, and with my colleagues we did some boat rides with Uruguayan Special Forces on their little but powerful zodiacs. Apart from my butt muscles hurting because we never stopped bouncing on the waves (yes, there might be waves on large lakes), it was great fun. Very nice views, boarding small villages which otherwise you could not reach, not even by air, as they are located at the flank of mountains dropping straight into the Lake, encountering local population, discussing their problems, trying to help. Yesterday, for example, we board one of these villages, this time located in a swampy area. We had to walk for 15 min, pulling our zodiac before we managed to reach shore. Quite an experience.

And I haven't spoken yet from all the helicopter insertions you do in this kind of job. Just imagine. There has been a mass killing, or some militia exactions in a villages located kilometers away from any know and usable roads. Well you board a MI-8 or MI-17, you know those old Russian choppers used for troops insertion during the cold war, and there you go. You can take numerous aerial photos, and sometimes experience wild rides.

But the best ever, was when I went to the Garamba Park, a UNESCO World Heritage where you have the last Congo white rhinoceros. Upon arrival, I took with two of my colleagues a small CESNA aircraft, up to Gangala-na-Bodio, another Park ranger’s base. When flying over the park, we saw numerous numbers of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and hypos. And I can hardly describe the sensations when the pilot dives close to the animals to offer us a better view, or when it landed, passing only a meter or so above the UN helicopter that lay stranded in the middle of the runway. Scary, but unforgettable.

I guess working with the UN is one of the most exciting jobs you can do. You go where nobody else goes (I mean foreigners of course), you use means which you could only dream of, and you don't have to be a military, nor work for a intelligence agency. Somehow, it's like being a "chevalier de la table ronde" but in modern times, the Grail being "peace on earth and security for all". Like the Grail quest it's an unending quest, with its perils and enchantments.

So, yes, there are positive things about this job, for those who wondered.

好天气

看写post的频率，就知道我这几天有些时间也有好心情，就象维也那近来的天气 :-) 前天交了Hardware Modeling的功课，教授说我们组做得好。也是，花了很多时间的！终于还算没白忙一场。今天整天在家，本来要看HW SW Codesign的资料，后来想想，也该轻松一下，所以就在网上闲逛。刚刚还给自己煮了点好吃的，心情级佳。和Chris讲了三通电话，早中晚，他真是个会关心又会体贴人的男人，无微不至，处处为我着想，用他的话说是处处为我们着想。看来明年是真的要结婚了，我们。他是人间四月天。

Handy

I often forgot my handy at home these days. It's my alarm clock to wake me up in the morning. Several times I forgot it on my bed-side table when I left home in rash. I did so yesterday, and today again! Still remember the time when I didn't own a handy, life was not bad either. But once we have it, we couldn't manage to live without it anymore. Uhm... my problem is, I missed the calls from Christophe, the only way for him to contact me when he is abroad. He calls me several times a day, tells me whatever good or bad, which I can share with him. I am at the university now. Just recognized that I forgot the phone today again, feel so upset.