I have nearly been here a month and a half now. Soon I’ll be going to Scotland and also to my birthplace Watford but for now I am in London. Life is busy and fast. Honestly a day in bed with a book and some time in the bathtub was one of the best days I had. I think it is more common in England to own a bathtub. I might be wrong about that but I am not complaining.

I made a first version of my photo book. I must say it worked out in the end. It took me two hours to make in Indesign and then it crashed. That didn’t get me down but after using the cutting machine wrong at nine pm I lost it a bit but luckily my housemate was there for good company and always coming up with solutions and so I carried on and finally finished a first version of my photo book.

Last week I also did a project on pink. I do not consider myself as the most feminine person and actually got confronted by the way females dress her to go out and had several conversations about make up and femininity and masculinity with friends and since pink interests me I decided to make a doable project out of it.

We have also pitched our ideas for documentary. I have no idea if someone voted for my idea and if it will go through. My idea was on playfulness and doing something active. I wanted to interview a magician who is playful and mysterious and ask them why performing or rehearsing is important to them and hopefully inspire others to find playfulness in their life.

During another class I decided to go all out on the topic of fun but knew I wouldn’t get any votes.

Surprisingly it got one vote. I felt a bit ashamed of my idea since everyone was being so serious and actually I heard one classmate thought it was a joke. I am actually glad I dared to put my idea out there. I was allowed to put another idea up but that didn’t get any votes at all. It has to do with a key. trickery and a world map. Who knows this idea might come true one day.

Instead the idea is now to photograph and film models surrounded by flowers. It might become too superficial and our teacher feels like it needs a story. Let’s see if we can make it happen. Flowers do fit well with my project of the photo book. I think the audience of the photo book would be females mostly and the purpose of the photo book is a gift. I want cards to be in there and a poster so that the gift keeps on giving. The project in the gallery with the models could actually be for everyone. If the models, female and male get a voice and can talk about femininity and masculinity or their sexual preference it might become interesting to both sexes and all ages.

This time I shared some cultural insights and some schoolwork. Next time more and maybe some interesting places to visit in London. Another friend will be visiting this weekend and I think we’ll have enough to discover together in the big city. Keep you posted!

This week I have been to a vegan place and got a burger. Not really my taste but the one my friend had was pretty good and I had chips which is the best with a good garlic mayo. Can’t wait to have my sweet Dutch mayo since that is also really great! The company was really good and with four girls we enjoyed our Valentine’s day. We also sat at a weird pub where it was very quiet except from two older guys who kept on wanting to impress us with their music taste. They did put on music from our countries such as 99 luftballons for Germany and some country singer for Holland.

We had a few bits of rain but overall the weather has been really nice. It can get a bit windy. In other words, stormy but we’re all good. Sometimes you travel an hour to get somewhere while in the Netherlands I would already be in the next city. I feel like you can travel forever here. It also means there is a lot to see. Such as Notting Hill with very cute coloured houses. Crossing bridges over the river Thames is always a spectacular view and Borough Market is one of the highlights. Having food you have never tried before is very exciting to me. You might discover something you really enjoy and sometimes not but that is a risk I am willing to take. People are really nice at Borough Market. They take their time and have a chat with you. Markets have a good atmosphere. Back in the Netherlands it is very relaxed and I have heard good things about Spanish markets as well. Here you have a lot more options and you can get warm food but it doesn’t stay open after 6.

Soho is also a great place for food and drinks. I have been to the same jazzy cellar again where me and my housemate enjoyed live jazz/bossa nova. While the bossa nova was played the singer made use of a kind of egg shaker. This weekend my friend from the Netherlands is over and together we will discover more and I will also meet up with a childhood friend from Watford. Next week I might have more recommendations for you! I’ll keep you posted!

Currently I am listening to jazz music. You could say it is my favourite kind of music even though I enjoy various genres. I have been to Trisha’s. It’s a place you wouldn’t find that easily. Nothing on the facade. Only a bouncer who asked us for money. The band would only play for another fifteen minutes he said. Ten pounds each. I paid for my friend’s ticket as well. I needed to see the live jazz. I absolutely don’t regret it. I enjoyed myself so much. I was ecstatic. You could actually dance to the live jazz. Two of my favourite things combined: dancing and jazz. The band even carried on for a bit longer. It was a good way to celebrate I passed my exam. If I could dance every day I would. Maybe I should…

I am still finding out what I want to do here and who I want to do it with. There is so much to do and new people to meet. Going out for dinner was a really good choice too. I could recommend going to Paladar, Alexander The Great and a cute bao place in Waterloo where you first need to go through a really cool graffiti tunnel. There was rap music playing and people spraying paint. I really liked the atmosphere. In the near future I am looking forward to dance classes and going to parks.

Talking about parks. I am sitting inside a lot. Working on photography or film or sitting in class with all the lights switched off because they want to show us films or photography. Every time I think of the sun and how much I miss it. However, it is nice to get to know my classmates and see new things such as a documentary called ‘Humans’. A recommendation I must say. I have also made a film and you might want to check it out. It was just a little project for the week and today I will be filming myself from my perspective. Even going to the toilet! Let’s see if that shot stays in.

This week I haven’t seen much of London except a cold Jazz cafe called the Cable Cafe which I might be visiting tonight for some live Jazz. On Monday I studied there for my grammar exam which I passed just yesterday! It was a nice atmosphere where a lot of people just went to sit by themselves and enjoyed a toastie and some tea or coffee. They even had red bush tea! Most people were reading or working but some came to talk and you could hear the whole conversation. A look into their lives and it made me think that we all go through hard times or have questions or things to work out. Luckily, I have been calling friends and made new friends for a good conversation, a hug or really good fun. What is really good fun you say? Dancing and karaoke. I will not show the videos but it really gave me a boost which I needed. I must say I am more capable at dancing than singing but who cares, I dare! I’ve been to all my classes this week which are very interesting and creative. First, I was wondering why I am still studying English?! Creative things are way more mysterious but then I realized it is also quite emotional and sometimes it is nice to do something more rational such as teaching others words or grammar. I like a good mixture of both English and art. I have met interesting people who are from Italy and Portugal. They have been really friendly and welcoming. I hope to see more of them outside of class as well. During class I have seen a lot of documentaries and photographs to inspire us. I will be making a documentary and a photo book and I will do the binding with needle and thread myself. We are being taught how to use tools and in May there will be a pop-up store where we can sell our photo books. Exciting it is! This weekend I will spend time making a two-minute video out of the gaze of someone else. Wish me luck!

My first impression of London is that is it vast and there are sirens going off every minute. London is as big as the province of Utrecht back home in the Netherlands. It has 9 million inhabitants compared to 17 million people living in the whole of the Netherlands. Whether I am in the park or just waiting at a bus stop, someone will speak to me. There is always something to do and to see. We are lucky with the COVID restrictions here. I can go to the cinema and have seen the Matrix. It might be your cup of tea but I would say it is nightmare material. I am looking forward to going to the theatre and seeing Life of Pi or Frozen. Life of Pi is one of my favorite films. The Harry Potter experience is also awaiting me which will be in Watford, very near to London, which is my birthplace.

The first days were hectic finding my way, my accommodation, getting beddings and cookery supplies and not to forget toilet paper. If you are an international student, you will know what I am talking about. We just had the welcome week with here and there some historical facts such as the London bridge being through a lot: it has been destroyed, the pieces left stolen, brought to Arizona to make a new bridge there and who knows when it will be destroyed again. Honestly, the Tower Bridge is much more exciting to look at. It was built in the Victorian time but Queen Victoria just mimicked other bridges from other times which she thought to be beautiful and that is why it looks like a castle. Fun fact: in assassins creed you can climb it. In real life at the top it became a red light district area and that is why they closed it. I still hope there is an opportunity to climb it though or climb St. Pauls Cathedral or another tower with an astonishing view.

Next week my creative classes will start: photography and hopefully documentary. I will keep you updated!

This Saturday I’ll be going to London. I’ll be leaving the Netherlands for five months. It is a thrilling time. I am going to miss all the lovely people here and I hope my plants and cat will get some attention while I’m gone. I have no idea what the adventure will look like but let’s hope that I meet adventurous, nice and intriguing people and have a creative and wonderful time. I’ll be making a documentary and a photo book and the latter will be for sale. I will be posting weekly blogs to keep you updated. Until next time! x Frances

 

I would love to explain this to you, how I move around. Where I go and what I do, but I’m afraid I can’t. I feel like I am. I am a soul, very bright and my soul is and doesn’t move. I just am, nothing more. It makes me feel empty. As if I should be filled with thoughts, feelings and information, but if I would be completely filled, I wouldn’t be bright anymore. I would be full of colours, I would be full. Too full. So I prefer just to be.

So I am, but my body wants to move and to dance. My mind wants to think and I want to feel, in my heart, in my stomach, in my mind. I want feel goose bumps, warmth, brightness, fear and sadness. The raging fire, the blood pumping through me. I want to move. I want to grow. I want to know. I want to know who I am. But I am. I already am. I am. Now. Tomorrow, the next day. In the past, I am.

Zand onder haar

Een briesje

De geur van de zee

De warmte van de zon op haar huid

Ze ligt in een hangmat

En in een hand een cocktail

Zachtjes staat jazzmuziek op

Ze neemt een slok

En slaakt een zucht.

 

Heerlijk, genieten. Tot het begint te regenen. Een jongeman komt aangerend. Hij staat niet veel later boven haar en de hangmat.

‘Je moet eruit komen, er is storm op komst’, zegt hij. Met zijn bruine ogen kijkt hij haar aan.

‘Wat? Het miezert toch?’, zegt zij, terwijl ze knippert met haar ogen om door de druppels heen hem te kunnen bekijken. Ondertussen worden haar blonde haren nat en haar jurkje zit inmiddels ook vol donkere druppels.

‘Kom maar’, zegt hij en steekt zijn hand uit.

Het begint te bliksemen. Ze pakt zijn hand en stapt uit de hangmat. Hij wijst naar een strandtentje. Samen rennen ze naar het strandtentje. Ze laat haar cocktail en hangmat achter. Hijgend komen ze aan bij het strandtentje. De regendruppels druipen van haar gezicht. Hij opent de deur voor haar.

‘Kan ik je wat te drinken aanbieden?’, zegt hij.

‘Een kopje thee’, zegt zij.

Wie is deze vreemdeling? En waarom is hij zo attent?

Ze gaat zitten en kijkt door het raam naar buiten. Het regent pijpenstelen. Dan loopt er een grote man de strandtent binnen. Hij heeft een lange, leren, zwarte jas aan. Ze bekijkt hem van top tot teen. De jongeman staat bij de bar met twee kopjes thee. De man en de jongen kijken elkaar aan. De jongen zet ‘m op een rennen. Hij rent via de achterdeur de strandtent uit. De man rent hem achterna. Ze staat op en loopt met een snelle pas naar de achterdeur. Ze doet hem open en kijkt om zich heen. Daar ziet de grote man haar staan. Hij zet een paar passen naar haar toe. Zijn hand gaat naar de binnenzak van zijn jas.

‘Heb je hem gezien?’, zegt hij en stapt nog dichterbij naar haar.

‘Nou?!’, zegt hij.

‘Wat?! Wie?’, zegt ze.

‘Jack, Verdomme! Waar is Jack?!’, zegt hij.

Hij haalt een revolver uit zijn jas en drukt deze dicht tegen haar aan. Vanachter wat houten vaten verschijnt de jongen. Hij slaat met een pan op de man z’n kop. De man valt neer. De jongeman laat de pan vallen. Hij kijkt naar haar. Zij kijkt naar hem. Hij loopt vanachter de vaten naar haar toe. Hij kijkt naar haar en steekt zijn hand uit. Ze pakt zijn hand en samen rennen ze weg.

 

Reizen met de trein. Ik zou nog veel liever verder reizen. Verder uit dit land. Niet dat Nederland een naar land is. Wat mij betreft ben ik hier heel veilig. Zo voel ik me wel. Maar avontuur… Is verder gaan dan je veilige haven.

Ik heb laatst een paspoort gekocht. De foto is prachtig. Oh nee, grapje. Het is een paspoortfoto. Maar met die foto kan ik verder reizen en zelfs meer zien dan alleen Europa. Ik ben erg nieuwsgierig naar Amerika. Daar spreken ze Engels. Dat kan ik gelukkig ook. Dat is nog veilig. Maar wat me intrigeert is de natuur. De wijdse natuur. De bergen. En het onbekende. Nieuwe mensen leren kennen. Nieuw eten uitproberen. Nieuwe dingen leren. Wie weet mag ik leuke schrijflessen gaan doen daar en als ik terugkom in Nederland mag ik misschien wel weer naar de Verhalenboot.

Ja reizen. Meer ontdekken, dat is ook goed voor je fantasie. Ik weet nog helemaal niet wat ik ga zien. Voorlopig zie ik Zwolle en Amsterdam met name. En van Amsterdam zie ik meestal een prachtig industrieterrein met hoge grijze gebouwen, recht toe recht aan. En binnen zijn de gordijnen altijd dicht. Lekker knus, zodat we films kunnen kijken.

Nee natuurlijk niet. Ik wil naar buiten. Ik wil bergen. Ik wil zon. Wie weet in de kerstvakantie. Dan mag ik misschien met een vriendin naar Portugal. Daar ben ik ook nog nooit geweest. Op naar het avontuur!