Since less than a week, I graduated as an architect-engineer (although I don't feel like being something like that yet), found a new roof above my head and a job.
Let's say the graduating didn't impress me too much. It's more like some formalities, with university officials that think you are an engineer, because they are, and they forget not the whole world is. The nice thing was seeing a bunch of fellow-students again and the drinks after that...
So here I am. Bye being student. Welcome to the world of the grown-up people...
To be honest, my leaving Maarten-as-a-student behind arouses double feelings. On the one hand, I always loved studying, the idea that you are still developing, being confronted with things/insights new to you, interesting people being idealist enough to be an academic ... But on the other: I have enough of education. I mean: don't put me on school benches any more please, and keep your exams, thanx.
I can imagine myself studying on some subject in some master program or whatever, but not at this moment. I think I need to see myself in other conditions first. But my hunger for study isn't over yet.
The next months, I'll be working in our university on the (post-)colonial architecture, urbanism, heritage, society, etc. of Lubumbashi, the most southern city of Congo. A professor, me and a multimedia specialist will develop a multimedial project that want's to reconsider the meanings of Lubumbashi's modernist heritage in a context broader than the Congo-Belgian one. It's not payed that well - but not worse than what I would earn if I started now in an architecture office / call it desillusion n°1 - but the subject attracts me, and the working environment also. I refused doctorate offers because of the wrong subjects, but this short period research project I won't let go by without taking it. Moreover: a meaningfull voyage to Congo isn't an opportunity I'll get everyday... (prospective n°1)
Later on I'll start my Praktikum/stage/internship/whatever in an architect's office.
Next tuesday I start my job. That's at least good for 1 thing: I won't be the one anymore complaining that nobody of my former study-colleagues hasn't time to do things with me at evenings or in weekends because they need to recuperate from working all the time and have to be fresh the next day... I'll be in this condition myself. (desillusion 2: no more free time).
Just like my new housepartner, Renee. Her working rythm will be unbeatable though: she get's up early and comes home late every day, cause she works in Antwerp and lives in Gent. I'm excited that I can share her house (prospective n°2). Just like the good old days, 2 years ago, when Frederic, Enrico, Renee and me had this super design-cooperation, based in Renee's house. It feels like yesterday, nothing much has changed, except that Renee's cat Rosa got 2 new friends: hyperkinetic Carlos and granny-style Minnie. And except that Enrico is living back in Torino and Frederic has been absorbed by Berlin, it's dynamics and detension, the Schnodderichkeit (brutality) of the Berliners and it's international love (also called Spaniards).
The FERM-project that Renee and I think of for the future (acronym of our names, in Dutch it's a Gent word for strong/impressive) will be a test for keeping contact and joyfull creativity, bridging distances and different timeschedules. Let's see if it works... (prospective n° 3)
Then 2 more very very nice weekend prospectives for the next months: visiting Elke in Switzerland (she works in Lausanne now) and our Berlin-Erasmus-Reunion in Madrid. Thanx SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express for your promotions!
Erasmus over, but not dead. Jeronimo from Valencia, Gustavo's en Xavi's friend now on Erasmus in Gent, could mean some new energy and continuity! Esperamos!
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