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1-5-10

So there it is, it arrived: the one-five-ten baton.
Thrown by Peter.

1 year ago:
I came back from 2 years abroad (in Israel) and feeling not so well, since well, I was back in Belgium and somehow the adaptation to real life wasn't that easy.
I think it was hard because compared to Israel, Belgium is so 'unstressed'. No tension in the air, no adrenaline to live on.
I was working at my dad's place as a carpenter (yes, really) and I built kitchens in very expensive houses.
Working with my hands was a real delight, I mean, in the end there was this kitchen, a real thing, that once was nothing more than a pile of wood. A wonderful feeling compared to all the ideas and computer stuff that is, well, quite dust in the air in the end.
But it wasn't what I aimed for. 3 months later I would choose to be independent. And jump into the 'nothing'. One month after that, i suddenly found myself on a flight to Hong Kong. Weird world.

5 years ago:
I guess I was in Iraq 5 years ago at this time. Saddam was still ruling and we were stunned to see what the embargo did to the people. It was so wrong.
We all knew a war was going to happen soon, and preparations were being made. You should have seen the soldiers, with their lousy weapons.
No way they would ever win a war with those... (Now Iraq is a country where insurgents blow up them selves and I am sure Al Quaeda is the only one making profit out of this disaster...)
Back then my dream was already to travel the world. And change it by being a journalist.
I guess I was more naive back then, with more dreams. And the urge to change things.
I guess some things haven't changed after the years, but some did.Today I believe change is possible, but in the smaller things.
In September I left for Israel, another big jump into nothingness, to study a post graduate at Bezalel.
It was the most daring thing I ever did: I quit my job, sold my car, left everything behind, got on a plane with 20 kilo of luggage for 8 months, and without knowing ANYONE at the place I was going to (Tel Aviv). I was scared to death, but too proud to admit...

10 years ago:
The end of my first year in Ghent. With loads of love and loads of drama.
I didn't pass my first year of photography (though after that 'failure', I passed each year with distinction.) and was very confused. But also very in love. It was a splendid Spring, and we drove in a '2pk' 'decapotable' in Ghent, while the Pixies were singing 'Where is my mind?'
I didn't know what I was doing or what I wanted.

Today I still shout 'Where is my mind', and I still don't know what I want in life.
But that's quite OK.

Throwing the baton to: n00.be, Kris Khaira, and Lisa

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