Once upon a time, I wrote here quite often. However, events change, and so, after some months, here is my new update…..

I needed to check before where I left here with my writing…

So, after being sick all the time, I finally started to work on my internship/research. The first few weeks I worked mostly for Carlos (prof) to summarize documents, literature and more to use for the development of the Yasuni-ITT proposal. Summarizing, reading and understanding Stern in one weekend (680 pages) is pretty much you know. However, I also helped Carlos out by writing the proposal, trying to answer the hard FAQs and more. Through this, I could understand quite quickly and fully how, what, who, when, where the proposal is all about, which gave me some good background information for my thesis. After some weeks, I started to settle in at the university, with Carlos and a little with my thesis.

Meanwhile, sure, I went on trips and not only working on my thesis. You know, sometimes you need a break from that thing. Anyone who wrote one can understand, and if you don’t: try to imagine, working everyday (or at least trying to) on an at least 80 pages long document, which is not only descriptions, but also hardcore theory about philosophical stuff like Marxism, Critical Theory, Environmental Justice and so on. So, indeed, one needs a break once in a while.

Thus, one Saturday, before Jamie left, I went with her and her Ecuadorian boyfriend to Papayacta: a place 2 hours from Quito, with natural hot baths in a beautiful, scenic, mysterious (Mysterious Nynke and Mom.. ) mountain area with mist and fog. It was very nice indeed. Furthermore, every Friday going out and getting crazy on cheap cocktails (getting quite tipsy after 2 due to the altitude) and salsa dancing.

Since this website is called ’sportclimbing’ and involves sport climbers, of course I need to write about that a little. I started bouldering after the last time I wrote here at the gym; hard stuff, but getting stronger and stronger with the days. However, sometimes some old injuries come up, so couldn’t really climb every day you know. So, once there was this awesome 5 day competition: the international sportclimbing olympics. There I met some people, also the ‘boss’ of Petzel here and of the climbing gym. He asked me whether I wanted to come along that weekend to the Cotopaxi park to hike around there and climb some rocky mountain. Obviously, I couldn’t resist. Actually, I was planning to climb that Cotopaxi volcano thing, with some guide, but I was happy I did that first… I will explain why:

We went by bus there; nice views and so. We set up our tent in the park; a park with lots of wind, cold (come to that later), not much vegetation, but wild horses and other animals. And, our tent was on the lookout for the Cotopaxi, however, we couldn’t really see it the whole weekend (sometimes) since the’re lots of clouds around it. So, after setting up the tent, we went for a stroll in the park; beautiful: some kind of swamp with horses running through it. Like as if you’re really in the wild…. hold on.. I was! Anyways, we kept walking around for 3 hours, and made some nice dinner. read: for veggies in Ecuador its hard to survive: some lovely soup (yeah it was!) and plain pasta….is what you get.. However, they had lots of nuts, so I kept to them. That evening was horrible. Okay people, I will explain: I don’t like to be cold! Like, love, skiing, trekking and so, but then you’re warm… but in a tent, with even my best sleeping back for like minus 30, I’m still freaking cold! Which meant; I couldn’t sleep the whole night. And owh yeah, one funny anecdote when I was peeing into the wild: went there, totally in the dark, between some bushes. Than I heard something coming up to me… though it was a human being. However, when I saw first 2 eyes, not really on the height of a human, than some kind of big thing with four legs, I flew with my tail between my legs (actually; with my pants still halfway down). Later, at the campfire, some kid said he saw a coyote there in the bushes; just were I went peeing. However, I realised it was only a curious cow, who probably came up to me at the sound of some water clattering on the ground; thinking: maybe it’s some hot chick cow.  I probably frightened him more by running suddenly away (cause he ran away as well) than I was..

So, after being scared in the bushes, cold and without sleep, we woke up at 5 and started to go to climb that rocky mountain. Walking up there.. and walking up.. and walking up, in windy, cold weather, 5000 meters… and me being a Dutch person; it was hard. Also since it wasn’t only nice grassy walking. After some time, we came under the mountain and had to walk up steep, loose grind and stone. Well you know, it’s a volcanic area, so loose rocks and so is normal. Not funny when it’s very very very cold, windy and incredibly steep. After a while, I ended at the very back, got a little moody, but kept on going. My hand were freezing, couldn’t feel them anymore, as well as my feet, although I had gloves, and wore 6 layers of clothes. Climbing slippery rocks, and on the both sides you can look down several meters… Finally, we arrived at the top: we couldn’t see anything cause it was cloudy. So, I placed one of my little dutch flags into my hands, made a picture, chew on some food, and we left again. Going down is my thing; running most of the time.. and arriving finally at a little stream near the camp to put my hot face and tired feet into it was lovely. However, here it comes: as you can imagine and just read: i don’t like cold, climbing up a mountain for only being up there, without a view, than going down like a crazy person is not my thing. So I was happy to have done this, without paying for the guide and climbing up the Cotopaxi (which is obviously a lot worse) and not being happy about it. Again it was clear: don’t like alpine climbing; I’m a lazy sport climber.. need to be comfortable weather, able to be at the rocks in a few steps, that’s it. But, I indeed to like hiking; being able to see different views (to actually see something) and being in the wild, almost alone (except for scary coyote/cows… whatever it is) and sometimes, only to have a better view (and thus when it’s only nice weather) climbing up a mountain.

So, that was that weekend. Then, I went to Banos again once; rafted the same river, only now it was not level 2 but level 4/5!!! Imagine: dirty water from the eruption of a volcano near by, rain, very heavy and hardcore rafting, through the jungle! Thus: awesome! We had a blast, specially when Stephen (one of my dear friend here) after one stroke of our peddle, ended up in the river, dragging one of our other mates with him. Stephen ended up 3 times into the river… and we all went once together since it was so forceful the river, the boat went upside down, me under it! Kind of didn’t know what to do, thought for a moment, meanwhile breathing under the boat, decided maybe it’s better to go under water, and swim next to the boat. So I tried, twice, and didn’t see anyone out there. . suddenly saw everyone, turned the boat, all climbed into it (which isn’t easy you know: hardcore river, with rocks and waves everywhere) and had to keep on peddling. It was a blast! However, swallowing all that river water isn’t good, so Stevy ended up with heavy stomach problems (spare you the details) while we, some Kiwi’s and two Americans and I, went up to a nice (see that? nice…) view on top of a mountain, in some nice steam baths, with a nice beer and meal till the stars lightened the sky. Suddenly electricity went of, which was making it even more special. Next day, I was sick as hell; felt horrible; it was Giardia again (yeah.. had it in Nepal, China and India.. lovely, spare you the details again).

Yeah yeah, know what you’ll gonna say: you don’t had/have to work or so? on thesis maybe? Yes I did during the weeks.. and still do. I’m quite progressing actually (should be obviously) and it’s going very well.

The proposal has been approved and is supported by the German government, and it’s official now. Will add it here somewhere when everything is finished.

The approval of the German government was when Carlos and some other delegates were there in Europe, and I…. yes guess what? Went with Stevie to Colombia: Cali, to visit my dear brother Markus! What are the odds: he, me being in S A the same time?! He was there since he’s the physio of Holiday On ice (yeah laugh please: HOI in Colombia: ice skating in Colombia.. I had too first, still do;)). And no people, Colombia wasn’t dangerous for me at all! Was a little uneasy with the though I had to cross borders alone, but then Stevie ended up coming with me. Crossing the borders was not a problem at all, but for me it was hard to walk across the bridge, twice since.. something happened back there in Quito just 2 days before I left:

Went bouldering, and wanted to get some water. Stepped off the matres, ended up with my right ankle (weak as that is due to gymnastics) between two wooden logs. Yeah: cracked it like hardcore. I stood there, not knowing whether I had to say or shout something like: AAAAAAAAAAUW.. so I didn’t say anything. Had to concentrate to make the decision of puking or fainting; didn’t do neither. Than..decided maybe it’s better so sit somewhere..tried to walk: didn’t really work. So jumped over and asked to one of the lovely employers there whether she maybe could help me. The big boss came later (Roberto) and asked what the *** happened. Okay, so we went to the physio near by, iced the thing; it was a giant numb instead of an ankle than, and put some cream on it. I had actually an important interview with an important person at 5, so I had to jump around and went there by taxi. Obviously it was a sight. Luckily, I went to Colombia, and Markus could work on me and advise me about the thing. Guess what? by stepping off a matres you can seriously tore apart your alignments of an ankle. So, what I did in Cali was pretty much nothing, well this: Markus stayed at the nicest hotels there, so I could stay there for free: they had a swimming pool, jacuzzi, Turkish bath, a gym and satellite tv. I didn’t need much more with, being a cripple. Seeing HOI in Cali, Colombia was awesome! Loved it, when Markus had to work. Stevie and i went one time into the jungle,not far from Cali, with platform, driven by a motorcycle on a train track through pouring rain. Great fun it was!

Went back to Quito, worked 2 weeks straight on my thesis and went to Yasuni for a weekend. Okay, I know what you all think: see is never at one place… and so.. and seeing all these lovely things, but  hey; I’m here, and I need to see what I’m writing about and Yasuní is the best place I ever went here until so far. I went through the University of San Francisco de Quito at the Tiputini Biosphere Reserve Station (there’s the Yasuní park: 1 million ha, and the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve (the UNESCO part) of 2 million ha). The station is with 600 ha, and 8 hours by bus from Quito, 2 hours by boat, 2 hours by bus, 2 hours by boat. The way to it was already lovely, however, seeing many oil companies burning the oil on poles, and other things are not such a lovely sight. The station is, as you can imagine, in the middle of no where: very peaceful, some bungalows and you step right into the jungle from it. That evening I saw my first wild animal there: a big tarantula on the path to my bungalow. Next morning went to have an interview with one of the people working there for 2 hours and later went into the forest with one of the volunteers there. Saw nothing but nice trees and all. Next day, we went for big hikes: first to a lagoon. On the way we saw 4 different monkey species, some mammals, birds and so; saw a lot! Went on the lake with a canoe, and there are supposed to be the threatened giant otters; didn’t see them. Went into a tower, which goes all the way up until above the last tree; and you know: trees in the Amazon can be huge! On the way up there, some woolly monkeys crossed our paths above us through the trees: awesomeness!

Later that day we went to another tower: saw a hawk,sitting there for ours, monkeys, Macaw (one of the very colourful kinda papegaai). It was so peaceful to just sit there at the station as well, reading a book, listening to insects and the ‘wild’…. went actually fishing as well! only caught bushes and twigs, but hey; did try!

On Monday I had to leave.. bummer. But on the way to the first bus, 2 hours by boat we saw: an ant eater, a giant ANACONDA of 4 METERS on the shore, the driver of the boat went closer and closer to it, (me in front of the boat standing) and bumped onto the shore; i was 1 meter away of it. Bumping to it, the ANACONDA went away as fast as it could into the water! Than, later, saw a glimpse of a dolphin… some monkeys in trees and more. It only occurred to me when I was on the second boat back to this awful city called Coca, that I could’ve asked to stay longer at the station. I had my usb with me, so I could write my thesis there as well. However, it was a good idea I didn’t cause jungle trekking through mud, slippery stuff, and so on isn’t really good for a torn apart ankle.

So here I am, back in Quito. Writing thesis all day long and so on. Today we’ll go into the mountains to watch some stars in the night with a telescope…

Than, some more interviews, writing, Galapagos still to go to, Mexico, and Europe..

Will probably finish that thing (referring to thesis) around October, so I decided to take some on line biology, species, ecology, earth science courses since after Yasuni I decided to go to such a place more often, but then I need to know what I’m watching at…

Pictures you can see on my Facebook: check the ANACONDA!

Till… some months later

Ola chicas y chicos

Como estas? Chevere?

Here everything fine. I will start to write here in this section about the first month in Ecuador!

Quito is a strange city with 2 city centres: a historical centre and a bar centre or whatever one wants to call it. I live in the latter. I went to the historical one the first Sunday I was here: amazing relaxed and nice.

The weather here is also strange: in the mornings it is usually warm and sunny. Later on the day, the rain starts to fall down as if God opens up his garage door with lots of hardcore thunder and lightning which makes all the cars go wild with their alarms and sometimes the electricity falls out. Shocking sounds cause of the mountains around!

I took Spanish classes the first 2 weeks at Yanapuma, a foundation which works for indigenous groups, sustainable development etc. Walking everyday 15 minutes to the school and having classes from 9 till 1 was quite intense, but it worked! I understand quite some Spanish now, reading is fine as well, but speaking I need to practice lots. I have time for that, around 5 months, so it will be fine. At the school I met some great people, specially Steven and Erica, both from the States. The second Friday we went out with a group from the school, salsa dancing and 2 very, very cheap cocktails made me quite tipsy, probably cause of the altitude here as well. The problem was that we went with a group the next day, at like 8 in the morning, to a crater, around 2 hours away with the horrible, contaminating bus. However, the crater was lovely, and it was great to be outside of Quito, one of those dirty cities where you definitely need to walk with a scarf before your nose, otherwise you will ´smoke´ 30 cigarettes a day!

That Sunday, I was very tired, the altitude is asking something of your body, but later I went to the climbing gym (5 min walk from the university). A great boulder wall they have there! Awesome! But very hard and strong, which punished me with muscle pain for 4 days. They also have a climbing area which is kind of like a real rock, but different. Looks awesome. The other wall is all overhang, and hardcore climbing stuff. Everything you need to do by lead climbing, and I haven´t met anyone yet to climb with, so I stick now with bouldering, which is fine as well.

The next week Spanish again, some salsa at Tuesday (teaching Steven to dance, who didn´t think he would ever be able to dance salsa, is great!). That weekend we went to Banos together; an awesome area! We went with the morning bus at 6 on Saturday from Quito and arrived there at around 10. Went mountain biking along the river and saw lots of waterfalls during the day, with a lot of sun.

The next day we went rafting, never did that, (no not even me) and it was amazing! Immediately i wanted to do that the next time for a couple of days! It was great, and lovely to be outside of dirty Quito again. Took the bus back to Quito at 5sh.

On Monday I was supposed to start with my internship, but my prof. could only see me at 3, so I did some homework at the university: reading some Spanish articles and a book. I met my prof. before already with another girl which is helping him with the project. The whole meeting was so interesting also due to the fact that they got a call from the green party of Germany. They told her that many people support the project like Prince Charles, Gorbatsjov, etc! I got so excited! I will work with them, writing emails to get people support the proposal, also the Dutch government and others.

However, I haven´t really started my internship yet, that´s because I got sick. This weekend I went with my roommate, a dutch girl (in the meantime I moved to an apartment in town, where 2 other dutch girls are living as well) to the beach: Puerto Lopez! We left on Wednesday in the evening (11) and arrived there at around 9 in the morning. Amazing area: beach, palm trees, blue water, hot and sun very strong. So, in the middle of the day: no sunbathing for us. We went with a boat to a island where we went snorkeling: amazing fish. And, we saw the special blue footed birds at the islands and pelicans. We caught one fish as well (see pic!) and I even ate fish-soup; Ceviche. However, everything they cook here is with a lot of salt: horrible taste. Anyways, on Saturday I had a headache and didn´t want to do anything. That night was cold, hot, cold: fever.

On Sunday we went to a natural park: which was very interesting, although i was in a horrible state. We saw some interesting birds there around. We took the bus back at 9, which is always horrible due to the road, bus, etc. Monday my horrible diarrhea started in Quito and since then I feel awful. Just went to the hospital and indeed: i got an infection. So antibiotics again and for now no internship for me. I can work at home though quite a lot, so I do that. I feel much better now (strong stuff those medicines) and can really start with the internship and my research since we need to hurry for Copenhagen.

Anyways, furthermore, I pretty much feel okay here. Jamie and Michelle, the dutch girls, are very kind and amazing. My prof as well, kind of everybody here. Haven´t been robbed yet, which is quite normal here, so I hope that will stay that way. However, off course I miss ya’ll!

Now, look at the pictures, and enjoy.

Hasta luego!

xxxxxxxx Fien

It has been 2 night already since I arrived in Quito. First of all, I will write here something about the incredible trip I made, and then a little about the town.

On the 19th of March, at 5am in the morning (local time) I woke up in Amsterdam at my brothers place. Hardly slept, we went together to Schiphol. There I said goodbye to my bro and went on the plane at 9am. I never feel great in an airplane, but this time… I immediately became sick (a little fever), constant feeling of vomiting, and a major headache. After 2 aspirin’s I felt a little better although I needed some sleep, and that I can never have when travelling. So, I enjoyed myself  watching some movies and trying to sleep and eat. After 10 hours we arrived in Atlanta at 2pm local time (-7 hours Amsterdam). After 3 hours waiting and feeling miserable, I got on the plane to Quito with 2 seats for myself. So, a little sleep was welcome. It was planned that we arrived at 10pm local time (-6 hours Amsterdam). However, we tried to land twice but we couldn’t: the clouds where to low and thus we were too heavy.  Therefore, we went to Guayaquil: 40 minutes away of Quito. The whole day the weather was changing in Quito and at the same day, an army plane crashed and 6 people died. So we were lucky to have such responsible people in the plane who choose to go to Guayaquil. However, there were no hotels left, so we had to go to another place, they said first. After 2 hours of getting some fuel, food and drinks another announcement was made: we would try to land again in Quito,but if that wasn´t possible, we would go so Costa Rica or Panama. However, since there were some Ecuadorians and Colombians in the plane, we could only go to Panama. Luckily, at 2:20am local time, we landed in Quito. Of course everybody clapping and being happy.

I was wrecked: after 36 no sleep, sick,noshes, and so on. I was supposed to be picked up at the airport by people from the university of andina simon bolibar (UASB) but since I arrived 5 hours later, I choose to take a taxi. Of course I paid way too much, but I didn´t care much about that at that moment. I arrived in my bedroom which is nice: own bathroom, bed, TV with all kinds of channels, and a desk. After a short, cold shower (what to do? it is still a 3rd world country) I went to bed and woke up once in a while due to noise outside from the road. I had lunch for 2.80 dollars downstairs at 2pm. Then it started to rain really badly, so I went up to my room again to sleep from 5pm till 2 am. Then again from 5am till 9am. So, I have been resting indeed!

It is a nice place where I stay: right in the university where I will do my research-internship, free use of the gym, laundry room, music room, restaurant and so on. However, eating is sometimes difficult as a vegetarian I noticed and everyday eggs is not really good and kinda boring. But okay.

Had some breakfast this morning and went to the city. It is hot right now; 15celsius but very humid. Looks like the Netherlands: you need to take a raincoat, sweater, t shirt and so on when you go out: you never know what´s going to happen.About the height: it is 2800 meters here (9200 feet) and so I feel that indeed after coming from a country below see level! Eating is even hard to do! Imagine!

Now I´m sitting in a coffee toffee bar and writing here, but I seem to be getting hungry, so I should stop writing here!

Hey all,

Thursday, 19th of March, i’m going to Ecuador!This, for my research-internship about the next subject/proposal: www.sosyasuni.org

So, read about it here, and about how and what I do in Ecuador, and of course, who I meet!

It has been too long since I have written something here.

Times went by, busy times, and lazy times.

However, Earth Day was succesfull at the RU, since we could manage to get the board on board for sustainable development at the RU and reduction of co2. However, students were not really interested in this day, lazy students of today in Nijmegen. ”
     THe battle goes on. Right now, I’m writing a rapport of the inventarisation of the sustainable situation of the Ru and how we can make changes.

Furthermore, since I’ve choosen to be the head of the studenorganisation, busy times are waiting me every day. Ideas are wide and many as well as meetings, congresses and so forth.

Climbing an sport is ”off”’ right now since I got the strangest injuries of times; back problems, elbow probles and so forth. However, I started biking and this is waiting for me for in the summer.Climbing is off but I will start soon again.

Still 2 weeks to go before the summer break, and writing a thesis is not fun when you just want to be finished with studying and really start working and travelling. However, the master study is much more interesting,thus,I’m getting excited to start!

Untill soon again… with the full rapport of Earth Day!!!

More to come:

battle for students for less energyconsuming

goodies box for students

other tips for sustainable living: check my facebook account for lots of communities…

EARTH DAY: 22nd of April: YOUTH ACTING WARMLY GLOBALLY ???? Are you with us?

              In the next few years, we as the world will make, or fail to make, critical decisions regarding global warming pollution and clean technology investments. These decisions will have far-reaching and irreversible impacts on the lives of today’s students and the lives of their children. At this moment in time, we owe our young people at least a day of focused discussions and projects about global warming solutions for Europe and the world.

Youth Acting Warmly Globallyis organizing a national teach-in on global warming solutions for Europe-creating a dialogue at over a thousand colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses, and directly engaging millions of students and citizens with the unions’s decision-makers. Youth Acting Warmly Globally will culminate on April 22nd (Earth day), 2008in simultaneous educational symposia held across the countries. Our intent is to move Europe beyond fatalism to a determination to face up to this civilizational challenge, the challenge of our generation.

Youth Acting Warmly Globally is an educational initiative, based on Focus the Nation of the United States, but we also promote civic engagement. Each team will invite local, state and federal political leaders and decision-makers to come to campus and participate in a non-partisan, round-table discussion of global warming solutions. Every institution will also vote on their top five national priorities for global warming action, producing a campus and citizen endorsed policy agenda for 2008.
To maximize both education and civic engagement, Youth Acting Warmly Globally has three components:

INTER-NATIONAL TEACH-IN: On April 22nd 2008, thousands of students on every campus, millions of students nationwide, participate in workshops and panels, brainstorming global warming solutions. Are you with us? Are your faculty supporting you? Ask ten, twenty, fifty faculty to stand up as educators on behalf of your future. They will say yes. To make this happen, start with the sample teach-in.

INTER-NATIONAL CONCRETE PROJECTS;concret projects will be developed during the day of the teaching by everyone on the school, university and more, to really get things going on your campus. This can be very broad, and creative. Involve your town as well!

GREEN DEMOCRACY:Campus to Congress. Tell top decision-makers in your country about solutions. If they can’t be there physically, then they will face a student audience via a video-chat (youtube).

CHOOSE YOUR FUTURE:Vote on the top five solutions to global warming. Proposed solutions range from a coal moratorium, to large scale renewables investment, to initiatives to strengthen forests for carbon storage. Choose the Future is the place for serious discussion about how to achieve what science and justice demand.  Every political leader in the country will hear your voice, and the project can be based on the project you have want to work on at your school/university or club.

With these four components, together we will Youth Acting Warmly Globally!!!

Questions? Suggestions? Leave them under here!

Stop the Climate-Wrecking at Bali

Last weekend, something amazingly, historical has happened in Washington D.C.

I went with 5500 other students, young people, interested persons to the University of Maryland. On Saturday and Sunday (3 and 4 November) we had panels and workshops about Global Climate Change, Poverty, Equality, Environment, Race, Class and many more. All this was organized by several organisations, including student organisations.

On Monday, 5th of November, we went to the house of representative and the Senate to convince them to sign the new Energy Bill of the United States;

This includes:

1.     5 Million GREEN COLOR JOBS NOW; to conserve 20% of our energy by   2015. (the population of poor contains mainly minorities like hispanic and blacks in the US. Those end up in jail at a much higher rate than whites. In the US, prisons are build for future generations, for in 20 years. Instead of building jails, we can better prevent them to get into crime life style and provide green jobs, which then gives them information which others do not have)

2. Cut Carbon 80% by 2050: Start by reducing emissions at least 30% by 2020: 2.2% per year. Based on sound science and research. See website

3. No New Coal; clean energy and smart transportation choices. Start with a firm moratorium on new coal plants.

4. Minimum 25 mpg by 2020 fuel efficiency standard similar to the legistlation that passed the Senate

5. No subsides for Liquid Coal or Nuclear Energy.

This all, has to be done to conserve our planet, our future. We talked to representatives from the house and the Senate. One of our speakers was so convincing that one of the representatives of the Senate had to cry!!!!

After this talk, we went all to the mall in front the Capital. There,we had some speeches from people like me; 22 year old, students but highly motivated. This is not only about global warming! It is about sustainable development, anti war fundings, getting the poor out of their horrible continuing cycle and so forth.

After that, at 2 pm, we went to the City Bank. They give Coal Power Plants loans to fund their industries. We had a big action for several hours and we shut down the bank and their atm’s for the whole day!

This event, was a historical day; never ever so many young people had been so organized together and shown their emotions, concern and love for nature, people and the world. Never ever has it happened that so many people wanted to hear the speeches with the representatives of the House. Never ever a student was so convincing that one of them had to cry! I was there, and we will continue!

This is only the beginning though. We are now taking back al these new ideas and motivations to work for a better, cleaner future. People here in the US need help to convince the Senate and the House to sign the Energy Bill! We need overseas help to shift the Power! I ask you all to help us!

Help yourself, your future generations, nature, the earth so that we, as young people, do not have to suffer and pay for the mistakes politicians, businesses and so forth are making.

Leave a message, a personal opinion, a signature or whatever you feel like to support the young, black, white, poor, rich, radical, left, right and many more people in the US to get this through! It is possible since there are many projects in the Country going on which have a good sustainable future. Individuals can make a difference, though all individuals together are stronger.

 Also; spread the word so everybody talks about it.

You know powerful people? Tell them, tell the press, write articles about it and it will be in the news.

Questions?

 Write me, or

 go to http://powershift2007.org

Thank you,

Lavinia Warnars,
Student in Environmental Society Science
Head of JUSTENVI  (under construction, soon to be different webpage).

<object width=”425″ height=”355″><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/PMQblirp_xY&rel=1″></param><param name=”wmode” value=”transparent”></param><embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/PMQblirp_xY&rel=1” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” wmode=”transparent” width=”425″ height=”355″></embed></object>

Since the last time I wrote, a lot has happened. First of all, the weather finally changed into a temperature which is supposed to be around this time a year.(Fall)

Second of all, I have been enjoying African dance parties.  Yes yes, I’m in Tennessee; How is that possible?! Well, some internationals and some Americans like to do something different, so you end up in downtown Knoxville, in World Grotto, having an African Dance party with some amazing performances of jamming and singing; once again; the Africans; They CAN DANCE! And I love to see it! Since I love it so much, last Thursday I went to a performance of Juxtapower; a dance group which is promoting South-africa. It reminded me off Nairobi and Sarakasi! I had such a great time, that I went up the stage and learnt some of their dance moves, in front of approximately 200 people.

Third, it has been two weekends ago that I had a long weekend off; Fall break. I went lake kayaking in the mountains! Never felt I so in peace and whole with myself! It was so amazing; some kayaking on the lake, with the beautiful scenery around you; with changing leaves of the tree, the sun on your face, the mountains around. The first night we went to bed when it became dark (yes you sleep then and wake up when the sun is up; lovely sleeeep). I was so tired that I never heard the coyotes crying in the dark. The second day we kayaked 9 miles and slept in the wild.  Two days later after some lovely relaxing kajakking, we went walking in the forest and went back home again.

Fourth, last week was crazy! I’v been running around, study a lot and had a lot of fun. Some new friends I made with the kayaking took me to an organic farmers market store; finally; some organic food! Then on Wednesday we had a special night at the climbing wall; some amazingly good climbers; Timy Fairfield among them, world rank, came and showed some videos. Another motivation to go climbing a lot. Furthermore, I went to a lot of lectures about poverty, famine, globalisation, illegal trade and environment; I learned so much last week! Crazyness.

Sixth, on Tuesday I had an interview with a musician; Ray Benich. (former band member of Abbis of Blasphimy). He went to prison for 18 years!!! and came out as a really positive person. We had to do this interview for a course which I’m taking (power and society, in which we are talking about the prison movement in the us). They even filmed it, so this was a big deal. It was so interesting and intriguing to hear somebody talking about the prisons in the us.   Tonight, we will have a jam session at my professors house with the musician and some of my friends. Then, on Monday we are arranging a lecture/performance for him; he will talk his life in prison and play some songs.

Also, next week I’v 3 midterms; aka; big tests. So this will be the first weekend that I stay at home studying! Amazing no?! But, we are on our way of the end;six weeks more and it’s over with studying here. I learn a lot here at this University, and it motivates me more to do something about this environmental situation.

Keep on rocking, as my power and society professor always says. (he’s really cool; loves Range Against the machine, is a hippy kind of guy, and it’s my toughest course I’m taking).

so, here we are… Knoxville, and this is only my fourth update. (i’m not keeping track here).

Anyways, since the purpose 0f this site is talking about climbing, I will keep my audience happy by doing so .

The climbing gym of UT is just 3 min walking for me, so you can find me there at least twice a week. Though,it’s mostly bouldering, it strengthens me rapidly! Some training with the local strong guys does me some good apparently. So, in the weekends I go climbing on the rocks. I met some climbers from here and they take me. They are really nice, but all really strong: as in climbing 7a and above.. The routes here are steap and mostly not really vertical, like I’m used to. But I noticed I can menage quite well on those routes and it makes you really strong. My shoulder is doing great, thanks for that Martin! You are my hero!  I try to climb some 11 b’s and c’s (6c/7a) which are going well, but not as it should. But I will definitly get there.

Two weekends ago I had a climbing competition in Nashville: it was indoors but it was nice. Some routes and boulders. I became 2nd (don’t know of how many) and got a chalk bag. We slept there under the walls and the next morning turned back to Knoxville. So, motivated for such stuff, I will participate in some outdoor boulder competition in Chattanooga (Tennessee) in December!

So, first some good practicing here around and some muscle training.

Tonight I go climbing indoors at another wall with some other americans, the italian girl and a swedisch/english girl. After: some salsa shaking time.

Tomorrow there is a big thing happening here! The most important football game: against Georgia! I will be there, for 4 hours they play, and be in orange. After one day, the free student tickets were sold out, so it will be packed!

Owh, about the study (that’s actually why I’m here…(?)), I’m getting good grades so I will be fine. But it is getting busier with the stuff I have to read and do. Every week there are some assignments to do, so it is like highschool, but it gets in your system which is beneficial, maybe better then in the Netherlands since you practice the theory every week.

In order to give you’ll an image of where I’m living, I will describe this here.

First of all my campus: UT is a huge campus with 26000 students who walk over the whole campus to reach there classes. This makes me feel like cattle. 7000 of the 26000 students live on campus in halls. These are big buildings. I live at Andy Holt, with 1100 other students! There is always something to do. In the first few weeks I got to know at least 50 people. Everyone is great, but you need to make some decisions with who you’r gonna hang out with otherwise you need 36 hours in a day! So right now I met this crazy, lovely girl from Mexico, and further more I hang out with an Italian girl, some Spanish guys, some Americans and a Brazilian guy.

It’s one of the biggest smaller universities and has a good reputation, partly due to their football team which will play their first home game this Saturday. Off course I will go there (tickets are free for students) and everyone will dress up in orange because that’s the colour of UT (quite useful because the orange clothes I can wear in NL as well).

Lucky students have an scholarship, otherwise you have to pay 15000!!! dollars!
Study here is taken seriously, although we go out and have trips every week. You must attend the classes, that’s part of your grade as well! It’s like highschool or a higherschool: not really an university in my dictionary but ok. The teachers are all friendly and some of mine really up to date. For instance, one plays a video from youtube in the class from Rage Against the Machine!

Everything you need is on campus: swimmingpool is right down my hall: one outdoor, 2 indoors, the 3 gyms as well, football fields, 24 tenniscourts climbing hall and so forth. There are shops, restaurants and stuff and even pregnancy centers, but no shoppingmalls with fresh vegetables. For that you need a car because the mall, were you can buy approximately anything (clothes are freaking cheap and nice), which is 15 min away of campus by car. The center of Knoxville is boring: no shopping centers or a real center. All over campus are off course churches as well. We’r living here in the bible belt and that’s quite noticeable. Everyday there are some extreme preachers at the big library at the corner of the street saying being gay is a national treat, drinking is a sin and so forth: so in the end: we all go to hell!!!! Well: I rather go to hell without him then with him in heaven!

I haven’t said anything yet about the prejudice of Americans. Well, I can tell you this: everything is big! As in everything I really mean everything!: sport, cars, streets, buildings, FOOD, MALLS and PEOPLE. Wow! I haven’t seen so many disgusting fat people! That’s understandable since in restaurants food is served on giant plates: you NEED a doggybag for it, one order of coke, and the rest is free refill. Guys here look all the same: hat (always this stupid hat), same hair, t’shirt dodgy pants and sneakers. Girls here, when you go out, look like slets and prostitutes: I’m sorry but it’s true: they dress up… in almost nothing and are even more willing to get a guy then the otherway around. The netherlands? they’v never heard of it: Amsterdam????……… aaaah yes! There you can smoke joints no? that’s great you’lll! (local word= U’ll as in you all). Churches are major here: religion is it! People are often blind and don’t see that Bush and his goverment is seen in Europe as the most stupidest goverment ever, don’t believe in climate change although it has been above 30 C here for 4 weeks, which never happens.

There are no centers in cities, which make you wondering around and searching for shoppping centers which are out of the city most of the time, even in cities like Atlanta and Chicago.

Though, I must admit, everyone is friendly here. They take you with a boat-trip, car, anything. Maybe that’s because you’r an international student as well. that doesn’t matter.

So, every prejudice you have about America and Americans, is probably true.

See here for pics of my life here at Knoxville.

This last week, classes started. Everything I heard was just introduction and all seems nice. I take a course in Italian, 2 sociology courses, on Psychology and an economics course. Specially the psychology, sociology and the Italian courses seem very interesting.

On Thursday I went for a drink after climbing in a hall were it was even worse in temperature then outside! On Friday I went with an American girl to another climbing wall off campus. That was nice, though small compared to Nijmegen. It’s funny cause I’m one out of maybe 5 girls who are climbing, and I’m very good compared to them. So…. the guys are impressed as well as the girls. Although, I don’t think I’m good. TO find the routes is a funny experience. They don’t make them by grip colour, but they stick some colored tape under the grips: for instance: purple. Then you have to follow the purple tape. Which is annoying due to the fact that the tape is usually under the grip…After Friday I was broken: my whole body was hurting cause off (predictable) I did too much. On Saturday I did pretty much nothing…. laundry, pool, study. In the evening I went to my American buddy with a Spanish and french friend. We went to her house and had some drinks: they were very nice.

On Sunday we went with a big group, including my Mexican sister, to a big house at the lake. That was incredible!!! We went on a speedboat and with a tube behind it with 3 people. That was a lot of fun. Then, 2 boys and off course I (who else?! I can’t let me beat myself by some guys) jumped of a cliff from 15 meters.

After this ”cool” experience, we had a bb (with veggie burgers indeed!) and back home. Now, today it’s time for a serious study week, although with some relaxation time in between: a diving course, climbing, boxing and so on.

Next weekend, we are planning on going to Atlanta with a big international group. THe monday after it’s labour day, so no classes. There is a jazz festival there and so we will probably have a lot of fun!!!

Well, that’s it for the update. Pics are coming, but it will take some time.

Rridy ai ho,

Here I’m at Knoxville Tennessee! After I left Chicago I went to Memphis by train, which took me 10 hours. I arrived early in the morning and went to my hostel. After, I went into the city, though it was incredibly hot: 40 C! I went to the civil right museum next to the old hotel were Martin Luther King was shot on the balcony. We could see his old room even! It was quite interesting to see the history of the civil rights acts and so on. After I went to Beale street: the street were everything happens: BBkings club, elvis all over and so on. This week Elvis died so there must be a lot of crazy people there around. I went to the ROck and Soul museum. That was interesting as well: you could listen to the history of blues, jazz and rock and listen to loads of songs! That’s so nice!

Anyways, the next day I got a ride to the bus station of a friendly local guy cause the public transport in other city’s then Chicago suck big-time so you can wait for 1 hour.

I went by bus, which took me another 10 hours, to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

I met there my temporally roommate, a French girl and in the other room there’s a dutch girl and an Italian girl! So, I can already practise my Italian!

This week, all the introductions about the uni, sports, and so on are being followed by all the international students, around 200 of them! We go out for dinner every evening, playing pool, drinking and so on: which is nice of course. Sports is for free here for us: they have a big swimming pool outside which is convenient with this weather (40), a climbing hall, 2 gyms, tennis lawns, and so on. All the trips outside for climbing, rafting and so on costs nothing so I can go many times: I will come back probably amazingly strong! The city center is quite some miles away from here and fresh food they don’t have here. In all the restaurants it is hard to eat vegetarian, and as you can assume: everything is fat and greasy. So I must cook myself anyway instead of taking a meal-plan. We, with some other international students, will go every week to some shopping mall to buy our own food and go cooking. But first we must arrange a car from our national buddy’s or roommates.

Anyway, all the people here are nice, although I miss of course Maxi waxi, but I can practice my Italian with the Italian girl, some Spanish guys and of course with the course.

gr