Not a brabo-antigoon folklore

“Roman Abromovich right, he’s a wealthy man. He bought Chelsea. He can, if he wants to, play for the team. It is possible. I mean he can do that. But he can’t be the referee.”
-Graham Taylor

For the moment:
Sunnyside Up-Jojo Pellegrino

There’s a great number of things money can’t buy. Even greater the value when you have less of it.

My last trip to Europe was in early November. I shuffled through 6 different locations in the Netherlands and Belgium, sleeping in 6 different beds, mats and bags. I brought 350 Euros.

On my first day, I lost 250 Euros.

A friend of mine who flew in with me, and was with me 1/3 of the time, loaned me 170 Euros and 6 different people put a roof over my head and did not compromise my waist line.

I am not a photo snapping sight seeing plague of a tourist. At least I delude myself that I’m not one. I too am guilty of materialism. But at the same time I (try to) seek for certain things in life that economics could never tickle its value.

In this context, from the top of my head..value, experience, hospitality, humanity, generosity and Dato’ Siti.

I was meant to spend only my 4th night (Friday), but the above mentioned factors, made me return again to Antwerpen on my 7th night (Monday).

There was no way that I could have left the Busseniers household with a Coke & Smile and wave goodbye. So shortly before the year turned in, I sent them a card. Few nights ago, I receive word from the Princess of the household of my gesture.

 

 

In Dutch/Flemish, it reads,

Liefste familie Busseniers,Met dit kaartje wil ik jullie bedanken voor jullie gastvrijheid tijdens mijn verblijf!

Ik heb er echt van genoten!

Niet vergeten dat jullie nu een vriend hebben in Maleisië.

Zalig Kerstfeest en een gelukkig Nieuwjaar!!

Groetjes van Zain HD
December 2007

It pretty much reads in English,

Dearest Busseniers family,

Thank you for you hospitality.

I really appreciate it.

Know that you have a friend in Malaysia.

Happy new year!”

Greetings Zain HD
December 2007

 

*Thank you Sofie, Inez, Karin, Yves and Frederik for the translation help and further improvising it. 5 strangers in many times zones away, I never met before.

Zalig Kerstfeest en een gelukkig Nieuwjaar.