A Very Mini Reunion (but an amazing one nonetheless)

Planning a high school reunion is a very challenging task, especially when some of you are on holidays and most others aren't. We had our last reunion in 2008 and turn out was very good. This year we tried to recreate that and planned a few weeks in advance on facebook. It seemed every other reply on the thread was someone saying they couldn't make it, the reunion looked like a failure even before it occurred.

Anyway, we planned to meet on April 6, in Arnhem. By the evening of April 5th, it seemed it was just gonna be me, Marjanne, Marlene and William at the reunion (a.k.a just another day in North East England...and William) the plan was to visit our old school (there were no classes, but I received word that teachers were having a meeting) and then drive up to Amsterdam and possibly meet up with Beerd.

Well, meet up at Arnhem Central Station we did, and drive to the AIS we did as well, only to be confronted by a locked gate, and what seemed to be a school building devoid of life. It seemed by intel* was incorrect, nobody was here, cars were parked in the parking lot, but no one was in the building. Desperate, we spent about 10 mins walking around the school looking for entry points, but every door was firmly locked (side note: the front gate is quite pointless as you can easily get to the school from the back...just sayin')

After hanging around and thinking of various (illegal) ways to enter the building, we decided to call it off and head up to Amsterdam. With Marlene driving, we got on the highway and headed to the capital.

With William in the car you can be sure the discussions were lively, crazy and sometimes absurd (William's trademark) but it was fun.

Arriving in Amsterdam, we found a parking lot and promptly found a toilet as I felt my bladder was at tipping point so to speak. It was the best urination experience I have ever had, unexplainable relief and lightness, it was bliss!

Anyway...we headed off to Dam Square to meet up with Beerd, who I hadn't seen in four years.

He arrived in a cloud of smoke, well not really a cloud...with a cigarette perched daintily in his right hand and and iPod earphone hanging from his left ear. After embraces, compliments and salutations we headed off to find PANCAKES!

Finding a spot next to the flower stalls (and blocked from the shining sun) we settled at the 'Old Dutch Pancake House' which billed itself as having the 'best pancakes in town', right next to it was another pancake house which also claimed to have 'the best pancakes in Amsterdam' clearly one had to be false, but we didn't have time to sample both menus and decide. We talked, laughed and ate our pancakes and then decided to head up to another cafe in Rembrandt square.

This time we were exposed to the full rays of the sun (and also exposed to noisy trumpet players and tone deaf guitar players) but it was a nice place, soaking up some sun and catching up.

Learn to sing before performing in public

Afterwards we headed back to Beerd's place and chilled for a while, drank some good tea and discussed whether or not Avatar was a good movie before we had to head off back home.

We crowned the day with a few pictures and were greeted with extensive posing and modeling by William.

It was a very good day!

Hopefully at the next reunion we would have a higher turn out. It's always good to see what former classmates are up to and to have discussions that cannot be had on facebook or msn. You can poke on facebook, but nothing beats a real hug! (I've copyrighted that phrase)

* intel was provided by my younger brother, Daniel

Here are some pics! (click for a larger rendition)

Vinte e Um (Twenty-One)

So, finally I am now legally a full adult in Nigeria, and in the USA. I know I look twice my age (from a distance at least) but yes, I have been 20 for a while now, well one year precisely, but it feels like an eternity.

I remember when I was 19, I didn't want to become 20 too quickly because I felt I would lose my uniqueness, all my mates were 20 and above, and there I was; still a teenager, but looking much older than they. Well, when I turned twenty I was like, let's get on with it. So I am 21 now and I thank God.

I had a low key celebration (I love low-key) at the usual spot- you guessed it: Nando's. But I have to enter a personal note for further remembrance- never eat a chicken leg three hours before going to Nando's- it's a very bad idea. For the first time in history I was unable to finish my meal, on MY birthday, Dios Mio! can you imagine that!!! Well I was presented with a chocolate cake which was very very nice!

It was great to be surrounded by a few of my closest friends, we often fail to count our blessings, and we often fail to cherish those who care about us, and I am really grateful to God that I was able to share this moment in great company.

I am a person who believes in honesty and whole heartedness, and so I'm very meticulous when choosing friends and I make sure we are compatible on many levels, I'm not naturally the most open person, but I strive to have a deep emotional connection with those I consider friends.

So anyway, I am probably going on too much about the value of friendship (I have noticed that I have been very introspective and contemplative of random things lately, I don't know if this is good or bad, but I hope I don't bore people with my constant eulogizing of various things..and here I go again)

So, the pictures. Sadly, when you are the celebrant, and when you possess the large photographic contraption that I have, you end up taking very few pictures. But the memories are forever ingrained in my memory..lol..or in my brain.

With the group L-R- Me, Titi, Marlene, Marjanne, Marta & Jamila (not pictured- Dominik)

Me and the ever jovial Jamila

Marlene and Marjanne

Me and Titi

Thumbs up from Marta

The Cake!!!

So a BIG THANK YOU to Titi, Marlene, Marjanne, Jamila, Dominik and of course Miss Marta for a marvelous day. I love you guys soo much!!!

Class of 2006

Standing L-R Troy Mytinger, Lorenzo Rijk, Sarah 'Susu' Milly, Eline 'Blonde-E' Annink, Annique Krukkert, Christina Hofer, Mrs. Ensink (tutor)
Seated L-R Marjanne 'Boba' Bruin, Julian 'Julez' Obubo, Jonna 'Ted' van den Berg, William 'Billy-Bones' Obubo, Vanessa Keickenbeck, Amber 'Bambi' van der Graaf
Seated on the ground L-R Marlene 'Marly' Koslowsky, Beerd Kaan

Yeah, that's the IB2 Class of 2006. I guess our class was one of the most memorable classes ever to graduate from the AIS. We had so many social gatherings, it was always 'We' rather than 'I'. I miss those times. Tutorials were hell though, arguing over dates was our favourite pastime. We had fun times in Buren (pizza falling down, falling down over dirty water, falling down in rivers) It was sad when we all had to part ways and pursue 'further education' But we'll all meet up someday.