Skip to main content

Amsterdam

So here's the deal. Try thinking of a street that has a constant murmur, and an occasional yell here and there. At any point in time, your ears can pick up on one of several conversations taking place around you simultaneously. You are walking in one direction but there are people walking in both. You think you find some faces similar in the crowd, but then you try to remember that you haven't been to Amsterdam much to know anyone. Your mind is buzzing from a good night, your ears can still hear the music from Club 11, where an intensified and bassful house party is still raging into the night. You're a bit hungry, but you're not worried because all the shops along the streets - doner kebabs, pizza, frites, falafel, candy, cake ... the works - are still open, and will be open for a while. What's nice about the scene is that everyone is from everywhere. You have a Rwandan friend on one side, and a German on the other. Now you just smile to yourself as you walk...

It's a good feeling when your mind stops moving every once in a while and just sits to observe what's moving around you. Amsterdam has been everything I wanted it to be.

Later,
Kheraj

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Serving up the fix

Originally published on Vijana FM | 22nd July 2012 On a recent album release by Nas called Life is Good , Anthony Hamilton sings “The world is an addiction / serving up a fix”. The track goes on to discuss the dangers of selling out in pursuit of irrational dreams; indeed, “you gain your life just to lose your soul”. Sometimes I wonder if Tanzania is losing her soul. Perhaps – as time passes – it is me growing more conscious, or media becoming more pervasive to drama. But it seems like this country is chasing grandeur that is alien to her history and at odds with what she needs today. Her history and her needs; what do these mean? For the purpose of this post, I am pointing to Tanzania’s historical pursuit to be an independent nation-state, free of international dues and reliance on help. I am also referring to her current state of affairs, mainly consisting of an inefficient system of education coupled with an unbalanced system of trade. There are a few example...

Less is better than more

When designing communication systems - or any system for that matter - it seems better to start with less rather than more. Adding more than what is seen as a basic requirement risks overestimating the value of what is actually needed. It also seems easier to build on something based on new needs, rather than taking out stuff that is never used (humans seems to like hoarding). 

David Cameron's speech on multiculturalism

From Number10.gov.uk Saturday 5 February 2011 PM’s speech at Munich Security Conference Prime Minister David Cameron has delivered a speech setting out his view on radicalisation and Islamic extremism. Today I want to focus my remarks on terrorism, but first let me address one point. Some have suggested that by holding a strategic defence and security review, Britain is somehow retreating from an activist role in the world. That is the opposite of the truth. Yes, we are dealing with our budget deficit, but we are also making sure our defences are strong. Britain will continue to meet the NATO 2% target for defence spending. We will still have the fourth largest military defence budget in the world. At the same time, we are putting that money to better use, focusing on conflict prevention and building a much more flexible army. That is not retreat; it is hard headed. Every decision we take has three aims in mind. First, to continue to support the NATO mission in Afghanistan . S...