maandag 27 oktober 2008

I'm still alive.

Dear friends and family.

No you don't have to worry, I'm actually still alive and doing very fine.
The last few weeks just have been very busy, that's why I didn't really update my blog.
My appologies for the inconvenience.

Two weeks ago I had the week of my life as Lisa came to visit me in Hong Kong. I got the week off from work, so that I could really show here around in the city. This was also the first time I had some time to sight see myself. Of course I had done some of the obvious sight seeing spots, but now I could finally really go out for a day. So that's what we did! We went to Lantau Island to visit the Big Buddha, which was incredible. We went there by train and cable car, and took a bus and a ferry on our way back to Hong Kong. The other day we also went to Ocean Park, the city's pride! Ocean Park is a rollercoaster theme park located at the South side of Hong Kong island, a beatiful location to build a theme park!! We had a really nice day walking around in a deserted Ocean Park, as we went there on a thursday. Lovely, not having to que up for rides!
Of course we also went up Victoria Peak. We were lucky, because it was a very bright day so there were no clouds to block the awesome view!
On friday we went to see the 10,000 buddha's monastery in Sha Tin, it was just so nice to be on a holiday together. The week flew by way too fast. But it was a week I will never forget. (photos, check my hyves account.)

After Lisa had left Hong Kong (much too early) some friends of mine from Breda came to visit.
Which again was very nice, and weird to meet your friends at the other side of the world.

This Thursday my roommate from Breda will arrive at Hong Kong! I hope I can show him around a bit as well.

At the moment it's very busy at the office. We're about to launch the first products and a lot has to be done. So far I've been more or less in charge of developing the new logo. This includes contacting a designerteam and make sure they develop a logo which lives up to our requirements, and of course suits the company right. Also have I been working on standardising presentations and currently also working on designing the business cards.
Of course there has been lots of other minor assignments and jobs I've done so far, but these have been of most importance and value to the company.

Of most value to me, was of course understanding how the products work and how to company works. I guess I will never completely understand how the hard ware is build up, but I guess I've got a pretty clear picture of what the products do and can do, and how it's possible that they do what they do!

But I'm really enjoying my stay in Hong Kong so far.

Miss you all..

vrijdag 19 september 2008

First week in HK

That's it! I've survived the first week in Hong Kong!
It was a very busy week, but a very fun week.

The day of my arrival at Hong Kong I had my first field hockey training, which was an awesome experience and a good method to get 11 hours of sitting out of your legs.
The first training was at Happy Valley, which is not far from my apartment in Mid Levels.
The hockey pitch was in the middle of a horse racing track with huge skyscrapers surrounding it. Which looks very surreal, and it takes some effort to focus on the ball in stead of on the skyscrapers. Just after the training I went to have diner with Marcel and Madelon at nicholini's, a real nice restaurant with even better food. The evening was a real success, but after the diner I was stuffed and exhausted! I guess that night I had one of the best sleeps ever!

The next day Joe and Rachelle, my English Roommate and his girlfriend from the Philipenes, took me to the beach at Lantau Island. Where I could get used to the burning hot sun of Hong Kong, which has been shining the entire week.

My first working day, turned out to be a national holiday, so I could sightsee Hong Kong for one additional day. So I officially started my work placement period at cell-idea on Tuesday.
At my first day at work I had to go to the new office at Science park, where the company will move to in more or less 20 days. The new office is unbelievable nice, science park is an High Tech 'business village' where lots of the high tech companies are located.

The company staff is very nice to me and I get all the nice assignments.
Somewhere next week I'm joining the manager on a business trip to Shenzhen.
I'm really looking forward on meeting the designer team which the company is working with.

This weekend we'll be playing the first hockey match against the HK football club(which also has hockey teams). And I really looking forward and hope I'll make it out alive, before the heat strikes me down.

That's it for now guys,

See you soon!

zaterdag 6 september 2008

Last week at home

The last week in the Netherlands.
During my last week in the Netherlands I'll try to enjoy the company of family and friends as much as possible. I'm looking forward on my departure on friday with mixed feelings. I'm exited to see what the adventure which lays ahead will turn out to be, but at the same time I'm having a hard time leaving the people I love behind for a few months.

I hope I can remain in contact with as many friends and family as possible, because I'm sure that I'll be glad to go home eventually!

Now let's not start getting emotional, I'll be back in a bit.

Possibly 'till some day next week and otherwhise I'll see you in five months.

Bye.