Dear All,

Sometimes the human brain proves to be just as good (if not to say even better) than modern technology. Sure enough, I had set my alarm on my cell phone, as 4 am is an ungodly hour to raise in the morning. Waking up at 3.55 am, before that annoying buzz was sent into this world,  I felt a lot younger straight away. After all, my little cells had proven that they are still very active, even when I am supposed to be on holiday!

Quick move out of bed, short stop in the bathroom, in order to put the latest given advice into reality : put on different layers to make sure that you can deal with all weather conditions today. Easier said than done, since my trousers, which usually fit me perfectly, decided there wasn’t enough room to squeeze in an additional 3 T-shirts. However, I had no intention of spending the time shivering away : the button on my trousers had to give in. At least now I can claim that I have qualified to dress up as an Australian!

For those who believe (as I did) that Belgians can go all excited over some event (most likely a cycling race), I have to admit that there is a lesson to be learned from our Aussie friends. Never have I experienced such an enthusiasm (if that is the correct word) as I sensed here on their Anzac Day. Long before dawn, half of Canberra’s population, with large crowds of visitors added to it, was already on the move to the Australian War Memorial. Never seen anything like it. Ok, I knew they were a bit crazy about this day but seriously , this is not what I expected it to be like. Aussies may have the reputation to be laid back (read: an attitude of "do not worry, we'll get there") however: when it comes to organizing their big day, they clearly know the ropes. The enormous crowd, that kept swelling, was piloted without significant problems to a sitting or standing position. Believe it or not, but a man suddenly feels very humble: in the darkness, with only flickering stars, among thousands of people ... I was speechless (and certainly not because it was early days)

The ceremony went like a well oiled machine, without much bombastic talk, though I caught a captain later in the day, who claimed there was a too strong religious influence. This day is being organised especially for the soldiers: politicians or religious representatives better keep low profile

At 7.30 am we went with our select group to the Australian War Memorial, for what I can only describe as: a more than filling breakfast. Tasting a selection of Aussie cuisine (which I can pretty much appreciate) being seated under the wings of a huge bomber: that is quite something! After breakfast, my exuberant (but ever so lovely) hostess insisted that I gave a lecture, just off the cuff. When I protested, claiming that the other attendees were there to enjoy breakfast, that argument was decisively swept aside and Stacey would not be Stacey, if she did not get things her way. Without hesitation, she ventured from one table to another with the message that the guests, as an extra bonus to their breakfast, would have the opportunity to listen to an authentic story of the battlefields of World War One. Ok, great, that left me with no escape… at such moments, I can only be grateful to have been born with a “talkative “ nature. Sure enough, addressing to a group doesn’t really present a problem to me but still: I found this a decent challenge. Fortunately, that little devil in me (or should I write:

the Flemish lion?) woke up… they will not tame me.

In retrospect, I must confess that I have enjoyed this unique experience…and that seemed to be the case for my audience as well, since I was approached by several people to thank me when leaving the AWM. It left me with a feeling, which I will cherish for ever after for sure.

Next stop: the home of Australia’s best-selling author, Bryce Courtenay. What a charming man. Almost 80, but with a mind that many 20-year old would envy. He told me that people should follow their dreams as that is exactly what he did. He claimed to have been born at the lowest level, so he learned all about life at a very young age. Fact is that he has moved forward in an almost unbelievable way: not only is Bryce a living legend as a writer, I would say that, as a person, he impresses even more. In all of my life, I have rarely met anyone, who is so “open minded” towards other people. A truly wonderful man!

After this visit, we went back to the Australian War Memorial to attend the parade of people who are linked, in one way or another, to the military. An example of “ how to make a large group of soldiers present a flawless parade” was exhibited here: navy, army and air force; they sure know how to meet the expectations! After countless groups of veterans, cadets and so on, the ceremony was closed by as many countless official dignitaries, all laying a wreath. Give me the ordinary soldier, even while some units that marched past, gave us the impression that the move of their arms simulated a wave (some type of Mexican wave, albeit that this was NOT intended) than a uniform scope. One Air Force group was somehow out of step, which resulted in the fact that my neighbour elicited the comment “Ah, but we’ll forgive them because on their planes, they can not practice their drill”. What ever this group may have been missing in accuracy when it came to marching, was neatly put right with an impressive flight of “ jets, just above our heads and the memorial, deafening us with a thunderous roar. They can be proud: those men in their light blue uniforms!

Where as I thought that by then my day could not get any better any more: there was still a crescendo part to be added, for a far as that was possible of course. Stacey, Chuck, Desiree and Jeff were taking me to a bar with an adjoining square where the Aussies were playing a game, called "two up". One day a year, gambling at “ two up” is legal in this country and, gosh, I will have known that! People gather around, with a couple of handlers (good looking chaps with an akubra, a typical Australian hat) though this is absolutely not a ceremony, you know! Far from it. The principle is that everyone waves a note of 5, 10, 20 or even more and calls out as loud as possible : 5 or 10 heads or 5 on tails. Really, I assure you, this is something that no words can describe, you must have experienced it to have a feel what it is like. The men in the middle of the circle take the money and walk around to find an opponent, whose is willing to bet the same value on the opposite . If I say 5 on heads, they seek someone who puts 5 on tails. The money is handed over to the opponent who bets tails to hold till the result is known, who simply makes eye contact with you. Then there are 3 Australian pennies, placed on a wooden plank, and a bystander is invited to literally throw the coins in the air. Needless to say that the men in the centre very well understand the art to whip the public. The next stage is stating very explicitly who wins (2 hands on bump for tails) and then the money is handed to the winner. The whole system is based on honesty of the players and believe it or not, even with quite a few beers in the clothes, Aussies are still dead honest. And yes, I ventured my luck: in no time, I shouted out just as hard as everyone else ... I can confirm that a lot of truth in proverbs: "happy in the game, unlucky in love" ... well, I made 250% profits!

I look back on a day I will not ever forget:  early in the morning, I saw modest Australia; during the ceremony at 10 am, I got to know lively Australia in order to experience a warm, overwhelming and exuberant Australia for the rest of the day! I was almost tempted to book myself a trip to down under for Anzac Day next year! (Oops, I should  have gambled a little longer, perhaps I would have been able to afford a new trip J)

Regards,
Charlotte

copyright: Charlotte Descamps 2012




ccWoordenboek

Despite all good intentions to start up a blog straight away, I do realise that a month has gone by before I actually got round to it. I guess this means that I have a fair amount of catching up work to do and that those, whom are keen to learn what I have been up to the last month, will have a fair amount of reading to do.  Once you are fully filled in on the last month, I do promise to keep on informing you on a much more regular base. So here we go..

Believe it or not but I left Belgium on February 2nd in order to travel to the UK, where I have presented several lectures on the Great War. The London, Essex and Worcestershire branch had invited me, as well as Sandwich technical school. Even though I will never become rich whilst lecturing, it will be very hard to find something else to do which leaves me with the same feeling of satisfaction. Lecturing is fascinating, fun as each and every time it challenges me to push my boundaries in order to capture the audience. What a great opportunity this is to visit a country, to connect with friends… I have been moved when learning that some of my guests had driven more than 1.30 hours ( to Belgians that means a hell of a distance !) to attend my lecture. I have been deeply touched by the fact that some guests surprised me by attending a lecture. All in all, I was left with a feeling that I was close to royalty even! One lesson I have learned during these 3 weeks : my plan to move to the UK in the near future will most likely become reality. This country feels like home to me.. Having said that: should I come across an interesting job whilst travelling, I might just decide to stick where the opportunity arises. Right now it feels as the world is my oyster, ready to be discovered.

Back to Belgium on February 23^rd, I left again on the 26^th, this time catching a plane to Bratislava.  Fact is that I have never won the lottery, in other words : I will have to work to provide bread on the shelf (even if that is the only thing I eat!). In October last year, I had applied for a job as a program director (PD) on a cruise ship. Since I didn’t receive any reaction, I just assumed that I was “too old” to be considered, so I started planning my trip around the world. All those years, I have had the desire to see the big outside world : the best option to actually do it, was in between leaving Varlet Farm and picking up a new job. Not having any idea where the wind will blow me, at least I wanted to assure that I wouldn’t have to die with regrets.

In January, this year, I received a letter from Grand Circle Lines (GCL) , the firm where I applied for the job, asking me to forward my CV at new. The next thing that happened was an invitation for a job day in Brussels on January 17^th.  Believe it or not, but for this Flemish girl (or should I write : woman?) this was the first time I actually travelled to the centre of Brussels. At that stage I could say that I had been to London more frequently than to our own capital. A group of 18 people showed up, of which a small number were selected. Needless to  say that I was only too pleased to be one of them. In the one on one discussion with the representatives ( a one on four it was in reality) , the only doubt they expressed was  : “Will you be able to work in a team? We sense that you are a strong leader but in order to work for us, you have to work in a team”. I have replied that I have been part of a team of 4, in the board  of the Passchendaele Society 1917 since 2004 . I told them that I am a team player on the condition that they put 4 different personalities together as then you get to a situation that one pushes the other forward, which builds a strong team.

So off to Bratislava to embark on the river Aria, a beautiful cruise ship. The first 3 days  were spent to inform us of the values of the GCL and to give us a chance to meet our future colleagues (on the condition we made it through the training of course). From day one, it was specified that this wasn’t a fun ride, which is only logical to me : after all GCL are the ones paying our wages, so clear enough to expect a service in return. One lesson was learned very quickly: an American firm makes clear that they expect their employees to perform.  An attitude which I can only subscribe to since I have been on the other side, having run my own business. After 3 days we set sail for Vienna. From then on, it was a matter of working hard: absorbing information, learning how to take constructive feedback,  pushing forward your own boundaries all the time.  Stressful yes, but at the same time challenging and I am always in for a challenge. We started with a group of 31 of which 12 have been sent of board along the training. Words can not express how pleased I was to be one of the “survivors”. I am leaving behind financial security but at least I have the guarantee there is a job waiting for me.

Fact is that I was actually asked to pick up the job the week after the training, something which wasn’t possible at all, since I barely had one day to pack my suitcase for what I hope will turn out to be a trip of a lifetime.

Returning to Belgium on the evening of March 12^th, I departed for Brussels in the early evening of March 13^th… I am sure I must hold the world record for packing a suitcase for a 6 months trip in about 45 minutes time. Yet, I am happy to say that, so far, I haven’t come to conclude that I am missing vital items. Besides I am not flying to Timbuktu : I am sure there will be shops where I will eventually end up.

Tampa, here I come : that is what I was thinking on my way across the Atlantic ocean. I made it in without any problems but… my suitcase did not!  What a great start of a trip, worn out, feeling slightly sick, jet lagged, wondering around on an airport where my bright red suitcase had been sent to. At least I had some moral support, as there was one more gentleman who knew exactly how I felt (apart from the cold) since his suitcase was somewhere else than where it was supposed to be.

Lesson number one when flying from a tiny country to a larger one :keep in mind that distances are longer to get from a to b. I am not the first one to conclude that, as a matter of fact I am pretty sure that many more Europeans will find that out the way I did. Lesson number two : forget about public transport… Eventually I found a shuttle service as the Hilton hotel where I was staying did not bother to send a shuttle all the way to the airport. Was I pleased to be the first one in the shuttle van as my Belgian logic read that as being delivered quickly to the hotel (give me a bed please, I have been on the go for more than 22 hours!). Wrong guess… it felt as if I had ended up in a bad comedy since the van kept on driving from the front part of the airport to the rear side and back to the front  and so on…. It took him about 1 hour to fill up the van: one long hour to test my patience! Finally I made to the hotel : first one in the shuttle, last one out. A very friendly and efficient check in and I could hit the sack.

It took me a good 2 days to overcome the jetlag : stress, lack of sleep, sore throat, long flight in combination with the fact that I am no longer 21, I have paid the price for that.

Up to the seminar then : with my limited experience of one seminar, I was eager to go for a second one. What a tremendous difference with Victoria, the year before. To start with : all lecturers were well established and published professors. Where does that leave me?  It made me realise that my backgrounds were so very different from all the rest however, I have to fight with the weapons I have . Where could I make the difference? Well, after all I was the only one who actually lived on a battlefield. All the others could talk about it, I lived it. As soon as I looked at the situation from this viewpoint, I knew that I had something to tell. And yes, I did survive…

Florida, that is the synonym for “sun “ to us  and I haven’t been disappointed. Perhaps I have been a bit overwhelmed as the step from 7 °C in Belgium to 33 °C in Tampa was quite a big one. Well for once in my life I could get a tan, that is what I was thinking of. No tan to get during the 2 days of the seminar though :rather than that it meant a serious risk of a cold as I am still convinced that the airco system only has two settings : on or off. And “on” it was, turning the room into a fridge where a sweater and a jacket were essential to prevent death by freezing!

Looking on hindsight onto the path I have chosen so far, it almost feels as surrealistic. A farmer’s daughter, without a degree, travelling the world to give lectures. All I know is that is has been a breath of fresh air to me to start living, to find challenges and to meet those challenges. If this doesn’t line up with the path, I was expected to walk, resulting in the fact that many people declare me crazy on the spot: I can only say that they have a bigger problem than I have. Of course I will never forget my roots and sure enough I hope that the day will come, on which I will be able to talk in an adult way with those I have left behind. As far as I am concerned, I wish happiness to everyone, so whether or not that day will come, depends on them alone. Life is simply too short to spend it in a treadmill that suffocates you little by little.

While Belgium is picking up the first smell of spring, Florida remains a big step ahead. Temperatures crossing 30°C without a problem :that means hot to a Belgian! However this wouldn’t be the US if this would cause a problem: air-conditioning is working non stop. The only part missing is how to control it more efficiently. Clear enough energy doesn’t cost as much here as back home.

It goes without saying that it is unfair to judge a whole country on the small impression you get when visiting. Having said that, when walking around, it soon becomes clear that this country has a huge problem with overweighed people. I don’t mean a but chubby but seriously obese. Not that it surprises me that much. When going to a restaurant, I soon realised that ordering a children’s dish is the only way to avoid being presented a plate with a meal that can keep me going for 3 days.

Americans are friendly, no one can doubt that, wherever you go, people are keen to help you, answering questions, provide information. It is heart-warming to experience that much human warmth in a country where material things play such a big part as well. Still there are people around, who realise that human warmth is more important than anything else. At this stage, I can not think of this country as one I would like to live in but on the other hand, if I would decide to do so, I know I would be welcomed with open arms…

Nevertheless, I get the constant feeling the city is missing “soul. The streets are laid out in a grid system. Even though 4 lanes seems to be the norm, they struggle to deal with the huge amount of traffic. Fact is that Americans don’t walk… the funny looks I got when declaring I was going to walk to a  museum about 4 miles away, made that very clear to me. There is probably not a single other society on the planet which is as car orientated as this one.

Well, some clichés are there to be confirmed : the US is a country where everything is big. You won’t hear me discuss that one. When walking to a place I believed to be a botanical garden, I soon came to realise that it was a theme park where they welcomed between 40000 and 50000 visitors a day. Say that to a Belgian theme park and their shares will rocket up in value!

After 4 days in the Hilton hotel, I thought it was time to see a bit of the  “ real” society, so I booked myself a B&B , decorated in Amish style. The contrast between the hotel and the B&B setting, couldn’t have been any bigger. However, what the rooms were lacking in modern comfort was more than compensated by the wonderful hosts , Carolyn and Larry.  I booked this B&B for 8 days … days during I started having problems with a life of having nothing to do. I am sure that I must have been the most crazy guest they have ever welcomed since I ended up  cleaning windows, washing the car, cleaning the pool… so what about that for a true taste of American life? When checking out after 8 days, I knew that I had made new friends. All I hope for is that our paths will cross again one day.

copyright :Charlotte Descamps 2012