A few weeks ago I flew back to Amsterdam to presentate my dissertation. I went very well, better than my supervisor actually expected. Very quickly after being back in Barcelona I heard that I was graduated with an 8 for my graduating project about online marketing. The project was more focused on the technical aspect of online marketing (onsite SEO) but good enough for a Marketing study. One of the golden keys on universities nowadays to success is to use some old fashioned marketing models like the AIDA model, the Hierarchy of needs and some Porter stuff. Some of them are still useful though!

And again I flew back to Amsterdam to receive my diploma. It was a pretty day with sun, singing birds and everything nice. I was happy to see some friends from the early days and some teachers from the HES Amsterdam. I got my diploma on my 21st birthday and I feel free to do whatever I want, and to chose whatever I want to do. I am still very happy to work for M4N and living in Barcelona and I’m thinking about what I want to do as a Master.

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

“I am an Ossie”

Sometimes I’ve got the feeling Germans do not feel like being German, they feel like being a “west German” (a Wessie) or an “East German” (an Ossie), for me a bit strange to see because I see Germany as one country. Even the most people I meet, are in the range 20-25 years old, experienced only a bit about their life in the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) or in the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD). They may have lived there, but they did not experienced it really. Even those people have their opinions about “the other side of the country”. A person who is born in the western part would normally not move to the Eastern part, and vice versa. I have got a friend from western germany who moved out to the eatern part (Leipzig), her friends considered her as stupid… They think that “their” part is the best one, however I think both parts had some positive things. Wessies ask Ossies how life was “without bananas and Coca Cola”. The movie “Goodbye Lenin” shows how life in East Berlin was based on an example of a DDR family. I see the same thing happening with the younger Dutch generation. Ask a random dutchmen about their opinion about Germans and they will probably tell you they that they do not like Germans. All bases on grandpa’s experiences, not on their own.

It just needs some time…

The freedom which the West Germans had was the best thing and the most important thing in peoples daily lives. And however the people who were living in the DDR had hardly any freedom, they did not complain, they did not know better, they had work and the DDR had a good social safety net, there was no reason to complain. I do understand that some of the West Germans have something against the former East; since the borders got open, the unemployment rate started to rise  in East Germany. West Germany should bear the costs that East Germany made, and they still do. On the other hand, some East Germans see the West Germans as the people who stole their jobs (It is simply not a socialist state anymore dear Ossies!). It is kind of a complicated story and I do not think one part is better than another part, I just think they should work together to solve the problems which Germany still has, and where the high unemployment rate is one of the biggest ones. I am wondering how much time it will cost to integrate the two parts together, it has taken almost one generation. And another generation is definitely needed to have a clear objective opinion.

My experiences in Berlin

Berlin is not one city; Berlin is West Berlin and East Berlin. It is easy to recognize when you are leaving the former part of West Berlin and entering East Berlin. Houses are getting uglier, smaller, taller. The atmosphere is getting more underground, alternative and most of all, very pleasant. You will find all the underground galleries, clubs and cosy bars in East Berlin. You just have to see it by yourself. Do not forget to visit the DDR museum near the Berliner Dom, in this museum is it possible to experience, to see and feel how the people lived in the DDR. You can sit in a Trabant, taking place on a couch in the livingroom and pulling clothes from the closet. Only a few objects are behind glass.

I am really interested in this topic, and how other foreigners in Germany expierence the differences between Ossies and Wessies. What do you think?

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

I just arrived an my first impressions are good. The city is beautiful, just really beautiful. It even makes me happy to get lost in the narrow streets of the Barri Gothic area in Barcelona (part of the old town), and discovering new squares and shops. Only one thing is missing in my perfect life, an apartment to live in. Living in a hotel is not as comfortable as you might think ;). The time between finding an apartment, and signing a rental contract, is long. Welcome to Spain!

Anyway, back to business, my graduation project. Most of my time I will spend in the Oh-holidays office to work on my graduation project. The company is renting out apartments in Berlin, Barcelona, Paris and other European cities, mainly via the Internet. Online marketing is often used, so I don’t need to explain them terms as SEO and Affiliate Marketing. My project focuses mainly on the online marketing aspect, for an online Barcelona guide. There are many things that can be changed on that particular website, most important steps in the first phase of the project is to set up a new site structure, creating content and implementing features. Main goal at the end of the project is to redirect the visitors from the Barcelona Guide to Oh-barcelona.com, so that they will make a booking.

16 weeks left and enough to do!

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

Het moet ervoor gaan zorgen dat mensen die net hun rijbewijs halen minder brokken gaan maken. Ik zet hier mijn vraagtekens bij want ik weet niet of dit nieuwe examen nou wel zo geweldig is. Het is wel zo dat je veel zelfstandiger moet rijden, heb je dat vast geoefend voordat je in je eentje de weg op gaat. Het klakkeloos volgen van “hier rechts, hier links, hier rechtdoor” is dus voorbij. Voortaan krijg je een klusteropdracht (dit houdt in dat je een aantal opdrachten krijgt. Voorbeeldeje: “einde van de weg rechts, daarna tweede links, gelijk recht, en twee keer tweede links” dit moet je volgen en daarna de auto stop zetten), en moet je zelfstandig naar een bepaald punt in de stad rijden, het station bijvoorbeeld. Ook bij de speciale verrichtingen is het 1 en ander veranderd, je moet bij een bepaald punt parkeren. Mijn opdracht was “parkeer zo dicht mogelijk bij dat bloemenstalletje om de hoek”.Waar en hoe je dat doet maakt niet uit, mits het veilig gaat natuurlijk. Nu moet natuurlijk nog maar blijken of dit gaat helpen… Ik ben in ieder geval reuze blij met mijn rijbewijs, die ik morgen na 5 dagen eindelijk mag ophalen :).

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

2 weeks ago I had an intake lesson, which is some kind of test. The driversschool wanted to see how quick I learn and how I handle new situations. Kinda funny and very exciting all well! It went quite oke, the professor was a nice person, and they gave me advise to take 32 lessons (40 € for each..).

The first lessons took place in a simulator, this is some kind of new system to reduce costs (and accidents? :O). The car is almost real from the inside, however the people walking on the streets look a bit unreal. It is a good way to learn everything in theory, but I have learned to shift gear as well. Thuesday it’s gonna start with the serious stuff, on a real road! Wish me luck and better stay @ home.

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

Some topic where I would like to spend attion to are parties, events, transport, sightseeing, restaurants, bars, daily live, living in Berlin. All kind of stuff like that. At least some more information than just “How to reach the brandenburger tor?”. Well, if you might be interested, take a loot at Berlijn Blog (however it’s written in Dutch).

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

- 10.0 MP for prints up to 30 × 40 in. (76 × 102 cm)
- 3X optical zoom lens
- Customize with on-camera settings, including the Favorites feature
- Available in many fresh colors
- KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Technology
- Digital Image Stabilization using anti-blur mode

Below another nice one. I almost shitted in my pants when I was making this one haha. Proud to overcome my spiderfear!

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk

You can take a look on leinentijn.nl as well.

Post from: Marjolein v/d Kolk