AC/DC

No, I'm not talking about electricity! :) Today, I've accomplished part of a dream that I had for 12 years!
12 years ago the rock band AC/DC released an album called Ballbreaker and went for a world tour. One of their concerts was in Portugal, and since I was a great fan I didn't want to miss.
Now the problem was, how could I, with 15-16 years convince my parents to allow me to go to the concert... I guess I'm excused to say that I couldn't convince them, and with a great shame I missed the concert.
To make things a bit worse, they didn't release any more album or did any other concert since than. But I keept alive the dream that someday I could see them play live!
A few months ago they released a new album a shortly after a world tour! I had my expectations really high since finally I would have the chance to make the dream come true! However, when I tried to buy tickets they were sold out. I've saw some tickets in black-market but no way... too expensive! :(
I was so close to make the dream come true but I couldn't make it... and I was loosing my hope...

This week, however, AC/DC announced stadium concerts and Amsterdam was included in the list of cities they will tour! So, I though, this time I really can not miss it! And I didn't! :D
I just bought tickets for AC/DC... now I only have to wait until June... :P (well, if I waited 12 years for this moment, 6 months is nothing...) Hail Hail Rock N' Roll! :D

Amsterdam @ sunrise

Sunrise near Amsterdam centraal station.

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met mij verjaardag

:)

Bank robbed...

After all, this things also happen in Amsterdam.

I see white through my window

After a few days not sleeping well and specially not sleeping enough, this evening I took my revenge!
I decided to sleep a bit more in order to make up for the excesses since last week... However, when I opened the curtains I was surprised by a light foggy day!
As I fear no fog, so I took my bike to work through foggy Amsterdam (picture along just on my way to work)!

As the day is passing by the fog was replaced by a white curtain and now I can only see white through my window, like if there is nothing out there! Amazing :)

so in need for sleep

I'm completely wasted... day was ok, dutch class the headache started and I'm so in need for sleep!
I hate these days because it feel like I'm just not here...

Weihnachtsmarkt are over

So, it's almost time to return to Darmstadt, but there is still time to do one last thing at the Christmas market: eat a flammkuchen and drink a feuerzangenbowle! The flammkuchen is not typical of this period, simply because I love it :D The feuerzangenbowle, on the other hand, is typical of christmas and new's eve! :D

Heidelberger Weihnachtsmarkt

Two years ago when I was living in Darmstadt, I decided to celebrate my birthday by visiting the Heildelberg Christmas Market. Having the chance to go to Darmstadt around Christmas, I though I should really go there again! Not only because I was missing it, but because it is extremely beautiful! As I was going through the narrow streets full of people, I realize why I like this so much. It's because of the colours! The dark green, the orange and the red. The decorations, the smell of candies and food... and then by magic, I'm felling like a little kid again :) So maybe, it's not the colours after all... is the dream of felling like a kid again! :)

ESOC Christmas party

Although I do not work at ESOC anymore, this year I decided to go to the ESOC Christmas party. Everyone I knew was going there, so it was an excellent opportunity to meet everyone!
It was a really pleasant evening! wonderful company, great music (ESOC chorus in the picture), great food :)

Giant schnitzel(s)

What is the worst thing you can do when having a christmas party at the evening? Eat as much as you can for lunch!!!
Of course, this could be a good idea if you are foreseeing that the christmas party will not have food, or that it would be a crappy food. Actually, we knew that the dinner would be great, but even though we decided to go for giant schnitzel for lunch!
So we went to the Waldgeist restaurant, in Hofheim, where they serve extra large meals! You can look to the size of the meal!! :P

Weihnachtsmarkt - here I go :)

Well, after Benevol I headed to Darmstadt. Not only I still feel attached to that city but I love it specially this time of the year for the Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmarkt).
So, I'm really looking forward to arrive there and that a great weekend begins! :D

Benevol 2008 (day 2)

After a great day at Benevol (and a great night also thanks to the Mens brothers), the morning started with Ralf.
Is always a great fun to see Ralf presenting. Here's a picture of Mark van den Brand and Ralf Lämmel (sorry for the lousy quality of the picture).

Benevol 2008

The reason for my trip to Eindhoven was to present to Benevol.
Benevol is the BElgian-NEtherlands software eVOLution workshop and it looks quite promising not only for the speakers but also as a good opportunity to meet other PhD students!
This year was organized in a cosy house near by the train station.
Topics include: versions, models, visualization, model transformation, analysis (where I'm presenting), configuration and change, code improvement and legacy change.

Here's the link for the program: Program

Eindhoven

I'm travelling to Eindhoven for a conference and this is what I see after arriving from the station!
From one side provoking Christmas girls... on the other side 90€ fine for peeing in the street and 50€ fine for carrying glasses? :D

Tiredness in a sunny day

I'm realizing that I that my body becomes unresponsive when tired, in particular to the lack of sleep.
Sleeping 6h for a couple days simple doesn't work with me. For the first days, I can get up early although I my productivity is really low! On the third or fourth day of this routine I simply cannot get out of the bed! So today, I wake up at 10h30!
Some of you might think... lucky me! Well, indeed my work allows me to arrive at any time and I'm indeed lucky (and grateful for that).
On the other hand, I always fell bad with myself when starting the day so late, because the morning is never productive, simple because there are less hours before lunch time!
However today I was a really precious day! It was one of those winter sunny days, where the sun was shining bright! I was cycling to work (yes, bike is fixed!!) I was appreciating the reflect of the sun in the river, and on the buildings! Really beautiful!

Now, at the end of the day, the sun becomes to go down and instead of shining bright light a more orange light enlightens the view. I didn't miss the chance to take the picture, although the fidelity is not as high since I was inside the building.
In any case was enough to make me fell wishing I was outside simply staring at the sun :)

Thumbtack Attack I

I had my first flat tire today!! I know that sooner or later I would have experience that... I guess I couldn't really fell like living in the Netherlands without experiencing a flat tire ;)
To complete my experience it was raining and this happened when I was crossing the Amstel from Ruyschstraat to Ceintuurbaan, which is a bit more than 4km from my destination! Last, but not least, was around 8h in the morning when no bike shops are open!!! So, here is what I got for behaving, and being a good guy and trying to arrive early to the office... Nevertheless, I had a nice walk, under rain, across the Pijp, Rivierenbuurt, and Zuid...
Now it's time to get back to work... to make up for arriving so late :)

Here's the little bastard responsible for the tire: English / Dutch

Sinterklaas tombola

Today at the company we had a Sinterklaas tombola. A kind of lottery for giving away presents.
The company offered a few things (mini-fridge, cups, dvd player, barbie, mobile, coffee, etc :P ). This might sound really silly, but I got a mini-fridge that I can connect either to the car or a plug! I think the fridge is appropriate for the size of my car. However I doubt whether my car will have any chance to see it :P Anyway, I though that it could be cool to have my own personal fridge (even if it can be filled with two coca-cola cans)! :P

In the end, it really didn't matter what you've got... but just the fun you had, and I really had fun with the sinterklaas tombola :)

Sleepy day (again)

Sleepy sunday again :(
Although I waked up early, the day didn't went so well... I worked most part of the day... and even so the productivity was nothing spectacular :(
I really need to be pushed to do something fun... (except for the Dutch homework, of course!! that was fun :) )

Day after Sinterklaas

Yesterday's party was a great success (according to my expectations of course!). Dinner was great, the company was even better and we only stop partying at 4h00AM time we decided that was enough and it was time to go home!
Of course, I had serious problems to get out of the bed this morning... Even so, I decided to start my Christmas shoppings! Nothing like waiting for the day after the Dutch Christmas to prepare Christmas presents.
I guess there is no need to say that everything was in discount!!! However not all chocolate letters were available ;)
Even so, I enjoyed the day (end of the day) shopping and walking around the city :)

Portuguese Sinterklass party

As everyone was celebrating Sinterklass, we though why shouldn't we party as well?
So, we sent invitations for a Portuguese Sinterklass party... and like all portuguese parties we had nice food, nice drinks! :)
Here are some pictures of the before party ;)

More pepernoten

Today I arrive the office and I was surprise with (more) Dutch Christmas sweets! :D
So for those that have missed yesterday lesson about dutch sweets here are the names:
outer left: kruidnoten, left front: schuimpjes, left back: chocolade, right back: speculaas, right front: marsepein, outer right: pepernoten!

It really feels like Christmas II

In my previous post I was saying that it really felt like Christmas being the only thing missing the christmas songs!
Well... I had a very nice surprise! We started the class with Dutch Christmas songs! That was really great! :D
And to sweeten our class even more, we had pepernoten! :D Thanks Eva!

It really feels like Christmas

For long long time that during this time of the year doesn't feel like Christmas! But this year is really exception!
Christmas decorations are already in place and it's snowing! Only christmas music is missing! :)
I'm really amazed with the weather because is the fourth time is snowing in Amsterdam! :) The only thing I'm really sorry about is that it's not enough cold for the city be covered in white! Although some of you might wonder why I love so much cold and snow if I'm from a southern country... Well... it's easy! :) Only feels like Christmas when it's snowing :D (This does not apply for south-american :P )

Last one to leave...

I think its enough for today!

View from office window

Sometimes I feel that I'm fortunate for having to opportunity to observe such natural beauty! This is the view from my desk! :)

Sleepy

I'm really sleepy today! 6h00 alarm goes on, 7h00 breakfast eaten, 8:00-17h30 work, work, work, work, work, work!
18h00-20h30 Dutch class, 21h30 cooking, 22h00 dinner... and the day is over!

Although I'm enjoying waking up early and having the Dutch classes until the end of the day (and felling that I'm improving in Dutch) I'm starting to realize that keeping up this way will be really though! Of course I can spend all weekend sleeping, but I think that's no solution! I also need the weekend to take advantage of living in Amsterdam. I'm starting to have the feeling that I'm living in the city without knowing it... and that's something I definitely need to improve!
So, my plan for this week is to find a balance between all this activities... come up with a plan, perhaps?

Silence

As I was coming from the Dutch lesson I couldn't resist to take this picture. It was a complete silent at VU and it was really feeling like joining for some reading!

day @ home for studying dutch

After an insanely waste of time yesterday, I paid my dues today! Instead of a boring doing-nothing day at home, today I manage to accomplish many things! The most important of those was starting with my dutch lessons! After some time in the Netherlands I though it was time to properly improve my Dutch skills.
Although I could understand a few things and speak the basics of survival (how to go to supermarket, how to ask for beer - not by order of priority), in order to integrate the dutch society I need to learn proper Dutch.

I was quite excited by starting with the lessons (last week), although I went to the first lesson and missed the second!! So, this weekend I really had to compensate in order to be at the same level as my colleagues! The result: >4h with the dictionary, and the interactive exercises! I've learned quite a bit, although I have realize that if I'll keep doing this way that will not work. I need to study everyday! And knowing myself as I do, it's going to be really hard to make me study everyday! So let's see how this goes ;)

Stupid day

Definition: a day in which you haven't done nothing useful, produced nothing, learned nothing...

Days like this are good for relax and recover energy, but I always stress out for not being able to do a thing... And after such productive week like I had in IPA, it feels like I've become numb... I hate these dayss.......

Het einde van de Herfstdagen @ Nunspeet

All that is good ends fast! It was the first time I've been in IPA, and I really enjoyed Herfstdagen!
Hope to see you guys (and girls) again! :)

Static estimation of test coverage @ IPA Herfstdagen

After attending many talks, finally was my time to present my work. I gave a presentation about "Static estimation of test coverage" where I present a methodology for estimating test coverage without running tests! I was expecting people sceptical about this, but I good some good questions which is always great! :)

Rediscovering mobile games

It's a bit sad, I have to admit... but I couldn't resist! I was just too tired and between falling asleep during someone's talk or playing a bit to keep me awake until the next coffee break I chose to rediscover a tennis game...
Maybe there are more sleepy people, or maybe the topic is as appealing to other as it is for me... but when looking around some are chatting, others writing proofs and others working... But then I think: what if was I presenting? :S

Ralf @ IPA Herfstdagen

Today Ralf Lämmel gave a presentation entitled "Approaching the API migration challenge". For some time that I was curious about Ralf's work on API, and I wasn't disappointed! Really cool stuff.
Also had a lot of fun chatting with him! I'm really looking forward more API stuff in near future ;)

Paul Klint @ Herfstdagen

So finally I had the chance to see a Paul Klint's presentation about Rscript.
For those outside the scope this is a good time to run away... on other hand, maybe you're interested in code query technologies and then it may be interesting for you to know that Rscript is a code query tool that offers a query language based on relational algebra...

The presentation was really interesting although I found very interesting that Paul only used examples written with set comprehension and avoided examples in relational algebra. This interests me because although relational algebra is not Turing complete, you can achieve much more concise expressions than those written in set comprehension. The cons of relational algebra is that you can get totally unreadable expressions quite fast... Allowing both relational algebra and set comprehension's can allow an excellent balance between conciseness and readability... but more of this later...

Herfstdagen

6:00AM... I'm not used to wake up so early... Damn!
Oh well... it's for a good cause, and I get the chance to prepare myself for going to the Herfstdagen (Autumn days)

I'm really looking forward. First because is the first time that I'm participating in such event. Second, because this summer school focus on my PhD theme and it is a good opportunity to meet other PhD students of the area. Last, but not least, because I'll have a chance to present my own work!
Except for problems with trains (trains cancelled in Amstel, trains delayed everywhere) the trip was worthwhile! It was a very pleasant sunny and snowy trip to Nunspeet :)

Snowing in Amsterdam

It's snowing in Amsterdam. It's always a rare opportunity to see it snowing. Being in such a beautiful city, I couldn't resist to pick up my bike and ride through the city. Unfortunately, it wasn't cold enough for the streets getting covered with snow... The result was catching a lot of cold and end up myself covered with snow!!

I'm starting again

After long time that I gave up from blogging I decided to start it again. I started the previous blog with the intent to share my experiences living in a different country. Although the idea was good my intense life didn't allow me much time for writing. So time after time I was postponing writing and then eventually I gave up...

So why is this time different? I do not believe there is a single reason but a multiplicity of reasons. For some reason I'm felling the need to write down my thoughts. I'm felling that time is passing very fast and I want to somehow try keep track it. I'm living beautiful things from which I want make strong memories about. Etc.

So I'm back for blogging, although I will make no promises about how regularly I will write! :P