Kelly and the Power of Blogs

Last year, I took a course on Life and Travel Writing. I analyzed Jim Beaver’s memoir Life’s That Way for my final paper. It consists of the emails that he sent around to family and friends while his wife fought against cancer. She lost the fight, but Beaver kept sending updates around to inform people about how he and his daughter coped with their loss. It’s a bittersweet book, and I’ve had to put it aside several times because I couldn’t see the pages anymore through my tears.

I ‘liked’ Beaver on facebook, so I can follow his work and the updates on his personal life. Occasionally, he shares really interesting links. Such as the one I read during lunch break today:

http://penmachine-bu.appspot.com/www.penmachine.com/2011/05/the-last-post

I hope my eyes won’t be all red and puffy anymore by the time I get to class.

Kelly Meulenberg (class of 2012) studies Arts & Humanities, focusing on Literary Studies and Theater & Media Studies. She is also a writer and filmmaker. Other passions include music, food and traveling.

Kelly and...Now What?

Monday morning, 8:45 AM. On my way to class (a little late), I once again realized how much I hate early classes. Really, I’m not a morning person. I quickly slipped into the classroom, muttered a “sorry” to the professor and sat down, praying that a cup of coffee would magically appear on my table. Nothing happened.

After a while, the class (one of my Literature courses) engaged in a discussion about the position of writers. To what extent are authors a product of their generation, and to what extent can they transcend the problems of their time and provide readers with refreshing views on the situation? Of course, as a writer, this question interests me very much. However, at the same time, I don’t exactly see myself as a sort of role model. I don’t believe that if someone wants to hear the voice of my generation, they’ll think of me.

Then I felt my cell phone buzz. A text message. (Yeah, I wasn’t exactly a model student either today…) And that’s how I heard that Osama Bin Laden had been shot.

As soon as I came home I checked facebook to see the reactions of my friends – the children who grew up in the aftermath of 9/11. Some were really excited, others disappointed that he won’t be punished for his actions. I talked about it with my roommate. I remembered a conversation in London last week, about the way we’re used to exhausting security checks in airports even though these measures are still pretty recent.

Of course it’s a good thing that this villain won’t trouble us anymore, but we shouldn’t forget that he’s not the only one. He was but one pawn in a very complex game. Only time will tell what’s going to happen to global politics now; only time will tell what’s going to happen to you and me. But I am absolutely sure that years from now, we’ll still remember this day.

Kelly Meulenberg (class of 2012) studies Arts & Humanities, focusing on Literary Studies and Theater & Media Studies. She is also a writer and filmmaker. Other passions include music, food and traveling.

Kelly and London, Baby!

Ah, the Easter weekend. While most people were looking forward to sleeping in and taking a breath, there was one bunch of brave students who prepared themselves for three full days of working non-stop. Well, not really. With my entire Contemporary Dramatic Literature class I went to London, to see and analyze plays, but also to have a good time!

And a good time we had. Hyde Park, Starbucks, Foyle’s Bookstore, Portobello Road, Bizarro’s Italian Restaurant, Starbucks, Primark, HMV, Waterstone’s (we like bookstores), Starbucks, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden… and did I mention that we went to Starbucks often?

It was a fun and relaxing weekend, because we all tried to ignore the work that was ahead of us. Even when I came back to the Netherlands I didn’t want to think about my deadlines. Sadly they didn’t go anywhere and I couldn’t avoid them any longer. The stress is really starting to kick in again, but I shouldn’t complain: only three more weeks till summer!

Kelly Meulenberg (class of 2012) studies Arts & Humanities, focusing on Literary Studies and Theater & Media Studies. She is also a writer and filmmaker. Other passions include music, food and traveling.

Kelly and the Greater Good

By the time you read this, the Culture Week of 2011 has come to an end. It’s something RA organizes every year, to celebrate the diversity we have here and to connect with the other people in Middelburg. The money that is raised by the activities goes to charity – this year it goes to the Roparun team from Vlissingen.

The week kicked off with a concert in Schuttershof and offered beautiful, fragile guitar songs as well as sixties-inspired music that you just had to dance to. Not to mention RA’s own Roosettes – their version of Lean on Me gave me goosebumps! A few days later, I attended a Taizé meeting, even though I am not Christian. For that reason, not every aspect of it appealed to me, but it had its moments. Also, this week is about trying different things, right?

Right. The craziest thing I did this week was not a part of the Culture Week, but another project that raises money for Roparun. A group organized workshops in… poledancing! Two friends and I signed up, trying to cover our nerves by making lots of bad jokes. Let me tell you, it is one heck of a work-out! Once you get the hang of it, it’s great to just spin and spin and spin, but before that… Not only is it exhausting for pretty much every muscle in your body, if you hit the pole with the wrong part of your leg or foot you get huge bruises. It’s been a few days but my right leg still hurts like hell whenever it touches anything (that includes my pants). Walking has never been less fun but hey, sometimes you gotta sacrifice yourself! As painful as my days might be, at least I can fall asleep peacefully, knowing that I’m making the world a better place - one bruise at a time.

Kelly Meulenberg (class of 2012) studies Arts & Humanities, focusing on Literary Studies and Theater & Media Studies. She is also a writer and filmmaker. Other passions include music, food and traveling.

Kelly and the Sound of Studying

I have a confession to make: I’m allergic to silence. I need music. Although I study literature and film, music is the medium that can improve or change my mood the quickest. One of the first things I do when I get up is turning on the TV or radio so I can hear something, and Spotify is the last program I close before turning off my laptop every evening (yup, don’t believe the rumors about me being a complete Facebook-addict).

Although some people can’t even imagine studying while there’s music playing, I can’t study without. I have several playlists that cater to my specific needs. During an average study session, I listen to (among others) Coldplay, Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol. When I really have to focus I listen to piano music such as Fabrizio Paterlini’s, and when I should be studying but can’t really be bothered to I listen to Jason Mraz for his brilliant lyrics. I even have a French playlist for when I work on my language requirement.

I believe that the best studying music is interesting to really listen to, but also perfectly fine to have on in the background. Because of that last criterion, I can only listen to songs and bands that I know well. And that’s a problem, because I love to keep expanding my musical library. However, I was thinking about working on these playlists since I have a few (relatively) quiet weeks ahead. And this is where I need your help, dear reader. Do you have any recommendations for me? Or are you one of those people that need silence? I’m looking forward to your comments below.

Kelly Meulenberg (class of 2012) studies Arts & Humanities, focusing on Literary Studies and Theater & Media Studies. She is also a writer and filmmaker. Other passions include music, food and traveling.

Kelly and the Iced Cappuccino

When I woke up this morning, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Start a new blog? Again? As if I don’t have enough on my mind already, with my courses and my committees and my job and my social life… I must be crazy! (cRAzy?) I guess I am…

            Although I don’t have classes on Tuesdays, I had a busy day ahead of me. I started with – surprise! - studying for my midterm exams. After lunch, I took off to film a scene with CameRA. I nearly broke my back on the way to the ‘set,’ one of my favorite coffee places in Middelburg, because I brought a bunch of books. This way, I could study some more between the shoot and a meeting with one of my instructors.

            I know it might sound horrible, but really, life here isn’t so bad. Spring is approaching! The sun is shining, it’s too warm to wear your winter coat and the weather simply puts everyone in a good mood. The staff at the espresso bar even got excited when I made my order: “An iced cappuccino? That’s the first one this year!”

It’s easy to let the midterm stress get to your head, but I think I’ve found my remedy. Sure, I’m stressing out a little because I still have to study A LOT for my exams, but you won’t find me locked up in my room or the library this week. As long as I take good care of myself, and allow myself some ‘luxury’ (coffee and chocolate, coffee and chocolate!!!) I know that I will be more than fine.

That being said, I can’t wait until the week is over.

Kelly Meulenberg (class of 2012) studies Arts & Humanities, focusing on Literary Studies and Theater & Media Studies. She is also a writer and filmmaker. Other passions include music, food and traveling.