Carmen Sandimetro

So I'm sitting in the hair salon getting my hair done when a lady with a burka comes in, covered head to toe in black. She asks for some services in Dutch. I ask my hairdresser if that situation happens often. She says, "no, never. She wanted braids!"

November in the Netherlands!

1. The Full Moon from last Friday over the sky of Utrecht

2. The International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam is happening right now! I'm checking out the following films:

Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case

The Human Experiment

Master of the Universe 

Kismet

Alphabet

Name 2: Well it feels, tastes and smells like school, which isn't exactly what I expected

Name 1: what do u mean

Name 2: I thought somehow because you go back to school studying something you want to study and are interested, that "magically" you would want to read everything and that you'd be good at it

Name 2: That's a fantasy

Name 2: Academic school is academic school, even when you're interested

Name 2: I don't think it's really about cultivating ideas, so much as it's about constructing them

Name 2: So I'm paying for this education and I'm imagining because it's a Masters and I have more control, that I get to sort of construct my education

Name 2: But academic schooling, particularly the "sciences," are not based on this sort of co-creating experience

Name 2: You can co-create, with their consent

Name 2: But if they don't like your ideas, your perspective, or if it doesn't fit into the structure of the schooling, then there's not really time to consider it

Name 2: So, ultimately, if I had my way I would pay to go to school just to learn what I wanted to learn

Name 2: I wouldn't pay for the degree

Name 2: But because of the incredible cost, paying for your degree is ultimately what gives you financial returns and you need that to pay off the cost/debt

Name 2: So you can't learn because you're interested in learning (alone). You have to learn towards an "end"

Name 2: And that shit is stupid, in my opinion

Name 1: i hear ya

Name 1: so what is your plan with this criminology degree

Name 2: To learn more about criminology and apply that knowledge to my book, which deals with the Prison Industrial Complex

Name 2: I would also like to create and maintain a correspondence or interaction with prisoners while they're incarcerated and beyond

Name 2: And, ultimately, assist in decreasing recidivism by assisting in increasing personal autonomy, responsibility and awareness

1. Criminology Common Sessions at Utrecht University. This one's theme was "Criminology Beyond Borders: Flows, Conflicts and Power." Here some folks are being recognized for all their assistance during the event. 

Common Sessions is when University of Kent, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University Porto, University of Gent, Utrecht University, John Jay CUNY, University of Hamburg, Middlesex University, University of Budapest and Eotvos Lorand University all come together to present thesis work on Criminology. 

2. Andreas relaxing after a hard day of work. He cooks in this pub.

Open Mic Jazz Night at Zest in Amsterdam!

Lighting = Bad

Playing = Good

Open Mic Jazz Night at Zest in Amsterdam!

1. Fall has arrived!

2. Garin cannot shuffle for the life of him, but he can roll! Dexterity is a picky master...

Am I ‘in love’ with you? Or is loving you something I do

May we be experienced  May we know our truths Where to be and to know Outlast the ‘I’s’ of our youth(s) Where how we are formed Submits to the forming of our pursuits

Amsterdam and Utrecht + New Friends!

1. Almost Tendo...

2. Almost Sanyu...

3. Blurry, just like the time we spent! Tendo leaves Amsterdam

4. Pretty much my drink of choice in this country

5. I don't remember whose glasses those are. With this hair, people look at me like I'm a T-Rex drinking tea on the Oudegracht...

6. Dinner with Susie at Foodism. The prosciutto covered dates were THE BOMB...I don't even like dates...

7. Foodism is a homey place. They just let you stand on the furniture and take panorama pictures

8. Kostas, a Greek. I'm the 1st American he's had a proper conversation with...I tried to tell him I'm far left of your typical US citizen... 

TENDO VISITS AMSTERDAM FOR A 24 HR BLITZ ON 2 HOURS OF SLEEP! That's what I call a brother! 

1. On our way into my house 

2. On the Singel Canal

3. About to meet Susie for brunch

4. Tendo learns Dutch transport methods

5. Tendo masters Dutch transport method

6. Susie and I. I can't make serious faces around my brother...

7. The back view from My and Gur's house

8. Inside My and Gur's house

9. Tapas for dinner