Exposures in the capital of Europe.

As I stepped onto the charming cobblestone streets of Brussels, my heart raced with anticipation. This wasn’t just any trip it was rendezvous with a new companion - the film camera I had recently acquired. The click of the shutter, the rewind of the film - every moment was a feeling between nostalgia and modernity.

The camera I had acquired is a Praktica MTL 5 for around 55 euro’s including a 1.8/50mm and a 3.5/70-205mm lens. Honestly, a steal. Camera and lenses both in good condition too.

I saw this trip as a perfect opportunity to test out the camera and also meet up with some good friends of mine I lived with in Mexico. And I must say I’m pretty happy with the results of the photos.

But Brussels man, what a city!

A lot of history when we talk just about Grand Place. I was told that back in the day it was like LinkedIn page. Just as Grand Place emerged as the central square of Brussels, serving as a meeting point for merchants, politicians, and locals alike, LinkedIn has evolved into a virtual square where professionals convene to exchange ideas, opportunities, and expertise. Grand Place, with its beautiful guildhalls, mirrors the diverse array of industries represented on LinkedIn. Each facet contributing to the overall richness of the experience.

I know Belgians might consider this a cliche but the Atomium is something that needs to be appreciated. What an amazing structure to have in your city, representing what people could achieve back in the 50’s. The 1950’s! It’s not just an iconic landmark; it’s Brussels way of saying, “look at us, we’ve got the blueprint for beauty… and it’s atomic!”

The amount of beer I tasted (at a responsible amount) to the typical Belgium fries and even trying the Metraillette. What a thing of absolute beauty!

Brussels has a special place in my heart.

Merci beaucoup, Belgique.

Berlin in philm.

Film photography attempt #1

I’ve been messing around with the idea of doing something with film photography for some time now. Why? I just like the vintage look and feel of it, and the process of getting such photos seems intriguing to me. But this required me to actually get my feet wet and give it a try.

Thanks to a very good friend and housemate of mine I was able to borrow his Praktica MTL3 film camera to test it out and see how it goes. I must immediately say, film photography is an expensive hobby and I found out the hard way.

On my first attempt at buying the film, the kind sir at the photography shop helped me set up the camera with the new film roll in it. I stood there like the meme kid in Popeyes as he did his thing thinking I would figure it out. Cause I indeed did my prep by watching a gazillion YouTube videos on how to put the film rolls in the camera and also getting it out. I left the kind sir and went out by shooting random things inside and outside on the streets. Took the film back to the kind sir at the photography shop. The photos came out looking pretty cool.

This was all happening during my summer vacation, and I was also planning a 6 day solo trip to Berlin. I’ve never really been to Germany, I thought fuck it, why not? This is a good opportunity to actually test it out on my own and also hope to take nice film photos from my trip.

So I went back to the kind sir from the photography shop, I bought three Kodak film rolls (two of 24 and one of 36 exposures) , which cost me about 50 euros. The kind sir put in the first roll for me again. and I was on my way.

The day came that I was heading out for my trip to Berlin. I had a direct train to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, got off, checked in to my hostel and directly went off into the city. I started taking shots, and really felt in my element. Berlin has some beautiful architectural buildings and structures, from the TV tower, to the museums on Museum Island, and of course remains of the Berlin wall.

Soon enough I had to switch out film rolls, cause I was shooting! I did it what then seemed to be with ease and continued to shoot photos. Eventually, I got the hang of it and used the third film roll as well. Went to the Reichstag building, saw the Brandenburg Gate, ate at Markthalle Neun, had beer with some other solo travelers and ultimately had a great time with great people in Berlin.

Before you know it, it was time to head back to Rotterdam. I said goodbye to my roommates from the hostel and headed out. After a 7 hour train ride I was back and looking forward to developing the film rolls.

After a few days of rest I headed back to the kind sir from the photography shop to get the rolls developed, which cost me another 40 euros, and within a few days I got a mail that said that two of the film rolls were empty.

Devastated…

But I got something out of it and learned my lesson. On to the next adventure.

Danke Berlin.

Exchange in Mexico: Best or Worst decision?

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If you had told me back in November 2020 that I would end up spending the next year doing an exchange in Mexico, I would have told you “no”, probably given you the “why?” head shrug, and put my palms up.

But here I am, almost three years after that hypothetical moment. If you were wondering, I ended up going with two friends of mine. None of us saw it coming.

And I have to confess, doing an exchange abroad in Mexico during my senior year in college may have been the best or the most haunting decision I've ever made.

Don’t get me wrong; Mexico has been nothing but amazing to me. The people, tequila con sal y limon, al pastor, Rappi, chelas, Six Flags, Mole, Día de la independencia, birria tacos, Sayulita, Oxxo, Carl’s Jr., I can keep going on.

I’m forever grateful for even having the opportunity to spend a year in Mexico. Doing my minor exchange, and following that up by doing my final internship there in order to graduate. Through all of that I’ve met so many great people, a lot of whom I’m still in contact with. They’ve all taken good care of me and my friends while in Mexico.

But why the most haunting?

I can’t seem to not think about all the good memories! I often get flashbacks of moments when my friends and I used to sit on the rooftop of our house with some cold beers. We used to live in a house with other internationals student from Belgium, Germany, Basque Country and The Netherlands. The house is located on a hill, so we got a pretty amazing view of the whole city of Cuernavaca, with the active Popocatépetl volcano luring in the back.

We used to just sit there a lot, hang out with friends, have breakfast or lunch, read, and relax. In those moments, we would realize how crazy it was to be in Mexico. Just a small moment to be appreciative. We would take a deep sigh, take a last sip of our cheap Carta Blanca beer, and then go out to a party we were invited to by our Mexican friends and/or classmates.

Muchas gracias Mexico, te quiero mucho!

Beware of exchange programs abroad. Decide at your own risk.