Jun 6, 2005
TW wrote:
Dear Koen,
I haven´t heard anything for a while but I´ll write this up and send it along on the assumption that you are still alive.
Summer passed through Copenhagen for about two weeks and the city came as much alive as it ever could. I won´t bore you with details you’ve already experienced; the whole thing resembles something from your compatriot Paul Delvaux except done as a diurnal nightmare.
I’ve been having “meetings” with various potential backers, mostly just to prove to myself how impossible it is to get anything accomplished here. Briefly, these consist of weeks of delays followed by a quick look at my work (that part is fine) and, finally, a glazed uncomprehending look as I begin to converse about potential business. This last step only takes about 45 seconds before the savage mind collapses completely.
Nothing else anyone has promised has come through, although there remains one fellow who is a bit more trustworthy than the rest who has a backlog of housepainting work he has said he´d turn my way in a few weeks.
I am very reluctant to annoy you with the absurd situation here when you are in the middle of such serious problems there, but try to keep in touch if you can, and let me know how you’re managing under the pressure. God knows how I’ll ever escape from this moronic place, but hope to buy you a drink in Italy before we both fade out.
Adios, amigo.
Tristan, the ghost of Copenhagen
Jul 21, 2005
Koen V. R. wrote:
Salam Aleichum Tristan,
I’m very sorry for this very late reply. In fact I hardly had any internet connection the past month and a half. Things turned out quiet different then expected.
When you send me your last e-mail, I was on the way to Tanzania on a little break to climb the Kilimanjaro with V. It was a great trip. 7 days hiking on the vulcanoe with beautifull vegetation and lavatowers to finally reach the 5895 meter summit at 7 in the morning enjoying the rising sun from the highest top of Africa in -15 °C. conditions. At the summit, there were more glaciers then expected. I counted at least 6 big glaciers. It was full moon when climbing to the summit so no flashlights needed and when it finally went down a gorgious milky way showed us our path. The whole thing was a big expedition: 2 guides, 10 porters and 1 cook for each group carrying everything (tents-gas-water-food-our backpacks-seats-tables) on their back and shoulders. When back in Arusha I had a couple of Tanzanian beers to celebrate the succesfull climb, but the day after felt very naucious-couldn’t eat a thing and my urine was dark orange. I started to drink a lot of water (in Sudan I learned that your urine is actually an indicator of your dehydratation), but my urine stayed very dark orange and couldn’t eat a thing. The next day I travelled back to Khartoum and to Darfur, but only got more sick, so visited doctor over there. He suspected Viral Hepatitis and sended me back to Khartoum for further investigation. So back on a plane to Khartoum where to put me in a hospital for more then a week on an IV static device. The hospital really sucked and after the diagnoses of Hepatitis E they told me I needed to rest another 5 weeks in that hospital. In the meanwhile I checked the hospital bill and these criminals charged me a crazy thousand dollar just for that first week, so I decided to excape that prison. There was no point I would survive 5 more weeks in that infectious place. Worse, I had trouble with all the staff, and after having a big argument with the kitchen personal, I decided to go as it could become dangerous.
Luckily my boss understood my situation and agreed for me to rest in my home country as that would probabely speed up my recovery, so thats how I ended up unexpectedly in Belgium, facing other hardships: my liver has suffered so much from this virus, that no fat is allowed (no cheese, no chocolate, no french fries) and worse, I’m not allowed to drink any alcohol for the coming 3 months. Well, enough complaining from my part. But I’m positive that by the time we meet in Italy, my liver will be back on track.
How are you surviving in Copenhagen? You must have found a girl by now under these summer skies. Or you might be enjoying some jazz concerts in town? How is your accomodation situation? How is Kasper handling it? Any escape plans from your part (to Sweden or Italy?)?
Let me know what’s going on hej!
Adios
Koen the contaminator
Aug 18, 2005
TW wrote:
Talk about mortal danger! I almost died laughing at your bizarre story. Honestly, though, I’m sorry to hear you got slammed so hard and hope you both get back to normal health and possibly a safer job. I saw Klaus and related your continental and microbial adventures and we raised a glass in your honor and he insists that I forward you his warmest regards.
As for summer and women, neither seem to want anything to do with me here. The women avoid both speaking and
looking at me, unless of course it is for for the incongruous insult. We had some 2 weeks of summer when
I last wrote you, then misery, then almost a week of stroke-inducing heat, at which time I was up on a metal roof removing asbestos tiles. Immediately following, we experienced nothing but unabated rain and severe cold, during which time I was supposed to be assisting on some construction and painting a house (outside). This was all done for a fraction of the normal pay and all I really earned from it was a terrible cold.
This computer is not working well, so I think it’s best if I flee and try to write you again in a week or two, but please let me know if you move around or change your email address!!!!!!!!! Meanwhile, if you
get really bored, my phone number is still the same
Ugh, Tristano