Place and Belonging in Times of Corona by V. Alexander https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear Welcome to Place and Beloning! Let's introduce ourselves! Please make a post (click on the + in the bottom right corner, it works like google docs in that whatever you write gets saved automatically), putting your name in the header, and tell us where you're from, where you currently are and where you would love to be in the real or imagined world. Post a picture of a happy place! You are welcome to read and <3 the contributions by others! en-us 2021-02-02 16:54:52 UTC 2026-01-03 02:20:38 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f9f3.png Vera Alexander vera_alexander https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1154762294 I was born in Germany, but I have lived in England, Italy, France and Denmark before accepting a position in the Netherlands, so.... hometown: Europe. 

I'm currently at my home office desk in Groningen, the back view of which you will soon get to see during classes. 

If I could go anywhere in the world, at the moment I would probably choose Argentina. Social media are currently torturing me with snaps from a research trip precisely 2 years ago.  I got lost in the Patagonian forest with under 2h to get back to Bariloche, pick up my luggage and catch my flight back to Buenos Aires, and no bus service in summer. I ended up waving down a park ranger who took me to a bus stop where I was surrounded by hippies with no sense of a hurry. Good times. Made the flight and even managed to chat with a  colleague from the conference I ran into (literally) at the airport.]]> 2021-02-02 17:01:20 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1154762294 Léonie de Jonge https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1191969496 I was born to Dutch parents in a tiny village in Luxembourg. After graduating from high school, I was recruited to play basketball in the United States. After spending four years in North Dakota and in Iowa, I traveled around the world on a ship, before moving the United Kingdom for graduate school.

I'm currently at my home office desk in Groningen. (I can't believe I've been stuck here for almost a year now!)

Groningen quickly became a "happy place" for me, but I do miss home - mostly because my family is there. Here's a picture taken from my bedroom window at my parents' house in Luxembourg. 

]]> 2021-02-11 12:50:54 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1191969496 Emily Davis https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1201574044 I was born and raised in the United States, and it’s still the place that I consider home, because it’s where my family lives.  Before I moved abroad – first to Germany in 2017, and then to the Netherlands in 2019, I lived and worked in multiple different states.    
 
I’m currently at my desk in my apartment in Groningen.  And as much as I love this city, it’s amazing to think that I haven’t traveled outside of it in nearly a year…
 
The image below is of a flowering ʻōhiʻa lehua bush, which is one of the few plants that can grow on new lava flows.  I took this picture while hiking in the caldera of Kīlauea, an active volcano in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.  It’s a great symbol of how – under even the most adverse conditions – one can always bloom where one is planted!
]]> 2021-02-14 18:18:40 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1201574044 Isa Hamelink https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1214651911 I was born in a small village in Zeeland, just outside of a tiny nature reserve and about 100 meters from the beach. After falling in love with Groningen while visiting it for just a few hours, I moved there for university when I was 17. 

Right now, I'm in Groningen, living in a small studio with huge windows together with Justin (who is also in this class :)). I absolutely adore the city and its gorgeous views, that I came to appreciate more and more during my "I-really-have-to-go-outside-today"-walks. 

One place I would love to be right now, is the little lodge that Justin and I went to with his family in the summer of 2019, in Switzerland. The mountainous views were unlike anything I had ever seen before, coming from someone who has lived below sea-level her entire life.]]> 2021-02-18 10:26:38 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1214651911 Justin Paetzelt https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1214719454 I was born in Darmstadt Germany in 2000, but raised in the toasty warmth of Dubai. After graduating high school I threw a dart at a map and moved to the Netherlands in 2018 to study at the RUG. 

Right now I am in Groningen and definitely enjoying it, all things considered. The city is very pretty, and it's remarkable just how many unique buildings and cute streets there are. 

If I could be anywhere, it would be within the album cover of TWRP's "Together Through Time", because it seems so calming and serene, which would be ideal now.    ]]> 2021-02-18 10:51:29 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1214719454 Lucie Fittock https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1215050799 I was born in Salisbury, England, but when I turned 3, my family and I relocated to Adelaide, Australia where I was raised. Growing up, I was always consumed by wanderlust, so as soon as I graduated high school, I embarked on two years of travelling and working. My "gap years " took me to the United States, France and the U.K. When I realised that it was time to begin my undergraduate studies, I knew it was going to be somewhere in another country - I chose The Netherlands!

I am currently in Groningen, having just moved into a new, spacious apartment with my boyfriend. While things aren't too interesting right now, I do love being here. It's "gezellig" in Groningen and I feel right at home.


Though, if I could be anywhere right now, I think I'd be back in Australia. Specifically, I'd like to visit Cairns in northern Queensland. I have such fond memories being there, swimming through the Great Barrier Reef. I miss the beautiful beaches, the tropical weather, and of course the Aussie accents :)]]> 2021-02-18 13:01:32 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1215050799 Heleen Bijma https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1215222808 Hi everyone, I was born and raised in a small village near the province of Groningen. Namely Zuidbroek, my parents have lived here since they were small and so have I. So it comes as no surprise that I currently still work behind a desk in Zuidbroek. 

Where I would love to be at the moment is in the mountains on my skis. unfortunately corona doesn't allow this of course, but i can't wait until it is possible again. I love it there, the beautiful surroundings, being in the open air, the delicious food and clearing my head. luckily, we have the photos and videos from previous years so that I can still experience it a bit this time of year. 

]]> 2021-02-18 13:50:35 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1215222808 Antonia Kratz https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1215949629 Hi there!
I was born and raised in Nürnberg a town in the middle of Bavaria, Germany
. After graduating high school I wanted to explore the beauty of Europe and ended up here, in Groningen...

After 5 months, I am really happy to be back in Groningen and enjoy riding my bike and seeing all my friends-of course while keeping distance and wearing my mondkapjes!

If I could be anywhere, I would be in Lech am Arlberg, Austria. My most favorite place to be during winter, as I love skiing, snow and the Alps. ]]> 2021-02-18 16:31:39 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1215949629 Kaja Flieder https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1218288307 Hi everyone, I was born and raised in Vechta, a small city in northern Germany which is about 2,5 hours away from Groningen. After my graduation from high school, I decided to travel a bit and ended up living in Australia and China for a while. As I wanted to study in a different country, I chose Groningen. I love the city, its people, the restaurants and all the other exciting things the city has to offer. 

I am currently at my parents' house but I will come back to the Netherlands very soon. I really miss the city and its pre-Covid self.

I have many happy places, but if I had to choose one, it would be the forest next to my parents' house. I take a walk there almost everyday as I love the nature and the countryside. ]]> 2021-02-19 09:51:32 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1218288307 Wiebke Bergfeld https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1218726410 Hello everybody!

I am orginally form Oldenburg, a city in the north-west of Germany. A few weeks ago I officially moved all my stuff from Groningen to my boyfriends place in Tönisvorst (close to Krefeld) in Germany, since I had been staying here for months already anyways. While I am happy here, living in a one bedroom flat with two people is a bit stressful at times. In those moments I would love to be in Cork in Ireland visiting my friends there, which I had planned to do for my Erasmus semester. That did not happen of course.]]> 2021-02-19 13:15:25 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1218726410 Nina Hamann https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1219326455 Hey everyone! My name is Nina and I was born and raised in a tiny town called Albig in the beautiful Rhineland-Palatinate in sothwest Germany. I'm currently vegetating in my room in Groningen. 

I would loooove to be in Malta right now (but without the whole Covid situation please!) because I connect my most amazing and fond memories to Malta as I stayed there for a month all by my own, without a care in the world! 

Look at this beauty ... ]]> 2021-02-19 16:02:44 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1219326455 Angela Boersma angelaboersma1997 https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1220245160 Hey everyone :)

I am from Sebaldeburen (Groningen province) and I am currently mostly in the Oosterpoort neighbourhood (Groningen city), living with my partner. 

I would like to be at Paradiso Noord in Amsterdam, on May 12th 2022, to see the Kate Nash concert with my friends (which was supposed to be a gift for my 23rd birthday last spring, but by the time I actually get to go, I'll have turned 25 even o.o ).

Most of my classes are now with people I have never met or talked to before, so I'm really happy about getting to take this class with people I actually know 😊

And below, a picture of a happy place I travelled through today: one of the streets in our neighbourhoods, where we encountered two cats.]]> 2021-02-19 19:58:05 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1220245160 Radost Lozanova https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1221310792 Hello hello!
I am born and raised in a small city in North-East Bulgaria called Dobrich. I was there for two months around the Christmas holidays but I am back in Groningen now because I felt like enjoying the city for a bit longer before finishing my studies here.
Although the seaside is a 40 min drive away from my hometown I never spent much time there when growing up as my parents were not big fans of the beach. So now I have an ever bigger craving to spend my time there (actually anywhere with a nice beach). It really is a happy place for me! 
🌊]]> 2021-02-20 11:55:17 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1221310792 Marrissa Zonnevijlle mmzonnevijlle1 https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1221439557 Hi!
I am Marrissa and I was born in the beautiful city of Tilburg in Brabant (the Netherlands). I have moved around some in my life, which led to my parents now living about 45 minutes from Groningen. I live in Haren, which is basically an extension of Groningen. I would love to live abroad some day, possibly even return to the Australian roots on my dad's side. I would also love to live in a very large metropole somewhere in the US or UK, but those are just future-plans. When it comes to imaginary worlds, I would live in the Harry Potter universe (not as a Muggle, ofcourse haha) or in the Shire.]]> 2021-02-20 13:54:43 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1221439557 Maria Plötz https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1222990233 Hi!!
I was born and raised in a small city in the East of Germany, called Cottbus. I have always dreamed of going abroad for a good amount of time in my life, but I never had the financial resources to do so. However, starting a degree was my chance to do it and while I had never heard of Groningen before, the ELC programme sounded just right. And almost 3 years later, I am more than happy to have made this decision and Groningen is definitely one of my happy places now. That's why, even in lockdown, I am more than grateful to be able to spend it here and enjoy the beautiful city as much as I can. 

However, if I could be anywhere right now, I would probably choose the Piccolo theatre in my hometown in which I have probably spent about 80% of my free time during high school. ]]> 2021-02-21 09:59:59 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1222990233 Emma Neapole https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1223105450 Heyyy! 
My name's Emma, and I am half Romanian, half Canadian. I don't really know where to place myself, so I just don't I guess. :(

I am currently living in Groningen, and plan on moving to Amsterdam to become a full-time tattoo artist at an actual studio, rather than doing it all in my apartment hahaha!  I d perhaps like to teach on the sideline too, in order to pursue tattooing  and be able to sustain myself in the beginning. 

When I'm alone, I usually spend my time illustrating whatever goes through my mind, or pick up my book to read. Currently reading Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith, and it's truly wonderful, just like her other books. 

In my daydreaming sessions, I imagine that I'd love to live in Japan and be a snowboard instructor during winter and an illustrator for children's books during the rest of the seasons. But during my reality sessions, I d either stay in the Netherlands, or move to Montreal, doing full time tattooing and perhaps some freelancing as an illustrator on the side. :')

My happy place is either  my couch where I bundle up with some tea and my book/drawing tablet/a good movie, OR up in the mountains snowboarding and leaving all the world's problems below the summit. ]]> 2021-02-21 11:03:49 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1223105450 Laura van der Cingel https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1223186999 Hi!
My name is Laura, and I was born and raised in Zwolle, a lovely city in Overijssel. I have lived in Groningen for three years in a student room (with my own kitchen, which I loved), but moved in with my parents at some point during the C-crisis. I'm currently looking for a studio/appartment in Zwolle, because I do want to stay here for a while, just preferably in a place of my own. 

My favourite country I've visited so far is without a doubt France. I absolutely love the culture, the language, and yes - the people too. Although I would definitely love to be there right now, I also want to visit Ireland in the near future. My plan was to do an internship there as part of my minor, but that didn't work out, obviously. I feel like I would completely relax and recharge there, and Irish people always come across as very kind and welcoming people :)]]> 2021-02-21 12:02:22 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1223186999 Jarno van Dijkhuizen https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1223290513 Hi everyone!
I am Jarno, born in Zwolle but raised in the lovely old city of Kampen in the Dutch province Overijssel. Currently I am living in Assen together with one of my best friends. Once the C-crisis hit I quickly realised I wanted to move out from my parents once more, because I couldn't keep my focus with them around at home all the time.

In the real world, I would simply love to be any place where I could hug people again and not need to wear a mask. But in the imagined world, I think I would love to live in the Cloud Sea of Alrest from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. In Alrest people live on Titans that swim, float or walk around in an expansive sea of clouds, circling around an enormous World Tree. It is not a perfect place by any means, but the sights and experiences I could have in a fantastical place like that would be incredible.]]> 2021-02-21 13:12:10 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1223290513 Laura Brands https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1224183212 hi guys!
my name is Laura, I was born and raised in a little village in Flevoland, the Netherlands. I have lived in/near Groningen for about three years now, and I am currently living in Haren, a perfect distance away from the city buzz.

in the real world, I would love to be somewhere in France, Italy or Spain, spending time with my friends, and of course without any restrictions. in the imagined world, I would be trading in the university of Groningen for Hogwarts where I would study witchcraft ✨ 

when i think of my happy place my mind immediately goes to any place together with my best friends, but more specifically I would say the Efteling (a theme park in the Netherlands), where we love to take infinite rides together on the droomvlucht.]]> 2021-02-21 21:24:53 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1224183212 Nynke Gerbenzon https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225778144 Hi!
My name is Nynke. I was born in the capital of the province of Friesland, Leeuwarden, and raised in a tiny village about half an hour drive from the hospital. I used to live in Groningen for a while, but considering Covid in addition to this year being my last before graduating (hopefully), I temporarily moved in with my family in Zwolle and later with my parents, who currently reside in a small village in Belgium, as I plan on doing my Master's degree at the KU Leuven. 

In the real world I'd like to stay somewhere in the South of Europe, like France, as it is warm there and I tend to crave warmth. But, since my French is quite awful, a place like Scotland (significantly colder, but still beautiful) would be grand as well. 
If I could choose to live anywhere, anytime, though, I'd love to live in a fantastical, romanticised version of the 1960s in the UK, have an absurd amount of money no-one except me knows how I acquired, and hang out and make music with the musical greats the era is known for! I suppose that is my happy place. 

(quite obviously a stock photo, but I'm afraid I couldn't find anything else)]]> 2021-02-22 10:39:28 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225778144 Matthias van Rheenen https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225820762 Hey,

I'm Matthias, born in The Netherlands but raised overseas. Currently reside in Groningen, but I'd just love to live on the mediterranean coast, where it's sunny and the pace is slow. 

I enjoy sunrises, long walks on the beach and funny videos related to cats. I don't have a happy place per se, but I do enjoy forests in autumn, when all the leaves start turning orange. ]]> 2021-02-22 10:53:37 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225820762 Michelle Leegsma https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225839116
Hey! My name is Michelle, and I was born and raised in de Westereen, a village in Friesland, a province in the Netherlands. I am currently still living at home, but would love to travel as soon as it's safe and possible again. 

I've studied Spanish as my major language and would love to go to back to the city where I've studied abroad, namely Sevilla! My happy place, though, would be with my family and friends, walking on a sunny beach. 


 ]]> 2021-02-22 11:00:12 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225839116 Laura de Boer https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225849212 Hi everyone! I'm Laura from Assen. Just to the south of Groningen. It is also where I am currently and where I have been for the past year or so because of covid. So if you're ever looking for me, you don't have to look far.

I'm not really sure where else I would like to be though. I like to be around my family, and because I get homesick quite quickly I am pretty happy with where I am right now.
But If I had to pick any place, it would probably a fictional one. I have always liked creative world-building and most recently I am discovering the extensive fictional world of the BioShock games. Now, I'm not saying that I would want to live in Rapture, the undersea water world where capitalism runs rampant, but I certainly do like the atmosphere. If only it wasn't so dystopic.


]]> 2021-02-22 11:03:53 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225849212 Emma Duthie https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225882123 Hey there! I'm Emma and I'm half British half Dutch. I was born in Antigua and lived there until I was 6 where I moved to the UK. I'm currently still in Groningen because it was far safer and better than the UK. 

In the real world I love to be somewhere warm and sunny. Whether that is in a city or nature.  I would say my hap]]> 2021-02-22 11:15:37 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225882123 Anke Havinga https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225967994 Hello, my name is Anke. I was born in Middelstum, a village in the north of Groningen, with the best bell tower on earth, that looks like a gnome and feels like home. I currently live in my appartement in Selwerd, Groningen.

I would be on vacation with my entire family in a little house in Drenthe or something. We would play games and I would hug everybody really long for all the times I haven't been able to do so. 
Or else, Hogwarts XD

Look, it has a gnome's hat! So cute.

]]> 2021-02-22 11:47:48 UTC https://padlet.com/vera_alexander/30qilyau2l0nyear/wish/1225967994