and here is the little man of the hour

cameron patrick inglis finally shows himself to the world....

welcome to the world cameron patrick inglis

congratulations to erin and brock and welcome their first baby, cameron patrick....he took a while to join us but i'm sure he's worth waiting for! can't wait to see some pics!!!

nerida's home

well nerida is my flat mate...and she's been on vacation in australia for a couple of weeks...and i've always thought i would enjoy living by myself but i realised that i really do miss the company of sharing a house and evenings of nothing with someone....welcome home nerida...sorry about the mess!

joining pinnochio

just like pinnochio discovered he could be a "real life boy" in the last week i also became a "real life employee" - signing my contract to join ABN AMRO as a "normal" employee, working in the Group Diversity and Inclusion department as a "Diversity and Inclusion Consultant" till October 2006

my boss asked me if it feels different now...and actually it doesn't really change how i feel about myself - i think it's more that you "feel different" to some of the other people, especially older colleagues, who somehow respect you and your ideas more when you're not a trainee....but i also have great colleagues who respect you no matter what your job title or salary

it is going to be a lot of hard work, but i am looking forward to the challenging work that's coming up in the next 10 months to try and increase the understanding and commitment to diversity and inclusion at this big, international organisation dedicated to increasing shareholder value

masquerade ball...after :)

some happy snaps of me with brenda, luiz (my new brazilian colleague in Diversity and Inclusion), reuben (ABN AMRO-AIESEC co-ordinator) and mischa (one of the coolest LC members in Amsterdam - hope you enjoy New York New York)....also there is housemates, maria and luciana

masquerade ball....before and duing preparations

AIESEC Amsterdam hosted a masquerade ball at the catacombs of the church near my house - perfect location! And after some convincing my Maria, Brenda and I joined her in making our own masks for the evening...there are still sequins and feathers in my kitchen weeks later, but it was lots of fun I must admit....here are some "before" and "during" photos

wayang kulit

wayang kulit
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

to end the javanese reception there was a 'wayang kulit' puppet...from Central Java it is probably one of the oldest continuous traditions of storytelling in the world, and certainly among the most highly developed...here you can find more info about it: http://discover-indo.tierranet.com/wayang.html

couple with dian's parents

couple and bride's parents
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

glances

glances
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

i was so amazed and impressed with how well dian and ingmar coped with the whole demanding agenda...they still managed to catch each other with glances and enjoy the experience...

photo photo

friends photo
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

...and periodically groups would gather around the extended bridal party and pose for a photo together...here we are, all colour co-ordinated with two of dian's friends from AIESEC...

thanks for coming

thanks for coming
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

after the tea serving and another costume change and a couple of hours of musical entertainment from the indonesian 'gamelon' orchestra and blessings and eating...the guests came to the main stage, giving a gift and congratulating the parents and couple...Dian, Ingmar and their parents must have shook hands with around 600 people in those 3 or 4 hours as the whole neighbourhood was invited this day...

officially realised

certificate of marriage
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

for those of you who are aiesecers from the Insight II days...

this is a "certificate of marriage" that dian's fellow LCPs made for her - with quotes from each of the LCPs about love and marriage...and complete with an "officially realised insight III" stamp!

they also presented the happy couple with a trophy - which they made for each LCP that got married - dian and ingmar weren't the first, but they still got their name engraved on the side, as well as their photo (taken by me :) on the top

golden moments

gold parasol
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

the decorations and setting was stunning...i was quite taken with the parasols...including these gold ones that were outside on the main stage...i much prefer these kind of umbrellas to the ones we use in holland!

wenny

apx 03 ocp wenny
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

another great thing about going to dian's wedding in indonesia was catching up with old friends from AIESEC...like wenny...who was the OCP of APXLDS in 2003...really lovely person who is now doing a traineeship in kraft in chicago....and always on phone to boys ;)

serving each other...

serving each other
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

on the final day of ceremonies, which was based on a javanese reception...the day started with dian washing egg off the feet of ingmar - something most likely to never be repeated!...and then they symbolised how they will serve each other through out their lives, by feeding each other chicken and then serving each other tea...

as you can see the setting...inside dian's family's living room...was simply exquisite and their outfits were stunning (no wonder dian's make up took 2 hours on this day!)

friends and happy couple

friends and couple
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

after the ceremony concluded at the church all of the guests went up to the altar to congratulate the couple and their parents by shaking hands...

one thing i really like that i have seen in malaysia and indonesia amongst muslims is the 'salam' handshake: after clasping each others' hands, it is the touching of the left side of one's chest after the salam. The hand is retracted gently after the 'salam', then placed over the heart to symbolise sincerity...

anyways...when it was our row's turn to go up to the altar someone recognised that my sarong was coming undone!!! i was then whisked outside by the side of the church and one of the female guests quickly put her hands up my sarong and tied and fixed me all up again!...and then we could take this photo together :)

exchanging vows

at church
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

the couple (watched by the paparazzi) exchange their vows and rings at the church ceremony...

one thing i really liked at dian's wedding was the mixture of christian and muslim family members, neighbours and blessings...while the priest was saying his sermon at the church you could hear the muslim call to prayers from the nearby mosque...

dian's father is muslim and her mother is christian and it was a wonderful mixing of people at all the ceremonies...i think it is quite a shame that, according to my indonesian friends, mixed marriages such as these are now banned by law in indonesia

the chauffers...

anin and connie
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

anin, dian's sister (wedding planner extraordinaire!!!) and her good friend, connie, who hosted me in jakarta...both really sweet girls

on the way to the church ceremony...

couple on way to church
Originally uploaded by Zozo.

unlike in most Western church weddings, Ingmar and Dian went with each other in the same car to the church and also walked up the aisle together, followed by both their parents..