about me
Although I think it's not that interesting to know a lot about me, I'll tell you something about who I am, what I do and what
my hobbies are.
I am a single gay guy. I was born in Tilburg in 1955, raised in Rijen (a village between Tilburg and Breda), studied
in Utrecht for a year and finished my training in Breda. I still live and work here. I have lived in The Netherlands all my life.
my work
I was trained as a social worker
at the Academy for Social Studies in Breda, but later I took another direction. During my education I did some teaching practice
for Moroccan boys who came to The Netherlands because their fathers worked here; I set up Dutch language trainings.
After my graduation I worked as a volunteer in a local community centre in Breda teaching Dutch to Moroccan and Turkish men.
Later I was asked to do the same for Dutch adults who had difficulties in reading and writing. And so I did. I liked it that
much I decided to make it my job.
Nowadays I work as a teacher at Kellebeek College Via (a Regional Education Centre). I
teach basic English, Dutch, social studies and computer skills to adults. To do so I was trained at the Catholic University Brabant in
Tilburg and I did some follow-up courses at the University of Canterbury in England.
I really love my job: it's great to see people change during their course and becoming more and more self-confident.
my coming-out
Some 35 years ago - when I was about 20 years old - I
came out, although I had known I was gay ever since I was about 12-13 years old. I just didn't know my feelings were labeled as
"homosexual". But after having my first real sex experience with another man, I was certain that this was what I
wanted in life.
It sure wasn't easy in those days, but soon I became a member of the N.V.I.H. COC, the Dutch organization for emancipation of gays
and lesbians. It was my "home coming". Since than I decided to be open about being gay, private and at work.
And believe me, it's much easier that way! You can read more about COC on the gay page of this
website.
I became active in the board of the local branch of this COC in Breda and spent a lot of time in what you could call "the
gay switchboard". We helped a lot of young gays finding their way into the gay community and overcoming their problems with
being gay. We started an information campaign for the local police in order to make it easier for gays to report gay bashing,
went to schools to give information about homosexuality and started the AIDS help-line when this disease spread rapidly through
Europe. Nowadays I'm not active any more in the gay community; I lead a "quiet life".
my hobbies
I'm politically engaged in the local Green Party in my home town and I'm also a supporting member of Greenpeace
, Amnesty International , World Wild Fund , Plan
Nederland (formerly known as Foster Parents Plan) and some Dutch organizations which protect nature and the environment,
like Stichting Natuur en Milieu (the Netherlands
Society for Nature and Environment) and Milieudefensie ( the Dutch branch of the Friends
of the earth). I believe in trying to make the world a better place to live in.
When I'm not at work, I love to read, go clubbing, listen to music (classical as well as alternative music), relax in front of
the television and watch a film, especially films that have a gay character in it (see the list of my gay films), surf the Internet or chat, play some computer games, cook, talk with friends, etc.
Since I'm single I live on my
own. Because of that I have to do housework myself, and I hate it. I much rather spend my time in my garden (in summer) or on my
couch with a good book. But most of all I like drawing and painting. Have a look at some examples I
made.
During my summer holidays I love to go camping; I usually go for 4-5 weeks and travel around from camp site to camp site. I've
been all around Europe, but I've never been outside Europe and I think that's a pity. Why haven't I, you might ask? It may seem
strange, but I'm afraid of flying. Even the thought of boarding a plane makes me tremble with fear. I know it sounds stupid but
I can't help it. And besides: Europe is beautiful too. So many different cultures, peoples and landscapes. I love it.
I also am a naturist. I always go to nudist beaches (here I am on a beach in the south of France on
a not so sunny day), enjoy the sun in my garden in the nude (don't care what the neighbours might think) and go - if possible - to
camping sites where you can go in the nude. You can read more about naturism on my special page.