Nevin is from Dundee. He recently moved to Amsterdam. He’s visited the city regularly in the past twenty-five years, but this time he’s staying for good. Why now? He doesn’t really know. But he does tell me he left school at sixteen and did some travelling before ending up at […]
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It’s the end of the afternoon. The skies have cleared. A pale sun shines over the Amstel. Here comes the Dude. He’s out for a walk. No, the Dude doesn’t walk, he saunters. Where’s he headed? The Dude isn’t headed anywhere, he’s always where he’s at. And he’s always carrying […]
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“Good afternoon, sir!” he says. “I always greet everyone. Solidarity is important. Even if I have to keep greeting someone for three years before I get a reply. Solidarity leads to safety. And this is a safe country. I’m from Somalia, but I live under the Oranges now, under the […]
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“It’s an Akita Inu, a Japanese fighting dog. The samurai used them to hunt bears. He’s like three pitbulls rolled into one. He’s a male, right, so if any other male comes near him, wham, he takes him down. A while back, this guy came cycling past with his dog […]
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“I really need the sun. I may look fit, but my body’s rotting away. Lyme’s. Caught it right here in the Vondelpark. It’s like HIV. My immune system’s totally buggered. I had pneumonia for two months. Look, I can’t even stand up straight. I used to be an instructor: Capoeira, […]
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“People need to be taught the love of music. And the love of god. I have Javan roots. I grew up godless. I spent five years in a South American jail. That’s where I met god. The fact that I got out of there alive proves that he exists. My […]
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Hij: ‘Most of us come from Ghana, I come from Brazil, and this man comes from Zimbabwe. Or is it Mozambique? We train every Sunday here between the flats. The field is a bit small, but that’s how we learn to play quick. Before we trained in Bijlmerpark, but we […]
– Do you mind if I take your picture? – Rather not. – Why not? You look great. – I don’t think I look great at all. – But those pants are great. – I think I’m ugly. – Oh? – My family always said I was ugly. Everyone said […]
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