good evening or should I say CUDA albums my name is eros Ranson and i am proudly
my name is eros Ranson and i am proudly
my name is eros Ranson and i am proudly 100% dutch the kind that brings you
100% dutch the kind that brings you
100% dutch the kind that brings you tulips windmills shouta and funcle’ or
tulips windmills shouta and funcle’ or
tulips windmills shouta and funcle’ or as you would say Goethe and Van Gogh I
as you would say Goethe and Van Gogh I
as you would say Goethe and Van Gogh I moved to California six years ago
moved to California six years ago
moved to California six years ago something which apparently qualifies me
something which apparently qualifies me
something which apparently qualifies me to come here today and talk to you about
to come here today and talk to you about
to come here today and talk to you about a scary word I want to talk about change
a scary word I want to talk about change
a scary word I want to talk about change change is terrifying now don’t get me
change is terrifying now don’t get me
change is terrifying now don’t get me wrong I’m in no way saying it’s bad it’s
wrong I’m in no way saying it’s bad it’s
wrong I’m in no way saying it’s bad it’s a very important part of growing up but
a very important part of growing up but
a very important part of growing up but it is unfamiliar and very unknown to put
it is unfamiliar and very unknown to put
it is unfamiliar and very unknown to put it into perspective
it into perspective
it into perspective consider a forest fire well might be
consider a forest fire well might be
consider a forest fire well might be scary and sudden at first if you can
scary and sudden at first if you can
scary and sudden at first if you can look past all the negatives it gives way
look past all the negatives it gives way
look past all the negatives it gives way to new opportunity the old fire the
to new opportunity the old fire the
to new opportunity the old fire the remnants of the old forest provide a
remnants of the old forest provide a
remnants of the old forest provide a foundation for the new forests the same
foundation for the new forests the same
foundation for the new forests the same way that my past in Holland helps me
way that my past in Holland helps me
way that my past in Holland helps me create a life here in America I was born
create a life here in America I was born
create a life here in America I was born in Hong Kong I grew up in the
in Hong Kong I grew up in the
in Hong Kong I grew up in the Netherlands and then I ended up maturing
Netherlands and then I ended up maturing
Netherlands and then I ended up maturing in California something which is still
in California something which is still
in California something which is still crazy to me to this day it’s very
crazy to me to this day it’s very
crazy to me to this day it’s very different no matter how closely related
different no matter how closely related
different no matter how closely related all three places might seem they have
all three places might seem they have
all three places might seem they have different ideologies different customs
different ideologies different customs
different ideologies different customs you name it so fitting into a culture
you name it so fitting into a culture
you name it so fitting into a culture requires time and observation kind of
requires time and observation kind of
requires time and observation kind of goes all the way from how people
goes all the way from how people
goes all the way from how people interact to the smallest change in the
interact to the smallest change in the
interact to the smallest change in the greeting I can tell you that
greeting I can tell you that
greeting I can tell you that transitioning from the cheek kisses or
transitioning from the cheek kisses or
transitioning from the cheek kisses or bonkers to the bear hugs use in America
bonkers to the bear hugs use in America
bonkers to the bear hugs use in America 7vf for quite some trial and error as
7vf for quite some trial and error as
7vf for quite some trial and error as you can imagine just imagine nine year
you can imagine just imagine nine year
you can imagine just imagine nine year old me kissing and head bumping people
old me kissing and head bumping people
old me kissing and head bumping people and then imagine the impression that
and then imagine the impression that
and then imagine the impression that must have left so rough start but it
must have left so rough start but it
must have left so rough start but it just shows that no two places just as no
just shows that no two places just as no
just shows that no two places just as no two people are the same actually our
two people are the same actually our
two people are the same actually our first three weeks here me and my family
first three weeks here me and my family
first three weeks here me and my family spent in Venice and keep in mind that
spent in Venice and keep in mind that
spent in Venice and keep in mind that I’d never been to California prior to
I’d never been to California prior to
I’d never been to California prior to this so all I knew was from YouTube and
this so all I knew was from YouTube and
this so all I knew was from YouTube and social media I mean I could sing
social media I mean I could sing
social media I mean I could sing every single word to Tupac’s California
every single word to Tupac’s California
every single word to Tupac’s California love had a single idea what I was saying
love had a single idea what I was saying
love had a single idea what I was saying but as I was saying the first three
but as I was saying the first three
but as I was saying the first three weeks be spent in a small apartment near
weeks be spent in a small apartment near
weeks be spent in a small apartment near Venice Beach which is one of the most
Venice Beach which is one of the most
Venice Beach which is one of the most popular place in America and it kind of
popular place in America and it kind of
popular place in America and it kind of reinforced this whole idea I had all the
reinforced this whole idea I had all the
reinforced this whole idea I had all the stereotypes that I kind of seen from
stereotypes that I kind of seen from
stereotypes that I kind of seen from movies and music videos I mean it had
movies and music videos I mean it had
movies and music videos I mean it had the expensive Ford sports cars the
the expensive Ford sports cars the
the expensive Ford sports cars the special people and of course the very
special people and of course the very
special people and of course the very early morning surfers I mean it’s like a
early morning surfers I mean it’s like a
early morning surfers I mean it’s like a page torn out of a Travel Guide but now
page torn out of a Travel Guide but now
page torn out of a Travel Guide but now we’re fast-forwarding and I moved here
we’re fast-forwarding and I moved here
we’re fast-forwarding and I moved here so they can a ovalle which though it’s
so they can a ovalle which though it’s
so they can a ovalle which though it’s very close to Venice was yet again a
very close to Venice was yet again a
very close to Venice was yet again a change from what I known in front of
change from what I known in front of
change from what I known in front of what I’m kind of being used to at this
what I’m kind of being used to at this
what I’m kind of being used to at this point for example one of the first
point for example one of the first
point for example one of the first things I noticed is almost everybody in
things I noticed is almost everybody in
things I noticed is almost everybody in Holland has a Gelder or what you would
Holland has a Gelder or what you would
Holland has a Gelder or what you would call basement and this kind of drew my
call basement and this kind of drew my
call basement and this kind of drew my attention to one of the less discussed
attention to one of the less discussed
attention to one of the less discussed parts of a California or at least in
parts of a California or at least in
parts of a California or at least in other places and that was earthquakes
other places and that was earthquakes
other places and that was earthquakes and it’s kind of the first scary thing
and it’s kind of the first scary thing
and it’s kind of the first scary thing that I noticed about living here in this
that I noticed about living here in this
that I noticed about living here in this completely new place I mean I came from
completely new place I mean I came from
completely new place I mean I came from a land where our biggest trouble was a
a land where our biggest trouble was a
a land where our biggest trouble was a potential flood maybe I mean we’re
potential flood maybe I mean we’re
potential flood maybe I mean we’re called the Netherlands or lowlands for a
called the Netherlands or lowlands for a
called the Netherlands or lowlands for a reason but I hadn’t really thought about
reason but I hadn’t really thought about
reason but I hadn’t really thought about how different this geography would be I
how different this geography would be I
how different this geography would be I mean we used to joke in Holland about
mean we used to joke in Holland about
mean we used to joke in Holland about our lack of even the smallest Hills and
our lack of even the smallest Hills and
our lack of even the smallest Hills and meanwhile I spent the last summer here
meanwhile I spent the last summer here
meanwhile I spent the last summer here fighting for my breath at the top of
fighting for my breath at the top of
fighting for my breath at the top of Mount Whitney so it was something that
Mount Whitney so it was something that
Mount Whitney so it was something that at the time didn’t make sense to me even
at the time didn’t make sense to me even
at the time didn’t make sense to me even though it’s fairly obvious now but
though it’s fairly obvious now but
though it’s fairly obvious now but that’s not the only difference of course
that’s not the only difference of course
that’s not the only difference of course I mean when I looked around kind of
I mean when I looked around kind of
I mean when I looked around kind of throughout the days throughout the years
throughout the days throughout the years
throughout the days throughout the years I started noticing that one of the big
I started noticing that one of the big
I started noticing that one of the big things is that nobody here rides a bike
things is that nobody here rides a bike
things is that nobody here rides a bike and there’s a lot less green nature I
and there’s a lot less green nature I
and there’s a lot less green nature I mean thank you drew out and that was
mean thank you drew out and that was
mean thank you drew out and that was kind of a downer for me because riding a
kind of a downer for me because riding a
kind of a downer for me because riding a bike is one of the first things you are
bike is one of the first things you are
bike is one of the first things you are taught in Holland and similarly to a
taught in Holland and similarly to a
taught in Holland and similarly to a driver’s test
driver’s test
driver’s test everybody has to take a bike safety exam
everybody has to take a bike safety exam
everybody has to take a bike safety exam at the end of the fourth grade so I mean
at the end of the fourth grade so I mean
at the end of the fourth grade so I mean safety first right and then it’s also
safety first right and then it’s also
safety first right and then it’s also kind of my childhood that was what I’d
kind of my childhood that was what I’d
kind of my childhood that was what I’d grown up with and it’s always difficult
grown up with and it’s always difficult
grown up with and it’s always difficult kind of moving past that that one thing
kind of moving past that that one thing
kind of moving past that that one thing you’ve been doing one way your entire
you’ve been doing one way your entire
you’ve been doing one way your entire life but kind of back to that forest
life but kind of back to that forest
life but kind of back to that forest fire this negative part ended up as an
fire this negative part ended up as an
fire this negative part ended up as an amazing opportunity I remember getting
amazing opportunity I remember getting
amazing opportunity I remember getting my driver’s license just 16 and I told
my driver’s license just 16 and I told
my driver’s license just 16 and I told my friends in Holland we still have to
my friends in Holland we still have to
my friends in Holland we still have to wait two years at least and they were so
wait two years at least and they were so
wait two years at least and they were so jealous and it was just it sounds
jealous and it was just it sounds
jealous and it was just it sounds horrible it’s very gratifying and it
horrible it’s very gratifying and it
horrible it’s very gratifying and it just kind of brought to my attention
just kind of brought to my attention
just kind of brought to my attention that I hated biking everywhere in
that I hated biking everywhere in
that I hated biking everywhere in Holland I look back at it now with such
Holland I look back at it now with such
Holland I look back at it now with such wonder and I miss it so much but I was
wonder and I miss it so much but I was
wonder and I miss it so much but I was not a fan I mean I look very happy here
not a fan I mean I look very happy here
not a fan I mean I look very happy here but I was not a fan I have the cold and
but I was not a fan I have the cold and
but I was not a fan I have the cold and wet climate and it just kind of brought
wet climate and it just kind of brought
wet climate and it just kind of brought everything into perspective I mean I
everything into perspective I mean I
everything into perspective I mean I feel in hindsight we always see the
feel in hindsight we always see the
feel in hindsight we always see the things that we miss that we wish we
things that we miss that we wish we
things that we miss that we wish we could have done and that we want to go
could have done and that we want to go
could have done and that we want to go back to you it’s kind of the fond
back to you it’s kind of the fond
back to you it’s kind of the fond memories and we never look at the
memories and we never look at the
memories and we never look at the negative parts I mean I often choose to
negative parts I mean I often choose to
negative parts I mean I often choose to oversee the fact that almost everybody
oversee the fact that almost everybody
oversee the fact that almost everybody in Holland smokes cigarettes
in Holland smokes cigarettes
in Holland smokes cigarettes I mean that’s not a good thing just like
I mean that’s not a good thing just like
I mean that’s not a good thing just like there’s a way higher alcohol intake in
there’s a way higher alcohol intake in
there’s a way higher alcohol intake in teens as compared to America and that
teens as compared to America and that
teens as compared to America and that doesn’t occur to you you only look back
doesn’t occur to you you only look back
doesn’t occur to you you only look back and see what you want to see but this is
and see what you want to see but this is
and see what you want to see but this is something I did not realize until
something I did not realize until
something I did not realize until recently the me from fifth grade needed
recently the me from fifth grade needed
recently the me from fifth grade needed some more time
some more time
some more time so fifth grade was my first year
so fifth grade was my first year
so fifth grade was my first year experiencing school in America which was
experiencing school in America which was
experiencing school in America which was a completely new path but luckily for me
a completely new path but luckily for me
a completely new path but luckily for me a time where everybody was best friends
a time where everybody was best friends
a time where everybody was best friends so I was an aspiring singer sauce
so I was an aspiring singer sauce
so I was an aspiring singer sauce actress of course and a great field
actress of course and a great field
actress of course and a great field hockey player
hockey player
hockey player but despite kind of all the wonderful
but despite kind of all the wonderful
but despite kind of all the wonderful games of freeze tag and the new faces
games of freeze tag and the new faces
games of freeze tag and the new faces who greeted me every day it was still
who greeted me every day it was still
who greeted me every day it was still difficult the first few months as one
difficult the first few months as one
difficult the first few months as one would expect
would expect
would expect this very competitive atmosphere here
this very competitive atmosphere here
this very competitive atmosphere here that completely discouraged me from
that completely discouraged me from
that completely discouraged me from pursuing my dreams of being the most
pursuing my dreams of being the most
pursuing my dreams of being the most popular movie star ever and then of
popular movie star ever and then of
popular movie star ever and then of course is the big issues or at least in
course is the big issues or at least in
course is the big issues or at least in my opinion they were and that was my
my opinion they were and that was my
my opinion they were and that was my childhood was on a different continent
childhood was on a different continent
childhood was on a different continent and I had this constant language barrier
and I had this constant language barrier
and I had this constant language barrier between me and the rest of my peers it
between me and the rest of my peers it
between me and the rest of my peers it was I never spoke in English before then
was I never spoke in English before then
was I never spoke in English before then so my best vocab word at the end of
so my best vocab word at the end of
so my best vocab word at the end of fifth grade was probably Wednesday you
fifth grade was probably Wednesday you
fifth grade was probably Wednesday you know really take a bow on that one but
know really take a bow on that one but
know really take a bow on that one but just as always it kind of got resolved
just as always it kind of got resolved
just as always it kind of got resolved so when my friends went to their
so when my friends went to their
so when my friends went to their computer classes I went through the
computer classes I went through the
computer classes I went through the worst form of torture possible a special
worst form of torture possible a special
worst form of torture possible a special English class I was in a class with
English class I was in a class with
English class I was in a class with three other people and we would switch
three other people and we would switch
three other people and we would switch between rosetta stone and Scrabble I
between rosetta stone and Scrabble I
between rosetta stone and Scrabble I mean school was still that easy but this
mean school was still that easy but this
mean school was still that easy but this previously thought torture eventually
previously thought torture eventually
previously thought torture eventually turned out to be my favor as one might
turned out to be my favor as one might
turned out to be my favor as one might have guessed my English has improved by
have guessed my English has improved by
have guessed my English has improved by the day and thereby my confidence among
the day and thereby my confidence among
the day and thereby my confidence among my American friends increased so much so
my American friends increased so much so
my American friends increased so much so time for me to brag about myself since
time for me to brag about myself since
time for me to brag about myself since the beginning of middle school I
the beginning of middle school I
the beginning of middle school I administrate honors and keeping in mind
administrate honors and keeping in mind
administrate honors and keeping in mind that sixth grade was only my second year
that sixth grade was only my second year
that sixth grade was only my second year speaking English and I kind of feel like
speaking English and I kind of feel like
speaking English and I kind of feel like middle schools where everything came
middle schools where everything came
middle schools where everything came together it was really the place where I
together it was really the place where I
together it was really the place where I started finding myself within this new
started finding myself within this new
started finding myself within this new culture I mean I had my new friends that
culture I mean I had my new friends that
culture I mean I had my new friends that I still hang out with to this day and
I still hang out with to this day and
I still hang out with to this day and then seventh grade I joined track and
then seventh grade I joined track and
then seventh grade I joined track and field and musical clubs and everything
field and musical clubs and everything
field and musical clubs and everything and then I also tried kind of to put
and then I also tried kind of to put
and then I also tried kind of to put myself into the school to kind of force
myself into the school to kind of force
myself into the school to kind of force myself into this new social chain so I
myself into this new social chain so I
myself into this new social chain so I joined the student government and I ran
joined the student government and I ran
joined the student government and I ran for a lot of physicians a lot of times
for a lot of physicians a lot of times
for a lot of physicians a lot of times sometimes winning sometimes losing but
sometimes winning sometimes losing but
sometimes winning sometimes losing but always accepted and happy so then we
always accepted and happy so then we
always accepted and happy so then we kind of move on to the fact that this
kind of move on to the fact that this
kind of move on to the fact that this was not what I used to do in Holland
was not what I used to do in Holland
was not what I used to do in Holland this was not me at all it was a complete
this was not me at all it was a complete
this was not me at all it was a complete 180 but that’s not something bad that’s
180 but that’s not something bad that’s
180 but that’s not something bad that’s a part of growing up in my opinion
a part of growing up in my opinion
a part of growing up in my opinion that’s me fitting into this new culture
that’s me fitting into this new culture
that’s me fitting into this new culture putting myself into it and I’ve also
putting myself into it and I’ve also
putting myself into it and I’ve also kept parts of Holland of course it’s not
kept parts of Holland of course it’s not
kept parts of Holland of course it’s not complete new me there’s of course the
complete new me there’s of course the
complete new me there’s of course the amazing food because we got our cheese
amazing food because we got our cheese
amazing food because we got our cheese we got our bread we got fried food I
we got our bread we got fried food I
we got our bread we got fried food I don’t know if you guys have ever tried
don’t know if you guys have ever tried
don’t know if you guys have ever tried Dutch fried food it’s the best and
Dutch fried food it’s the best and
Dutch fried food it’s the best and there’s also the parts i miss i’ve
there’s also the parts i miss i’ve
there’s also the parts i miss i’ve public transportation it seems like a
public transportation it seems like a
public transportation it seems like a very mundane thing very government
very mundane thing very government
very mundane thing very government website thing but i miss taking the
website thing but i miss taking the
website thing but i miss taking the train and the buses and just talking to
train and the buses and just talking to
train and the buses and just talking to people i was waiting for a taxi or
people i was waiting for a taxi or
people i was waiting for a taxi or something and then of course there’s my
something and then of course there’s my
something and then of course there’s my best friends and childhood i mean
best friends and childhood i mean
best friends and childhood i mean they’re miles and miles away but in the
they’re miles and miles away but in the
they’re miles and miles away but in the end it’s still whenever i see them it’s
end it’s still whenever i see them it’s
end it’s still whenever i see them it’s like I never even left it’s really one
like I never even left it’s really one
like I never even left it’s really one of those things you can just pick right
of those things you can just pick right
of those things you can just pick right up and I don’t know I don’t have any
up and I don’t know I don’t have any
up and I don’t know I don’t have any regrets so when I kind of want to leave
regrets so when I kind of want to leave
regrets so when I kind of want to leave you guys here with today is I did it I
you guys here with today is I did it I
you guys here with today is I did it I moved I went to a completely different
moved I went to a completely different
moved I went to a completely different culture I went to a different place I
culture I went to a different place I
culture I went to a different place I mean my family and I we picked up our
mean my family and I we picked up our
mean my family and I we picked up our lives and we left but it’s okay because
lives and we left but it’s okay because
lives and we left but it’s okay because I changed I mean it hasn’t changed who I
I changed I mean it hasn’t changed who I
I changed I mean it hasn’t changed who I am it’s just changed the way I look at
am it’s just changed the way I look at
am it’s just changed the way I look at things and you have the power to change
things and you have the power to change
things and you have the power to change it’s it’s hard at times it’s weird and
it’s it’s hard at times it’s weird and
it’s it’s hard at times it’s weird and it’s awkward and its head bumping and
it’s awkward and its head bumping and
it’s awkward and its head bumping and kissing people but it works out so just
kissing people but it works out so just
kissing people but it works out so just as I found my place I wish you luck with
as I found my place I wish you luck with
as I found my place I wish you luck with your journey or should I say he’ll feel
your journey or should I say he’ll feel
your journey or should I say he’ll feel click Thank You al
”
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