Let me tell you about the Vlogbrothers. Two nerdy brothers who make videos on the internet. They’ve build a large community of fans around them. These so called Nerdfighters occasionally organize meetings amongst themselves to meet fellow nerds that live nearby. I’ve been following the Vlogbrothers for a few years now, yet I’ve never been to a Nerdfighter gathering. So for the following point on my list:
Now technically my previous statement that I’ve never been to a Nerdfighter meeting isn’t entirely correct. Some time ago John Green was in the Netherlands and was going to sign books at a bookstore. So I went there, saw one of my favourite authors and got my books signed. A group of people stayed afterwards, playing the ukulele and singing Nerdfighter songs.
I stared at them for a bit and then quietly shuffled out the door. Did I mention I can be rather socially awkward and that I’m really bad in approaching a group of people I haven’t met before?
I did want to meet some other Dutch Nerdfighters sometime, so I decided I would drag a friend of mine to a meeting with me.
Lately neither of us had the time to attend a meeting, but last Tuesday the day was finally there and the date was perfect. February the 14th. Because honestly, what better way to spend Single Awareness Day than with a bunch of nerds? In the end my friend couldn’t make it, but I still went.
When I got to the station I played a game of Spot-The-Nerdfighter, which wasn’t much of a challenge.
It was just the two of us talking for a while before a few more people joined us. And eventually the small group was complete.
The day consisted pretty much of walking around Utrecht, visiting some shops and just talking. There was one shop I particualrly liked. A second-hand bookstore full of pretty old books.
When we got hungry we went for pizza. In a restaurant full of couples. Because that makes you fell so much better about Valentine’s Day. Even the rose at our table reflected our singleness. While the roses at other tables were nice looking, ours looked rather sad. So we decided to emphasise just that:
We got another rose with the check, which one of us later gave to a lonely stranger in the streets. It seems it also didn’t go unnoticed that one guy went out to dinner with four girls on this day, since someone commented on it when we left the restaurant.
For desert we went somewhere else and stayed there talking until it was time to go home.
Back at the station, while waiting for our trains, we played this game called Ninja. I’d never heard of it before, and I wasn’t very good., but I’ll surely get the hang of it if I play it again.
And that’s how the meeting ended.
Do note that while this item is crossed off the list now, this will definitely not be the last time I’ll attend a Nerdfighter gathering. You guys are awesome. I had a great time.
