goudmijn.kro.nl.

On Saturday, Oct 17th, my friend Ylona from Seoul skyped me and asked if I will be on Sunday, Oct 18th, home at 4.30 hours (Kiev time). She sounded very mysterious. But she sent me a link to a radio program "Goudmijn" at KRO. The link to listen was http://www.goudmijn.kro.nl/

This is a program were far away friends send songs to each other. I was touched to listen to Ylona from Seoul talking on a Dutch radio about herself and two of us having good time in Seoul. She sent me “La Camisa Negra” by Juanes. Dear Ylona, thanks again for making me happy!
But the idea is the receiver of a song should make another friend happy. Immediately on Monday I was contacted by Margo - a program assistant. To keep both Seoul and Dutch connection I decided to send a song to Andre – a friend of mine from Seoul who is now in Jakarta. To choose a song I needed some time for deliberation. Making a song choice was not without difficulties, but finally I choose a song by Mercedes Sosa who unfortunately passed away on Oct 4th.

Margo - the program assistant - told me she will call me on Sunday. As last weekend I was with Kees and Catharine in Crimea I could not warn Andre to listen to the program (as Ylona warned me).
So yesterday afternoon while Kees, Catharina and myself were driving in Crimea from Sevastopol to the airport in Semfiropol, Margo called me and I found myself “on air”.
It felt bizarre to sit in a car with my Dutch friends on our way to the airport in Simferopol to catch a plane back to Kiev while sending an “on air letter” to a Dutch friend I met in Seoul who now lives in Jakarta. As we were driving the mobile phone connection was poor. I heard only half of what Margo and the editor said. I also tried to speak “my best” Dutch. Kees and Catharine were very supportive – they have not laughed while I spoke Dutch on the radio.

Today I received an email from Andre. He was happy to hear me and to receive a song.
Now Andre has a chance to greet a friend!

What a great idea from kro.nl to give people a chance to make far away friends both closer and happy by sending songs all over the world through their radio program!