Inspiration
Winning the 2020 Olympics is the ambition of Kevin Waimana Viezee, the 21-year-old Kenyan, who has been competing in the Olympics since he was eighteen. Amsterdam lives. He wants to come out as a sprinter for the Netherlands.
Kevin: 'I was born in Kenya. But when I was three, I was adopted and came to the Netherlands. At eight, I moved back to Nairobi with my parents, where I went to school from eight to eighteen. My parents are half Kenyan and half Dutch, and I have both Dutch and Kenyan citizenship. I did learn Dutch, but not enough to properly participate in society. That's why I went back to Nairobi. taal'to start taking lessons.'
If I win, I want to be able to speak Dutch well
Kevin is currently taking the Advanced Dutch course at TopTaal, a course aimed at participants from level A2 who taalwant to improve skills. This is a project in collaboration with the municipality Amsterdam for residents who are not required to integrate. He found the first year particularly difficult. And although speaking comes easily to him, writing remains difficult. 'I am dyslexic and learning a new language taal That's why it's extra difficult. I have classes twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I don't always understand the grammar, but it's getting better and better.
Dear runner
Besides his taalKevin works for his cousin, who owns a small hotel in the center of the capital, near Dam Square. "I've always worked in the kitchen, and I really miss that now. I only do breakfast two days a week now. Eventually, I'd like to become a chef because I really enjoy cooking. I often cook for myself. I think Jamie Olivier is a great chef, so I use a lot of his recipes. Lots of vegetables, fish, rice, and pasta. I don't make Kenyan food because I don't like it and it's a bit boring."
I really like to understand more and more
What is his dream? 'To become the best runner in the world. I want to compete for the Netherlands at the 2020 Olympic Games. That's why I train fanatically. Usually six times a week, sometimes even twice a day. Only then will there be a chance of competing in the Olympic Games. If I win, I want to be able to speak Dutch well. So I'm also busy with the taal to learn even better.'