I’m guessing most of my readers are well familiar with that term, but for newcomers: ‘Zooite’ is the title you get being a volunteer on (initially) Galaxy Zoo or (nowadays) any of the Zooniverse projects. I often use it to refer to my Zoo-friends; the people I met through the Zoo-forum a couple of years ago. Although lately that fine line between this initial group, other astro-buddies and those I’ve met elsewhere (twitter-pals?) who turned Zooites afterwards is a bit of a nice blur.
Us Zooites first met up in London, attending AstroFest 2008. But besides the big events this hard-core bunch has been visiting since, there have also been a few mini-meets (think: a few of us, more or less spontaneously getting together, mostly in pubs). The other week (this is really just a little update) I got together with three Zooites, but on three different days and I’m thinking that has to be a record surely. I saw Els in Belgium, as she accompanied me to the TV studios. Zooite Graham went along to Patrick’s party in Selsey and Geoff came to visit me with two of his friends!
With them I went to Maastricht, where we did the (English) tour in the ‘caves’. This home to many bats was made because the Romans were after the limestone building blocks, which consists mostly of chalk – left there by sea creatures. A rather famous sea creature was found here as well; the Mosasaur. And incidentally, it’s the place our vlaaien originated from! Once the space was there, it turned out handy for many things. People used it as a hideaway and storage place during World War II. But it’s also a space restaurants grow mushrooms in.
After the tour, Geoff, his friends Richard and Yvonne (who turned out Zooites too!) and I had a typical Limburgisch bite to eat. Geoff and some of the other (mostly English) Zooites have been encouraging me to arrange another more official get-together in my neck of the woods. And as I’m turning 30 this year on the 30th (!) of May, we decided that would be a good occasion (yay)! Meanwhile, I can recommend a visit to the caves in Maastricht, where we took this picture…
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I like the Limburg food and made my own version of Zoervleis which I had for dinner tonight. Hopefully get to try something else next time I’m in Maastricht.
Geoff
I like how you say it in ‘Limburgs’ as well (‘zoervleis’)! In the official Dutch language it would be ‘zuurvlees’ (sour meat). But since it’s a local dish…
Looking forward to the next time you’re over!! x