WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:12.280 And so, my post-con depression has already kicked in. 00:00:07.990 --> 00:00:14.799 However, I want to thank everyone who made BronyCon so great. 00:00:14.799 --> 00:00:20.109 Coming all the way from the Netherlands was not easy, 00:00:17.230 --> 00:00:22.840 but everything was worth the journey. 00:00:20.109 --> 00:00:25.720 Even if I had to do it a thousand times again, 00:00:22.840 --> 00:00:27.760 I still would've done it just to meet up with my friends again, 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:33.490 after not having seen them for more than an entire year. 00:00:33.490 --> 00:00:37.750 Ever since the last convention ended, 00:00:36.250 --> 00:00:40.480 I have been counting down the days until the next one began. 00:00:37.750 --> 00:00:43.120 It is still hard to fathom that this year marks my eighth and the final BronyCon. 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:51.370 Time flies, 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:53.890 Time flies, and so will I within a few moments. 00:00:51.370 --> 00:00:56.500 And during that time, it will be a long journey of 00:00:53.890 --> 00:01:01.390 thinking about all the events that have 00:00:56.500 --> 00:01:05.260 transpired during this past weekend. 00:01:01.390 --> 00:01:07.030 One convention, many heroes. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:10.330 Innumerable friends to meet, and countless experiences to share. 00:01:07.030 --> 00:01:12.220 I have seen so many amazing and beautiful people when I was there, 00:01:12.220 --> 00:01:16.990 and thinking back; 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:21.270 I'm still amazed how vibrant the attendees were at the venue. 00:01:16.990 --> 00:01:24.550 Young and old, male and female fans, 00:01:21.270 --> 00:01:27.610 citizens and visitors; 00:01:24.550 --> 00:01:29.160 the convention consisted of all walks of life. 00:01:27.610 --> 00:01:32.520 There were people coming all over the world, 00:01:29.160 --> 00:01:36.010 people all the way from France, Belgium, 00:01:32.520 --> 00:01:38.890 Sweden, and even oriental countries such 00:01:36.010 --> 00:01:41.230 as Taiwan and Japan. 00:01:38.890 --> 00:01:44.440 There were also people from the UK and Germany, 00:01:41.230 --> 00:01:46.330 you know, my neighbors. 00:01:44.440 --> 00:01:48.700 And they were also even a few people from Netherlands for the very first time as well, 00:01:46.330 --> 00:01:51.690 the country where I'm from, 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:54.930 which gave me a sense of home, 00:01:51.690 --> 00:01:59.260 despite me being so far away from it. 00:01:54.930 --> 00:02:03.130 To me, the convention was a microcosm 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:06.090 and a representation of the world. 00:02:03.130 --> 00:02:10.629 With all of her strengths, and none of her weaknesses; 00:02:06.090 --> 00:02:13.270 contained in one single venue. 00:02:10.629 --> 00:02:15.580 It was a brief utopia on Earth. 00:02:13.270 --> 00:02:19.810 Not only that, this convention allowed me to catch a glimpse into the future as well, 00:02:19.810 --> 00:02:25.410 when I saw how kind everyone was to each other, 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:30.340 how everyone treated each other, 00:02:25.410 --> 00:02:33.550 I thought to myself; 00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:35.620 this is what humans should be like in the future, 00:02:33.550 --> 00:02:36.270 this is what the world should be like in the future. 00:02:36.270 --> 00:02:44.500 This phenomenon I experienced, 00:02:40.510 --> 00:02:49.810 the ability to peer into the future, 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:50.980 is truly magic. 00:02:49.810 --> 00:02:54.219 To me, these people weren't just attendees. 00:02:50.980 --> 00:02:58.069 They were even more than mere friends. 00:02:54.219 --> 00:03:00.739 They are family to me. 00:02:58.069 --> 00:03:02.780 Being a part of the community for so many years, 00:03:00.739 --> 00:03:05.569 we have been through so many events since the inception of our fan base. 00:03:05.569 --> 00:03:10.819 Whether it's the friends we've made, 00:03:07.609 --> 00:03:14.180 or the opposition we faced, 00:03:10.819 --> 00:03:18.250 we all have shared similar experiences and common interest among 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:20.930 each other that makes us all... family. 00:03:18.250 --> 00:03:23.200 That's why it was especially hard for me 00:03:20.930 --> 00:03:26.930 to say goodbye to a family of more than 10,200 people. 00:03:23.200 --> 00:03:29.870 This community binds us together, 00:03:26.930 --> 00:03:31.189 and thus; we are all brothers and sisters within this fandom. 00:03:31.189 --> 00:03:38.889 These events have connected us, and so did the convention. 00:03:38.889 --> 00:03:43.069 Throughout the year, I kept thinking about my distant friends 00:03:41.359 --> 00:03:45.620 in dire and good times alike. 00:03:43.069 --> 00:03:47.930 I have missed them dearly, 00:03:45.620 --> 00:03:50.599 and I will miss them again after this con. 00:03:47.930 --> 00:03:53.120 What makes my post-con depression even more painful 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:58.099 is not just that I live so far away from them, 00:03:55.040 --> 00:04:02.479 but also the knowledge that this year's BronyCon was the final one. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:09.590 I am separated so far away from them, 00:04:06.290 --> 00:04:13.370 seas and nation apart, 00:04:09.590 --> 00:04:16.130 and Celestia knows when I will ever get to see them again. 00:04:13.370 --> 00:04:18.799 As we each go our separate ways, 00:04:16.130 --> 00:04:20.440 I know I'll have to re-adjust back to my daily life 00:04:18.799 --> 00:04:24.229 once I'm in the Netherlands. 00:04:20.440 --> 00:04:24.800 However, despite being so far away from them, 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:32.030 there is one thought that keeps me going; 00:04:28.780 --> 00:04:34.940 the joyous souls may not be alongside with me anymore, 00:04:32.030 --> 00:04:37.750 but their enduring spirits will forever remain with me. 00:04:37.750 --> 00:04:42.560 And knowing that we all happen to live on 00:04:40.340 --> 00:04:45.409 the same mote of dust in this vast universe, 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:48.320 floating across the seas of space and time, 00:04:45.409 --> 00:04:51.330 that we also breathe the air, 00:04:48.320 --> 00:04:55.590 and look up at the same sky; 00:04:51.330 --> 00:04:59.940 connected by light - it just reminds me 00:04:55.590 --> 00:05:01.680 that we may be closer than we think. 00:04:59.940 --> 00:05:04.319 And not only are we connected by the light from the same sky, 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:08.550 not only are we connected by the light in the form of 00:05:06.030 --> 00:05:13.139 radio signals that allows us to stay connected, 00:05:08.550 --> 00:05:16.349 We are also connected by the 00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:19.830 very same light that has made all of us as well, 00:05:16.349 --> 00:05:23.490 the light that originated from the Big Bang. 00:05:19.830 --> 00:05:25.710 We are connected by the 00:05:23.490 --> 00:05:29.219 very same light that gave rise of all existence. 00:05:25.710 --> 00:05:32.520 We are always connected, 00:05:29.219 --> 00:05:35.129 and all the elements I've mentioned 00:05:32.520 --> 00:05:37.409 are enough to give me comfort that 00:05:35.129 --> 00:05:40.860 all of you are still here with me, really close by, 00:05:37.409 --> 00:05:44.719 by my side; 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:47.460 for our paths are connected, and our destinies are shared. 00:05:44.719 --> 00:05:50.099 The memories I got from the convention, 00:05:47.460 --> 00:05:53.340 as well as all the people within those memories; 00:05:50.099 --> 00:05:56.729 they will always remain with me, forever. 00:05:53.340 --> 00:05:58.870 I will treasure those memories 00:05:56.729 --> 00:06:01.270 for the rest of my life, 00:05:58.870 --> 00:06:05.380 and as I all those memories close to my heart, 00:06:01.270 --> 00:06:09.580 everyone alongside those memories 00:06:05.380 --> 00:06:12.550 will still be close to me too. 00:06:09.580 --> 00:06:16.979 In that sense, it will no longer matter wherever I may go, 00:06:12.550 --> 00:06:19.570 or how far away I may be, 00:06:16.979 --> 00:06:22.750 because I will carry all of you within my heart, 00:06:19.570 --> 00:06:25.800 just like I do with my memories, 00:06:22.750 --> 00:06:30.850 because you are all in it, at all times; always. 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:35.260 I will always keep you all in my thoughts, 00:06:30.850 --> 00:06:37.690 and every time I reflect back on those memories, 00:06:35.260 --> 00:06:41.440 I will be able to picture you 00:06:37.690 --> 00:06:44.440 right in front of me. 00:06:41.440 --> 00:06:48.610 Even though we may go our separate ways, 00:06:44.440 --> 00:06:50.740 our shared elements keep us all connected, 00:06:48.610 --> 00:06:54.370 no matter how far apart we may be from each other. 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:57.039 That's for sure. 00:06:54.370 --> 00:07:00.250 That's why, in avery special and meaningful way, 00:06:57.039 --> 00:07:03.039 you are all still here with me right now. 00:07:00.250 --> 00:07:05.740 All of you are as much a part of my life as 00:07:03.039 --> 00:07:07.840 I am a part of your lives. 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:10.120 And now I'll never be able to fully express how lucky 00:07:07.840 --> 00:07:15.250 and grateful I am... 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:17.139 to have all of you guys whom 00:07:15.250 --> 00:07:22.000 I regard not just as my lifelong friends, 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:24.220 but that's my family. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:26.560 I will always remember every single one of you, 00:07:24.220 --> 00:07:26.919 I'll never forget how amazing you all are, 00:07:26.919 --> 00:07:34.120 and all the fun we had at the venue. 00:07:29.910 --> 00:07:38.120 I came here alone, and now alone shall I return. 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:42.050 "Alone". 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:44.680 In my mind, this word has a multitude of 00:07:42.050 --> 00:07:47.540 meanings and emotions embedded in it, 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:51.590 because it is exactly how I feel right now. 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:53.830 As soon as I board the plane, it will be 00:07:51.590 --> 00:07:57.590 more than 20 hours of constant 00:07:53.830 --> 00:07:59.680 retrospection and reflection about all 00:07:57.590 --> 00:08:01.850 the events from the past couple of days, 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:05.150 especially the people I've seen 00:08:01.850 --> 00:08:08.150 and the friends I've met. 00:08:05.150 --> 00:08:11.270 No matter how much I draw, 00:08:08.150 --> 00:08:15.229 or how much I contribute to this community, 00:08:11.270 --> 00:08:19.010 I will never be able to repay you, all of you, 00:08:15.229 --> 00:08:22.430 for everything you have shared with me. 00:08:19.010 --> 00:08:26.060 The inspiration, the motivation, the dedication, as well as the 00:08:22.430 --> 00:08:28.820 kindness, emotions, experiences, memories, 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:31.340 and most important of all; the friendship 00:08:28.820 --> 00:08:34.729 I got from this convention, from you guys 00:08:31.340 --> 00:08:36.650 are gifts that you have given me, 00:08:34.729 --> 00:08:40.490 that I will treasure for the rest of my life, 00:08:36.650 --> 00:08:46.279 because these past five days are days I 00:08:40.490 --> 00:08:48.620 will never, ever forget. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:52.190 I will always remember the unforgettable moments there, 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:55.790 such as when we have raised over $80,000 00:08:52.190 --> 00:08:57.320 at the charity auction. 00:08:55.790 --> 00:09:00.080 Even though this is my 8th BronyCon, 00:08:57.320 --> 00:09:03.050 I always experience something new. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:06.529 Thanks to you guys, it's always an adventure to be there. 00:09:03.050 --> 00:09:10.070 We have made our voices heard, 00:09:06.529 --> 00:09:12.860 had fun together, broke new records together, 00:09:10.070 --> 00:09:14.890 and to those who are 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:16.760 having post-con blues and depression, 00:09:14.890 --> 00:09:21.250 just let it all out if you must, 00:09:16.760 --> 00:09:24.470 because I sure as hell did. 00:09:21.250 --> 00:09:28.190 It's one of the most human things we can do, 00:09:24.470 --> 00:09:32.120 to express our emotions that makes one 00:09:28.190 --> 00:09:34.010 feel truly alive. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:37.430 Let us shed our tears and channel those emotions together 00:09:34.010 --> 00:09:42.170 into something positive, 00:09:37.430 --> 00:09:44.600 in order to change the world together. 00:09:42.170 --> 00:09:47.150 Not just a world where future generations of people 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:49.940 won't have to hide their enthusiasm 00:09:47.150 --> 00:09:53.900 for a wholesome cartoon in fear, 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:56.090 but also much more broader than that, 00:09:53.900 --> 00:09:57.920 where those future generations of people 00:09:56.090 --> 00:10:01.160 won't be judged by their harmless interests 00:09:57.920 --> 00:10:03.860 and innocuous preferences, and are able to 00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:06.740 openly celebrate their passion for their 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:11.780 hobbies without being reviled nor 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:13.820 ridiculed by the rest of society. 00:10:11.780 --> 00:10:16.730 There are no words more fitting to the end of this convention, 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:18.440 than what Mayor Mare said 00:10:16.730 --> 00:10:22.550 at the end of the 100th episode of the show. 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:25.400 To this very day, 00:10:22.550 --> 00:10:30.340 her quote still holds true and is incredibly 00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:35.180 relevant to the past few days. 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:37.100 And thus, I paraphrase; 00:10:35.180 --> 00:10:38.370 "I see so many people from all walks of life, 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:40.259 brought together by friendship. 00:10:38.370 --> 00:10:43.889 I traveled all across the lands and oceans 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:46.249 to find my friends again, 00:10:43.889 --> 00:10:49.620 and no matter what obstacles kept us apart, 00:10:46.249 --> 00:10:52.319 friendship would finally bring me and my friends together, 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:56.639 just as it has brought everyone together now. 00:10:52.319 --> 00:11:00.089 it's remarkable to me 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:02.850 how one cartoon show could fill the 00:11:00.089 --> 00:11:05.970 entire convention with such a unique collection of people. 00:11:05.970 --> 00:11:11.910 It makes you realize that everyone is the star of their own story. 00:11:08.550 --> 00:11:14.249 And it isn't just the important people in our stories 00:11:14.249 --> 00:11:22.319 that makes life so rich. 00:11:19.050 --> 00:11:25.050 It is everyone - those who play big parts and small. 00:11:22.319 --> 00:11:28.769 If it weren't for everyone in the convention, 00:11:25.050 --> 00:11:34.139 and many more who couldn't be there, 00:11:28.769 --> 00:11:36.629 this community wouldn't be as full and vibrant as it is." 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:40.230 These will be my final words before I board 00:11:36.629 --> 00:11:42.269 the plane back to home, back to reality, 00:11:40.230 --> 00:11:45.660 but know that all of you are awesome 00:11:42.269 --> 00:11:48.509 and amazing in my eyes, and will always have 00:11:45.660 --> 00:11:50.279 a special place in my heart. 00:11:48.509 --> 00:11:53.089 Thank you all so much for coming to the final BronyCon, 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:56.579 and giving me that chance, 00:11:53.089 --> 00:11:58.620 that privilege, to see you guys one last time 00:11:56.579 --> 00:12:01.740 before the final BronyCon ended, 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:04.620 and thank you so much... so, so much for the 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:07.499 unforgettable moments and memories you all 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:10.350 have shared with me. 00:12:07.499 --> 00:12:15.350 Your presence alone made the convention so much 00:12:10.350 --> 00:12:17.939 brighter than already was. 00:12:15.350 --> 00:12:20.670 I salute you. Many greetings from the Netherlands, 00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:24.420 I had such a great time in the United States. 00:12:20.670 --> 00:12:28.740 Thank you all for being so kind to me, 00:12:24.420 --> 00:12:31.259 and making me feel welcomed. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:33.990 I won't say farewell to you all, but I 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:35.279 will say; "see you later", 00:12:33.990 --> 00:12:37.910 because at some point in the future, 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:41.150 we'll definitely meet each again. 00:12:37.910 --> 00:12:42.940 We will definitely, one day; 00:12:41.150 --> 00:12:45.950 see each other again. 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:48.710 Remember to stay 20% cooler my friends. 00:12:45.950 --> 00:12:50.960 Here is a brohoof, all the way from the Netherlands 00:12:48.710 --> 00:12:55.340 before I board my flight back home; /) 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:57.910 And to my friends in the Netherlands; 00:12:55.340 --> 00:13:16.310 I'm coming home...