wow. so much can happen in a day when you travel. I arrived in madrid early morn yesterfday after 7.5 hours sitting on a bus beside a fat, mustached spainard. needless to day, after not sleeping for 5 days, i was not in the best of moods. but i repressed by exhastion and drank more espresso. i found my way to the hostel after 15 min of staring at the metro map.
then i checked in, went to bed and spend the day sightseeing. except all the museams are closed on monday and xmas, so i just walked around saw beautiful buildings and went browsing. madrid looks like a great city. i was surprised and expected it to be dirty and sprawling.
but it has tiny street, bakeries and large sqaure buildings that are still white which i think means that they are new.
i went to the palace, which was nice obviously. madrid was created as a captial fairly recently, in the 16th or 17th century.
its doesnt have wide blvds like barcelona does, but it def. has its own charm.
and my hostel is AMAZING. okay its not that good...but its a hertiage site. ith as stained glass windows, a giant atrium, very bright and cheerful. and my hostel room has no windows which means that i m not woken up by sunslight. suprisingly, this is the first hostel ive been in where ppl dont wake up at 8am. n my room of 14 beds ppl are still sleeping at noon. its great.
so after a long day i went to go check my email on the comp im on now, in the bar downstairs.
i heard the americans before i saw them.
there was a wait for the comp so i had to sit near them, but i specifally angled myself away from them. then an argentian girl started talking to me and introduced me to the americans.
great i thought, just what i need, loud, obnoxious american frat boys.
oh....but it is so much more complex then that.
so much more.
i will have to give this in point form. otherwise i wouldnt know where to start
1. im a jew magnet, this is just a fact
2. the first american i spoke to is a jew
3. he was traveling with 6 friends, they live in napes
4. they live in naples beacuse....they sailors
5. as in they sail for a living? a hobby? they are crew? oh no...they are in the American NAVY.
so obviously we got to talking. and i warmed to them after they immediately assured me that they were not stupid americans and understood that they were at war over oil not WMD etc.,
i started drinking wine out of a nalgene bottle.
things progreesed.
2 more ppl joined our table. guess who?Jews!!
I should advertise my jew magnet services.
A guy introduced himself as a philosopy major, named david. i mean....duh...
he was sitting beside this short dark haird girl in a hoodie. i mean...duh...
Then one navy boy...SaltnPepper (gray haired) started rilieing me up about canada. oh my. I got frustrated. becasuse WE ARE A DIFFERENMT COUNTRY DAMMIT AND OUR CURRENCY IS HIGHER THEN YOURS SO SUCK MY BEAVER TAIL ASS.
But he taught some things i didnt know. like the canadian army trains with the american army. and we apparntly actually DO have a good army! we are good at special forces apparntly. boy was I proud of canada then!
i thought our army was only good to shovel snow...
I will give each drama action by character...it would get to messy chronologically..and these navy boys..trust me, they love drama
2ADays
then this girl named Knee Dropper...for reasons that will soon become obvious.
she and her BOYFRIEND joined the table. immediately she started being ALL OVER 2ADays (this guy looks made to vbe an american football player)
eventually...she told him that she would give him a blow job. with her boyfriend sitting beside her. totally. bloody. serious. he slipped her a note saying he would meet her in the 2nd floor bathroom at 4 30 am. she nodded.
430 am rolls around. he goes to meet her. but....the 2nd floor is closed!
what does he do_
He mopes around the hostel like Heathcliffe, circling the balcony.
I inisted that her bf was in on it and they are swingers. cuz this girl was practically on his lap...with her bf beside her.
This guy could have also gtten Argetnians, because....her husband had LEFT her that night. i think they were only married so he could get an EU pasoprt though...but still...but apprantly her ass was too big. and the other girl said she would blow him which is a 100% best pick up line ever.
are you listening ladies? if yuo ever want to hook up with a guy...just tel them that you will blow them. it is a garuntee.
Smart Minority
Token minority in the navy. 1600 SATS. Knew about religion, Israel, educated, wellread, sleeps with a different hooker every night.
SaltnPepper
31, smart,sexy, friendly pays 2300 rent a month, the prettiest, was caught in a Spanish bathroom that had no doors banging a chick doggy style.
AlphaJew
36, Jewish, Married (but....they haev spend years apart so apprantly it doesnt really count), the wittiest, never slept with a hooker, the one who tries to be the matchmaker, the one i spend 3 hours talking to in a laundry room until he tried to kiss me at which point i said..."úm...no.."
That is the lowdown children.
From these Navy Officers, i learnt moer about men in 10 hours that i did in the past 10 years.
THese boys, all good looking, get laid on an extremely regular basis. they know their shit. and they enlighted me more then a philosophy degree ever could. i will impart some of their wisdom to you faithful readers-
there are apprantly two types of girls.Otherwise a guy will not hang out with you.
Girls that guys want to have sex with, and girls that are bait to get other girls.Luckily, they told me that i was in categry number 1. i think my self esteem raised like 20 points.
Guys love women bodies. and sex. and appranlty paying for sex does not diminish from the wonders of sex.
offering a blow job, is the best pickupline hands down that will work . all . the. time.
after spending xmas eve. in a chinese restrauant, with 4 jews, the american army and a depressed argentians, im not going to lie. it was a bloody good xmas.
yes..there are more details children. but....im fucking tired. but...so much more to tell...
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Meeting Greeting Leaving
The problem with going by yourself is that though you meet a lot of ppl, its only for a short time. and the whole time you are thinking that these people are really cool and you wish you had more time to get to know them better.
But you cant. and its depressing. well not depressing, but its like having a string of friendship flings. constant abondonment.
Today I went with 2 great Australian girls around the city look at Gaudiçs things. They know how to read maps, and that is really valuable| i need to learn so i dont waste all my time roaming around. They are going to a Spanish cooking class now, which is super cool. I´m going to start doing cool things like that. I think Im going to go wsurfing in Morcoo with the same company. I wanted to got, but i have to take a night bus to Madrid and FINISH THIS GDDAMNED ESSAY. ruining my bloody life.
I also havent really slept for 4 days and i stayed up late talking to the Australian girl so I am beyong wiped.
but on the bright side, i had starbucks today||||
and today was a gourgous sunny day, so rare for Canadians during xmas. I was wearing a tshirt, but one aussie girl was wearing a longsleeved shirt, a sweater and a puffy vest. just goes to show how everything is relative.
Im still amaaaaazed by Gaudis masterpieces. the Famila will still take 30 more years to finish|| probably because they cant work with all the tourists seeing it.
We went to the museam and learnt where he got his influences from, and he got them from nature. that is why you feel such a connection with his work. its very personal. he modeled, for instance, the pillars, on the way tree branches split.
Too bad a tram crushed him to death.
So ill be on the bus tonight from 11 until 6 45 am, but the good thing is an american boy lent me a converter which i left at home. so at least ill have music|
I wonder how madrid will be like on xmas...if ppl still party or whatnot. hope so. if not maybe i will FINALLY get the essays done and be free to enjoy my life.
But you cant. and its depressing. well not depressing, but its like having a string of friendship flings. constant abondonment.
Today I went with 2 great Australian girls around the city look at Gaudiçs things. They know how to read maps, and that is really valuable| i need to learn so i dont waste all my time roaming around. They are going to a Spanish cooking class now, which is super cool. I´m going to start doing cool things like that. I think Im going to go wsurfing in Morcoo with the same company. I wanted to got, but i have to take a night bus to Madrid and FINISH THIS GDDAMNED ESSAY. ruining my bloody life.
I also havent really slept for 4 days and i stayed up late talking to the Australian girl so I am beyong wiped.
but on the bright side, i had starbucks today||||
and today was a gourgous sunny day, so rare for Canadians during xmas. I was wearing a tshirt, but one aussie girl was wearing a longsleeved shirt, a sweater and a puffy vest. just goes to show how everything is relative.
Im still amaaaaazed by Gaudis masterpieces. the Famila will still take 30 more years to finish|| probably because they cant work with all the tourists seeing it.
We went to the museam and learnt where he got his influences from, and he got them from nature. that is why you feel such a connection with his work. its very personal. he modeled, for instance, the pillars, on the way tree branches split.
Too bad a tram crushed him to death.
So ill be on the bus tonight from 11 until 6 45 am, but the good thing is an american boy lent me a converter which i left at home. so at least ill have music|
I wonder how madrid will be like on xmas...if ppl still party or whatnot. hope so. if not maybe i will FINALLY get the essays done and be free to enjoy my life.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Flasher
After being exhasted i had a really long convo with a new american girl. then i decided to check out Gaudis park. remember that that is the articture guy that i love who creates fantasy buildings. well he also designed a park with buildings that are basically ginger bread houses. I went here and decided to go for a stroll in the wooded grassy areas.
there was this guy there and he was trying to tell me something in spanish but i obviously had no idea what he was saying. he ketps using his fingers in the walking motions so i thought he was lost or something. then i saw this other guy. and i jsut didnt get a good feeling about him so went the other wya. then he followed me.
i tried to tell myself that maybe he was just searching for a way out too.
and then i looked behind me.
and his penis was out of his pants. ´
and he was stroking it.
my heart skipped 3 beats. I was alone, in a wooded area with a man who thinks it is okay to jack off infront of young girls. i imagined the headlines CANADIAN GIRL FOUND DEAD IN GAUDIS NOT=SO FAIRYLAND PARK.
i started screamings ÇFUCK OFF YOU DISGUSTING AHHHHH FUCK OFFç
and ran the fuck out of there where i ran into a tourist looking guy and he told me how to get out of there but didnt seem overley concerned about what i had seen.
i dont think he fully got it, he wasnt a native speaker.
i almost started crying.
i went to the museam shop guys and told them what happened and you know what they said ?
oh yea, we get this every day.
WHAT. like is he a fixture of the park or what the fuuuuck. you can go around doing that. its harrasment. and disgusting. and makes people feel horrible and gross nd hate barcelona.
so they called the cops, btu they told me it prolly wouldnt help´.
as pathetic fallacy would have it, it started pouring and i went home. now im going to try really hard and finish my essay and go to madrid on the night bus tmrw.
there was this guy there and he was trying to tell me something in spanish but i obviously had no idea what he was saying. he ketps using his fingers in the walking motions so i thought he was lost or something. then i saw this other guy. and i jsut didnt get a good feeling about him so went the other wya. then he followed me.
i tried to tell myself that maybe he was just searching for a way out too.
and then i looked behind me.
and his penis was out of his pants. ´
and he was stroking it.
my heart skipped 3 beats. I was alone, in a wooded area with a man who thinks it is okay to jack off infront of young girls. i imagined the headlines CANADIAN GIRL FOUND DEAD IN GAUDIS NOT=SO FAIRYLAND PARK.
i started screamings ÇFUCK OFF YOU DISGUSTING AHHHHH FUCK OFFç
and ran the fuck out of there where i ran into a tourist looking guy and he told me how to get out of there but didnt seem overley concerned about what i had seen.
i dont think he fully got it, he wasnt a native speaker.
i almost started crying.
i went to the museam shop guys and told them what happened and you know what they said ?
oh yea, we get this every day.
WHAT. like is he a fixture of the park or what the fuuuuck. you can go around doing that. its harrasment. and disgusting. and makes people feel horrible and gross nd hate barcelona.
so they called the cops, btu they told me it prolly wouldnt help´.
as pathetic fallacy would have it, it started pouring and i went home. now im going to try really hard and finish my essay and go to madrid on the night bus tmrw.
Harry Potter, Per Favore
Day 2 in Barcleona:
>I heard this distinctive voice outside my dorm room int he early morning. It could only mean one thing; än American.
I walked outside and said without thinking ¨Hi my names danielle, where in new york are you from?¨ç
YOu know why?it was my subconcsious telling me how Jewish this kid was. But it turns out he was from arizona...but common...i was close. and he WAS jewish. Wanna know how I found out?
Him; Oh, Ive been to canada before
me; how?
Him; Oh, a youth group trip
subtext; wow your hair is really curly. i wonder if your jewish
Me;mhmm..which one
subtext; bingo..this kid is defnitely jewish. i´m thinking USY
him;NIFTY
subtext; she knows what i just said.aha! i knew she was a jew too. it is so obvious i have amazing jewdar
Me; Yea i went to arizona on NCSY, they just switch us, eh
subtext; reform! wait...why do i only keep meeting jews no matter whre i travel? are we really everywhere?
So after that I went to the fämous street; La Ramblas.
Maybe in the summer because of all the tourists it is crazy, but it was just a nice street. no artists, a few street perfromas, but not insane like id been lead to belive. everyone spoke spanish, except for a few tourists with their maps and cameras out.
on the side of La Ramblas was a famous market.
I nearly threw up.
The market started off nice by selling chocolate and nuts and quickly detieroated into animals. and not Loblaws animals. full. animals. the only wya you could tell that they were dead is becuase they wernt moving.
it was disgusting.
chickens with their heads still on with their feathers. baby pigs that still had their eyelases. my friend told me she even saw rabbits there. the poor lobsters were moving their ineffectual claws just waiting to be dropped into a pot of boiling water.
it was a depressing place.
but everyone else seemed to love it.
if iw asnt already a vegitarian, that would defintiley be the turning point for me to become one. i still have nightmares about it.
the chickens hanging by a hook from their neck...oy
I walked down to the port, then up into the Gothic area. Tiny cobbled alleywys where potters and cotteners used to live. adoarble. except for the sketchy youth that were hanging around. i think there are housing projects there. europe is kind of turning me into a xenophobist.
I went to the Picasso museam, and i have to say, im not a huge fan. im nore into ancient sculptures and renissance art then modern.
I just dont see the depth to it.
i did like tho the part where there were this old magazine cuttings of women, advertising for perfume in a bathing suit in 1940, and he would draw grffiti on it of a weird man looking up or down at them.
i found it satircal. and funny.
and the fact that these women in the ad must have been a size 8. isnt that crazy¨. i coudnt even see their ribcages.
i then walked nd walked and walked around for more. it rained off and on for like 30 seconds at a time. i did a little browsing on p.Garcia, a shopping street with wide bolavards and palm trees. it must be sooo nice in the summer. everything is nice in the summer though. i saw more starbucks there, but have yet to have any. im trying to stay on budget here||
I went back to the hostel at the same time as the Israels who told me they tried to go to shul so they would get invited to a shabbas dinner, but the shul was closed...on a friday. so sad. once spain was the centre of jewry. now you cnt even find a shul open on shabbas in a major city.
then american jew from this morning told me it was his brothers 21st birthday and they were all going out. but the israelis were also going out. and they were being relaly tense about it like wnated to go out really early. and i would have rather spend time with the americans_no thanks to the 2 giant smirnoff bottles they had_ but i didnt want to ditch the israelis so i went with them to a shot bar promising to meet up with the americans later.
this shot bar.....has like...100 shots at least all printed on the wall for 1.80 euro. i ordered a harry potter. delish. then babylon. delish. then the bartender lit my thumb on fire.
seriously.
Danielle,what did you learn in spain
Well, mom, i learned how to set my thumb on fire and then put it out in my mouth.
then we went to this hip hop club. non of them wanted to meet up with the americans. and the hostel worker guy was with us and was majorly macking on this american girl.=
akkkkwaard.
so we had to take a cab to this bar. cabs START at 4 euro. i was kinda pissed.
we totally could have wlked but whatever. so we get there and it is the worst myusic on the top floor. like seriously it was funny, like all 70s to 90smusic. but the place started filling up a lot at 3. i put my money and keys into americns girl bag for safekeeping. and then she dissappered with hostel worker. well...4 hours later....where the fuck were they? thats right. they LEFT. and one israely guy went off with a really ugly columbian girl.
and the other israeli guy had given his keys to the night hostel worker. dammit.
second bloody time ive been locked out of my hostel. first time was in amsterdam.
so we walked home at like 5 ish am and the other hostel worker let us in . and then i stayed up a few more house reaserching train rides. crashed asleep.
then woke up at like 10 becuase i couldnt get back asleep.
>I heard this distinctive voice outside my dorm room int he early morning. It could only mean one thing; än American.
I walked outside and said without thinking ¨Hi my names danielle, where in new york are you from?¨ç
YOu know why?it was my subconcsious telling me how Jewish this kid was. But it turns out he was from arizona...but common...i was close. and he WAS jewish. Wanna know how I found out?
Him; Oh, Ive been to canada before
me; how?
Him; Oh, a youth group trip
subtext; wow your hair is really curly. i wonder if your jewish
Me;mhmm..which one
subtext; bingo..this kid is defnitely jewish. i´m thinking USY
him;NIFTY
subtext; she knows what i just said.aha! i knew she was a jew too. it is so obvious i have amazing jewdar
Me; Yea i went to arizona on NCSY, they just switch us, eh
subtext; reform! wait...why do i only keep meeting jews no matter whre i travel? are we really everywhere?
So after that I went to the fämous street; La Ramblas.
Maybe in the summer because of all the tourists it is crazy, but it was just a nice street. no artists, a few street perfromas, but not insane like id been lead to belive. everyone spoke spanish, except for a few tourists with their maps and cameras out.
on the side of La Ramblas was a famous market.
I nearly threw up.
The market started off nice by selling chocolate and nuts and quickly detieroated into animals. and not Loblaws animals. full. animals. the only wya you could tell that they were dead is becuase they wernt moving.
it was disgusting.
chickens with their heads still on with their feathers. baby pigs that still had their eyelases. my friend told me she even saw rabbits there. the poor lobsters were moving their ineffectual claws just waiting to be dropped into a pot of boiling water.
it was a depressing place.
but everyone else seemed to love it.
if iw asnt already a vegitarian, that would defintiley be the turning point for me to become one. i still have nightmares about it.
the chickens hanging by a hook from their neck...oy
I walked down to the port, then up into the Gothic area. Tiny cobbled alleywys where potters and cotteners used to live. adoarble. except for the sketchy youth that were hanging around. i think there are housing projects there. europe is kind of turning me into a xenophobist.
I went to the Picasso museam, and i have to say, im not a huge fan. im nore into ancient sculptures and renissance art then modern.
I just dont see the depth to it.
i did like tho the part where there were this old magazine cuttings of women, advertising for perfume in a bathing suit in 1940, and he would draw grffiti on it of a weird man looking up or down at them.
i found it satircal. and funny.
and the fact that these women in the ad must have been a size 8. isnt that crazy¨. i coudnt even see their ribcages.
i then walked nd walked and walked around for more. it rained off and on for like 30 seconds at a time. i did a little browsing on p.Garcia, a shopping street with wide bolavards and palm trees. it must be sooo nice in the summer. everything is nice in the summer though. i saw more starbucks there, but have yet to have any. im trying to stay on budget here||
I went back to the hostel at the same time as the Israels who told me they tried to go to shul so they would get invited to a shabbas dinner, but the shul was closed...on a friday. so sad. once spain was the centre of jewry. now you cnt even find a shul open on shabbas in a major city.
then american jew from this morning told me it was his brothers 21st birthday and they were all going out. but the israelis were also going out. and they were being relaly tense about it like wnated to go out really early. and i would have rather spend time with the americans_no thanks to the 2 giant smirnoff bottles they had_ but i didnt want to ditch the israelis so i went with them to a shot bar promising to meet up with the americans later.
this shot bar.....has like...100 shots at least all printed on the wall for 1.80 euro. i ordered a harry potter. delish. then babylon. delish. then the bartender lit my thumb on fire.
seriously.
Danielle,what did you learn in spain
Well, mom, i learned how to set my thumb on fire and then put it out in my mouth.
then we went to this hip hop club. non of them wanted to meet up with the americans. and the hostel worker guy was with us and was majorly macking on this american girl.=
akkkkwaard.
so we had to take a cab to this bar. cabs START at 4 euro. i was kinda pissed.
we totally could have wlked but whatever. so we get there and it is the worst myusic on the top floor. like seriously it was funny, like all 70s to 90smusic. but the place started filling up a lot at 3. i put my money and keys into americns girl bag for safekeeping. and then she dissappered with hostel worker. well...4 hours later....where the fuck were they? thats right. they LEFT. and one israely guy went off with a really ugly columbian girl.
and the other israeli guy had given his keys to the night hostel worker. dammit.
second bloody time ive been locked out of my hostel. first time was in amsterdam.
so we walked home at like 5 ish am and the other hostel worker let us in . and then i stayed up a few more house reaserching train rides. crashed asleep.
then woke up at like 10 becuase i couldnt get back asleep.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Shouldn´t have left the compass at home
Okay so after not sleeping for likie...a bajillion hours, I am writing this post. be happy.
I am a firm believer in trains over planes. not only are they better for the envinronment, but they are actually faster and not that much more expensive.
Sure you can get a ryanair flight for one cent, but when you add on taxes, time spent getting to airports practially in a different city, credit card fees, baggage fees, food fees, you´re looking at the same price as a train and a hell of a lot less hassle.
take the trains kids, listen to david suziki.
I woke up (ok, fine, i didnt go to bed) at 6, left my house at 6¨45 and didnt get to my hostel until 2 pm! Hate. planes.
bus__train___train__bust___Plane___bus__walking for half an hour takes a fuking long time. sooo happy im flying into BRU instead of out the way hole in the ground charleroi.
so i got to barcelona, and i really had no idea what to expect. ive never seen pictures or anything.
its a pretty city.
not sprawling and dirty like milan.
There are palm tree and boardwalks. Its kinda like florida actually.
the people aren´t rude, there are almost no gypsies selling anything (maybe in the summer?) and there are almost no tourists.
after going to my hostel and almost KILLING my sleeping bag (long story short i lost the sleeping bag bag and it wont scrunch small enough to attach to my backpack anymore) i set out for walk.
Footprints guidebooks are supposed to be the new lonely planet, but lonely planet is much clearer and well organized i think. i just gave up and started to roam.
well actually first i was starving because ryan air is too cheap to get food so i went to a cultural icon: mcdonalds.
dont stone me now. mcdonalds, as i think ive said before really represents a culture. for instance, here they gave me SALSA instead of ketchup.
but i actually would have gone anywhere but i was so hungry i went for the first place i saw.
then i went back to my hostel---which is super adorable and has free internet.
then i decided to go to a famous streed ¨Ramblas
SIX hours later. SIX hours. I find it.
and then find out it was the same street i was only earlier in the day where mcdonalds was.
i almost shot myself.
i think the part of my brain that has spatial sense is missing. for the life of me i cannot read or understand a map. it is ALWAYS the op`posite direction.
on the plus side, i got to see the ´real´barcelona.
for 6 bloody hours.
but the highlight of my day were threefold.
1. I happened to run into Gaudi´s articheture.
I was surprised, but I was blown away. it looks like a children did it. it is such a creative twist on gothic artchicheure. all round lines and blocky figures. This is the first real artichure that seems...authentic. not like somebody wanted to impress the pope, but just....real. like somebody actually loved buildings. it for some reason reminds me of a gingerbread house. i know im not explaining what Gaudi´´s buildings look like, but they are so playful and weird. usually i feel kind of let down by buildings, becuase they all look the same after a while. but his were truly unique. im going to go back tmrw and take some pictures.
Google¨Gaudi for info.
2. had a converstaion with someone
i asked this man on the street where Ramblas was. he responded in perfect english! and he was SUPER hot. and we talked for 15 min. AND he lived in toronto for a year. did i mention how hot he was? after walking in a lululemon sweater in 5 degrees for 6 hours, it was like have a refreshing sip of diet coke. it went straight to my brain.ç
3. back in my hostel, after getting lost for another hour trying to find it ( I NEED GPS) this guy sat down beside me at the computer station (where I am writing an environmental essay) and asked me my name blah blah blah.
then he said ¨thats a common name in my country, israel¨
uhhh hu. thats right. im a fucking jew magnet. i think we will party later. we will see. ill blog tmrw
right now its back to essays!!
and mini grilled cheese with salsa sauce...
I am a firm believer in trains over planes. not only are they better for the envinronment, but they are actually faster and not that much more expensive.
Sure you can get a ryanair flight for one cent, but when you add on taxes, time spent getting to airports practially in a different city, credit card fees, baggage fees, food fees, you´re looking at the same price as a train and a hell of a lot less hassle.
take the trains kids, listen to david suziki.
I woke up (ok, fine, i didnt go to bed) at 6, left my house at 6¨45 and didnt get to my hostel until 2 pm! Hate. planes.
bus__train___train__bust___Plane___bus__walking for half an hour takes a fuking long time. sooo happy im flying into BRU instead of out the way hole in the ground charleroi.
so i got to barcelona, and i really had no idea what to expect. ive never seen pictures or anything.
its a pretty city.
not sprawling and dirty like milan.
There are palm tree and boardwalks. Its kinda like florida actually.
the people aren´t rude, there are almost no gypsies selling anything (maybe in the summer?) and there are almost no tourists.
after going to my hostel and almost KILLING my sleeping bag (long story short i lost the sleeping bag bag and it wont scrunch small enough to attach to my backpack anymore) i set out for walk.
Footprints guidebooks are supposed to be the new lonely planet, but lonely planet is much clearer and well organized i think. i just gave up and started to roam.
well actually first i was starving because ryan air is too cheap to get food so i went to a cultural icon: mcdonalds.
dont stone me now. mcdonalds, as i think ive said before really represents a culture. for instance, here they gave me SALSA instead of ketchup.
but i actually would have gone anywhere but i was so hungry i went for the first place i saw.
then i went back to my hostel---which is super adorable and has free internet.
then i decided to go to a famous streed ¨Ramblas
SIX hours later. SIX hours. I find it.
and then find out it was the same street i was only earlier in the day where mcdonalds was.
i almost shot myself.
i think the part of my brain that has spatial sense is missing. for the life of me i cannot read or understand a map. it is ALWAYS the op`posite direction.
on the plus side, i got to see the ´real´barcelona.
for 6 bloody hours.
but the highlight of my day were threefold.
1. I happened to run into Gaudi´s articheture.
I was surprised, but I was blown away. it looks like a children did it. it is such a creative twist on gothic artchicheure. all round lines and blocky figures. This is the first real artichure that seems...authentic. not like somebody wanted to impress the pope, but just....real. like somebody actually loved buildings. it for some reason reminds me of a gingerbread house. i know im not explaining what Gaudi´´s buildings look like, but they are so playful and weird. usually i feel kind of let down by buildings, becuase they all look the same after a while. but his were truly unique. im going to go back tmrw and take some pictures.
Google¨Gaudi for info.
2. had a converstaion with someone
i asked this man on the street where Ramblas was. he responded in perfect english! and he was SUPER hot. and we talked for 15 min. AND he lived in toronto for a year. did i mention how hot he was? after walking in a lululemon sweater in 5 degrees for 6 hours, it was like have a refreshing sip of diet coke. it went straight to my brain.ç
3. back in my hostel, after getting lost for another hour trying to find it ( I NEED GPS) this guy sat down beside me at the computer station (where I am writing an environmental essay) and asked me my name blah blah blah.
then he said ¨thats a common name in my country, israel¨
uhhh hu. thats right. im a fucking jew magnet. i think we will party later. we will see. ill blog tmrw
right now its back to essays!!
and mini grilled cheese with salsa sauce...
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Pre-Departure
I'm going away on thursday!!
Where am I going to ask? Good question!
Spain, Morocco and Portugal.
And because I take the saying 'To Life" very seriously, I refuse to wait for someone else who wants to travel to those places, so I am going myself.
Yes, I know. I'm crazy. Its dangerous. I'll die, get raped, vomit and have no one to hold my hair back (G-d forbid).
But I did it when I was 18, so hopefully I can do it when I'm 20, older and wiser!
And it really opened my eyes to a lot of things. That North America kind of fear mongers.
That tonnes of people travel solo.
That as long as you go to a lonely planet hostel you will always be with young
travelers.
You meet people that you would never have met otherwise. And it's so spontaneous. You can do whatever YOU want. If you decide on a spur of a moment that you want to go somewhere else you can. If you meet someone on a bus and decide to travel with them for a few days, you can.
It's like total freedom.
So hopefully, becuase I;m going in the low season, there will still be some travelers.
Because I don't speak Spanish and my French is disatourous.
I will be sure to update regulary! If I don't update regularly, please call the Canadian Embassy and alert them.
joking. Or not.
Im SUPER excited for Morocoo.
I have no planned itinerary yet, just flying into Barcelona and out of Lisbon.
We will see what happens in between those 2 flights!
I'm hoping to do a trek in the Anti-Atlas but there is scarce info about it, and I think I would have to bring my sleeping bag.Which would be fine, I just want to be sure im trekking before doing it, but i wouldnt trek alone so i wold have to find a trekking buddy in the country.
details details details.
So bascailly i got some guidebooks from the library and scanned through them. So far my iten looks like this:
Barcelona--> Madrid--->Grenada-->Some port city where I ferry to Tanger--> Marrakesh-->Ouzazzatte (Western Sahara)-->surronding dunes-->Fez--> Tanger back to Spanish Port-->Seville-->Faro on route to Lisbon
If any one has ANY suggestions comment! Like "Danielle you are insane please take immodium tablets" or even better train timetables..
I have to pack all my shit in my adorable MEC bag, but that means I have to do laundry. and write a 9 page essay. no biggie.
Where am I going to ask? Good question!
Spain, Morocco and Portugal.
And because I take the saying 'To Life" very seriously, I refuse to wait for someone else who wants to travel to those places, so I am going myself.
Yes, I know. I'm crazy. Its dangerous. I'll die, get raped, vomit and have no one to hold my hair back (G-d forbid).
But I did it when I was 18, so hopefully I can do it when I'm 20, older and wiser!
And it really opened my eyes to a lot of things. That North America kind of fear mongers.
That tonnes of people travel solo.
That as long as you go to a lonely planet hostel you will always be with young
travelers.
You meet people that you would never have met otherwise. And it's so spontaneous. You can do whatever YOU want. If you decide on a spur of a moment that you want to go somewhere else you can. If you meet someone on a bus and decide to travel with them for a few days, you can.
It's like total freedom.
So hopefully, becuase I;m going in the low season, there will still be some travelers.
Because I don't speak Spanish and my French is disatourous.
I will be sure to update regulary! If I don't update regularly, please call the Canadian Embassy and alert them.
joking. Or not.
Im SUPER excited for Morocoo.
I have no planned itinerary yet, just flying into Barcelona and out of Lisbon.
We will see what happens in between those 2 flights!
I'm hoping to do a trek in the Anti-Atlas but there is scarce info about it, and I think I would have to bring my sleeping bag.Which would be fine, I just want to be sure im trekking before doing it, but i wouldnt trek alone so i wold have to find a trekking buddy in the country.
details details details.
So bascailly i got some guidebooks from the library and scanned through them. So far my iten looks like this:
Barcelona--> Madrid--->Grenada-->Some port city where I ferry to Tanger--> Marrakesh-->Ouzazzatte (Western Sahara)-->surronding dunes-->Fez--> Tanger back to Spanish Port-->Seville-->Faro on route to Lisbon
If any one has ANY suggestions comment! Like "Danielle you are insane please take immodium tablets" or even better train timetables..
I have to pack all my shit in my adorable MEC bag, but that means I have to do laundry. and write a 9 page essay. no biggie.
End of Semester
Can you believe that the semester is over already???? I can't! But then I figured it out and realize that if school starts sept 25 and ends Dec 18...then thats like...almost zero classes! What can you actually learn in just 13 class?
26 hours of class i mean...that's nothing. I think they should increase it to like 40 hours!
I mean...I know i'm a huge nerd and all, but I like school (when i got to classes) and I get really bored only haveing 2 days of school.
There is not really a school-life with clubs and stuff. Maybe there is but its in Dutch though.
Like I finished class today, I go on vacay from Dec 20-Jan 11, I have 3 exams from Jan 14-Jan 18 and then I don't have school until Feb 11!!!
FEBUARY 11!! I am going to die of boredom. I am going to try hard and get a job and maybe go to Ireland.
They should really not call this school...this is a traveling/drinking year abroad.
UNless G-d Forbid...I fail my exams. LIke 50% of Belgians. Then I might kill myself. And then my parents would kill me.
I have 3 essays to hand in before I leave on thrusday and I actually finished 2.
I remember last year I would stay up for 36 hours the day before the exam drinking red bull, finally printing it at 6am.
And that system worked for me!
We will see how this early non-procastination thing works out this year.
BUt the essays are soooooo stupid. No joke. FOr my Media Ethics class I had to write about "What I learnt in Media Ethics this year". Am I 7? LIke "what did you do on your summer vacation"
I hope I don't fail though, I only went to 2 classes. (it was 9am tuesday!!!)
And then for my environmental essay we have to write about "Whatever you want".
Um...Excuse me? Whatever I want? What is this? I thought you were a professor..teach me..direct me..
I also hope I don't fail that, since I only went to 2 classes as well (9 am Wed!)
And finally, my Philosophical Anthropology Seminar, taught by an American has the only good essay! School at home makes just so much more sense to me, and apprantly him too.
For all my other classes the essays are worth 100% and you have to do a presentation that apparanty isn't worth anything since the profs never bother to learn your name.
For the American class we have to write about specific things concerning mind-body problem, consiouness, personal identity with Descarts, Locke, Hume, Lebz etc.
It's still not...inspiring though. I don't know, last year I grew so much academically, I really peaked. This year I just can't get into it. The profs don't make anything come alive. All the work is totally independant, no dissucsion even in seminars b/c ppl are afraid of their english skills.
You really have to take the learning until yourself. Which can be a good thing I guess, but it makes it way more boring then it should be. they need to revamp the insides of the classrooms and the library. Hard chairs-hard tables doesn't make anyone want to study.
People only learn to pass their exams.
Oh well.
They need couches and a coffee bar.
26 hours of class i mean...that's nothing. I think they should increase it to like 40 hours!
I mean...I know i'm a huge nerd and all, but I like school (when i got to classes) and I get really bored only haveing 2 days of school.
There is not really a school-life with clubs and stuff. Maybe there is but its in Dutch though.
Like I finished class today, I go on vacay from Dec 20-Jan 11, I have 3 exams from Jan 14-Jan 18 and then I don't have school until Feb 11!!!
FEBUARY 11!! I am going to die of boredom. I am going to try hard and get a job and maybe go to Ireland.
They should really not call this school...this is a traveling/drinking year abroad.
UNless G-d Forbid...I fail my exams. LIke 50% of Belgians. Then I might kill myself. And then my parents would kill me.
I have 3 essays to hand in before I leave on thrusday and I actually finished 2.
I remember last year I would stay up for 36 hours the day before the exam drinking red bull, finally printing it at 6am.
And that system worked for me!
We will see how this early non-procastination thing works out this year.
BUt the essays are soooooo stupid. No joke. FOr my Media Ethics class I had to write about "What I learnt in Media Ethics this year". Am I 7? LIke "what did you do on your summer vacation"
I hope I don't fail though, I only went to 2 classes. (it was 9am tuesday!!!)
And then for my environmental essay we have to write about "Whatever you want".
Um...Excuse me? Whatever I want? What is this? I thought you were a professor..teach me..direct me..
I also hope I don't fail that, since I only went to 2 classes as well (9 am Wed!)
And finally, my Philosophical Anthropology Seminar, taught by an American has the only good essay! School at home makes just so much more sense to me, and apprantly him too.
For all my other classes the essays are worth 100% and you have to do a presentation that apparanty isn't worth anything since the profs never bother to learn your name.
For the American class we have to write about specific things concerning mind-body problem, consiouness, personal identity with Descarts, Locke, Hume, Lebz etc.
It's still not...inspiring though. I don't know, last year I grew so much academically, I really peaked. This year I just can't get into it. The profs don't make anything come alive. All the work is totally independant, no dissucsion even in seminars b/c ppl are afraid of their english skills.
You really have to take the learning until yourself. Which can be a good thing I guess, but it makes it way more boring then it should be. they need to revamp the insides of the classrooms and the library. Hard chairs-hard tables doesn't make anyone want to study.
People only learn to pass their exams.
Oh well.
They need couches and a coffee bar.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Venice
Ohhhh the city of lovers.
And water.
I figured I had to see it before it sunk.
We took the train there where some old Italian guy was laughing at me for sleeping on the couchette.
I think Midwife was ready to shoot me at this point. To much shopping for her. Although I think we saw an equal amount of sights! But she doesn't think so.
I kinda make her walk around for hours trying to find the Jewish Ghetto. We met a nice man named Luigi, who actually spoke, not only English, but also Dutch! Most Italians don't even speak English...nevermind Dutch.
The Jewish Ghetto kind of sucked...except for the Giant Menorah in the centre. But they also had a giant Menorah in Milan. Pics will be up soon!
I bought a 'Chi" necklace and a Mezzuah from home.
Venice is renowned for it's glass made from Murano. So it was made out of a nice blue glass.
I like reading a book or watching a movie about a place before I go, but it's hard to do that in Belgium with not much English books in the library and dvds are expensive. Then I remembered that I had once seen the begining of the "Merchant of Venice"
Shylock probably lived there!( I know he was fake, but whatever)
Of course the Jews lived in a ghetto, but appranlty it was much better conditions then other euro cities. I dont think that says much though...
NOw there are about 50 Jews in Venice. The total population is only 65 000.
Which explains why, if you go of the tourist street, the town is EMPTY. Its nice. No cars...just emptiness.
but truthfully, everyone makes such a big deal about Venice.
But it's not THAT great. I mean I didn't have an urge to become romantic or anything. There was water...and houses...and toursists...and churches...but I wasn't like
OMG I CANT BELIVE I WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE WITHOUT SEEING VENICE.
But i will be sure to tell you when I do feel like that! Possibly in Paris or Rome....hopefully..if I ever go..
Midwife ate at Mcdonalds again. Which has gotten this classy black exterior.
There are a million more mcdonalds in Europe then In Canada. Seriously. I went to the grocery store, btu she refused to buy a Bellini with me. Bellini's were invented in Venice...it was a cultural experience. But apparntly she "is not like me"
So then we took this water boat for an hour, seeing all the Mansions form the other side.
I read all about the history of Venice from Lonely Planet on the train ride there and it was interesting. Same thing as every other EuroCity.
It came from mud. It rose to be a trading centre. it has it's Golden Age. Built incredible Churches, commissioned art from genuises, stood up against the Vatican, became wonton with booze and ladies, won a few wars. Then it was traded between Empires for a few hundred years, slowly deterioating until being bombed the shit out of in the 2 world wars. And now its a Tourist Amusement park
Still waiting for a city that doesn't follow this history.
It started to rain, of course.
We got to the centre square where Midwife was disapointed because it had 'looked bigger in James Bond'.
But the Basilca was pretty. Had a gold roof. Sparkly. Amazing Mosaics.
Then Midwife reaized that her feet was killing her (She was wearing boots with a heel...duuuuh) and so I didn't want to spend money taking the boat back to the train station, so I told her I would walk and meet her there. And that is what I did.
In the dark, twisiting streets of Venice I walked for a few km. I was great actually.
I found myself on a shopping street and I bought a Gelato.
I miraculous didn't get lost. (I ALWAYS get lost. I have no idea how to read maps. I always say the best way to see a city is get lost. I say this because I always get lost and never end up seeing what I'm supossed to be seeing)
But a great novel could be written about Venice....at night...in the rain.. when all the tourists go home...and all is left is the water..and a gondalier...a horror novel perhaps??
I have a twisted mind. I better become a best-selling horror novelist, I always think of great plots no matter where I go.
Milano
So I decided to go to Milan!
Have you Got Italian lives there and she offred me and Midwife Belgian a place to stay. She had ane xam which she took very seriously so had to study the whole time
Lets just say that me and Midwife Belgian are REALLY different. She HATES shopping. She HATES partying. She dislikes museams. She is tall and blonde and serious. She doesn't even like museams. But she still wanted to 'see things" So I asked her what kinda of things exaclty she wanted to do.
Apprantly she wanted to 'see things'
Yea...but...what kind of things?
She likes eating and seeing....buildings i guess???
So as soon as we got to Milan we had delicious Italian Pizza from the Pizzaria beside HUGI's flat and went to bed.
We bought our day metro pass, which I'm pretty sure we were over charged for. There was small market right outside her house so we went there for a bit. Then I lost the directions for the metro, or they were pickpocketed from my back pocket, but thanks to my brilliant Italian, we didn't even get lost without them. Seriously, I LOVE Italian now. it is such a nice language to listen to and wayyyy easier to understand then French. I could actually communicate in Italian with like...3 phrases. It was great. No one even realized I was forigen and all I knew how to say was: how much, Hello, Good bye, I don't speak Italian, (they knew I was foreign when I said that though) I serioulsy think 10 minuties of learning Italian was equal to 10 years of learning French.
The next morning we went to her university for 'festiviies' (it was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) but all we saw was a Church.
It was a really nice Church though.
Traveling is just so much better when you can put things in context. Too often it's like..Oh...thats a nice church. yup. super.
But when you understand architecture, or history, or WHY that church was built that way and the significance of it..it is SO much better and so much more interesting.
Like when I saw this Church (Church of Ambrogio i think)I realized that the inscription on the tomb was of Ambrose. Then I remebred from Hums 2000 that St. Augustine in Confessions wrote about a preacher named Ambrose who basically inspired him to convert by his interpretations of the Bible. He was also the first person Augustine had seen read silently. And it turns out that was the same guy!
See..that was cool for me. Otherwise...pretty church..but...thats it.
Oh...and Yea, they have relics freakin relics...actually bones....in the basement. Does anyone else think this is freaky? That Catholicism is possible really freaky? to have bones of dead saints with jewels and luxurious clothing? Isn't that like..pagan..it sounds Pagan.
Then we had some lunch where I went to the grocery store and bought 8 euro worth of food for the week. I lived of bread and espresso.
I personally LOVE grocery stores. I find them one of the most fascinating parts of traveling. You can learn so much about a culture from their food. This grocery store had giant cakes in a box and really cool types of pasta.
Then we took the metro to the centre. There is this Giant Giant buliding called the Dumo. It took 500 years to build. It is covered with crazy statues. SOme of them are really gross! LIke one is a statue of a guy with his intestines coming out. Others depict biblical scenes. I really wish I knew more about the history of Christianity so I could figure out all the biblical scenes on the stained glass windows. Its full of popes and bishops and people in flowing robes. We weren't allowed to take pictures but I did anyways!
Then we went shopping. Or browsing. Armani...yum..
We also went to a castle, and through a bajillllion market stalls. Miwife HATED them because she hates crowds.
Milan is REALLY crowded. Ridiculously so.
There are tonnes of Gypsies all begging for money or selling hats or toys. It's so sad. There was one group and they were dressed up like American Indians. It was cool though. Full costume singing with these strange instruments.
Also the Mcdonalds in Italy has a "McCafe". I know it sounds weird...but Mcdonalds is a good example of the culture. They always change their menu slightly to reflect the culture. So here, they sold lattes and macchiatos. But I didn't get anything because I was on a food budget!!
All the more money for shopping....
So we wandered around the shops. There was this Aramani store where I got caught up reading "100 things you need to buy before you die". I only got to like page 3 though before the store closed. But now I really want to find that book! I don't want to die without buying those 100 things!
Sinter Klauss
at my Rez there was a Sinter Klauss party.
Sinter Klauss is like the original Santa Clauss. You get chocolate. He also has a helper 'Black Pete" Officialy, he is black from the soot he gets from going down chimneys (Sinter Klauss is to old to do this now)
But actually I think that the white Bishop went to Africa and came back with black Pete. or Spain. Either way I have a feeling that there are rasict origins. I mean...the Belgians did colonize the Congo.
So we had a party for this where we had to draw and write something and put it in a giant red box. Also we had to write Gossip about our neighbours. I ABSTAINED from this.(whose proud?) also because they jsut wanted stupid gossip like "He was loud" instead of "He's loud because he has sex with a different girl every night"
So ppl actually dressed up in FULL outfits.
Then we each got a bag of chocolate. And these 2 guys had to make names for everyone in the hall. I could have done better then them:)
But my name was "Miss America". Isn't that so weird? Like I don't know if they wanted to annoy me because I am Canadian or if they think I want world peace.
But it was a fun pre-evening.
Sinter Klauss is like the original Santa Clauss. You get chocolate. He also has a helper 'Black Pete" Officialy, he is black from the soot he gets from going down chimneys (Sinter Klauss is to old to do this now)
But actually I think that the white Bishop went to Africa and came back with black Pete. or Spain. Either way I have a feeling that there are rasict origins. I mean...the Belgians did colonize the Congo.
So we had a party for this where we had to draw and write something and put it in a giant red box. Also we had to write Gossip about our neighbours. I ABSTAINED from this.(whose proud?) also because they jsut wanted stupid gossip like "He was loud" instead of "He's loud because he has sex with a different girl every night"
So ppl actually dressed up in FULL outfits.
Then we each got a bag of chocolate. And these 2 guys had to make names for everyone in the hall. I could have done better then them:)
But my name was "Miss America". Isn't that so weird? Like I don't know if they wanted to annoy me because I am Canadian or if they think I want world peace.
But it was a fun pre-evening.
10 Years to 30
OKay so sorry I haven't written in a while.
But I will try to start again and write retroactively..
So this is about my birthday. I am 20. No longer a teenager. Bloody hell. Only 10 years to 30. Quarter life crisis. What am I going to do with my life? I'm a 20-something.
All these and more were running through my head on Dec 3. So I decided to drink them away.
The day started fabulously with Chris coming over at 9:30 (the first time I woke up before noon all semester) and making me RUM pancakes!!!
mmmm yuuum.
I left the kitchen a mess, becuase, hey it was my birthday and I come from self-indulgent, narcissitic North America where the day of your birth is free rein for everything.
I don't think that cultural difference transfered over.
Then I went to Biblical Hebrew vocab lesson.
I pronounced the name of G-d in a way that Jews do when they don't want to pronounce the full thing (changing one letter, its really subtle) and the prof actually NOTICED and asked me if it was for 'religious reasons'.
Oh and side note: I have a mini crush on the German guy in my Hebrew class. Basically because he looks like Harry Potter and speaks english with a British accent. And know that he knows I'm Jewish, he always gives me these like private glances in class. or always looks my way when the prof like says something about Christians. And then he'll raise his hand after I ask a question about Christinaty or something and be like "But that would be different if your not Chrisitan" like he's looking out for me. its cute. hes cute. lets get it on! Well actually I will probably never see him since I just had my last class :(
Oh well.
soooo back to birthday.
Then me and Have You Got Italian went shopping for our birthday snacks. I expected to buy some chips and coke and be done with it. But apparantly, when Italians are invited to a party before 10:00 they expect to be fed. So I ended up spending so much money on like....actually food. And like because of the communication problems (she speaks crappy english) I couldn't be like 'nooo just chipps" because she wouldn't get it.
Oh well.but yea its really annoying when ppl don't speak the langugae properly. If they only know a little communication is so hard beyond like 'where is the train station'. I try to ask her a question 3 times, becaus the answer will always be different.
I call her "have you got Italian" because when she is asking for someting that is what she says. Direct translations don't work! like in french ..."tu as poulet?" really means : Have you chicken?
But in English it is "Do you have chicken"
k so after we bought the stuff her italian friend went home to cook it at her house. I went to buy the alchocl. B/c apparntly that is important. I also cheaped out on paper plates which drove her nuts and she went out later to get more. But commmooon.
So I got ready and all the Canadian boys came over early which I loved. Then I got drunk. I didn't realize that I was drunk, but when I saw the empty 24 of Vodka the next morning I ralized that ...oh wait...I was!
It was really cute, the Belgians made us do this thing where they gave us a bowl of animal crackers and every time the song said "Bicycle" we had to eat one. It was that song..ya know...well....it says Bicycle A LOT. And then we got presents which included a plate, a glass, socks and choclate.
And I'm sooo happy that people bought presents! I am also surprised. I got champagne,alcohol chocolates (this guy that I didn't even know from Iraq bought me Leoniada chocolate that are actually heavenly),
My Canadian friends were getting along well with the Italians (wink wink nudge nudge)
Then we decided to go to the Seven Oaks since it was a monday and we didn't want to wake up anyone. So I hopped on the back of this Hungarian guys bicycle and rode there. I didn't know him, but what better way to make friends?
There, I had a few shots of Jenever. don't ask me what this is. I still don't know. But it is alcoholic.
At the Seven Oaks were Sinter Klauss and Black Pete!!(See above pic) I kinda started dancing on Sinter Klauss's pole. Until he told me that he was 42. Then I ran away.
I think I must have fallen like....7 times. It was not good. At one point I was dancing on a barrell. But hey...like i said before..it was my birthday! Immunity from judgement!
At one point this Italian guy handed me a joint on the dancefloor. But it was def. not Canadian weeed and mixed with tabbaco. All Italians are shocked that we don't mix. Mixing is so gross though.
So then I went home early at about 4 am. And I actually made it to class the next day!!!!!!! At 11 am!! But I was still drunk....
But I will try to start again and write retroactively..
So this is about my birthday. I am 20. No longer a teenager. Bloody hell. Only 10 years to 30. Quarter life crisis. What am I going to do with my life? I'm a 20-something.
All these and more were running through my head on Dec 3. So I decided to drink them away.
The day started fabulously with Chris coming over at 9:30 (the first time I woke up before noon all semester) and making me RUM pancakes!!!
mmmm yuuum.
I left the kitchen a mess, becuase, hey it was my birthday and I come from self-indulgent, narcissitic North America where the day of your birth is free rein for everything.
I don't think that cultural difference transfered over.
Then I went to Biblical Hebrew vocab lesson.
I pronounced the name of G-d in a way that Jews do when they don't want to pronounce the full thing (changing one letter, its really subtle) and the prof actually NOTICED and asked me if it was for 'religious reasons'.
Oh and side note: I have a mini crush on the German guy in my Hebrew class. Basically because he looks like Harry Potter and speaks english with a British accent. And know that he knows I'm Jewish, he always gives me these like private glances in class. or always looks my way when the prof like says something about Christians. And then he'll raise his hand after I ask a question about Christinaty or something and be like "But that would be different if your not Chrisitan" like he's looking out for me. its cute. hes cute. lets get it on! Well actually I will probably never see him since I just had my last class :(
Oh well.
soooo back to birthday.
Then me and Have You Got Italian went shopping for our birthday snacks. I expected to buy some chips and coke and be done with it. But apparantly, when Italians are invited to a party before 10:00 they expect to be fed. So I ended up spending so much money on like....actually food. And like because of the communication problems (she speaks crappy english) I couldn't be like 'nooo just chipps" because she wouldn't get it.
Oh well.but yea its really annoying when ppl don't speak the langugae properly. If they only know a little communication is so hard beyond like 'where is the train station'. I try to ask her a question 3 times, becaus the answer will always be different.
I call her "have you got Italian" because when she is asking for someting that is what she says. Direct translations don't work! like in french ..."tu as poulet?" really means : Have you chicken?
But in English it is "Do you have chicken"
k so after we bought the stuff her italian friend went home to cook it at her house. I went to buy the alchocl. B/c apparntly that is important. I also cheaped out on paper plates which drove her nuts and she went out later to get more. But commmooon.
So I got ready and all the Canadian boys came over early which I loved. Then I got drunk. I didn't realize that I was drunk, but when I saw the empty 24 of Vodka the next morning I ralized that ...oh wait...I was!
It was really cute, the Belgians made us do this thing where they gave us a bowl of animal crackers and every time the song said "Bicycle" we had to eat one. It was that song..ya know...well....it says Bicycle A LOT. And then we got presents which included a plate, a glass, socks and choclate.
And I'm sooo happy that people bought presents! I am also surprised. I got champagne,alcohol chocolates (this guy that I didn't even know from Iraq bought me Leoniada chocolate that are actually heavenly),
My Canadian friends were getting along well with the Italians (wink wink nudge nudge)
Then we decided to go to the Seven Oaks since it was a monday and we didn't want to wake up anyone. So I hopped on the back of this Hungarian guys bicycle and rode there. I didn't know him, but what better way to make friends?
There, I had a few shots of Jenever. don't ask me what this is. I still don't know. But it is alcoholic.
At the Seven Oaks were Sinter Klauss and Black Pete!!(See above pic) I kinda started dancing on Sinter Klauss's pole. Until he told me that he was 42. Then I ran away.
I think I must have fallen like....7 times. It was not good. At one point I was dancing on a barrell. But hey...like i said before..it was my birthday! Immunity from judgement!
At one point this Italian guy handed me a joint on the dancefloor. But it was def. not Canadian weeed and mixed with tabbaco. All Italians are shocked that we don't mix. Mixing is so gross though.
So then I went home early at about 4 am. And I actually made it to class the next day!!!!!!! At 11 am!! But I was still drunk....
Friday, November 30, 2007
The perils of being native
Right now I agreed to edit an essay for Cute Czech boy.
It is actually written in excellent English, better then most native's.
Unfortunately he is studying agriculture, or something like that and the article is about "Preservation of Meat in the Tropics."
I'd like to add that I am a pseudo veggitarian:
"Two ways of cutting muscles or smaller muscle groups into strips are either on chopping board or in the hanging position."
Preparation of “biltong” has to strictly keep the procedure of proper bleeding and evisceration. The whole process include cutting (or rather tearing) the meat lengthwise so that group of fibers can be dried as a unit. After that the meat is salted so that the salt is rubbed in by hand before hanging or strips are left with salt overnight.
But on the bright side I found out that I can get a work permit!! Which is really exiciting because now I can legally work as soon as I get my identity card. Which will hopefully eventually come. (I only finished the paperwork a month ago, so according to Belgian beaurocracy that is like...yesterday)
I think I am away to much though to get a steady job, but I'm going to try and maybe teach a few English classes or something.
I am trying to get a volunteer job, but like Canada, volunteering these days has become the equilivant to an internship and is thus for people who like to build their resumes. Which means deadlines and qualifications. Gone are the days where organizations were desperate for someone, ANYONE, to organize their files. It has turned into a privilage. Damn slave labour is now hard to get.
There aren't even any homeless people in Leuven. I can't even organize a hat drive.
I'm a joiner. I need something to join.
It is actually written in excellent English, better then most native's.
Unfortunately he is studying agriculture, or something like that and the article is about "Preservation of Meat in the Tropics."
I'd like to add that I am a pseudo veggitarian:
"Two ways of cutting muscles or smaller muscle groups into strips are either on chopping board or in the hanging position."
Preparation of “biltong” has to strictly keep the procedure of proper bleeding and evisceration. The whole process include cutting (or rather tearing) the meat lengthwise so that group of fibers can be dried as a unit. After that the meat is salted so that the salt is rubbed in by hand before hanging or strips are left with salt overnight.
But on the bright side I found out that I can get a work permit!! Which is really exiciting because now I can legally work as soon as I get my identity card. Which will hopefully eventually come. (I only finished the paperwork a month ago, so according to Belgian beaurocracy that is like...yesterday)
I think I am away to much though to get a steady job, but I'm going to try and maybe teach a few English classes or something.
I am trying to get a volunteer job, but like Canada, volunteering these days has become the equilivant to an internship and is thus for people who like to build their resumes. Which means deadlines and qualifications. Gone are the days where organizations were desperate for someone, ANYONE, to organize their files. It has turned into a privilage. Damn slave labour is now hard to get.
There aren't even any homeless people in Leuven. I can't even organize a hat drive.
I'm a joiner. I need something to join.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Mother Fucker not again
I have bad news. Terrible news.
I lost my cell phone AGAIN. or someone stole it.
I'll start from the beginning and you can judge the events leading up to this horrible loss.
JGLA said she would be over at 11, and she was naturally an hour late. So I spent the time watching Greys Anatomy dubbed in French. (And no, I didn't understand anything, but you have to start from somewhere) When she finally did show up at half past midnight, we started drinking sangria, wine and vodka.
It was fun and we were just talking and then Boy Next Door came in. And I was kinda tipsy and kind of starting insulting Catholosim (which they both are) but in an academic way.
(NB: That morning I did BND curly-jew hair and it looks way better now. And I found out he is most defnitely NOT Jewish. But I still think that he's lying.)
So then we went to the kitchen to get some vodka and JGLA stole some marshmellows, and I participated. I really didn't have very much to drink, just 7% sangria. But I haven't really drank for a week so maybe my tolerance is low.
We went back to my room when...
Helpful Belgian knocks on my door in a robe and in a very disoriented voice starts telling us to shut the fuck up basically because we were way to loud and to leave the building.
He said it really meanly. We were really taken aback at this b/c he is usually really nice. And it was only 2am. BUt I guess 2am on a tuesday for some ppl is hard.
So we decided to leave and be respectful so we did.
We kept drinking vodka/gernadine mix until the Oude Markt (passing a police car btw who don't care) and then eventually went inside De Rector, a club in the markt.
It was supposed to be 2.5 euro cocktails. We found some Italian girls there. It was basically a meat market. Every Belgian guy was in his striped t shirt uniform as usual.
I asked this guy in a giant red stella shirt to give me his shirt...and he did. I think that was the highlight of the nite.
I was just dancing like CRAZY. And the JGLA started to kiss this Flemish black guy.
All these guys were wearing sashes that said MIM on them. I guess it was some sort of faculty party.
At the end of the night they were spooning pina colada mix into our plastic cups.
There were also a lot of French guys so I got to practice my French!!
I really didn't think I was drunk at all, but apparantly I was. But I don't think I was! Some guy bought me a stella and I had some pina colada and some vodka and sangria, but not A LOT. So I don't know how my phone came to be lost.
I put my coach wrislet down twice, but would a theif just take the whole purse? I mean its so small might as well. But I rememebr looking at my wrislet once and being like "Oh shit , it's open, i should close it" and then closing it. SO maybe it fell out???
But I went back today and it wasn't there:( And I checked the police station dammit.
So after De Rector closed and we stole some flowers and pina colada, we went to the Seven Oaks and danced there for a while. On the way we met some Belgian boys on bikes and they started talking in Flemish or French or something I really had no idea at hat point. They looked really young though.
I think they were saying like Flemish swear words or like vagina or something. I don't even care. So we danced at the 7oaks, JGLA kissed a guy on ecstacy, then I noticed my phone was missing. Kept on dancing.
Then sometime we called it a night (no idea when since my cellphone is also my watch, my alarm clock, my calculator etc)
sooo then we went home i guess. And i gave JGLA money for the bus. WHen I collapsed into my bed i realized the room was spinning and that i was possibly drunk afterall.
I woke up this morning to banging on my door. and i kept asking who it was and being like 'do you fucking speak english who is it?"
so finally i got up and answered and hoped it wasnt a serial killer.
But it was Helpful Beglian who proceeded to give me a stern lecture. I was just thinking "fuuuck off". He was really pissed at me, so then I got really pissed at him.
LIke seriously get OVER it. Who storms into someones room in the morning, forces them to answer the door w/o saying who it is and then gives a lecture? Is he my father? It is sooo patronizing. Like
ME: What time is it?
HIm: Time to get up
So now I just really don't want to speak to him.
Yea I get I was too loud, I'm SORRRY. I didn't realize that I was loud and when he told me we left right away. Like what else does he want? And then another guy said I was too loud. I'm like..yea i know sorry. it doesnt happen every day.
And I hate when people yell at me or are mad at me. I can't handle it. I'm too meek (seriously I can't deal with confrontation). It makes me feel like a little girl again.
And tonight there is a Sinter Klauss party where everyone splits into pairs and cooks a snack. Me and this guy baked banana cookies out of a recipe I basically made up!
I have so much time on my hands here I'm learning to cook.
And I got a package from home again today!!!!!!!!!!!! Which included kraft dinner (L)
K I'm going to go be depressed and bitter now.
I lost my cell phone AGAIN. or someone stole it.
I'll start from the beginning and you can judge the events leading up to this horrible loss.
JGLA said she would be over at 11, and she was naturally an hour late. So I spent the time watching Greys Anatomy dubbed in French. (And no, I didn't understand anything, but you have to start from somewhere) When she finally did show up at half past midnight, we started drinking sangria, wine and vodka.
It was fun and we were just talking and then Boy Next Door came in. And I was kinda tipsy and kind of starting insulting Catholosim (which they both are) but in an academic way.
(NB: That morning I did BND curly-jew hair and it looks way better now. And I found out he is most defnitely NOT Jewish. But I still think that he's lying.)
So then we went to the kitchen to get some vodka and JGLA stole some marshmellows, and I participated. I really didn't have very much to drink, just 7% sangria. But I haven't really drank for a week so maybe my tolerance is low.
We went back to my room when...
Helpful Belgian knocks on my door in a robe and in a very disoriented voice starts telling us to shut the fuck up basically because we were way to loud and to leave the building.
He said it really meanly. We were really taken aback at this b/c he is usually really nice. And it was only 2am. BUt I guess 2am on a tuesday for some ppl is hard.
So we decided to leave and be respectful so we did.
We kept drinking vodka/gernadine mix until the Oude Markt (passing a police car btw who don't care) and then eventually went inside De Rector, a club in the markt.
It was supposed to be 2.5 euro cocktails. We found some Italian girls there. It was basically a meat market. Every Belgian guy was in his striped t shirt uniform as usual.
I asked this guy in a giant red stella shirt to give me his shirt...and he did. I think that was the highlight of the nite.
I was just dancing like CRAZY. And the JGLA started to kiss this Flemish black guy.
All these guys were wearing sashes that said MIM on them. I guess it was some sort of faculty party.
At the end of the night they were spooning pina colada mix into our plastic cups.
There were also a lot of French guys so I got to practice my French!!
I really didn't think I was drunk at all, but apparantly I was. But I don't think I was! Some guy bought me a stella and I had some pina colada and some vodka and sangria, but not A LOT. So I don't know how my phone came to be lost.
I put my coach wrislet down twice, but would a theif just take the whole purse? I mean its so small might as well. But I rememebr looking at my wrislet once and being like "Oh shit , it's open, i should close it" and then closing it. SO maybe it fell out???
But I went back today and it wasn't there:( And I checked the police station dammit.
So after De Rector closed and we stole some flowers and pina colada, we went to the Seven Oaks and danced there for a while. On the way we met some Belgian boys on bikes and they started talking in Flemish or French or something I really had no idea at hat point. They looked really young though.
I think they were saying like Flemish swear words or like vagina or something. I don't even care. So we danced at the 7oaks, JGLA kissed a guy on ecstacy, then I noticed my phone was missing. Kept on dancing.
Then sometime we called it a night (no idea when since my cellphone is also my watch, my alarm clock, my calculator etc)
sooo then we went home i guess. And i gave JGLA money for the bus. WHen I collapsed into my bed i realized the room was spinning and that i was possibly drunk afterall.
I woke up this morning to banging on my door. and i kept asking who it was and being like 'do you fucking speak english who is it?"
so finally i got up and answered and hoped it wasnt a serial killer.
But it was Helpful Beglian who proceeded to give me a stern lecture. I was just thinking "fuuuck off". He was really pissed at me, so then I got really pissed at him.
LIke seriously get OVER it. Who storms into someones room in the morning, forces them to answer the door w/o saying who it is and then gives a lecture? Is he my father? It is sooo patronizing. Like
ME: What time is it?
HIm: Time to get up
So now I just really don't want to speak to him.
Yea I get I was too loud, I'm SORRRY. I didn't realize that I was loud and when he told me we left right away. Like what else does he want? And then another guy said I was too loud. I'm like..yea i know sorry. it doesnt happen every day.
And I hate when people yell at me or are mad at me. I can't handle it. I'm too meek (seriously I can't deal with confrontation). It makes me feel like a little girl again.
And tonight there is a Sinter Klauss party where everyone splits into pairs and cooks a snack. Me and this guy baked banana cookies out of a recipe I basically made up!
I have so much time on my hands here I'm learning to cook.
And I got a package from home again today!!!!!!!!!!!! Which included kraft dinner (L)
K I'm going to go be depressed and bitter now.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Language
I am learning so much about languages.
Not only Flemish, but all sorts of languages.
I grew up in Toronto, where people speak a million languages and broken English. This helps a lot in a forigen country where people have varying skills in English. But really...English really IS the lingua franca.
Actually...if I were to ask a Belgian a question in English on the street, they would probably respond with better English then if i had asked someone on the streets of Toronto.
It's also really clear which people speak English the best.
People from countries who dub television (France, Spain, Italy Germnay) have a harder time speaking English, especially with pronouciation and ease of speaking.
And its funny becuase the mistakes people made are obviously b/c of their own language.
Belgians always say "I teach from you" becuase they don't have a world for 'learn' as opposed to teach.
Italians always saw 'This night' instead of 'to night' or use the definite article (the) at inappropriate times.
it really makes me appreciate being a native english speak (as they call me).
But I still want to learn French, Spanish and Hebrew and Arabic.
Everyone already thinks I can speak french just because i am Canadian. They don't really get the whole "only the french are bilingual' thing.
I make it my business to know how to say ' i don't know this language'...in the language.
It has come in extreme usefulness.
Especially when people assume I am spanish or italian. (which happens like 7 times a day, even when I start speaking english)
Or when they are drunk and forget their english langauge skills.
here is what i can say so far (phonetic spelling) :
"Ik sprake hein nederlands, ik sprake alain engels' ( I dont speak dutch, i only speak english)
"no hablo espanol" ( i don't speak spanish)
"io noso parlele italiano" ( i dont speak italian)
"je ne parle pas francais" ( I dont speak french)
" ani lo medaberet ivrit" ( I dont speak hebrew)
"maquimo Daniella" ( ITA My name is Daniella -- not danielle, euro's can't pronounce danielle
"O dizanovi ani" (I am 19 years old )
"Studio philosophia" ( I study philosophy)
Salaam alokom "hello, arabic)
I know...I know..I'm a genuis..just come out and say it!
lately though I have been trying to put out a real effort to speak french. I have only been listing to French radio, French podcasts, learn french podcasts and sometimes even trying to translate the newspaper!
I enrolled in a class, but, ahem, keep skipping it. But its really boring since I am only in level one. I will start attending when it gets past "Je suis etudiante"
I understood my first Dutch sentence the other day! "Where is my bike?". I was so proud, esp. since I'm not studying Dutch. I would love to if it was more widely spoken and they didn't already all speak English perfectly!
But for Europeans it is so natural for everyone to AT LEAST be bilingual, but it is also common for people to speak 4 languages.
In N.A if you speak one and a half languages it is impressive.
But if I learn French..(somehow...it is so difficult!) at least I will be able to use it in Canada, since bilingual positions pay so much higher!
Oh and Biblical Hebrew, which I am also taking, will also come in handy.
Not only Flemish, but all sorts of languages.
I grew up in Toronto, where people speak a million languages and broken English. This helps a lot in a forigen country where people have varying skills in English. But really...English really IS the lingua franca.
Actually...if I were to ask a Belgian a question in English on the street, they would probably respond with better English then if i had asked someone on the streets of Toronto.
It's also really clear which people speak English the best.
People from countries who dub television (France, Spain, Italy Germnay) have a harder time speaking English, especially with pronouciation and ease of speaking.
And its funny becuase the mistakes people made are obviously b/c of their own language.
Belgians always say "I teach from you" becuase they don't have a world for 'learn' as opposed to teach.
Italians always saw 'This night' instead of 'to night' or use the definite article (the) at inappropriate times.
it really makes me appreciate being a native english speak (as they call me).
But I still want to learn French, Spanish and Hebrew and Arabic.
Everyone already thinks I can speak french just because i am Canadian. They don't really get the whole "only the french are bilingual' thing.
I make it my business to know how to say ' i don't know this language'...in the language.
It has come in extreme usefulness.
Especially when people assume I am spanish or italian. (which happens like 7 times a day, even when I start speaking english)
Or when they are drunk and forget their english langauge skills.
here is what i can say so far (phonetic spelling) :
"Ik sprake hein nederlands, ik sprake alain engels' ( I dont speak dutch, i only speak english)
"no hablo espanol" ( i don't speak spanish)
"io noso parlele italiano" ( i dont speak italian)
"je ne parle pas francais" ( I dont speak french)
" ani lo medaberet ivrit" ( I dont speak hebrew)
"maquimo Daniella" ( ITA My name is Daniella -- not danielle, euro's can't pronounce danielle
"O dizanovi ani" (I am 19 years old )
"Studio philosophia" ( I study philosophy)
Salaam alokom "hello, arabic)
I know...I know..I'm a genuis..just come out and say it!
lately though I have been trying to put out a real effort to speak french. I have only been listing to French radio, French podcasts, learn french podcasts and sometimes even trying to translate the newspaper!
I enrolled in a class, but, ahem, keep skipping it. But its really boring since I am only in level one. I will start attending when it gets past "Je suis etudiante"
I understood my first Dutch sentence the other day! "Where is my bike?". I was so proud, esp. since I'm not studying Dutch. I would love to if it was more widely spoken and they didn't already all speak English perfectly!
But for Europeans it is so natural for everyone to AT LEAST be bilingual, but it is also common for people to speak 4 languages.
In N.A if you speak one and a half languages it is impressive.
But if I learn French..(somehow...it is so difficult!) at least I will be able to use it in Canada, since bilingual positions pay so much higher!
Oh and Biblical Hebrew, which I am also taking, will also come in handy.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Irish Night!
JGLA(Joanna Gallagher Look Alike) decided to have an Irish night at her rez!
I went there straight from school to help.
There were a lot of potatos involved. And Baileys. You can't have Irish night without potatos and alcohol.
It was a lot of fun. There were Belgians from her floor, random Spanish girls, and I actually convinced Boy Next Door to come!
I have been trying reallllly hard to become friends with Belgians. It is not an easy process but I feel I am making progress.
For instance, I actually got invited to dinner with them the other day! (although they may have just been trying to be polite...) And I went jogging with Helpful Belgians GF who I actually like a lot now.
I even took Midwife (A girl down the hall) shopping for proper clothes since I bluntly and possibly rudely told her she desperately needed some. But she agreed and is now much happier!
Anyways, so yea, BND came and you know when you talk about ppl....and then the ppl you talk about come and meet the ppl who already know everything about them? And you're just like...shiiiiittttt, I hope no one drops anything because then I would seem like really weird and stalkerish even though what the hell else am I supposed to talk about???
Or is that just me?
But he did not have a good time...which I don't really blame myself for. Like...I have realized you really do have to take it upon yourself at a party to make the fun. dont wait for the fun to come to you BE the fun. (that is so inspirational isn't it?)
Like be friendlier!
Oh ....I forgot to blog about this one particular night...buuuut basically I met this guy who kept trying to hit on me (Slutty Slovakian) but not only had a wife and kids, but a girl on the side who he loved...AND coincedentally lived in my complex!
So when we went to the Irish bar (where I met him last week) he was there! With a girl! Akwaaarrrrd. He was like "OH I was told you fell and cut yourself and it was my fault" I was like..um yea...that sucked.
Because...in the Seven Oaks...I actually did happen to fall and cut myself on a beer glass and that was not fun. Probably because I was trying to run away from him.
And I think he was wearing the same sweater. Just sayin.
I feel there is a lot of Exchange cest.
Like JGLA made out with this Phd irish student, and then today we ran into this girl and she had also make out with him! I have no idea how they got on the topic though...I should ask....
Yea so basically I have given up on BND being any fun at all and am going to try hard to frequent the American residence, where there is funner N.A's.
Not to be all like N.A and think that my country is great...but it IS friendlier. And how much effort can I put in? Enough already. English speakers are just friendlier and not just because they speak english.
And suprisngly Germans are really friendly too. And realllly good-looking. But...I'm not sure if that's kosher.
It's the truth, w/e.
K I have to sleep, its my class day tmrw!
I went there straight from school to help.
There were a lot of potatos involved. And Baileys. You can't have Irish night without potatos and alcohol.
It was a lot of fun. There were Belgians from her floor, random Spanish girls, and I actually convinced Boy Next Door to come!
I have been trying reallllly hard to become friends with Belgians. It is not an easy process but I feel I am making progress.
For instance, I actually got invited to dinner with them the other day! (although they may have just been trying to be polite...) And I went jogging with Helpful Belgians GF who I actually like a lot now.
I even took Midwife (A girl down the hall) shopping for proper clothes since I bluntly and possibly rudely told her she desperately needed some. But she agreed and is now much happier!
Anyways, so yea, BND came and you know when you talk about ppl....and then the ppl you talk about come and meet the ppl who already know everything about them? And you're just like...shiiiiittttt, I hope no one drops anything because then I would seem like really weird and stalkerish even though what the hell else am I supposed to talk about???
Or is that just me?
But he did not have a good time...which I don't really blame myself for. Like...I have realized you really do have to take it upon yourself at a party to make the fun. dont wait for the fun to come to you BE the fun. (that is so inspirational isn't it?)
Like be friendlier!
Oh ....I forgot to blog about this one particular night...buuuut basically I met this guy who kept trying to hit on me (Slutty Slovakian) but not only had a wife and kids, but a girl on the side who he loved...AND coincedentally lived in my complex!
So when we went to the Irish bar (where I met him last week) he was there! With a girl! Akwaaarrrrd. He was like "OH I was told you fell and cut yourself and it was my fault" I was like..um yea...that sucked.
Because...in the Seven Oaks...I actually did happen to fall and cut myself on a beer glass and that was not fun. Probably because I was trying to run away from him.
And I think he was wearing the same sweater. Just sayin.
I feel there is a lot of Exchange cest.
Like JGLA made out with this Phd irish student, and then today we ran into this girl and she had also make out with him! I have no idea how they got on the topic though...I should ask....
Yea so basically I have given up on BND being any fun at all and am going to try hard to frequent the American residence, where there is funner N.A's.
Not to be all like N.A and think that my country is great...but it IS friendlier. And how much effort can I put in? Enough already. English speakers are just friendlier and not just because they speak english.
And suprisngly Germans are really friendly too. And realllly good-looking. But...I'm not sure if that's kosher.
It's the truth, w/e.
K I have to sleep, its my class day tmrw!
Worst Blogger ever
I know...I know...
But my life has actually gained a routine.
I wake up at 1:27 5 days a week, clean my room, cook lunch, go out shopping for something, all of a sudden I realize it's 5 pm and I have accomplished nothing.
Then I attempt to do some work, usually get 15 min done before being distracted by msn/skype/aol/facebook/wikipedia. Then I cook dinner, realize it is already 8pm. I go impose myself on my poor Belgian neighbours who have to put up with my babbling. Then I text people, usually Joanna-Gallagher-Look-Alike to see what's happening that night. I start getting ready, start drinking, realize my vodka is almost out, then go out.
We start off in the markt, going to 3 bars before we find one that we like. At 1am we will end up at the Seven Oaks, which is always happening. We will talk to approximately 6 random people and have the following conversation:
Are you Belgian?
I am. Where are are you from?
Canada.
CANADA! What part of Canada?
Toronto
That is the English part?
Yes
Tu Parle Francais?
Je ne parle Pas francais. Well..petit peu
What are you studying?
Philosophy.
What are you studying?
Civil Engineering.
Wow that is really hard.
Yes.
*Akward smiling and shuffling that resembles dancing*
Go back to Joanna Gallagher Look-Alike
We leave Seven Oaks at about 4:30 and go back to the Markt. There we will meet several more random people, but it being later and only the fun people being out, the conversations will be more interesting. They will take place on the cobblestone.
Where are you from?
Canada.
Canada!
Yes, You?
Belgium.
Wow. Belgian guys really like striped shirts don't they?
*Akward smile*
Lets take a picture!
*There will always be two guys who are a foot taller then me who feel the need to actally lift me a foot of the ground so I will fit into the fram*
We repeat this approx 3 times before we go to 2 more bars.
We will then attempt to go home, but run into a person we met at a party 3 weeks ago and had conversation #1 with.
Then Joanna Gallagher look alike will steal something, a chair perhaps, or a bicycle.
I will then be afraid of sunrise and go home. She will force me to walk her halfway.
By now it is 5:45.
I will crawl into bed, hoping not to run into anybody in my hall.
Then it starts all over agin.
Twice a week however I will wake up at 10 am, go to class, take notes, have conversations with native English speakers, go late to French class, it will rain and I will curse myself for not remembering a plastic bag for my bicycle.
But my life has actually gained a routine.
I wake up at 1:27 5 days a week, clean my room, cook lunch, go out shopping for something, all of a sudden I realize it's 5 pm and I have accomplished nothing.
Then I attempt to do some work, usually get 15 min done before being distracted by msn/skype/aol/facebook/wikipedia. Then I cook dinner, realize it is already 8pm. I go impose myself on my poor Belgian neighbours who have to put up with my babbling. Then I text people, usually Joanna-Gallagher-Look-Alike to see what's happening that night. I start getting ready, start drinking, realize my vodka is almost out, then go out.
We start off in the markt, going to 3 bars before we find one that we like. At 1am we will end up at the Seven Oaks, which is always happening. We will talk to approximately 6 random people and have the following conversation:
Are you Belgian?
I am. Where are are you from?
Canada.
CANADA! What part of Canada?
Toronto
That is the English part?
Yes
Tu Parle Francais?
Je ne parle Pas francais. Well..petit peu
What are you studying?
Philosophy.
What are you studying?
Civil Engineering.
Wow that is really hard.
Yes.
*Akward smiling and shuffling that resembles dancing*
Go back to Joanna Gallagher Look-Alike
We leave Seven Oaks at about 4:30 and go back to the Markt. There we will meet several more random people, but it being later and only the fun people being out, the conversations will be more interesting. They will take place on the cobblestone.
Where are you from?
Canada.
Canada!
Yes, You?
Belgium.
Wow. Belgian guys really like striped shirts don't they?
*Akward smile*
Lets take a picture!
*There will always be two guys who are a foot taller then me who feel the need to actally lift me a foot of the ground so I will fit into the fram*
We repeat this approx 3 times before we go to 2 more bars.
We will then attempt to go home, but run into a person we met at a party 3 weeks ago and had conversation #1 with.
Then Joanna Gallagher look alike will steal something, a chair perhaps, or a bicycle.
I will then be afraid of sunrise and go home. She will force me to walk her halfway.
By now it is 5:45.
I will crawl into bed, hoping not to run into anybody in my hall.
Then it starts all over agin.
Twice a week however I will wake up at 10 am, go to class, take notes, have conversations with native English speakers, go late to French class, it will rain and I will curse myself for not remembering a plastic bag for my bicycle.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Um...do you carry flour?
I . Hate. Slash. Love. Grocery Shopping.
I takes me like 3 hours to go grocery shopping. This is because it takes me about 10 minuites per item to figure out what it is.
Every time I come home there is at least one thing that is totally the wrong thing.
You would think growing up in a bilingual country that I would be able to at least read the french labels. But...no. It's better then my Flemish, but I can only catch the gist, not actually what it is.
For instance, if I wanted unbleached white flour...I can kind of tell what item is flour...but which is white? which is for baking? Which is organic?
Also, the grocery stores have a way narrower selection then we do on a lot of things. Like baking. They literally do NOT carry chocolate chips. What kind of self respecting grocery store doesn't carry chocolate chips?????
They have a massive alcohol section, the size of an LCBO in the middle of the store, but a weeny 10th of an aisle for salad dressing.
They have a massive cheese section stretching across an entire wall.....yet they don't carry cheddar.
I'm trying to bake vegan chocolate chip cookies (if you cook it yourself it like, cancels out the calories) and spent 1 hour staring at the baking section.
I hope I have the right stuff...I will tell you in a few hours.
I takes me like 3 hours to go grocery shopping. This is because it takes me about 10 minuites per item to figure out what it is.
Every time I come home there is at least one thing that is totally the wrong thing.
You would think growing up in a bilingual country that I would be able to at least read the french labels. But...no. It's better then my Flemish, but I can only catch the gist, not actually what it is.
For instance, if I wanted unbleached white flour...I can kind of tell what item is flour...but which is white? which is for baking? Which is organic?
Also, the grocery stores have a way narrower selection then we do on a lot of things. Like baking. They literally do NOT carry chocolate chips. What kind of self respecting grocery store doesn't carry chocolate chips?????
They have a massive alcohol section, the size of an LCBO in the middle of the store, but a weeny 10th of an aisle for salad dressing.
They have a massive cheese section stretching across an entire wall.....yet they don't carry cheddar.
I'm trying to bake vegan chocolate chip cookies (if you cook it yourself it like, cancels out the calories) and spent 1 hour staring at the baking section.
I hope I have the right stuff...I will tell you in a few hours.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Where the Poppies grow
Today was remembrance day.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Won't it be excited when we get to 2011? Yeaaa it will.
So me and the Canadians decided to go to Ypres which is like 2.5 hours away.
I woke up at 7. That is an achievement considering I went to bed at 4.
My bike didn't break down on the way to the train station and I made the train with a full 30 seconds.
We got to Ypres and followed the people.
There was a contingent of Sikhs in the procession, because they fought as well when India was part of the British Empire. English Patient anyone?
This random girl stopped me and Tiffany and asked us some questions for her high school project. Wahoo, I'm a Belgian superstar now.
Then we saw a Canadian flag and just joined the procession!
The town was totally DESTROYED in WW1 and was rebuilt. It's remarkable how they rebuilt it, it looks identical. The history of Ypres is that it was a cloth making and military town. It has a massive neo-gothic building that was rebuilt.
So there were tonnes of British people there, tour buses full. There was this one adooorable little British boy with his ultra sterotypical British father.
My camera getting blurry though.
So after the ceremony where ppl from Canada and Britain read poems (Incluing Flanders Fields!) and the British guard or whomever those ppl with the bearskin hats did like music and other groups did musical stuff too. It was hard to see over the people though.
And it was raining hard.
And then all of a sudden, as the ceremony was ending, the sun came out. Swear.
Then we spend like a long while trying to find a cheap place to eat that could sit 8, and ended up at a Shwarma place.
Then we tried to go to Passendale (where the giant battles were held) but missed the bus that only goes every 2 hours, so we went to the very expensive museum instead.
There was a school group of British girls who had the CUTEST rainboots on. I can't wait to go to England and get myself a pair.
But seriously, war is soooo stupid. Like do people even know what they are fighting for? And is it worth it? LIke WW1..what the hell was the point of that? and everyone was miserable in it, an entire generation died, it created a recession, led to WW2 and basically...well...was stupid.
ON the way home, the fucking evil conducter caught me writing on my GO Pass, because you are supposed to write your destination before, and actually charged me 18 euro.
Who the hell does that?
So mean.
And yesterday a bank machine swallowed my Canadian Bank card. It literally said as it was swolloing it "THis card will be swallowed in 15 seconds"
At least it is a polite, evil, bank machine.
K i Have a giiiaant headache, going to bed.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Seriously, no REALLY
I can't help myself anymore. It has snowballed. I am officially a Jew.
I still get the same reaction from everyone though...which is a mixture of disbelief and weirdness.
Then they assume I know nothing about Judaism because I'm not orthodox.
I've given up.
Conversation
Adorable Chinese: I thought you were a half Jew
Danielle: No I am 100% Jew
Adorable Chinese: But you said your Dad was European
Danielle: Yes....
Adorable Chinese: So he is not Jewish
Danielle: He is still a Jew
Adorable Chinese: No
Danielle: Yes. He is both European and Jewish. This is actually possible.
How I Came out of the Closet
Cute Czech: Jews eat Garlic
Danielle: Um....no they don't
Cute Czech: yes they do
Danielle: Um....no
Adorable Chinese: She would know she is half Jewish
Cute Czech: You are not Jewish
Danielle: Yes I am Jewish...and I don't eat Garlic
Cute Czech: But you do not practice
Danielle: I am Jewish. My mother is Jewish, my father is jewish, i went to jewish school, i went to jewish camp, i went to israel, i speak hebrew. I'm jewish. And I don't eat garlic.
Cute Czech: Then you are not orthodox b/c they eat garlic for the health benefits
Why do I keep having the same conversation with everyone?
Friendly Mexican: You are Jewish! I usually sniff them out. I would never have guessed you are Jewish
Danielle: Oh no..trust me...I am Jewish. THIS is what a Jew looks like.
Friendly Mexican: I have Jewish friends
Danielle: At least someone in this building does
How many more times this week will I be having the exact same conversation?
I'm so mad now I admitted that I was Jewish. But at least there is something to talk about with all these boring Belgians.
Oh, and watch V for Vendetta. I just saw it and it was trés interesting.
I still get the same reaction from everyone though...which is a mixture of disbelief and weirdness.
Then they assume I know nothing about Judaism because I'm not orthodox.
I've given up.
Conversation
Adorable Chinese: I thought you were a half Jew
Danielle: No I am 100% Jew
Adorable Chinese: But you said your Dad was European
Danielle: Yes....
Adorable Chinese: So he is not Jewish
Danielle: He is still a Jew
Adorable Chinese: No
Danielle: Yes. He is both European and Jewish. This is actually possible.
How I Came out of the Closet
Cute Czech: Jews eat Garlic
Danielle: Um....no they don't
Cute Czech: yes they do
Danielle: Um....no
Adorable Chinese: She would know she is half Jewish
Cute Czech: You are not Jewish
Danielle: Yes I am Jewish...and I don't eat Garlic
Cute Czech: But you do not practice
Danielle: I am Jewish. My mother is Jewish, my father is jewish, i went to jewish school, i went to jewish camp, i went to israel, i speak hebrew. I'm jewish. And I don't eat garlic.
Cute Czech: Then you are not orthodox b/c they eat garlic for the health benefits
Why do I keep having the same conversation with everyone?
Friendly Mexican: You are Jewish! I usually sniff them out. I would never have guessed you are Jewish
Danielle: Oh no..trust me...I am Jewish. THIS is what a Jew looks like.
Friendly Mexican: I have Jewish friends
Danielle: At least someone in this building does
How many more times this week will I be having the exact same conversation?
I'm so mad now I admitted that I was Jewish. But at least there is something to talk about with all these boring Belgians.
Oh, and watch V for Vendetta. I just saw it and it was trés interesting.
Chinese Party
We Had a Chinese party in my residence.
Remember how I quoted this Dutch girl saying that "When Belgians get drunk, they are like normal people?"
It is..so...true.
IT was so much fun.
This Chinese guy cooked all this Chinese food. It didn't taste like real Chinese food, aka House of Chan, though. But it was still good fake (slash actually authentic) Chinese food.
It was like a Chinese Sweatshop in the kitchen with 20 ppl chopping and dicing and stirring.
Macintosh Belgian ( who is so unfriendly I never even realized he lived across from me but is the only other person in Belgium who also has a Macintosh)
and I had a really good conversation. I was so surprised. He was teaching me how to pronounce unpronounceable Flemish words. I am seriously considering taking Flemish now. It's really frustrating not being able to understand anyone is saying. They always forget to speak English, even though their English is flawless.
Anyways, it was just a fun night where Belgians finally loosened up a bit.
I desperately miss Starbucks though. you have no idea.
Remember how I quoted this Dutch girl saying that "When Belgians get drunk, they are like normal people?"
It is..so...true.
IT was so much fun.
This Chinese guy cooked all this Chinese food. It didn't taste like real Chinese food, aka House of Chan, though. But it was still good fake (slash actually authentic) Chinese food.
It was like a Chinese Sweatshop in the kitchen with 20 ppl chopping and dicing and stirring.
Macintosh Belgian ( who is so unfriendly I never even realized he lived across from me but is the only other person in Belgium who also has a Macintosh)
and I had a really good conversation. I was so surprised. He was teaching me how to pronounce unpronounceable Flemish words. I am seriously considering taking Flemish now. It's really frustrating not being able to understand anyone is saying. They always forget to speak English, even though their English is flawless.
Anyways, it was just a fun night where Belgians finally loosened up a bit.
I desperately miss Starbucks though. you have no idea.
No, Seriously
The cat has now jumped out of the bag.
With Sinterklaas coming up, I can't help but talk about Hannukah, which is at the same time. Sinterklass is the Belgian version of Santa Claus (even though they also have that) and they celebrate it on Dec. 6.
But people literally do not believe me when I tell them that I am a Jew.
Example conversation:
Last week:
Helpful Belgian "I have never met a Jew in Leuven"
Danielle: "oh, well, now you have"
Helpful Belgian: "mmmhm"
Danielle: "Since..I am"
Helpful Belgian: "mmhm"
Today:
Helpful Belgian "We are going to have a Sinterklaas party
Danielle : "Can we have a Chistmakkah party instead? For Hannukah as well?
Helpful Belgian :" What is that?"
Danielle: Ya know, the Festival of lights, when the maccabees defeated the Assyrians
Helpful Belgian : Right so we will have a sinterklaas party
Danielle: what if we don't celebrate christmas?
HelpFul Belgian : you are in Belgium just do it
Danielle:But I am Jewish
Helpful Belgian : no you're not
Danielle: Yes I am
Helpful Belgian:no you're not
Danielle: what do you mean im not? I AM! I told you last week.
Helpful Belgian: But you said you weren't religious
Danielle: no...i said i wasn't Christian. But don't tell anyone!
Then Boy Next Door, when I told him I wanted to celebrate Hannukah, said "You just like any excuse to party, you just take on other ppl's celebrations"
Um what does it take for these people to get that...I am really and truly a Jew?
Like..honestly...even this German guy, who I told over Skype that I was Jewish said
"Really? You don't look like a Jew."
I am, correct me, if I'm wrong, the epitome of what a Jewish girl looks like.
So I am going to throw the best Hannukah party this town has ever seen!
Which shouldn't be to hard considering this is the ONLY Hannukah party this town has ever seen.
With Sinterklaas coming up, I can't help but talk about Hannukah, which is at the same time. Sinterklass is the Belgian version of Santa Claus (even though they also have that) and they celebrate it on Dec. 6.
But people literally do not believe me when I tell them that I am a Jew.
Example conversation:
Last week:
Helpful Belgian "I have never met a Jew in Leuven"
Danielle: "oh, well, now you have"
Helpful Belgian: "mmmhm"
Danielle: "Since..I am"
Helpful Belgian: "mmhm"
Today:
Helpful Belgian "We are going to have a Sinterklaas party
Danielle : "Can we have a Chistmakkah party instead? For Hannukah as well?
Helpful Belgian :" What is that?"
Danielle: Ya know, the Festival of lights, when the maccabees defeated the Assyrians
Helpful Belgian : Right so we will have a sinterklaas party
Danielle: what if we don't celebrate christmas?
HelpFul Belgian : you are in Belgium just do it
Danielle:But I am Jewish
Helpful Belgian : no you're not
Danielle: Yes I am
Helpful Belgian:no you're not
Danielle: what do you mean im not? I AM! I told you last week.
Helpful Belgian: But you said you weren't religious
Danielle: no...i said i wasn't Christian. But don't tell anyone!
Then Boy Next Door, when I told him I wanted to celebrate Hannukah, said "You just like any excuse to party, you just take on other ppl's celebrations"
Um what does it take for these people to get that...I am really and truly a Jew?
Like..honestly...even this German guy, who I told over Skype that I was Jewish said
"Really? You don't look like a Jew."
I am, correct me, if I'm wrong, the epitome of what a Jewish girl looks like.
So I am going to throw the best Hannukah party this town has ever seen!
Which shouldn't be to hard considering this is the ONLY Hannukah party this town has ever seen.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Football makes more sense then soccer
Doesn't it though? Rational Euros.
I have been so bored lately with this 5 day long weekend that I actually started jogging. I shocked myself and my calves by running straight through my entire workout playlist! That is a good 40 min. I have done it twice so far and it's great. The only problem is I feel like I'm going to die the next morning. But no pain, no gain.
Today my Belgian rezmates ask me to join them in a football game. Sure..no problem..I just went jogging, but whatever, football can be fun. I was on my grade 7 soccer team for like 5 min, it will come back to me.
So we biked to the Sports centre and started to play, not on grass, but on the green slippery material...in the rain. They weren't 'wussy Americans' apparantly. FIne, whatever, I'm a good sport. There were only 3 girls playing, and one of them got her nose smashed in by Boy Next Door. Poor girl. When that happens where I come from, the standard saying is "Good excuse for a nose job", but I don't think that would apply in this situation.
I'm used to playing basketball. Seriously. Point guard. I'm kind of intense when I play sports. Like, I'm not one of those girls who shrieks when the ball come at her (okay, sometimes I am, but only when it's about to hit my head) and I don't mind shoving someone out of the way to get to the ball. Which is exactly what I did.
I'm not going to say I played well, but at least I kicked the ball in some sort of direction often. And occasionally I even stole it! I kept randomly screaming all these like cheerleading cheers like "our team was red hot" but I felt like I was talking to a wall. So I stopped.
It was a lot of fun actually. Especially when my white t-shirt began to get see thru. But hey, I'm sure people were more focused on the ball.
I know most ppl don't exactly see me as an 'athletic' type. But I would like to break that misconception! When I play, I play hardcore. It's like people see things as mutually exclusive, like a girl who won't leave her room without mascara can't kick a ball and like it. As if!!
I should start a worldwide campaign against stereotypes.
Quotes of the Week
"Danielle, it's called football, not boobball"
~Helpful Belgian after the ball kept hitting me in the chest. Not my fault, their all taller then me.
I really wasn't expecting you to be good. But you are. You really surprised me
~ Boy Who Used To Live Across From Me
I have been so bored lately with this 5 day long weekend that I actually started jogging. I shocked myself and my calves by running straight through my entire workout playlist! That is a good 40 min. I have done it twice so far and it's great. The only problem is I feel like I'm going to die the next morning. But no pain, no gain.
Today my Belgian rezmates ask me to join them in a football game. Sure..no problem..I just went jogging, but whatever, football can be fun. I was on my grade 7 soccer team for like 5 min, it will come back to me.
So we biked to the Sports centre and started to play, not on grass, but on the green slippery material...in the rain. They weren't 'wussy Americans' apparantly. FIne, whatever, I'm a good sport. There were only 3 girls playing, and one of them got her nose smashed in by Boy Next Door. Poor girl. When that happens where I come from, the standard saying is "Good excuse for a nose job", but I don't think that would apply in this situation.
I'm used to playing basketball. Seriously. Point guard. I'm kind of intense when I play sports. Like, I'm not one of those girls who shrieks when the ball come at her (okay, sometimes I am, but only when it's about to hit my head) and I don't mind shoving someone out of the way to get to the ball. Which is exactly what I did.
I'm not going to say I played well, but at least I kicked the ball in some sort of direction often. And occasionally I even stole it! I kept randomly screaming all these like cheerleading cheers like "our team was red hot" but I felt like I was talking to a wall. So I stopped.
It was a lot of fun actually. Especially when my white t-shirt began to get see thru. But hey, I'm sure people were more focused on the ball.
I know most ppl don't exactly see me as an 'athletic' type. But I would like to break that misconception! When I play, I play hardcore. It's like people see things as mutually exclusive, like a girl who won't leave her room without mascara can't kick a ball and like it. As if!!
I should start a worldwide campaign against stereotypes.
Quotes of the Week
"Danielle, it's called football, not boobball"
~Helpful Belgian after the ball kept hitting me in the chest. Not my fault, their all taller then me.
I really wasn't expecting you to be good. But you are. You really surprised me
~ Boy Who Used To Live Across From Me
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Cat is OUT of the bag
Okay, so the cat is definitely out of the bag. I am a JEW. And now people know. Not all people yet, but for some reason, a lot of people found out yesterday. That's pretty good, I mean , I made it until halloween before spilling it out. But the pressure was to great.
So I went to 'The Voice' meeting (the English newspaper on campus, of which the editor now knows of this blog, which was obviously not a smart move on my part because now I can't talk about them) and the Editor told me that his costume idea would involve 'shaving his head, putting a fake tattoo on his arm and going as a concentration camp guy'. No comment. Actually...here is a comment..I would have fuking thrown my drink at him. But thankfully he was joking. Then Irish editor came in and it came out that I was Jewish. Dammmmit! But at least I did not have to give my 'How to be Jew and why I support Israel' lecture series, which I have down pat. Also, I was drunk at this meeting which helped ease it.
Then I went home to dress up and try and convince my Boring (with the capital B) neighours to come with me. But they don't do Halloween. In fact, they don't do fun at all!
So I went to the Carleton Canadians house for their pre-Halloween party, They had decorated it really cutely! There were some new people there, including the guy who I KNOW is a Jew (from the first few blogs, remember?) plus his bitchy little girlfriend (literally she is little and bitchy, she is from like a subburb, she has no right to be bitchy)
Then we all transfered to Pangea. Here is a good example of how normal (ie. non Belgians) would react. I saw this Italian guy that I had met once the week before. As soon as I saw him, he said hello enthusiastically and kissed my cheek. If I saw a Belgian once, they would stand a metre away from me and nod their head before quickly passing by.
Then we went to various clubs. I, of course, kept get left behind b/c my my stupid heels. People need to learn to wait up for the whole group, especially the short ones. Kyle was WASTED at this point which was kind of hilarious.
And eventually we ran into Simon. Adam wouldn't tell me his costume....but...he was a Jew. He dressed up like a Chasidic Jew! It was sooo funny. B/c ppl actually thought he WAS a Jew. Okay..well he is actually a Jew. But you know what I mean.
And for some reason, being in this costume made him want to argue over Israeli/Palestinian conflict with me. Which ...let me tell you...disscussing the conflict at 4:30 in the morning, drunk, at a frites place is super fun. Especially when everyone is staring at you and no one agrees with you.
I admit I get a little passionate about the subject, but so does he. Someone commented that it was 'typical' of 2 Jews to argue like that. Well...2 Jews, 3 opinions.
But now ALL the philosophy people who were with us know that I am Jewish. Yuck. B/c now I get to be known as 'the short, Jewish girl'. They will probably put that on my grave or something. LIke you know when someone is refereing to someone in a conversation, and they just say 2 words about that person. Example "LIke, you know...that tall, blonde girl". Or "That funny redhead." I mean can't I be "That smart, short girl." Or "That funny brunnette". I mean..I am smart and funny. Right. Right????
And then these totally random Belgians joined in the conversation. Outside a club. Ugh. And they started talking about American and nuclear weapons and Israel. Like seriously. But fine. I really never want to have this discussion ever again. It's so old, I could write a transcript and it would be the same.
And then I danced, and then I went to sleep. And now I am writing this and planning to actually do school work today, on All Saints day, a national holiday.
Hope your Halloweens were good!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Gouda
Does anyone like that cheese? I do. I also remember that Canadian commercial where the mother gives money to the little boy to run and get her Gouda. That was a good one.
So guess who decided to drop in on Leuven? That's right...Gouda boys! They were tall, blonde, Dutch and well..from Gouda. That's a claim to fame if I ever heard one. I get such a kick out of tall, blonde people. Maybe because it is such a contrast to my short, dark haired tribe. Okay, that's pretty much it, we all just d&d'd all night (Drank and danced).
And Joanna-Gallagher-Look-Alike is actually a kleptomaniac. Not only does she try and steal every unlocked biked, and LITTER like crazy, but she steals random stuff from bars, like tablecloths and wigs and boas and coasters and glasses and basically anything that isn't nailed to the table.
Other then that, since she decided to go back to Ireland for a week for Halloween (I hate her now) I have decided to stay in a study and work on my presentation for Environmental Philosophy instead. But tmrw is Halloween and I am super excited! Even though no one here celebrates Halloween.....I can celebrate it. Dammit.
Anddddd I had another slut vs. nonslut conversation today with a Belgian, who was born in American.
He totally agrees with me. And I have a thesis for my argument now...
" North Americans value instant gratification, which leads to casual sexual behaviour, while Belgians value long-term gratification, which leads to serial monogomy over the short-lived amusement of a 'hook-up'.
OH...and can also be used to explain a lot of other cultural differences! Like the prevalence of Mcdonalds...
So guess who decided to drop in on Leuven? That's right...Gouda boys! They were tall, blonde, Dutch and well..from Gouda. That's a claim to fame if I ever heard one. I get such a kick out of tall, blonde people. Maybe because it is such a contrast to my short, dark haired tribe. Okay, that's pretty much it, we all just d&d'd all night (Drank and danced).
And Joanna-Gallagher-Look-Alike is actually a kleptomaniac. Not only does she try and steal every unlocked biked, and LITTER like crazy, but she steals random stuff from bars, like tablecloths and wigs and boas and coasters and glasses and basically anything that isn't nailed to the table.
Other then that, since she decided to go back to Ireland for a week for Halloween (I hate her now) I have decided to stay in a study and work on my presentation for Environmental Philosophy instead. But tmrw is Halloween and I am super excited! Even though no one here celebrates Halloween.....I can celebrate it. Dammit.
Anddddd I had another slut vs. nonslut conversation today with a Belgian, who was born in American.
He totally agrees with me. And I have a thesis for my argument now...
" North Americans value instant gratification, which leads to casual sexual behaviour, while Belgians value long-term gratification, which leads to serial monogomy over the short-lived amusement of a 'hook-up'.
OH...and can also be used to explain a lot of other cultural differences! Like the prevalence of Mcdonalds...
Monday, October 29, 2007
Language
I am learning so much about languages.
Not only Flemish, but all sorts of languages.
I grew up in Toronto, where people speak a million languages and broken English. This helps a lot in a forigen country where people have varying skills in English. But really...English really IS the lingua franca.
Actually...if I were to ask a Belgian a question in English on the street, they would probably respond with better English then if i had asked someone on the streets of Toronto.
It's also really clear which people speak English the best.
People from countries who dub television (France, Spain, Italy Germnay) have a harder time speaking English, especially with pronouciation and ease of speaking.
And its funny becuase the mistakes people made are obviously b/c of their own language.
Belgians always say "I teach from you" becuase they don't have a world for 'learn' as opposed to teach.
Italians always saw 'This night' instead of 'to night' or use the definite article (the) at inappropriate times.
it really makes me appreciate being a native english speak (as they call me).
But I still want to learn French, Spanish and Hebrew and Arabic.
Everyone already thinks I can speak french just because i am Canadian. They don't really get the whole "only the french are bilingual' thing.
I make it my business to know how to say ' i don't know this language'...in the language.
It has come in extreme usefulness.
Especially when people assume I am spanish or italian. (which happens like 7 times a day, even when I start speaking english)
Or when they are drunk and forget their english langauge skills.
here is what i can say so far (phonetic spelling) :
"Ik sprake hein nederlands, ik sprake alain engels' ( I dont speak dutch, i only speak english)
"no hablo espanol" ( i don't speak spanish)
"io noso parlele italiano" ( i dont speak italian)
"je ne parle pas francais" ( I dont speak french)
" ani lo medaberet ivrit" ( I dont speak hebrew)
"maquimo Daniella" ( ITA My name is Daniella -- not danielle, euro's can't pronounce danielle
"O dizanovi ani" (I am 19 years old )
"Studio philosophia" ( I study philosophy)
Salaam alokom "hello, arabic)
I know...I know..I'm a genuis..just come out and say it!
lately though I have been trying to put out a real effort to speak french. I have only been listing to French radio, French podcasts, learn french podcasts and sometimes even trying to translate the newspaper!
I enrolled in a class, but, ahem, keep skipping it. But its really boring since I am only in level one. I will start attending when it gets past "Je suis etudiante"
I understood my first Dutch sentence the other day! "Where is my bike?". I was so proud, esp. since I'm not studying Dutch. I would love to if it was more widely spoken and they didn't already all speak English perfectly!
But for Europeans it is so natural for everyone to AT LEAST be bilingual, but it is also common for people to speak 4 languages.
In N.A if you speak one and a half languages it is impressive.
But if I learn French..(somehow...it is so difficult!) at least I will be able to use it in Canada, since bilingual positions pay so much higher!
Oh and Biblical Hebrew, which I am also taking, will also come in handy.
Not only Flemish, but all sorts of languages.
I grew up in Toronto, where people speak a million languages and broken English. This helps a lot in a forigen country where people have varying skills in English. But really...English really IS the lingua franca.
Actually...if I were to ask a Belgian a question in English on the street, they would probably respond with better English then if i had asked someone on the streets of Toronto.
It's also really clear which people speak English the best.
People from countries who dub television (France, Spain, Italy Germnay) have a harder time speaking English, especially with pronouciation and ease of speaking.
And its funny becuase the mistakes people made are obviously b/c of their own language.
Belgians always say "I teach from you" becuase they don't have a world for 'learn' as opposed to teach.
Italians always saw 'This night' instead of 'to night' or use the definite article (the) at inappropriate times.
it really makes me appreciate being a native english speak (as they call me).
But I still want to learn French, Spanish and Hebrew and Arabic.
Everyone already thinks I can speak french just because i am Canadian. They don't really get the whole "only the french are bilingual' thing.
I make it my business to know how to say ' i don't know this language'...in the language.
It has come in extreme usefulness.
Especially when people assume I am spanish or italian. (which happens like 7 times a day, even when I start speaking english)
Or when they are drunk and forget their english langauge skills.
here is what i can say so far (phonetic spelling) :
"Ik sprake hein nederlands, ik sprake alain engels' ( I dont speak dutch, i only speak english)
"no hablo espanol" ( i don't speak spanish)
"io noso parlele italiano" ( i dont speak italian)
"je ne parle pas francais" ( I dont speak french)
" ani lo medaberet ivrit" ( I dont speak hebrew)
"maquimo Daniella" ( ITA My name is Daniella -- not danielle, euro's can't pronounce danielle
"O dizanovi ani" (I am 19 years old )
"Studio philosophia" ( I study philosophy)
Salaam alokom "hello, arabic)
I know...I know..I'm a genuis..just come out and say it!
lately though I have been trying to put out a real effort to speak french. I have only been listing to French radio, French podcasts, learn french podcasts and sometimes even trying to translate the newspaper!
I enrolled in a class, but, ahem, keep skipping it. But its really boring since I am only in level one. I will start attending when it gets past "Je suis etudiante"
I understood my first Dutch sentence the other day! "Where is my bike?". I was so proud, esp. since I'm not studying Dutch. I would love to if it was more widely spoken and they didn't already all speak English perfectly!
But for Europeans it is so natural for everyone to AT LEAST be bilingual, but it is also common for people to speak 4 languages.
In N.A if you speak one and a half languages it is impressive.
But if I learn French..(somehow...it is so difficult!) at least I will be able to use it in Canada, since bilingual positions pay so much higher!
Oh and Biblical Hebrew, which I am also taking, will also come in handy.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
sluuuuut
Whoops, I think I just gave a really bad impression of North America to Boy Next Door.
I was in the kitchen innocently eating apples and honey and for the first time in Belgium, I had a conversation about sexual activities. I think it was a breakthrough. Maybe I am finally beginning to be accepted!
I have no idea how it started, but generally Boy Next Door seems to be a little bit more.....loose then my other Belgian neighbours.
I told him about rainbow parties. Which he now thinks I have actually attended. Which, obviously I have not.
Then I tried to explain to him the 'culture of hooking up'. See, because everyone in Belgium is a serial monogomist, while everyone in North America is a serial slut.
I kinda think he wants to move to American now.
And I explained how in clubs in N.A ppl actually grind to rap music and shake their ass. Apparantly here, a Belgian girl would slap them.
This is such an unslutty country!!!
The girls here are tres buttoned up and the guys keep you at an arms length. Like omg, if I give you a hug it doesn't mean I want to blow you!
Even though blow jobs here are probably like the biggest deal ever. (They are for me, as well :))
So now they think everything they see in American movies is true. Which, speaking for Canada, it isn't. But...Americans friends, and two-a-days tell me they are pretty accurate for their country.
I was just trying to explain how the atmosphere is really differnet here. Even people from Ireland, Britian and Italy agree. There is no 'going on the pull' here (as Joanna-Gallagher-Look-Alike puts it)
And I think the best demonstration of how Belgian is more sexually reserved then Canada (minus the condom machines on the street) is that this was the first in depth conversation I've had about w/ Belgians!!!
So now he thinks I'm a huge slut. I tried to tell him that..um..I wasn't...but he actually doesn't believe me. But maybe in this country I am a slut. And that would be REALLY REALLLY SAD. Because I am giant NON slut. Fo real yo.
Now excuse me as I drink a bottle of Vino Rosso Biologico and be the slutty 'uncultured north american' that I am.
Quote of the day
"Maybe because they have none of their own culture they have to replace it with sex"
Random Belgian in my kitchen refering to Americans
" Girls either have breasts or brains"
Boy next door saying that there ARE slutty girls in Belgium, they just don't go to university. I took this one personally. You too can have extra large breasts and still have an A- GPA. Fucking North American Dream.
AND just to prove that I am not making this shit up....
The Slippery Slope of Promiscuity
Once premarital sex and adultery are tolerated, women must become increasingly promiscuous in order to attract men. When a man chooses between two women, if all else is equal, he will take the woman who is more sexually available. Because of this, women competing for attractive men are caught in a downward spiral where they must compete amongst each other with increasing promiscuity. Since the invention of the pill and the advent of the sexual revolution, women have had to become consistently more sexual in their clothing and behavior. Women who attempt to dress modestly and practice restraint have difficulty attracting men from their more sexually available competition.
The Hook-Up Myth
While there are many different ways in which the College’s rural environment makes the Dartmouth experience unique, the hook-up culture is simply not one of them. Regardless of geography and academic calendar, hook-up culture dominates collegiate social scenes across the entire nation.
Hooking up, losing out? The new culture of teen sex ... and how to talk to your campers about it: healthy teens--third in a series of three articles.
Sure, sexual behavior among adolescents is nothing new. But what is new is the startling casualness and regularity with which the "hooking up" takes place. The metamorphosis from relationship-based (relational) sex to recreational sex has many experts wondering if some young people are jeopardizing their future ability to form significant emotional attachments and construct healthy adult relationships.
Told You. Fuck man i could write a best seller on this subject. Probably so could everyone else who went to Jewcamp. It could be called "Do you know where the fuck your sending your kids? Oh wait..you do ..because you want us all to have Jew babies."
K sorry Ive had 2 glasses of wine already, ill stop while im ahead.
I was in the kitchen innocently eating apples and honey and for the first time in Belgium, I had a conversation about sexual activities. I think it was a breakthrough. Maybe I am finally beginning to be accepted!
I have no idea how it started, but generally Boy Next Door seems to be a little bit more.....loose then my other Belgian neighbours.
I told him about rainbow parties. Which he now thinks I have actually attended. Which, obviously I have not.
Then I tried to explain to him the 'culture of hooking up'. See, because everyone in Belgium is a serial monogomist, while everyone in North America is a serial slut.
I kinda think he wants to move to American now.
And I explained how in clubs in N.A ppl actually grind to rap music and shake their ass. Apparantly here, a Belgian girl would slap them.
This is such an unslutty country!!!
The girls here are tres buttoned up and the guys keep you at an arms length. Like omg, if I give you a hug it doesn't mean I want to blow you!
Even though blow jobs here are probably like the biggest deal ever. (They are for me, as well :))
So now they think everything they see in American movies is true. Which, speaking for Canada, it isn't. But...Americans friends, and two-a-days tell me they are pretty accurate for their country.
I was just trying to explain how the atmosphere is really differnet here. Even people from Ireland, Britian and Italy agree. There is no 'going on the pull' here (as Joanna-Gallagher-Look-Alike puts it)
And I think the best demonstration of how Belgian is more sexually reserved then Canada (minus the condom machines on the street) is that this was the first in depth conversation I've had about w/ Belgians!!!
So now he thinks I'm a huge slut. I tried to tell him that..um..I wasn't...but he actually doesn't believe me. But maybe in this country I am a slut. And that would be REALLY REALLLY SAD. Because I am giant NON slut. Fo real yo.
Now excuse me as I drink a bottle of Vino Rosso Biologico and be the slutty 'uncultured north american' that I am.
Quote of the day
"Maybe because they have none of their own culture they have to replace it with sex"
Random Belgian in my kitchen refering to Americans
" Girls either have breasts or brains"
Boy next door saying that there ARE slutty girls in Belgium, they just don't go to university. I took this one personally. You too can have extra large breasts and still have an A- GPA. Fucking North American Dream.
AND just to prove that I am not making this shit up....
The Slippery Slope of Promiscuity
Once premarital sex and adultery are tolerated, women must become increasingly promiscuous in order to attract men. When a man chooses between two women, if all else is equal, he will take the woman who is more sexually available. Because of this, women competing for attractive men are caught in a downward spiral where they must compete amongst each other with increasing promiscuity. Since the invention of the pill and the advent of the sexual revolution, women have had to become consistently more sexual in their clothing and behavior. Women who attempt to dress modestly and practice restraint have difficulty attracting men from their more sexually available competition.
The Hook-Up Myth
While there are many different ways in which the College’s rural environment makes the Dartmouth experience unique, the hook-up culture is simply not one of them. Regardless of geography and academic calendar, hook-up culture dominates collegiate social scenes across the entire nation.
Hooking up, losing out? The new culture of teen sex ... and how to talk to your campers about it: healthy teens--third in a series of three articles.
Sure, sexual behavior among adolescents is nothing new. But what is new is the startling casualness and regularity with which the "hooking up" takes place. The metamorphosis from relationship-based (relational) sex to recreational sex has many experts wondering if some young people are jeopardizing their future ability to form significant emotional attachments and construct healthy adult relationships.
Told You. Fuck man i could write a best seller on this subject. Probably so could everyone else who went to Jewcamp. It could be called "Do you know where the fuck your sending your kids? Oh wait..you do ..because you want us all to have Jew babies."
K sorry Ive had 2 glasses of wine already, ill stop while im ahead.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
2-4 Hour Run
I haven't blogged for almost a week! Weekends here are kind of boring, all the Belgians go home to be boy scouts leaders (I kid you not). I was supposed to go to Paris but the trains were all on strike! And the chain on my bike keeps breaking, I have just given up.
Last year and this year, I just have too much time on my hands. Even though I am taking like 8 classes I only have 3, (but really 2 since I never go to class on Wed anyways) days of class and there is not really too much work (although the readings mysteriously keep Simon and Tiffany busy) so I have nothing to do!
I have been trying to fill my time with hobbies. I, for instance, made my own pasta sauce from scratch. Then I made my own salad dressing from scratch. is great for that sort of thing.
And I joined the school's international Newspaper, The Voice.
Maybe I should start going to the gym?? Or not...
I even considered taking up rock climbing until I remembered that I was scared of heights.
Maybe I will take up painting.
Anyways, so yesterday the ppl in my rez told me about this '24 hour run' thing. Ummm..okay another Belgian oddity. Apparently all the faculties compete in a relay run and it lasts for 24 hours. Sounds exciting I though sarcastically.
So I felt like shit, because I am sick AGAIN. But I went anyways.
Holy Shit.
It was a fuking giant carnival!
Literally thousands and thousands of students were mushed together in a forest with ppl running around a track.
There were food stands and a red bull tent etc.,
I even participated in on of those things where you dress up in a cushy suit and try to knock the other person off of a bar. I will show you pics later to clarify.
I wish I could have enjoyed it more, but I felt so sick that I went home early (also with the intent to wake up for Environmental Philosophy)
Which obviously never happened.
I think I will just stay in bed alll day today.
There is a 'girls night' on my floor today which should be tres interesting.
Quote of the day
"In Belgium, We are the sluts. So You can imagine how the Belgian girls must be"
Spoken by a Dutch girl in reference to how reserved Belgian boys are
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Petrikov, my new bff
I had planned to spend my evening cleaning up my room yesterday so I didn't have to sleep on the floor again.
But then I got depressed, ( there will be a large upcoming post about whyyy) and conviently got a text msg from Christina.
So I went to her flat armed with Petrikov.
No, Petrikov isn't a hot Eastern European boy with limited language skills, Petrikov is a delicious vodka drink.
It's 14% and tastes like koolaid.
Basically, it is BETTER then a hot Eastern European boy with limited language skills.
I started swigging on the way there and by the time I left I was halfway on the floor.
I'd like to remind everyone that this was lastnight, aka tuesday night, aka I have 9 am class wed. morning.
And then I started dancing ON the oak stump. Whenever I'm drunk, I just get the urge to dance dance dance on high heights. Ever feel the same? It's like instinctual.
Then I went home at 1:00 (a very reasnoable hour thank you very much) and started reading some of the rules posted on the door outside. Except they were in Dutch, but I think I got the gist. I'm sure one of them was 'Don't piss on the street" and a Dutch guy, before asking if I was British (which I happily nodded to) Translated one as "Be cozy" or something. Who knows
I crawled into my sleeping bag which I had squished onto my bed.
Then I awoke at 8:00. Puked. Got dressed. Puked again. Ate and Oat bar. Fixed my bike chain. Drank a Sprite Zero. Went to Enviromental Ethics.
and now I am finally about to do my first real load of laundry!
Wish me luck!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Dustmites
Today I switched rooms.
It took like 5 hours! And it was just down the hall. But the guy I was switching rooms with, Uber Christian, and me kept haveing like really long talks about the Bible. I made it four hours before he found out that I was Jewish. Common....that's pretty good! He was like 'Don't tell the Iranian girls!" ...yea lol NOT planning too.
And then Helpful Belgian, naturally, being incredibly helpful, installed a mirror on my wall that he bought for me at Ikea and carried home on his motorcycle. I think I might buy him some chocolates....
He has like a collection of power tools, its pretty hot actually. I haven't met too many people who know how to use them, remember that I'm the girl who tried to hammer in a screw....
Actually I'm not a fan of Helpful Belgian anymore, he called me both fat AND stupid. Oh and Uber Christian, after seeing my shoe rack, said "I thought you were a normal girl, but now I see that you are not".
I feel so loved today.
So now my room is a crazy crazy crazy mess and I'm going to camp out on my floor in a sleeping bag. After I do my presentation that's due at 9:00 tmrw of course....
It took like 5 hours! And it was just down the hall. But the guy I was switching rooms with, Uber Christian, and me kept haveing like really long talks about the Bible. I made it four hours before he found out that I was Jewish. Common....that's pretty good! He was like 'Don't tell the Iranian girls!" ...yea lol NOT planning too.
And then Helpful Belgian, naturally, being incredibly helpful, installed a mirror on my wall that he bought for me at Ikea and carried home on his motorcycle. I think I might buy him some chocolates....
He has like a collection of power tools, its pretty hot actually. I haven't met too many people who know how to use them, remember that I'm the girl who tried to hammer in a screw....
Actually I'm not a fan of Helpful Belgian anymore, he called me both fat AND stupid. Oh and Uber Christian, after seeing my shoe rack, said "I thought you were a normal girl, but now I see that you are not".
I feel so loved today.
So now my room is a crazy crazy crazy mess and I'm going to camp out on my floor in a sleeping bag. After I do my presentation that's due at 9:00 tmrw of course....
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