Austin on the Road

Sunday, 13 February 2011

White-washing picket fences

This is normally the point where I'd say "Why's it gotta be white?" to try to create an awkward racial moment... But I'll refrain.

I've been here a week now and I'm starting to become a pretty quick bed maker. I can take out the trash, spray down windows and sinks, and vacuum and mop floors with the best of them. (Don't tell my mom)

The weird thing is I'm enjoying it. It's like I'm one of those kids who was convinced by that one guy that white washing picket fences is fun.

I think there's two reasons I'm enjoying being a cleaner in this hostel:

1) The location. Amsterdam is a beautiful city. When the lights reflect off the canals at night it's particularly nice. (I'll try to do pics soon)

When I first arrived in Cuba last year, every little thing I did seemed exciting because it was a new place. So when I played basketball or shopped at a market, it wasn't just playing basketball and shopping. It was playing basketbal and shopping... IN CUBA! Or when I went to Peru a couple years ago and volunteered at a local school, in my mind it wasn't helping out at a school everyday. It was being at TA... IN PERU!

Get what I'm trying to say? The mundane things, for me, become exciting when I'm in a new place.

2) The people. The staff here is composed of mostly college aged volunteers from around the world. Seeing as though it's a Christian hostel, they're all Christians but obviously the same isn't true of all the guests. It's been cool to talk and hear different people's (staff and guests) beliefs and stories about how they ended up in Amsterdam.

One week in and I'm already a little sad I'll only be here another 3 weeks. I'm starting to realize that when I travel I think I'd rather be in one place for a while and really get to know it rather than see a lot of places for short amounts of time. Plus I feel like I'm "part of the family" already. Everyone's been super nice and fun to hang out with.

The point of all this I guess is that when you're white washing fences in a new and beautiful city with a bunch of cool, interesting new frineds, life isn't so bad.

Friday, 4 February 2011

Naked girl, naked girl... Christian hostel.

Well, not completely naked. But they weren't wearing much, that's for sure. This was my first night in Amsterdam and the shameless prostituion in the well known Red Light District was hard to miss.

I was heading to the hostel I was staying at for the night--a Christian hostel, I had been told, where there was a possibility I could work and stay there for free. But as I was walking, I got the feeling I was heading the wrong way as the number of barely dressed women increased. Naked girl, naked girl... Christian hostel--I turned a corner and there it was. One hour in and I knew Amsterdam would be an interesting city.

Here are some things I've noticed over the past few days:

-Everyone bikes. Everyone. I guess most Americans (myself included) have this type of attitude towards bikes: "As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists" But here it's normal, almost essential, to cycle most places. Parking is hard to find and super expensive when you do find it.

-The term "coffeeshop" does not reefer (intentially spelled wrong) to a cafe type restaurant in which one may go to ejnoy a nice cup of joe. Well, maybe you can get a good cup of coffee, but that isn't their main item of interest. I don't know, I guess "Weedshop" or "Marijuanashop" don't have the same ring to it.

-Almost everyone speaks a decent amount of English. This is probably because the Netherlands and northern Belgium are the only places where the people speak Dutch (I think) so it's necessary to learn English. This fact has ben very helpful... especially when I'm lost. It'd be tough to be in a country where I dont understand anyone and no one understands me.

-"Hi my name is Amsterdam..." All other cities attending meeting "Hiii Amsterdam." Amsterdam continues, "...and I'm a sex addict" Seriously, this place really loves their sex. Sex museums, sex shops, sex for sale, live sex shows. It's crazy and impossible to miss.

I hope to find out more about the city as I'm here. I'm gonna do the work and live for free thing at the hostel for the next four weeks so I'll be here a while. Yea, I guess that's all for now.

[Insert short, possibly witty sentence to end blog entry here]

Saturday, 29 January 2011

Belgium: Call me Colin Farrell...

...because I'm ______.

Any guesses? Anybody?

Back in my days as a multi-talented, drive-thru specialist Chick-fil-A employee, when the clock would strike 9:59 (I was usually off at 10:00), I would often say this line: "Call me Nicolas Cage because I'm... (pause for dramatic effect and resist urge to say "a horrible actor") Gone in 60 seconds." It got a laugh exactly one time.

Seriously though, did anyone ever see that insanely horrible movie Ghost Rider? If I ever see Mr. Cage in person I will punch him in the face for stealing 2 hours of my life. It's painfully bad.

Anyway no more stalling. In Bruges was the answer I was looking for--a movie shot in Bruges that Colin Farrell did a couple years ago. I was also in Gent and in Brussels, but I don't think those are movies.

Ok enough small talk, on with the pictures... (clicking on them makes them bigger and better)

Bruges and Gent

(the cities looked similar and I couldn't remember which pics were taken where)

I like the look of the buildings

Leaning trees--I feel like a clever person could come up with a funny caption for this picture.
"Paul Bunyon sneezed" was the best I could do.

Action shot--this is Bruges, I think

One of many Cathedrals

A castle from the 15th (?) century

A less artistic shot of the same castle

Olivia and Annabelle: wonderful guides (and salsa dancers)

I'm a sucker for water reflecticious photos

None of us had any idea where to go when we arrived in Gent.
Guess which way we went

Again with the water reflections

My first Belgian waffle. That's whipped cream, ice cream, powdered sugar and chocolate sauce. Yum

Brussels

A classic case of no picture I took coming close to doing this view of the city justice

"Manneken Pis" (Little Man Piss) This is a pretty well know statue.
Legend has it he pissed on a fire and saved Brussels a long time ago--
either it was a small fire or he had been holding it in far too long.

Belgian flags

Can't remember what this building is. Cathedral is always a safe bet here.

Olivia: "Austin if you're not in any of the pictures no one will believe you're really here."
Exhibit A.

Monday, 24 January 2011

Goodbye England. Hellooo waffles.

"You know, if you perform you get in free."

This changed everything. My debate whether I should spend £4 (a significant amount of money to me these days) to go to Catweazle, an open mic type event that sounded really interesting, was instantly settled. I'd just perform... But what?

Unless you've been the recipient of one, you might not know that occasionally I write poems. Nothing sappy or deep or lovey, so hopefully I dont lose any man cards for the fact, usually just a light hearted, 20ish line rhyming poem.

Sorted, as they'd say here--I'd write a poem. We get back to the house and I have an hour to whip up a poem and eat. I tell myself I´m not gonna eat until the poem is done which is plenty enough motivation to write fast.

Performers had to arrive an hour early so I get dropped off at the place and go in, put my name on the list and wait. An hour later the show starts and it's pretty good. There were stories read, poems recited, songs sang, etc. It was really cool actually.

Anyway after about an hour and a half, it was my turn.

"Ok next up, joining us for the first time, please welcome Austin to the stage"

The crowd roars... or more like purrs.

I uncrinkle my little piece of paper I had evidently been nervously folding and rolling in my hand for the past hour and a half, clear my throat, give a quick 10 second introduction, and dive in:

Welcome to Manchester, the pilot finally said

I'm here. I've arrived. I thought in my head

I stepped off the plane--let the adventures begin

The started sooner that I expected, customs wouldn't let me in

I know I dont have a return ticket and have only 30 pounds

But I just wanna travel, not work, as unbelievable as it sounds

After a 30 minute struggle she finally lets me through

Good morning England--How do you do?

Two days into travelling and I get some bad news

The student loan I was expecting won't be available to use

But I decide not to worry that my plans now have a glitch

Because I've learned something about life--sometimes she's a witch

In going place to place I've slept on beds couches and floors

People have been so happy to open their doors

I've seen different cities: York Manchester Newcastle

Everyone's been so nice. I haven't met one "astle"

It's warmer right now in Florida, we see a bit more of the sun

But I'll "warm up" to the weather soon--excuse the bad pun

I really like it here, as different as it may be

I'm starting to rather enjoy my morning cup of tea

The sport you call football you actually play with your feet

And I've noticed that every single person drives on the wrong side of the street

Anyway as I continue my travels, embracing the unforeseen

I'll leave you with a "cheers mate" and a "God save the queen!"

They applaud. I return to my seat, exhale and enjoy the rest of the free entertainment--my favorite kind.

Tomorrow, my time in England comes to an end. I went from Manchester to Newcastle to York to London to Oxford and enjoyed every minute. In just a few hours I´ll get on a bus to Brussels, Belgium.

Goodbye, England. Hellooo waffles.