Thursday, July 21, 2011

Announcement

Dear Friends, Family, and Facebook Stalkers:

This is an official blog to announce my decision to stay in Europe for at least another year. After much deliberation with my current host family and frequent arguments  discussions with my always encouraging and supportive Mother, I have decided to stay in Holland both as an Au Pair and to continue my education. Starting in September I will be studying International Business and Management Studies which I am extremely excited about. I'm quite positive it will be a difficult program, with classes such as Accounting and Statistics but I am looking forward to multiple aspects of it especially learning a new language fluently, studying abroad (from Holland, which is strange)  and an internship at an International Corporation. There are so many things I will miss about the States, so many people, both friends and family, my handsome puppy Porter, beautiful places in America and as always delicious cuisine like Bojangles (half way kidding). As always, I hope that anyone traveling to Amsterdam or any other part of Europe will shoot me an email or message to let me know, I love visitors. And to any of my close friends and family, save up your money and get your butts out here, I miss you...

Sundays

Do you ever have that feeling on Sunday? That unexplained feeling of dread. I mean, don't get me wrong- like every other person I know that coins Sunday Funday THE day of the week, I love it too. But almost every Sunday I experience this slowly nagging and overwhelming sadness, even if just for a few seconds about the weekend that just passed. Sunday is simply the last day of the weekend, right on the cusp of another week of work and obligation. I attempt to make Sunday last as long as possible, pushing the limit to the amount of excitement and mischief I can get into before work Monday morning at 7am.

Living in Europe is wonderful, but just like anywhere else you live, it has its pros and cons. One of the reasons that Sunday originally became such an ordeal was because it was the countdown to my time spent in Europe and my return to my life in America. Another weekend gone, seven days spent out of my 365 days, and in the blink of an eye another week would be over and I would be enjoying the weekend again but then Sunday, my constant antagonist, would creep up on me. After months and months of deliberation, with both my host family and my family, I decided to extent my time in Europe for at least another year.

But yet, there was that feeling again.. slowly approaching this past Sunday. See, that's the thing about living in another country, yes, you occasionally meet friends who will continue to stay where you are, in my case in Holland, but you also meet people that you experience such incredible things with and only then to have them leave. Whether they be American, British, Australian, or any other nationality sooner or later, they exit your life. Not for forever,  whereas I know we will always stay in contact one way or another, but I do know that they won't constantly be present in my life like they've been. It's bittersweet really, it makes me incredibly sad to see such amazing people come and go, but, I know if I hadn't met them here in Europe, who knows if I would have met them at all. It's the type of life we lead. It's the adventure that brought us to live in another country, away from everything we once knew, relying on one another as our support system. We are all each other has sometimes. Our families aren't close by so we become a family in a way. But that's the beauty of it all..Memories made with people that understand you and feel the same way you do about your time away. Continuously making the most of the time you do have here, enjoying every bit of the culture and embracing all the new relationships you are lucky enough to have made.

I know the latter scenario is not one that will change.. I will continue to meet people that come in and out of my life like a revolving door but I know that every time I do, I will take a piece of them and our time together and store it for days like Sunday when I feel that daunting feeling of emptiness creeping in. Then, I will just smile.

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." - The Wonder Years

Monday, July 11, 2011

This is a courtesy message for American travelers...

Fellow Americans, as much as I encourage and applaud you in your decision to travel around Europe I would also like to take a moment to reflect on how to make the transition a pleasant experience for all from the great U-S of A to European countries..

The following are advised against:
1. Fanny packs (honestly, no one wears them.. unless you're at Disney World and over the age of 60.)
2. The American staple of tennis shoes with every outfit. That may include khakis, jean shorts, or a dress. Unless you're planning on going for a leisurely run, we don't need to see them on your feet. We've advanced enough as a culture to find fashionable and comfortable shoes to wear while trekking around Amsterdam. Nike, Asics, or any other white tennis shoe are unacceptable when paired with a dressy outfit or anything other than athletic clothing.
3. The camera on the hip.. honestly? Do you really need it put it in plain sight so that you can whip it out out at a moments notice? Don't you realize that it's out in the open and therefore much easier to be stolen right off your body? There is nothing that you will see that will need to be captured in 15 seconds or less, I promise, therefore don't wear it like a revolver in a holster.
4. DENIM I never knew there were so many ways to wear it.. and although I speak to other nationalities as well, it's not okay to wear it as a jacket, vest, and for males, shorts all together (jorts)- at the same time, or even in separate pieces. I'm talking white wash, ripped denim, dark denim, light denim or any other variation of denim. For a moment I felt like Bubba in "Forest Gump" discussing shrimp. Just don't do it.
5. Workout clothing while you're not working out. This is the land of fashion, designers such as Versace, Gucci, Prada and Chanel all began their lines in Europe. Can you at least dress like you didn't roll out of bed in the morning, reach to the ground and pull whatever you could find just to go tour the Anne Frank House? Put a little thought into what you pack, pictures last forever. Sweatpants are not our friends. You don't have to wear designer, god knows I don't, but at least look like you didn't just leave the gym.
6. Do not, and I repeat, do not discuss politics in bars, cafes, pubs, trams, metros, trains or restaurants. It's not necessary. Everyone knows whats going on with our government and our country. Let the ever so attractive (yet gay, damn.) Anderson Cooper handle it.
7. If you're going to get high in Amsterdam, act like you have some sense. Don't throw your fries on the floor at Burger King, or run up and down the streets with your shirt off..
8. If I can hear you when I walk in the door, and you're in the back of the bar.. we have a problem. There is a volume button somewhere inside of you. Let's not be the loud Americans everyone thinks we already are.
9. Europeans tend to be private people, therefore, if I see you out crying at the bar, talking about your broken relationship you left behind and how "Todd never appreciated me for who I am and that's why he slept with Hilary.." and whimpering on the shoulder of every person you can find.. I'm going to be embarrassed for you. You're in Europe. Get a grip. Keep your business to yourself. It's only appropriate to talk about personal things when you've known someone for longer than two drinks.
10. Europe is expensive. We know this. And you probably knew this too when you booked your trip- therefore, don't loudly discuss how expensive your coffee is and then include the converted USD amount and your credit card fee for using your card. This is a once in a lifetime trip, you can have your 7-11 coffee when you get home for $1.

Traveling in Europe is completely different than America. I hope it's the difference that made you want to travel in the first place... As much as I love being able to spot you across the street, your legacy as "that" American lives on way after your three week trip. So fellow Americans- book your ticket, if you need a tour guide, I'd love to show you around- but leave your brand new white tennis shoes at home.