Velocity of Life

Love you Washington

2013-04-25T13:12:00.001-07:00

I've been back in the states for the last six months now... No work still. I feel like shit on the bottom of a shoe. What the fuck do I have to do to get a job around here? I have an amazing resume, lots of good skills and I stick with jobs for a long while. So whats the problem? Is it me? Do I smell bad? At least I've been enjoying my unemployment. Kalab and I got out to the cascades last weekend for my first time which, homygod! AMAZING!!! We went to a campground called Lonefir, if you find yourself in the North Cascades it is worth a night and a day :D We saw some amazing stuff and I got to jum in a glacier river every morning. That by itself would make my day.

Darby (Drews happy little Corgie) left his mark behind with his magnificent balls (R.I.P.)

I'll tell you more about Tiersa later, she is, was and always will be my Best Friend. I will take her everywhere with me. She passed too young and I have vowed to myself to take her with me wherever I will go.I left two poems for her at Burning man 2009 and some graffiti in Prague. It is a small gesture but she always wanted to travel and I feel that this way she can. This way she flies with me.

Kalab and I decided to get married!! We plan on having 2.5 kids and a cookie cutter home with two garages. We will also have one dog, a cat and all the material possessions that society expects we should have....

HA!

It is a cute chapel though

Sooooo In love with these mountains! The view from the car.

This is MilkMilk... His job is making sure that safe driving is always happening. He doesn't do a very good job.

So we did a whole bunch of awesome stuff at Lone Fir! We went hiking, swimming and .... yeah. We also played Horse Shoes which is a really fun game. If you don't know what it is look it up and play that shit! Super fun! Of course being out in the boonies some Axe Throwing has to happen as well :D I had a blast!

The views that we saw whist hiking were breathtaking.

Some dangerous hiking was to be had as well. Kalab ran off on his own up a precarious trail and I have never felt such fear and anger. My veins were white-hot. Next time I'm following him. If he falls to his death I'm going to know about it first.

So yep. Awesome weekend. Jealous much? I'm already jealous of myself... I want to go back so bad!

Climbing out of this muddy hole that I was calling life...

2012-09-05T09:17:00.001-07:00

Okay so working out is always a bitch but being in shape feels so much better than not! When I was in Prague, doing Yoga every day was easy with the floors we had. Here its not so easy with the awfully plush carpet and no space. So frustrating. This works for the space I have at the moment. Though swimming every day would be the best and my favorite option! However getting to the water without a car is hours which = uber-lame-notsohappyfuntime. Being in shape helps you focus your mind more as well which is one more reason to do it, especially since I'm starting school on the 24th!!
Anyways I know it been a bit but actually I have 5 or 6 posts that are just grammatically awful and rambling pieces of shit (like this but worse, much worse) I am slowly crawling back out of my hole that I dug for myself when I got back to the states. It's a scary place we live in. Now with all this election nonsense and all of the straight up lies on both sides it makes me wish I had just stayed illegally in Prague or Germany until the election year is over. It doesn't matter which way you vote anymore, its all going to be shit. A two party system might work for a small country but the United States is fucking HUGE! Watch the video at the end of this. Do it for your brain. It need it.

An Alternative to First Past the Post voting..

First past the Post is what Americans are doing right now, which is a load of shit..

Let C. G. P. Grey explain..

http://youtu.be/s7tWHJfhiyo

Guess who's back?

2012-08-13T14:36:00.001-07:00

That would be me! Yep. The visa process is one confusing bit of shenanigans!! I now have much more respect for people getting work visas, especially in the us of a where I hear we are especially paperwork heavy.
So I'm back again and staying with my mom in Port Townsend for the moment, she has a lot of home improvements that need to be done and with my construction background I figured that this would be a great way to help her out. I have a little trepidation considering leveling her basement floor but we will see how involved it will be. I suppose this is what you get with a good deal on a house. sub-par basement flooring :) I am worried about my motivation, I work off the other people around me and my mom seems to be the same way.. great... so this means that we wont get anything done, crap. oh well it could be worse. at least i'm going to be able to help her out, with whatever I can do.

Writers block is broken... for now

2011-12-05T10:51:00.001-08:00

Today is Mikuláš day in the Czech Republic and it was an interesting day to say the least, walking to the metro I almost ran into an effigy of the Pope. Yes that is correct the Pope :) He was accompanied by one Devil and one Angel this apparently is Saint Nicolas for the Czech People.

The saints back in the day used to wear the same big fancy hats like our Pope today apparently according to my Czech roommate. Either way being in a busy metro station and seeing a woman wielding a long metal chain is always a little bit intimidating. Also being in the thick of the festive crowd and not having any idea what was going on is a little thrilling in itself. Thoughts ran rampant through my mind.. "what are they doing?" "Can I take a picture of this? Would it be rude?" "Are these teenagers in costume???" Yes by the way, they are :) It was strange to say the least but it makes for memorable moments in Prague with the promise of many more to come.

This city is one giant anomaly in the world... It makes me really wish I had grown up here. It is the little things they do that make it such and amazing city tho.. for instance the fact that teenagers actually enjoy celebrating tradition with terrifying children and then subsequently comforting them with the promise of sweets and toys from Saint Nick. When you are in a small shop trying to make exact change and you are a few CZK/Koruna (pronounced like Corona the delicious Mexican beer) short they would rather just take your little bills then cash one of your big one (money is a bit weird here) Sales tax is added onto all the grocery items all-ready so you can have exact change when you go to the cashier, and that bread is baked all day long because everyone loves bread... even the dogs seem happier here.

I wish I could fit a bit better. I would love to live here but I feel my life pulling me in another direction. I will not listen to what will be best financially for me (the original reason I had for going to college) I will be following my heart.. my soul. It is so important to be truly happy in what you do on this planet. I will not waste any more time doing something I hate. I refuse. And though this is not going to work out in the long run for me here I feel I have learned a lot about myself and my limits and loves that this trip was worth every penny. I don't know how much more traveling will be said in this blog but for sure it will follow my velocity of life and that is one scary somebitch :) I can only hope you will enjoy my further ventures and mistakes and hopefully learn a little something for yourself from them. Adios Ahoy Aloha.... TaTa..

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I would also like to take this moment to point out that this morning I learned to poach an Egg.... Impressive I know :) I would like to thank the movie Julia Julia for first showing me that hey wait I don't know how to do that and then subsequently challenging me to figure it out!!! MUAHAHAAA!!!

Pizza time in the Czech Republic

2011-11-21T12:05:00.001-08:00

Most recent and 2nd favorite Pizza so far..

I would like to talk of something that has been on my mind since I arrived here in Prague and it is something that I have been struggling to understand.. Pizza. Now originally I saw my first slice on a crazy night out and I was so impressed because it was MASSIVE! However that can be a deceptive mistress, size. Because although this piece of pizza was almost larger than my head I think that if one crumpled it up into a little ball my fist would probably be larger… (I’ve got freak tiny hands as well..) the cheese was non-existant on my peperoni pizza and by the time I finished my pizza I was seriously contemplating E-mailing the owners of Zeeks Pizza to see if they wanted to get a little something something going on over in Prague cause if they weren't going to do anything about this grotesque lack of crust and cheese I was going to have to take matters into my own hands and I was never the best pie cook on the line!

However I was saved from almost certain failure by my new friend and roommate Wendy who after hearing my Pizza laments helped me order a whole pizza (they defiantly do not call Pizza's "pies" over here) and I found out that here in Prague a Pizza does not feed a family or four like it does in the states. Oh. You get your own pie!! WHAT! Yes! It is much smaller than i'm used to, probably closer to a medium pizza size, but when its just you the size doesn't really matter! Nor is there any of that fighting over the odd last slice out and compromising on toppings :) Oh it was absolutely fantastic! I got myself a veggie Pizza (garlic, spinach, broccoli, and fancy cheese with an olive oil base) with prosciutto added :) I love doing that with pizza get a veggie pie and add meat. Wendy looked at me kinda funny but shrugged and ordered the pizza. We went and grabbed it and practically ran home! (not really but it is true that we were very excited for said pizza) I wish I had grabbed a picture of that fantastic Pizza before it was expertly devoured :) this one up here was tasty but a surprise! I live out on the edge of Prague proper so none of the shops in the area speak English, which normally isn't a problem except when you want to know what is on your pizza... So Basil and shrimp it is! It was okay.. really really wish I had a picture of the other one it was amazingly fantastic! But this will do, at least you can see what it was I was eating :)

Class Time!!

2011-11-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

Sculpture on grating at Prague Castle- Random-

So it appears that my young learner class (students about 10 years old, if that didn't make sense) was not today as I thought it was. Oh well. Now I have one solid young learners lesson plan that I can use for later.. The lesson planning is by far the hardest part of teaching. Doesn't help that the teacher I'm teaching under doesn't like me very much, not that I can blame her. The only interaction she had with me was that I was late for my first class and then to top it off I spoke too fast for the children half the time :( Crap, maybe I would make a lousy teacher. Or maybe I was nervous as hell!! and when i'm nervous I speak fast... crap..

This is a lot more stressful than I thought it was going to be. Even the visa process is a head-ache. I'm going to have to go to the American embassy and swear that I have no criminal background, then go get the equivalent of 6,000 USD into my new Czech bank account and then its off to Berlin to the Czech embassy to apply for my trade license :) Then I bring all that paperwork (and the lease from my new flat) to this office in Old Town square with a someone who can speak Czech (preferably a native Czech person) cause they won't speak English.

And you had better hope you have everything in order cause if you don't they will send you away and the place is only open two days a week! Its mostly just annoying red tape except for the Berlin bit which is just ridiculous!! However I have friends in Dusseldorf so maybe I will visit with them. Course I said I'd be there over the Christmas Holiday and it's not really there yet.

So yeah everything is so up in the air at the moment and when stuff like that happens with me I get more forgetful than average, which for me is a very bad thing indeed. So far I have lost my hat and my scarf... lets hope I can keep it down to just that.

I'm in!!!

2011-11-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

My Kitchen!!!

Its official! I have moved in! I unpacked my bags and even had an issue with the toilet already!! (That's between me and the toilet btw) It seems so surreal, I don't know what to make of it...

Well let me tell you about the place, its a lovely apartment however you don't call it an apartment you call it a flat. Its got two rooms, mine and Wendy's a bathtub which has a shower curtain-ish so that way you can take a shower (shower curtains appear to be rare in flats in the Czech Republic) and a washing machine in the same room room, the toilet however is separate, which if you think about it... that makes a heck of a lot of sense.. If I ever get around to building my house that's how I'm going to do it. The living room is nice and big and the fridge is hidden in a closet :) yep that's right! Its in a quiet part of town but that is no problem for me cause I have my awesome pass for public transportation! And let me tell you something about the metro tram and bus over here... Its fantastic!!! The only reason you would ever need a car is if you have a weekend house out in the country, which a lot of people do around here (Another fantastic idea from the Czech People) I got a vodafone sim card for my phone so I have about a months worth of calling and text for... drum roll please.. 10 freakin dollars!!! Thats right! A sim with credit! 10 bucks! About 200 CZK (called krona pronounced like corona like the beer).

Food stuff....

2011-11-03T05:24:00.000-07:00

I'm can be a hungry hungry hippo sometimes ('specially this week) and I refuse to eat at Hostel Plus so I've been living on delicious snack fodder!!! NAM NAM NAM just wanted to talk about some of the more memorable ones for a quick min :)

These puffed peanuts taste like Resses Peanut butter Cups...

without the chocolate.. :(

To go with my meal I had Sausages :)
I know REALLY nutritional right...

The day before that I gave the local subway- oh wait excuse me! Baguetteky a try

They have baguette sandwiches and potato wedge fries with tarter sauce.. I liked subway more.. the bread here though I must say was spot on, the filling leaves something to be desired.. I need some more veggies..

And last but not least! We have for your viewing pleasure the overpriced sandwhich vending machine in the lobby of the hostel right where the KITCHEN SHOULD BE!!! gah...

That is all... hopefully next time I will have more interesting things to write about :)

dobrý den!

Hostel Plus

2011-10-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

October 30^th 2011

I think I may finally fave a place to stay!! I'm so excitied I hope that it works out. But all the best laid plans of mice and men right? If all works out I will be there on Thursday so some more nights in Hostel Plus... woo. Now I don't pretend to be a hostel expert by any stretch of the immagination but no kitchen? No area for hot water? You are going to make me pay as much for a beer as you would for hot tea??? No. No thank you sir. I understand this is one of the cheaper hostels, now I know why.

However the people coming through are very interesting. The turnover here is much higher than I have seen at any of the other hostels i've stayed in, which is a little strange for me. The last four days I've had three different groups of people in my little six bedroom dorm. The first couple nights were some crazy party people from Brazil and who were very nice but smelled like traveling boys... (note to all traveling boys out there, please wash your socks... they is pew..) The second night there was a gaggle of Chinese women with one man. Yes I belive gaggle is the word I will use for them. I've never "not spoken" to my room mates before that day, but every time I tried to communicate with them all I got was a blank stare. Which I wouldn't have minded if they really didn't speak english but when they were leaving they received two different calls in English... oh well fine. -On a side note I think that there should be a movie or documentary or something showing how some women get ready for a night out... it was like a Zoo.. very strange- The women and their token man left promptly at 9am and I must admit it was nice having the room to myself after having to share for so long. But once I was ready it was time for errands, so I loaded up my backpack to travel the city. Coming back after a long day of traveling around the city all I wanted to do was go to sleep, but when I opened the door I was greeted by one, two, no three Austrian boys here on a holiday weekend. They were couch surfers who didn't plan out their couches well enough and were now hostel bound. They were looking to go out and party it up, unfortunately for them they didn't realize that Prague sleeps on Sundays. Anything worthwhile is going to be closed and I warned them of the expensive beer and food to be had at the in house bar. So they putzed around and talked back and forth with grand plans of the city and then just plopped down to bed. Who will it be tomorrow I wonder??

Long cold nights of October the 23rd

2011-10-23T02:53:00.001-07:00

I blame the majestic lady on top of the building..

Why is it easier for me to stay up all night and do normal errands the next day? Its as if the Czech Republic has cast a spell of different Zoe... whos' toes are freezing!!! Yikes! Its getting cold fast here!! This morning I found something interesting about living in a different country.. you know those crazy bums in the metro tunnels and on the streets, the ones who yell about how god will smite you and other incredibly horrible things... I can't understand them any more!! HA! Its nice to hear the crazy and just not worry cause you don't know if maybe the person is just mumbling about a grocery list or how shaved cats are going to eat your brains :) Life has lots of lovely little good moments!

..funny side note.. somehow my computer thinks I should be spelling in Czech and so when I went to spell check this document the whole thing lit up :) So if you notice a spelling error just let me know so I can correct it and not feel like a total idiot!

Always look on the bright side..

2011-10-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well I finally feel settled and then my life takes a turn. Well this is what I wanted right? Hell yes I did!! And tho I've run into some road bumps all in all its not too terribly bad. Yes having my wallet stolen really sucked, but after I got over the initial violation of it all it wasn't that bad. For one, they didn't get my passport, and two it has shown me new ways to up my personal security.
Originally I had my wallet, passport and locker key on a purse that I slept with, which would have been just fine excepting the fact that I did not zip up the zipper on the purse that was available to me. So my hypothesis of what happened is that while sleeping and moving about as I do in the night I must have kicked my wallet out from my bed upon whence it fell upon a dangerous floor.. and into the hands of an opportunistic asshole...
But bottom line is I only lost USD $211 not everything so all is well! From now on I will have my money split up between my luggage and only a small bit I will keep on my person. An expensive lesson yes, but it could have been much worse. And now I'm preparing for school and trying to figure out where to stay.

I cheated on this picture... this bit is from Amsterdam :)

Originally I was prepared to stay in this hostel, despite the theft and the water in the shower that only sprays for 2 minutes before you have to depress the button again... yes I know. Really flippin' irritating. Its just like the old faucets that some of us had in elementary school and I suppose some Americans will remember then from all sorts of other venues, but bottom line is you just never get enough water. You push the button and then get your soap and then shit! No water! I understand the concept (its a form of water conservation) but I wish I could see myself naked with my head covered in shampoo so I dare not open my eyes fumbling for that little freakin' push button... yeah that was a fun first day here.
However my reason for staying is leaving on Monday. I met a really nice Czech guy who has been teaching me a bit of Czech and I've been teaching him a bit of English. Its a good trade and he is from what I can tell a really good guy, and its nice to have a local friend. But he is running out of money himself so back home to Brno (still in the Czech Republic) just not Prague. So I think I will be moving on from here.. where to I do not know.. but that's how I'm rolling over in Europe! Keep you posted! Or at least try to!!

Musings for no good reason!

2011-10-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

Yes I realize that I haven't posted since i left but its all on paper that i must transcribe it... so for those waiting here is some wisdom from my new friend Miroslav who has taken it upon himself to show me about the Czech Republic! :)

In English....
Just shape the experience of your soul, mind, and your body. The word has no power, but it acts. Walls not stand the word, but his hands. So do not be like a lot of uneducated people, but show that you have your head and your mind !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In truth you have to go. It will be a long way! But when you come to the end, you will be filled with everything! I went on that way, and now it's up to me if ever I reach the end .......

In Czech....
Jen zkušenosti formujou tvou duši, mysl, a tvé tělo. Slovo nemá žádnou sílu, ale jsou to činy. Zeď nepostavíš slovem, ale rukama. Tak nebuď nevzdělaný jako hodně lidí, ale ukaž že máš svou hlavu a svůj rozum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Za pravdou musíš jít. Bude to dlouhá cesta! Ale když dojdeš na konec, budeš naplněn vším!! Ja se vydal na tu cestu, a teď záleží jen na mě jestli někdy dojdu do konce.......

He's a funny guy :)

A very bad day... October 20th 2011

2011-10-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

Today is a very very bad day. I hate it. I hate it so much. I think it may be karma from being so harsh with the older man yesterday. Albeit he was being lazy and all the advice I gave him, he should really act on. But. Well shit. My wallet is gone. Yes gone. There is a little boy of about 19 years old in my room with a gambling problem. He doesn't wash up his dishes and he has no idea the value of money. Something went missing a few days ago as well right after he checked in, the men here think its him. It very well may be. They kicked him out. But then the old man was here as well and same with another shaddy character across the bunk from me (who had a large shopping spree today I might add) The bottom line is that I don't know what a thief who takes something away from other people looks like. My card hasn't been used yet. But my 4,000 czk is most definitely gone. Ouch. Expensive lessons can go bite my bumm. They could have just taken my money and left my wallet and card! Cause now I have no idea of how to get at my fundage... I'm going to have to email Neville the guy in charge of my course today and explain to him what happened so I can pay for my course at a later date. Why do they always have to take the whole fucking wallet?? My card hasn't been touched, no transactions off to cancel it now... today is shit.

To top it off
The old man in my dormortory has absolutely terrible gas... all day and all night long
A dear friend of mine is getting married to an asshole (found out this morning)
This place smells bad....

I miss Sir Tobys....

2011-10-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

My bed is the one on the very top right hand corner next
to the wall, this a a deceptively appetizing picture, go
jogging and smell your sock afterwards... then make
the sheets all REALLY old...

This hostel is well... awful... it smells terrible.. you have to push a button to get the water to come out... yes just like in some really annoying public bathrooms and yes just like in those annoying bathrooms the water will only last for a minuet and a half!!! What the hell!!! I miss my old hostel Sir Tobys... Oh well Senior Hostel you get me for one week then BAM! I'm out, room rented or not. If you want to know what hostel this is then E-mail me, the guys working there are really nice and I don't want them to know i'm talking smack about their hostel.. but it's seriously shit.

Sleeper train from Amsterdam...

2011-10-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well look what I found in Amsterdam! Awesome!

Okay so I ended up staying for the rest of yesterday and all today in Amsterdam. and now all aboard for the night train! Yep that's right! Zoe took a sleeper train!!! Let me tell you what... weird... super weird experience.. but yeah okay lets rewind the days.....

Amazing Bar!!

So I left to go get myself some train tickets, I found out also that the station was stupidly close to the hostel :( not more than a five minuet walk... you're killing me Amsterdam... seriously killing me.

However that is not what I'm talking about, that's stuff of being upset from yesterday not today! The point is that at the train station the only tickets for Prague were tomorrow afternoon for 189 euro or tomorrow night for 145 so hell why not :) Course that means that i'm going to have to hang out in Amsterdam for basically another day... ;)

Arabic toast that Nassim taught me
and I promised him I would not forget!

Well red light district here I come! I don't know if its cause it was the middle of the day or what but it deffiniatly wasn't nearly as entertaining as I thought it would be and every museum is super expensive to boot so I jotted back on down to the Hostel to see if anyone had any cool ideas. So sitting at this little table in the common room I meet my new friend named Nassim! He is from Algeria which is in North Africa however he has been living in Paris for a bit and get this... he learned english from watching American movies!!! What?? Absolutely fantastic!! The multilingual culture over here makes me feel like an idiot.

Part of the lovely walk!

Anyways he sat down at the table I was sitting at and we got to chatting and ended up hanging out for the rest of the day! Come night time we decided to meander into a bar we found along our wandering and it was insane!! Well just really cool looking really. Since the night was fairly dead we were able to sit up at this crazy round table set like a window display! Upon which we were soon joined by the local cat of the establishment. One thing about Amsterdam is that there are sure a lot of cats! All over! Not that I am complaining I am simply making an observation!

Hey Amsterdam i'll come back when i'm rich and famous kay?

2011-10-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, well there are some key differences between the states and Europe... might I fist say that it is really strange having English not be the first language. Changing money is a pain in the ass and the ATM's over here in Amsterdam are hidden in the walls. NOTE: If I do this again I will be purchasing a map of the country i'm visiting before leaving... I got lost on my way down here and I think I may have gone through the wrong line getting into the country in the first place (I said I have nothing to declare, which I didn't.. right?) I certainly hope that doesn't bite me in the ass.. So back to the reason for needing said map...

Not the airport, I was to frazzled to
even think about my camera.
instead.. bridge..

I get off the plane and arrive in what I can only describe as a mall.. with Bars!! What?? Yes it's true, and in the airport proper too... which I suppose is really cool unless you are trying to find an information booth or somewhere to purchase some smokes, so I found an ATM (not hidden inside of a the wall inside the airport) I didn't know how my bank would respond to me getting money out of a foreign ATM and everything I read said don't get money out at the airport but I needed some local cash.. So to the ATM and viola now I have local money! A crisp 50 Euro note! oh wait... shit... Okay I say to myself obviously I've gotta get this changed down cause I'm fairly certain that buses won't give change. So I got myself a delicious donut like raisin biscuit thing for a Euro and was given a dirty look from the shop owner who insisted I give him a smaller note, but oh well it was either that or American USD so tough cookies! Eventually he took my 50 Euro note and gave me change.

Change in hand I happily made my way to the buses... only to be blocked by the equivalent of an orca card. Essentially a re-loadable card for the tram, bus and train... double shit. Now it has started raining. My bags are really heavy. And I'm fairly certain that they must be picking stuff up off the ground cause I think they are getting heavier as I walk.. Okay. Back into the airport/mall. That's where the bus driver said I could find a booth selling tickets. Little booth... gynormus freakin' airport.. *sigh* okay they must be by the train since there isn't a place inside of the airport for buses, so down to the train platform I go. Back and forth back and forth trying to find this mythical machine for what feels like forever (probably more like a half an hour) However now i'm getting sweaty as well as damp. Its definitely not here so I make my way back up to main airport to wander about.

Finally I find one of the ticket booths but I have no re-loadable card to put funds on!!! NOOO!!! A nice woman tries to help but I don't think she realized I didn't have one of those fancy re-loadable cards. So now I'm frustrated angry and upset. At this point I'm no longer looking for any damn tickets! Nothing! No! I'M TIRED, HOT, UNPLEASANTLY DAMP AND GAH!!! I just want a place to sit down!!! I'm now on a mission for an Ice cold beer in one of those bars in the airport. I'm just going to set my luggage down and chill out....

But lo!!! A ticket station with a person!!! No way! I almost run to the damn line I'm so of tired of all my back and forth all day. Note: My plane arrived at 12:30 and its now almost 2pm.. yeah. So I ask the lady about buses and tickets for them into central Amsterdam and she gives me a strange look ”you know you can just take the train too right?”
“Well how much is the train?” I'm really quite tired at this point cause its the equivalent of my normal 4 am and yes no sleep on the plane
“4,50 Euro, one leaves in three minuets and the next will be in another hour.”
“I'll take it.”
Note: They use a comma instead of a decimal point when displaying money.. I don't know how much more of this that I am going to be able to take. A COMMA! WHAT??? Sigh... Okay onward...

So back down to the train platform and onto the train that I now posses a ticket for! Yes its crowded but I don't care. Off at Amsterdam central station!!! Boo yea!! Off the train and onto the train platform! I am so close to the city! I walk all the way to the south of the platform humm that's odd it just stops in all train tracks... back north more train tracks... what?!

Note: It may be prudent to point out that I have never ridden a train in my life and have never seen a train station that I can remember except from Harry Potter.

Okay so now way out on the top bit like I assumed there would be, the exit must be down the stairs... YES! Now to the street outside in central Amsterdam!

Note: Sorry for all of these but its really so much more ridiculous with more information, if I had gone down the stairs on the other side of the station I would have had no problem.. instead I get this....

Oh wait..no.. Boats... :( going to places whose name I probably wouldn't be able to pronounce if you paid me. Okay so I will just walk down to the water (the part of central Amsterdam is on a canal, so this must be it.. or at least turn into Amsterdam central) now this logic would have worked if I had gone the other direction on the water. But no, I went the one way that would bring me absolutely nowhere. Maps... really important things.

That darker section of the bricks is what I fondly refer to as
"The Danger Zone"

So walking down what I thought was a side walk I was almost side swiped by a passing little boy on a bicycle I wish I could remember what exactly it was that he yelled at me as he flew by me but damn if I could remember. It may have been dutch.. it was defiantly angry.. I think the jist was get the hell out of the way! I was startled by this young boy then, WHOA what the?? A moped! Confused I look around some more, they have three parts to their streets -cars-bike/moped-walk- Sometime the distinction between the bike lane and walking is blurred/unnoticeable, if at all there even. After fifteen minuets of walking that felt like an hour I realize I must be going the wrong way so I start to look for someone to ask directions of …

That's a LOT of bikes...

"excuse me.." No reaction.. however in the back of my mind I remember my friend Virginia saying something about how people in paris dont say excuse me they say" Pardon". Maybe its an EU thing. So "Pardon" I shout and sure enough she turns! YES! ...and then proceeds to explain that indeed my logic is correct but I went the wrong way on the water, but it's faster if you just go under the station. Once I have directions I start out on my journey revived. Looking around I see stations of bikes, hundred of them, everywhere. Some are locked and others say what I think might be donation or retal but with the luck I've had today I'm not even going to risk it. Though I must say I'm quickly running out of energy.

So under the train station I go over another little canal and I think she said Dusseldorf for the street but her accent was very thick. So more walking but at least this looks like the Amsterdam I was expecting. I had asked her about the flying pig which was the only hostel I could recall from my reading, I knew it was close but where?? finally I ask one of the many money change/hotel fining stores (I was really hoping that they weren't going to make me pay for the direction) the man was very nice and pointed me down a side street right next to the store, “Take that right and then one more, its on the left.”

Finally!!! Walking down the street at almost a run I finally saw the sign.. a beacon of hope!! Thoroughly soaked from the rain and tired I take my bags upstairs to the empty six person mixed dorm room, stash my stuff and lay down on a BED for what I thought would be just a minute.. however it was 4 pm local Amsterdam time and the equivalent of 7 am in Seattle and I still hadn't slept... So big surprise when I wake after dark to what sounds like a crazy party downstairs, this is Amsterdam after all. However i'm tired and still suffering from jet lag so I change out of my wet clothes into my pj's and crawl back into my safe warm bed.

Cats are everywhere here! This one is chillin' out on a keyboard

When I wake up next, it's to a room full of people and a silent establishment. The bar must now be closed so after 3AM then... and dark. I feel as if I've slept in past noon. Sometime in the night all the rest of the beds filled up so I quietly dress and go downstairs to reception which is open 24 hours. My lack of planning has gotten on my nerves so I go to grab a fdorors book on the Netherlands and prepare to learn some local information.. but this was all stuff I already knew from just perusing the internet. It made no reference to the maniacal bicycle riders and their special lane for themselves and mopeds. Or for that matter about the bikes that may or may not be for rent. NOR did it make any mention of how incredibly expensive this place is... Where to get cheep eats and how to pay to get on a tram. Well that was a useless few hours...oh well. So I put that down and pick up water for elephants. Can't sleep anymore anyways, might as well read.

Soon I'm joined by a hashish smoking french man who can barely speak any English. I ask him if he is here on vacation, by his puzzled gaze I realize that it must different word for him (or he doesn't understand a word I just said), holiday? Sorry yes, are you on holiday? He smiles and says yes, (thank you British TV!) he gets five weeks of vacation pay a year from the pizza place he has been working at for three years... 3 years at a pizza joint and 5 weeks of paid vacation!!!! oh what the hell? He chiefs up and at this point I wish I smoked so we could have some sort of comradeship and something in common, but instead I politely decline and attempt to hold a conversation with a stoned french man who can barely speak English... (a foolish endeavor at best) I quickly find this situation not going anywhere and decide to go outside instead to find myself an ATM.

Its six am so I remember my sisters warning of most rapes happening between 5-9 am so I zip up my leather jacket and put on my hat trying to look as tough as possible. The more apt warning however should have been for the street cleaners zipping down the alleys and spraying water everywhere! GAH! I didn't find any ATMS (I didn't know at that point that they were hidden in walls) but I got thoroughly lost and not lost for well over an hour. When I came back I talked to the night reception lady (from Australia btw where they teach Japanese in the elementary schools) and found out that there were in fact two ATMS just around the corner. Oops. That's what I get for not asking. There was a nice free breakfast at 8 in the morning of toast, jam, peanut butter, fruit, hard boiled eggs and cereal. I'm using today to stash my stuff here and get my train ticket and then do some sight seeing. I'll head out in the morning cause Amsterdam is an expensive city! Holy shit!!!

Adios!

-Zoe

Note: I should have learned Spanish. Yeah mom go ahead and laugh and say I told you so :)

Goodbyes

2011-10-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

It's okay nice Airport men I'll be back eventually....

Goodbyes are bittersweet and lovely. I wish all these smiling faces could come with me on my journey a different journey or at least make one on their own, be it big or small. It is so nessarry to enrich your life with wonderful expirences and i'm just now starting to truly understand that. But everyone has their own path and no path is the same..

Oh no! Don't cry!!!

Besides like I can say anything about traveling at this point...HA!! Oh my I think may pee my pants.... here she goes off into the sky and the fork in the road less traveled. I'm stoked!!

So with this I say Adieu to Seattle and all my wonderful friends and family for however long I'm gone. I love you all!!! Peace out!!

These drops are giving me an ominous feeling...

Bravery? Foolish Endeavor? Crazy Lady??

2011-09-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Why is it that everyone says it's so brave to travel? I've had a hard time wrapping my head around this concept. Yes, its difficult, lonely and terrifying. Albeit exiting as well, but brave? Maybe I'm missing the whole definition on brave itself, maybe I just missed the class on being scarred of traveling, why tho would you ever want to be scarred of something so fantastic??
On the flip side however you have the naive young girl all bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to take on the world, just to be stomped on mentally with culture shock... humm

Don't worry I'll try to keep my wits about me..

Fear is the mind killer...

2011-09-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

America is a nation ruled by fear. The drivers are scared of oncoming traffic and over-steer to avoid a hefty increase in insurance and in the process scare the other drivers following them, the people in walking across the street are scared of the traffic that might not stop and all the rest of the people around them because you will never know who the next serial killer is. “In god we trust..” It should read “in no one will we trust except for ourselves” .. and most people don't even trust themselves. So how is anyone here supposed to find their calling or their true self with this continuous barrage of fear. Careful if you go to college make sure its a degree where you can get a good job cause you don't want to be working for Starbucks with a philosophy degree and 76,000 dollars in student loans. Watch out if you are feeling blue, better head on over to the shrink and get some pills. Don't trust too many people cause they might just turn on you! Big brother is watching!

2011-09-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

There is an itching in my spine, tho sometimes its a tingle. With the day of my departure coming so much closer the butterflies begin. Tehya, my sister, and Sam, my father, are both trying to convince me to stay but these pleads are falling on deaf ears. For the first time in my life I feel on the way to my self discovery and rebirth. I can not wait to begin my journey. Since I was a little girl i've had this strange feeling of my imminent death in my mid 20's but being here now I think that the death will be of my old self and I will be reborn anew and more wise to myself. I can't wait for it. To see my limits and go through with my thoughts and desires. It will be an age of discovery for me. Something that has needed to happen for a long time. I hope to study Thai Chi to center my soul and Laughter Yoga to brighten it, Speak with old and wizend gurus to deepen it, and run across the globe to widen it.

Musings at lunch time

2011-08-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

There is an itching in my spine, tho sometimes its a tingle. With the day of my departure coming so much closer the butterflies begin. Tehya, my sister, and Sam, my father, are both trying to convince me to stay but these pleads are falling on deaf ears. For the first time in my life I feel on the way to my self discovery and rebirth. I can not wait to begin my journey. Since I was a little girl I've had this strange feeling of my imminent death in my mid 20's but being here now I think that the death will be of my old self and I will be reborn anew and more wise to myself. I can't wait for it. To see my limits and go through with my thoughts and desires. It will be an age of discovery for me. Something that has needed to happen for a long time. I hope to study Thai Chi to center my soul and Laughter Yoga to brighten it, Speak with old and wizend gurus to deepen it, and run across the globe to widen it.

Time

2011-08-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

"Time!" Then with the fist clenching.. That was the best time quote I've ever heard and the best bit from Blade Runner and currently exactly how I feel! Gah! Where did all these people come from?

2011-08-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Typically when I start a blog I will start with an introduction, but I never go back to them after the first couple posts.. So here I go just getting into the meat and bones of it and if I so happen to continue on with this blog after the first few weeks.. or maybe months. Then, and only then, will I grace you few with an introduction.. In the meantime I hope this bit got your rocks off as one, cause this is it.

I have 6 1/2 weeks left in America, that's not a lot of time. I'm giving my notice at work in just over a week, then two weeks after that no more work. Then two more weeks and I'm gone! Its strange to think about leaving and now with this little ammount of time left I realize how many people I still haven't gotten around to seeing. I suppose that is the nature of things like this, or maybe its just me procrastinating my time away. I'm desperately trying to save every penny I can and kicking myself every time I walk by Starbucks thinking of how much damn money I spent on venti iced soy lattes and oh man that sounds tasty.. NO!! NO MORE!! Gah! I need a shock collar for coffee. At least I found an old date book so I can keep whats going on in my life straight.

Then of course i'm running into the problem of what to bring. I don't want to let my stuff out of sight so I am only bringing the one bag but this damn computer is so big.. how is all my stuff going to fit in one backpack? More thoughts on these subjects and more later right now i'm going to do some more reading....

http://www.roadjunky.com/guide/861/around-the-world-costs

http://www.roadjunky.com/guide/844/a-travel-guide-to-money-on-the-road