Last night in Piran: Day 27 (2010/01/28)
The last day of classes finally ended today around 3:30 pm. The professor ended with a brief talk about the power, benefits and downsides of the EU. I was surprised actually that he would end on that topic. It seemed like he should have talked about borders, or something more on what we experienced on the course. Instead he focused on the progress (if you call it that) of BiH getting into the EU and the outcomes of joining this elite club.
Attentive till the last few minutes of class. I think everyone was ready to go then.
I've been having stomach pains after eating at this one restaurant this week. It feels like there is a ball of spikes in my stomach or some sort of stretched hole. I can deal with it at some times, but other times it just suddenly kicks up in pain. If this does not go away sometime this week I just might have to go see a doctor.
I didn't really do much in my last day of Piran. Everything was already packed, I had my gifts, and everyone else basically did whatever. So I stayed up for another hour before taking a nap at 4:45pm.
We leave tomorrow at eight in the morning to catch the bus, last bus ride with Borris and maybe Dushka, to the airport. There I will bandage my luggage like a mummy so it will not spew all over the place when we travel. Remember when I said how my bag had this big tear on the side when I got it back? It is patched back up, but not enough to survive the dangers of bag handling in Europe. This time I will get my bag back and it will be in top condition with nothing broken.
This is my reality/fantasy.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sarajevo to Mostar: Day 21
Sarajevo to Mostar: Day 21 (2010/01/22)
The bus ride today was short and uneventful in the sense of something magical or adventurous happening. Like snow bears appearing or a giant dragon popping out somewhere. Nothing of the such happened.
I awoke between 6 and 9 in the morning, drifting in and out of sleep. For the most part I had a good nights rest, until hunger forced me out of bed and down to breakfast. Today we headed out to Mostar, the city that my group presented in one of our projects. I decided to wear the new shoes and coat I bought, still a bit iffy about the whole washing before you wear it deal. A quick glance outside my window told me that it had snowed the night before. Now a slim layer of snow covered the ground. After stuffing everything together I went downstairs and had my breakfast.
By nine we were out of the hotel and on the bus. The hospitality of the ladies working at the hotel left a good impression on me, even Dushka commented on how nice they were and that one of them had not only ordered dinner for her, but had put down salt on the ground to melt away the ice. Outside apparently was very slippery on the steep hill we sat on.
I have to say I felt better wearing ‘fashionable’ clothes. But I also felt self-conscious a bit. It is a very bizarre feeling that I had, because it felt like I was looking everywhere for someone to approve of me. Later on I realized that I wasn’t used to getting looked at because I dressed nice, and would have to wear more ‘fashionable’ clothes in the future to get used to people starring.
Dushka and Borris gave us a look at the Olympic area and tower in Sarajevo. Before the war it was a place of prosperity, but after it looked like another cold, grey building in the city. At least that is what I thought. I also thought that the American embassy could use some color on their prison like structure. They also took near the biggest cemetery in the city, where the hills were covered in sections of black for Christian and white columns for Muslim.
“Isnt that funny? They are separated even after death,” I said outloud to no one in particular.
Back on the road I promptly fell asleep, only to wake up occasionally to view the passing scenery that slowly got colder and heavier with mist and snow, and to listen to random conversation. Dushka told us of houses that were abandoned or entire towns that were left empty during the war. A few people had come back and modified the houses, but the majority of the town had been taken back over by Mother Nature. It didn’t really phase me, because the building reminded me of the ones left by earlier settlers in the Bahamas.
The bus stopped in one town that had a major part in WWII. I think it was called “The Wounded Battle” where Partisan soldiers who were wounded passed over one of the destroyed bridges by Tito. About 4,000 wounded men crossed over with the help of the local people. It was part of a strategic trick against the German army who were closing in on them. There was a museum that we entered without any heat and shady looking bathrooms. Between 1991-1995 it had gotten damaged and was still in the process of being renovated. It was situated right next to the river that housed the iron bridge that was destroyed and later used as a sort of crossway for the wounded soldiers. We stayed for about an hour, with Dushka translating the man in charge before heading back on the road.
The bus is called the magic school bus, and Borris is Ms. Frizzle because of the magic he can do with the bus. He is a very skilled and safe driver and never ceases to amaze us. On the icy roads he went slow and safely, until we got lower into the mountains where the warm air melted away the snow on the road. The weather practically changed before our eyes from snowy to a nice warm feeling. It didn’t take long to reach Mostar and when we did I couldn’t help but think which side we were on, because after the war the city was divided by the bridges with Bosnians on one side and Croats on the other. Apparently, as I found out later one, the hotel we are staying at is on the Bosnian side.
The hotel is very nice, but the rooms are cold. They have this old looking heater that doesn’t seem to want to work, and when I took my nap today after eating lunch at a nearby restaurant with Catey, Rob, and Mei, my feet were freezing. Hopefully I can figure it out before we go to dinner tonight and come back to a warm room.
At 3:50pm we left to go to the Nasen Dialogue Center in Mostar. A small little place just around the corner, it took less than five minutes to walk in the very windy weather. We were greeted by one person who directed us to one of the rooms, and there we were educated on what the center did, how they are progressing, their experiences, activities in the school and general public, and the interference of ethno politics that strive to rule over people based on their differences.
Dinner was at 6:40, and we left the hotel to walk along the street and into a little shopping center. The pavement was made of big pebble rocks, so my feet hurt when I stepped on the stones. I looked at Mei who also walked, every day, in high heel shoes and asked her,
“How can you walk like this?!”
“Now you know my pain darling,” she replied back. I had to hook arms with Catey to help me not fall. It took about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant and it was this nice little place to dine in. The group we picked up, members of the NDC that were in our level of education or higher, dispersed at each table. We just so happen to sit with a very handsome, nice guy called Gabriel. Well, that is his Christian name, but his real name has this awesome role of the tongue on the r. He. Was. Cute! All of us thought so, and usually our tastes are very different. Sadly he had a girlfriend, so that killed all my motivation and he only became eye candy. On the other hand, he talked to us very openly and answered our questions. Very polite and conversational, he told us about what he does, how the interaction is between the Croats and the Bosniacs, what his nationality was (which is Croatian) and a lot of other things. We talked about politics, tv shows, my hair, the meaning of beauty, tons of things that you normally wouldn’t talk about with a person you just met. I found myself catching my self two times because we slipped so easily into dialogue. I had to remember he was just a host.
For dinner we had two appetizers, the main meal, and desert, which was a crepe with warm raspberries and ice cream. I finally got my hot chocolate where in the beginning I didn’t get it because I thought it was actual melted chocolate. When the waiter handed me my drink I was so happy, and immediate started to drink it despite the hotness. Suddenly I got this strange feeling and looked up, realizing that everyone was watching me.
“Why is everyone looking at me?” I asked, laughing and feeling unsafe at the same time.
“Well it looks like you’re really enjoying it,” Mei told me. I feigned shyness and insecurity by picking up my drink and turning away from the group, holding up my hand to block out the rest of their faces. They laughed at this and Catey mimicked me.
Surprisingly the man knew a lot about the Bahamas compared to most US people that I met. Apparently he watched documentaries on it.
When people was about to leave someone mentioned a party. It perked my interest for only a few seconds before I decided that this wind and full stomach needed a nice warm bed. My fun was different from everyone else’s, and I didn’t need to get drunk in order to have a good time.
Overall, a good day. Tomorrow Split!
The bus ride today was short and uneventful in the sense of something magical or adventurous happening. Like snow bears appearing or a giant dragon popping out somewhere. Nothing of the such happened.
I awoke between 6 and 9 in the morning, drifting in and out of sleep. For the most part I had a good nights rest, until hunger forced me out of bed and down to breakfast. Today we headed out to Mostar, the city that my group presented in one of our projects. I decided to wear the new shoes and coat I bought, still a bit iffy about the whole washing before you wear it deal. A quick glance outside my window told me that it had snowed the night before. Now a slim layer of snow covered the ground. After stuffing everything together I went downstairs and had my breakfast.
By nine we were out of the hotel and on the bus. The hospitality of the ladies working at the hotel left a good impression on me, even Dushka commented on how nice they were and that one of them had not only ordered dinner for her, but had put down salt on the ground to melt away the ice. Outside apparently was very slippery on the steep hill we sat on.
I have to say I felt better wearing ‘fashionable’ clothes. But I also felt self-conscious a bit. It is a very bizarre feeling that I had, because it felt like I was looking everywhere for someone to approve of me. Later on I realized that I wasn’t used to getting looked at because I dressed nice, and would have to wear more ‘fashionable’ clothes in the future to get used to people starring.
Dushka and Borris gave us a look at the Olympic area and tower in Sarajevo. Before the war it was a place of prosperity, but after it looked like another cold, grey building in the city. At least that is what I thought. I also thought that the American embassy could use some color on their prison like structure. They also took near the biggest cemetery in the city, where the hills were covered in sections of black for Christian and white columns for Muslim.
“Isnt that funny? They are separated even after death,” I said outloud to no one in particular.
Back on the road I promptly fell asleep, only to wake up occasionally to view the passing scenery that slowly got colder and heavier with mist and snow, and to listen to random conversation. Dushka told us of houses that were abandoned or entire towns that were left empty during the war. A few people had come back and modified the houses, but the majority of the town had been taken back over by Mother Nature. It didn’t really phase me, because the building reminded me of the ones left by earlier settlers in the Bahamas.
The bus stopped in one town that had a major part in WWII. I think it was called “The Wounded Battle” where Partisan soldiers who were wounded passed over one of the destroyed bridges by Tito. About 4,000 wounded men crossed over with the help of the local people. It was part of a strategic trick against the German army who were closing in on them. There was a museum that we entered without any heat and shady looking bathrooms. Between 1991-1995 it had gotten damaged and was still in the process of being renovated. It was situated right next to the river that housed the iron bridge that was destroyed and later used as a sort of crossway for the wounded soldiers. We stayed for about an hour, with Dushka translating the man in charge before heading back on the road.
The bus is called the magic school bus, and Borris is Ms. Frizzle because of the magic he can do with the bus. He is a very skilled and safe driver and never ceases to amaze us. On the icy roads he went slow and safely, until we got lower into the mountains where the warm air melted away the snow on the road. The weather practically changed before our eyes from snowy to a nice warm feeling. It didn’t take long to reach Mostar and when we did I couldn’t help but think which side we were on, because after the war the city was divided by the bridges with Bosnians on one side and Croats on the other. Apparently, as I found out later one, the hotel we are staying at is on the Bosnian side.
The hotel is very nice, but the rooms are cold. They have this old looking heater that doesn’t seem to want to work, and when I took my nap today after eating lunch at a nearby restaurant with Catey, Rob, and Mei, my feet were freezing. Hopefully I can figure it out before we go to dinner tonight and come back to a warm room.
At 3:50pm we left to go to the Nasen Dialogue Center in Mostar. A small little place just around the corner, it took less than five minutes to walk in the very windy weather. We were greeted by one person who directed us to one of the rooms, and there we were educated on what the center did, how they are progressing, their experiences, activities in the school and general public, and the interference of ethno politics that strive to rule over people based on their differences.
Dinner was at 6:40, and we left the hotel to walk along the street and into a little shopping center. The pavement was made of big pebble rocks, so my feet hurt when I stepped on the stones. I looked at Mei who also walked, every day, in high heel shoes and asked her,
“How can you walk like this?!”
“Now you know my pain darling,” she replied back. I had to hook arms with Catey to help me not fall. It took about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant and it was this nice little place to dine in. The group we picked up, members of the NDC that were in our level of education or higher, dispersed at each table. We just so happen to sit with a very handsome, nice guy called Gabriel. Well, that is his Christian name, but his real name has this awesome role of the tongue on the r. He. Was. Cute! All of us thought so, and usually our tastes are very different. Sadly he had a girlfriend, so that killed all my motivation and he only became eye candy. On the other hand, he talked to us very openly and answered our questions. Very polite and conversational, he told us about what he does, how the interaction is between the Croats and the Bosniacs, what his nationality was (which is Croatian) and a lot of other things. We talked about politics, tv shows, my hair, the meaning of beauty, tons of things that you normally wouldn’t talk about with a person you just met. I found myself catching my self two times because we slipped so easily into dialogue. I had to remember he was just a host.
For dinner we had two appetizers, the main meal, and desert, which was a crepe with warm raspberries and ice cream. I finally got my hot chocolate where in the beginning I didn’t get it because I thought it was actual melted chocolate. When the waiter handed me my drink I was so happy, and immediate started to drink it despite the hotness. Suddenly I got this strange feeling and looked up, realizing that everyone was watching me.
“Why is everyone looking at me?” I asked, laughing and feeling unsafe at the same time.
“Well it looks like you’re really enjoying it,” Mei told me. I feigned shyness and insecurity by picking up my drink and turning away from the group, holding up my hand to block out the rest of their faces. They laughed at this and Catey mimicked me.
Surprisingly the man knew a lot about the Bahamas compared to most US people that I met. Apparently he watched documentaries on it.
When people was about to leave someone mentioned a party. It perked my interest for only a few seconds before I decided that this wind and full stomach needed a nice warm bed. My fun was different from everyone else’s, and I didn’t need to get drunk in order to have a good time.
Overall, a good day. Tomorrow Split!
Sarajevo: Day 20
Sarajevo: Day 20 (2010/01/21)
Today is the last day in Sarajevo, such a beautiful city with lovely food and inexpensive items if you shop in the right area.
After my whole morning routine we headed out to the building where convicted war criminals are judged and ruled over. It we listened to a recording of an old trial, where they showed us how the proceedings went. For the political majors it provided great opportunities. For me, I admit at being slightly bored after I got my answers.
A break at a local market was next, then we went to the country side of the city looking for the underground tunnel. It is situated near the airport and was made by men on either side of the land with their bare hands. It was cramped, small, and used to import goods and export people and other things. It became a life line inserted into the body of Sarajevo.
Borris did a good job at finding the location, because there were no signs to tell a person where it was. Dushka told us that the Serbs didn’t come to the tunnel. It was actually a house before it became a museum, the man who owned it helped made the tunnel. His son helped along with several other people. Yes they were gunned down everyday, but the army couldn’t reach them because they were protected. Inside were old sacks that they used to carry across rice and other supplies, as well as guns and shells. He told us the history and we watched a documentary of it afterwards. The whole area was completely destroyed, nothing but mud compared to how the area looked now. It was very dangerous too, an underwater stream appearing while they made the tunnel. He said it was very lucky that they connected on both sides. Later on they added electricity, gas, and some other wires, which was even more dangerous. They used trees while the people in Sarajevo used metal. Now only a bit of the tunnel is left, the rest filled in with cement. He is thinking of reopening the rest of it, and I am all for that. For his good deeds the government of the US gave him a brand new house since his old one became a museum. That was a good deal actually.
After going through about 80 meters of the tunnel, buying a poster, and spotting some Bosnian soldiers, we headed back to the hotel. With nothing else planned by the teacher most of the students went to the Fernando museum where he was shot. Catey, Mei and I went to the market to get something to eat. We walked in the Turkish market, looking around. Finally I spotted something in the corner of my eye as we walked down a shopping district. It was called Bosbum or something like that. Catey said it looked shady, but when we went down there it was really nice. Like fancy nice. Like, enough to satisfy Mei Cheng nice. So we sat there and ate such good food and desert that my stomach almost exploded. At a good price too. We then left about three hours later and went shopping for my coat and shoes.
Let me tell you something, big girls like me have difficulty finding clothes to fit as I’ve said before. They are used to slimmer girls, which I am not, so we basically went to store, to store, to store looking for the right size. They already had the style, but the sizes were not there. I got my scarf’s first, which are really nice and they had a lot of nice scarves there. I then got my shoes, which didn’t cost that much at all, just 41 marks. And last, my coat. I was so glad to find it, and lucky too considering that there was only one size of a certain style in that store. After much debate and talking from my friends I bought the coat, and almost a very funky cool looking dress, but the boob part wasn’t good so I put it back. Happy was I to have bought my coat and shoes for my outfit. It was navy blue, but I could always buy a black or gray coat.
Very stylish it was. And very satisfied was I.
Today is the last day in Sarajevo, such a beautiful city with lovely food and inexpensive items if you shop in the right area.
After my whole morning routine we headed out to the building where convicted war criminals are judged and ruled over. It we listened to a recording of an old trial, where they showed us how the proceedings went. For the political majors it provided great opportunities. For me, I admit at being slightly bored after I got my answers.
A break at a local market was next, then we went to the country side of the city looking for the underground tunnel. It is situated near the airport and was made by men on either side of the land with their bare hands. It was cramped, small, and used to import goods and export people and other things. It became a life line inserted into the body of Sarajevo.
Borris did a good job at finding the location, because there were no signs to tell a person where it was. Dushka told us that the Serbs didn’t come to the tunnel. It was actually a house before it became a museum, the man who owned it helped made the tunnel. His son helped along with several other people. Yes they were gunned down everyday, but the army couldn’t reach them because they were protected. Inside were old sacks that they used to carry across rice and other supplies, as well as guns and shells. He told us the history and we watched a documentary of it afterwards. The whole area was completely destroyed, nothing but mud compared to how the area looked now. It was very dangerous too, an underwater stream appearing while they made the tunnel. He said it was very lucky that they connected on both sides. Later on they added electricity, gas, and some other wires, which was even more dangerous. They used trees while the people in Sarajevo used metal. Now only a bit of the tunnel is left, the rest filled in with cement. He is thinking of reopening the rest of it, and I am all for that. For his good deeds the government of the US gave him a brand new house since his old one became a museum. That was a good deal actually.
After going through about 80 meters of the tunnel, buying a poster, and spotting some Bosnian soldiers, we headed back to the hotel. With nothing else planned by the teacher most of the students went to the Fernando museum where he was shot. Catey, Mei and I went to the market to get something to eat. We walked in the Turkish market, looking around. Finally I spotted something in the corner of my eye as we walked down a shopping district. It was called Bosbum or something like that. Catey said it looked shady, but when we went down there it was really nice. Like fancy nice. Like, enough to satisfy Mei Cheng nice. So we sat there and ate such good food and desert that my stomach almost exploded. At a good price too. We then left about three hours later and went shopping for my coat and shoes.
Let me tell you something, big girls like me have difficulty finding clothes to fit as I’ve said before. They are used to slimmer girls, which I am not, so we basically went to store, to store, to store looking for the right size. They already had the style, but the sizes were not there. I got my scarf’s first, which are really nice and they had a lot of nice scarves there. I then got my shoes, which didn’t cost that much at all, just 41 marks. And last, my coat. I was so glad to find it, and lucky too considering that there was only one size of a certain style in that store. After much debate and talking from my friends I bought the coat, and almost a very funky cool looking dress, but the boob part wasn’t good so I put it back. Happy was I to have bought my coat and shoes for my outfit. It was navy blue, but I could always buy a black or gray coat.
Very stylish it was. And very satisfied was I.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sarajevo: Day 19 (2010/01/20)
Sarajevo: Day 19 (2010/01/20)
Dear blog,
I got lost today, and then was found.
The end.
No, its not really the end. That was just the major event that happened today for me: getting lost with Mei, Catey and Hugette in the back streets of Sarajevo.
After spending the entire morning listening to lectures at a hotel and at the University of Sarajevo, a small group of us headed back with the professor. We walked all the way, and its wasn't far from the university at all. Sarajevo has an interesting structure that made it a real hard hit in the war. There are mountains around the area with the city down in the middle, so it was basically shooting fish in a barrel. There are houses on the hill, and that's where our hostel was situated. So after classes we made our way back, but we didn't really hear his directions.
So instead of going up a little and walking completely right, we went up the hill A LOT and went right a little. I never felt my thighs burn so much on this trip as I did today. And Hugette and Mei had heals on, they always do, and the hills were fun to watch them climb. We walked and chatted, using the map that we got from the hostel. Two people helped us find our way, one in an artitechure store, and the other a modern women with her mother on a walk. It was an adventure, just cold and I wanted to take my nap.
After walking for about half an hour or so we finally reached the hostel. Happy day! I went right up to my room, stayed up for about twenty minutes and then took a nap.
Dear blog,
I got lost today, and then was found.
The end.
No, its not really the end. That was just the major event that happened today for me: getting lost with Mei, Catey and Hugette in the back streets of Sarajevo.
After spending the entire morning listening to lectures at a hotel and at the University of Sarajevo, a small group of us headed back with the professor. We walked all the way, and its wasn't far from the university at all. Sarajevo has an interesting structure that made it a real hard hit in the war. There are mountains around the area with the city down in the middle, so it was basically shooting fish in a barrel. There are houses on the hill, and that's where our hostel was situated. So after classes we made our way back, but we didn't really hear his directions.
So instead of going up a little and walking completely right, we went up the hill A LOT and went right a little. I never felt my thighs burn so much on this trip as I did today. And Hugette and Mei had heals on, they always do, and the hills were fun to watch them climb. We walked and chatted, using the map that we got from the hostel. Two people helped us find our way, one in an artitechure store, and the other a modern women with her mother on a walk. It was an adventure, just cold and I wanted to take my nap.
After walking for about half an hour or so we finally reached the hostel. Happy day! I went right up to my room, stayed up for about twenty minutes and then took a nap.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Osijek to Vukovar to Sarajevo: Day 18 (2010/01/19)
Osijek to Vukovar to Sarajevo: Day 18 (2010/01/19)
In the morning Catey told me I attacked her in the middle of the night. It went something like this.
"Hey LaVana, do you remember getting up alot last night?" she asked me.
I sat on the bed, fully dressed and feed, but confused at her question. The bed was not good on my back and even though I had some sleep, it didn't charge me all the way up. "No, not really, why?"
"Because you slapped me in the head last night and said 'Its all over you! It's all over you'!" she told me very simply like she does.
I stood there horrified at my subconscious actions. "Really?! I am sooo sorry!!"
She laughed. "Meh, its okay. I mean, you only hit my head and then started to wave your hands about trying to swat whatever was on me." Mei was on the other side of the room and laughed at the explanation.
After breakfast the group headed towards the bus. Walking outside its started to snow and couldn't help but lift my head and open my mouth. I caught a few pieces, but the first group melted because of my breath. Borris then came and we rolled on out. I slept the first few hours. Then the boarder came, from Croatia into Bosnia. They checked our passports leaving the country and checked them entering. I had to wonder what the land was between the borders, if it was neutral or not. On the bus ride, we passed by houses and small towns that were heavily damaged. Then we reached Vukovar where the Yugoslav army tried to enter the country and bombed the hell out of that place.
We met the major, a very passionate man whom they called the 'White Obama' of the town. He led a hard life during the war. He was captured for being part of the military and suffered through the camps they had. His story was very passionate and I could tell he was good for his town, for his people. He wanted to bring the Serbs and Bosnians together. And the funny thing was that right across the river was Serbia. Isn't that amazing? I had to wonder the mentality of these people, who lived and separated themselves from their enemies.
Afterwards we went around the town looking at the old destruction and looking at the new construction. There was still alot of work to do, but the place looked nice. Last year they couldn't stay in the area because they didn't have a place to house them...or maybe that was Sarajevo.
For lunch we ate at a Bosnian boating club restaurant. It was nice outside and I ordered me a meat plate that had steak, chicken and lamb on it. Some people ordered fish in hopes of a better fish meal than they had last night. I tasted it, and the fish did not taste right.
On the way out of the town we saw the water tower that became the towns symbol of strength. No matter how hard the army tried to destroy the tower it never fell. Sure the people could never use it again, but the fact that it remained standing through out the war became empowering to them. The major talked about it in his speech, which he had a translator for us.
On the road most people slept. I did sleep alot, had a good amount but was ready to sleep in my own bed. We road on into the night and passed by towns that had alot of garbage in them and didn't smell to good. We stopped for a break at this shady looking mall and I didn't buy anything from it. Back on the bus I slept for two more hours before we came into Sarajevo. The city was beautiful at night and had alot of buildings patched from the war. Of course its political structure was absolutely ethnically fear ridden, but it looked nice.
The hotel we are staying at is Hecco. Its on the hill stretching the parking skill of Borris to the max. He managed it and we all cheered, and went inside. It was very modern and nice, though some of the hallways were a bit confusing for me with its style. The shower is absolutely lovely and the beds are soft, much better than the one in the last hostel we stayed in.
Miriam became my roommate again, and I was completely fine with that because we seemed to be working well together so far. I lasted about an two hours before going to sleep.
The bed was awesome!
In the morning Catey told me I attacked her in the middle of the night. It went something like this.
"Hey LaVana, do you remember getting up alot last night?" she asked me.
I sat on the bed, fully dressed and feed, but confused at her question. The bed was not good on my back and even though I had some sleep, it didn't charge me all the way up. "No, not really, why?"
"Because you slapped me in the head last night and said 'Its all over you! It's all over you'!" she told me very simply like she does.
I stood there horrified at my subconscious actions. "Really?! I am sooo sorry!!"
She laughed. "Meh, its okay. I mean, you only hit my head and then started to wave your hands about trying to swat whatever was on me." Mei was on the other side of the room and laughed at the explanation.
After breakfast the group headed towards the bus. Walking outside its started to snow and couldn't help but lift my head and open my mouth. I caught a few pieces, but the first group melted because of my breath. Borris then came and we rolled on out. I slept the first few hours. Then the boarder came, from Croatia into Bosnia. They checked our passports leaving the country and checked them entering. I had to wonder what the land was between the borders, if it was neutral or not. On the bus ride, we passed by houses and small towns that were heavily damaged. Then we reached Vukovar where the Yugoslav army tried to enter the country and bombed the hell out of that place.
We met the major, a very passionate man whom they called the 'White Obama' of the town. He led a hard life during the war. He was captured for being part of the military and suffered through the camps they had. His story was very passionate and I could tell he was good for his town, for his people. He wanted to bring the Serbs and Bosnians together. And the funny thing was that right across the river was Serbia. Isn't that amazing? I had to wonder the mentality of these people, who lived and separated themselves from their enemies.
Afterwards we went around the town looking at the old destruction and looking at the new construction. There was still alot of work to do, but the place looked nice. Last year they couldn't stay in the area because they didn't have a place to house them...or maybe that was Sarajevo.
For lunch we ate at a Bosnian boating club restaurant. It was nice outside and I ordered me a meat plate that had steak, chicken and lamb on it. Some people ordered fish in hopes of a better fish meal than they had last night. I tasted it, and the fish did not taste right.
On the way out of the town we saw the water tower that became the towns symbol of strength. No matter how hard the army tried to destroy the tower it never fell. Sure the people could never use it again, but the fact that it remained standing through out the war became empowering to them. The major talked about it in his speech, which he had a translator for us.
On the road most people slept. I did sleep alot, had a good amount but was ready to sleep in my own bed. We road on into the night and passed by towns that had alot of garbage in them and didn't smell to good. We stopped for a break at this shady looking mall and I didn't buy anything from it. Back on the bus I slept for two more hours before we came into Sarajevo. The city was beautiful at night and had alot of buildings patched from the war. Of course its political structure was absolutely ethnically fear ridden, but it looked nice.
The hotel we are staying at is Hecco. Its on the hill stretching the parking skill of Borris to the max. He managed it and we all cheered, and went inside. It was very modern and nice, though some of the hallways were a bit confusing for me with its style. The shower is absolutely lovely and the beds are soft, much better than the one in the last hostel we stayed in.
Miriam became my roommate again, and I was completely fine with that because we seemed to be working well together so far. I lasted about an two hours before going to sleep.
The bed was awesome!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Zagreb and Osijek Day 17
Zageb and Osijek Day 17 (2010/01/18)
All right, a lot of information and things happened today.
First of all I woke up continuously between five and eight this morning and around seven I heard someone open our door, enter, and then close it. I fully woke up along with my roommate several minutes later.
'Did someone just come into our room?" I asked her. She looked confused as well.
"Yeah, I think so. It might have been the cleaning lady." Either way it was weird to have our door open and close when we both had our keys and still slept.
After looking around for the breakfast area for a good eight minutes the Professor directed be to the back of the hotel where the food was served. It was nice to have so many variety of fruit, meat and bread for breakfast. The peaches were delicious, they slithered right down my throat. Maybe I just missed fruit, either way they were some good peaches.
By 10:00 everyone was on the bus and ready to go. Rob was late, but he finally came. Our guide, who's name I can not remember, was an elderly old lady who had very high opinions and claimed not to be a feminist when she made some very feminist comments. It didn't bother me, I saw her as a very strong women who lived through a war and knew her history. Throughout the tour she frequently told us about times when Italians or French people would come and she would give a tour of the city, they would make various comments.
Yeah.
On the bus tour she showed us the wonders and disasters of the city when the war started in 1991. There were patched bullet holes on most of the buildings and alot of the main buildings were still being repaired. Some of them were already fixed, one building the guide told us had belly dancers during the war and when the building was hit they were injured, forcing them to retire. the enemy, the Yugoslav Army, were initially aiming towards the children's hospital. Those were one of the things that she couldn't forgive about the war.
We continued to drive around and went to one of the biggest cemmentary in Europe. She told us there were still quarrels about that among the French and other people say. The cemmentary was huge, an example of the ethnically diverse community that lived in harmony before the war. Christians were on one part, Muslims had their part, and even Jews had a section. But all were buried in the cememntary. However, you had to pay yearly to have your dead ones there, or they would be exumned from the graves and placed in a different place to make room.
Alot of the group gasped when they heard that and I was shocked as well based on my knowledge of never disturb the dead. These things happen, and I found it sad that only in death could these religions ever get along. In real life they waged war against each other, and even though Zagreb was ethically diverse they still had their underlying troubles. She showed us the place where a major politician was buried and told the story of how people complained that it was too big.
The group then went for lunch and stopped at the church I saw the other day with Catey and Mei. I got a Kabab, which is an open sandwich with sliced meat and other burger pieces. The day before the square was empty, but as we walked in there were people with their stalls celling fruit and trinkets. The open market was lovely. We then headed towards a statue that had St. George for the war, with the dragon already dead to show that they were thankful to have their enemies defeated and done. We then headed to the church where it caught fire. I stood looking at this arch way made in 1269 or so and noticed that they had a spike ball on tha top. That spiked ball happened to be a weapon, in which was tied to a string and swung around. Apparently the fire burnt everything in the church except for a picture of the Virgin Mary and her son. They had it out in the open and I was amazed by it and couldn't help but think how my father would love to be here. On the side there was an old lady that had a metal bin filled with lit candles.
A funny thing she told us when we reached an overlook view of the city after passing an old church and school, was that on the left side of the main church, on the top, a person committed suicide by climbing all the way to the tipy top and jumping. I was amazed, because how did he get up there? There had to be a secret passage way and I now wanted ot go inside the church and look for it.
And then we went down the stairs and she showed the statue of a famous poet who wanted the entire city, or half of it, against him. I took a funny picture, which got laughs from people in the building next to it.
She then showed a tower where at exactly twelve every day the small canon went off. It was a good thing she told us or else all the people would have been freaking out. It was initially to tell the towns people to come in at a certain time between nine and ten at night to keep them safe from robbers and the like. Here's a video.
After the main square and chasing pigeons, we headed back to the bus where she bid us farewell and we went off. There is alot of graffiti in the town and as the bus went towards the outskirts of the main heart of the city the graffiti amplified. Here are a few a examples, but there were plenty more. It reminded me of the ghetto in America. The bus ride was long, reaching Osijek in three or four hours. Catey being the smart one followed the teachers, saying they had the best accommodations for them. Which was true, because our hostel was much nicer than the Bar Hostel that the other half of the people stayed in. That's right, there was a bar beneath them, lockers for their important things, the locks on the doors didn't work- the complete sketchiness of sketchers.
After getting in we headed to the restaurant, where we ate a good meal of meat soup and fish soup. I ate alot, having a good time with my friends. Of course this was after we had a presentation of the Nanson Dialogue Center, where they worked to fill in the gap between the ethnically divided groups. I learned about Rob that night, well more about his family because he sitting there all quiet. And then I learned that his family hardly talked ever over dinner. Only about sports. Me, coming from a very open and I have to be blunt, sort of violent family, I was very surprised. I seem to be surprised alot during these days. But here he was, saying he never really talks over dinner. My family on the other hand, and I told him this, talk with and about each other. He laughed, and said that he would most defiantly talk with his kids when he has a family. That made me smile, and then it made me remind myself about how a child can sometimes act like their parents subconsciously. I seem to be reminded about a lot of things on this trip as well.
Back in the room Mei was telling us some creepy things. Like how she would like to take a picture pf the both of us sleeping together if we were hot guys. Catey and I both laughed nervously, and glanced at each other.
"That's...highly disturbing," I said to her and Catey agreed.
"Yeah, I feel slightly uncomfortable now," she said. Mei just laughed and I ran into the bathroom for safety.
And that's how my day ended.
All right, a lot of information and things happened today.
First of all I woke up continuously between five and eight this morning and around seven I heard someone open our door, enter, and then close it. I fully woke up along with my roommate several minutes later.
'Did someone just come into our room?" I asked her. She looked confused as well.
"Yeah, I think so. It might have been the cleaning lady." Either way it was weird to have our door open and close when we both had our keys and still slept.
After looking around for the breakfast area for a good eight minutes the Professor directed be to the back of the hotel where the food was served. It was nice to have so many variety of fruit, meat and bread for breakfast. The peaches were delicious, they slithered right down my throat. Maybe I just missed fruit, either way they were some good peaches.
By 10:00 everyone was on the bus and ready to go. Rob was late, but he finally came. Our guide, who's name I can not remember, was an elderly old lady who had very high opinions and claimed not to be a feminist when she made some very feminist comments. It didn't bother me, I saw her as a very strong women who lived through a war and knew her history. Throughout the tour she frequently told us about times when Italians or French people would come and she would give a tour of the city, they would make various comments.
Yeah.
On the bus tour she showed us the wonders and disasters of the city when the war started in 1991. There were patched bullet holes on most of the buildings and alot of the main buildings were still being repaired. Some of them were already fixed, one building the guide told us had belly dancers during the war and when the building was hit they were injured, forcing them to retire. the enemy, the Yugoslav Army, were initially aiming towards the children's hospital. Those were one of the things that she couldn't forgive about the war.
We continued to drive around and went to one of the biggest cemmentary in Europe. She told us there were still quarrels about that among the French and other people say. The cemmentary was huge, an example of the ethnically diverse community that lived in harmony before the war. Christians were on one part, Muslims had their part, and even Jews had a section. But all were buried in the cememntary. However, you had to pay yearly to have your dead ones there, or they would be exumned from the graves and placed in a different place to make room.
Alot of the group gasped when they heard that and I was shocked as well based on my knowledge of never disturb the dead. These things happen, and I found it sad that only in death could these religions ever get along. In real life they waged war against each other, and even though Zagreb was ethically diverse they still had their underlying troubles. She showed us the place where a major politician was buried and told the story of how people complained that it was too big.
The group then went for lunch and stopped at the church I saw the other day with Catey and Mei. I got a Kabab, which is an open sandwich with sliced meat and other burger pieces. The day before the square was empty, but as we walked in there were people with their stalls celling fruit and trinkets. The open market was lovely. We then headed towards a statue that had St. George for the war, with the dragon already dead to show that they were thankful to have their enemies defeated and done. We then headed to the church where it caught fire. I stood looking at this arch way made in 1269 or so and noticed that they had a spike ball on tha top. That spiked ball happened to be a weapon, in which was tied to a string and swung around. Apparently the fire burnt everything in the church except for a picture of the Virgin Mary and her son. They had it out in the open and I was amazed by it and couldn't help but think how my father would love to be here. On the side there was an old lady that had a metal bin filled with lit candles.
A funny thing she told us when we reached an overlook view of the city after passing an old church and school, was that on the left side of the main church, on the top, a person committed suicide by climbing all the way to the tipy top and jumping. I was amazed, because how did he get up there? There had to be a secret passage way and I now wanted ot go inside the church and look for it.
And then we went down the stairs and she showed the statue of a famous poet who wanted the entire city, or half of it, against him. I took a funny picture, which got laughs from people in the building next to it.
She then showed a tower where at exactly twelve every day the small canon went off. It was a good thing she told us or else all the people would have been freaking out. It was initially to tell the towns people to come in at a certain time between nine and ten at night to keep them safe from robbers and the like. Here's a video.
After the main square and chasing pigeons, we headed back to the bus where she bid us farewell and we went off. There is alot of graffiti in the town and as the bus went towards the outskirts of the main heart of the city the graffiti amplified. Here are a few a examples, but there were plenty more. It reminded me of the ghetto in America. The bus ride was long, reaching Osijek in three or four hours. Catey being the smart one followed the teachers, saying they had the best accommodations for them. Which was true, because our hostel was much nicer than the Bar Hostel that the other half of the people stayed in. That's right, there was a bar beneath them, lockers for their important things, the locks on the doors didn't work- the complete sketchiness of sketchers.
After getting in we headed to the restaurant, where we ate a good meal of meat soup and fish soup. I ate alot, having a good time with my friends. Of course this was after we had a presentation of the Nanson Dialogue Center, where they worked to fill in the gap between the ethnically divided groups. I learned about Rob that night, well more about his family because he sitting there all quiet. And then I learned that his family hardly talked ever over dinner. Only about sports. Me, coming from a very open and I have to be blunt, sort of violent family, I was very surprised. I seem to be surprised alot during these days. But here he was, saying he never really talks over dinner. My family on the other hand, and I told him this, talk with and about each other. He laughed, and said that he would most defiantly talk with his kids when he has a family. That made me smile, and then it made me remind myself about how a child can sometimes act like their parents subconsciously. I seem to be reminded about a lot of things on this trip as well.
Back in the room Mei was telling us some creepy things. Like how she would like to take a picture pf the both of us sleeping together if we were hot guys. Catey and I both laughed nervously, and glanced at each other.
"That's...highly disturbing," I said to her and Catey agreed.
"Yeah, I feel slightly uncomfortable now," she said. Mei just laughed and I ran into the bathroom for safety.
And that's how my day ended.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Zagreb: Day 16
Zagreb: Day 16 (2010/01/17)
We got into Zagreb today after travelling on the bus for about four hours. I slept most of the way, and only got up to pee and feed myself when we stopped at a gas station.
I love their gas stations here!
When you go in its like a mini restaurant. In the front is the normal gas store, but in the back there is a food place where its mostly fresh and made in front of you. Soups, bread and cheese, warm food, its was the bomb! I wondered why the US did not have these type of things, or at least better ones.
On the ground there was snow, completely white and cold as we travelled. I couldn't help but shiver since I wanted a warmer climate to be in. Thank goodness the bus had a heater and I wore some warm clothes. I was very pleased with myself that I was able to fit everything into my backpack and a plastic bag. Sure things were tight, but nothing I couldn't handle.
Zagreb is a nice sized city with a lot of history. We stayed in a four star hotel and let me tell you I was all over that place! They had nice beds and a tub in the bathroom, which I took advantage of as soon as I could. I still roomed with Miriam while the others were put into twos and threes. Luckily the hotel was near the train station, no more than two minutes away. So when we settled down I went over to Cateys room and watched some TV while Mei went somewhere. We planed to meet at three fifteen for a walk and dinner. I wanted to go to the chapel for a bit. On the news was the information about Haiti. That poor, poor country. Literally poor. Its hard for the help to get in, and provisions are not enough for the people because there were people in need before this so of course they will go and get food when its handed out and those in the accident will be left out.
The world better be ready for me when I come into power and become a major politician. No crap will be allowed. Or else it will be worse than any natural disaster they ever encountered.
After Mei got a map we headed out into the square. Well, we went back in for directions on east and west and so forth, then we went back out and headed towards the chapel. There was a big square where the train station was and in the middle of that square was a statue of a famous person who fought against the Turks or some people like that. Damn people kept getting in my way with the picture. Grr.
The chapel had a beautiful square, its form built in the old part of town. After passing some souvenir shops, which we stopped in briefly to see, we headed to the giant structure. I took a lovely picture of the center piece that looked like a candle with the mother Mary standing on the top and the angles around her at the bottom. The cathedral was very impressive, and I thought how my Poppa would love to come to Europe and see all the churches they had here.
One day.
Inside, words can not explain the beauty. I bowed my head and made the sign of the cross when I saw what was before me. With a high ceiling one is immediately envisioned with the alter and side pillars that support the inside. The hallways on the left and right sport little prayer sections of Saints and their helpers. Dazzling architecture and paintings littered the entire interior. It was dark inside, with candles lit for the small alters. Catey told me to turn off the sound on my camera, and I did so nosily. But after that I took pictures. The alter was very impressive and the pupil was lovely. I managed to take a slightly less blurry picture of the angel attached to the bottom.
We stayed there for only a few minutes, but that was enough for me.
Catey did a not so smart thing of making Mei head of directions. She wanted to go to the Chinese restaurant after we had looked around a bit. We stood in the Tran area, looking at the map and deciding where to go. Well, they looked at the map while I observed the people around me. It was a good mixture of old and young people. Finally Mei decided she wanted to take the Tran.
"Do we have to pay?" Catey asked. We all looked at the train and how people were boarding and getting off.
"No, we dont," I replied. But they were still unsure, so we spent a few minutes out in the cold looking until we finally boarded the Tran. It wasn't full, because it was Sunday and stores were closed. People came out at night for strolls during the weekend, so it was the slow part of the week. We rode two blocks, got off, and walked four more to the Chinese restaurant.
We had to divide seven Kuna into the original price to get a Euro. So seven Kuna for one Euro. That is why when we looked at the prices we thought they were high. Say about 25 to 150 digits. But you had to divide it by seven and there you had the price in Euro. So we decided that the prices were okay and went inside.
It felt nice and warm and had Chinese decorations. We sat near the bathroom door and looked at the menu. They had Chinese there and I recognized some of the characters. Nothing really excited happened, save for a few topics about our future and what we planned to do after college. Apparently my plans were not thought out enough like the others and I felt like I got some bite for that, but I didn't say anything to them because I knew I would start looking things up when I got back to school.
Overall, the meal was okay.
We walked back to the hotel and I managed to get a nice bath in before my roommate came in later on. It is funny because when I look back on the conversations that I had with the others in my group, I could predict what they are about to say. Growing up I was not around alot of other kids, so I can not help but wonder if it has affected how I see myself around other people.
"Yeah, you have been complaining alot," Catey told me conversationally one day as we waited for the bus. I was surprised, because I had not seen my behavior as whinny or complaining. Neither had I seen my questions on some topics as personal or awkward. I have always been straight forward, if not politely blunt on a certain manner. I am always myself and if not, I correct my noticed faults for later actions. But apparently I have not been looking through the eyes of others. Not that I care what the majority of people think of me in the end, but it is a distinct feeling to have someone else tell you of yourself. Maybe I am a bit like Mei.
"Oh well, fuck them. I don't care what they think."
I think there is something wrong with that, and at the same time, something right.
We got into Zagreb today after travelling on the bus for about four hours. I slept most of the way, and only got up to pee and feed myself when we stopped at a gas station.
I love their gas stations here!
When you go in its like a mini restaurant. In the front is the normal gas store, but in the back there is a food place where its mostly fresh and made in front of you. Soups, bread and cheese, warm food, its was the bomb! I wondered why the US did not have these type of things, or at least better ones.
On the ground there was snow, completely white and cold as we travelled. I couldn't help but shiver since I wanted a warmer climate to be in. Thank goodness the bus had a heater and I wore some warm clothes. I was very pleased with myself that I was able to fit everything into my backpack and a plastic bag. Sure things were tight, but nothing I couldn't handle.
Zagreb is a nice sized city with a lot of history. We stayed in a four star hotel and let me tell you I was all over that place! They had nice beds and a tub in the bathroom, which I took advantage of as soon as I could. I still roomed with Miriam while the others were put into twos and threes. Luckily the hotel was near the train station, no more than two minutes away. So when we settled down I went over to Cateys room and watched some TV while Mei went somewhere. We planed to meet at three fifteen for a walk and dinner. I wanted to go to the chapel for a bit. On the news was the information about Haiti. That poor, poor country. Literally poor. Its hard for the help to get in, and provisions are not enough for the people because there were people in need before this so of course they will go and get food when its handed out and those in the accident will be left out.
The world better be ready for me when I come into power and become a major politician. No crap will be allowed. Or else it will be worse than any natural disaster they ever encountered.
After Mei got a map we headed out into the square. Well, we went back in for directions on east and west and so forth, then we went back out and headed towards the chapel. There was a big square where the train station was and in the middle of that square was a statue of a famous person who fought against the Turks or some people like that. Damn people kept getting in my way with the picture. Grr.
The chapel had a beautiful square, its form built in the old part of town. After passing some souvenir shops, which we stopped in briefly to see, we headed to the giant structure. I took a lovely picture of the center piece that looked like a candle with the mother Mary standing on the top and the angles around her at the bottom. The cathedral was very impressive, and I thought how my Poppa would love to come to Europe and see all the churches they had here.
One day.
Inside, words can not explain the beauty. I bowed my head and made the sign of the cross when I saw what was before me. With a high ceiling one is immediately envisioned with the alter and side pillars that support the inside. The hallways on the left and right sport little prayer sections of Saints and their helpers. Dazzling architecture and paintings littered the entire interior. It was dark inside, with candles lit for the small alters. Catey told me to turn off the sound on my camera, and I did so nosily. But after that I took pictures. The alter was very impressive and the pupil was lovely. I managed to take a slightly less blurry picture of the angel attached to the bottom.
We stayed there for only a few minutes, but that was enough for me.
Catey did a not so smart thing of making Mei head of directions. She wanted to go to the Chinese restaurant after we had looked around a bit. We stood in the Tran area, looking at the map and deciding where to go. Well, they looked at the map while I observed the people around me. It was a good mixture of old and young people. Finally Mei decided she wanted to take the Tran.
"Do we have to pay?" Catey asked. We all looked at the train and how people were boarding and getting off.
"No, we dont," I replied. But they were still unsure, so we spent a few minutes out in the cold looking until we finally boarded the Tran. It wasn't full, because it was Sunday and stores were closed. People came out at night for strolls during the weekend, so it was the slow part of the week. We rode two blocks, got off, and walked four more to the Chinese restaurant.
We had to divide seven Kuna into the original price to get a Euro. So seven Kuna for one Euro. That is why when we looked at the prices we thought they were high. Say about 25 to 150 digits. But you had to divide it by seven and there you had the price in Euro. So we decided that the prices were okay and went inside.
It felt nice and warm and had Chinese decorations. We sat near the bathroom door and looked at the menu. They had Chinese there and I recognized some of the characters. Nothing really excited happened, save for a few topics about our future and what we planned to do after college. Apparently my plans were not thought out enough like the others and I felt like I got some bite for that, but I didn't say anything to them because I knew I would start looking things up when I got back to school.
Overall, the meal was okay.
We walked back to the hotel and I managed to get a nice bath in before my roommate came in later on. It is funny because when I look back on the conversations that I had with the others in my group, I could predict what they are about to say. Growing up I was not around alot of other kids, so I can not help but wonder if it has affected how I see myself around other people.
"Yeah, you have been complaining alot," Catey told me conversationally one day as we waited for the bus. I was surprised, because I had not seen my behavior as whinny or complaining. Neither had I seen my questions on some topics as personal or awkward. I have always been straight forward, if not politely blunt on a certain manner. I am always myself and if not, I correct my noticed faults for later actions. But apparently I have not been looking through the eyes of others. Not that I care what the majority of people think of me in the end, but it is a distinct feeling to have someone else tell you of yourself. Maybe I am a bit like Mei.
"Oh well, fuck them. I don't care what they think."
I think there is something wrong with that, and at the same time, something right.
Ljubljana: Day 15
Ljubljana: Day 15 (2010/01/16)
I thought I heard something and turned to Catey. "You have a horny brain?"
She looked at me confused. "What?! I don't have a horny brain. If that was the case I'd be doing every brain around me."
I chocked on some laughter. "Thank God I'm simple minded then."
Today was an excellent short day in the city.
After a very eventful day of resting in the morning and going out in the afternoon, we headed out at nine for Ljubljana! It was only an hour and a half away, and I was glad not to have been as sick as the previous day so I could enjoy the trip. I can't say for others, because they drank alot, which wasn't a smart thing if we had to wake up in the morning. From 3 to 5 in the morning I heard someone throwing up in the bathroom on our floor. It made me nauseated, because I still felt a bit queasy from whatever got me sick that day.
Luckily I got well enough to travel and we viewed the beautiful city of Ljubljana. The good news is that we got there early in the morning, so there were stores open and a square entirely dedicated to selling tourist items, clothes and food. An open market! I love those! The bad news was that it happened to be on a Saturday that we visited and everything closed around 2. EVERYTHING. But for the most part I had a good time.
It was cold, so I had to buy a head piece and gloves in the market area before we could go any more. Catey, Mei Cheng and Huegette were with me. They were kind enough to say that my hair looked like Marg from the Simposons when my scarf came off from trying on the hat. A completely random man, who stood there at the time, laughed and agreed with them. Why did he have to understand English then?!
After that scenario, and Huegette buying some fruit that looked delicious and inexpensive, we went to he famous Dragon Bridge. Legend has it that if a virgin crossed the bridge, its tale would wag. There were four dragons on each perch and I had the imagination of a little girl who had complete faith in the dragons crossing over and their tails wagging. But as Mei Cheng says, "You're too childish darling."
Oh well, at least we took some nice pictures.
The city is a good size city with not much people, so with a map we went looking at the stores. Excuse me, they bought, I looked. They didn't have anything in my size, since Europe has alot of small women compared to the US. And if they did have something, it would not be what I would wear. A funny thing happened though. Mei cheng found these leather pants and we went to go try them on. Huegette wasn't there to try, but Catey, Mei and I all fit! It was like, "Sisters of the travelling leather booty shorts!" I was so excited, and even though Mei didn't show us how she looked because she thinks she is fat (In Chinese terms yes, but normally no she is not) I knew we all looked sexy in it.
We then spent time looking for stores to be in because it was so cold outside. On the bus ride up we literally watched the scenery change from grassy to snowy! It was both pretty and cold!
I had a hard time deciding what to get for my dad, because nothing jumped out for him. There were a few nice items, like some funky shaped candles and angles made from scratch, but nothing screamed him. Still looking.
We saw this funky door. It was weird!
We ate at a restaurant that Boris, our bus driver, suggested to us. It was two restaurants staked on top of each other. Down stairs they served pizza, while upstairs, where we ate, they served full meals. We choose a nice little corner and ordered our food. I wanted to eat pizza, but when travelling with a group you go where the majority goes. I ordered spaghetti and sauce for a beginner, then chicken cooked in bread with rice for my meal, and lastly ice cream with seasonal fruit. I enjoyed the meal, though the chicken needed some more moisture. Huegette didn't really like her meal at all, something funky about the pork she ate. The others enjoyed their meal and the desert was awesome. Cateys soup was salty for her, and I had to question what type of meat she got because thez had wild game and horse on the menu! I felt soooo sad for the horses. As for our waiter, he was okay looking, not hard on the eyes. He had a little thing for Huegette and called her My Lady. It was funny because she always gets hit on. We ended up taking a picture with him, and of ourselves of course. When we left we spotted the Professor and Shawn at the bar, and we went over to say hi. Paddy bought himself a nice hat that made him look like a detective. Not Sherlock Holmes hat, but a nice black one.
After eating we went out and walked about the town. During this time all of the stores were closed and I had the sudden urge to go pee. But none of the stores were opened, even the public bathroom which you have to pay money to use, was locked! SO I held it in till I asked the Paddy for a pit stop on the ride back. Thank God we did.
On the bus ride back Boris put in this movie called Soul Plane. Only a phrase can sum up that movie Stereotypical black funnies on an airplane. I was shocked, because I thought it was a dance video like Soul Train, and I thought okay, this shouldn't be that bad. Wrong. I was laughing my butt off!
That's as far as I will go on commenting on that movie. On a side note, at the end when I said I liked the movie, the professor looked at me and said, "I am glad that you liked it LaVana, because I saw my entire career flash before my eyes."
Yeah, fun times.
After that we reached the Hostel and packed for tomorrow. I didn't go out anymore, and made myself comfortable for the night.
I thought I heard something and turned to Catey. "You have a horny brain?"
She looked at me confused. "What?! I don't have a horny brain. If that was the case I'd be doing every brain around me."
I chocked on some laughter. "Thank God I'm simple minded then."
Today was an excellent short day in the city.
After a very eventful day of resting in the morning and going out in the afternoon, we headed out at nine for Ljubljana! It was only an hour and a half away, and I was glad not to have been as sick as the previous day so I could enjoy the trip. I can't say for others, because they drank alot, which wasn't a smart thing if we had to wake up in the morning. From 3 to 5 in the morning I heard someone throwing up in the bathroom on our floor. It made me nauseated, because I still felt a bit queasy from whatever got me sick that day.
Luckily I got well enough to travel and we viewed the beautiful city of Ljubljana. The good news is that we got there early in the morning, so there were stores open and a square entirely dedicated to selling tourist items, clothes and food. An open market! I love those! The bad news was that it happened to be on a Saturday that we visited and everything closed around 2. EVERYTHING. But for the most part I had a good time.
It was cold, so I had to buy a head piece and gloves in the market area before we could go any more. Catey, Mei Cheng and Huegette were with me. They were kind enough to say that my hair looked like Marg from the Simposons when my scarf came off from trying on the hat. A completely random man, who stood there at the time, laughed and agreed with them. Why did he have to understand English then?!
After that scenario, and Huegette buying some fruit that looked delicious and inexpensive, we went to he famous Dragon Bridge. Legend has it that if a virgin crossed the bridge, its tale would wag. There were four dragons on each perch and I had the imagination of a little girl who had complete faith in the dragons crossing over and their tails wagging. But as Mei Cheng says, "You're too childish darling."
Oh well, at least we took some nice pictures.
The city is a good size city with not much people, so with a map we went looking at the stores. Excuse me, they bought, I looked. They didn't have anything in my size, since Europe has alot of small women compared to the US. And if they did have something, it would not be what I would wear. A funny thing happened though. Mei cheng found these leather pants and we went to go try them on. Huegette wasn't there to try, but Catey, Mei and I all fit! It was like, "Sisters of the travelling leather booty shorts!" I was so excited, and even though Mei didn't show us how she looked because she thinks she is fat (In Chinese terms yes, but normally no she is not) I knew we all looked sexy in it.
We then spent time looking for stores to be in because it was so cold outside. On the bus ride up we literally watched the scenery change from grassy to snowy! It was both pretty and cold!
I had a hard time deciding what to get for my dad, because nothing jumped out for him. There were a few nice items, like some funky shaped candles and angles made from scratch, but nothing screamed him. Still looking.
We saw this funky door. It was weird!
We ate at a restaurant that Boris, our bus driver, suggested to us. It was two restaurants staked on top of each other. Down stairs they served pizza, while upstairs, where we ate, they served full meals. We choose a nice little corner and ordered our food. I wanted to eat pizza, but when travelling with a group you go where the majority goes. I ordered spaghetti and sauce for a beginner, then chicken cooked in bread with rice for my meal, and lastly ice cream with seasonal fruit. I enjoyed the meal, though the chicken needed some more moisture. Huegette didn't really like her meal at all, something funky about the pork she ate. The others enjoyed their meal and the desert was awesome. Cateys soup was salty for her, and I had to question what type of meat she got because thez had wild game and horse on the menu! I felt soooo sad for the horses. As for our waiter, he was okay looking, not hard on the eyes. He had a little thing for Huegette and called her My Lady. It was funny because she always gets hit on. We ended up taking a picture with him, and of ourselves of course. When we left we spotted the Professor and Shawn at the bar, and we went over to say hi. Paddy bought himself a nice hat that made him look like a detective. Not Sherlock Holmes hat, but a nice black one.
After eating we went out and walked about the town. During this time all of the stores were closed and I had the sudden urge to go pee. But none of the stores were opened, even the public bathroom which you have to pay money to use, was locked! SO I held it in till I asked the Paddy for a pit stop on the ride back. Thank God we did.
On the bus ride back Boris put in this movie called Soul Plane. Only a phrase can sum up that movie Stereotypical black funnies on an airplane. I was shocked, because I thought it was a dance video like Soul Train, and I thought okay, this shouldn't be that bad. Wrong. I was laughing my butt off!
That's as far as I will go on commenting on that movie. On a side note, at the end when I said I liked the movie, the professor looked at me and said, "I am glad that you liked it LaVana, because I saw my entire career flash before my eyes."
Yeah, fun times.
After that we reached the Hostel and packed for tomorrow. I didn't go out anymore, and made myself comfortable for the night.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Piran: Day 14
Piran: Day 14 (2010/01/15)
This morning I woke up, crawled from bed after thinking if I should get up or not, made my way downstairs, did not say high, ate a piece of bread and half a cup of hot chocolate, bid my group good luck, and then crawled back upstairs into my bed.
That was my morning.
After sleeping till 1:30 I got up and dressed. People were piling in after a short day in class. I missed the movie, though I had enough bloodshed to last me for quiet a while. Earlier on my roommate Miriam had locked the door. I laid there hearing a click and thought, 'Is she locking me in?' I had to get up to check, and when I shook the door knob is was locked. I was like, 'What the h***?! Why is the door locked?' I then spent the next five, ten minutes calling people for help. The rooms are very close and the walls thin enough to hear squealing girls at night. So it took to long for someone to come, and when they did they were late for class. I was glad they got me out, it would have been pretty bad if I had to go pee.
I came downstairs when everyone had returned and stayed down for a while. I can only stay locked up for so long before losing my mind. Downstairs I thought about how much I wanted to go outside. I kept asking people who were leaving where they were going. Some of the places I did not like, others were just too long. So I waited it out and I finally caught a group going out to play soccer, or football, with some of the local kids. It was cold out, so I carried an extra scarf.
Here's a phrase for the hill we climbed: Oh my God, mother nature is trying to kill me! Not a good idea to climb that after being sick. I died almost from the beginning. I refuse to acknowledge lack of activity! Besides I made it up to the top with all my sanity in tack.
The place they were playing was a playground of sorts, with a basketball court near the end. I came in, sat down, watched them play, saw Rob fall and get an ugly battle scar which he later drew a smiley face on, saw them play some more and then left.
I did not understand the rules, but they were kicking that ball. Some of them had unnecessary fancy moves, but hey, its soccer.
People separated and I went with the group closest to the hostel. There was a lovely sunset and took a picture of mother nature not f***ing with me.
There weren't alot of people there when I got back. Which was good because they could be loud. VERY loud. Catey sat in the couch while Professor Dale and Shawn did money count. I bugged Catey from her Pokemon game, which we talk about alot in the group actual, and got her to go with me to the store. We did a brisk walk, and at the store I bought bread, cheese, a drink and crackers. Surprisingly we ran into a group of Americans. One of them was black, and I was like hey, and other black person! Then I went back looking at food.
There were some funny moments today, I have to admit. At the soccer game, inside the Hostel, just random funny things that happen throughout the day that you appreciate in the end.
This morning I woke up, crawled from bed after thinking if I should get up or not, made my way downstairs, did not say high, ate a piece of bread and half a cup of hot chocolate, bid my group good luck, and then crawled back upstairs into my bed.
That was my morning.
After sleeping till 1:30 I got up and dressed. People were piling in after a short day in class. I missed the movie, though I had enough bloodshed to last me for quiet a while. Earlier on my roommate Miriam had locked the door. I laid there hearing a click and thought, 'Is she locking me in?' I had to get up to check, and when I shook the door knob is was locked. I was like, 'What the h***?! Why is the door locked?' I then spent the next five, ten minutes calling people for help. The rooms are very close and the walls thin enough to hear squealing girls at night. So it took to long for someone to come, and when they did they were late for class. I was glad they got me out, it would have been pretty bad if I had to go pee.
I came downstairs when everyone had returned and stayed down for a while. I can only stay locked up for so long before losing my mind. Downstairs I thought about how much I wanted to go outside. I kept asking people who were leaving where they were going. Some of the places I did not like, others were just too long. So I waited it out and I finally caught a group going out to play soccer, or football, with some of the local kids. It was cold out, so I carried an extra scarf.
Here's a phrase for the hill we climbed: Oh my God, mother nature is trying to kill me! Not a good idea to climb that after being sick. I died almost from the beginning. I refuse to acknowledge lack of activity! Besides I made it up to the top with all my sanity in tack.
The place they were playing was a playground of sorts, with a basketball court near the end. I came in, sat down, watched them play, saw Rob fall and get an ugly battle scar which he later drew a smiley face on, saw them play some more and then left.
I did not understand the rules, but they were kicking that ball. Some of them had unnecessary fancy moves, but hey, its soccer.
People separated and I went with the group closest to the hostel. There was a lovely sunset and took a picture of mother nature not f***ing with me.
There weren't alot of people there when I got back. Which was good because they could be loud. VERY loud. Catey sat in the couch while Professor Dale and Shawn did money count. I bugged Catey from her Pokemon game, which we talk about alot in the group actual, and got her to go with me to the store. We did a brisk walk, and at the store I bought bread, cheese, a drink and crackers. Surprisingly we ran into a group of Americans. One of them was black, and I was like hey, and other black person! Then I went back looking at food.
There were some funny moments today, I have to admit. At the soccer game, inside the Hostel, just random funny things that happen throughout the day that you appreciate in the end.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Piran: Day 13
Piran: Day 13 (2010/01/14)
The day started out great, but then I ate Giuseppe, threw up in the bathroom, and spent the remainder of the day in bed.
Not how I wanted to end things.
They think it's food poisoning, since Nelson had gotten food poisoning as well two days ago and just went to class today. That's kind of twisted. Not only that this weekend is our big travelling days. On Friday we go to Ljubljana, then on Saturday we come back, pack and leave for Soggrab in Croatia.
Whoooa, bus motion sickness.
So my mind right now is BLAHBLAHBLAH and tomorrow we have a presentation on Mostar, the ethnically divided city of Bosnian-Croats and Bosnian-Muslims. The only difference is their religion. I was able to crawl out of bed like a cockroach and head downstairs for our group discussion. Added one or two things, but just mostly sat there. My group said I didn't have to come down, but I wanted to at least add something to the presentation. This after the teacher said not everyone had to present. So I sat there with my needle point out, listening in and BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH.
I should go to bed even though I've slept for God knows how long.
I started the day laughing and ended it with throwing up...BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH...
Is it just me or is the BLAH's getting longer?
...okay, I'm off to bed.
Travellers note: when travelling be aware of the area that you are going in. If you have a desire to party and have fun, be sure that you know the political and social situation of the city. Party smart, drink smarter, because there will be a chance that no one can help you out if in trouble.
The day started out great, but then I ate Giuseppe, threw up in the bathroom, and spent the remainder of the day in bed.
Not how I wanted to end things.
They think it's food poisoning, since Nelson had gotten food poisoning as well two days ago and just went to class today. That's kind of twisted. Not only that this weekend is our big travelling days. On Friday we go to Ljubljana, then on Saturday we come back, pack and leave for Soggrab in Croatia.
Whoooa, bus motion sickness.
So my mind right now is BLAHBLAHBLAH and tomorrow we have a presentation on Mostar, the ethnically divided city of Bosnian-Croats and Bosnian-Muslims. The only difference is their religion. I was able to crawl out of bed like a cockroach and head downstairs for our group discussion. Added one or two things, but just mostly sat there. My group said I didn't have to come down, but I wanted to at least add something to the presentation. This after the teacher said not everyone had to present. So I sat there with my needle point out, listening in and BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH.
I should go to bed even though I've slept for God knows how long.
I started the day laughing and ended it with throwing up...BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH...
Is it just me or is the BLAH's getting longer?
...okay, I'm off to bed.
Travellers note: when travelling be aware of the area that you are going in. If you have a desire to party and have fun, be sure that you know the political and social situation of the city. Party smart, drink smarter, because there will be a chance that no one can help you out if in trouble.
Piran: Day 12
Piran: Day 12 (2010/01/13)
In the morning we had a lecture on Bosnia and Croatia. The professor was feeling much better and was able to tell us the things we needed to know.
After class was over and I headed out with Hugettee to a clothing store. In the beginning she wanted to buy clothes, but I ended up buying a nice creamy coat, a dress that was boobalicious, and tights. All I need now are boots and I have myself and European outfit.
It was hard trying to find my siye. The women in Europe are tiny, like finger pinky size or smaller. A medium in the US is a XXX Large here, and the coats I wanted to try on did not really have my size. The woman working there was kind enough to help me look for right size and I did not feel self concious at all. Hugette tried on single outfits that looked cute on her, the siyze of her body matching with the style of clothing. I tried to fit into a one peice jean outfit, but I didn't try to zip up that thing. The lady would have helped me with another piece, since she had been calling next door for bigger sizes. I decided the style wasn't me and tried on the other pieces of clothing.
Over all the entire outfit was 50 Euro, which is $65.00 US. I was happy because the coat I got would have been more in the states, plus it was on sale here so double deal! I showed it to Shawn and she loved it. In the beinning I was iffy about buying the white since it would be harder to clean. I did buy it in the end, because I did not have any white coats.
Every princess needed a nice, white coat.
My happiness went away with a depressing movie on the war in Bosnia and Croatia. It came back later on, but the rest is a-
A SECRET DAY!
In the morning we had a lecture on Bosnia and Croatia. The professor was feeling much better and was able to tell us the things we needed to know.
After class was over and I headed out with Hugettee to a clothing store. In the beginning she wanted to buy clothes, but I ended up buying a nice creamy coat, a dress that was boobalicious, and tights. All I need now are boots and I have myself and European outfit.
It was hard trying to find my siye. The women in Europe are tiny, like finger pinky size or smaller. A medium in the US is a XXX Large here, and the coats I wanted to try on did not really have my size. The woman working there was kind enough to help me look for right size and I did not feel self concious at all. Hugette tried on single outfits that looked cute on her, the siyze of her body matching with the style of clothing. I tried to fit into a one peice jean outfit, but I didn't try to zip up that thing. The lady would have helped me with another piece, since she had been calling next door for bigger sizes. I decided the style wasn't me and tried on the other pieces of clothing.
Over all the entire outfit was 50 Euro, which is $65.00 US. I was happy because the coat I got would have been more in the states, plus it was on sale here so double deal! I showed it to Shawn and she loved it. In the beinning I was iffy about buying the white since it would be harder to clean. I did buy it in the end, because I did not have any white coats.
Every princess needed a nice, white coat.
My happiness went away with a depressing movie on the war in Bosnia and Croatia. It came back later on, but the rest is a-
A SECRET DAY!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Piran: Day 11
Piran: Day 11 (2010/01/13)
I walked up to Hugettee and asked, 'So, how do you think the test went?'
She looked at me tiredly and replied, 'I just wrote.'
Her words made my day.
So yes, after the hour test where we had to write two essays in that time, me squeeying in an extra two minutes to finish my sentence, the test was over. During it my proffesor came in and scarred the hell out of me, followed by the sound of the clock tower to signle the end of the hour.
'How often do you get a bell like that to signal the end of your test?' he asked us, sounding very pleased. I wasn't, because I hadn't finished yet. In the end I made sense with whatever little bit I could put in, and felt glad to have our only test on the entire trip done and over with.
I walked up to Hugettee and asked, 'So, how do you think the test went?'
She looked at me tiredly and replied, 'I just wrote.'
Her words made my day.
So yes, after the hour test where we had to write two essays in that time, me squeeying in an extra two minutes to finish my sentence, the test was over. During it my proffesor came in and scarred the hell out of me, followed by the sound of the clock tower to signle the end of the hour.
'How often do you get a bell like that to signal the end of your test?' he asked us, sounding very pleased. I wasn't, because I hadn't finished yet. In the end I made sense with whatever little bit I could put in, and felt glad to have our only test on the entire trip done and over with.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Piran: Day 10
Piran: Day 10 (2010/01/12)
Class was short today, not even three hours. We got out at 11:35 am and I went with my friends to a nearby cafe to sit and drink hot chocolate. Literally. The chocolate had been melted into a smooth texture, a spoon placed inside to help us eat it. Hugette didn't really like it, but I did. It was a different experience to spoon out my melted hot chocolate. We sat and talked about boys, school, cute guys, just normal conversation. After that we headed back to the Hostel, but not before stopping by the Chocolate shop and buying some chocolate. I took a picture of the chocolate penis. They even had chocolate titties! Very impressed and very disturbed I left with the others. Later on I would joke that they should of had chocolate vagina's with my friend Katty. She agreed, saying another joke. It got dirty very quickly and I had to stop to behave myself. I was smiling the whole time though, because it was funny!
On the walk back we passed by the host of the Hostel, Raymond. He was smoking and maybe drinking by the looks of it with his friends at a close bar. He stopped Hugette and started to talk to his friends about us. I knew that because he said American and girls. Then before we could walk away he stopped us to buy us each two pieces of oranges. We accepted the gift and went away. Someone thought it might have been a sexual reference, but I just said, "Doesn't matter, I'm going to eat them anyways." Food was food to me.
Now that I think about it, there has been alot of sexual jokes today. For instance, when we got back to the Hostel my roommate Katty showed me her quitips that she said looked like miniature boobs. I couldn't say anything, just smile in shock and wonder that they did look like small boobs. You decide.
People are getting sick. It seems after the professor got ill, everyone started too. I am not looking forward to being in a bus with a bunch of sick people, so I hope they get better quickly. I don't think Mei Chang will though, because she's eating ice-cream and sweet stuff ot make her FEEL better, not be better. I left her alone because that's what she wanted to do. I do wish her good health. I know for sure I won't get sick because I eat healthy, don't hang out in large groups often for the sickness to spread, and I am healthy as a horse. Someone got food poisoning last night and had to miss class today. Hope he gets better. I am content just watching these things happen to people instead of it happening to me. Is that mean? I didn't think so.
Class was short today, not even three hours. We got out at 11:35 am and I went with my friends to a nearby cafe to sit and drink hot chocolate. Literally. The chocolate had been melted into a smooth texture, a spoon placed inside to help us eat it. Hugette didn't really like it, but I did. It was a different experience to spoon out my melted hot chocolate. We sat and talked about boys, school, cute guys, just normal conversation. After that we headed back to the Hostel, but not before stopping by the Chocolate shop and buying some chocolate. I took a picture of the chocolate penis. They even had chocolate titties! Very impressed and very disturbed I left with the others. Later on I would joke that they should of had chocolate vagina's with my friend Katty. She agreed, saying another joke. It got dirty very quickly and I had to stop to behave myself. I was smiling the whole time though, because it was funny!
On the walk back we passed by the host of the Hostel, Raymond. He was smoking and maybe drinking by the looks of it with his friends at a close bar. He stopped Hugette and started to talk to his friends about us. I knew that because he said American and girls. Then before we could walk away he stopped us to buy us each two pieces of oranges. We accepted the gift and went away. Someone thought it might have been a sexual reference, but I just said, "Doesn't matter, I'm going to eat them anyways." Food was food to me.
Now that I think about it, there has been alot of sexual jokes today. For instance, when we got back to the Hostel my roommate Katty showed me her quitips that she said looked like miniature boobs. I couldn't say anything, just smile in shock and wonder that they did look like small boobs. You decide.
People are getting sick. It seems after the professor got ill, everyone started too. I am not looking forward to being in a bus with a bunch of sick people, so I hope they get better quickly. I don't think Mei Chang will though, because she's eating ice-cream and sweet stuff ot make her FEEL better, not be better. I left her alone because that's what she wanted to do. I do wish her good health. I know for sure I won't get sick because I eat healthy, don't hang out in large groups often for the sickness to spread, and I am healthy as a horse. Someone got food poisoning last night and had to miss class today. Hope he gets better. I am content just watching these things happen to people instead of it happening to me. Is that mean? I didn't think so.
Piran: Day 9
Piran: Day 9 (2010/01/11)
There were some weird topics that occurred today. As I normally do every morning at 9am I crawl out of bed, diligently wash my face, comb my hair and put on my clothes, become a designer with my clothes, and finally make my faithful descendant to the main floor for breakfast. After my cup of hot chocolate and eggs with non persevered or chemically altered cheese and fresh bread, I joined my group for a quick survey of our presentation. I was concentrating on the aspect of Slovene-Italians and how they are treated today from the past. Basically these people were screwed over by Italy and now have laws to protect their culture and language since they area minority in Italy. It is important to preserve their source of identity, which is hypocritical of the Italian government who in the 1920’s started Italianissimo, or Italianization. An extreme version of assimilation, the Italian government in Trieste forced the local Slovenes to change their last names to Italian and force them to speak Italian. In a multicultural setting, their language and way of life was all they had to identify themselves as Slovenes, but that categorical distinction was used against to define themselves as Italians, thus losing their true identity and taking up a false one.
I repeated what I said above and we made our slide. During this time the professor came down in his blinding neon green sweater. He said good morning and we all noticed his sore voice. He had caught some “disease” as he put it, and the fact he said disease instead of sickness had me put off for a few seconds. It sounded so horrible.
It was also during this time that the second weird thing happened that day. Apparently the young boys and some of the men in this area have been checking out the girls in our group. The immediate pretty ones anyways, they just don’t know me. Huegette had a run in with them the other day when she was left behind by herself while the rest of us went to Trieste. They had followed her back to the hostel, whistling and saying things to her in Slovene. This it not counting the looks she gets, because she is pretty and dresses up very appropriately. The other day, the people in my group had let in two or three people who were not part of the hostel. Stupid people, why? There was a sign there that clearly stated to not open doors to anyone outside because members would have a key. I swear the common sense of these people are negative below zero. The men came in and started to talk to one of my roommates, Miriam, about how she would work for their “photo shoot” for dating sites on the internet. SHADY!! She managed to trick them into saying she would meet them tomorrow morning and then they left. However earlier this day they came in looking for her and Hugette. When Hugette heard about this later on she was surprised and shocked. How did they know her name?
I said, “From now on, you walk in groups of three.” Before it was mostly two’s for her. I had stayed in a group of three at least for safety measures.
That weirded me out.
On a happier note, I managed to safely get through my presentation that day. We did extremely good, said our professor, compared to last years group. That year those people had stories to tell. I also took a nice stroll and ate a Kabob with Hugette and her group. The Kabob had slices of succulent meat inside, with toppings like a normal hamburger. At first I didn’t want to go into the shop because earlier I had went in and it looked shady to me. Not the Shady Bar or the Cute Bar as the group labeled two places, but this one didn’t look right to me. Beside the dying lettuce I enjoyed the meal. Only 3.50 Euro.
I was thinking of going back to this one shop that has a really nice middle aged man who sells artistic tourist items. The things he has blows my mind away! Everything inside the shop is hand made by him or other people. I went there twice during last weekend and had a hard time deciding what to get. Hugette bought things both times for herself and her big family, like earrings that were dazzling and exotic since she likes to buy those type of items. I managed to restrain myself, saying I had to span out my money. I was tempted to go today, but didn’t in the end. This week is filled with reviews and a test and a presentation Friday before we head out on our eight day bus trip. that’s when I don’t know if I will have internet, so the bloging might die down. Before I head back state side I do plan on going back.
I am tempted to buy a chocolate penis that is situated in the chocolate store here in the square. I kid you not, the chocolate is shaped into a penis. Sooo many things went through my mind and I could only laugh to keep myself in check. Hugette was laughing her butt off as she bought some chocolate as well. The store also has a giant Santa Clause! I plan to go back there.
Today was a nice day in Piran and people were out and about checking out the town, living life. With everyone back the quiet hostel turns into a dorm. Ugh. I loved the quietness, I’m sure the owners did too.
From my stay here I noticed that people smoke a lot. A. LOT. Forget a social norm, more like a second nature to breathing, only thing it kills you faster. Everywhere people are chimneys. And its not bad smoke, like in America, here I can stand by them and not die for about an hour before it starts to kick in and I need to move. Franky would survive…just barely. He he he.
I just noticed that we have a break after this Interim. Huzzah!
After the presentations I grabbed a huge slice of mushroom pizza with hot chocolate to go. Then at the hostel I played WOW for an hour or so, felt accomplished, went out with Hugette and company for the Kabob’s, took a nap, and then finished the night with a little school work and a shower. I love Piran and it loves me, despite the social mental barriers buried in the minds of the people.
I’m getting my money’s worth here.
Traveller’s note: If a person gets sick on their travels, it would be best to have an interpreter with you when you go to get medicine. Being able to speak the language would also benefit. My professor experienced thus said situation today, where he had Duska interpret for him at the pharmacy. It could very well safe you some suffering and getting the wrong prescription.
There were some weird topics that occurred today. As I normally do every morning at 9am I crawl out of bed, diligently wash my face, comb my hair and put on my clothes, become a designer with my clothes, and finally make my faithful descendant to the main floor for breakfast. After my cup of hot chocolate and eggs with non persevered or chemically altered cheese and fresh bread, I joined my group for a quick survey of our presentation. I was concentrating on the aspect of Slovene-Italians and how they are treated today from the past. Basically these people were screwed over by Italy and now have laws to protect their culture and language since they area minority in Italy. It is important to preserve their source of identity, which is hypocritical of the Italian government who in the 1920’s started Italianissimo, or Italianization. An extreme version of assimilation, the Italian government in Trieste forced the local Slovenes to change their last names to Italian and force them to speak Italian. In a multicultural setting, their language and way of life was all they had to identify themselves as Slovenes, but that categorical distinction was used against to define themselves as Italians, thus losing their true identity and taking up a false one.
I repeated what I said above and we made our slide. During this time the professor came down in his blinding neon green sweater. He said good morning and we all noticed his sore voice. He had caught some “disease” as he put it, and the fact he said disease instead of sickness had me put off for a few seconds. It sounded so horrible.
It was also during this time that the second weird thing happened that day. Apparently the young boys and some of the men in this area have been checking out the girls in our group. The immediate pretty ones anyways, they just don’t know me. Huegette had a run in with them the other day when she was left behind by herself while the rest of us went to Trieste. They had followed her back to the hostel, whistling and saying things to her in Slovene. This it not counting the looks she gets, because she is pretty and dresses up very appropriately. The other day, the people in my group had let in two or three people who were not part of the hostel. Stupid people, why? There was a sign there that clearly stated to not open doors to anyone outside because members would have a key. I swear the common sense of these people are negative below zero. The men came in and started to talk to one of my roommates, Miriam, about how she would work for their “photo shoot” for dating sites on the internet. SHADY!! She managed to trick them into saying she would meet them tomorrow morning and then they left. However earlier this day they came in looking for her and Hugette. When Hugette heard about this later on she was surprised and shocked. How did they know her name?
I said, “From now on, you walk in groups of three.” Before it was mostly two’s for her. I had stayed in a group of three at least for safety measures.
That weirded me out.
On a happier note, I managed to safely get through my presentation that day. We did extremely good, said our professor, compared to last years group. That year those people had stories to tell. I also took a nice stroll and ate a Kabob with Hugette and her group. The Kabob had slices of succulent meat inside, with toppings like a normal hamburger. At first I didn’t want to go into the shop because earlier I had went in and it looked shady to me. Not the Shady Bar or the Cute Bar as the group labeled two places, but this one didn’t look right to me. Beside the dying lettuce I enjoyed the meal. Only 3.50 Euro.
I was thinking of going back to this one shop that has a really nice middle aged man who sells artistic tourist items. The things he has blows my mind away! Everything inside the shop is hand made by him or other people. I went there twice during last weekend and had a hard time deciding what to get. Hugette bought things both times for herself and her big family, like earrings that were dazzling and exotic since she likes to buy those type of items. I managed to restrain myself, saying I had to span out my money. I was tempted to go today, but didn’t in the end. This week is filled with reviews and a test and a presentation Friday before we head out on our eight day bus trip. that’s when I don’t know if I will have internet, so the bloging might die down. Before I head back state side I do plan on going back.
I am tempted to buy a chocolate penis that is situated in the chocolate store here in the square. I kid you not, the chocolate is shaped into a penis. Sooo many things went through my mind and I could only laugh to keep myself in check. Hugette was laughing her butt off as she bought some chocolate as well. The store also has a giant Santa Clause! I plan to go back there.
Today was a nice day in Piran and people were out and about checking out the town, living life. With everyone back the quiet hostel turns into a dorm. Ugh. I loved the quietness, I’m sure the owners did too.
From my stay here I noticed that people smoke a lot. A. LOT. Forget a social norm, more like a second nature to breathing, only thing it kills you faster. Everywhere people are chimneys. And its not bad smoke, like in America, here I can stand by them and not die for about an hour before it starts to kick in and I need to move. Franky would survive…just barely. He he he.
I just noticed that we have a break after this Interim. Huzzah!
After the presentations I grabbed a huge slice of mushroom pizza with hot chocolate to go. Then at the hostel I played WOW for an hour or so, felt accomplished, went out with Hugette and company for the Kabob’s, took a nap, and then finished the night with a little school work and a shower. I love Piran and it loves me, despite the social mental barriers buried in the minds of the people.
I’m getting my money’s worth here.
Traveller’s note: If a person gets sick on their travels, it would be best to have an interpreter with you when you go to get medicine. Being able to speak the language would also benefit. My professor experienced thus said situation today, where he had Duska interpret for him at the pharmacy. It could very well safe you some suffering and getting the wrong prescription.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Piran: Day 7 and 8
Piran (2010/01/09)
For informational purposes, the date is written in Chinese format: year, month, date.
The weekend was amazing. With the majority of the group gone to Milan, Venice and the capital of Italy which I can not spell, the remaining four people (including me) relaxed to the extreme. My days were fairly simple. Skip breakfast and sleep in till eleven or eleven thirty, get up and shower, then go out into the town to walk about and see the heights. On the first day I spent the morning by myself. No one bothered me and I spent time eating this meat sand which pizza called a Burek underneath a Valhalla as it rained. Across from me stood the outdoor market. It was in a small square, one of many in Piran. People came and sold their goods, socialized, or just relaxed. I wondered if the sellers grew their produce, or something of the other. Either way I sat there eating my Burek enjoying some me time. Well, I wasn't exactly alone.
There was this medium sized black dog with long hair just starring at me as I ate my Burek. Now, Piran has dogs but it is not over run by them like in the Bahamas. And these dogs look like good breeding dogs. Say a loose poodle or some other good looking breed. There certainly is a wide variety here in Piran and I like it. They aren't wild because they have some owner who feeds them. Like the dog starring at me. Later I would tell this to my friend Hugette, where I didn't know if I should give the dog a piece of my food or not. Three things prevented me from doing so:
1. It was not my dog.
2. I didn't know if it was part of custom or not to give animals food.
3. His owner was right there, and should have fed him already.
So I sat there with this dog starring at me for until its owner left an hour later. Of course the owner tried to prevent the dog from bothering me, but gave up near the end. It wasn't a vicious dog, it was kind of cute. But I don't share my food, especially breakfast.
When that scenario was done I went into the market next door and bought a roll of breed, a drink and some Taffies with caramel and nut in the middle. Later on I would eat more than half of it while sitting down playing WOW (World of Warcraft) till one thirty at night. After that I went walking around a bit, found an interesting bar called Bar Allegro, and then went back to the hotel. Apparently I thought that everyone left would be up by this time which was twelve thirty or so. No they were not. Some were just getting up, like Hugette. So I went to her upstairs on the third floor of the Hostel and talked to her when she came out the shower. Huegette is a small person and I could easily lift her up if I wanted too. We discussed a plan for today and I told her to meet me in my room on the second floor when she was ready. This weekend provided an excellent opportunity for me to get to know Huegette, one of the three blacks in the group.
She is an amazing person with a spunky attitude. Not afraid to express herself, she is someone who was raised with similar morals and sense as I was raised. That could be a reason why I am attracted to her, then again she is just someone who makes a good friend.
We went to the wall, a barrier around the main church of the town at the top of the hill.
Alot of calories were burn climbing that hill, but the view was worth it. The sunny afternoon made my day and the walk refreshed me. In the back of the island we found a trail that slithered its way to a different town. Stopping halfway, I noticed with a start that there was another country across the sea! No joke, Italy starred right back at me. It wasn't far, not even a kilometer. One could easily walk towards it and be in another country. Same land, but it didn't belong to you. For a moment I stood there and wondered what type of mental effect that had on the people here. With their history and future, how did it feel to wake up in the morning to have on side of your bed not belonging to you? I ran a scenario, where I lived in the Bahamas in Andros. There you can see the other side and you know that that part of the land belongs to your people. But what is it didn't? What if you looked outside the window and saw not Southern Andros, but Jamaica?
I shivered at the thought.
And then I took some sexy pictures with Hugettee.
For lunch we went to Giuseppe, a nice restaurant that we had gone to the day before. My friends say the waiter is cute. I do not think so. He has a cave man brow, something that did not attract me to him. So I wondered just what the heck Hugette, Mei Chang and Katty were attracted by him. That day I while ordering food I felt a little bit attracted to him, because he was trying so hard to describe to us what certain words meant in English. But that is it. For lunch I ordered spaghetti with sea food. Sea food being lobster, fish, clam and other stuff from the sea. Scampi was one of the ingredients, which is a mini version of a lobster or shrimp. It irritated me to find myself having a Luanettee' moment on trying to label which type it belonged too. I just wanted to eat my food. It was delicious in the end. Here they have a three, four course meal, so for desert I ordered a sorbet. I thought it was ice cream, but in the end it was a smoothie in a really nice glass with an umbrella and sliced orange. That seems to be a theme here, placing random bright food on the plate to decorate it. Just one little spot.
The weekend went by really fast, and slow to the point where I had fully refreshed myself. I did laundry and hung the clothes in my room to dry. Took two days for everything to dry.
I needed to get away from the main group. The people I had been hanging out with were starting to get on my nerves and I felt that they were ruining my trip. Ridiculous really, how can someone ruin MY trip? It was just discovering things about them that I didn't agree with or them countering everything I had an opinion about. That's how I felt anyways. I feel better now though. The break really helped. I must have felt to confounded and restricted. It was just me picking at everything they did, so being by myself did wonders. I'm glad I rested myself.
Traveller's note: when travelling make sure that your luggage is durable to handle any abuse from the airplane or those who work in the airport, as well as the rough travelling that will occur.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Trieste: Day 6
Trieste (2010/01/07)
Happiness! Sunny day as we went out to Trieste. Not only that it was Kitty day as well. The cats here are huge, like alley cats. Look like thugs but really want your attention, as in your food.
We then went to the Slovene University in Trieste, and the Italian University in Trieste. Both sides told us their story and I have to say it was very…interesting and confusing. One side says this stuff, one side says the other. It was a tag team of Cat and Mouse. I enjoyed the trip very much. The weather was good and we saw the inside of a castle owned by this one rich dude (no duh). Gorgeous on the outside and NICE on the inside. Made my dreams of owning a castle with Renaissance/Roman architecture come back alive.
Then came the night scene. A very beautiful place that our guide for that day, also the Italian teacher there who told us the Italian side of the story, showed us. The docks, the main square of lovely buildings, the church with the Mosaics and Roman remains of the amp-theatre and museum….awesome. The Italian teacher had connections, and was able to ask his friend of a rich hotel to let us get a look on the inside. Some of the furniture was from like the 19th century. I thought the bathrooms were really nice.
Last there was the pizza. And the cute pizza guy. Two of my friends thought he wasn’t cute, which left him all to me, so I got some eye candy. As for the food. STUFFED. I struggled near the end, but it was so good I had to finish it all. Plus I don’t like leaving food on my plate like that. And a lot of people didn’t finish. Our guest was very hospitably, and the student who came with us helped to order our food and very nice as well. We had a toast, which had alcohol but we called it a fruit drink because it had lemon in it, of long life and good wishes. Like vodka with a kick! The lemon really added to the taste. Some had seconds, but I stopped myself because that drink made my cheeks hot.
Overall, a very good day.
*When traveling, it would be nice to notice your dress attire. Some pieces of clothing or styles might give off the wrong message to someone in a different culture.
Happiness! Sunny day as we went out to Trieste. Not only that it was Kitty day as well. The cats here are huge, like alley cats. Look like thugs but really want your attention, as in your food.
We then went to the Slovene University in Trieste, and the Italian University in Trieste. Both sides told us their story and I have to say it was very…interesting and confusing. One side says this stuff, one side says the other. It was a tag team of Cat and Mouse. I enjoyed the trip very much. The weather was good and we saw the inside of a castle owned by this one rich dude (no duh). Gorgeous on the outside and NICE on the inside. Made my dreams of owning a castle with Renaissance/Roman architecture come back alive.
Then came the night scene. A very beautiful place that our guide for that day, also the Italian teacher there who told us the Italian side of the story, showed us. The docks, the main square of lovely buildings, the church with the Mosaics and Roman remains of the amp-theatre and museum….awesome. The Italian teacher had connections, and was able to ask his friend of a rich hotel to let us get a look on the inside. Some of the furniture was from like the 19th century. I thought the bathrooms were really nice.
Last there was the pizza. And the cute pizza guy. Two of my friends thought he wasn’t cute, which left him all to me, so I got some eye candy. As for the food. STUFFED. I struggled near the end, but it was so good I had to finish it all. Plus I don’t like leaving food on my plate like that. And a lot of people didn’t finish. Our guest was very hospitably, and the student who came with us helped to order our food and very nice as well. We had a toast, which had alcohol but we called it a fruit drink because it had lemon in it, of long life and good wishes. Like vodka with a kick! The lemon really added to the taste. Some had seconds, but I stopped myself because that drink made my cheeks hot.
Overall, a very good day.
*When traveling, it would be nice to notice your dress attire. Some pieces of clothing or styles might give off the wrong message to someone in a different culture.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)