Its been a long time! Im sorry for the long gap my loyal readers, but its been quite the couple weeks adjusting to life in one place, and life in a western culture none the less! My journal and diary have been written in loads, but I have neglected my blog.
I left India, sad to be leaving such an amazing country after such a short time, but excited for the next part of my adventure! I spent the night in the Delhi airport and boarded my flight to London. I didnt sleep much, and hadnt slept much the last week, but the adrenaline was still flowing steady!
I watched a few movies in the flight (Social Network is an amazing movie!) And landed at London Heathrow in the early afternoon. I grabbed my immigration card and filled it out in line to save time. When I got to the lady, she flipped through my passport and asked how I had been affording all this travel! I explained how I sold everything and took off 5 months ago, but that I was about out of money. She was impressed, and then turned it around and said "how are you going to stay in England then, if you have no money? Where are you staying? Who is paying for you?" I was tricked. I talked my way out of it, and she stamped my passport and welcomed me to England.
I had planned on meeting up with an old friend there, but didnt know how or when. So I headed downtown and wandered around for a few hours. I got online and got in touch with my buddy, and went to his apartment. I stayed with him for two nights, and he showed me all of London! A beautiful city. I saw the rosetta stone at the British museum, and we hung out at the British librairy. We saw Big Ben, the London Tower Bridge, and took the tube everywhere (I minded the gap)
I booked a ferry to Holland that night, and the next morning took a taxi to waterloo station, then a train to Norwich, then a 8 hour ferry to Hoek Van Holland, officially entered Europe, and then a train to Rotterdam. I changed to an Amsterdam train and rolled into Amsterdam Centraal Station at about 7pm! I found my way to Nieumarkt Square, and from there recognized how to get to the hostel from looking at it on Google Street View. I walked into the place where I would work for the next year, and checked in as a guest, without telling anyone I was staff.
I stayed two nights, talking with my future co-workers and getting the feel of the place. Then I went to the Willemstraat, where I will be living with all the other staff and moved into my room! I have two roomates, Jefta from Holland, and Bjorn from Germany. And there are about 40 of us living at the house, its really cool. The kitchen is restocked every week, and the house is huge, with several awesome places to hang out on couches.
I got my bike the next day, and started exploring the city! I found an awesome film store and got film for my 60 year old camera I bought in India, I have been taking pictures with it as often as I can afford the film!
I began working, and really like it. I work reception sometimes, and cafe other times (I prefer morning reception) but I enjoy all of it for the most part.
On one of my days off, I made a bunch of sandwiches and took the train to Utrecht to meet up with a Dutch couple that I had traveled with in Thailand, we spent the day together in Utrecht, and went to an awesome Belgian pub for some of the most amazing beer ever. Then we cooked Thai green curry at their apartment and reminisced.
I found a cigar shop and bought a Romeo y Juliete robusto (from Havana Cuba!) for 3 euro! There is no embargo here! Then I took the train home.
I have began some awesome relationships with my fellow staff members, and already said goodbye to some, and welcomed new ones. I have met awesome guests who insist on me visiting them in their countries (from India to South Africa) and learned the system of how things work at Shelter.
And its only been 2 weeks. Who knows what the next 50 will bring!
Im already re-examining everything I believe, that happens when you live with 40 people from all different backgrounds, all sharing their beliefs and philosophies, and Im excited to learn from them and challenge the things that I believe but dont know why.
In a couple days, Im going to Bruges in Belgium for the night, to explore a bit more of Europe! Paris is only 3 hours away, and I can be in Germany in under an hour. Im hoping the posters I put up around the hostel for computer repair can bring in a few extra Euros so I can see these places!!
It hasnt been without its discouragements and adjustments, my body still hasnt adjusted back to sandwiches and bread. Im always craving rice, and Im needing to take alot more alone time than ever before, but I think thats a good thing. I have learned to be alone and enjoy it, before I left I couldnt be alone. Now I need to be.
And also, Amsterdam is an amazing city... amazing. I still have to stop myself thinking "Id love to move here some day..." or "if I lived here..." because I DO live here!!
I left India, sad to be leaving such an amazing country after such a short time, but excited for the next part of my adventure! I spent the night in the Delhi airport and boarded my flight to London. I didnt sleep much, and hadnt slept much the last week, but the adrenaline was still flowing steady!
I watched a few movies in the flight (Social Network is an amazing movie!) And landed at London Heathrow in the early afternoon. I grabbed my immigration card and filled it out in line to save time. When I got to the lady, she flipped through my passport and asked how I had been affording all this travel! I explained how I sold everything and took off 5 months ago, but that I was about out of money. She was impressed, and then turned it around and said "how are you going to stay in England then, if you have no money? Where are you staying? Who is paying for you?" I was tricked. I talked my way out of it, and she stamped my passport and welcomed me to England.
I had planned on meeting up with an old friend there, but didnt know how or when. So I headed downtown and wandered around for a few hours. I got online and got in touch with my buddy, and went to his apartment. I stayed with him for two nights, and he showed me all of London! A beautiful city. I saw the rosetta stone at the British museum, and we hung out at the British librairy. We saw Big Ben, the London Tower Bridge, and took the tube everywhere (I minded the gap)
I booked a ferry to Holland that night, and the next morning took a taxi to waterloo station, then a train to Norwich, then a 8 hour ferry to Hoek Van Holland, officially entered Europe, and then a train to Rotterdam. I changed to an Amsterdam train and rolled into Amsterdam Centraal Station at about 7pm! I found my way to Nieumarkt Square, and from there recognized how to get to the hostel from looking at it on Google Street View. I walked into the place where I would work for the next year, and checked in as a guest, without telling anyone I was staff.
I stayed two nights, talking with my future co-workers and getting the feel of the place. Then I went to the Willemstraat, where I will be living with all the other staff and moved into my room! I have two roomates, Jefta from Holland, and Bjorn from Germany. And there are about 40 of us living at the house, its really cool. The kitchen is restocked every week, and the house is huge, with several awesome places to hang out on couches.
I got my bike the next day, and started exploring the city! I found an awesome film store and got film for my 60 year old camera I bought in India, I have been taking pictures with it as often as I can afford the film!
I began working, and really like it. I work reception sometimes, and cafe other times (I prefer morning reception) but I enjoy all of it for the most part.
On one of my days off, I made a bunch of sandwiches and took the train to Utrecht to meet up with a Dutch couple that I had traveled with in Thailand, we spent the day together in Utrecht, and went to an awesome Belgian pub for some of the most amazing beer ever. Then we cooked Thai green curry at their apartment and reminisced.
I found a cigar shop and bought a Romeo y Juliete robusto (from Havana Cuba!) for 3 euro! There is no embargo here! Then I took the train home.
I have began some awesome relationships with my fellow staff members, and already said goodbye to some, and welcomed new ones. I have met awesome guests who insist on me visiting them in their countries (from India to South Africa) and learned the system of how things work at Shelter.
And its only been 2 weeks. Who knows what the next 50 will bring!
Im already re-examining everything I believe, that happens when you live with 40 people from all different backgrounds, all sharing their beliefs and philosophies, and Im excited to learn from them and challenge the things that I believe but dont know why.
In a couple days, Im going to Bruges in Belgium for the night, to explore a bit more of Europe! Paris is only 3 hours away, and I can be in Germany in under an hour. Im hoping the posters I put up around the hostel for computer repair can bring in a few extra Euros so I can see these places!!
It hasnt been without its discouragements and adjustments, my body still hasnt adjusted back to sandwiches and bread. Im always craving rice, and Im needing to take alot more alone time than ever before, but I think thats a good thing. I have learned to be alone and enjoy it, before I left I couldnt be alone. Now I need to be.
And also, Amsterdam is an amazing city... amazing. I still have to stop myself thinking "Id love to move here some day..." or "if I lived here..." because I DO live here!!
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| Taken with my Yashica 635 TLR, right next to where I live |
