AwkwardGirl Series: Nuremberg

I took a trip to see the Christmas markets through an international group on FB. We broke into groups of 5 to get discount tickets (Germany is awesome!) and throughout the day my group joined with another for lunch. I had just met all these people a few hours ago. We went to an Italian place and I split a small pizza with another girl.

After eating, all were like:  “wow I am so full” and “that was so good” and “I feel so much better now”

And then I’m like: “haha yeah but I’ll be hungry again in like, 10 minutes”

Everyone: *silence* then slowly people were super serious like, no really? …seriously? …you’ll be hungry again that soon?

Me: trying to laugh it off, “well ok maybe not 10 minutes, but probably soon. I love food and am always hungry!”

Everyone: continues to make jokes about me and my love of food for the rest of the day.

I wasn’t really joking, I was hungry again not long after we ate…

AwkwardGirl Series: London

A few people have mentioned that some of my stories don’t make me that awkward. Well, I had these on a separate page, but it seems as though they’ve been over looked. So for the next few weeks I will share just a small portion of the individual moments during my time abroad that were particularly awkward.

**********

While walking to find my hostel I walked past a bus stop just as the bus pulled up. Kept walking. Bus pulls away going my direction. As it comes up next to me the driver honks and points in my general direction. Thinking for some reason he was trying to see if I wanted a ride, I smiled and waved some indistinct gesture of refusal/confusion. As I’m flapping away, he starts pointing behind me and I realize that my shoes had fallen out of the side pocket of my bag.

ooook then.

Everyone on my side of the street is of course, watching me go pick them up. Sure it was really nice of him buuut having the driver of a big red double-decker bus point out my complete unawareness to my own things on a very busy street was not the way that should have gone down.
I had to smile that one off real hard.

The next day I paid to take a Harry Potter walking tour. No, that’s not the awkward part, that’s the awesome part. It gets awkward when I’m the only one there BY MYSELF. Everyone else has a group of friends or kids or loved one.

Not me.
I’m alone.
Just imagine that for a second….

Since I was switching from a hostel to couch surfing that night I had all of my stuff with me, too. AND I was basically Hermione Granger quickly answering all of the questions the guide asked (except for one because I couldn’t hear him) because I’m never competitive unless it comes to HP trivia. Everyone else was too shy. WHY BE SHY WHEN YOU CAN BE AWKWARD???!

The Leaky Cauldron!

Awkward Dance Party

A little view into my time in Europe this past year. It started about 3 months into the trip when I bought a new camera…next step: hire a camera man/woman.

These are a few of the people who made an impact on my trip. Friends visiting me from the US. Couch Surfing hosts. Hostel Friends. Random people I met in the city.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsFzU7ZrVdc

https://vimeo.com/112664874

 

**sorry, it might not work in all European countries

Swing Dancing at Madame Moustache, Brussels

Making plans to use Couch-Surfing in Brussels for a few nights, there were not a large pool to choose from, but the message I got back from one guy had me sold:

“Hi Caitlin, I can only host you for 1 night because I am going out of town, but Tuesday is my swing dancing night is that ok?”

Swing dance in Belgium? Sure!

I left the train station and headed towards Madame Moustache, someplace I recommend anyone to visit just for the atmosphere. It’s designed like an antique circus, freak show acts not included. A room was sectioned off with glass doors for smoking and there was a large wooden floor just for dancing.

My new host immediately bought me a nice beer and then led me out onto the dance floor. Did I mention there was a live swing band? Because there was, and it was wonderful. My host stayed with me for the first few songs to teach me the basic steps gradually getting a bit more advanced. Since I have been dancing since I was 8, I consider myself pretty musical and a fairly quick learner. However, it didn’t hurt that he was also a really good leader so I had to do was basically keep moving my feet…

There were all types of people there; old and young, beginner and very advanced. And for each song everyone changed partners. The young and advanced danced with the old; women danced with women; people who were very serious with people just there to have a good time. I always had a new partner and each time I clarified “I’m a beginner”, although I did have a few steps under my belt. There was no pressure. No embarrassment for mistakes. No time to rest. And no cares in the world.

Dancing like this, for fun, with no pressure and not trying to impress anyone doesn’t happen too often in the world of dance I grew up in. I’m used to the idea of competing with others around me, or trying to impress the teacher whether in class or auditions. This night I was free. It was bliss. I never wanted this night to end.

At one point in the night I did stop twirling to enjoy a beer so I could stand back and take it all in. Moments like these are not only the things I enjoy about traveling, but life in general.

Underground World of Paris, Part 2

So after spending a night walking around the catacombs with my couch surfing host and his girlfriend and spending the following day attempting to wash the muck off my pants and boots and of course,  sleeping, we pulled another all nighter. This time about an hour outside of Paris to go to an old rock quarry…

Still feeling a bit dazed and amazed (to say the least) at last night’s adventure, we set off for another. This time it was my CS host and his friend. I was told the walk would be easy, and as my hiking boots and short pants were out of commission, I was left with some wide-leg pants and my 10euro H&M tennis shoes, not ideal but I could manage.

Packs filled with food to grill, snacks, drinks, and a portable movie projector and screen we set off. The emotional roller coaster of having my things stolen just 2 days earlier followed by a night of no sleep where a wrong step or turn could’ve lead to my demise, put me in a sort of daze for this car ride. I could not tell you one thing I saw or one thought in my head in that time…

We eventually parked at some random farm house and just started walking. Turns out the 2 guys couldn’t find the correct trail. We back-tracked. A lot. Then, we trekked through a rather large motor cross track. The day after it had rained. Long pants? Muddy nearly to my knees. Shoes? Destroyed and constantly sticking in the mud instead of to my feet (imagine Ezma in the Emporer’s New Groove).

And then we where there. At the top of this…hole. A pit. Covered in trees, bushes and all sorts of beautiful growing, naturey  things. We climbed nearly straight down and found the group we were searching for in a little cove set behind some tall trees. Soft, white rocks with ledges to sprawl out on. Some one had brought candles to place throughout all of the levels and a bonfire was already warming up for everyone’s dinner. There were at least 25 people already there when we arrived.

It was another dream-like experience. I think everyone can relate to nights like these- bonfire, beers, friends, music. However, this night had a twist. Eventually there was a commotion of conversation I couldn’t follow and people started to grab headlamps and blankets and move away from the fire.

We were heading underground.

A guy in front had a map and once again I was led into a vast maze of tunnels. This time beneath my feet instead of water was the whitest, softest sand I have ever felt. And instead of coming into rooms full of hundreds of years old skeletons, there were vast chambers with sand floors and pure white rocks for walls. This was where we set up the movie projector and watched most of ‘Waterworld’ before the group collectively decided it was horrible and turned it off.

these used to be BRIGHT yellow

When we went into these tunnels it was still pitch black outside. When we emerged the sky was beginning to lighten. I could hardly follow conversation (English or French) and was content to sit back and slowly watch the sunrise.  My energy was zero but my happiness was 100. I was back in a fog of exhaustion as we eventually made our way back home (with my pants and shoes caked with mud). I think around 2pm I was finally able to shower and sleep.

The strange thing is that my CS host and I are not exactly good friends. We didn’t really ‘bond’ during this time together. For him this was his normal life and I was just tagging a long. My spirits were soaring as the next day I headed off to Belgium where I was greeted with another CS host in Brussels…

Peanut Butter Lovers and Sneakers

There may be some things I’ve missed about America. Aside from some people, and maybe a few family dogs. This is my ‘reverse culture shock’

 

-Drinks with ice. like juice and soda

-Being able to have casual conversations with random people

-Understanding what the people around me are saying. I keep getting excited that they are speaking English and then I’m like, oh yeah, right..

-Cold beer sections at grocery stores that include more than like, 1 beer

-My collection of mugs. Greg and Patricia in particular

tea and crumpets with Greg

-Being able to read labels. Sometimes I triple check before a product goes on my face

-This one is SF Bay Area specific- I missed the fact that people actually LINE UP to get onto public transportation. It’s not always perfect, but the idea is nice

-American style breakfast. No one does pancakes and bacon better than ‘Murica

 

How to Live in a Beach Town, Part 2

Whether you are there short term or long-term, to live or to vacay, please, PLEASE avoid these things:

1. No posting pictures of any of these things:

a- your feet in the sand
b- your hot-dog legs on the beach
c- a picture of yourself taken while lying down so no one can see your face
d- sunsets
e- your fruity drink with a sunset in the background. or just, at all

Why, you ask?

a- feet are gross. sand is sand. done and done.
b- stupid
c- stupid and narcissistic
d- **unless you can light it properly
e- a mojito is a mojito everywhere. it only looks worse with a horribly lit sunset in the back

To put it simply- no one cares.

2. Don’t wear the same sandals everyday. Tan lines, hellooooo

3. DON’T stand in the middle of the sidewalk. Ever. As a tourist and as a human on planet Earth. Move. To. The.  Side.

4. Don’t forget to eat ice-cream at least once a day

5. Don’t judge me for eating so much ice-cream. It’s summer and I’m on holiday.  Seriously.

Now check out the things you SHOULD do🙂

Deciding to Work in a Hostel

I might not be the worldliest of travelers (just Europe and USA so far, woop!), but I’ve stayed in my fair share of hostels over the years. Along the way, I’ve met many people who have stayed long term in hostels for various reasons. Maybe they couldn’t find a flat in that city, maybe they just needed a break from traveling because they were fortunate enough to be able to take extended (as in many years long) trips, or maybe they are a wandering soul who decided to quit their Au Pair job and move to the coast and work in a hostel instead. *cough*

On my first trip to Europe I made friends with a few people who met each other because they had stayed in the same hostel for a few (…like, at least 6) months.

In my head I was all “whaaaa, that’s crazy why would you ever do that??”
Out loud I was all “Oh wow cool, that’s great”

I didn’t know that was a ‘thing’. Hostels to me where a temporary, cheap place to sleep while traveling, typically used by young people. And then I learned about people living in them (usually for slightly cheaper rates) and also that the people working there are probably doing a work exchange- free room/board for a few hours daily work. Whatever the reasons, I now understand why people do it.

I was very lucky in that in my travels I was able to find a hostel that was looking for summer workers. I came back to a place I knew I liked instead of venturing into the unknown. Hostels can vary drastically from how they are portrayed online and that worried me a bit (especially after my Au pair experience not going as planned).

Each hostel will be different, but some things to consider before deciding to live/work in a hostel:

-The location of the hostel. Is it in the city center or outside? Is it near public transportation? Is it in a city that you like? Maybe it doesn’t matter and you just need a place to stay. Cool. But if it’s a choice to work there, then make sure you will enjoy the full experience.

-Atmosphere. Party hostel? Small family, run hostel? Is there a bar inside or other common areas to socialize? Do the guests feel comfortable to socialize or does everyone stay to themselves? If it’s a place you haven’t visited before see if you can talk to present workers about their experience (maybe do that anyways).

-The Boss. Is it the owner or will it just be someone else like yourself who has just been there a while? Do they treat you like family for like a random, cheap worker? This might not matter so much if it’s short term, but for me I needed someone I could connect with. I’ve learned that the better my boss treats me the more willing I am to put in the extra effort. Work doesn’t feel like work to me (even the parts I don’t like) because my ‘boss’ is more of a friend and I want to be a part of her team.

-The exchange. Most hostels give room and board. Some will even pay! Buuuut do you have to stay in a dorm with the other guests? Or maybe you can be lucky, like me, and sleep in a little cave of a room with no windows or air. But hey, at least it’s my own space.

Check out these sites if you are interested. The response rate is not always the best, but if you find a hostel that seems worthy perhaps it’s best to just contact them directly.
http://www.hosteltraveljobs.com/
http://www.hosteljobs.net/

 

I Don’t Know how to pack

Every time I take a trip I remember how horrible I am at packing. I have the strangest most random wardrobe and far too many toiletries considering I hardly ever shampoo my hair and almost never wear makeup. I made a post a while ago about Things to Pack, which you know, is helpful. However, what I fail to remember each time is that I ALWAYS over pack. I mean, I spent a whole month traveling with just one small carry-on -Jansport back pack. What was that magic?!?

I always have that one shirt/dress/purse/sweater/whatever that I NEVER wear or use, but always keep it around and bring it with my just in case. Maybe this time I will want to wear it.

Nope. Never do. Maybe I used to wear it all the time, but not any more. And yet I still always pack it making my bag heavier than needed and taking up extra space.

I’ve acquired a few more things during my time in Munich. And I sent some other things home in a box. The bulky sweaters etc that I won’t need anymore. And still. I have so much stuff I can’t believe it. I am a pack rat to the core. My love of travel is greatly hindered by this personality trait.

I moved into a friends’ place for my last few days in Munich, and then I have a bit of traveling to do in Portugal before settling in the hostel to work. I’m gunna be an awkward, sweaty, struggling mess. Best part is that I get friends asking me often for advice on travel/packing…if only they knew the truth. When will I learn?

I also apparently don’t know how to tell time. I woke up at 6:15 this morning thinking it was evening already (I didn’t sleep much in anticipation for my trip, flight is at 9:15) and panicked like I never have before. No shower, no food, no boarding pass I got to the bus stop before I remembered my phone is on 24 hr time and that it was in fact morning. But I was so afraid I was wrong I almost asked the man sitting next to me if it was AM or PM. Instead I waited for the bus to come and peeked inside to see the screen listing the upcoming stops and saw it was 6:30 am. wowwwww The reason my phone is on 24 hr time is to prevent EXACTLY this from happening. Way to go me.

How to Annoy Children

(AKA: How to be a Great Au Pair)

To start, when reading them a story, make sure to not use your normal voice. Exaggerate. Use extremes in tone, pitch, and speed and change them often. They love that.

But over time they will get sick of that game. Now it’s is to start singing whatever you say. It could be while reading, but really any time works. It’s a sure fire way for them to respect you as well.

When trying to discipline them, a great tactic is to speak from their perspective saying what their inappropriate behavior is. As in, “I’m Maximilian and I fake cry to get what I want.” Be sure to use a really whiney voice for best results.

If you are a bit of risk taker, like me, you can attempt something a bit more extreme to really annoy them. If the child stubs their toe and starts crying for instance, go to them and inform them the toe must be cut off. Now, in my experience this goes one of two ways: First, is that the child believes you and becomes terrified. This is NOT the goal. If this happens, immediately comfort them and inform them this was a joke and not to be taken seriously.

The second, and ideal result, is that they are so surprised they forget about the toe. And then they will probably continue to say something slightly sarcastic (they aren’t usually that clever) about how wrong you are showing you their childlike annoyance towards you.

One last piece of advice is really for babies only. When you are feeding them, be sure to bring the spoon/fork full of food close to their mouth but then quickly bring it away. It’s also really enjoyable to put the food near their mouth and as they reach for it to slowly move it backwards out of reach.

Please feel free to share your own tips of how to annoy children:D