Amsterdam, a Love Story

Posted on August 27, 2014 by mikauber

I am in Amsterdam and I love everything. I even love the fact that I was almost just murdered by a gaggle of beautiful Dutch bikers. It is apparently not a good idea to walk in the heavily populated bike lanes. It is, however, a good idea to do whatever else you might desire here. Whether you wish to smoke a joint in a “Coffee Shop”, venture to the Red Light District and visit the prostitutes, or get disgustingly cultured at a museum (there are over a hundred to choose from), it is easy and legal to fulfill your vices whilst you are in Amsterdam.

Ominous Clouds + Bikers

I am so happy in Amsterdam that I forget what my vices are.

The Netherlands, or Holland, is a country of acceptance. Gay marriage was first legalized here. Women have the right to choose whether or not they want to have a child. The politics are liberal, the people varied.

My friend Katie and I are staying with the wonderful family of my former roommate. The stimulating conversations we have at the dinner table mingle in the air over the food. Everything tastes like gold, nourishing and delicious. Meals like this leave everyone content, their senses ravished.

Despite all of this, I am not so naive as to think that there is only a bright side to this city. It rained dramatically today, painting Amsterdam in the bleakest of grays. Dark clouds rolled in over the canals, leaving everything tinged with darkness. Somehow, the bikers continued biking, splashing unsuspecting walkers like myself with gray puddle water. I think I still love everything.

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The Canals, pre-rainstorm

A night in Rotterdam

Posted on August 25, 2014 by mikauber

I had one night in Rotterdam and I spent it at a Dutch frat party. I couldn’t understand a word anyone said, the floors were drowning in beer, and the bathroom lines were hilariously long. Not far off from the North American frat really. Overall, it was a good time. The Heineken was flowing, a live band played both Dutch and English music, and I tried Flugel. A lurid red mixed drink, it came in a miniature glass bottle. Most people downed them like a shot, in one gulp ingesting the cherry cough-syrup flavored drink. I chose to sip mine.

The striking difference between American and Dutch frat parties is in how members of the opposite sex (dames und heren) interact with each other. None of the Dutch guys, with their slicked-back hair and nice shoes (Canadian men take note), were slapping girls’ asses. There was no dancing *cough* dry-humping *cough* going on in dark corners. There were also far fewer grossly drunk people. Instead, from what I observed, guys and girls mostly talked and laughed in large groups, occasionally singing along passionately to Dutch party tunes. Weird, I know.

Leaving the party, I walked down a series of dark and quiet streets. Only a few bikers passed me, moving swiftly, silently. I was in a peaceful part of Rotterdam that night. Tomorrow, I go to Amsterdam.

4 Delicious Spots in London

Posted on August 24, 2014 by mikauber

1. Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium

At Dinah’s, you can sip on a cappuccino and indulge in a sweet treat (I recommend the rainbow cake), all while basking in the presence of 11 feline companions. In summary, this place is heaven. You will need to book a reservation in advance, as it’s understandably a popular place. Make sure to say “Meow” to Petra the cat for me.

2. The Rugby Tavern

This classic English pub has good beer, good prices, and the hearty laughter of British gentlemen. What more could one want out of life?

3. The Tea Room @ Harrods

Take a break from the glamorous madness of Harrods department store with a stop into their elegant Tea Room. It’s hard not to feel like royalty while perusing the menu, which features an extensive list of exotic tea and macaroon flavors.

4. Drink, Shop & Do

I didn’t do much shopping at this bubbly bar-dance club hybrid, but there was certainly enough drinking to compensate. Try the Life’s a Peach, a fun concoction with rum and lime that will lead to sweet times on the dance floor.

I See London

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I arrived in London on a Friday; I am leaving it on a Wednesday. Within these five days, I witnessed the massive metropolis of London Town, teeming with so many different streams of life. Everywhere you go there are throngs of people, all rushing to some place or another. This organized form of chaos is best observed on the Underground, the efficient subway system that threads the city together. I never waited more than two minutes for a train, as they came so frequently. Cool British voices greet you every time you exit, kindly warning you to “Mind the Gap” between the train and the platform.

Me + Camden Lock Market

My friend, Katie, and I spent a lot of time riding the subway, trying to see as much as possible. We saw the tourist spots like Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and the Houses of Parliament. We went to Camden High Street and saw quirky London fashionistas tromping down the street in Doc Martens. We walked through Piccadilly Circus, the streets aglow with revelers looking to be entertained for the night. I tasted the best mustard in the world at Byron’s burger joint on Charing Cross Road. It was called Colman’s English Mustard, please do try it when you get a chance.

When we finally made it to Westminster Abbey on our last day I had to pause from all this seeing and doing when I got to the grave of Charles Darwin. I had to stand for a moment, immobile, because I actually felt something. This is a man I know about. I know how his children died. I know so well how his accomplishments have shaped my world, yet he will never even know my face. It felt a little too voyeuristic, me standing there in front of his plain gravestone. London, in all its grand beauty and impressive architecture, had up until that moment made me marvel, but not connect.

Westminster Abbey looking sharp

I then felt sad for all the people who will never be remembered by history, the ones who led simple, ordinary lives and just tried to make it as best as they could through life’s trials. I felt guilty because I know so many intimate details of Queen Elizabeth’s life, but I couldn’t tell you the names of my great-grandparents. The people whose hands laid the stonework in Buckingham Palace, the ones who labored to create the tunnels of the Underground… Where are their names? Not in Westminster Abbey, I can tell you that much.

Airplanes and Expectations

Posted on August 16, 2014 by mikauber

They were playing soaring classical music when I hugged my mom goodbye in the Portland International Airport. I felt like a character in the opening montage of the movie Love Actually, my emotions dramatically displayed in front of the American Airlines desk. It felt kind of thrilling, to be honest. The hug with my mom will have to suffice for five months, the period of time I will be studying abroad at Koc University in Istanbul, Turkey. I have never been this far from home before and to be frank with you, I have spent this entire day flying across the globe with my mind piloting back and forth between extreme anxiety and uncontrollable excitement. There has been no rational middle ground reached at any point today. I spent an entire three-hour lay-over at the Dallas, Texas airport worrying about the number of times I had managed to knock into someone with my frighteningly large green backpack. Women washing their hands in bathrooms, small children eating McDonald’s, and unnaturally cheery flight attendants; the list of victims is long and varied. I tried to tell myself it was OK, as #1: It’s not easy to be graceful while balancing three pieces of luggage, and #2: Everything is bigger in Texas. My backpack was just trying to acclimate to the culture around it. Worrying about stupid things like this has proved to be a great way to pass the time today. I recommend it to anyone who is going to be sitting around in rattly metal contraptions and lugging all of their worldly possessions on their backs for extended periods of time. 10622305_10152312695713161_1123067708_n Right now, there are two hours left on my flight to London, England. It is dark and quiet except for the eternal hum of the engine. It is almost done propelling us over the Atlantic Ocean. When I arrive in London, it will be morning. Maybe I will get some tea and crumpets. Whatever crumpets are. Are they bread? Are they a pastry? I will find out and put an end to my ignorance! But right now, sleep sounds nice. Here is my playlist for trying to keep calm through long airplane rides:

1. Right Thing to Do, by SUBTRKT

2. Second Heartbeat, by Shy Girls

3. Sleepless, by Flume

4. Storms, by Fleetwood Mac

5. Sad Dream, by Sky Ferriera

6. I Will Follow You Into the Dark, by Death Cab for Cutie

7. Fast Car, by Tracy Chapman

8. High Road, by Cults

9. You’re Not Good Enough, by Blood Orange

10. Waiting on a Friend, by Rolling Stones

11. Warm Water, by Banks

TURKISH DELIGHTS

The sweeter bits and pieces from my study abroad experience