Life around the world

[jess]

Girls, this is a sad day and has been a sad week: my computer crashed. I'm currently borrowing my sister's (well, she doesn't know so...I'm temporarily stealing it). I feel like I just lost my entire life!

Anyway, I get to catch up with you girls which is something I've been missing terribly and if I missppell anything, I'm sorry but this keyboard is really confusing

Katja: You will absolutely love Paris! It's my second-favourite city, the first being London. Oh, now I'm missing Paris so much! The Bateau Mouches, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notra Dame, crowded libraries at 8 a.m., that warm-bread smell in some streets... Take me with you. I'm pretty sure I can fit in your suitcase

Sarah: yes to the photos! And yes to New Orleans!! I just love the culture and the vibe there. I actually like baseball...I went to a game in Canada a few years ago and enjoyed it immensily. I even had one of those big foam hands with a finger sticking up. So awesome!

Lauriane: I can't get lost here either...it's slightly annoying but reassuring I always had this obsession with Toulouse. I don't know why. I just like saying the word...And there's a city in Portugal called Tolosa as tribute to Toulouse. It's in the south so it's really warm

I feel kinda lost in this post since you've all been chatting for so long, Mary you can't mention Paris atractions and no mention the Orsey museum. I LOVED it,the Louvre is beautifull but there's so much to see I felt frustrated! (although I liked it a lot).
Anyway I have to say one of my favorite cities in the world is Florence. If any of you is travelling and gets a chance to go I really recommend it!

[LittlestThing]

Raquel: I'm kind of scared of flying (it's good that I watched 2 documentaries about plane crashes yesterday )... I can't wait though.
I've been missing you all to, you all seem to be busy :-/

Jess: how was your trip overall?

[jess]

Littlest Thing, My trip was amazing! It started out in Israel, I went with a gruop called Birthright. We were 39 argentinian, from19 to 26 years old (I'm 22). I loved Israel, I really went not knowing what to expect, and I thought it was beautifull, the group was great also. We went to different places. My favorite were Jerusalem and the dead sea.
Then I headed off to London, where I satyed only 2 days but did as much as I could, I really liked it! It so neat and clean and organized (Nothing like Argentina). The first night it started snowing so the second day everything was white it was really pretty, cold but pretty. After London I went to Paris for 4 days, since I'm an art freak I really liked it! I was staying in a Hostel in Montmartre so cute! It sucked that it was really cold -10º . I didn't get to see the Versalles gardens beacuse of the snow . But I really liked it anyways.
After London I went to Italy. I have a lot of family there, (all of my grandmas sisters, her brother and al their sons and grandchilds) so it was amazing seeing them all, plus italian are so loving. It Italy I went to SIena, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Ravena and Rome. I think Florence is one of the prettiest cities I've seen. If you get a chance to go there it's AMAZING! Full of history art, little streets, beautifull. In Venice it was the last carnaval weekend so it was really cool.
I think I wrote too much, why can't i go on like this with my dissertation!
Anyways for those of you wanting to travel south America is beautifull also!!

[LittlestThing]

So you were in Venice? :O that's like an hour away from me
Your trip sounds really awesome, I wish I do something similar sometime in the future.

I forgot to meniton, I think someone asked about the Hunger Games? I went to see the film for my friend's birthday and I really, really liked it. It's not something I would usually chose for myself to watch, but it really pulls you in. In my opinion Stanley Tucci as a TV show host was the best part of the film haha, he was hilarious! I'm thinking about reading books now

[jess]

It was incredible, I'm really lucky to have had the chance!
I didn't see the fil, heard great critics, and know I'm doubting betwwen goingo to the movies to see it or reading the book and then watching it on dvd. I like to read the books first haha so I don't know.

[dottywine]

Dallas, TX
A lot of diversity that fits your style if you know where to find it. Lots of cool museums and things like that. A really fun town if you have money and/or connections. If not, start keeping your eyes peeled on facebook, posters, etc. There is always something going on, you just have to know about it.

Austin, TX
*sigh* I wish I lived here. I wish I had a place here in Dallas and then maybe twice a month, take a break down in Austin and live with some friends. Austin is just... very "me". I guess imagine a laid back LA? Or like... Portland, Washington! Or Colorado. Any of those places with a lot of subcultures but more laid back. But at the same time, its not just the middle of nowhere. All your conveniences are on hand. And if you have a weird thing you like, it is easy to find. As well as being our state's capitol. A lot of things happen in Austin in general.

Owerri, Nigeria
Santa claus is black and jesus is still white.
People still manage to be fashionable, even though they shower with buckets, walk around in the heat, and the dust always stains your clothes and messes up your shoes.
Driving is not at all like the US. People drive RIGHT next to you. It usually LOOKS like you are going to crash. That is normal.

London, England
I don't know much because I didn't go out. But fast food tastes different. Things are more expensive. Nothing is free. Everything is smaller. Ugh. I kind of don't like London lol. But it has its great points, too.

Taos (& Sante Fe), New Mexico
This place is a paradise for some and a hell for others. If you love fresh air, hiking, and being surrounded by native american culture & artists (like painters -- not ... rapper musicians LOL) you have to come out here. If you are into natural healing and natural foods, come here. If you want to live "off the grid", come here. If you want to "get away" with some buddies, you gotta come, as well. Great place for snow boarding. And I'm assuming its cheaper to live than Colorado, but if you want to go to Colorado, its a 3 hour drive.
If you need night life, shopping, etc -- don't come here. Period. Nope. Unless your idea of night life is bon fires, bong hits and you like shopping in boutiques, vintage, and handmedowns. (And walmart, of course lol)

Oaxaca, Mexico
Awesome, awesome, awesome! Whether you want to live a city life or a rural life, this place is amazing. Great artists and culture. Night life is very fun and friendly. Relatively safe. Again, if you are interested in Native culture, they are here. Unlike America, the native culture is INGRAINED in people's lives (if you leave the city and start going out toward farms or artistry places. In America, you go to a reservation to see the culture). People still craft clay and rugs by hand. A lot of native religion mixed with catholicism.

[Sarahdg]

Katja, yeah I guess the town I grew up in would be like an arrondissement in Paris - but one of the very outer ones, and yes, I'd say that more than half of the people there would work in Melbourne.

Oh geez - I still need to post photo's from my recent trip. Gotta figure out the best way to do it. I should give it a try now perhaps.

[Sarahdg]

trialing this out - hope it works. Hmm doesn't seem to, let me try something else then...



ooh looks like that works - I'm gonna make a new album and post my December pics then. I'll make it in the Keepin it Real forum.

[LittlestThing]

Jess, I bought the book now

Dottywine: seems like you've lived in lots of places!

Sarah, I checked out your album, but I'm not sure I've if comented on the photos... They're great and I'm stil jealous of you!

[Sarahdg]

OMG! We got an e-mail from our national office yesterday saying we can apply for leave without pay from May-end of November this year! I applied today to take all of September off! I don't know yet if I'll be allowed to, but if I can, I'm going to extend my trip in the US and probably go to Europe for 3 weeks too! So I really hope I can get the time off. It'd be awesome!