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I knew I was in Berlin when; I heard the techno beats waiting for the SBahn at the graffiti covered station and the wurst/sewer smell intermixed with the Berliner's voices conversing in German. Many of my preconcieved notions of Germany were true, but much of what I encountered over this weekend I would have never thought was going to happen.
Friday, mainly a day of travel. Ashley and i set off from Cannes, Flew out from Nice, Switched plains in Munich, and landed in Berlin. Lufthansa does a good job. We had comfortable seats and ham sandwhiches. Upon arriving in Berlin we found our hostel- The Generator- the biggest in Berlin. Our room was with 14 other beds and Ashley and I were in different sections of the room. No problem, except the other men that I was with didn't speak english. Friday evening Ashley and I walked to the TV Tower, it was a good location to first search out cause we could see it getting larger as we were getting closer.

After our walk, we got back to the hostel with just enough time to head out with the infamous bar crawl that we were recommeded to by our friends at the college who had stayed at the Generator before. Ashley and I were excited to take on the night, just us two- 'Don't worry we got each others' backs' ... The bar crawl included 3 different bars and then - Matrix, a night club. Much happend this night including beer and jager shots, we met lots of people from different places. Worth noting was the tall guy and Geegle, his friend, from Switzerland, an actor from Dollhouse on Tv- who Ashley was a fan of and he bought us plenty to drink after we told him we recognized him from such as amazing show, the Australian tour guide- who Ashley quickly worked her charm on and ended up leaving with him. Now, this would seem a problem, leaving me in a country where i dont speak the language, intoxicated enough, and alone.

However I was not alone:

Admist the techno beats, drunken laughter, and Germanic Language, I hear: "Portland, Oregon"
I just turn around
"Did you say Portland?"
"Yeah, Portland, Oregon."
"Not Poland?"
"Yeah, we are from Portland."
"No way, me too!!!!!!!"

Then I wasn't alone.

In Berlin German, I happend to meet two guys from Portland, Kurt and Tyson. Quickly bonding over Portland love, peace, and harmony, we had a fantastic night of meeting other people, learning about Germany, drinking, dancing, and the like. To my delight Kurt left and Tyson and I spent the rest of the time together, and once the club scene died out, we managed to take on the city streets and find our way back to the hostel. Unsure if we will ever see each other again, it was a fantastic night. I would have never thought I would have gone to Berlin and end up connecting with Portland.

I have found this to be a reoccuring situation in retrospect throughout my time abroad, the more I learn about other cultures and countries the more I learn about my own.

Saturday Ashley had not returned, and my phone was locked in her locker, concerned, but not wanting to waste the day, I set out for a walking tour, hoping that when I came back to the hostel she would be back. I hoped the Australian tour guide was worth this.

Once I arrived at the meeting spot I happend to run into MarK, who I know from the college international, who also happend to be in Berlin the same weekend as me. Again surprised to see such a familiar face in a foreign country, we were happily reunited. He introduced me to the British and German friends he met at his hostel and we all set off on the tour. It lasted all day, the entire time I felt myself plunged into such a rich and open history, completely lost in the complexity and importance of the world. Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Over Hitler's Bunker, Holocaust Memorial, Book Burning Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, SS Headquarters, The Berlin Wall, TV Tower, Gendarmenmarkt, Museum Island, Pariser Platz, Luftwaffe HQ, Bebelplatz. Overwhelmed and inspired I returned back to the hostel to find Ashley happy and safe. Together that night Ashley and I went to a lounge bar called White Trash Fast Food, upon the recommendation of the hot Australian Tour Guide. Outside we timidly waited in line along the velvet cord, greeted by friendly German bouncers, we curiously entered to find a basement like-Candle-lit-mirrored walls-cave like lounger, where the beer was cheap, friends were chillin, and everyone was under the control of the really loud modern alternative rock. We had fun dancing to North American Scum and Nobody Move.

Sunday we managed to wake up and hit up the Film Museum- after such a success in Amsterdam I felt inclined to see what Berlin had to offer- I was glad we did- it was a Hitchcock Exhibit- and once again I felt the urge of excitement and anxiety to direct my senior thesis next year. After we went to the Kennedy Museum. It was cool to see how another country percieves one of the most influential of our countries political families. And the museum even wall comparing the Obamas and the Kennedys. I will admit the museum was pretty empty when we were there. Sunday night- the reason we flew to Berlin to begin with - the Lilly Allen Concert. It was a fun concert, the venue was just big enough, the people were all feelin it, and Lilly was cute and rockin. After the concert Ashley and I went back to The Matrix club to see if we could run into some familiar faces again- but the club on that Sunday night wasnt that happening... Back at the hostel I was able to take a quick nap before I had to wake up at 5 in the morning, get online and register for my classes next year.

Monday we took a long walk, and eventually got back to Cannes, where it was sunny, and our friends all wanted to hear what had happend.

Needless to say I really like Berlin. I think going to Berlin was a necesary experience for me to witness first hand how change is completely possible.

Axon Provence

The sunshine, late nights on the beach, and newly purchased speakers have all been treating me far too well here in Cannes. So well in fact that this weekend I left- to Axon Provence. This is a list of where I went and some of what that entailed:
Ales- Van Gogh is a big deal here
Roman Arena
Night Café
Marché (another one) Provencal
Espace de Van Gogh- quote from a pamphlet "where the misunderstood genius spent 15 months of his life painting" The actual building was closed, but that didn't stop us from sitting around the fountain in the garden enjoying the sunshine.
Cathedral d'Images- very difficult to explain, this tops my list of coolest things ever, it was an exhibit of Picasso's work projected three dimensionally all over a big cave, accompianied with music, and it was really cold.
Les Beaux de Provence Village. Medival Ruins. Just like Helms Deep. Except more French. There was a catapult show. We had audioguides. I climbed around.
Avignon
Our Hotel was right by the Palais des Papes (The Pope's House).
Fancy Dinner: Veggy Soup, Salmon, and Cottage Cheese.
Hanging out of the hotel windows, just like the brady bunch.
Out to Red Sky. Bar. Large Outdoor Seating Area. Started to rain ( yesssssssss) Everyone flocked under one umbrella, we were lucky to get a space. Molly and I were the only nonFrench people there, no one bothered us, able to observe, decided that Avignon people are chill and not pretentious, off in the rain to meet up with our other friends at the Irish pub, Born in the USA was playing (????)
Tour of the Pope's house. We had audioguides. If I lived back then I would have definitley sat on the rat hand side of the pope in the Grand Chapell and watched the Pope cut his meet with his Ivory Knife and could only hope I was the recepient of the Golden Rose. The rain falling off the stone work sounded beautiful.
Lunch and chillin.
Wine Tasting.
Home at Cannes.
Good Weekend seeing Axon Provence in France.

Amsterdam

"PAIN. My eye. My eye. The left one. It hurts. I can't get it out. It's stuck. Aude and I race across the street. The pharmacists asks me. What's going on? It's my eye. Is it too late? For a doctor. Wait here. I'll get the forms. Don't move. I'm not. Ok, lay here. Probe and look. Je ne sais pas. The doctor said that. I don't know the word in english. Cornea is damaged. Back at Pharmacy. Get yellow drops and vitamin A cream. 3 x a day. Next 7 days. I'll get better now. "

This happend on Thursday night, the night before I left for Amsterdam. Scary and bad- but no one worry, cause the medicin healed me and i'm fine now. It bothered my that my sight was impaired, I pretended that my other sense of hearing and touched were hightend. -they probably weren't.

Friday morning I took a bus to Nice and a plane to Amsterdam. Now I'm not going to detail my trip here. The words I would write do not fit here and are out of place. Trust me when I say I had a fantatic time. Amsterdam is a magical city. Couch Surfing is fantastically cheap way to meet people, prostitution is gross, metro is expensive and confusing, the park is the best place to be, Amsterdam Film museum and 3 film majors - almost too perfect. Next time I go, I'm bringing a bike with me.

Now I'm enjoying the rain in Cannes, doing research for my internship with Lightning Entertainment, an international distribution company, and working on some plans for the future.

American Woofer

I had a fantastic Spring Break. It was the first time I strongly considered staying in France longer. I want more than anything to go back to Annemasse and stay with the Beytrison Family and work on the farm. Today's class was optional and the only reason I went was so I could talk more/brag about my amazing Spring Break. No matter how much I miss my home/friends/family-it's even more rewarding/satisfying to discover the familiar within and admist the unfamiliar. Living with a family reminded me of how much I love my family. Working with the Earth reminded me of how beautiful life everywhere is. At times I felt even more distant than I do in Cannes because I didn't access a computer or phone. Returning back to Cannes, finally checking messages and getting caught up, showed me that all the time I was thinking of my friends and family they were also thinking of me. It is easy to go home, but difficult to stay, but thats only because I had no idea what to expect.

All I want to do is tell everyone about how great my week was- but I want to preserve its sacricity for myself by enjoying the mystery of how everything worked out so well. This happend to me.

When I first got off the train in Annemasse I was absolutely terrified- I had no idea where I was, who was picking us up, or how to talk to anyone to figure any of this out. Then we met the family: Français, the hospitable and herb knowning mom, Bernard, the strong quiet dad, and Ulysse, the 17yr old charming european teenager. My shyness and lack of knowledge of the French language had a firm old on me and it wasn't until sometime during the aukward small talk at the dining room table when I was sipping on my glass of later that I was able to actually say something worthwhile. I told a joke- in french- a lightbulb joke about blonds, next time you see me, ask me to tell you, and I will make you laugh. It was difficult to translate, and it might have been the longest I have ever talked to a French person all at one time, completely on the spot, pausing occassionally to either think of the word I wanted to use, or laugh at myself and the situation. When I was almost ot he punchline I thought to myself- why am I telling this joke- and I remembered because I'm trying to express myself to others (in another language). Laughter is often the best form of communication. I still don't know if the joke translate very well- but I think my new family understood the fact that I just wanted to spread some happiness and it was well recipicated.

My communications in French improved greatly this week. Granted I still said a lot of stupid shit. Part of my improvement came from necesity, but I think what made this week so much different compared to my other weeks in France was that I had a real emotional response to communicate. I wanted to tell others about how happy I was, how grateful I was, how I cared, how amazing others were. I had a lot to talk about on the farm with Bernard, Français, and Ulysse.

There was a Radiohead Poster in the room I was staying in, I wanted to steal it.
When I first met Bernard he was wearing overalls and was fixing the washing machine,

Mealtime was very important. The meals were leisurely and enjoyable although there was many aukward moments of not knowing the proper way to eat something or silences in the conversation. Meals are often finished with tea or coffee. Table manners are veyr important. The first night we had kir was homemade currant sryop, soup with crutons and grated cheese, then salad and potatoes. Then the FROMAGE!!! After every lunch and dinner Français would ask Ulysse to go to the basement and he would bring the circular cheese plate to the table. There was a variety of 5-8 cheeses each time. Legit cheese mind you. I can't even describe how delicious and awesome it was to try so many different types of cheeses. My favorite was Tomme. It also was Bernard's favorite. Throughout the week we also had organic wine. Bernard was skilled at opening the bottles with his firmly sculpted forearms.

Raclette is better than Fondue.

The first two nights dinner was interrupted with Candied, a cat, would escape the house and climb the big tree in the backyard only to get stuck and meow for help. The family would all race outside yelling at the cat. The ladder would be brought out. And the cat would be removed. Then all would return inside and resume the meal.

We worked every morning from 8:30 - 12:30. Lots of weeding. we had to pick out wild onions from the herbs, kinda like serfs, also worked inside sifting petals off of dried flowers, took breaks inside for tea. Thursday we drove for about an hour to a forest and gathered wild garlic leaves. We picked them at the base of the leaves to leave the bulbs underground so they could grow back. We put all the leaves on blankets and loading them in baskets in the car. Our hands smelt like garlic all day. Fresh garlic leaves are beautiful. It was fun to be with a group of French women working together out in the forest. There was a waterfall in the background and birds sang. I listened closely to the sound of the leaves breaking off the plants. Another day I used a big pitch fork like tool and uprooted a patch of dried up bushes.

The afternoons were mostly lazy. Listening to records, hiking along the river, walking into town, wandering.

chariots > shopping carts

We also went to Annecy, Geneve, and Chamonix Mt Blanc.

I have a lot more to say about the other vistitors that came to the house, dance party mania, and the beauty of the land.

Nature is real. I want to be a farmer.

It ain't coincidental that you are lost in place.

The rest of it

FRIDAY
wake up happy and refreshed
hopped on the metro
crossed La Loire
off at Pirmil
followed yellow Pieton signs
little hiking man with walking stick on map
followed La Serve Nantaise
A BEAUTIFUL four hour walk along a small and peaceful river
tree lined path
small country houses
pastures of cows and horses
wind blowing petals from the trees
other old people
walk, run, bike
dogs too
to a damn
then return
my ipod powering the way back
knowing that tonight will be real

back at hotel
i rejuvinate
and wait

I knew it was good when I saw you smile getting off the metro. I love your familiar laugh.
I was the happiest being with friends again.
Trying to puts words to how fantastic Animal Collective was at L'Olmpic
I danced and celebrated
I took pictures because i wanted to hold onto each moment forever
my video is lame compared to the live experience
I could have rocked forever
Well worth the wait, the travel, and the expense
After the music was finished
We continued the high in the hotel
Complete with spaghetti feast served on plates on the floor
Carefree conversation carried us into a slumber

SATURDAY
said goodbye
hopefully see you soon
NIGHT TRAIN BACK TO CANNNES
switch in PARIS
i knew i would be back to the city
even though it was only for an hour
the bus ride to the other train station took me right by my hostel from last weekend, i wanted to stay
got to the austerlitz station, but then couldn't find the platform
definitely ran around like a crazy person to find it
im glad i did
listened to outside lands as i left paris
fell in and out of sleep to ratatat
definitely not a comfortable ride
and it smelled like barf
i got back to my dorm today at 9:00 am.
its sunny out.

tomorrow i go to class.

A form of Procrastination Apparently

TODAY
I woke up knowing I could do anything I wanted to.
I got ready and eventually left to explore.
I found the École des Beaux Arts, after asking for directions. However when I got their I found the place to be a bit disapointing. It was kinda scary to be there by myself. Something about the all the Baroque art just freaked me out. And the building was scary, the rooms were huge and the ceilings were tree times as high as they had to be in every room. I did see a self portrait of Poussin, who I just started studying in art history class.
After I left I walked to the Eglise Ste Croix and ate some raisins and nuts. Then I went to the Cháteau des ducs de Bratgne and the Duchese Anne Cháteau. I had never really been to a real castle before. It felt like spring. Flowers were blooming on trees around the castle moat, ducks were swimming, and there were Italien Teenagers in love. It was happy. Then I went to La Lieu Unique, it was just an expensive store, so I left.
I recieved an email about senior thesis proposal deadlines... It was a good reminder, that I know I need to take seriously.
I took a short 20 minute nap in my aweseme bed and then went to the OBSERVATORY. It was small. I convinced the lady at the front desk to let me in as a student. I went to the "Spectacle" which showed the constalations and planets. There were only 4 people there. Myself, a small boy, and his grandpa and grandma. Oh and the operator, he had long hair, and talked really fast french, I didn't understand a word. While I was staring at the stars the grandpa fell asleep and then the boy woke him up by jumping next to him and he yelled in french awake. That was the most exciting thing about the planetarium. Oh and the ticket stub had a picture of Neil Armstrong and the American Flag on it. America's cool.
On my way back to the hostel I bought a bagette and then back in my kitchenette I made Spaghetti with some sauce and noodles I had brought. It was delicious. Unfortunately I fell asleep early cause I was really comfortable. So now I'm awake again. I told myself I didn't want to sleep until I had written my script. So now that I'm awake, I have the time. I have an idea. So I should see if I can comit to something.
CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW NIGHT!!!!