The rest of Nurnberg

(Written March 30th)
I find it funny that was the last thing I said (I’ll explain later about yesterday). Well the day after we went to the castle we were planning on going to a neighboring town but it was too late and the weather wasn’t too fabulous so we decided to go to the zoo. I was really impressed at how close they let you get to all the animals. I also noticed there weren’t any coins in any of the ponds either; it was really nice. While the weather wasn’t too lovely I hadn’t been to the zoo in a while and it was really nice. It kind of re-instilled respect for all the animals I saw. Eating here is so funny. I’m so extremely more open to trying new food and if I get something I’m not too fond of I eat it anyway. I think of it as a bit of a challenge, like “just do it”. I’ve even eaten salad a few times! I need to start having this attitude towards food at home. It’s so different here because I don’t have the option of staying in my comfort zone and cooking for myself. I’ll try to be more open-minded this summer. The day after we went to the zoo we decided to go to the Scottish Festival. I really enjoyed watching the step dancing-and all the kilts were so great! I loved the culture of it all. It kind of made me wish I spent more time in Scotland, but I have to stop thinking like that. I know I will come back and it will be lovely and I’ll be able to explore more. I had some delicious fish and chips though! I started wearing my back brace again. I think I’m re-breaking it or whatever, its not good at all. Yesterday we went to the market because I really needed a coat as well as various other things. At first I figured this would be no big deal and that I could just figure it out on my own and go into town alone. However, this town confuses me more than anywhere I’ve ever been, it’s crazy! Anyway, Brigitta ended up coming into town with me and she said she was just going to wait at the coffee shop for me. I started off in a hurry because I didn’t want her to be waiting forever. I started out by getting lost and ending up on the edge of the townby the wall. I was so happy to finally make it back to the shops but then I couldn’t find a coat and I couldn’t find the coffee shop. I ended up walking around in circles for 2 hours. Turns out there are 2 churches and I was by the wrong one. I ended u finding the coffee shop and having some delicious chocolate cake. Anke even helped me find a coat! I was in such a good mood when we got home I organized all my stuff and spent some time on my own (which was much needed) and I painted my nails and tried to get the dumb dreads out of my hair-and failed. Nevertheless, it was really nice. Today we went to the bookstore because I was really concerned that I was going to run out of English books so I bought Naked lunch. I remember reading Junky on the plane on the way to Cali. It was super sunny out today so we walked for a while and took the bus to a lake by this place where Nazis used to assemble. The lake was really relaxing though and we spent some time on the patio of a nice fancy café. We had American food for dinner; it was really exciting! I found out someone that I knew in London that I wasn’t too sure about got arrested a few days ago for thievery. They even found a bunch of passports in his bag. I’m thinking he had my lomo camera too. That would be nice if I could get a hold of that. Ha, I liked my old passport picture much better anyway. I talked (kind of) to my parents about going back to London. Nick says he’s getting a flat or something like that. I’m also starting to plan my time with Chelsea. Couch Surfing seems like such a good way to meet people and save money. I don’t know why I wouldn’t do it. I could save money for London! Tomorrow we leave at 3, it’s going to be so cold! I’m really looking forward to, well, the rest of my life right now. There’s so much I’m looking forward to and nothing I’m dreading-right now. I hope it stays like that!

Nurnberg March 26th

I had this really strong dream last night that I had a dog that looked like an old stuffed animal of mine; and that it kept talking about reindeers. Strange. I want to make this a dream journal as well. Today we went to the Nurnberg castle. It started off being pretty nice outside but ended up raining freezing rain again. We took a German tour of the castle, which was really interesting. This language barrier is so weird, I kind of feel deaf. I can hear people talking but it doesn’t matter or register because my mind can’t process it. I got some yummy tortellini for lunch though. I’ve had to give up on being a vegetarian over here or else I would have even more trouble ordering food. It was really nice hearing from Rick today. Maybe if I watch enough soap operas over here I will learn German! Although a lot of people have said they’ve learned English from our music I can’t imagine doing that with any other language. I’m losing confidence in my photography skills. I just feel like anyone can take the pictures that I have. OH. Concept from Scotland: You have to become lost to know where you are.

Kerouac in the Sunshine

My Summer To-Do List:

• Sims 3.Play it. Love it.
• Camp out every night.
• Watch thunderstorms from garages.
• Get one of my photos in/on something significant.
• Get the microdermal piercing I want.
• Play mud volleyball.
• Get a wavy perm.
• CHALK. in a parking garage.
• Increase my hemp skills.
• Read all Kerouac books.
• Make tea in the sun.
• Body paint.
• Paint fight?
• Take a ceramics class.
• Go to open studios.
• Go clubbing.
• Go to Canada.
• Picnics.Everywhere.
• Volunteer on a farm.
• Horseback ride.ALOT.
• Backpack. Somewhere. Anywhere.
• (Start) to learn another language.
• Be vegan for a week.
• Fast. Sometime.
• Kayak. Definitely at Mohican.
  
• Take my sister on a trip.
• Edit all worth-while Europe pics.
• Learn names of Ohio flowers and trees.
• Make Sassafrass Tea.
• Learn guitar.At least a little.
• Revive my violin skills.
• Get my license!
• AND a car!
• Revive old friendships.
• Go to Yellow Springs Street Fair.
• Go to Acorn.
• Bonfires.Always.
• Go barefoot. Always.
• Comfest.Everyday. All day.
• Keep a journal.
• Pay back my parents.
• Wake up with the sunrise-as much as possible.
• Stock up on henna.
• Make money doing something I love.
• Never use an umbrella.
• Camera adventures.
• Go someplace new at least once a week.
• Go to concerts of bands I've never heard of.
  
• Make a photography inspiration book.
• Make a Europe scrapbook.
• Go to Burning Man.
• Go to Put-In Bay.
• Couch Surf.
• Watch a meteor shower. Camping or on a rooftop.
• Go to Mammoth Cave.
• Learn to skateboard.
• Tye dye A BUNCH.
• Take a cake decorating class.
• Go to Gallery Hop.
• Get a fisheye or lens baby lens and use it. Bunches.
• Take a Yoga Class.
• Meditate with the sunset.
• Be a Freegan!
• (Dumpster Dive).
• Improve my stick driving skills=P
• Learn mixology.
• Plant a garden.
• Take kick ass photos for my portfolio at Roharik Productions=)
  

Random Thoughts

Privacy and ownership are two rarities on this trip. A certain level of comfort comes with a places that you or your family owns. For example, I feel I am comfortable to do as I please in my house. However, I am staying at hostels and flats owned by other people on this trip. I cannot simply move things around or blast music. I have to constantly be aware of the people around me. While I love being out of this comfort zone it can be difficult to take after a while. Already i am yearning for just a few days in a private room of a hostel. Somewhere I can let my gaurd down-and maybe even have my own bathroom! This would be nice just every once in a while. Time spent alone and away from everyone is also something I am really beginning to treasure. As strange as it sounds I'm really beginning to enjoy showers since it is one of the only times I can be guarunteed that I will be alone. It's really lovely just to be able to relax and do something entirely rountine.

Nurnberg 27/3

Today we went to the zoo. It was cold but I haven't been to the zoo in a while so it was really nice. There wasn't that many people there either. While the Columbus zoo is much larger I felt that this zoo let you get much more up close. Oftentimes there was a single fence between you and the animals and if you really wanted to you could have reached out and touched them. People here must be much more respectful and smart when it comes to this sort of thing. Such as the ponds; most ponds in zoos back home are full of coins people have tossed in. Even though there wasn't much of a wall there was no coins in the ponds here! Even really small things like this make me like Europe even more.

Eating meals/sitting at the table with my relatives is so weird here. While I'm really not alone I feel like it. They talk in German and I just sit there. I'm not annoyed, it's just that I don't know how to look or seem engaged when theres really now ay I am. I'm always so worried about offending people.

Nurnberg 25/3

I'm beginning to ignore people, not on purpose really or in any mean way. Since I don't understand a word anyone is saying and practically nobody speaks english regularly, I just tune out a lot. I've been paying a great deal more attention to my surroundings and the details of everything. I think a great deal more here. When your ind is not subconsciously listening in on conversations I have found it focuses on other things. I kind of like it better this way. I think I'm much more of a visual person anyway. However, I have found that I definitely understand a person's personality mostly through linguistics; i think we all do for the most part. Here it is more difficult when everyone's speaking a language I don't know. I feel that one must have a really strong personality to get across what they are like to someone who doesn't speak the same language.

Nurnberg 24/3

Goodness today seemed to be bad luck. I just can't shake it. I got on the train and everything seemed just fine. However, the train stations here are not always named after the places they are located at so it can be a bit difficult. Anyway, I ended up missing my stop and having to backtrack. But in the rush i seemed to have forgotten my coat on the train-and it's snowing! I was really hard on myself, which seems to be a general trend on this trip, and I sort of broke down on the train. I ended up getting to where I needed to be however i couldn't find the person i needed to meet (my German relative) and my phone refused to call her. However, at the last second i found her and we were on our way to her flat. We then decided to go out to dinner at an Asian restaurant, which luckily had a buffet (i was really intimidated by ordering off a German menu!). I really want to live in Europe, I think absolutely everything is much, much more convenient. Also, the overall attitude of everyone is so much better and much more optimistic than in the states. I feel like I fit in a great deal better. I would love to have a job at a hostel, at least for a little bit. I'm beginning to think I really wouldn't mind just traveling every few months and doing whatever job is available. It doesn't seem nearly as difficult here as it might be in the states.