Week 4, Meeting X

It's been a while. Actually, it's been about two weeks since I posted anything.

I can't let the writing get rusty - and beyond keeping whoever reads this updated, I'd like to remember my adventures someday, so I figured it's about time to post something again.

Since the last time I wrote something (October 7th, according to blogger) I have done a couple of things. I have gone to México. I have puked in a flowerbed. I have read an article for class. I have been severely dissapointed in Café Ventanas's ability to prepare seafood. I have seen Capitalism. I have seen capitalism. I have written a sociological bullsharticle (something between bullshit and.. nevermind) about b-boying and biting. Also, I lost a great deal of Mario-kart games.




The bottom picture shows I-Walk. I-Walk is a lame, easy term for 'concrete walkway between I-house residences', and it's the ultimate gathering spot for jamming out, procrastinating, and illegal drinking. Therefore, it's where I spend most of my day. From your window, you can control your social life ("Excuse me! Just wanted to say you're sexy as fuck. Thank you. Have a nice day!"), your diet (just tell someone to grab you half a chicken from V while they're at it), your homework schedule ("DUDE, CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME YOUR NOTES?") and last but not least, all those extracurricular activities ("Where the fuck did you leave my vodka?!", "How about TJ?").

The middle picture shows the Neishon. http://neishon.com/

The top picture shows yours truly, attempting to teach Jo-An some kind of dancing and flippin' around.


Now, where to start. México is not worth explaining. Text, however well written it might be, would never do justice to the Tequila Tales of the Uninformed Uniformed Border Patrol. Here's some more pictures for those of you that can't be fucked to skip through the crap on facebook.




Obviously, "Did you see a lot of Mexico?" is a stupid question. It's OK, you're forgiven. I wasn't really expecting the weekend to turn out the way it did, but alas, only the liver is there to complain. If the Mexicans can put up with what we did every weekend, then my liver can go fuck itself. Happily :)

Now let's see. Here's a clear cut from my otherwise pleasant description of the b-e-a-utiful state of California. It's still beautiful. It's still amazing. It's still warm! But, unfortunately, it isn't home. As with any long-term hiatus, there is a point and time at which whatever was once perceived as a break, a holiday or a time of peace and reflection becomes a rather tedious routine. A routine of awesomeness, but a routine nonetheless.

Indeed, I find myself getting into the same fuck-ups as I did at home. Insomnia, not having administration in order, money issues... At first, they were minor speedbumps - now they are there to remind me that I'm not on some kind of holiday. That bitch of a beach says otherwise, and I still find myself gaping at the waves rolling in while I still haven't done my credit transfer.

Wait for it - I can hear the WHINE-O-METER reaching epic heights here, but hold your horses! Beyond the daily paperwork and responsibilities I'd rather not have in this wonderful environment, something else is bothering me way worse. It's the absence of the people that I'm writing this blog for, those that take the time to read it, those that send me an e-mail once in a while to see what's up. I wish I could share these times with you. No Jean, not you. Get back to sleep.

Here's me crying over your absence. No, it's not sunscreen. Who in the hell would put sunscreen in their EYES? Now that is just plain stupid.


As you can see, everything has changed, yet nothing has changed. I vow to post more updates from now on. Feedback is welcome :)

Enjoy your lunch, Holland

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Now playing: Baby Monster - Curses
via FoxyTunes

Scenery and Bullshit

"And then, we created FIRE!!!"

Never barbecue with me. And if you do, make sure that I don't touch it. Ever. I have witnesses.


This was on my birthday - the camera still thinks European time, hence the date on the picture. I've been going through my blog posts and I noticed that I don't really stick to any chronological order when posting shit: I just write whatever I like, whenever I like. I should construct sóme kind of timeline though, because soon enough I won't know whether that test was next week or last week.

OK then, high-speed runthrough: Chicago, SD, Hostel craziness, Welcome Week, Hangover Weekend, Random Zoo Day With Old-School Friend From Belgium, First Classes, Birthday, Rush Week (joining clubs and getting drunk), Second Classes, Big Parties, LA Decom, and now it's turning Wednesday again. Third classes, I guess.

I still didn't do my credit transfer (eat that Carla Kist) but I got a polite DO IT NOW reminder yesterday, so here's a note to self. Tomorrow I'm starting 'the Great Workout', a triple threat to my current state of proud uh, slenderness. Lack of bulk. I'm just really space efficient.

Anyway, Subways and the cafetaria here are putting some pounds on my already impressive physique, so I decided to go and compensate it with lifting some more weights, like my Spanish lover back home told me to. Hilarious stories and possibly pictures will reach you soon enough - this gym is a tiny bit different from the toilet we work out in @ UCU.

Oh yeah, speaking about cafetarias: I checked the Dining Hall menu the other day, and cried a few tears of joy (for me) and a small one of sadness (for you). Not that the cafetaria's here are amazing - but compared to DH, they're really, really good. I go out for lunch, and spoiled as I am I engage in a discussion with my stomach what it wants today. The beef ramen? Or rather the chicken? Or shall I just go for the chicken quesadillas? Maybe some fried shrimp? The double bacon cheeseburger? Fresh sushi? Build-your-own-sandwich? Or pin 'real money' and get 'real fast food'. It's laughable.

Then again, I have to drink Budweiser. I guess there is no such thing as utter perfection on this world even though In-N-Out burgers comes fucking close.

Now, what you really have been waiting for: MORE PICTARSW()@*#@(*!&!





From top to bottom: Geisel Library/Spaceship, International House I-Walk, and the little green in front of Price Center where frats ceremoniously fail to put their signs up. I don't know whether crisis hit Sigma Nu and they had to cut down on wood and such utilities, but this is a sad image. Now they're just Nu. And that's not really cool.

Speaking of which, I haven't really gotten into touch with the frats here. The guys that seem the least homo-erotic (which means they still are, by a fair share, far more retarded than your average dude) fly the Jings' colours - yes indeedy, the blue and gold are evident in Sigma Chi's banner. I planned on rushing with them and getting to know the guys, since that faraway look from underneath the aviators reminded me of the Primus spirit. Whereas other frats were doing dumb shit such as flyering, talking excitedly to the wrong people, annoying security officers or even pull-ups on a bar painted in the frats colours (no joke), this specimen of institutionalised friendship remained calmly seated in a lazy couch under a huge yellow and gold parasol. Only the trained eye could spot the subtle movements of their heads, which collectively swayed to the beat of hot campus girls walking by.

I decided to talk to them, and I was right. Primus on the West-Coast. But then Greek. Anyway, I got distracted by other stuff (such as decompression, which I still have to write a big story about) so I didn't rush with them. No worries, enough fun shit on this campus.

For those who don't follow economics: the current euro-dollar exchange rate is simply orgasmic. For Americans, not so much. 1 Euro nowadays equals 1,47 Dollars. Imagine what that means for my studiefinanciering. And then think about the fastfood dollar deals. Did I mention I can buy a new Omatic snowboard for 199$? The board club is sponsored, yes. That is 135€. For this. In one word:




Yes, this is a call out to all y'all: if you want something, let me know, because I can probably get it a LOT cheaper than you. I won't even go into the price difference between Apple Products here and in Europe, but I can tell you that the Macbook Pro I'm looking at is roughly 800-900 euro's cheaper here. That's half the Macbook. Shit.

Enough bullshit. I will tell you all about decompression (last weekend) as soon as I got time to process it myself. The ninja pictures and videos on facebook should tell half the story.

Love from the States

C

3:23 AM

As I am hit by another bout of insomnia, I have no clue what to do. It's nearing half past four, my first class tomorrow starts at 11 AM. Phone's dead, I set my laptop alarm. Kinda feels like home already :)

Anyway, usually I have a different spot to post rants and/or ponderings. Myspace has been sufficiently bombarded with nonsense, and writing shit on Facebook nowadays equals begging for attention. Whereas all bloggers/writers/thoughtful/bored people with a keyboard and a screen are flattered by people reading their stuff, it's meant to be read out of genuine curiosity or amusement rather than a big ad saying READ THIS SHIT DAWG! That being said, I have to, or rather wánt to stay in touch with an awful lot of people - so I gotta put it sómewhere public.

What used to be my nearly private utopia of bullshit, pictures and mindfarts has now slowly converted into my travelblog for reasons explained in earlier posts, and above. I started this blog more for myself than for anything else, but now it's become the main connection 'home'. I don't know where I want to take it, but I'll probaby continue writing when I get back. Since I don't have any other place to dump my brain luggage, readers will have to cope with the occasional late night bullshit-post in between my travel diaries. I won't publish posts like these on Facebook (except for this one, which contains a few pics), but they will be on the blog for all to read, of course. To my mild amusement, I even heard some people enjoyed reading the rest on here. Thank you :)

Now, I initially started writing tonight because I was annoyed by people posting stuff I didn't want to read. I turned on the TV and saw a show I didn't want to see. Sleep is sending me a hug I don't want to receive. So here, without whining, some mildly interesting pictures of a dude in an angel costume (I'm pretty sure the shrooms didn't work, but my camera thought differently), a big pink cat thing (ditto), and 4 creeps at a gas stop.




First one to tell me what these pictures have in common (except for having been taken in California) gets a donut.

Peace out!

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Now playing: Russian Circles - Philos
via FoxyTunes

Surfer Bros and La Jolla Hoes

Surfer bros and la jolla hoes... Tonight is gonna go off.

Before I make another attempt at writing, I'll pre-cut the crap and tell you something about the stuff I've actually been doing.

Today marks the end of Week 1. The beautiful picture wasn't even taken in week 1. After processing my birthday hangover (THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WISHES, EVERYONE!) I kinda forgot to take my camera anywhere... So I'll have to describe most of the things.

My rant about American chicks doesn't really serve as an update, but should give you a general image of my current situation. I go by name of 'the Coon', get my ass whooped in the b-boying gym, expertly miss out on all but the best opportunities to get some, forget that my bank account has a limit, sleep through (some) classes, go on late night walks (pretty much like the real 'the ceeewwwn'), scream along to the new Thrice album, unsuccesfully employ Dutch humor in a hostile environment, and I make a big deal of uh, everything. So what's changed, really?

Well, I'm doing homework. And not the kind of SHITFUCKWHATDEADLINE?! homework, but 3-days-in-advance pre-reading and research for additional credit shit. The stuff people expect you to do at UCU, the stuff that makes UCSD: University of California, Socially Dead.

I tend to forget about important stuff though, like credit transfer, a few meetings, and shaving. My first week of classes proved to be very intense! I'm b-boying daily. I recruit ninja's. I'm going to start my work-out program next week (note to self). I joined the SD booze.. bong.. no.. Board club. I played flipcup and beerdice. I'm reading a fantasy book.



That's the beer fridge. They put a keg in a fridge and install a tap on the outside. Pure genius!

Anyway, I'm off for tonights theme party: Surfer Bro's and La Jolla Hoes. To be continued, fa show.

Love, the Coon



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Now playing: Thrice - Talking Through Glass
via FoxyTunes

Like, Seriously, Like, Seriously, Like, Seriously

And then I like seriously, seriously like seriously did you know, some serious likely shit.

Yes... "I'm in Diego, BITCH"

So, it's October already... SHIT! Now let's see what I've learned since my last post. I can't include too many pictures here because, honestly, I haven't made any. I forgot to take my camera on many occasions... So now you'll never know whether I really fought off the three-headed fish that attacked me when I was cooking a bagel during a steaming hot make-out session with 4 intelligent Californian girls and Godzilla. You'll have to take me on my word.

..OK, the three-headed fish and Godzilla are believable, me cooking a bagel could happen, but I overdid it on Californian intelligence. Yes, there are intelligent Californian girls, but definitely not 4 of them. And certainly not in California.

In my epic adventure in and around the UCSD campus and the USA, I can only come up with so many things to bitch about. One is legislation, but we're on even terms now, the other one is native retardation. Most people here have already concluded (after meeting me) that the country now known as the Netherlands must have split off of California right when it was at its most relaxed, and drifted lazily to Europe where it got known as 'The Netherlands'. Not only do I sound and act like a native Californian - I'm starting to like it.

To come back to the 'retardation'. I didn't come to California to tell American people that their country sucked on oh so many levels, neither did I come to sit in my room and read books about bagels and donuts all day (which is happening now, but that's a different story). I also didn't come to boast about my own 'liberal and progressive' mess of a Westen-European country, nor to impress some bimbo's with 'ik hou van jou'. What I díd come for was to try and pierce through the veil of European misconceptions about American culture. I also came to eat a lot of hamburgers and watch Female American Football.

Now, I'm getting my fair share of hamburgers and even a glimps of football - and some people are very coureageous in attempting to dispel the image of 'gluttonous imbecile' that so many Europeans share about Americans. Honestly, I'm in California, and at UCSD you're either Asian or you wear white socks, sneakers, go to the gym every day and then talk politics over cold beer with your friends. Asians with white socks and sneakers join Asian frats and I haven't figured out yet what they're up to.

My questions about the Californian female population remain unanswered (usually they go:"WHY?!! GOD, WHY?!!") but I have gained a lot of insight on the other aspects of American culture. With absolutely no exclusions, Californians share the same opinion: whatever's 'bad' and 'American' must come from the South. Problem identified - yet not solved. Now, I must travel to Texas and Mississippi to get into contact with the 'interesting' people.

California is the shit, but I didn't have to tell you that. It is mindblowingly gorgeous, people are laidback, the food is superb, and you can surf and snowboard in the same 24 hour stretch in absolutely amazing spots. It's a little piece of heaven with lame rules and hilarious dialogue. Picture 30 people in a patch of trees close to the ocean, 10.30 PM, with a keg of beer.

Dude: "SO, you're Dutch?!"

Me: "Yep"

Dude: "SHIIIIIIIT, YOU ARE GONNA GET SOOOO MUCH ASS!!!"

Me: "..."

Situation two. Close to a hundred people crammed in a living room, loud music with bad sound quality, beerpong, and a few cases of Coors.

Dude 2: "SO, you're Dutch?!"

Me: "Yep"

Dude 2: "SHIIIIIIIT, YOU ARE GONNA GET SOOOO MUCH ASS!!!"

Me: "..."


At first, these conversations appeared really, really flattering. Was it because I was Dutch, or because of me, or was this a standard way of greeting strangers here in the states? After having the same conversation with about 10 different dudes, I had to conclude it was a mix between the last and the willingness of American girls. *sigh*

Though Maddox's Alphabet of Manliness states clear rules concerning these matters, I have to take a step back from some practices here. I'm dying to go to a party where I can drink my beer befóre getting raped, thank you. And guess what - you don't even have to do anything to gain this Axe-effect position. Absolutely nothing. Just wear a big badge that says EAP-Reciprocity student and watch your favorite commercials unfold in real life. This is MADNESS! Nope, this is Cali.

I live in I-House though - full of people who can't get their head around this strange American mating phenomenon. This relatively secluded population attracts a lot of party people (read: Freshmen) who think they can go 'liberal' on our asses and puke all over the living room (after trying to rape you). Needless to say, at these parties I sit in the corner with my iPod pretending to be a DJ (apparently I did that at home as well with actual DJ equipment) and drink myself to shits while I watch my friends being dragged away by some trollop going OMG LIKE THATS THE CUTEST ACCENT EVERRRRRR.

I fuckin love California :)

Here's what you wake up next to if you refuse rape.





I'm out. Next comprehensive update: TOMORROW!