Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
im alive!
hey, in case everyone was wondering, i have not been shot by serb nationalists in kosovo, in fact, this is a most incredible experience that i will be talking to all of you about for months to come. \love rose
Monday, October 17, 2005
tchussie!
Hey all. Hope everyone is doing well. I just wanted to say that I will be unable to read this, write, email etc for the next two weeks. I'm going to Serbia, Kosovo, Budapest, and Greece so I hope everyone prays for me cuz I am a wee bit scared to go to a war torn\ Amerian-hating (because we destroyed their city with bombs) place. But it will be wonderful I am sure. Be safe have fun ... by the way I went to synagogue in Berlin. A very strange, sureal experience (well it doesnt even compare to Auschwitz but thats another story). And I met a cute Jewish German named Jakob, whose going to be a judge. thats all. love rose
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
To Whanaki...and Beyond!
Well, this may be the final post from the South Pacific, assuming Seth keeps up his no-posting streak. This is my last week of classes, and upon finishing a screenplay (which I'll hopefully produce in the spring), I'm going to head out on a roadtrip around the south island with the two coolest southerners I've ever met. After that, I may hitch hike up to the north island with a french guy, in time to make it back for my only final on Nov. 4th.
On the 5th, my parents will be coming down to scout the southern tip of the South Island among other spots. We'll be coming back to the states on the 18th or something. It's pretty wild to think how quickly the semester has gone. For those of you keeping score, I've been sorta negative about the experience in the past, mainly because it wasn't the otherworldly culture shock/lifestyle change I had been hoping for.
But in the end (although it's hardly the end yet) making the best of a new situation is kinda what I went abroad for.
What's been said a million times before still holds true: The people make the place. Well, I don't know if thats really something people say, but that sorta message. For the most part, though, the right people are everywhere, and it comes down to your own ability to connect with them.
That's Arnaud, the French guy I was writing about, and yes, I taught them Big Booty.
New Zealand has been beautiful, thats for sure, and I hope too plunge farther into it over the next few weeks. Have a wonderfull semester everyone abroad, and I hope to see those of you on the homefront soon. I can't wait to play some rugby and do some tramping (hiking/camping) with everyone next semester, and see what everyone else brings back to connecticut from their respective far away lands. Nothing has been harder than being away from everyone for so long. I love you all.
KIA ORA!Wednesday, October 05, 2005
P.S.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY BIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ROOOOOOOOOOOSEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, October 03, 2005
Leshana tova
It's Rosh Hashana again and happy new year to everyone, and to everyone that I spent last Rosh Hashana with: 
(remember that??) I miss our wonderful makeshift celebration! Tomorrow I am off to the Spanelsky Synagogu (that name sure beats your average Beth Elohim) with some of my friends to experience my first Sephardic service. The apples and honey are purchased and I can't wait to all go around and say our new years resolutions (if my friends aren't drunk off appletinis first).
In other religious news... I spent thursday-sunday in Istanbul and had quite the religious/cultural experience. My dad had been to Istanbul as a little kid. When I had to ask him to help me with paying for the trip he said he'd be more than happy to pay for the whole thing just so I could go into the Blue Mosque and look up and experience it for myself. So that's what I did.
I took my shoes off, wrapped myself up in my pashmina (no inch of stomach showing, no shoulders, no elbows and no ankles so it was a long pants day in 70 degrees) and walked around on the carpeted floor. What hit me the hardest was sitting on the prayer mats in the back of the mosque and just being there. I sat next to my friend Jessi and we ended up sharing a newfound respect for Islam and talking about our frustrations with the middle east conflict and post-911 anti-Islam sentiments. Unfortunately/fortunately, my pictures of the inside of the mosque don't do it justice. I guess you'll just have to see it for yourself.
The rest of Istanbul was also a comfort-zone extending experience. First off, as women my friends and I were hassled constantly by all the men. Although women are free to wear what they like we felt much less self-conscious the more wrapped up in pashminas that we were. At least it drew less attention to us. It was odd to feel so self conscious in a tank top though. The Grand Bazaar was intense with its 3500 shops, crowds of people, constant harassment, and bargaining extravaganza. But you should have seen me put my bargaining skills to work! Not only did we get amazing deals on gorgeous things, but also we made friends with the shop owners in the end.
However, our 5 hours in the Grand Bazaar were so intense that we decided to cleanse ourselves with a Turkish Bath afterwards. It doesn't get much weirder than a Turkish Bath! I went with three of my girl friends and found myself a little shocked by all the naked women (I guess I thought it would be more private). At first it was a little awkward, but it ended up being this totally freeing experience being totally naked with three new friends and tons of other women. All of us were lying on this hot marble in a sauna waiting to be screamed at by an old turkish woman: "Massage?!" At which point you go over to them, they scrub you down and massage you, and slap your ass when they want you to flip over. Then they wash your hair at the end. Very odd, but definitely cleansing and definitely liberating. I also got to meet new people on the trip and smoke hookah a lot, so all in all it was quite the fun, cultural/religious, eventful weekend.
As for now I am in bed, in my clothes, under the covers, and all bundled up. Unfortunately, they haven't turned the heat on yet and I've just come down with a cold. In fact the whole damn Kolej has come down with a cold. So it's not quite 11pm, but I'm taking my sniffly self off to bed. I will be thinking of each one of you during the Rosh Hashana festivites tomorrow. Praha shest is a wonderful home, but it aint nothing with out all of you. Dobrou noc (good night).
Love--a
(remember that??) I miss our wonderful makeshift celebration! Tomorrow I am off to the Spanelsky Synagogu (that name sure beats your average Beth Elohim) with some of my friends to experience my first Sephardic service. The apples and honey are purchased and I can't wait to all go around and say our new years resolutions (if my friends aren't drunk off appletinis first).
In other religious news... I spent thursday-sunday in Istanbul and had quite the religious/cultural experience. My dad had been to Istanbul as a little kid. When I had to ask him to help me with paying for the trip he said he'd be more than happy to pay for the whole thing just so I could go into the Blue Mosque and look up and experience it for myself. So that's what I did.
I took my shoes off, wrapped myself up in my pashmina (no inch of stomach showing, no shoulders, no elbows and no ankles so it was a long pants day in 70 degrees) and walked around on the carpeted floor. What hit me the hardest was sitting on the prayer mats in the back of the mosque and just being there. I sat next to my friend Jessi and we ended up sharing a newfound respect for Islam and talking about our frustrations with the middle east conflict and post-911 anti-Islam sentiments. Unfortunately/fortunately, my pictures of the inside of the mosque don't do it justice. I guess you'll just have to see it for yourself.
The rest of Istanbul was also a comfort-zone extending experience. First off, as women my friends and I were hassled constantly by all the men. Although women are free to wear what they like we felt much less self-conscious the more wrapped up in pashminas that we were. At least it drew less attention to us. It was odd to feel so self conscious in a tank top though. The Grand Bazaar was intense with its 3500 shops, crowds of people, constant harassment, and bargaining extravaganza. But you should have seen me put my bargaining skills to work! Not only did we get amazing deals on gorgeous things, but also we made friends with the shop owners in the end.
However, our 5 hours in the Grand Bazaar were so intense that we decided to cleanse ourselves with a Turkish Bath afterwards. It doesn't get much weirder than a Turkish Bath! I went with three of my girl friends and found myself a little shocked by all the naked women (I guess I thought it would be more private). At first it was a little awkward, but it ended up being this totally freeing experience being totally naked with three new friends and tons of other women. All of us were lying on this hot marble in a sauna waiting to be screamed at by an old turkish woman: "Massage?!" At which point you go over to them, they scrub you down and massage you, and slap your ass when they want you to flip over. Then they wash your hair at the end. Very odd, but definitely cleansing and definitely liberating. I also got to meet new people on the trip and smoke hookah a lot, so all in all it was quite the fun, cultural/religious, eventful weekend.
As for now I am in bed, in my clothes, under the covers, and all bundled up. Unfortunately, they haven't turned the heat on yet and I've just come down with a cold. In fact the whole damn Kolej has come down with a cold. So it's not quite 11pm, but I'm taking my sniffly self off to bed. I will be thinking of each one of you during the Rosh Hashana festivites tomorrow. Praha shest is a wonderful home, but it aint nothing with out all of you. Dobrou noc (good night).
Love--a
Sunday, October 02, 2005
oktoberfest is...
all you could ever want and more.
beer.
crazy lederhosen crazy bavarians
cold
rainy
expensive
wonderfully drunk
beer.
crazy lederhosen crazy bavarians
cold
rainy
expensive
wonderfully drunk
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Have you ever seen Seabiscuit?
Hey, everyone, it's allison. I am updating on Rach's thing cause I don't really have one. Anyway, I guess I should talk about what's going on in my life. My parents were here today and that was a lot of fun. I am having a great year so far, my classes are awesome. I have been hanging out with Rach and Jess non-stop.. I think there's only been one day so far that I haven't seen one of them.
I had a really fun time on Thursday night this week despite the fact that I ended up in the hospital with no clue how I had gotten there. We (Jess, Rach, Iwi, Zach, Ally, and I) were drinking in my room for a while, then we went to a Mobroc show. It was a really really fun night (see some of the 173 pictures I have), but it didn't turn out too well for me. I don't remember any of this, but apparently, at around 1:30 I wandered out of Cro and proceeded to vomit for quite some time until three random girls found me and helped me call one of my friends, Eric. He came to help me out but by that point campus safety had shown up and they called me an ambulance. When I woke up I was informed that my blood alchohol level was three times the legal limit.. and that I could have stopped breathing because of how much alchohol I had in me. It was pretty scary stuff. Friday sucked because I had to go straight to work and I still had no idea what had happened to me.. I didn't find that out until dinner. Rach, Jess, Iwi, and Ally came to visit me at work, though, so that calmed me down a bit. Also, I talked to Max (the one from home) and that really made me feel better. The night was very low-key, and today I just hung out with my parents.
Tonight we had a "Green Day Party." Everyone wore green and we listened to Green Day, but I didn't drink at all. It was really good to see my parents today, although I still haven't told them about the other night. The whole incident just freaked me out a lot and makes me think twice about how much I drink, not just each time I drink, but just in general. Hopefully it will help me to cut back a little.
Other than that, things are awesome. I like Conn so much more this year already, and I really like living in Burdick. I miss all of you and can't wait to see you next semester.
-Allison
I had a really fun time on Thursday night this week despite the fact that I ended up in the hospital with no clue how I had gotten there. We (Jess, Rach, Iwi, Zach, Ally, and I) were drinking in my room for a while, then we went to a Mobroc show. It was a really really fun night (see some of the 173 pictures I have), but it didn't turn out too well for me. I don't remember any of this, but apparently, at around 1:30 I wandered out of Cro and proceeded to vomit for quite some time until three random girls found me and helped me call one of my friends, Eric. He came to help me out but by that point campus safety had shown up and they called me an ambulance. When I woke up I was informed that my blood alchohol level was three times the legal limit.. and that I could have stopped breathing because of how much alchohol I had in me. It was pretty scary stuff. Friday sucked because I had to go straight to work and I still had no idea what had happened to me.. I didn't find that out until dinner. Rach, Jess, Iwi, and Ally came to visit me at work, though, so that calmed me down a bit. Also, I talked to Max (the one from home) and that really made me feel better. The night was very low-key, and today I just hung out with my parents.
Tonight we had a "Green Day Party." Everyone wore green and we listened to Green Day, but I didn't drink at all. It was really good to see my parents today, although I still haven't told them about the other night. The whole incident just freaked me out a lot and makes me think twice about how much I drink, not just each time I drink, but just in general. Hopefully it will help me to cut back a little.
Other than that, things are awesome. I like Conn so much more this year already, and I really like living in Burdick. I miss all of you and can't wait to see you next semester.
-Allison
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