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Stranger in a Strange Land Newsletter May 24th, 2003

Stranger in a Strange Land Newsletter May 24th, 2003

Hey Everyone,
I'm still travelling around Europe, since the last time I wrote I stayed in Stuttgart for a night, Berlin for a week, and Holland for a month, and now Freiburg again for a week now. Berlin was cool to see again, especially the architecture at the new Jewish Museum. It was great to see a friend I have there. Holland was beautiful, really green, canal"ful" and flower"ful." I was there at the perfect time to see spring spring-up... I saw some nice relatives again including my cousin Dorine who took me to the world's biggest relay race (about 7500 people!) because her team was missing a person. I ran the last leg of the 25 person 180 km (110 miles) long race: 8.2 km (5 miles) in 30min 46sec and was 50th out of 300 people. I was so happy because that was the longest race I've ever run and I hadn't run in a couple months or raced in over a year! I still had it! Then I had some good work for a few weeks. And then I hitchhiked back to Freiburg to see people before this school course ended. I'm going to be home soon! But first I'll travel a little more. Wish me luck. I'd love to hear from you guys. I hope all is well!!

-Eli

Where I worked (we built up the damn place!): (www.bienallerotterdam.nl, an exhibit example: www.remote-controlled.de)

with more detail "wenn du willst" ("if you want") ;)

Adventure has once again struck our Stranger in a Strange Land after a quiet month in the lovely country of Holland. After working at the International Architectural Bienalle for three weeks and asking for my well earned cash for one week, concrete arrangements were made for me to receive not only the expected amount of cash but 100 Euro's more for reasons which include absolutely no lying or stealing by yours truly. With a slight kleptomaniacal high, the perceiving of omens, and the receiving of copious (for me) amounts of cash I decided to do it: I was going to leave three days earlier than planned and hitchhike from Rotterdam in western Holland, to Freiburg in southern Germany (right next to Switzerland), Saturday, the next day.

After the rude and sudden canceling of a few plans, I quickly packed my minuscule travel bag (once again attempting to defy the stern laws of physics), left a couple gifts, loans, library books, rags, and reading material at my wonderful, humble place of residence in Delft, said a prayer or two, and went off to Rotterdam to party away my last (for some time) Dutch night. While lugging around my heavy travel bag (which, as in real life, changes size and weight depending on the drama of the situation) I sought-out my friend from work's house, where other friends had already gathered for the party. I arrived late but I still hoped to begin sleeping around midnight or one in the morning for my long day of travelling. After a surprisingly small amount of alcohol, I was convinced otherwise. I had a nice time with my friends and when all was said and done I was in bed at five in the morning. I awoke around 8 AM and was dropped off very kindly by my friend Wahid around 10 AM at a gas station on the highway and my hitchhiking began.

My hitchhiking beginning does not mean my travelling beginning; that only started an hour later after asking many people with words and the signaling of my sign for a city in Holland near the German border, Arnhem. But someone did eventually give me a ride and in fact eight different cars helped me travel along the way, 1000km (600 miles) in 9 hours, arriving in Freiburg eight o'clock. Boy, was I tired.

It was very strange to be back in Freiburg. First of all, I was smiling ear to ear when I saw how full of leaves all the trees were; it's really another step toward tropical in Freiburg and I love it. Also, lots of people were really surprised and happy to see me, including one person I had never met before? Then that night, after a nap, I went to the "Abschlus Party," the party at the end of each two month Goethe Institut course (where I went to school for two months to those who I didn't explain that to). That was a lot of fun.
Bless dancing.

Now I'm just taking it easy here. Last night, I ate traditional Korean food with a big group of really fun Koreans (using chopsticks to their surprise, and mine). Though I'm not close with many people I'm getting to know a lot of people, especially Asian people. It is lonely here sometimes, life is still life but while staying in Holland I had some time to think and I got this picture in my mind that's been helping me... is that what they call a vision???

All the best,

Eli