Coffeeshop Lounging: Two euros for a latte can go along way for a good night out with friends. Bec, Hetta, Zhenya, and I went to a trendy little cafe the other night for part two of the "So we're on mobility together" getting to know you series. They're really great girls. Hetta is loud, funny, trendy, and swears a lot. Zhenya is more reserved, quirky, reflexive, cynical, and has a dry humour I really appreciate. We discussed our "real" lives back home (I obviously told them all about 'the gang') and what we could expect to do with the degree once it's all over. I think they're going to be really great friends this term. Our next plan is to crash a party during Amsterdam's International Fashion Week which is advertising free beer and is hosted by a well known photography magazine.
Photo Journey: So I haven't discussed it on the blogosphere yet, but I developed a bit of a photography hobby the moment I landed in Europe. I think it was born out of the desire to fill an artistic void, since I won't be acting while over here, but also because I wanted a photographic archive of where I've been that isn't just buildings and monuments. Luckily, Bec is also an amateur photog so we both find joy in walking around and snapping weird shots. I always feel bad for fellow travelers when I get to a new city because I'm stopping to stoop and take a shot of a lock or a door. Bec and I continually do it to each other so it evens out. We planned an epic city walk today, and managed a good four hour journey in all, but were definitely battling the rain most of the day. Not ideal photo conditions to say the least. I realized yesterday I had only taken about a dozen photos of the city since I got here, so more trips like this are in the future.
Pimp My Library: One of our stops was the Amsterdam Public Library which is located near the Central Station. I'm not sure of the date of the building's construction but it has to have been within the last ten years. It is the most impressive library I've ever been in (decor wise, not for its breadth of books). Ikea-like doesn't even come close to describing the poshness of this book haven. Not only are the books displayed on white metallic shelves that are lit from the side, but there are mac computers everywhere and comfortable blow-up chairs like you've never seen before. I'm not doing justice in describing the sleek furnishings, but it's definitely somewhere that either would be perfect for settling in and starting a thesis or much too distracting for that type of work. I'll get back to you on that one.
Inauguration Infatuation: I watched the inauguration coverage...a lot of it. I had it on from 5pm - 10pm here. Being the first inauguration I (and I bet many of us) have ever watched, I was struck by how carefully constructed the events of the day were. So constructed in fact that I think there was a specific narrative that was told in the coverage - "change is coming to the White House." This may seem obvious, as an inauguration is the induction of a new person into a position, but it seemed as if the news media wholeheartedly embraced Obama's message of change and made it the key focus of the day. This was especially driven home after the swearing in ceremony when the Bidens and Obamas watched three generations of the Bush family fly out of Washington back home towards Texas. The image screamed "out with the old in with the new." Other random thoughts:
- Did the addition of the wheelchair not make Dick Cheney look even more like the stereotypical villain?
- Poetry is always overshadowed by music and prose so I was happy to see it on the event list. But Elizabeth Alexander had no chance following Obama's speech - I think Kay Ryan, a Maya Angelou repeat, or even will.i.am (j/k) would have faired better.
- Even though the oath swearing was bungled, and subsequently retaken to ensure legalities, it was one of my favorite moments of the day. Obama is human, people!
- I've read a lot of critiques of the new Commander's speech that say it was just O.K. and not as poignant as his other speeches throughout the campaign. I think what he accomplished in the speech was setting the tone of a presidency that demands the responsibility and sacrifice of the populace in order to be successful. Obama didn't need to rely on telling the stories of hope that got him to where he is, but rather prepare the country (and the world) for the challenges to be faced. It was exactly what he needed to do with the speech - pundits are much too quick to look for "the sentence" that will be quoted in history books.
Film and TV: The Oscars were announced today and unfortunately I haven't seen ANY of the best picture nominees (I saw all five last year). Usually I've got a pretty decent handle on the biz, but being in Europe has meant it has been tougher to stay on top of what's going on in film world. Also, who wants to be in a dark cinema when there are five hundred year old buildings to explore? I figure I'll cut my losses and not scramble to see everything before the big event (it won't start until midnight here anyways!) I do, however, want to see Slumdog Millionaire and Milk in the next month. I also have watched little television since landing; I can count the exact hours that I've sat down in front of a tube on one hand (composed of Hollyoaks and Turkish MTV). But what I have been watching is the most recent season of Top Chef online (8 Vine shout out!) and am awaiting the opportunity to stream the latest Lost episodes (a family favorite).
Making Phonecalls: From Skype it is incredibly cheap to call Canadian mobiles. I have gotten in touch with just about everyone that I hadn't talked to since before the holidays, but I continually get the voicemail of one friend who I have yet to talk with. It's endearing. My new tactic is to call everyday...and I've done so for the last four days.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: I've frequented a lot of coffeeshops in the last two weeks. I think it's the best way to fill free-time productively. A coffee and the laptop are all I need.
3 comments:
You're an actor, you're a photographer. Ergo, put the two together and OF COURSE you can get into that fashion week gig!! It's all about perception.
"It's not a cheesesteak, it's a filet mignon sandwich"
1. I SAW A MOVIE! entitled s-dawg mi$$ionaire. and it was great.
2. i think you should take your foto passion to said library and snap some pics for previdence.
3. i miss you.
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