Caleigh & Ashley: Cool Kats Club In Europe

1.      Which countries did you visit?

a.       In chronological order:  The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Italy, France, Denmark.

2.      Which country was your favourite?

a.       In lieblingsland order:  Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Hungary, France, Italy.

b.      I was truly awed by every country I went to, and each was so different from the next that it’s hard to choose a favourite among them. You know, the thing about, Czech Apples and Dutch Oranges, etc etc.

c.       I am not surprised that the countries I fell in love with were the countries I fell in love with. I guess I know myself pretty well, because I planned to spend more time in those places. I like these countries with grey skies, bloody history, proud & fierce people, and turnips. Many many turnips.

d.      The greatest thing, which I knew it would be, was the Christmas markets. My first one was in Warsaw and I went to many more all across Germany: Hamburg, Cologne, Bonn, Limburg, Frankfurt, and Berlin. The atmosphere was everything I ever ever wanted in a Christmas festival. There was music, skating rinks, hot chocolate, carousels with bright yellow and pink lights, gluhwein mit rhum, big fat snowflakes that fall slowly, mittens and hand holding, crafts, knick knacks, and old ladies selling scarves.

3.       Why are you home? I thought you were gone until May!

a.       A combination of being broke and homesick. And tired. And missing Frank.

4. Why did you and Ashley split up in December? WERE YOU ~*~**FIGHTING**~*~????????

a.       NO STOP

b.      Ashley and I realized that we planned a giant 8 month trip complete with TWO working abroad sections having ZERO experience in being away from home. WHOOPS.

c.       Plans change! Life happens!

5.       Did you party a lot?

a.       Here’s the thing with hostel partying: toxic rape culture runs rampant. One hostel Ashley and I stayed at in Budapest (Carpe Noctem) had a whole list of unacceptable reasons to refuse sex. The basic idea of the list was ‘there is no acceptable reason’.  It was of course geared mostly towards women. It is not surprising then that I was sexually assaulted my first night there.

b.      Do not ask me to talk any more about that.

c.       Most of the people staying in hostels and travelling in general are men.  Men who like drinking. I felt safe when I was with Ashley, I felt safe with Adam, I felt safe with Colin, I felt safe with Jonathan. I even felt safe when I was with a group of people I didn’t know, even if they were mostly men, even if they were drinking. But a lesson I learned on this trip: feeling like you’re in a safe place isn’t the same as being in a safe place.

d.      With one exception, every instance of sexual assault I experienced on this trip is the same sexual assault I experience in Canada. It’s not a problem with European men; it’s a problem with men, full stop. It was the usual misogynistic slurs, groping, propositioning, and sexist comments that make up a lot of my interactions with Canadian men as well.

e.      Like, I just want to put on a nice dress, drink, and talk to boys without having to put up with this kindof bullshit.

6.       How was travelling alone?

a.       I was alone for maybe two weeks! I wasn’t alone!

b.      Firstly, There was of course, the Bals, the fantastic and glorious Ashley who was my awesome and lovely companion until December. I had such an awesome time travelling with her and I am so glad she was there with me. THE ARRT SHE UNDERSTANDS THE ARRRRRT

c.       Secondly, I met Jonathan, my German Friend, like, two days later. He, um, doesn’t understand the art or the museum like Ashley did, but we were fast friends right away.

d.      Then I spent maybe one week alone, and since I was in small town Germany, there were no tourists around and I pretty much spend that whole time without speaking to many people. I didn’t make any friends at all. And that was the way I liked it.

e.      Then I was with Jonathan in Obertiefenbach for a little while.

f.        Then my Fam Jam met me.

g.       Then Jonathan again.

h.      Then Adam came, something that still amazes me. I don’t know if I would have made it sans Adam. I probably would have come home with my Family if he didn’t join me.

7.       Wait “German Friend”, what the hell is going on with that??????

a.       My first night in Hamburg, my bunkmate came home from the Weinachtsmarkt after drei gluhwein mit rhum, sat down across from me on the windowsill and then talked. And talked.

b.      And talked.

c.       So we spent the next few days in Hamburg together, shopping, walking, talking and laughing. I convinced him that I had only told three jokes in my whole life, and that it is too cold in Canada for comedy.

d.      I also told him the appropriate way to suggest lunch was to say “gettin’ hungry, eh?”

e.      One night, I asked if I could kiss him. He said yes.

f.        Then I ruined all my allure by snoring incredibly loudly for the entire night.

g.       Even so, he asked me to visit him in Obertiefenbach.

8.       Oberwhatey-what-what now?

a.       OBERTIEFENBACH

b.      Yeah I never heard of it either. It’s a hamlet, near Limburg. Like the cheese, I think.

c.       Ok, it’s an hour or so west of Frankfurt, how about that?

d.      I went there and met REAL GERMANS and saw the REAL GERMAN COUNTRYSIDE and went to a REAL GERMAN PUB and wore REAL GERMAN LEDERHOSEN

e.      Ok, the lederhosen thing is not true.

f.        But it was very romantic, and a grand ‘ol time and I am so glad I took him up on the offer. Despite everything, I am glad I took the chance of trusting him.

9.       How many museums did you go see?

a.       It breaks down like this. Museum (art): 22. Museum (history): 19. Castles/palaces: 9. Churches: 23. Misc sights (monuments, landmarks, memorials): 20. Musical performances: 4 TOTAL: 97

b.      These numbers might be a bit low, since I just did a quick look over my photos on Facebook. I think there maybe a few more I couldn’t/didn’t take pictures of. Either way, that is a LOT a lot of things to do and see.

10.   How many hours did you spend in the Louvre?

a.       7.5

11.   What did you ///LEARN///

a.       Art is the single greatest and most important thing on this planet and you (yes you) should be making it.

b.      I can make pals with great ease and friends with great difficulty.

c.       And even so, I am loved.

d.      I want MORE TRAVELS

12.   Do you wish you were still there? Does Calgary seem boring now?

a.       Yes

b.      Yes

13.   Did Frank miss you?