It is now Wednesday, and I'm on my flight back to Paris. This morning, Dan and I went to a French restaurant for breakfast. Then he put me on a train to Domodedovo airport and I was on my way. At the airport, I stepped into a passport control line manned by a guy who didn't seem to know what he was doing. The other guy was going at apace three times faster, but, of course, I didn't realize this until it was too late. Cest la vie.
Now, on my connecting flight, there is a group of high school students from Cincinnati. Anyone could tell they were American by how loud they were. Also, they had a gait that clearly wasn't European.
I think I'm going to be spending the night in CDG airport because I don't want to pay 130€ for a hotel room. Hopefully, I can check-in to my flight really early and get rid of my backpack.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Blog from Moscow 6-15-09
I'm in Moscow with Dan now for the final stop in my trip. It's been a lot of fun seeing him and Ruth again. Moscow has a very distinctive look especially at night. The way they light up their buildings feels very...imperial...or something.
We went to Nizhniy Novgorod over the weekend where I saw their Kremlin and we walked around. I also met Natasha and Andre, some of Dan and Ruth's friends. We had dinner at their place and had a good time. The night went late, however, as things usually do.
Last night, back in Moscow, we met up with another one of Dan's friends named Alex who has a car. We went to the river to go on a boat ride around the center of Moscow. We were planning on going on the last one for the day. However, our plans were foiled when we found out that they didn't go out unless there were at least 10 people. They didn't tell us this at the ticket window. Apparently, they used to have a sign with that information, but management came by and told them to take it down. With a brilliant verbal thrashing by Alex, we somehow got our money back. He solidly berated the lady at the ticket counter telling her this was no way to welcome visitors to Russia. She proceeded to say that she did not have any money, which was, I guess, sort of true, but not missing a beat, Alex jumps in saying, "We are in Moscow, one of the largest cities in the world. How can you not have any money?" The whole situation was quite amusing.
Since we couldn't go on the boat ride, Alex took us to a park that he found last week, and we walked and talked for a while. Then we went into the center and saw some interesting sights. At the Kremlin, Alex pointed out a spot in the wall where it didn't quite line up. I took a picture of it the following day. The basilica was beautiful. I think it might be one of the architectural wonders of the world; I'm not sure, though.
Today, we just took it easy. We just walked around and hung out. After Dan's night class, however, Alex called again and invited us to dinner. It was a traditional Ukrainian restaurant where we had Kavas, borsch, and some sort of beef dish with mushrooms and potatoes. It was really good, but it was a lot of food as well.
We went to Nizhniy Novgorod over the weekend where I saw their Kremlin and we walked around. I also met Natasha and Andre, some of Dan and Ruth's friends. We had dinner at their place and had a good time. The night went late, however, as things usually do.
Last night, back in Moscow, we met up with another one of Dan's friends named Alex who has a car. We went to the river to go on a boat ride around the center of Moscow. We were planning on going on the last one for the day. However, our plans were foiled when we found out that they didn't go out unless there were at least 10 people. They didn't tell us this at the ticket window. Apparently, they used to have a sign with that information, but management came by and told them to take it down. With a brilliant verbal thrashing by Alex, we somehow got our money back. He solidly berated the lady at the ticket counter telling her this was no way to welcome visitors to Russia. She proceeded to say that she did not have any money, which was, I guess, sort of true, but not missing a beat, Alex jumps in saying, "We are in Moscow, one of the largest cities in the world. How can you not have any money?" The whole situation was quite amusing.
Since we couldn't go on the boat ride, Alex took us to a park that he found last week, and we walked and talked for a while. Then we went into the center and saw some interesting sights. At the Kremlin, Alex pointed out a spot in the wall where it didn't quite line up. I took a picture of it the following day. The basilica was beautiful. I think it might be one of the architectural wonders of the world; I'm not sure, though.
Today, we just took it easy. We just walked around and hung out. After Dan's night class, however, Alex called again and invited us to dinner. It was a traditional Ukrainian restaurant where we had Kavas, borsch, and some sort of beef dish with mushrooms and potatoes. It was really good, but it was a lot of food as well.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Blog from Lufthansa Flight 3198 6-9-09
I just ate, probably, the best in-flight meal I've ever had. The choice was chicken or pasta so I was thinking chicken over a rice pilaf or a penne-type pasta with marinara or bolognese sauce; I chose the pasta. The pasta ended up being an Asian style noodle dish, and the chicken was over linguini with red sauce. Seeing that my pasta was actually noodles, I asked for the white wine to go with it. This ended up being a great choice. I am almost certain the white was a kabinet riesling. The nose had a nice green apple and orange/lemon zest aroma with the slightest hint of petrol. It was well balanced on the palate and had a fresh sweetness; the apple came through from the nose as well. This was the best in-flight wine I've ever had as well, and paired perfectly with the main course. Then there was a small vegetable side with green beans, peppers, tomatoes, and goat cheese which was good. A wedge of camembert and a piece of cake finished off the meal with a cup of coffee. Camembert is, of course, very tasty, and the cake had cherries and, I think, plums on top. The cake was good even for me who doesn't really like desserts. The coffee was delicious, too. I tasted like an African/South American blend to me.
Overall, this Lufthansa flight has been fantastic. The seats are comfortable, the food is good, and they even serve good beer (Warsteiner, of which I'm a fan) which can be expected of a German company ;-)
Also, I'll post something about Venice soon.
Overall, this Lufthansa flight has been fantastic. The seats are comfortable, the food is good, and they even serve good beer (Warsteiner, of which I'm a fan) which can be expected of a German company ;-)
Also, I'll post something about Venice soon.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Blog from Rome 6-4-09
I've seen so much in the past two days. Between the Vatican City yesterday and the Colosseum today, I was completely blown away. I couldn't take enough pictures to capture all that I saw. The Pope, Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Mind. Blown. Thanks. I had originally intended to do both the Vatican and Colosseum in the same day. As I soon found out, not possible if you really want to take it all in. The Sistine Chapel was beautiful, of course, but so were all the other chapels. The Colosseum was incredible to see in person. Definitely a major engineering feat. It brought to life a lot of what I learned about the Sabine empire from Cultures & Literature of the New Testament. Then was the Roman Forum and the Palatine. You really needed to use your imagination at the Forum to see what it would have been like at its pinnacle, but to think that that was the epitome of democracy.
The guys I roomed with at the hostel are pretty cool. One guy is from Oklahoma and is doing the same thing as I. He left for home today to be in his brother's wedding this weekend. I learned he was a Christian, so that was neat. We talked a little about church, and I recommended he read Orthodoxy. The other two are Irish and have come to Rome for four days. They are pretty cool, too.
There's so much more to say, but I'm tired, and I leave for Venice in the morning so that's all I'm going to write.
The guys I roomed with at the hostel are pretty cool. One guy is from Oklahoma and is doing the same thing as I. He left for home today to be in his brother's wedding this weekend. I learned he was a Christian, so that was neat. We talked a little about church, and I recommended he read Orthodoxy. The other two are Irish and have come to Rome for four days. They are pretty cool, too.
There's so much more to say, but I'm tired, and I leave for Venice in the morning so that's all I'm going to write.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Blog from Rome 6-2-09
So much has happened today! Rome has such a great "feel" to it. Everything seems old. I guess having architecture that's two millennia old helps. What a stark contrast from yesterday.
I started the day "finding" my way to the hostel again. I took the subway which, compared to London and Paris's rail systems, is a bit lackluster; at least on the B line. There are only two lines so it's easy to keep track of ;) I walked almost everywhere today after I left the hostel; it felt really good after sitting on trains all day yesterday. My first mission was to get a good cup of coffee. A quick Google search at the hostel yielded two prospects - Tazza D'Oro and Sant'Eustachio Il Caffe. Sant'Eustachio is near legendary.
Along the way I stopped by several sites. The main attraction was the Trevi Fountain which was beautiful. I got a gelato at Bar Gelateria and studied the fountain for a little while. There were a few other stops as well.
Then, I set off for Tazza D'Oro first because it was just a little closer (and by closer I mean about 2 min walking). It was very good, like one of the better/best shots I've pulled on my own machine back home. For 0.80 Euro it was fantastic. Then, I stopped by the Pantheon for a while. That was really neat. The architecture was beautiful. Then, it was onto Sant'Eustachio Il Caffe. This was a little shop with a few tables out front if you wanted to be waited on. Inside was a coffee bar with two Astoria machines; one was used for those sitting outside and the other for those standing at the coffee bar. You pay for whatever you order then stand in the mob waiting for their coffee with your receipt. Once you make it to the front the server takes your ticket and gives the orders to the man making the drinks. This must really be seen in person to be appreciated. The man making the drinks cranks out espressos like there's no tomorrow, yet keeps a calm countenance assuring you he's a pro. I ordered the Gran Caffe for 2.20 Euro - nearly three times the price of Tazza. It was the best espresso I had ever had; no close seconds. Just the right amount of sugar, what seemed like miles of crema, and perfectly balanced. It was actually life changing.
After my coffee fix, I set off for the Colosseum. Even though it wasn't a good day to go in and see everything, I had to see it. So, I slowly made my way there stopping at several neat places. As I approached, I turned a corner, and, BOOM, there it was. That was a surreal moment for me. To think, that has been there since the first century AD. Since it was raining a little, I only walked around the perimeter. I'm going back tomorrow after I go to the Vatican.
After this, I made my way back to Sant'Eustachio because I had to have another espresso. Then, I went back to the Trevi Fountain to get a slice of pizza and another gelato at Bar Gelateria. Only 3 Euro for one of the best slices of pizza I'd ever had.
That pretty much completes my first day in Rome. It was a good one - no, a great one. Now I'm back at the hostel where they have free pizza and beer on Tuesday nights. Pretty good pizza, alright beer. It will be nice to sleep in an actual bed after sleeping on that train last night.
I started the day "finding" my way to the hostel again. I took the subway which, compared to London and Paris's rail systems, is a bit lackluster; at least on the B line. There are only two lines so it's easy to keep track of ;) I walked almost everywhere today after I left the hostel; it felt really good after sitting on trains all day yesterday. My first mission was to get a good cup of coffee. A quick Google search at the hostel yielded two prospects - Tazza D'Oro and Sant'Eustachio Il Caffe. Sant'Eustachio is near legendary.
Along the way I stopped by several sites. The main attraction was the Trevi Fountain which was beautiful. I got a gelato at Bar Gelateria and studied the fountain for a little while. There were a few other stops as well.
Then, I set off for Tazza D'Oro first because it was just a little closer (and by closer I mean about 2 min walking). It was very good, like one of the better/best shots I've pulled on my own machine back home. For 0.80 Euro it was fantastic. Then, I stopped by the Pantheon for a while. That was really neat. The architecture was beautiful. Then, it was onto Sant'Eustachio Il Caffe. This was a little shop with a few tables out front if you wanted to be waited on. Inside was a coffee bar with two Astoria machines; one was used for those sitting outside and the other for those standing at the coffee bar. You pay for whatever you order then stand in the mob waiting for their coffee with your receipt. Once you make it to the front the server takes your ticket and gives the orders to the man making the drinks. This must really be seen in person to be appreciated. The man making the drinks cranks out espressos like there's no tomorrow, yet keeps a calm countenance assuring you he's a pro. I ordered the Gran Caffe for 2.20 Euro - nearly three times the price of Tazza. It was the best espresso I had ever had; no close seconds. Just the right amount of sugar, what seemed like miles of crema, and perfectly balanced. It was actually life changing.
After my coffee fix, I set off for the Colosseum. Even though it wasn't a good day to go in and see everything, I had to see it. So, I slowly made my way there stopping at several neat places. As I approached, I turned a corner, and, BOOM, there it was. That was a surreal moment for me. To think, that has been there since the first century AD. Since it was raining a little, I only walked around the perimeter. I'm going back tomorrow after I go to the Vatican.
After this, I made my way back to Sant'Eustachio because I had to have another espresso. Then, I went back to the Trevi Fountain to get a slice of pizza and another gelato at Bar Gelateria. Only 3 Euro for one of the best slices of pizza I'd ever had.
That pretty much completes my first day in Rome. It was a good one - no, a great one. Now I'm back at the hostel where they have free pizza and beer on Tuesday nights. Pretty good pizza, alright beer. It will be nice to sleep in an actual bed after sleeping on that train last night.
Blog from Nice 6-1-09
Well, it looks like I'll be sleeping on a train tonight because my trains this morning were delayed. Avignon to Aix-en-Provence to Nice. That's what I did today. In a few hours I'll be on my way to Milan then an overnight train to Rome. What a day. Sitting on a train all day is killing my average walking miles per day. Not really much to talk about.
How's everyone doing back home? What are you guys up to? Leave comments for me to read!
How's everyone doing back home? What are you guys up to? Leave comments for me to read!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Blog from Avignon 5-30-09
What a day. I spent most of the day on trains and in stations. The scenery was nice though. The French countryside was beautiful, and the small towns I passed through were quite picturesque. The problems came when my first train was late by an hour. Really? An hour? In perfect weather no less. Modern technology should be able to do a little better than that. That episode caused me to miss my next train from Marseilles to Avignon which was a TGV high speed train (which are awesome BTW). A 25 minute stop at the station turned into an hour and a heif, and a 40 minute train ride turned into 2 hours. Oh well. I'm now sitting in my hotel lobby where I can get free wifi.
It looks like I don't get to do a Rhone Valley wine tour either. Tours don't typically run on Sundays, I guess. Oh well. I'll be another nice time of rest before I hit Rome. I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of walking around there.
One of the biggest annoyances so far on this trip for me has been the disconnect from technology. It's even cost me a fair chunk of change at internet cafes and the like. Back home I always have an internet connection through my phone which often gets me out of trouble relatively effortlessly. Here, I have no data. Instead of getting on Google Maps to find my way from a station I have to find a map and start walking hoping I can remember enough of the station map to get me where I need to go (often to a hostel/hotel where I can get a paper map). Then there are the e-mails that would be helpful to have on hand. More than once, I've had hostel addresses and directions in an e-mail which I can't access when I need because they're on an online server. These are usually pushed to my phone and (now stolen) iPod touch so they're always on hand. None of that here. Now I'm just complaining, but I needed to throw that out there.
Hope everyone is doing well back home. See you in a few weeks.
It looks like I don't get to do a Rhone Valley wine tour either. Tours don't typically run on Sundays, I guess. Oh well. I'll be another nice time of rest before I hit Rome. I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of walking around there.
One of the biggest annoyances so far on this trip for me has been the disconnect from technology. It's even cost me a fair chunk of change at internet cafes and the like. Back home I always have an internet connection through my phone which often gets me out of trouble relatively effortlessly. Here, I have no data. Instead of getting on Google Maps to find my way from a station I have to find a map and start walking hoping I can remember enough of the station map to get me where I need to go (often to a hostel/hotel where I can get a paper map). Then there are the e-mails that would be helpful to have on hand. More than once, I've had hostel addresses and directions in an e-mail which I can't access when I need because they're on an online server. These are usually pushed to my phone and (now stolen) iPod touch so they're always on hand. None of that here. Now I'm just complaining, but I needed to throw that out there.
Hope everyone is doing well back home. See you in a few weeks.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Blog from Bordeaux 5-29-09
Go Barcelona!!! Sadly, I didn't get to see any of the game, but I did see the results.
It's noon in Bordeaux, and I'm getting ready to head out for a little while. I didn't get into a wine tour partly because I didn't plan ahead and get one set up, partly because most tours want groups to sign up rather than individuals. Oh well, it gives me another reason to come back. It's kind of nice to have a leisurely day, though. I've done a lot of walking since I landed in London nine days ago. Yesterday was quite interesting. When I arrived in Bordeaux, I realized I didn't have a map. Moreover, I also realized I didn't even know the address of the hotel I'm staying at. Luckily, I was able to grab a wifi signal that allowed me onto the Google servers. I found the address of the hotel and directions via google maps. I was even able to check my gmail accounts and send an e-mail. Good road. Finding the hotel wasn't as complicated as the instructions indicated. The tricky part was that road names change constantly; for about a 1km stretch the road changed five times. Shenanigans.
Hopefully, I'll be able to find a Rhone Valley wine tour tomorrow when I'm in Avignon, but if not, oh well. It's fun exploring new cities. And, in a few more days I'll be in Rome where I'll be drinking phenomenal coffee whilst seeing sites that were around when Jesus walked the earth.
Yesterday, David told me that our friends from the station were also Christians. Very neat. They seemed like they might be, but you can never really know and it didn't come up in conversation. I was glad we could help them.
It's noon in Bordeaux, and I'm getting ready to head out for a little while. I didn't get into a wine tour partly because I didn't plan ahead and get one set up, partly because most tours want groups to sign up rather than individuals. Oh well, it gives me another reason to come back. It's kind of nice to have a leisurely day, though. I've done a lot of walking since I landed in London nine days ago. Yesterday was quite interesting. When I arrived in Bordeaux, I realized I didn't have a map. Moreover, I also realized I didn't even know the address of the hotel I'm staying at. Luckily, I was able to grab a wifi signal that allowed me onto the Google servers. I found the address of the hotel and directions via google maps. I was even able to check my gmail accounts and send an e-mail. Good road. Finding the hotel wasn't as complicated as the instructions indicated. The tricky part was that road names change constantly; for about a 1km stretch the road changed five times. Shenanigans.
Hopefully, I'll be able to find a Rhone Valley wine tour tomorrow when I'm in Avignon, but if not, oh well. It's fun exploring new cities. And, in a few more days I'll be in Rome where I'll be drinking phenomenal coffee whilst seeing sites that were around when Jesus walked the earth.
Yesterday, David told me that our friends from the station were also Christians. Very neat. They seemed like they might be, but you can never really know and it didn't come up in conversation. I was glad we could help them.
Blog from Paris 5-27-09
Versailles was beautiful. I got there right before it rained, but it ended up clearing up after a half hour. I walked around a lot of little side trails which made me want to go backpacking. The fountains in the garden were really neat, but I didn't get to all of them. Half of the ones I saw weren't even on because they only run for certain hours of the day. I didn't realize this when I first got there because I couldn't really read the French map of the area.
I met up with David last night. We went to an awesome little restaurant called Cav du Vin (I think) which is translated as The Wine Cave. It had a great selection of wines, and we had a Rhone with cheese and meat plates. It was perfect. Then, we went to Sacre Coeur which is the highest point in Paris where we got a great view of the whole city.
Today, the day we had planned turned out nothing like our plan. Our day started off late (big surprise), and at Gare du Nord we ended up meeting a group of three travelers from the States who couldn't get a train to Bordeaux. Their names are Meredith, Robert, and Mike. They hung out with us for the day. This we did in place of visiting a well-known cemetery. We had lunch on the Pont des Arts bridge across the Seine River because another picnic we had planned was cancelled. Then we walked around all day. We then had dinner at Thomas's apartment (not really his apartment, but he's taking care of it for the Plasters). David made quiche and a mushroom appetizer and we had a 2006 Bordeaux from Haut Medoc. It was very tasty. Now we're just hanging out. I think we're going to head to a pub to catch some of the Champions League final. Manchester United v. Barcelona. Fantastic. I've been craving some soccer in my life.
It was really good to see David. First, it was good to see a familiar face. Second, it helped to have someone who could speak French. The last night we talked for a while which was really good for me. And, I was able to go to more "French" places to eat instead of just the sandwich shops I could find (although those sandwiches were very tasty). Hanging out with David was cathartic, and I feel quite refreshed.
Blog from Paris 5-26-09
I'm sitting at a station right now waiting for my train to Versailles. I got on the wrong train at the last stop because trains for three different destinations run on the same line for a little while. Good thing I figured it out before lines split!
Paris has been an interesting experience. Not knowing any of the language has been an encumbrance, but not as much as I had expected. I certainly am not getting as much out of this city as I should because of it, though.
So far, I've been to Notre Dame Cathedral, The Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. Those are the big tourist spots; I don't really know where else to go. Otherwise, I've just been wandering around the city. I'm trying to find a convenience store of some sort because I left my toothbrush at the last hostel, but I can't seem to find one. I think it's because I'm in the touristy areas and not where the locals spend their time.
I'm supposed to meet up with David Thornton sometime, but he hasn't called me yet. That's why I decided to go to Versailles. Maybe we'll get together for dinner.
I've noticed since shortly after I arrived in Paris that I've become "numb" to much of what's going on around me. At the Louvre, for instance, I was looking at some of the most celebrated pieces of art in history - Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, the Rosetta Stone - and I wasn't filled with the overwhelming awe that others speak about and that I have experienced before. I think it's because so much is going on - new experiences, places, languages - that my mind is closing itself off so I don't become too overwhelmed. In a sense this is good in that it will allow me to get through this trip without any major difficulties, but bad because I won't have as many of the persistent memories and emotions that others usually have. This trip is certainly stretching me. Next time, I think I'll be able to handle much more before this numbness happens. Also, being with someone else would help. Aside from ordering food, I haven't said much since I arrived. We'll see what happens.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Troubles from afar
What started as a great trip has proven to result in much angst. Tickets to Paris by train or air are exorbitantly expensive and travel by bus takes over 8 hours and seats are no longer available. Neither of these options is preferable. On top of this, more of my reservations for the planned Comfort Inns are wrong. I’m down to 2 hotel stays. However, if I can find good hostels to stay at, I may be able to recoup some of the additional travel costs. The internet also went down at the Hostel a little while ago so I am unable to do anymore research for hostels. God is testing me pretty hard, but it will all work out. On the bright side, I’m going to see Nathanael tomorrow, and I can work on my French (which is currently non-existent) on the bus ride.
Blogging from London
Now that I have a moment to sit and breathe, I can talk about how this trip is going. Even though I’m only a couple days into this, a lot has gone on. My first day getting to the city was a little hectic. I booked my hostel in the car on the way to O’Hare because my hotel plans were scrapped. Pretty interesting. I managed to make it to the subway station in the proper area without much difficulty; the Tube is pretty easy to figure out. I tried to find my way to the hostel with an address and vague memories of the map I looked at in the states. Didn’t go so well. I knew it couldn’t be far though. I noticed there were maps on the inside of the bus terminals. After looking at a few terminals, I found the road my hostel was on, and I was set.
Everyone in the hostel was very nice. Most people there seemed to be doing the same sort of thing and got along really well. Everyone gave each other tips and tried to help whenever they could. I did a walking tour of London with a few people I met there that happened to be from Illinois. It was nice to be with some other people. We ended up spending most of the day together and even went on the Pub Crawl later that night.
Initially, I was only going to stay out for a couple of the bars of the Pub Crawl because one of the guys wanted to get some sleep because of an early day. How quickly plans change when alcohol (and girls) is involved. He is a bit of a partier and ended up staying for all the bars. Consequently, so did I. We had a good time, but it got expensive in a hurry. This experience further reinforced the fact that I am totally NOT into the bar/club scene.
Today (the 22nd) got a little hectic. I was busy getting plans finalized for my trip to Oxford tomorrow and figuring out how I’m getting to France on Sunday. I had to find tickets and pick them up which turned out to be a huge hassle. Getting to France is going to be a little tricky. Because I am awful at planning anything, I didn’t book my tickets early enough, and it might end up costing me over $200 to get to Paris; that’s over double what it was supposed to be. I’m now trying to find a cheap flight so I can make my hotel reservation. Otherwise, I think I’ll have to suck it up and pay the extortionist price for the chunnel train ticket.
Other than those hang-ups, the day is going well. I had a late lunch at Trafalgar Square and did some reading in the lawn in front of Westminster Abbey. I had initially gone there to hear the choir, but, of course, I was 10 minutes late. Now, on my way back to the hostel, I stopped by Caffé Nero for a ristretto and a bite to eat while typing this post.
Everyone in the hostel was very nice. Most people there seemed to be doing the same sort of thing and got along really well. Everyone gave each other tips and tried to help whenever they could. I did a walking tour of London with a few people I met there that happened to be from Illinois. It was nice to be with some other people. We ended up spending most of the day together and even went on the Pub Crawl later that night.
Initially, I was only going to stay out for a couple of the bars of the Pub Crawl because one of the guys wanted to get some sleep because of an early day. How quickly plans change when alcohol (and girls) is involved. He is a bit of a partier and ended up staying for all the bars. Consequently, so did I. We had a good time, but it got expensive in a hurry. This experience further reinforced the fact that I am totally NOT into the bar/club scene.
Today (the 22nd) got a little hectic. I was busy getting plans finalized for my trip to Oxford tomorrow and figuring out how I’m getting to France on Sunday. I had to find tickets and pick them up which turned out to be a huge hassle. Getting to France is going to be a little tricky. Because I am awful at planning anything, I didn’t book my tickets early enough, and it might end up costing me over $200 to get to Paris; that’s over double what it was supposed to be. I’m now trying to find a cheap flight so I can make my hotel reservation. Otherwise, I think I’ll have to suck it up and pay the extortionist price for the chunnel train ticket.
Other than those hang-ups, the day is going well. I had a late lunch at Trafalgar Square and did some reading in the lawn in front of Westminster Abbey. I had initially gone there to hear the choir, but, of course, I was 10 minutes late. Now, on my way back to the hostel, I stopped by Caffé Nero for a ristretto and a bite to eat while typing this post.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
If I Only Had a Brain
My mind has been quite dull for the past few days. It's like there's a fog in my head, and I can't think properly. I don't have any drive to study and work on papers so this has been difficult with regard to my academics. I don't even have the will power to go to class. Worst of all is that my speech has become lax. I think grammar is extremely important in communication, and syntax and structure have become almost a chore to think about. I don't want to think about tense or agreement; I might as well not talk.
This needs to end. If I can't think clearly, I am a shell of who I should be. I need my mental faculties to be sharp to feel alive and do what I need to do. I feel like a ghost who is neither fully present in this world but not yet passed to the next. Life is spinning around me, but I am stagnant, stuck in stasis. This is a state of affairs that feels worse than nonexistence because I feel powerless to move.
The conundrum is that I need to pull myself out of this but don't have the drive to do anything.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Road Trips
Road trips are fun. Especially when you're going to visit friends you haven't seen in a while.
Such is the preface to my trip to Mazomanie, Wisconsin. I came here for the weekend to visit the Wicks who are dear freinds of mine whom I haven't seen in almost a year. So, I hop in my brother's car - long story - and six hours later, I'm talking to Matt. It was really good catching up with him this first night.
The ride up here, however, was different than any of my previous road trips in that I posted updates to Twitter, and consequently Facebook, throughout my journey. This new element made things quite interesting. Reading the comments left by friends made things much more interesting than just sitting in a car for a number of hours as had been my practice previously. It made things more enjoyable, and I felt like they were partaking in my experiences.
That's all I want to say for right now; just a quick update. Big day tomorrow filled with coffee, sushi, and exploring Madison.
-Jon Husen
Such is the preface to my trip to Mazomanie, Wisconsin. I came here for the weekend to visit the Wicks who are dear freinds of mine whom I haven't seen in almost a year. So, I hop in my brother's car - long story - and six hours later, I'm talking to Matt. It was really good catching up with him this first night.
The ride up here, however, was different than any of my previous road trips in that I posted updates to Twitter, and consequently Facebook, throughout my journey. This new element made things quite interesting. Reading the comments left by friends made things much more interesting than just sitting in a car for a number of hours as had been my practice previously. It made things more enjoyable, and I felt like they were partaking in my experiences.
That's all I want to say for right now; just a quick update. Big day tomorrow filled with coffee, sushi, and exploring Madison.
-Jon Husen
Friday, March 6, 2009
Testimonial Injustice
As a preface to the following, these events do not, in fact, affect me in any sort of pragmatic manner. My contention is a philosophical one, and this is written in order to incite others to think about the implications of their actions to a greater degree.
Earlier this week, a friend beckoned me in saying he wanted to transfer a batch of beer into the secondary fermenter. I thought it was too early, so I told him on how to take specific gravity measurements in order to confirm fermentation had indeed finished. The next day, he informed me of the gravity readings, and I voiced concern that I didn't seem right. He went ahead and did the transfer. Today, he took another reading, and it was indicative of fermentation having not been completed. For the purposes of this writing, the details of brewing do not need to be known; just that fermentation should be complete before the brew is transferred.
Against this backdrop, I believe to have been the recipient of testimonial injustice. Testimonial injustice is the main subset of epistemic injustice which, of course, is in the realm of epistemology, the study of knowledge and how one comes to know things. Testimonial injustice is where one person is telling another something, and the hearer, due to some prejudice, denigrates the level of credibility given to the speaker. This results in a specific form of injustice where the hearer undermines the speaker, specifically in his capacity as a giver of knowledge.
After inciting my opinion, my friend essentially ignored my advice and did what he wanted. This was the incident of testimonial injustice. Without a prejudice, and to an extent the falsification of that prejudice, testimonial injustice cannot occur. The prejudice was that we started brewing together and thus have equal experience. His opinion would be as valid as mine. However, in practice experience alone is not the entirety of what ought to be considered. One might have been exposed to this earlier on, or the other may have done extensive research on the process, or whatever. In this particular case, I have done a great deal of reading and research about this subject matter and have the scientific background in chemistry and microbiology to understand the dynamics of fermentation. This is said not to elevate myself above reproach or anything of that nature, but to establish that I do possess knowledge about this.
After describing the setting and defining terms, one comes to the question "Why is this an injustice?" My position as a giver of knowledge was undermined by the discrediting of my testimony. A knower claims to possess a form of rationality which one uses to gain knowledge. In philosophy, rationality is considered an essential human value that makes us special and distinct from all other organisms. Biblically, I find evidence for this position as well. Testimonial injustice results in the undermining of one's position as a knower and consequently in a capacity - rationality - essential for human value. Even though this a very trivial matter, and thus my position as a giver of knowledge was undermined in a very small capacity, my very humanity was called into question even if only slightly. This, friends, is a grave proposition.
-Jon Husen
Earlier this week, a friend beckoned me in saying he wanted to transfer a batch of beer into the secondary fermenter. I thought it was too early, so I told him on how to take specific gravity measurements in order to confirm fermentation had indeed finished. The next day, he informed me of the gravity readings, and I voiced concern that I didn't seem right. He went ahead and did the transfer. Today, he took another reading, and it was indicative of fermentation having not been completed. For the purposes of this writing, the details of brewing do not need to be known; just that fermentation should be complete before the brew is transferred.
Against this backdrop, I believe to have been the recipient of testimonial injustice. Testimonial injustice is the main subset of epistemic injustice which, of course, is in the realm of epistemology, the study of knowledge and how one comes to know things. Testimonial injustice is where one person is telling another something, and the hearer, due to some prejudice, denigrates the level of credibility given to the speaker. This results in a specific form of injustice where the hearer undermines the speaker, specifically in his capacity as a giver of knowledge.
After inciting my opinion, my friend essentially ignored my advice and did what he wanted. This was the incident of testimonial injustice. Without a prejudice, and to an extent the falsification of that prejudice, testimonial injustice cannot occur. The prejudice was that we started brewing together and thus have equal experience. His opinion would be as valid as mine. However, in practice experience alone is not the entirety of what ought to be considered. One might have been exposed to this earlier on, or the other may have done extensive research on the process, or whatever. In this particular case, I have done a great deal of reading and research about this subject matter and have the scientific background in chemistry and microbiology to understand the dynamics of fermentation. This is said not to elevate myself above reproach or anything of that nature, but to establish that I do possess knowledge about this.
After describing the setting and defining terms, one comes to the question "Why is this an injustice?" My position as a giver of knowledge was undermined by the discrediting of my testimony. A knower claims to possess a form of rationality which one uses to gain knowledge. In philosophy, rationality is considered an essential human value that makes us special and distinct from all other organisms. Biblically, I find evidence for this position as well. Testimonial injustice results in the undermining of one's position as a knower and consequently in a capacity - rationality - essential for human value. Even though this a very trivial matter, and thus my position as a giver of knowledge was undermined in a very small capacity, my very humanity was called into question even if only slightly. This, friends, is a grave proposition.
-Jon Husen
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
From my reading this morning and the Mormons
4:23-24
This is something I tend to wrestle with quite a bit. Most people know that, for better or for worse, I don't tend to say much. I usually only speak if I think my comments are absolutely necessary, and often I don't say anything even if I do think it's necessary. I'm perfectly content with allowing the conversation to go on without my input; I guess having a conversation with me is probably pretty dull.
At any rate, I'm trying to change and be a little more outspoken because there is a time for everything, even speaking, just as it is said in Ecclesiastes, and I'm realizing that I can add more to a discussion than I have previously thought. This was made blatantly apparent this past weekend when some friends and I met with some Mormons. There was tension in the air at times, but overall it was a very good night. My only tangible contribution in the two hour dialogue was a comment about the Dead Sea Scrolls lending evidence to the accuracy of the Bible. The rest of the time I was thinking about different passages of scripture that would apply to whatever topic we were on at the time.
After the Mormons left, the group discussed what had talked about, and it was in this quorum that I expounded on what I had been thinking. At this, a friend asked, "Why didn't you say anything? That would have been really beneficial." Initially, I was taken aback, and didn't have a response. I thought to myself "Really? I didn't think it was terribly insightful at the time..."
My initial hesitance to speaking was due to my not wanting to come across as combative because I really like to get into debating, but that's not the whole story. The next major component to why I didn't speak was because I thought everyone else was probably thinking the same thing and made the same connections I had. I assume this because among my friends present that night, I was probably the least "churched" one there. As far as I know, everyone else had essentially grown up in the church; I didn't start until high school. Given this, my conclusion was that everyone knows at least what I know as far as Biblical knowledge is concerned. The final component to my refrain from speaking that underpins all else is that I am quite insecure about what I know. During my few years on this earth, I have amassed a fair amount of knowledge, but am daunted by the copious amounts I have not even begun to approach. I believe it was Newton who said something to the effect of: I have been but a boy playing by the seashore finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell while the whole ocean of truth lay undiscovered before me. How much more thoughtful was Newton than I? I don't feel like I have any authority to speak about anything, nevermind the ability to compile, organize, and communicate it effectively.
These two experiences, the reading and the Mormons, have shown me that I need to make my thoughts more public regardless of my attitude towards them. Some of what I say may be beneficial; maybe even a lot of it. Some of what I say will be shot down. If I don't allow my ideas to be tested no one will ever know. And, that would not be efficacious for anyone, not the least of which would be myself.
-Jon Husen
Do not refrain from speaking at the crucial time, and do not hide your wisdom.I read this this morning. I'm not going to say where it's from because I don't want anyone who might read this to bring any preconceived notions about it...but if you know, leave it in the comments and I'll be impressed; so impressed, in fact, that I'll buy you lunch or dinner or something.
For wisdom is known through speech, and education through the words of the tongue.
This is something I tend to wrestle with quite a bit. Most people know that, for better or for worse, I don't tend to say much. I usually only speak if I think my comments are absolutely necessary, and often I don't say anything even if I do think it's necessary. I'm perfectly content with allowing the conversation to go on without my input; I guess having a conversation with me is probably pretty dull.
At any rate, I'm trying to change and be a little more outspoken because there is a time for everything, even speaking, just as it is said in Ecclesiastes, and I'm realizing that I can add more to a discussion than I have previously thought. This was made blatantly apparent this past weekend when some friends and I met with some Mormons. There was tension in the air at times, but overall it was a very good night. My only tangible contribution in the two hour dialogue was a comment about the Dead Sea Scrolls lending evidence to the accuracy of the Bible. The rest of the time I was thinking about different passages of scripture that would apply to whatever topic we were on at the time.
After the Mormons left, the group discussed what had talked about, and it was in this quorum that I expounded on what I had been thinking. At this, a friend asked, "Why didn't you say anything? That would have been really beneficial." Initially, I was taken aback, and didn't have a response. I thought to myself "Really? I didn't think it was terribly insightful at the time..."
My initial hesitance to speaking was due to my not wanting to come across as combative because I really like to get into debating, but that's not the whole story. The next major component to why I didn't speak was because I thought everyone else was probably thinking the same thing and made the same connections I had. I assume this because among my friends present that night, I was probably the least "churched" one there. As far as I know, everyone else had essentially grown up in the church; I didn't start until high school. Given this, my conclusion was that everyone knows at least what I know as far as Biblical knowledge is concerned. The final component to my refrain from speaking that underpins all else is that I am quite insecure about what I know. During my few years on this earth, I have amassed a fair amount of knowledge, but am daunted by the copious amounts I have not even begun to approach. I believe it was Newton who said something to the effect of: I have been but a boy playing by the seashore finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell while the whole ocean of truth lay undiscovered before me. How much more thoughtful was Newton than I? I don't feel like I have any authority to speak about anything, nevermind the ability to compile, organize, and communicate it effectively.
These two experiences, the reading and the Mormons, have shown me that I need to make my thoughts more public regardless of my attitude towards them. Some of what I say may be beneficial; maybe even a lot of it. Some of what I say will be shot down. If I don't allow my ideas to be tested no one will ever know. And, that would not be efficacious for anyone, not the least of which would be myself.
-Jon Husen
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thinking about ...
Several weeks ago, I was talking with some friends, and somewhere in the conversation I mentioned that I thought about stuff a lot. When one friend asked me what I thought about, I kind of stumbled through an answer for her because, honestly, I hadn't thought much about what I think about. And, the content of what I think about is rather diverse.
So, I'm going to conduct a quick, little experiment. I'm going to write down everything I think about for the next several minutes. Here we go...
This is going to be an easy night at work. I have a lot of calculus home work to do. I'm lazy and don't want to do it. Plus, I don't understand it. Am I approaching the limit of my mathematical abilities? I hope not because, all things considered, this isn't all that difficult. Why do I have so many windows and tabs open on my screen? Emily asked me to meet with some Mormons with her. Apparently, I know something? I don't really know anything...about anything. That's about all I learned in college. What am I going to do after college? I'm lost if I don't get into med school. Maybe I'll go to Europe and not come back... I could work at a vineyard in France. That would be fun. I could learn French and drink great wine... But, what would I do with all my stuff? I can't keep it, and I'm too lazy to sell all of it. SOCCER!!! Don't know if we're going to actually play on Sunday with it projected to being in the low 30s, but I'm still going to try. Evan will play, and Paul. Why don't more Christians read the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and the church fathers? How can you really understand the Jewish ideology surrounding and throughout the NT without a proper understanding of the cultural milieu of that time? There was so much going on that no one ever talks about these days.
There you have it. Looks like a bunch of random thoughts, but this is more or less representative; sometimes I'm more focused, others I'm more scattered.
So, if anyone reads this, what do you think about? The same types of things as me or radically different?
So, I'm going to conduct a quick, little experiment. I'm going to write down everything I think about for the next several minutes. Here we go...
This is going to be an easy night at work. I have a lot of calculus home work to do. I'm lazy and don't want to do it. Plus, I don't understand it. Am I approaching the limit of my mathematical abilities? I hope not because, all things considered, this isn't all that difficult. Why do I have so many windows and tabs open on my screen? Emily asked me to meet with some Mormons with her. Apparently, I know something? I don't really know anything...about anything. That's about all I learned in college. What am I going to do after college? I'm lost if I don't get into med school. Maybe I'll go to Europe and not come back... I could work at a vineyard in France. That would be fun. I could learn French and drink great wine... But, what would I do with all my stuff? I can't keep it, and I'm too lazy to sell all of it. SOCCER!!! Don't know if we're going to actually play on Sunday with it projected to being in the low 30s, but I'm still going to try. Evan will play, and Paul. Why don't more Christians read the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and the church fathers? How can you really understand the Jewish ideology surrounding and throughout the NT without a proper understanding of the cultural milieu of that time? There was so much going on that no one ever talks about these days.
There you have it. Looks like a bunch of random thoughts, but this is more or less representative; sometimes I'm more focused, others I'm more scattered.
So, if anyone reads this, what do you think about? The same types of things as me or radically different?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Done
I just finished my interview. I was in there for 50 min!? I think it was only supposed to be for about 30. I don't know if going over was good or bad; oh well.
I still wasn't nervous which is a little disconcerting. We'll see what happens. Dr. Klemsz was really nice, but I didn't get a feel for whether he liked me or not. I typically don't care about what people think of me, but when he's my advocate to the admissions board, it's kind of important.
Overall, this has been a good experience. It was quite informative with regard to the whole process.
Apparently Dr. J hasn't sent his letter of recommendation for me yet even though he told me he did when I talked to him a month ago. Thanks for pulling through, Dr. J.
-Jon Husen
I still wasn't nervous which is a little disconcerting. We'll see what happens. Dr. Klemsz was really nice, but I didn't get a feel for whether he liked me or not. I typically don't care about what people think of me, but when he's my advocate to the admissions board, it's kind of important.
Overall, this has been a good experience. It was quite informative with regard to the whole process.
Apparently Dr. J hasn't sent his letter of recommendation for me yet even though he told me he did when I talked to him a month ago. Thanks for pulling through, Dr. J.
-Jon Husen
IUSM Update
b I'm looking around and I've realized that I'm the ONLY ONE NOT WEARING A BLACK SUIT. Oh well, maybe It'll be a good distinguishing factor.
IUSM Med School Interview
I'm interviewing at the IU School of Medicine today. This could possibly be one of the biggest deals of my life thus far. I just finished the financial aid presentation, and I'm waiting until lunch, I guess.
Surprisingly, I'm not too nervous. That wil probably change in the interview, though. I've heard it's pretty laid back. Hopefully I'll set up a good raport with my interviewers.
I'll continue to post periodic updates throughout the day via my phone for anyone who might care.
-Jon Husen
Surprisingly, I'm not too nervous. That wil probably change in the interview, though. I've heard it's pretty laid back. Hopefully I'll set up a good raport with my interviewers.
I'll continue to post periodic updates throughout the day via my phone for anyone who might care.
-Jon Husen
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