Segorbe's narrow streets were crowed. Old, well-dressed Spanish ladies perched atop ladders. Most people had, in the words of our lovely hostess "a few beers down their necks" bought in the nearby plazas, which were now deserted as the crowd waited for the bulls (the fiesta would resume there in the evening). Then there is the sound of a large firework going off to signal the start of the bulls' procession down the street. To be able to see over the crowd to anticipate the exact moment to push off to the sides and out of the way one must bounce [View Full Entry]

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There is no meaningful preparation available to those moving to a new country. Guidebooks and websites gloss over culture and daily life and only provide extensive lists of identical hostels, beaches and museums. Struggle seems to be the only way to improve ones patience and understanding of local language, culture and perspectives and the impact of this inevitable struggle was minimized by the fact that Dennie and I had access to a fleet of friendly bilingual people willing to help and guide us in our pursuits to become residents. And so,, with asisstance from the school, we fell effortlessly [View Full Entry]

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1SP is a French Rapper and Couch Surfer who calls Edinburgh home. He has discovered the secret to success in the music industry; always live and perform in a place where they do not understand your lyrics. Then, without problem, the artist is able to spout complete nonsense to thunderous applause, because foreign rap must be edgy and cool. 1SP (Jean Marc) took us kindly into his home during the Fringe Festival for four nights, and showed us an Edinburgh we might have otherwise missed. We ate cheap, greasy Scottish breakfasts at the ‘Quick and Plenty’, made delicious meals w [View Full Entry]

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The reader must understand that all descriptions of festivals hitherto have been written in retrospect. Specifically, they have been written on a sweaty 9 hour bus ride from Edinburgh to London. It’s natural then, for the romantic memories of a sweet Saskatchewan Summer to be somewhat fantastical and infused with nostalgia. It is also important to note that there are times during the summer months when my friends and I are not at festivals. These times are filled with bike rides, ultimate Frisbee games, potluck suppers, greasy breakfasts and free swims at Wascana Pool. This being sai [View Full Entry]

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Darren works at the airport information desk at Heathrow’s terminal 3. He’s 31, tall, handsome and polite. His job is to direct people as far away as possible from the terminal 3 information desk, thus minimizing the lengthy cue that seems to constantly replenish itself. When he is unsure of an answer to traveller’s questions, which is most of the time, he directs them across the terminal to Susan, who is the terminal’s lone courtesy clerk. Susan’s job, as far as she is aware, is to smile and point her fingers in various directions. Inadvertently, followers of [View Full Entry]

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On the morning of the day that he died, Fidel Castro woke up in a cold sweat. There had been dreams and nightmares before, but those, he knew, were only dreams and night mares. This morning his thoughts were filled with the encroaching American Economic Imperialism. He had dreamed of men in black suits and brief cases storming Havana's beaches Their faces, he noted with disdain, resembled the agents of The Matrix from a recent hollywood film he had watched. the American popculture machine had penetrated so deep into his psyche that even his dreams were filled with Hollywood actors. [View Full Entry]

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Peaks and Valley's characterized this period of his life. The drugs were good, and good drugs ensured that the limits of reality were pushed on a regular basis. Several of his comrades had left this world for the next, the result of drug overdoses. He half mourned their half lives. To him, death wasn't a ridiculous choice. For if the purpose of drugs was to escape reality, wasn't death just the ultimate escape. But onward he went. Some weeks he would eat only vegetables and not ingest drugs or booze. Other weeks he would consume so much , that friends [View Full Entry]

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The family ate in silence. They always ate in silence. This was not because of any family rule, or pious ritual. The family ate in silence because they had nothing to say to each other. The husband had grown tired of his efforts at daily small talk, and knew that no one at the table gave a shit that the toilets had flooded at work, and that once again, he was given the responsibility to clean it up. After dinner he would return to his own devices; organizing his collection of antique toy cars, polishing his 79 Cordoba, and after [View Full Entry]

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June 20, 2006- Someone famous once wrote " We saw stars and waves, we saw sand too, and despite many crises and unforseen disasters, we were often bored, just as we are here." People travel the world in search of adventure and happiness, but no matter where they are and who their with on this rock, the universal restlessness of the human spirit prevents them from being completely satisfied. Some would say that if travel and adventure only create a a thirst for more travel then why not stop, save your money, find someone to love and get on with the [View Full Entry]

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LAX- I think its Monday and am uncertain of the date or time, but dazed and confused I stumble into the rusted 78 Ford station wagon, following the first man who approached me with offerings of cheap lodging. We drove to Venice Beach, the American epicenter of weirdness, and home to those who live on the fringes. The hostel was a flop house for junkies and degenerates, though the matted shag in the unisex bathroom upstairs tells a story of better times. The 4th of July was spent on the beach trying on hats, debating ridiculous tattoos and people watching. Strange [View Full Entry]

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