Americana

Our hotel that was described as being "in the city center" in Caen turned out to be more on the north end of town. Consequently, the only place to eat dinner was this "Buffalo Grill". Apparently its this big American/cowboy & indian themed place. Its mostly a steakhouse type thing, the decor is loosely "Western" with bad indian art and pictures of Buffalo Bill, and you can also order "American Onion Rings" and most the menu either has "American" or some state like "Montana" in the title. What's more weird is they tend to build them (they had tv's showing other locations) in the old style of Stuckey's. You know the big A-frame buildings of the 50's and 60's.

Oh you Scots

In London I was called a "Colonist" by a vert drunk Scotsman. Accurate and funny at the same time.

I didn't realize how much of the trip hasn't been planned. Hopefully we can figure out the pesky issue of actually how to get to Edinburgh to Paris by 9pm tomorrow.

When to drink

So the situation is I'm in London (check out Team Khateer for other stuff on this).

If you forgot/don't know drinking culture in Europe is far different from how it is in America. The question you have in America is "where can i drink outside?", in Europe its more "where can't I drink outside?".

People stand outside the pubs drinking pints. I admit I don't totally understand pub/cafe culture in Europe (like ordering to go, etc.-it can get kinda complicated), but I do like the standing around in the street and drinking a glass of whatever and chatting.

So today me and Frank are walking around and we come to a sign that said something to the effect "Police might ask you to stop drinking in this area". It was kinda funny considering seeing people empty wine bottles while sitting on benches. Not the secretive public drinking you do in America, just slamming down 750ml of wine people watching. Unfortunately for the alcoholics, the fascists are now saying you might now able to possibly drink in some certain area. Maybe.

Its amusing.

More Nicaragua

I would apologize for not posting in such a long time, but a few other members that will remain nameless are guilty of this sin several times more than I. In easily’s bumpy past, it seems we all take a collective sabbatical during the summer, and into the fall. Our spring stuff is pretty good quality though. We’re like lettuce (that's a gardening joke for anyone out there).

Anyway I went to Nicaragua. Its been a week since I got back, but its taken that long for the screams to die down from inside my head. Why screams you ask? I helped in the “la dentista”. In this dentist office nestled in the mountains, we do only one thing-pull teeth. If In-n-Out were a dentist office, this would be us. You can get anywhere from a single all the way to “everything”. So I guess our max would technically be around 32.

The first hour I was kinda queasy about holding the flashlight and starring at blood pooling as three molars were removed. After that though, I started to get over it. I started to get over everything. However rotten someone’s teeth were began to be a contest. Children screaming and fighting to escape? The last song I heard on the plane was Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend, and most kids quit with a small amount of pressure on their hands and the seemingly magical word “tranquilo/a”. I was creating a new music video in my head for that spunky pop princess, one born in hell, but new none the less.

There was only one girl that successfully fought (three) of us off. She was 14, but at least somewhat retarded. Just trying to put the q-tip in her mouth sent her into full battle mode-which included bicycle kicking. Finally the translator asked her sister if he could just sit on her (mind you were trying to pull baby teeth that are still in and are going to further screw up the adult teeth). The sister says its fine, because she knows the small amount of pain and discomfort is going to in the end be worth it. The girl attempted to be worked on however, disagreed and totally FLIPPED when he tried to completely hold her down.

Unfortunately the people in the dentist office trade in blood and fear, but trade it for more happy and healthy mouths. Most people aren’t thinking of this when they’re around us. As a result we’re the least popular volunteers with the villagers.