Pondering Photography

Impatient doesn't quite describe my overeager excitement for the photography museum in Amsterdam to finally re-open.  So, Kyle and I headed over to "Foam" on Friday to see their new exhibit, "What's Next? The Future of the Photography Museum," a ten-year anniversary project at the museum questioning the contemporary meaning of photography... With such an increase in availability of cameras and digital media texts, it is difficult to draw the line between the casual "photo-snapper" and artful photographer.  Who is actually an artist, a photographer?  And what does digital editing change about the art of an organic photograph?  And, perhaps one of my most recent points of interest: What is the point of all the documentation--what happens to these pictures, especially when posted online?  Especially following my recent (and reluctant) movement to digital photography, leaving my beloved film camera at home for the semester, I am even more aware of the power that these little memory cards have to change, even revolutionize the art of photographs into something either meaningless or more significant, depending on what exactly you do with your photos: Do you keep them for yourself, taping them into scrapbooks and on walls and letting their exhibition become a piece of their story, or do you share them online with friends...and the world?  My questions and thoughts extend far deeper than I can possibly detail here, but my gears are turning. 

The coolest part of the exhibition was the work of a guest curator, Erik Kessels.  Fascinated by the massive quantity of photographs uploaded online daily, he printed every single image uploaded within a given 24 hours.  The 4 x 6 prints fill two rooms you can walk through... Laying down in a pile of documented experiences, taking a close look at life through anybody's lens, is also perfectly acceptable.

Kyle and I were both secretly hoping to find a picture of someone we knew, or one that we had taken...unrealistic given the unbelievable quantity of photos.  (I'm sitting on a pile about 3 inches deep, at least.)  We tricked each other into thinking we had found one of ourselves (gasps and wide eyes and all), but were ultimately unsuccessful.  Nonetheless, it was so fun to flip through photos, some that are clearly more meaningful and personal than others.  It's crazy how fascinated we can be with other people's lives and snapshots of moments foreign to us that somehow evoke memories of our own.  Makes me think about the targeted audience for the image I'm seeking to capture each time I click away, if an audience is even necessary.  And, as excited as I am to continue working with my new camera, I certainly miss my simple film camera, where my eyes looking through the viewfinder and the f-stop and shutter speed are the artists of inversely painted images on film I'll play with in the darkroom.  Luckily, my handy dandy museum card gets me into the museum for free...I have a feeling I'll be back to think more.

After eating lunch along the Keizergracht (and maybe feeding a duck or two...way to go, Kyle), we biked to Albert Cuyp market to pick up ingredients for dinner.  Of course, a Dutch delicacy was in order: Poffertjes (mini pancakes) are a local favorite and the perfect treat at any point of the day.  

Mmmmm

"Oh yes, definitely the right choice."

After dropping off groceries at home, I went for a long walk to get some more fresh air.  The seasons are really turning here, and the newly brisk air against my face is one of my favorite sensations.  I picked a good night to go for a stroll, because it just so happened to be Saint Maartens day.  Children in the Netherlands celebrate by moving from door to door in the neighborhood, singing carols and collecting candy after their performance.  It was adorable to listen to these little munchkins squeaking out the carols as they looked up longingly at the adult beholder of the candy.  And also hilarious to walk past a group of older kids who rapped and beat boxed their carol.  One of the best parts was watching older Dutch folk stroll by, smiling back at the groups of kids who clearly evoked sweet memories of their own Saint Maarten celebration, back in the day.  Young voices and nostalgia filled the cooling air, and it was the most pleasant way to welcome in Shabbat.  

We made a delicious curry for dinner and I ended my week on a definite high note: laughing with friends around the Shabbat table at the end of a long week is exactly my cup of tea. 

Shout out to Churchwell...Hola, Barcelona!

This past weekend, Saturday through Tuesday (okay, weekends here are more like guidelines), I traveled to the lovely Barcelona with my friend Agata.  We haven't spent as much time together recently as we had at the beginning of the semester, so I was really looking forward to being with her.  We were also luckily on the same page about conserving our limited financial resources... So we started our trip with backpacks stuffed to maximum capacity with snacks and sandwiches...everything ranging from apples, bananas, granola bars, and carrots to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and leftovers for lunch.  Luckily, our hostel had a refrigerator, so we were able to pack lunches and snacks every day, and only bought dinners out.  Woo!

We stayed at the Backpacker's BCN Hostel (where Alexi stayed just a week and a half earlier!) and it was one of the nicest, cleanest experiences I have had.  I don't think I've been in a bathroom quite that nice since I came to Europe.  (Note: I share a bathroom here with three boys and two girls, none of whom seem to understand the concept of cleaning up after themselves, despite the eight thousand notes I've posted above the toilet. GRRR.)

In a nutshell, here was our agenda:

Saturday, November 5

5:50 a.m. -- woke up
6:45 a.m. -- hopped on bikes, in the dark, to make our way over to Centraal Station
7:11 a.m. -- train to airport
9:05 a.m. -- after the most ridiculous EasyJet boarding nonsense, we departed for Barcelona
(When you fly EasyJet, you check in and go through security, and then sit in this massive waiting area until the screens show your gate, and then RUN to the gate to be first in line.  Then more checking in and more waiting.  Then, they open the door and everyone runs in this hilarious free for all to the stairs at the front and back of the plane.  It's one of the more ridiculous systems I've seen.)
11:30 a.m. -- arrived in Barcelona, take bus to our hostel neighborhood...Spanish officially in use!

Rest of the Day:
-walked to Casa Battlo, bought tickets for another day because they were closing
-walked to Casa Mila, another of Gaudi's incredible creations (rooftop view of Barcelona and the Mediterranean!)
-walked to La Segura Familia, which is MASSIVE.  The church is still under construction, and the tallest piece is not even there yet.  It seemed to me, after seeing four of his most famous creations, that Gaudi's style is contemporary even for today, so I can hardly imagine the reactions of the community in the early 1900s, especially with the church.
-began our 2 and a half hour search for dinner, which ended with exhaustion and stumbling into an Asian restaurant... Barcelona is known for its fantastic world cuisine, so we didn't feel too weird about our choice in dining.  The food was delicious, and MUCH appreciated after a long day of travel and walking walking walking.
-in bed by 10:30 p.m. (thank goodness)

View from the roof of Casa Mila

Chimney rooftop

View from the roof -- the massive structure in the upper left is La Segura Familia

Side of the roof...crazy!

La Segura Familia

Adorable child...I couldn't help it.

Sunday, November 6

-woke up and ate some tasty sandwiches
-took the metro from nearby our hostel to the Arc de Triumph
-walked to the Chocolate Museum (Museu Xocolata), where we learned about the history of cocoa and got to see a whole room of chocolate art creations!  We were greatly appreciative for the bar of dark chocolate that came with our tickets.
-walked to the Picasso Museum, where we stood in a massive line to get in for free.  Worth the wait, for sure.  I loved seeing the progression of his style and noting the points where impressionism first made it into his works, influencing his style for the remainder of his career.
-walked along the harbor to La Rambla
-walked through the Gothic Quarter, stopping at the Cathedral and finding the oldest synagogue in Europe on our way -- the latter was SO exciting to find, because my mom had told me about it but I doubted we would have time to see it...Indeed, we did.  And we visited the next day :)
-stopped for some tapas
-walked around more and then had a free dinner and watched the soccer game (thank you, hostel!)

Chocolate Bambi!

Our first of many chocolates

Monday, November 7

-after another night of long sleep, we woke up and walked to a nearby bakery for some breakfast
-took the metro to Liceu and walked to the synagogue
-toured the synagogue, which was built in the 3rd century, and houses a Torah from the 16th century (and I got to use my Hebrew...spoke four languages (English, Dutch, Spanish, and Hebrew) in 4 days!!)
-walked through the food market
-took the metro to La Espanya, and made our way up to the Palau Nacional, home of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
-ate lunch with a panoramic view of Barcelona
-waled to the Olympic Stadium...more cool views
-walked down to Poble Espanyol, this crazy outdoor walking museum that was built in 1929 to represent a variety of cities throughout Spain.  There are contemporary art galleries with Spanish artists and lots of shops that represent the culture of the recreated city.
-walked back down to Placa Espanya...then walked a marathon underground to get to the train we needed, but the Klezmer music on the train kept us in good spirits
-stopped for some tapas and drinks
-walked around the square, and then had a DELICIOUS dinner
-back to hostel to pack and sleep...I really appreciated the rest we got on our trip!

Wall facing Jerusalem

(Color is super off on this one...But at least you can see I'm there!)

And this one's blurry, but there I am in the Gothic Quarter, outside La Sinagoga Mayor!

Just some meat on a stick...EWE

Palace...it is enormous.  So big, in fact, that they have escalators to help you make it to the top.  Much appreciated.

In the sculpture garden of Poble Espanyol

My favorite sculpture

Tuesday, November 8

-up at 9:30 to finish packing and check out
-breakfast on the go, as we walked to Casa Battlo -- The audio guide was super helpful in understanding Gaudi's life story and his inspiration for the masterpieces that fill Barcelona.  Moved by nature and its simplicities, Gaudi created his works to mimic the ocean, using curves and hardly any sharp edges.  His design is unlike any other but so practical and sensible.  The natural light in the home flows through each room, even those that do not face outside.  I was astonished at his ability to maintain a level of consistency throughout his works, even as they varied in their style and form. 
-took the metro to Parc Guell...no surprise, we were amazed
-took the metro and train back to the airport...EasyJet was only a tad bit more organized this time.
-got back to Amsterdam and I made my way home to drop off my stuff and pack dinner before running down the street to my 7-10 p.m. class (what a day!)

Inside the main room of Casa Battlo, looking out over the street.

View from the top of Parc Guell

I spy La Segura Familia! 

Surprisingly talented musician at the top of Parc Guell.  "All I need is three things: my instruments, water, and your dancing!"

All in all, the trip was really nice, and it was fun to travel with Agata.  I got a real kick out of using my Spanish again.  I did, however, feel a bit less enthused about traveling in general this go-round.  I have moved around a lot, and was still recuperating from Josh's visit, our trip to Paris, his leaving, and a week of craziness before our trip to Barcelona.  Last week, we had our CIEE midterm meeting, and all got slapped in the face with the reality of our time left here--it's scary if you see the next 40ish days as either a long or short time, and the check-in just kind of threw me off.  I also started a new class last week, "Moving Manhood: Masculinity and Sexual Citizenship from Cross-Cultural Perspectives," which shifted my routine.  And Hannah was out of town, so I was missing Kyle-Hannah-Becca time a lot.  And I had just finished booking my last trip of the semester, so I was a bit unnerved by the amount of traveling I'm doing throughout the course of the semester.

Seeing other countries in Europe was definitely a priority for me, and I am certainly glad to have fulfilled that goal.  At the same time, as my buds who are also abroad can confirm, traveling can be tiring and feel superficial.  While it is incredible to see so many different places, it is impossible to really get to know a place, to dig below the surface-level tourist attractions and initial reactions, when you are only there for a few days.  In the end, I am glad to be getting a taste of so many places, so I know where I may want to revist in the future.  Nonetheless, I have found that, on each of my trips, I have been SO happy to come home.  Amsterdam is the best city I've been to in Europe and I love it more than I could possibly explain.  When we were flying out of Amsterdam last Saturday, I got to see the city from above and it really is as tiny as they say...I found my dorm, and could name 15 streets without a problem from our plane.  I love that it is a city that feels like a small town.  It's wonderful.

In coping with the influx of different emotions last week, I reached out to some of my best friends from home, and am feeling a lot better about this period of realizing how much/little time I have left here.  It was great to talk with them and get excited about coming home because, once December 22 roles around, I am sure that I'll be leaving here kicking and screaming and asking myself why time has to move so fast.  At the same time, I am also ready and excited to move into this next phase of my experience with an open mind and the necessary eagerness to embrace every moment here.  I still have so many exciting things to do and see in Holland, and so many more relaxing afternoons to spend sipping coffee between canals :)
 

A Sense of Normalcy

I realize that most of my postings have been about travels or other events that reflect the heightened moments of excitement that occur quite frequently when you throw yourself into a new environment, and especially when your time is condensed into what become four very short months.  Yet another equally incredible aspect of being abroad, of coming to know a new place and make it your own, is the developing sense of normalcy with this new "home." 

Today was a great example of how great my day-to-day life here is, and how rewarding it is to treat "normal" daily activities as adventures.  On Sunday morning, I realized that starting my day by reading for pleasure made a drastic difference in my mood, and thus emerged this week's goal: read every morning before heading off for the day's activities...and this means reading before checking emails and tuning into the crazy black hole we call internet. 

So, this morning I enjoyed my breakfast and coffee while reading my book by the morning light pouring in my window.  Then, I set off to work at a cafe but stopped along the way at one of my favorite canal crossings to have a snack and watch boats go by as I let my feet dangle over the water.  I decided to get some reading done outside, because it's not so often that November 1st brings sunny, sleeveless shirt weather.  After finishing up my reading for Contemporary Dutch Social Policy, I reluctantly left my spot along the canal and biked over to Two for Joy Coffee Roasters, which smells like heaven on earth.  Coffee is among my best friends, so I thoroughly enjoyed the aroma as I went over my Social Justice and Development in the Global South readings. 

After Kyle joined me for a while at the cafe, I headed back home to have lunch and register for classes...so strange to do that from abroad!  There are about 17 classes I really want to take at Brandeis this spring, but I suppose that the difficulty choosing is a fortunate challenge to face.  A study abroad faculty member from Smith College is coming this Friday to visit some of the International Dorms that CIEE places its participants in during the semester, so I worked on re-taping some of my pictures and hanging up new posters this afternoon.  After a quick power nap, I walked down the street for my Social Justice and Development in the Global South class.  Our lecturer tonight is a former PhD student at the University of Amsterdam and is currently living and working in Bangkok on urban and environmental planning.  He spoke about the current mass flooding in Bangkok, covering everything from the history of flooding in this region to the political and social conditions that exacerbate the inevitable situation.  It was a lot of [emotionally upsetting] information to take in, but I definitely learned a lot and left class with my gears turning. 

Back at home, I hung out with Kyle and some friends from Occidental College who are visiting, talked to Josh and my parents, and worked on a collage of a bicycle I'm making for my wall.  Totally normal day.  Fantastic in so many ways.  And well worth acknowledging the little moments.  Life here is comfortable and reading along canals, holding entire interactions in Dutch, doing homework in cafes, and relaxing at home are normal and yet continuously exciting.