9/17 SAT

Remember to get: MEN WITHOUT HATS: “POP GOES THE WORLD” Someone at orientation took the first one I had.

Don’t forget: Tomorrow @ 5:00 go to the bookstore with the “camera [illegible]”

Perfect. 50D more was stolen from – or lost by – me. It may have happened in a crowded market with people crowding me, bumping into me, etc. Or it could have happened any time I reached into my pocket. I wasn’t very observant today.

The dull ache that began when I woke up has turned my head into a throbbing storm of thundering blood cells, aching beyond all possible belief.

2 areas in my abdominal region are suffering aching as well, tamer but still there.

What does this country do, eat money?

Oh good. Some (1 set of double prints) have their images reversed. Shit!

I WANT TO GO HOME.

Not really. Don’t worry, be happy. Chill out. Sometimes life’s not so simple. Besides, I’ll just take ‘em back & ask for a re-do

Let’s try describing the people at the camp; the other AFSers from my POV (point of view). Remember it can (and probably will) change. Great. Michelle’s not even in the group photo. I’ll start with her.

USA MICHELLE: She’s a strange case. She enjoies being told what to do, and in one of the sessions she said that she felt as if a friend is a person who could make demands on you. She’s an outsider in our group because of her, but only Suzanne and I try to be friendly, and I stopped after a few days. She projects an aura of wanting – needing – to be pitied. Her voice always has a whining quality in it; although it seems as if she knows it and keeps it up. She always says exactly what’s on her mind (only after asking a thousand times if it’s ok to talk), and it usually isn’t relevant to the conversation. She’s constantly apologizing and putting herself down, saying she “isn’t worthy of our friendship.” It’s a definite cry for help, and, as usual, I think I’ll try to be the life preserver.


NEW ZEALAND LUKE: He’s a quiet, articulate fellow. An oxymoron (not really), but when he speaks he shows a definite intelligence. He also seems a little uncomfortable opening up, and may feel he’s (only a LITTLE BIT, if at all) inferior or incompetent, but this isn’t true (actually, he’s just quiet, I think). He surprised all of us in a boys vs. girls keep away match one night; he took the hardest blows (the girls play rough), even hitting the cement a couple of times with his head, but he never gave in. He says he’s a rugby player, and I can believe it. He would be a good friend when the chips are down.

ICELAND INGA: Constant smoker, only talks to other Icelanders, except on rare occasions. She’s plump, and very white skin, reminding me of (I hate to say it) a Pillsbury dough lady. I can’t make too much of her. Yet.

ICELAND HULĐA: Smoker as well. You never see I or H without a cigarette, except when asleep or on the beach (or eating). Actually, H got better as the 10 days progressed and cut down considerably. She is extremely outgoing, and willing to take risks others of the girls (and even some guys)(oops, that’s a chauvinistic remark) wouldn’t take. Her attitude is “Do unto others as they would do unto you. Maybe even before they do it.” Great sense of humor, great pillow fighter.

USA ROBIN: He is a shy guy with a great laugh. He’s very naïve, and I n some situations just says whatever’s going on in his brain with no forethought. It always has something to do with the situation, though this could get him into barsha trouble. He’s already out of one home, because of a combination of non-communication (he speaks no French and they little English), incompatible (completely) personalities, and possibly because of his tendencies towards blatancy. He doesn’t hold up well under pressure, and the year could be good for him. Can he be counted on in times of trouble? I hope so. I’m pretty sure the answer will be “yes” if he survives til Christmas. Maybe.


GREENLAND (DENMARK) AVI(IJIA): Very flirtatious and talkative. Never will be able to keep a secret, and projects a dumb blonde image. She loves to talk, and after a while shows that there is a lot of unharvested and unprocessed intelligence. She loves a more simple lifestyle, but wants more. Rough lovemaking, good food, good hunting, good drink. These are all qualities I see in her (no, not experienced any). A friend to the end, but would probably go to bed with any of the guys. Non-smoker.


HOLLAND WILLEMIJN (VITAMIN): Power, humor and intelligence illuminates her personality, and a short fused temper to match. She’s a tenacious fucker (figuratively – I mean “person”), and that’s an endearing quality in her. Whatever she wants from life, she’ll get, plus more. She’ll stick with you forever, even if you get her mad. Non-smoker.

DENMARK MAJBRIT: Pronounce it “mAy-breet”. Introvertive the first few days, and extrovert now. She’s a great dancer, and showed me how to give “putas” to two girls at once. She smokes, but not much.

USA AMY: We have absolutely nothing in common. Any time we try to talk, we just sit and look around, fidgit, etc. Then, after a few mins, we make our excuses and leave. The catch: I’d trust her to the end. She was the first person to notice that I was down at orientation, and told me that if I ever needed to talk, she was there for me. This was before I realized that I couldn’t shake it on my own, so I just said thanks. But I’ll neve forget.

CANADA ISABELLE: Quebecian, so French is her main language. She has no problem getting along in this country. I still don’t know a lot about her, except that she, too, is an animal lover.


USA SUZANNE: Hesitantly outgoing at first, we (Jason & I) thought up the nicknames “Sex goddess” & “Mistress of Pleasure & Pain”. She gets “mad” every time we call her either of these, but she loves it. She’s got a boyfriend (Paul) and she’ll stay true to him, I think. She’s everyone’s friend.

NEW ZEALAND TINA: She’s great! “zeal” should be her middle name. What a sense of humor, and the timing; and I know she’ll always be there. Her major fault is talking at speeds of up to 5 million words per second. She also got some minor prejudices of Mauris [Maori] & Aussies, nothing really big, though. She always seems to show up at just the right time to get me in a good mood.


ICELAND GARĐAR: keeps his feelings to himself, and is very friendly. He was scared coming here, and we had a long and interesting talk, finding out about common interests, fears and expectations. He’s a good friend, & I wouldn’t get him mad at me; no “forgive & forget” policy here.

USA NANCY: She & I are distant, our personalities clash somewhat, and she seems to put me down often. She’s very hesitant with what she says, and ends a sentence or a statement with “I guess… I don’t know…oh well...” and trails off. She may be a little jealous of my being leader, but that’s a stab in the dark. I don’t know if I can trust her, but if worse comes to worse, I probably will. I would stand by her, though, but she doesn’t seem to like me too much. If I knew why. If I knew why, maybe I could explain to her why I do the things I do, even change if her suggestions are good.

DENMARK ANNE-MARIE: She seems sensuous, yet feeling. Her skin is almost transparent white, with a splash of red in her cheeks, and her hair is white gold. Still, this doesn’t make her attractive to me, just different. She showed me “putas” also; and as friends, I think it will work One night, I sat up with her ‘til dawn, when she was violently ill, and I was a little sick. We’re pretty close, but the language gap is still a little bit of a hindrance.

SWEDEN JENS: Pronounced “Yens”. He’s a funny guy, and serous as well. He looks at a problem from all angles, then goes deep to the core. He’s not afraid of speaking his mind, and loves a good conversation. He and I get along very well, and I see a good friendship emerging.

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No more tonight, I’m not in the mood. Most of the descriptions are superficial, but I tried ot get to the core. A few more left to go.


WRITE TO: Marian, Nancy, Annika, Sig, Michelle

By the way, “putas” is to tuck in, sing a song, or tell a story & kiss your kids goodnight.