After purchasing over 300 € (£230) worth of medication, I feel ready to leave. Also because I can't afford anymore expenses... This week I bought a travel towel that dries super quickly, a thin-but -warm fleece, long light cotton trousers that unzip into shorts, and my malarial tablets. I have been pondering whether to get some, but my super cool doctor decided for me. He says it's worth the money, especially in the Northern parts of Thailand at the end of the wet season (October). I couldn't agree more.

Here is now the official list of the contents of my backpack. I will keep you updated on what I use, send back, regret packing or obviously forgot. I have visited a lot of blogs, websites and forums over the last few months, to see what others were packing, so my list is now added to the mumble-jumble of the web and I hope it can help others planning trips like mine.

- 1 pair of jeans (old and rugged, ready to be left somewhere - I am told they can be annoying as they don't dry fast enough! I love my jeans, so I'll just see how it goes and dump them somewhere if not practical),
- 1 pair of light cotton trousers (that double up into shorts and make me look like an 1920s explorer)
- 1 fleece (for the flight, because it's always freezing on planes and I don't want to be cold during the night in Northern Thailand)
- 2 tshirts, 2 vest tops, 1 long-sleeved tshirt,
- 1 pair of shorts (for sleeping or sports),
- Enough underwear,
- Shoes: hiking, bright yellow trainers (yep, they're coming with me), plastic flip-flops (that I can shower with if necessary),
- 1 pair of long-haul flight support tights (actually, still debating whether they're worth the hassle. I actually won't be flying all that much, and they'll just end up being bulky. My vein-doctor says they are also handy during long bus, train or car rides),
- the oldest bikini in the world (desperately need to get a new one, after mine got badly discolorated due to an overenthusiastic pool owner scared of a potential algal bloom in his beloved swimming puddle),
- First Aid Kit (with anti-malarial for 2 months (approximately worth an arm and a leg), anti-diarrhoeal medication - for Dehli Belly and its local equivalent -, anti-constipation (for the extreme rice intake), antispamodics, antibiotics, mosquitoe repellent, motion sickness medication and everything needed for small cuts, bleeds and scratches)
- Toiletries: travel towel, toothbrush (with cover, thanks for the tip Harry), toothpaste, comb, mooncup, soap, small bottle shampoo (because I won't need much), razor, Nivea all-over moisturizer (to smell like my Grandma), nail scissors, tweezers, earplugs,
- Random: photocopies of travel documents (actually it's all electronic, so can't lose them!), passport, driving license, CV (plus electronic copy of the above sent to myself by email), ziploc bags of varying sizes, small pocket knife, toothpicks, duct tape, charger for camera, digital alarm clock, ipod USB charger, 2 blank DVDs for burning photos, combination lock,
- Bolivian handbag my brother got me from his travels (actually a camera bag in disguise) with SLR camera and its protective scarf, change purse, ipod full of great music with new sturdy headphones,
- money belt: passport, cash, credit cards, SD cards.

So I think I'm ready. I haven't packed my trusted backpack yet, but it doesn't look like much when spread out on my bed at my parents' house. Hopefully it should weigh less than 10kg, and ideally about 8kg. I had gone to India with 7kg at the beginning of the year, but I don't think I'll manage to beat that.

For now, I just need to make sure I get some sleep tonight, and play it cool, real cool.

Since that time I have been trying to make it as best I could with a simple "backpack".  But I have to admit it just hasn't been the same.

Today I am happy to announce that a new "manpurse" will be returning to my shoulder!  (It's really just a messenger bag and not a purse)

Don't be hatin' on me!

With the bladder in place, it sits perfectly between the 2 struts of the frame allowing it to expand toward the back of the pack. (Due to the Deuter's harness system the pack is kept quite far from your back.) Now what makes this so brilliant is that you can easily insert your hand in the space between your back and the bag and quite effective determine how much is left in the bladder.

Needless to say I am have no more concerns regarding using a bladder, at least not with my Deuter Futura 38 AC. The advantage of being able to drink regularly without having to grab a bottle helps a lot to stay hidrated and it allows for faster, less fuss, hiking.

Honeykins and I love adventure travel. We're also notoriously tight with a buck, so here's how we've managed to travel to exotic places on a shoestring budget. I get those wilderness travel magazines (you know the ones, $12,999 to go on a walking tour of Ireland, ADULT BEVERAGES included!!!) Well, having been an adventure travel consultant and tour escort in a past life, (it'll all be in my book--crazy, man!), I've done the research and can pretty much clone those very same itineraries for a fraction of the cost. We even stay in the same type accommodations, if we want (which, frankly, sometimes we don't.) So on our most recent adventure, the aforementioned "Tour Du Mont Blanc", an 11 day backpacking trip around the alps, we managed to save about $3000. Funny thing is, we met up with those poor bastards on their organized tour, and they looked miserable. The leader was useless, and they were stuck with each other for 2 weeks. Yikes!

Anyway, the trip was fantastic, and we met totally cool people that we hiked with off and on through most of the trip. If you havn't been to the Alps, go. Go now. The glaciers are melting (everywhere,) and the beach will only be getting bigger. Here's a shot of one of the mountain huts at Lac Blanc. Nice view, huh? You Betcha!

Okay, so this is all there is.  A backpack, a duffle bag which I probably don't need, and a flight bag.  That's all that remains of my life and my stuff.  "You can always get more stuff".  Repeat mantra ad nauseum.  Right?  Right.

So here's what's coming with me:

Clothes

• 1 White Dress Shirt
• 1 "Party" Dress Shirt
• 10 black undershirts
• 10 pair socks
• 10 boxers
• ~10 T-shirts, from "work appropriate" to "party"
• 2 belts
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 3 pairs of jeans
• 2 pairs of work pants (khaki/grey)
• black leather dressy shoes
• adidas superstars
• flip flops
• swim suit
• wool jacket
• zip up hoodie
• all purpose arab scarf

Stuff

• folder of important documents, birth cert, passport, etc
• camera
• battery charger
• cellphone and charger
• laptop and charger
• 2 books

Grooming

• razor & fresh pack of blades
• travel size shave cream
• 6 month supply of contact lenses (can probably stretch it)
• contact lens case and solution
• deodorant
• hair wax
• q-tips
• hydrocortizone cream
• antibiotic cream

Other

• flying headset
• kneeboard
• pencils and pens
• pads of paper for kneeboard
• pilot license and medical cert
• copy of Federal Aviation Regulations
• copy of Instrument Procedures Handbook
• laundry bag / stuff sack
• nalgene drink bottle

So I think that covers most of it.  Sounds like a lot!  I suppose it sortof is.  I certainly could make-do just fine with less selections of clothes and such, but, this is ALL I have to my name now.  I did a good job of parting with darn near everything.  I'm sure the pack will shrink/grow/modify as the journey goes.  But not a bad streamlining for a fresh start on life.  I was thinking man how am I going to look good partying everywhere without all my party clothes??? Silly me.  I'm going to be WORKING for the next 9 months, so maybe my days of going out 5 or 6 nights a week is numbered.  We'll see.

Febreeze and wrinkle releaser will be in high demand.

Maybe it helps to wake up in my parents' house, say goodbye to my friends, party the night away this coming Saturday, or maybe what I really need is to land in Bangkok's unpronouncable international airport terminal to make this whole adventure feel true.

Saying goodbye is one of those terrible processes. I am personally absolutely ridden with guilt, thanks to:
- my Grandma who truly believes I am abandoning her,
- my patients who attempt to make me believe I am irreplaceable,
- my Mum who thinks I am running some great danger when I am far away from her,
- the taxman who can't imagine why anyone would abandon their "situation" and go to another country for a while (ok that guy doesn't make me feel guilty, strictly speaking!!)

But thanks to all those who truly support me, my project and my short hair; I feel I can go guiltfree. Well a little guilt maybe, but hopefully I'll feel better once I'm there and actually find what I'm looking for. (Actually, the people who know about the "technical" bits will tell those who care to listen that the more you find out, the less you know. And yes, I am totally aware that I will only find more questions. Bring it on.)

I have given about half my worldly possessions to a charity, I am taking time to pack my backpack optimally and taking the least amount of stuff possible, my hair is so short it hardly ever needs a wash... Yep I feel like I'm ready for the adventure.

The Big Project. Out in Seven days on a blog near you.

Lite bilder från mobilen kommer här:

En sjuk fredde.. :P

Från hamburgerhaket Kreutzburger.. kryddigt, men mättande.

At crayon we use a number of web-based tools to stay organized and also to keep in touch - many I've talked about on this blog before.

* Basecamp - we use it for project management and have just started to share with our clients. It took a full day to reorganize the existing account when I started - I also put together a couple of screencasts for our team to learn how to use it. I'm also planning to do a couple for our clients so that they feel comfortable using it.

* Backpack - we use this as our own intranet. Anything internal (not project-based) goes here. This has been really successful in terms of adoption - everyone has been adding to pages as well as adding their own.

* Highrise - we're using this for our CRM solution and to track our new business process. As of right now, only the crayonistas involved with new business have access.

* ooVoo - (disclosure - ooVoo is a crayon client). We use ooVoo for text and video chat throughout the day to keep in touch. I'm looking to incorporate Campfire instead - less interruptions, more work.

* Google Docs - we share docs that we use as a company - status reports, contact lists, etc.

* iPhones - most of us at crayon have iPhones for use on both Macs (me) and Windows (everyone else). I've written up for the team how to get our 37signals apps on the home page as well as the different productivity apps I test/use.

* Twitter - we love Twitter. Most of us are using it regularly, the other are just starting to add it into our workflow. Each of us seem to have very different networks for the most part, as well as some overlap.

These are the tools we use at crayon everyday. With a virtual company - communication and organization takes on even more importance. These services work for us today, and as a lot of these are new to everyone, it'll take a bit of time for complete adoption and the level of comfort that I have - something to keep an eye on.

Ya esta decidido .... destino final .... Machu Picchu. Mas Detalles despues del salto.

Si bien el destino final es la magica ciudad en ruinas de Machu Picchu, la travesia contempla de ida Chile- Peru y el retorno atraves de Peru, Bolivia y Chile. Mas adelante subire un mapa con el recorrido mas exacto ya que mi espacio en dopplr aun no muestra ese viaje.

Algunos cambios que se han producido:

• ¿A donde?: Peru y Bolivia con unas breves pasadas por Arica de ida y Antofagasta de vuelta.
• ¿Cuando?: Si Dios quiere partimos desde Santiago el dia 14 de Enero del 2009.
• ¿Quienes?: Ahora somos mas. Nati, Calo, Toño, Melga y Yo.

Algunas de las ciudades y localidades que visitaremos se encuentran en este listado:

Chile:

• Arica

Peru:

• Tacna
• Arequipa
• Cusco
• Santa Maria
• Santa Teresa
• Aguas Calientes
• Puno

Bolivia:

• Copacabana
• La Paz
• Uyuni

Chile:

• Antofagasta.

Hemos conciderado para el viaje Arica como el punto de partida del viaje puesto que sera nuestra ultima ciudad Chilena antes de entrar a territorio peruano, por otro lado se concidero Antofagasta como el punto de llegada puesto que es el primer punto dentro de Chile en el cual podremos llegar a darnos una GRAN DUCHA.

Bueno ahora nos queda ver algunos implementos basicos para el viaje, algunas actividades que nos gustaria realizar y rezar para que todo siga saliendo bien.

Asi como estan en la foto de aqui abajo es como queremos estar:

En el futuro voy a ir agregando informacion sobre la preparacion del viaje.

week one: conquered.

well maybe "conquered" is the wrong word...hmm..."completed," "never again," "STRESSED." something like that would suffice.

i didn't realize how unprepared i was for the first week of class.  the cause? (because Kayla Chapman and "unprepared" are never in the same sentence) i never expected second-year to be so starkly different from the first.  i am still living on campus, i am still a cal poly student, i am still in architecture classes.  but EVERYTHING else is different.

what used to be a five-minute walk back to Sequioa Hall is now a 15-minute hassle out to Poly Canyon (so I prefer the 5-minute bike ride).  i no longer have a "just swipe your card" meal plan and paying the high-costs of campus food with real money seems RIDICULOUS.  i have my own key to the architecture studio, which makes my room extremely tidy without drawings and pencils sprawled about the floor.  but the 130's are over and studio just feels so void without Brent, Keith, and 48 other awesome architecture friends.

i actually needed a backpack this year too!  go figure.  see why I was unprepared?

i absolutely love living in Poly Canyon though, with brand new everything and beautiful views, and I adore my roommates Brita, Maleesa, & Erin (who you will get to know piece-by-piece).  what i don't love, however, is that i can't see the faces i'm used to seeing everyday. i don't have the fun conversations with those familiar people from Sequoia and from bible study when i walk down the hall.  our new buildings feel hotel-like, with doors closed and blank walls with their "freshly installed" smell.  so it makes me smile every time i see a familiar face on campus, whether it's Kelsey who I rarely spoke to two doors down last year or Ross who I no-longer have architecture with.

so even though my first week of class as a second-year architecture student was stressful with class and work and bible study follow-up and studio and making dinners and hanging out with friends and crusade and walking, i got through it.  and that's what God kept whispering to me all week: "don't worry, you're gonna make it."

God is good, i am stressed, and the wheel keeps turning.

C'est la vie,
Chappie

Then I also got some new camera gear. I got a SanDisk 4GB Extreme III card and a Lowepro 300 AW backpack. I did not take any photos of the memory card, but I did take a few shots of my new backpack, which missing a lot gear to fill it up.

Now that I got some new gear, I am looking forward to getting out in the field and take some photographs for my book. This pack holds a ton of gear and I am also looking forward to some new camera gear in a few weeks for my birthday. After my birthday I plan on going out and bring back some great photographs of nature and animals. I also made the switch from using FINE JPEG files to using RAW "NEF" files so that I can learn post processing and to also have a better image.

Originally from Italy,Picnic Time's Creators,have long been aficionados of good food,good wine,and good company. They've made it their business to bring a little bit of La Dolce Vita to all of us. In 1987 they created the world's first insulated picnic backpack and have continued to pioneer the most innovative picnic products ever since. Whether it's a sporty picknic backpack,rolling cooler,premium wine case,or a romantic basket,Picnic Time puts a touch of style and Italian flair back into the age old tradition of dining al fresco. Please stop by and pick up one of these unique backpacks or baskets today at The Studio!

Melissa Wall

The Studio

www.shopthestudio.com

After a while Totodile.

Day N Night - Kid CuDi (With Lyrics)

Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh...

[Kid CuDi] Day and night (what, what) I toss and turn, I keep stressing my mind, mind (what, what) I look for peace but see I don't attain (what, what) What I need for keeps this silly game we play, play Now look at this (what, what) Madness to magnet keeps attracting me, me (what, what)  I try to run but see I'm not that fast (what, what)  I think I'm first but surely finish last, last

[Chorus] Cuz day and night  The lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night  He's all alone through the day and night The lonely loner seems to free his mind at night (at, at, at night) Day and night The lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night He's all alone, some things will never change (never change) The lonely loner seems to free his mind at night (at, at, at night)

[Kid CuDi] Hold the phone (what, what) The lonely stoner, mr. solo doe low (what, what) He's on the move can't seem to shake the shade (what, what) Within his dreams he see's the life he made, made The pain is deep (what, what) A silent sleeper you won't hear a peep, peep (what, what) The girl he wants don't see no one into (what, what) It seems the feelings that she had are through, through

[Chorus] Cuz day and night The lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night He's all alone through the day and night The lonely loner seems to free his mind at night (at, at, at night) Day and night The lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night He's all alone, some things will never change (yeah) (never change) The lonely loner seems to free his(yeah) mind at night (at, at, at night) [Kid Cudi:] Slow moe, (what, what) When the temple slows up and creates that new, new (what, what) He seems alive though he is feeling blue (what, what) The sun is shining man he's super cool, cool The lonely nights (what, what) They fade away he slips into his white nights (what, what) He smokes a clip and then he's on the way (what, what) To free his mind in search of, To free his mind in search of, To free his mind in search of,

[Chorus] Cuz day and night The lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night He's all alone through the day and night The lonely loner seems to free his mind at night (at, at, at night) Day and night The lonely stoner seems to free his mind at night He's all alone, some things will never change (never change) The lonely loner seems to free his mind at night (at, at, at night) At, at, at night

Contents:

• Apple Macbook
• Macbook Power Adapter
• Amazon Kindle eBook Reader
• Canon XSi D-SLR Camera
• Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.4L IS Zoom Lens
• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
• Canon EF 50mm f1.4 Prime Lens
• Canon EF 1.4x II Telephoto Extender
• Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash
• Elinchrom Skyport Universal Trigger Set for remote strobing
• Pharos Trips and Pics GPS Receiver
• Sony PSP
• LaCie 250 GB Rugged Hard Drive
• 3-77mm photo filters
• LED flashlight
• 2 USB battery backup units
• Camera remote control
• Lens pen
• Mouse/receiver
• Extra batteries and chargers for XSi and G9
• Media wallet with SD Cards
• Screen cleaner
• Shower caps
• Several cables and adapters

And yet at the same time I know that I happen to be living in a magical city. So, how is that for a contradiction then?

Fall is here, and somewhat early this year too. In fact, I have already had the heat on ever so slightly in the evenings for the last few days. The days are getting noticeably shorter and there are absolutely glorious sunsets that break through all the rain clouds, sunsets for which this place is famous for in the fall. I hate the summer and I love the fall and even the winter. The day I put on the first woolly socks of the season is a feast day. So, this really is the greatest time of the year for me and to my mind the greatest time of year for Istanbul as well.

I love this huge, congested, confusing, ugly/beautiful city and the funny thing is that I thoroughly detested it until about 15 years ago.

...

Istanbul was dead during the years that I grew up here: It was a provincial city of a million people or so. And yes - no doubt architecturally speaking it was far more beautiful then than it is today. The hills of the Bosphorus were still largely forested and most of the old gingerbread houses were still struggling to stand in their big pine tree gardens on the Asian side. And yes, people were far more polite and well mannered - the famous old guard Istanbul bourgeoisie was alive and well, daintily sipping their tea with crooked little fingers, sitting in the "Cercle D'Orient" or the "Grand Club", or indeed all the refined drawing rooms of well bred Istanbul ladies. Faded and pathetic grandeur... Turkish is a language with a formal "you", as well as an informal "thou" - and boy, was the "you" much in evidence back then... My my... Yeah... yeah...

It was boring! Elitist, uniform, stuffy, stultifyingly conservative, effete, outmoded... So stilted in fact that most people of my generation - at least the ones that had even one single, even remotely rebellious bone in their body - once they hit their twenties could not wait to get out. Either by becoming revolutionaries that desperately tried to throw the whole dilapidated social structure on to the garbage heap where it really and truly belonged, or by just simply physically wanting out. I personally went to London first for a couple of years and then ended up in New York where I lived for 7 years. And New York is, to this day, my other big love city - except that unfortunately this other big love has ended up breaking my heart, deceiving me very badly in fact, by metamorphosing into this "obey the rules whilst pretending to be hip" sort of an old fuddyduddy city... So there, in New York, the love is the woe of lost love; whereas over here, the then so deservedly shunned upon, sniffed at conservative Istanbul of my younger days has ended up revealing itself as the true wild lover?

And it all happened because at one point, in the 80's came a visionary prime minister, who opened up the economic barriers that Turkey had literally been suffocating under up until then. And millions came flooding in from the impoverished countryside into Istanbul in search of employment at the newly raised industrial parks and factories; bringing with them their cultures, their food and their music. True they were extremely rough around edges, true they were uneducated but they were also bright, innovative, ambitious and hard working. The hook nosed, blond Laz from the Black Sea and the Kurds from the east; and then of course the small, round faced Turkish peasants from central Anatolia. They worked, they wheeled and dealed, they confiscated government land on which they raised their favelas, and then they worked some more and turned the favelas into perfectly civilized middle class neighborhoods - albeit unbelievably ugly ones, that now stretch across the once unspoiled, beautiful horizon. Today Istanbul is a vast, and at times very ugly city, a megapolis of 15 million - grown to that size in less than 30 years. With horrifying traffic problems, and crowds possessed of an energy that people say is akin only to what is encountered in places like Shanghai and Hong-Kong these days.

And the kids of those once immigrants are now my students. And the students of all my colleagues employed at some 20 universities in this city. Close to half a million university students in Istanbul apparently... Blond big Laz boys snogging dark small Turkish girls. Kurdish mommy - Laz daddy. Turkish daddy - Kurdish mommy: The parents of the backpack brigade.

...

Today I was out and about all day. Various chores and errands that then turned themselves into an absurd sort of a shopping day where I ended up buying my 5th black backpack. And then came back to Besiktas, my 'hood, quite late and sat in a small Lahmacun (sort of an eastern anatolian pizza with ground beef on top) place and wolved down two of those while watching the "other" members of the backpack brigade saunter by in the rain. And eavesdropping onto this completely absurd and very funny conversation between the two lahmacun guys in their little red paper hats concerning soccer results and predictions, waving around rolling pins and little balls of dough to emphasize their points. I very badly wanted to take a photo to put in with this post (which I sort of began writing there I guess) but there was this heavily necking couple sitting directly dead center in my FOV and I figured they would not really appreciate all the attention, so I left it...

...

The backpack brigade: This must be the city of the backpack. I don't think I have ever seen so many of them sold or used anyplace else. Every second street vendor is selling backpacks it seems and seeing someone without a backpack is almost an oddity. Reason: Well, 65% of the city is under 35, you see. It is a city of youngsters, all stomping along with their backpacks, some of them with sometimes almost waist long dreadlocks (boyz and girlz - I have no idea how they manage to grow dreadlocks of a quality that would easily be the envy of most Rastas, given that hair around here is usually quite straight and fine), yet others with shorn heads, and then all the others with comparatively tame looking, nicely kept long tresses. And then, every once in a while, a scarfed Muslim girl amidst all the hair swaying crowds, one who somehow manages to contrive a totally punk combination with her all-star high tops, her jeans - with a mini skirt on top and then the scarf to complete the whole outfit - as likely as not to be seen busily cuddling a spiky haired boy with ear cuffs, whose baggy jeans look in grave danger of slipping south at any second. Countless piercings and grungy black t-shirts all in place. 10s of thousands if not 100s of thousands or indeed yes, even millions of them; filling the streets day and night. Filling entire soccer stadiums in colored face paint, busking on city ferries, busily reading their little underground fanzines, texting SMS at the speed of lightning, scouring the internet, clogging up both MSN and ICQ, eating and drinking in the thousands of bars and cafes that fill entire neighborhoods large enough to be cities in their own right, talking talking talking. And big worriers they are too - worry about everything, they do - hhh. Like I said, there are 15 million people here and 65% of them are under 35... So, go do the math. It is a huge huge number, creating a huge cultural wave, one that has brought a dead city back on to its feet - and then some...

They have created a formidable music scene. Turkish folk music amalgamated with heavy metal and hard rock. Then the Turkish rap scene. Blue collar parent's kids with jelled up spiky hair, singing a harsh mixture of Turkish tunes to rap rhythms. Then the ones that create crossovers between Thracian gypsy music and hard rock. The ones that mix up arabesk and western ballads. And then of course all those more serious and intellectual types, who take their ney and their tambur out on the streets and play Sufi jazz. Buskers everywhere it seems. I love it.

...

And yet it is a city living under the pall of an imminent and colossal earthquake. The geologists are saying that the huge fault line underneath the Marmara Sea is due for a break within the next 20 years or so. And when it does, the magnitude of the thing is expected to be 7.5 or even over. They have torn down entire neighborhoods that are in the direct danger zone (where I live is not anywhere near that category - thank god) and are re-structuring those areas. But still hundreds of thousands live in secondary danger zones that are also under grave risk.

...

After I ate my lahmacun I dragged my old and new backpacks filled with all kinds of absurd goodies up my hill (a very nice black beaded necklace, 2 leather wrist braces that I would certainly not be sneezing at in SL either, a brand new and ominously worn out looking black t-shirt that has "Turkish Rap Underground" written on it front and back, some shampoo that promises to make my hair curly... hhh). Opened the front door to find an army of roomies complaining loudly at my prolonged absence.

...

So, can my RL get any better than this? Not that I want to seem greedy or anything like that, or not that I am not immensely grateful for all that I have already - but... I should bloody well hope so!

hhh

...

A while ago I drew my backpack, and a few days later drew one of the zipper pulls.

"Loud-American" Loud, Europe is Not Like America

If you have ever been to Europe you know this American.  Not sure whether Europeans are that quiet or some Americans are simply that loud but you will hear this particular stareotype in restaurants, walking the streets, and in the bars.  They can project their voices and draw attention to themselves regardless of the conditions.  It is definitely a talent.  Most of what they have to say is focused on the differences between America and Europe.  They seem bewildered as to why anyone would choose to live this way and why they don't speak english.  While they may be in awe of the architecture, the Alps, and the small cars they will always turn their attention to the perceived inconveniences or inequities.  For instance: why is the shower water pressure so low; why aren't the hot and cold water faucets a single faucet; their beds are too soft; why does the toilet have two flush settings; the food portions are too small and cost too much; why aren't stores open 24 hours like they are in America; the electric outlets are different; etc.  The list goes on and on.  Unfortunately this recurring conversation will dominate their relatively short visit to Europe and most post-visit, euro-focused discussions afterwards.  Where do these stareotypes most often go...generally the majors: London, Paris, Rome, and maybe another Italian city or a German city (i.e. Venice or Munich / Berlin).  Their visit to Europe will generally be short, incredibly hectic, and not repeated...best guess 5 - 7 days.  Many times their visit is an organized tour consisting of a bunch of fellow Americans and a European guide.  While they may not have gotten the most out of their visit they still deserve credit for going...kudos.  Places you are most likely to catch this stareotype: McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Irish pubs, pizza restaurants, KFC, and the Hard Rock Cafe.

"American-Haughty" Try to Blend In, Disdain America and other Americans

This stareotype is the most pretentious of the bunch and are often wealthy, want to appear wealthy, or have wealthy fathers. They make valiant attempts to dress and appear as Europeans. They spend an inordinate amount of money to look like a euro. The best of the bunch may even look the part right up to the point they open their mouth and American English spills out. This group is particularly disillusioned or at least appear to be with America. They often denounce their country and fellow Americans as unrefined and uncouth. They may even give their compatriots the cold shoulder or even worse quietly belittle them.  Terrible. Unlike "Loud-American" they are more soft spoken probably because they are making every attempt to hide their americanism.  They may even try to adopt a fake European accent.  Funny enough they appear obsessed with the differences between Europe and America as well.  However their obsession works in reverse where everything in Europe is different but better.  Their taxis are Mercedes, American wine is swill compared to what is available in Europe, Europe is the fashion center of the world, the list goes on and on.  During their time in Europe they inevitably feel the need to have at least one sexual interlude with a euro under the assumption they are somehow closer to becoming one.  This stareotype is comprised primarily of women, gay men, and metro-sexual men.  Where do these stareotypes most often go...Paris, the south of France, the French or Italian riviera, all the majors, and the northern cities in Spain and Italy (sometimes Rome).  They most likely spent time in Europe during college studying abroad or traveling over the summer, they make periodic trips throughout their lives, and sometimes work in Europe as an expat.  Places you are most likely to catch this stareotype: Parisian cafes, the French or Italian riviera with their tops on, discotheques, and shopping in exclusive stores we have in America.   

"Ancestral-Euro" My Ancestors were European but I only speak English

Pretty common stareotipicle American in Europe.  This stareotype will often reference their ancestral link or links to Europe.  Overall, this group is pretty even keeled.  They are quite adventurous, out-going, and interested.  They will do little, if anything, to deny their america-ness but they also tend to draw limited attention to themselves.  This is probably the higher IQ of the various stareotypes.  They tend to be into the history, architecture, and natural beauty of Europe.  Unlike the others, their obsession with Europe tends to be grounded in intellect.  To be honest "Ancestral-Euro" is not that fun to blog about...they are regular well-educated Americans who take a sincere interest in their history and the world's.  The only fun part is the fact that they tend to over reference their ancestral link to Europe and despite all the emphasis placed on their lineage they only speak English.  Before finishing we do have to draw an exception regarding the Irish.  Irish Americans and many non-Irish Americans who claim to have some association to the Irish (i.e. they celebrate St. Patrick's Day, got wasted in an Irish pub, or dated an Irish American once) do not count as "Ancestral-Euros".  Why not?  Well let's face it.  The overwhelming majority of Irish Americans that visit Europe, specifically Ireland, are there to do one thing...drink beer!  If they are not drinking great beer, they are on their way to the pub or on a minor excursion between pints.  While it may be deemed part of their history, it hardly counts as intellectual...fun though.   Anyway back to "Ancestral-Euros"...Where do these stareotypes most often go...kind of all over the place but definitely the country or countries of their ancestors.  Places you are most likely to catch this stareotype: viewing the prehistoric idol in the wall of the church at Lauriacum, the Charles bridge in Prague, or the Temple of Apollo in Corinth.

"Fake-Canadian" Deny your are American, sew a Canadian flag on your Backpack

If you backpacked across Europe as a student then you inevitably ran into this stareotype.  This individual seems to think terrorists lurk in every corner and are out to get them.  As a result, this individual sews a canadian flag on their backpack in attempt to disguise themselves.  They may even generate some back story to further confuse potential terrorists.  Unfortunately for them, their story is rather transparent.  You can pretty much count on them being from one of two places in Canada: Toronto or Vancouver (if they took the time to develop a back story at all).  However, if the aforementioned terrorist took the time to speak with them, he would inevitably catch them in their prevarication because they would forget to end statements with 'eh' or would pronounce process 'pros-es' versus 'proh-ses'.  Busted.  This stareotype also seems inordinately concerned with security.  If it is not lurking terrorists, it is the ever common pick-pocket.  They may wear their passport and valuables in a neck wallet, sometimes referred to as a neck safe.  While this behavior may start as a student, it often continues into adulthood.  It is a funny sight watching this stareotype attempt to pay for something while reaching down the front of their shirt to open their neck safe.  Unfortunately, this stareotypes preoccupation with security tends to take away from their european experience.  Paradoxically, they fail to recognize they are probably in more danger at home than in Europe.  Where do these stareotypes most often go...similar to many the majors, plus they venture further afield to crazy places like Brugge, Pisa, or Salzburg.  Places you are most likely to catch this stareotype: locking up their valuables at the airports and train stations, cashing travelers cheques, watching their valuables at outdoor cafes, or watching people distrustfully (i.e. pick-pocket watch) in the tube or metro.

"American-Euro" Take it to the Extreme, European Through Marriage

This American stareotype takes "euro-love" to a whole new level!  They are under the mistaken impression that humping and marrying a euro makes them less american and more euro.  Be warned "euro by injection or by injecting" does not make you any more euro than you already are...you are an american.  You have to admire their passion and unyielding desire to become a euro though.  The roots of their desire stem from one of three places: 1) a humble upbringing combined with a continual drive to impress others (e.g. marrying a euro seems a reasonable and impressive differentiator), 2) a middle class upbringing combined with the desire to be more sophisticated (e.g. on a trip to europe they make up their mind that europeans are more sophisticated and see a marriage to one as a huge cosmopolitan upgrade), and/or 3) an upper class upbringing, bored, and willing to try anything to make life more interesting.  Regardless of the reasons the unfortunate reality is the odds of making the euro-american marriage work are, how you say...not good.  If you are absolutely determined to make this work our best advice is find your euro-love stateside.  Seriously.  Where do these stareotypes most often go...in the beginning the majors but over time wherever it takes to find their "euro-love".  Places you are most likely to catch this stareotype: pretty much any where there are a lot of single euros; in the beginning multi-cultural educational programs; later american companies in europe; finally back in america after their marriage fails...sorry but it is true.

Next we add a few items to the backpack that we hope we don't need to use, but are glad we have them when we do:

1 - travel size toilet paper for the times when the port a potties run out;

2 - travel size paper towels for when you need to wipe sometime off and/or need a napkin;

3 - meds - personal choice - allergy (Zyrtec-D), diarrhea (Imodium-Advanced), ibuprofen, and heartburn (Pepcid); and

4 - band-aids;

Next we add several items to the backpack that we will use the hell out of:

1 - pocket packs of tissues;

2 - travel bottle of Purell hand sanitizer;

3 - hand wipes (Wet Ones, Individual Pocket Size Singles);

4 - sun tan lotion (this year we will try spray-on);

5 - gum/mints;

6 - small flash light (you'll understand as it gets dark)

7 - mini fans/water sprayers and batteries; and

8 - extra baggies.

Lastly, the remainder of the backpack includes:

1 - cell phone;

2 - AM/FM WalkMan Radio with earbuds;

3 - camera;

4 - note pad and pen and/or mechanical pencil;

5 - sun glasses;

6 - Croakies for your glasses;

7 - extra pair of socks (only if you wear them);

8 - bandana and hat;

9 - small towel;

10 - wallet (ID); and

11 - cash (food, beverages, Band CDs, etc);

I know what you all are thinking... "this is a lot of crap," and, to be honest, you're probably right. However, all this crap has worked for us over all the years of attending the ACL Music Festival. Now, having said that, I know people that just show up with nothing and have a great festival.  While still others bring even more than I do/recommend and have a good time as well. Look, you know yourself best and the friends you attend the festival with, so just give it a little thought before Thursday (so you are running around Friday morning looking for stuff), and build something or don't that works best for you.

If I think of anything else between now and Thursday, I'll update this post over the next few days...

I hope you really enjoy the music festival, and, as always, comments are welcome...