10 things about ‘dem damn Europeans

Copenhagen & Paris (May 15-20, 2006)

So I’m back from Europe and getting ready for a trip to Cambodia. here are 10 things i learned and/or observed about ‘dem Europeans: especially the Danes and Parisians:

1.) I now know where the faroe islands are, do you?
2.) Where the fuck is the dialogue about race consciousness? Europeans may snub their big pointy noses at Americans but thank god we had the civil rights movement to propel conversations and actions about racism. I had a good conversation with an Asian American friend living in Paris who talked about the anti-immigrant sentiment and xenophobia pervasive in France. I also had a great talk with a few Korean adoptees who constantly struggle around visibility and identity issues because the Danes just don’t talk openly about race.
3.) Scowls look the worst on Asian people – even if they’re asian people in Europe. we just look mean and ugly which is an awful combination. I had a Filipina in a Filipino corner store stare me down with a most unsightly scowl as I asked about the Filipino community in Denmark. it was like she knew I had an ugly past with Filipinos.
4.) Punk music sounds the same in any language – discordant, angry, loud and makes ya wanna mosh wildly and burn shit. I am honored to rock out to Punk music in Faroese while watching a giant size “fuck you” finger rotate towards the crowd. Viva La Punk Music!
5.) Thank god for Chinatown in the 13th Arrondissement in Paris or else I’d whither away ‘cuz I can’t eat crepes, mushy sandwiches, and creamy slimy entrées all the time.
6.) Copenhagen is a hot town for fashion! There are cute little boutiques owned by emerging designers and fashionistas all over town. Some are even sitting inside sewing new pieces for their line as they wait for customers. I spent way too much money on unique articles of clothing like skirts, shawls, and shirts and some more money on shoes and eyewear. People look damn fashionable and cute as they bike around the city. I will be one of those people as soon as I get my $20 bike from Liz.
7.) Paris is indeed for lovers. the next time I come it will be with a lover or with the intent to find a lover. it’s just wrong to walk along the Siene without someone to cuddle and kiss with as we romantically stroll along old cobblestone roads that remind me of French Colonialism and old gothic churches that remind me of the Bubonic Plague.
8.) If a Santeria priestess tells you to watch yr bags and purse while traveling, listen to her and be extra cautious! Clairvoyant people tell you shit for a reason. The priestess gave me a warning and low and behold – my friend who traveled with me to Paris got her new digital camera stolen while waiting in line at the fitting room of the Zara store. Note: if you are the thief of said incident – could you just send us the memory card that has all her pictures on it, si vous plait?
9.) I don’t understand why people buy so much shit at the Duty Free shops at the airport. there’s nothing cool in those shops. all they have is overpriced alcohol, cartons of smokes, and old people cologne. and if you shop outside the airport apparently you have to jump thru major hoops to get the whole V.A.T money thing back: you need to make sure you ask the shops for a form in which they have to fill out, the shop has to be a member of some global trade/tariff organization and you have to purchase over a certain amount (like $122) per receipt. otherwise you gotta pay their exhorbant sales tax. you get none of yr money back if ya don’t know how it works and of course no one explains this to you upon landing in Europe even though they encourage tourists to buy telling folks that they will get the tax money back. liars! capitalist scoundrels!
10.) I’ve brought the joy of jumping randomly and at landmarks to Europe. check out some of the shots below:
in Copenhagen I jumped with the UFO girls –the first and only all Korean adoptees’ performance group named Unidentified Foreign Objects – they like to wear masks while engaging in community activism, we settled for cloaking ourselves in scarves;
In Paris, I jumped while giving the finger to Churchill and had my cousin’s old French hubby jump with us;
In Torshavn, I jumped at little Stonehenge and near rolling hills!

you can see more pictures here on flickr:
PARIS 2006:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicshogun/sets/72157594158292188/

COPENHAGEN 2006:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicshogun/sets/72057594137029928/