Common Questions I'm Asked About Europe

When I tell most people I've gone to Europe, there are usually a range of questions that come with that topic of conversation. So much so, I find that I know what questions people are going to ask...well before they even ask them. Even though my trip is a year old as of May 16th of 2010, I'm still regularly asked questions...and so I've decided to put them here, and answer them, in the effort to help others plan their own trips, not to just Europe, but anywhere they can imagine.

Did I feel safe? Was it scary to travel alone? Did I worry about getting lost? How did I keep my belongings safe?

Well, isn't it always a little weird to walk around in a city that you've never been to before, and do so alone? Doesn't matter if it's in another country or state. Crime happens. People get robbed, mugged, beat up, or worse everyday in areas where there are lots of people. But, if you worry about what will happen, you'll never do anything. If I had that attitude, I never would have gotten on that plane, went to the airport or even bought the ticket in the first place. The same rules apply as to when you're alone in any city, like not advertising or allowing people to think you have a lot of cash on you, don't walk down any dark alleys late at night, etc. Follow your gut. And don't let anybody outside the Sacre Coeur in Paris put a bracelet on your arm. Traveling alone wasn't as scary as it was sometimes a little awkward. But after you've managed one meal in a restaurant alone as well as a canal ride, the next ten or so are a breeze. I downloaded apps that featured city metro bus and train maps to my iPhone, and I found I used that more than a city map. I didn't worry about getting lost, for some reason, I had an innate sense of direction. I kept my belongings locked up in a locker at the hostel, and I was the only one who had a key. My mother had a key here in Chicago, and best believe, if I'd lost mine, she'd have been fedex'ing that key overnight.

What's the best ways you saved money on the trip? How did you get from each city (London to Rome, Rome to Paris and Paris back to London)?

The best ways I saved money was to pack effectively. I traveled on a small airline that went from region to region, but they were big on baggage fees. I was gone for three weeks, but I only packed a week and a half of clothes, knowing ahead of time that I'd have to do laundry. I also made sure that I kept a daily budget and stuck to it fairly religiously. I bought an Oystercard in London that I still have as an souvenir. It saved me a lot of money on the train. I also took advantage of the duty free (tax free) shops in the airports, buying whatever toiletries I needed there instead of in the cities, where the prices would be much more expensive. There are many airlines that fly to many different regions in Europe, RyanAir, AerLingus and EasyJet are three I can think of, offering fares as low as $20-$60 per trip. Realize though, each airline has STRICT rules, and if you don't follow them you will have major headaches. Make sure you know and understand them all before you even think about booking a ticket, which you need to do pretty much as soon as you know your itinerary.

What is the biggest culture shock you received overseas? What are things Americans who've never been overseas would be surprised to see or experience? Any stereotypes that are true or false?

In Rome, there is a lot of ease and slow pace. But the cab drivers are CRAZY. I thought New York cab drivers were bad...the ones in Rome put them to shame. Also, the poverty in certain places is a little off putting. However, the biggest culture shock I received was shopping for deodorant. It was EXTREMELY difficult to find some in smaller neighborhood stores. I luckily found a trial size in the bottom of my bag and that was able to last for the duration of my trip. As a result of the deodorant shortage, there was a lot of FUNKY encounters. Even now, I can close my eyes and that pungent, wet and onion-y smell comes wafting back into my nose. The stereotype that Parisian women are any more fashionable than American women is also not as prevalent as one would think. Plus, people are a lot more affectionate. You go to the bars and it's normal to see everyone in the bar making out with each other, whether they know each other or not. I saw it in London at the IceBar (a bar built solely of ice, and you wear these massive coats), in Paris (even on the streets, lol) and in Rome (everywhere also).

Were there any weirdness with the different kinds of food that they eat versus what is normal American fare, even if it might be Italian, French, etc?

The food itself is smaller portions. However, Europeans eat more often than we Americans do, so if you keep that in mind, you won't go hungry. As a result of the portion size being smaller, flavors are richer and more...luxurious. People aren't as worried about fat content as they are in the States. Going to a Starbucks and getting a low-fat macchiato might get you some weird looks. Also, it was hard as hell to find soy milk. So much that I skipped eating cereal and drinking coffee, etc during my trip. It wasn't worth the headache. Europeans have really cornered the farmer's market concept, and some of the best fruit I've ever been fortunate enough to taste was the fruit I bought in Rome outside the Coliseum. Some people may hesitate to try outdoor food sold like that, but it's well worth the risk. It's also easy to eat well and inexpensively while in Europe. Just be sure to try the croissants in Paris, the espresso in Rome and the hamburgers in London...and be sure to do plenty of walking! I did and ironically, I LOST weight.

So, you stayed in hotels or motels or hostels? What was that like? Are they like the ones in that horror movie?

In order to save money, I stayed in hostels, which are like dorms. Most rooms are shared, with bunk beds, and like hotels, each person has a key or keycard. The cheaper the room rate, the more roommates you'll have. The ones I stayed in were all recognized by Hostelling International, the biggest group behind hostelling travel in the world. Not all hostels get their stamp of approval, and each place has to not only maintain their facilities, but also their safety guidelines to meet their criteria, which is audited by them officially every year. They also will revoke a hostel's inclusion on their material if they get enough complaints from guests. The one I stayed in Paris was the nicest, the most modern, with a full restaurant and bar in the lobby. The floors were female, male and co-ed, and bathrooms were filled with stall showers. Everyone got a large bin to put their belongings and lock it, and it was fine. The London hostel had a bathroom right in the room, with laundry, a kitchen if you wanted to cook, as well as a bar in the lobby. The Rome one was the least modern, with no elevator (and I had to climb five flights to get to my room..imagine doing that twice drunk), but had the best bar and the hottest bartender. No psycho killers wanting to sell my body to an illegal hunting group. I had one stalker, who actually followed me from Rome to Paris and stayed in the same hostels as me, but he was a sweet stalker and left after he realized I wasn't interested.

These are just some of my questions I get. If you have any additional, hit me!

Adventures in Dating in Chicago

Hey,

So everyone is hitting me up on facebook, myspace, email, all confounded because they have no idea what to do as far as a date. In the previous blog, where you can skim here, I broke down the different types of dates, so that you don't try a first date activity on a romantic date. As I've also said, I live in Chicago, so some of my ideas will be Chicago based, but I will try to make them as universal as possible. With that, here are some of my ideas with the category it can fall into. If you try them, I'm pretty sure they'll succeed and get you serious cool points. 

The idea of a date is to let someone into your head a little. If you show them the basic dinner/movie combo, while it works, it's boring. We have all done the dinner/movie date. There are ways to tweak that idea a little, a lot and eliminate it entirely. Here are some suggestions:

Instead of going to dinner, why not learn to cook a meal together? Places like Parties that Cook have options that give couples a chance to cook a menu from appetizer to dessert. However, you should not do this as a first date, because you need to know the person is interested in cooking. Also, it can be a little pricey, but there are cheaper alternatives. They also offer singles events, so you might learn a few recipes, then find a date there to share it with. This kind of date is perfect for second or third dates, because it allows you to get to know the other person and the activity allows for many goofy awkward moments, giving you both things to laugh about later. Google "date night cooking class (your city)" to find plenty of options, some that just teach one part of a meal, or the whole thing. It'll depend on you and your budget. Some are free, some charge small fees for the materials. If you google "cooking class (your city)" you can find less expensive options.

After cooking a meal and sharing it, why not park your car (or take the bus/train) in a neighborhood like Lincoln Park or Oak Park and walk around. All those calories will make you feel stuffed, and walking will get that bloated feeling out of you. I recommend anywhere full of interesting shops, people and cafes. After walking around for a while, you can get a drink (whether it is coffee or a shot of Patron) at any place that looks interesting. Open yourself up...the possibilities are endless. 

For example, a city like NY, where parking is out of control, take the subway to the Lower East Side and try coffee at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, one of my favorite hangouts when I'm in town. There's always someone on the mic with spoken word, and it is full of various types of folk, the yuppie, the internet blogger, the student, the hippie, the weedhead, the 'ignit' spectator, the next Miguel Pinero. (if you don't know who that is, look him up here). 

Google "poetry cafe (your city)" to find a place near you that offers up poetry nights. You might go a step further and get on the microphone yourself...but I say go for it if you're brave. Don't do it just to impress your date, if its not genuine it'll more than likely backfire. This also can be done as an independent outing and even a first date if you know the other person likes poetry. However, do a little research and make sure the place is not so loud that you can't hear the other person if they say something. The last thing you want is to not talk to the person, especially on the first date.

Another good date idea is to take your date to a local museum, art exhibit, or aquarium. Chicago, and many other main cities have these. Chicago, and probably other cities, offers something called the CitiPass. The great thing about this CitiPass is that it is valid for nine days, offers admissions to five of the city's great tourist and museum attractions and is cheaper than trying to buy each ticket seperately. Read more about  and even buy the CitiPass here. This can be a two or three day date, and will allow you both to learn more about the culture of the city and while it is 59 dollars, it is less expensive than trying to pay for all those places individually. The Pass also has discounts and maps to restaurants, shopping and other locations that can allow you to see the city with fresh eyes. To add another level of fun, pretend as if you are tourists and don't know your way around. You can ask for directions and maybe even get recommendations to places you'd never have visited unless you asked. 

If you are looking for a more romantic idea, try taking a boat tour of the city of Chicago. Granted, some cities not on bodies of water are conducive to this idea, but in those cases, a train or city bus tour can work just as well. In the case of Chicago, check out Shoreline Sightseeing Cruises. These affordable boat tours of the city allow you to see Chicago in all its beauty, but also because of their docking at Navy Pier, allow you to enjoy the sights of that facility as well, including the perfect first kiss spot, on the famed Ferris Wheel. Shoreline offers sunset cruises, that also serve as a nice first kiss spot as well. They are one of many companies that dock at different sites within the city, so rest assured that there is no monopoly of the waters of Chicago. Wendella offers wine tastings in addition to their tours, and Chicagoline works with the Chicago History Museum for their background information on the buildings of Chicago. Prices can vary and depend on your budget, what you are looking for, and length of time on the boat. 

If laughter is your thing, try going to a comedy show. Not the standard open mic night at the around the way comedy club, but a real comedy show. For under $15 per ticket, you can check out a show at the Improv Olympic Theater that will leave you in stitches. While it isn't an ideal first date activity, it is one that they probably won't forget. I've been to see Felt twice, and both times, I was very happy, and for $5, able to enjoy drinks at any of the local pubs after my show without feeling the burn in my pockets. It is a refreshing outing, something to create a good conversation after, and something to do any day of the week. For shows like Felt, try to buy your tickets in advance or arrive early, because they will sell out. This theater is one of many, but others are available. Don't be afraid to use google, citysearch or any other online resource to find a place you like if improv isn't your thing. 

These are just some ideas to get the brain working and the mojo flowing! I have not been solicited by any of these companies to feature them in my blog, just using them as examples. Do not expect the "Ashley Robin" discount, because hey, there's isn't one. I just want love and life to happen naturally. Speaking of which, next week, I will be hosting an internet radio show from 7pm to 9pm (Central Time). Visit the link for the station here, then click "Listen Live" and be connected. I will try to blog as soon as I end the show, and will post the topic of what I'm talking about, as well as how to call in once I make up my mind as to what that topic will be and if I'll be asking for guests. As soon as I do, I'll post all that info here. I'm so excited to be back in the booth again! 

*Ashley Robin*

PS- Big ups to one of my good friends since childhood, and fellow blogger, Zack, for featuring my blog as his "Spotlight Blog Roller". His blog can be found here, read it, it's refreshing, funny and honest. I read it all the time. 

vote in 2008!

Life Is Just My Fairy Tale

Haven't really blogged in a while, mainly because not much interesting has happened. Then today came, and sigh....I realized that I'm stuck in a moment and it seems to be lasting forever. Here's the status of things....in a nutshell, I'm bored and tired. Not bored in the sense that I'd do something silly for kicks, and not tired in the sense that I need sleep...just that my life is going in circles...kinda like that movie Groundhog Day, where you keep repeating yourself over and over and over....until you get so sick of things you look for ways to die and even then, you still wake up the next day unscathed physically.

I've been doing a lot of thinking, about my life, my mistakes, my future, where I see myself, and other than getting this degree and my grad degree, I don't really know what lies ahead. For once in my life, I have no plans...and it scares the crap out of me. I always pictured myself doing this by that age, this by that age, etc, etc....and now I have no idea where I'll live, what I'll be, who I'll be with, (if anyone) and if my future is as bright as some say. I guess I have to learn to just go with the flow of things, but I've always had a plan. me without one is kinda like jumping out a plane without a parachute...it makes NO sense. So, instead of setting up ideals that I see myself in or out of, I've come up with five goals.

1) Getting on good terms with as much of my family as possible. No matter what happens, you should have good ties with my family. I'm mainly thinking of my father, which may not be possible, but if I go to New York to see him, and it doesn't work, at least I'll have tried, which will be more than enough for me. It'll be enough to know I gave 100Àthat I took all the bull in stride and that I can truly be proud of my effort, enough that I don't have to regret any decisions I make in regards to him.

2) Finding some purpose. I've always wanted to spend more time giving back, and having to do community service with the Honors College will force me to do just that. I have the feeling that if I throw myself into something, whether it be kids, animals, the homeless, babies, I'll have a good time with it. I've already planned to let my hair grow long enough to where it can be donated to Locks of Love (14 inches, plus) over and over again until I get tired of it....and to donate blood as often as I can...but it's not enough. I can do more.

3) Making a plan to graduate and sticking to it. This one is the most reachable, since I've got a plan on grad school and time to get it done. I just don't want to be an undergrad at 25...so I guess I better hurry up.

4) Happiness. Finding some degree of it, whether it be a puppy, a boyfriend or just self-love, and never letting it go.

5) Fun...having more of it, more time to be silly, more time to enjoy things. This goes hand in hand with my plan to work hard, get more money in my life, and actually try to take time to enjoy the fruit of my labor.

Ash