Orange Juice: Drink the Hard Stuff

I doodled this when I was in Florida a couple years ago. I think that every orange juice ad should look like this.

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10 Photos of My Engagement Ring in Europe

Almost exactly three months ago, Zachary bought me a rose-gold sapphire ring that I rather like, to put it lightly. I wore it whenever I could in Europe, only taking it off for farm work. I developed a small tan line and a rim of callused skin on my fourth finger that I shall continue to nurture for, well, the rest of my life. 

Everywhere I went, I found myself holding my left hand at arm’s length and snapping a shot of my lovely ring against whatever scenic background happened to be present. Here are my ten best shots, in chronological order.

I always love a good waterfront town, like Hamburg, Germany.

This was my home for two weeks at Laubmüehle, Germany.

The Salzburg Cathedral in Austria was pretty amazing. 

And so was Salzburg Castle…

And so was this Salzburg fountain…

And so were the Alps. Salzburg was pretty darn scenic!

Mountains and my favorite goats at Jean le Moine, France. 

Heather and a wild pony in the Netherlands.

One of Amsterdam's many canals.

And finally, Jan Vermeer's Milkmaid. I still feel awed that I was even in the same room as this painting.

Travel Tip Tuesdays: Safety Tips for Travel Abroad

Do you think you could give me some traveling tips, especially on being safe in Europe/abroad?

A friend asked this question last week, and as I was writing my answer to her, I realized that this would be a good blog for anyone who’s thinking of going to Europe. I’ve written about women’s safety and safety in hostels, but here’s the intercontinental version. 

Let me put in a disclaimer that I am very inexperienced when it comes to international travel, so I am by no means an authority. However, I did spend six weeks in Europe solo, and before I even set out, I gleaned a lot of good advice from my friends who have traveled worldwide, everywhere from China to Jordan to Peru. 

That said, here are some tips that were most helpful to me when traveling abroad:

Pictured: appearance of absolute confidence, and German disguise.
(I think it was the hat that cancelled out my American-ness.)

Do your homework before you leave. I felt a bit unprepared going to Europe: study up on Eurail passes, learn that free toilets are not a “thing,” figure out which cities are worth the trip and which are just big tourist traps. Rick Steve’s Europe Through the Back Door was massively useful to me, and there are several other guidebooks to help out as well. If you’re a woman traveling solo, I suggest a delightful (and helpful) book by Beth Whitman called Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Pack light. Fit everything into one backpack. This gives you so much more freedom and mobility, and keeps you from worrying about your luggage stowed at the back of the train. This is a big part of safety: keep your luggage with you, and you won’t have to worry so much.

Look like a local. When you don’t have a giant “I AM AMERICAN” sign hovering around you, you’ll be a lot safer from pickpockets. In Europe, blending in is easier than you think. Even though I wore a huge backpack, walked around in tennis shoes, and had a camera bulging in my pocket, people often approached me speaking in their native language. (I can’t tell you how many social activists in Salzburg tried to get me to sign their petitions until I stuttered out that I didn’t speak German!) Learn the basic dress code (for instance, no shorts, no loud t-shirts), and you’ll blend in a lot better. 

Always seem absolutely confident. Don’t unfold your massive tourist map and look at it confused (that’s how I got guilted into giving a homeless man a euro in Amsterdam). Don’t look around nervously. If someone on the street approaches asking if they can help you, try to gauge their motives. If you’re unsure, babble something in gibberish or simply say “No,” firmly, and walk away. Always walk and carry yourself as if you know exactly where you’re going. 

Practice the same safety you practice at home. I joked (but it was true) that the most dangerous place I visited on my trip was the Greyhound station in St. Louis. There are no special safety rules for traveling in Europe. Keep your wallet close (preferably in a money belt). Don’t walk down deserted alleys at night (well, I am guilty of this one). Don’t make yourself vulnerable, and watch out for pickpockets, which will be a much greater problem than any other kind of crime.

I'm naturally really good at the "a little
 stupid, but strangely endearing" thing.

Be respectful and endearing. People are much likelier to go out of their way to help you if you seem to respect their culture— it makes your ignorance of their language and customs endearing rather than annoying. Whenever I made an (awful) attempt to speak to someone in their native language (“Deutschland ist schön,” I’d say in my terrible American accent), they almost always responded warmly. You’d be shocked at how many Americans never even try to reach out to the people around them.

Follow your intuition. I say this a lot, but it’s because I believe so strongly in it. Your body often knows what’s going on before your mind does. If you have a bad feeling about walking down a perfectly innocent-looking street, don’t walk down the street. If a kindly-looking woman gives you an uneasy vibe, then stay away from her. Never chide yourself for being paranoid. Take calculated risks— after all, that is what travel is all about— but listen to those internal alarm bells. 

In short, be smart, be confident, and listen to that intuition. With just a bit of preparation, you’ll be able to relax and focus on having a great time!

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Men in Belted Sweaters

I forgot to write a blog today, so instead I give you this.

I know what I’m getting Zach for his next birthday.

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Wanderlust

I get horrible wanderlust every autumn. I feel the bite in the air, watch the leaves burst into color, and I feel a longing in my heart so deep that I feel like I’m going to explode. Usually, my remedy is to travel, but last year and this year, that’s an option I’ve decided to forgo. 

This year, my wanderlust has manifested itself in an intense desire to return to the Northwest. Although the hipster in me wants to pretend that I’m not missing Oregon (that is sooo mainstream), I am. There is an upside: Oregon is the state I am most likely to visit in the near future, thanks to Zach’s multitudinous relatives in the area. In the meantime, I plan my wedding, and collect fall leaves, and quiet my heart with the consolation that another trip is just around the corner.

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Ten Reasons My Husband-To-Be Is Awesome

The moment I got engaged, all of you knew that sappy blogs were forthcoming. And although this entry tugged some heartstrings, this one is a more familiarly Lisa brand of sappiness. Here we go, in no particular order:

1. He came into this world via c-section, which means that if there is ever a murderous tyrant risen to power boasting that no man born of woman can kill him, Zach will be able to slay him and save the day.

My fiancé, the mad scientist.

2. He has nine siblings. This gives him automatic awesome points.

3. He’s always telling stories about how he created dangerous scientific contraptions when he was a teenager, and even more stories about all the dangerous scientific contraptions he could have built if he had had the money.

4. He knows how to pronounce Japanese.

5. He cuts me off like a good bartender whenever I’m eating too many donettes (or anything sugary that will make me dramatic later).

6. He can climb or jump over most anything.

7. When I ask him how a lightbulb, a car engine, or an atom bomb work, he can actually answer it in detailed and intelligent way. 

8. He can fix a light socket, explain the theology of predestination, rig up his car so that it doesn’t start for an April Fools’ joke, debate the ethics of consumer moralism, and bake the best sourdough bread I’ve ever had. 

9. He walks fast.

10. Look at his hair. LOOK AT IT. I need say no more.

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Travel Stories: On a Train in Germany

Trains are good for taking "artistic shots" like this one.

Clutching my backpack in front of me, I jostled down the train aisle, murmuring “Entschuldigung” to everyone I bumped into. The train from Amberg toward Nürnberg, my transfer point, was crowded with people. At last I plopped down next to a middle-aged woman with glasses perched gracefully on her nose. We exchanged a brief “Hallo,” and then turned out attention to our reading material.

About ten minutes later, I decided that I wanted to check the train’s arrival time in Nürnberg. The only problem was, my ticket was stuffed down into my tight pocket (I was always paranoid about losing them). I laboriously shoved my hand into my pocket, squirming to grasp the ticket and pull it out. At last I ripped it out of my pocket, unfolded it, checked the time, and crammed it (again with difficulty) all the way back into my pocket.

At that moment, the woman next to me said something in German. I looked at her, but before I could blurt out the phrase I knew best (“Ich spreche kein Deutch”), she pantomimed what she was talking about. The train conductor was at the row behind us, asking for tickets.

I looked at the conductor, then back at my pocket, and I giggled. The woman chortled. I plunged my hand in my pocket again, wrestled out the ticket, and got it stamped. The woman and I shared another quick chuckle, and I settled back in my seat. 

“Where are you from?” she asked in a thick accent.

“U.S.A.,” I replied, and she nodded as if that explained everything. Some things are just funny, no matter where you’re from. 

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Two Men from My Past

This is Traistal and Émon. Neither of them actually looks like this, because I’m really terrible at getting pictures in my head to be pictures on paper. They are father and son (although, depending on which draft you read, Émon doesn’t know it yet). They both had their heads shaved to prevent disease in the slave camp they inhabit. Traistal doesn’t usually wear a nightcap or make the peace sign because they live in a fantasy world, a world called Naryen-Mair, a world which I invented when I was 14 and have never quite been able to let go of.

Once in a while, I miss these guys quite a lot. I know them better than I know most of my friends. I’ve written about three novels with them in it— between all the different versions, I’ve drafted almost a thousand pages about the adventure of father and son (occasionally grandfather and son until I figured out that the timeline was ridiculous). I spent about six years of my life writing them. Considering that I’m only 23, that’s a huge chunk of time.

When I was younger I was determined to be a novelist. I submitted my query letters to a couple different agents. One of them requested a sample, and then the entire manuscript. She rejected it because, quite frankly, it was awful. Still, it was an accomplishment, and it gave my writing skill a huge boost.

Then my life took a different turn. I started traveling, and started writing about my travels. I realized I quite enjoyed creative nonfiction. I even like article writing now. I’ve put my novel dream on hold, because although I know I have the time to write one, at this point in my life I don’t have the energy to commit to one.

But don’t worry, Traistal and Émon. I’ll get back to writing you guys. Eventually…

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Travel Tip Tuesdays: How to Couchsurf

I want to couchsurf but don’t know how to get started. How do I set it up?

Couchsurfing is a social networking site designed especially for travelers. Like Facebook, you create a profile, obtain “friends,” and join interest groups. However, you won’t be posting status updates about your insomnia or uploading photos of your dog in  a tutu… you’ll be perusing the site in search of adventure. 

There are three main things to do on the Couchsurfing site: finding connections to host, surf, or meet up with other travelers. Here’s a quick beginner’s guide.

First of all, join couchsurfing. It’s free to sign up, although they do encourage you to send a donation, which then confirms your home address. Sign up from this page.

My couchsurfing profile pic

Read all the FAQs and create a profile. You can do both from this page here. Seriously, they can explain it better than I can! If you’re a woman, I think it’s nice to post an unflattering picture of yourself to discourage guys who are attracted to a pretty face. Fill in every slot of your profile with as much information as possible, so people feel like they get to know you.

Before you try to host or surf, meet up with some couchsurfers at an event. There are lots of options explained here. Then the people you meet can leave you positive references on your profile. These are vital to a good couchsurfing experience: they are flags to your potential hosts/guests that you are not, in fact, a creeper.

Three tips for safety:

If you don’t feel comfortable hosting or surfing, volunteer to meet up with people. You can show people around your city, or, when traveling, meet a local who is happy to show you his favorite hiking path, museum, or bar. I started couchsurfing by meeting up with someone at the local ice-carving festival. 

Always read the references. If someone has 85 positive references and 1 neutral reference, you’re probably good to go. If someone has no references, they may be okay but they’re a much bigger risk. 

If you have a bad feeling about someone, then listen to that feeling. Intuition is a great ally in travel, and it’s there for a reason. Even if 165 people thought this surfer was great, but you get a funny feeling, go with your gut.

Elizabeth let my sister and I surf in her sailboat.

Three tips for hosting:

To sort out “mass emails,” ask surfers on your profile to write a password in their request to you. Any surfer who doesn’t use this password obviously didn’t read your profile, and probably isn’t worth your time.

Be sure to let your potential surfers know about your house rules. Fill out your profile completely. If you want them out of the house when you are, say so. Post a minimum or maxium stay. Tell them that you want them to do dishes, or that they should bring their own food. If you’re up front with this information, you’ll attract the right kind of guest.

Try to give your surfer a feel for your personality, your background, and the culture of your city/country. This is the point of couchsurfing: cultural exchange. If your guest is exhausted there’s no need to bus them all around the city, but it’s nice to offer some local advice and give them a cultural experience. My host in Colorado Springs took me to volunteer with a local urban art group, decorating the pillars in front of a building with mosaic tile— it was a fantastic experience I would never have gotten otherwise.

Three tips for surfing:

Send out about five thoughtful and specific couch requests at a time. As you get rejected, send out new requests. It can be extremely time-consuming, especially in popular cities during the high season, to find a couch, but keep plugging away.

I surfed in Amanda's RV, and we visited the Grand Canyon!

If you can’t find a host, try to find a “Last Minute Couches” group for that city and post a detailed message about your situation. That’s how (after about 30 failed couch requests) I got a couch in Salzburg, Austria.

Be a good guest. Do the dishes, fold your blankets when you’re done, make them an origami rose, and leave a nice thank-you note. Feel free to share about your culture, and ask lots of questions. Most couchsurfing hosts have traveled a lot, and should say so on their profile, so “Tell me about your hike up Mount Sinai” is always a good starting point.

This is only brushing the surface, but it should be enough to get you started. With Couchsurfing, whether hosting or surfing, the world is yours. Happy travels!

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Where to Go: Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois

The view from Twin Mounds.

When you say “Illinois,” most people get an image of flat cornfields, cows, and… more cornfields. However, Pere Marquette State Park, located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, offers a glimpse into a slice of Illinois most people overlook: the forested river bluffs.

Why you should go: This is the best hiking place I’ve found in the St. Louis area, featuring some challenging trails as well as some easier ones. You can also drive to a couple of lookouts, which give you great views of the rivers. My family has been visiting this park for as long as I can remember, and it is one of my favorite places in the world.

How to get there: There are many different ways to get there by car, depending on your starting point. If you type “Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton” into Googlemaps, you can find directions. (If you’re coming from St. Louis, consider spending the extra time and a few dollars to take the Golden Eagle ferry and the Brussels Ferry— it’s a fun ride!)

What to bring: Wear comfortable clothes and durable walking/hiking shoes. Bring a backpack with water, snacks, and bug spray. You might also want a camera or binoculars. Pack a picnic lunch or supper, and don’t forget to bring a frisbee!

What to do: First take a moment to look through the visitor’s center, which features some displays about the flora and fauna of the area. Then pick a trail to hike. Twin Mounds and McAdam’s Peak have the best views. After the hike, spend the evening at one of the picnic shelters, playing frisbee and watching the sunset on the river.

What else you need to know: The trails are all unpaved, so you have to be in pretty good shape to walk on them. When it rains, the trails can get treacherous. The picnic shelters are sometimes reserved, so it can be difficult to find a place with a grill on weekends. 

Autumn is one of my favorite times in Pere Marquette because of the changing colors. If you get a chance, check out this park sometime soon!

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