Lowtide MAY
TRAVEL EDITION
2015 no.1
20
GERMAN phrases to know
Photo Story: UNICORN ROAD TRIPS Across the
U.S.A. Summer
Necessities Pg.14
easy
HOW TO
TRAVEL
IN
EUROPE
2
Editorial
9 PM. Police in black helmets bearing riot shields started closing in on a crowd—one that we were in the middle of. “Quickly, run in there!” shouted Zach, and the four of us stumbled into a nearby Starbucks. I wrapped my scarf tightly around my nose and mouth as I ordered a mocha. Tear gas. It wasn’t hitting me as hard—Zach’s eyes were swollen bright red and the others were sneezing and coughing. We were in Istanbul, Turkey in the middle of a riot about the government’s censorship of the Internet. This is my story--and maybe it’s yours, too. Lowtide is dedicated to stories from people just like you. They aren’t rich. Some were raised in broken and unstable homes. And they’re all striving to get ahead while going through full-time college, working multiple part-time jobs and paying high rent. But many of you might ask: Is it possible to be in college and travel while being virtually broke? Why yes. Yes it is. And you’re about to find out how.
This first edition of Lowtide is filled with tips and resources to help you start your own trip, either nationally or overseas. It includes exclusive stories from students who fit this demographic of “I eat Ramen every day to survive and never sleep to pass college.” I invite you to plan ahead, but also take risks to enjoy the most out of your travel experience. You may find yourself in the middle of a riot in a foreign country, like I did. As the police closed in on the crowd, we quietly slipped though, sipping our mochas—and checking another experience off our bucket-list.
Ciao,
Jessica Anzai 3
Table of Contents
4
Travel 08
20
Must-Know
10
Beating
14
Summer
16
Photo
the
German
Phrases
Euro
Necessities Story:
Road
Trip
Explorers 32
Avery-France
34
Kathrin-Germany
36
Jeremy-Istanbul
38
The
Disaster
Chronicles
5
6
ADVERTISEMENT
7
Travel
20 Going
1.
to
German
Germany?
Memorize
these
Hello --- Hallo
2. Goodbye! --- Auf Wiedersehen! (vee-der-seh-en)
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3.
Thanks! --- Danke!
4.
Please/You’re Welcome --- Bitte
5.
See ya! --- Bis dann!
6.
My name is… --- Ich heiße… (high-seh)
7.
Where is…(the bank) --- Wo ist die Bank? (bahnk)
8.
Where is the bathroom? --- Wo ist die Toilette?
9.
Slang: I have to go to the bathroom! --- Ich muss aufs Klo!
10.
How much is it? --- Wie viel kostet das?
Phrases basic
11. 12.
phrases
to
help
you.
What is that? --- Was ist das? Excuse me (when you didn’t hear them) --- Wie, bitte?
13.
Excuse me (asking someone) --- Entschuldigen Sie! (ent-should dee-gen)
14.
Excuse me, do you speak English? --- Entschuldigen Sie, sprechen Sie English? (sprek-hen Zee)
15.
Train station --- Bahnhof
16.
Subway --- U-Bahn/S-Bahn
17.
Do you know...? (informal) --- Kennst du...?
18.
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How --- Wer, Was, Wann, Wo, Warum, Wie (pronounce “w” like “v”)
19.
Sorry --- Tut mir Leid. (Toot meer Lite)
20. Drinking Toast: “May it be good” --- Prost! (Proh-st)
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10
Beating the
Euro How
to
buck
get while
the
best
bang
traveling
in
for
your
Europe.
Paris for a week. Gondola ride in Venice. Clubbing in Berlin. The bucket list goes on, but let’s face it: traveling is expensive. Whether college student or young professional, people dream of one day backpacking across Europe, powered by wanderlust. With enough saving and planning ahead, now exploring Europe is financially possible. Follow these tips to get the most out of your experience— and still have enough money to get home.
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Travel
Transportation 1. Carpooling is the easiest and cheapest way to get around—find a ride and
contact the driver all within a few minutes. Once a student used BlaBlaCar and went to three countries in one day (Germany, Switzerland, France) for 10 Euro. www.blablacar.com
2. Ryan Air—pretty sketch. They have a lot of “technical problems” before take off and during landing murmurs of “Thank God, we are safe!” are heard. As a result, they’re the cheapest way to fly. A better airline that is just as economical would be Easy Jet. They’re easier on you about luggage and specific policies. These airlines don’t go to every destination, so that’s why it’s usually one or the other. www.ryanair.com, www.easyjet.com
3. Buses are the cheaper alternative to trains but take twice as long. Booking with bus agencies at least a week before your departure is cheaper than buying sameday tickets. www.meinfernbus.de
4. Rome 2 Rio. This website has departure/destination points laid out on a map on the right, and gives multiple ways to get there on the left. This is for the traveler who wants more visual in planning their trip. www.rome2rio.com
5. Plane? Train? Car? Go Euro is the fastest way to find out which to choose in a simple, clear layout. www.goeuro.com
Money
6. Choose grocery stores over restaurants, and go to markets if available. Eat out at a nice place once a week, and create a memory. The rest of the time budget your meals. One student recommended eating at local restaurants to experience the food from that country.
7. Instead of buying souvenirs for everyone back home, use www.moo.com and make your own postcards—it’s $10 for 10. These are fast, easy, and more personal.
8. Look for deals, local events and Facebook page announcements. You can find
legit deals and events by grabbing a free tourist magazine from your hostel or at a nearby tourist stand. You are a local now. Immerse yourself in the culture—a lot of things are free to do. 12
Lodging 9. Air Bnb—a website devoted to connecting local hosts to travelers. Private-
ly owned places are better than hostels, are sometimes cheaper, and are always nicer. Some places are unique—there are options of staying in tree houses, igloos and even castles! Meet locals and get the inside scoop on the culture. You can do everything online and relax when you get there. This website is also useful for anyone traveling in the United States. www.airbnb.com
10. Couch surfing—not the most popular, but it gets the job done for free. Some people can score really great “couches” and even get free meals from their hosts. Other times it means sleeping in a dirty and noisy place with no complaints. You get what you pay for—just make sure to read the reviews. www.couchsurfing.org
11. Hostels are the most common place to stay at, and a traveler never leaves
without a crazy story. However, never go to a hostel with reviews lower than 80 percent. Lower than that risks staying in an unsafe neighborhood, sleeping with bed bugs, and an unpleasant stay. Make sure to read reviews and also leave them. This builds your credibility and helps others in the future. www.hostels.com, www.hostelworld.com
There’s always a cheaper way of doing things. Get the most out of your money currently it’s $1.09 to every euro—download a conversion app to help you out when buying things. Avoid taxis unless in an emergency, add people on Facebook, and go in groups to split costs. Finally, plan ahead. This gives you more time to enjoy the culture—and have an experience of a lifetime.
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Travel
The Summer
Little America Backpack, Herschel $99.99 www.herschelsupply.com
Mayari Sandals, Birkenstock $89.95 www.zappos.com
Front-Zip Sports Bra, Victoria’s Secret $57.50 www.victoriassecret.com
DoubleNest Hammock, ENO $69.95 www.rei.com
Erika Sunglasses, Ray-Ban $115 www.ray-ban.com
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Notebook, Field Notes $115 www.Fieldnotesbrand.com
Necessities
The
Camps Bay Camera Ona $429 www.onabags.com
Bag,
Universal Plug Adapter, Amazon $6.99 www.amazon.com
Timex
Army Field Watch, J.Crew $98 www.jcrew.com
Allabout Rain Jacket, The North Face $99 www.thenorthface.com
Mens Desert Boot, Clarks $130 www.clarksusa.com
Polaroid Snapback Hat, Urban Outfitters $29 www.urbanoutfitters.com
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16
Photo Story:
Road Trip Across the
USA Photos by Allison Regan
Written by Jessica Anzai
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18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Travel
Wherever you go, make it an adventure. This is my motto during the summer. So when Allison volunteered to drive to my school with me under the condition we can stop at a few places on the way, I agreed. This would be our second time traveling from California to Tennessee together--and the first time was rough. Somehow we thought that driving three days straight without stopping was a good idea. We left in the mid-August heat and drove through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. without air condition. It was hell. When this time rolled around, we took our time. Our schedule went a little like this: Day 1: Starting from the Yosemite overpass into Nevada, we drove along I-80 and visited the Salt Lake Flats. After driving 11 hours we stopped in Salt Lake City, staying at a hostel for less than 20 bucks. Day 2: Drove another 12 hours, but this time taking a detour to see Arches National Park. We hiked to the most popular arch and then left. It was great! Then we hauled it to my old roommates home
Break it down:
Time: 43 hrs. driving Distance: 2812 mi. Gas: $350 Days: 6 Lodging: $20 States: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee.
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in Grand Junction, CO. We spent the evening at the annual Peach Festival eating fruits and listening to live music. Day 3: Woke up before dawn and headed to Glacier View Ranch, CO. Once there, we met up with a few friends for hiking, making delicious food, canoing, and more. Then we rested, since the next day was the longest part of our trip. Day 4: Drove all the way to Tulsa, OK. Not the best drive in the world. Stayed at my boyfriend’s house with his family. Day 5: Toured Tulsa and slept a lot. Day 6: Left early to drive another 12 hours to Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. We finally made it! Traveling like this is a lot more relaxing. Even though we “lost” three days, I will never forget the memories we made. We only had to pay for one night (at a hostel) and the rest was taken care of.
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Explorers
This One’s For You, Dad France, By Avery McKinney
“J’ai besoin d’aller à Omaha Beach…s’il vous plaît?” I said, choking back tears. I need to go to Omaha Beach…please. The young French woman looked at me curiously. I knew she could hardly understand what I was saying, but she seemed to sympathize with me. Sympathy was good. After all, I was this tall American girl with a huge green backpack, and I was about to cry. She was pregnant, alone, and French. How odd it must have been to see us talking to each other on the street. This was October 2013. It was fall break for the school I was attending in France, and I decided there wasn’t a better time to travel by myself and see the places only I wanted to see, particularly Omaha Beach. I had promised my Dad, who will never step outside the United States, that I would visit this specific place for him. It was extremely important to me that I do this. I wouldn’t be there long—I had other places to go. But I did want to stop by and say hi to a historical place for my history-loving father. I had never even planned a trip by myself in America, so it was quite something to step outside of my home country and try to figure out the 32
intricacies of another. The trip first required a train ride from Paris to Bayeux. Bayeux is essentially the closest town to Omaha Beach, and I knew it was still a bus ride to the beach from there. You could rent a bike out there, but it was a day trip. I arrived at around 4:30 in the afternoon, and I was only staying for one night. On top of that, I had unwittingly arrived on a holiday for that region of France, so the small town of Bayeux was almost completely empty. I roamed around, looking for a way to get to the beach. My French was still terrible after having only arrived in September, and no one spoke English in this part of France. I went and talked to the tourist information lady. She told me that there was essentially no way for me to get to the beach. Everything was closed down because of the holiday. None of the buses were driving. It was too late to rent a bike. I couldn’t rent a car because I didn’t know how to drive stick. I became terrified that I had journeyed out to this place and wouldn’t be able to see the one thing for which I had come. I left the tourist information place and turned
to the streets. Surely someone would take me out to the beach. I just had to find the courage to ask and, subsequently, the courage to get in a stranger’s car. I saw an old man in his car. I asked if he could take me. He told me that he, too, was a visitor in this region and didn’t know his way around. I nodded and walked away. A tear slipped out. I saw a family walking on the other side of the street. I stared at them too long, and they quickly walked away. I went in circles, looking for someone—the right someone—to ask. And then I saw this young woman on the other side of the street. We made eye contact. I knew my appearance was strange (in an interesting way) to her, and I grew hopeful. And then deeply afraid that my hopes would be crushed. I made my way over to her. I began to explain to her in my extremely broken French that I came specifically here to see this beach for my Dad. She ended up having this very weird look on her face, and I thought she didn’t understand what I was saying. And that is when the waterworks really started.
It was one of the purest frustrations I had ever felt. I was so incredibly close to what I wanted, but I was too far to take care of it myself. I would have gone in the morning of the next day, but the train I needed to take to my next destination left too early in the morning. I was completely stuck and totally at the mercy of this pregnant, nameless, kind-faced French woman. A car pulled up. My new acquaintance stepped off the sidewalk and began to speak in hurried French to the driver of the car. I swallowed repeatedly to try and get rid of the lump in my throat. The driver was also female, and there were two other girls in the car with her. I tried to listen to what was being said, but my French just wasn’t strong enough to comprehend it yet. The young woman I had first spoken with turned around and smiled at me. “On y va,” she said. Let’s go. I smiled, praised God, and went. 33
Explorers
My Home Away From Home Germany, By Kathrin Klemm
My first experience with the German culture came at a young age. I was six when my Grandpa took me and my mother to see our relatives in Hamburg. Although today I only remember little things—my cousin dropping his lollipop off of a giant cliff; getting stung by nettles at the old family homestead; or my mother’s discomfort with her uncle’s driving—a seed was planted. It was six years before I went back. My family threw a huge party for the aunt and uncle who were both turning 75. The World Cup was on Germany vs. Switzerland. Our cousin gave us a grand tour of Hamburg. Needless to say, I left a piece of my heart in the Fatherland, and it was no question that I would go back again someday. That day came in my third year of college. I was going to study German for nine months near Berlin. The preparation was extensive. How? I was nervous, despite my previous visits and the year of beginner German I had taken back home at Walla Walla University. Ironically, the first 34
person I met was a Ukrainian, not a German, who also taught me my first new word: der Stau. It means “traffic.” Right off the bat, all we wanted to do was explore. I might sound like a travel guide, but there are some things you must know: if you, dear reader, are ever in Berlin, you simply must take a day trip to visit the castle at Wernigerode. Also advised would be a good quality camera to capture the Harz Mountains from the many paths on the hillside behind the castle. Oh, but you should also see the Hundertwasserhaus in Magdeburg, the closest city we went to for shopping and going out. Its whimsical style is hard to miss and hard to forget, with the gripping colors and unusual patterns. And how could I forget! In Berlin itself, there is a döner kebab shop across the bridge at the Warschauer Straße U-bahn stop, which happens to be open around the clock (a döner kebab is a Turkish dish of deliciousness wrapped in flat bread). Oh, I
could go on and on and on. My absolute favorite in Germany is Christmastime. The concerts, the cookies, the markets… Germans really do it right. During this time I counted myself especially lucky, as I got to spend the holiday with my family near Hamburg. It seemed more sacred somehow, Christmas in Germany rather than America. Although there were gifts and Santa like always, the days were spent together in conversation until late. (Another aspect I loved: the discussions!) Not one, but two days spent surrounded by friends and family. The year progressed, as did my German. We students were given the opportunity to visit the rest of Europe during the holidays. The lights of Budapest at night were majestic; seeing the Eiffel tower from our window in Paris was unreal; and the pulsing life of London was invigorating—but every time we arrived back in Berlin, it felt like we were finally home again, where we understood the
language (mostly) and knew what to expect. The first time I experienced this relief, I knew I had found a place—my place—my home-away-fromhome. Throughout the nine months spent living in Germany, it amazed me the way life can be so fluid and accommodating. Although living in Germany is a highlight in my life, there was no getting away from the realities of death, heartbreak, anxiety, or frustration. I grew from these experiences, but I wasn’t alone. My life abroad was spent with my new family of Americans, Germans, Mexicans, Tanzanians, Sri Lankans, Ukrainians and many others. Rest assured, any place where you can laugh and cry and love in a new culture and language will steal your heart. Germany stole mine, and I hope it will be a lifelong affair.
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Explorers
A Tale Of Two Continents Istanbul, By Jeremy Permaul
With a few bumps our plane landed on the blue-lit tarmac. I started my ritual of landing at an airport. First, I unbuckled my seatbelt, even though the yellow and red seat belt light shone dimly above my head. I waited in my seat, feeling as if I should win a prize for being the first to take my seat belt off. The plane finally connected to the jet bridge, causing the passengers to quickly stand up to claim their spot in the crowded aisle. I waited my turn as I always do. As my turn came, I checked to make sure I didn’t leave anything in my seat. I grabbed my carry on, and followed the masses out of the plane, through the jet bridge, and towards customs. I had just claimed my bag at the carousel. Customs had taken a while to get through. Jessica, my travel companion, signaled that she had her bag. The ritual had ended. It was now time to step into the land of the unknown, a place where anything could happen. We were in Istanbul with nothing but our bags; a couple-hundred newly converted Turkish Lira; and a primitive list of directions to the house of our host. I would continue this journey through the unknown for the next ten days, living minute to minute, and from one delicious meal to another. We boarded the bus as directed by the first step 36
in the directions, taking our first steps into this wonderful city. Little did I know that this city would consume me, saturating every one of my senses. I would grow to love this city. This is my experience in Istanbul. The journey to our host’s house is a story on its own. In short, Jessica and I got well acquainted with the local nightlife and completed our trek in our host Cesur’s welcoming home. The home was located on the Asian side of the city and required a mini pilgrimage to get to the European side, where the majority of the tourist attractions are. Our everyday transportation included a 30-minute bus ride to the Üsküdar port, and a 30-minute ferry across the Bosphorous. That all said, living on the Asian side, isolated from all tourists, gave us a view of how life in Istanbul actually. We commuted every day with locals on their way to work. We shopped in markets that the locals shopped in. Best of all, we ate in the places where locals ate, providing me with one of the best meals of my entire 23 years on this planet. Living with a local gave us an advantage that many tourists do not have. Apart from the nightly discussions about Islam, our host Cesur gave us
information and recommendations that we became and gifted me with one of my favorite photographs reliant on. Staying with a local is the only way to of the city. truly experience any destination. The best part of this city is the delicious cuisine. The aromas of cinnamon and crushed pepper Vendors and restaurants are around every corner, linger in the air. Mountains of Turkish delight are and each and every one of them is fantastic. This on display. Everything you can imagine is located topic could be a whole article by itself. Breakfasts in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Opening in 1461, are composed of a variety of dried fruits and nuts, this bazaar is one of the world’s oldest covered accompanied by an assortment of fresh breads, honmarkets. The market holds over a thousand shops, eycomb, cheeses, and meats. Lunchtime for me was catering to the wants and needs of anyone who the time I set off on my journey to find the world’s wanders in. Getting lost inside the Grand Bazaar is best Dürüm, a mixture of seasoned meats and a must while visiting Istanbul. vegetables wrapped in a flatbread. Dinnertime was This city is full of history. Founded in the year always a tasty surprise. I never had a bad meal while 330 A.D., it has seen the rise and fall of many in Istanbul. I still crave Turkish food every day. empires, and religions. The architecMy experience in Istanbul was one “Getting lost inside of the greatest traveling experiences ture of this city is amazing. From the ancient luxuries of Topkapi palace, the Grand Bazaar is that I have ever had. Istanbul is a to the ancient wonder of the Hagia a must while visiting great destination for those who are on Sophia. From the intricacies of the a low budget, and those who want to Istanbul.” Blue mosque to the vigilant Galata experience a new culture. This city Tower, the structures of this city will has everything to offer, with wondrous amaze you. sights, smells, and tastes around every corner. Wanting to get a great photo of the city at sunset, Jessica and I decided to climb Galata tower. This ancient watchtower gives a perfect view of the city, 37
The
Disaster
Diaries
Cell phones are important in this society. And when one travels abroad, cell phones become more of a GPS mixed with the occasional functional usage assuming there is free Wi-Fi somewhere. So I was still pretty attached to my phone when all of the sudden, it happened. I had just come from a weeklong stay in a small rural town of Romania. Now, in Croatia, I had to deal with a new problem. By Zach Kast Dear Diary, As soon as it happened I was distraught. I’ve heard of these things happening to other people—but happen to me? Never! I’m very careful about remembering where all my electronic things are. But as luck would have it, I left my phone charger at the last hostel, some 700 miles away. At this point I began the first of the five stages of grief. I first went through denial. I hadn’t left it. I just wrapped it into my other cords. I mean, they’re all white…they look the same. Unfortunately this was not so. I paced nervously in my new hostel room, anxious of what a future without a phone charger would mean. Is there life after cell phone? As I walked a path into the floor of the hostel pondering these implications I began the second stage: Anger and guilt. If only I had been more careful, then my phone wouldn’t be so lonely. I felt guilty for the loss of connection my phone would feel, I felt guilty for the inconvenience I had bestowed upon myself, and most of all, I felt anger. I was angry with myself, I was angry at fate, and I became angry with Apple for making the chargers so dang expensive. Then the next stage hit and I found myself bargaining with God. If he just brought my charger back, then I would be a better person. If my charger miraculously appeared upon my bedside, then I would travel the world proclaiming the good news that miracles still happen. Alas, I was faced with the reality that it just wasn’t coming back. In despair, I moved to the next stage. When reality sets in, often so does depression and loneliness. I was depressed. This small device that had brought so much joy and ease to my life lay lifeless on my bed. My pocket was empty without my phone there by my side. I began to finally accept that it wasn’t going to come back; that I really needed to buckle down and buy another charger. Things got out of hand. I had to constantly ask what time it was; I didn’t have my back up camera (that wonderful 8 megapixel “power house” of a camera) with me; and most of all, I couldn’t meaninglessly stab at the screen, hoping to be entertained for a few seconds while waiting for a train. After I had accepted that this loss was final, I was finally ready to move on. There was an Apple store in Zagreb (the capital of Croatia) near where I was staying and the man there was very helpful. He asked if I wanted a two-meter long charger or one. A pang of sadness hit. Nothing could ever replace the old one. But a one-meter cable would do the trick. Besides, it was half the price. Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus rang in my ears as I walked out of the store on clouds…or maybe it was just that ubiquitous white glow that’s in all Apple stores that leaves one feeling mystical. I was finally able to charge my phone again. And as I plugged it into my computer, the all-familiar two-vibrate sound rang in my ears and the half eaten white apple appeared on my screen. I guess I would have to wait and see if there really was life after cell phone. 38
La Vie d’Une Feuille La brise est mon amie, Jusqu’à ce qu’elle me repousse C’est l’histoire de ma vie, Quoiqu’elle ne soit pas toujours douce Par le vent je vole, En haut et en bas Je vais seule, Deçà et delà Je virevolte dans l’air Sentant libre dans le ciel En plongeant vers la terre Ignorant l’essentiel Quand j’arrive au sol, Je trouve les autres Autour de moi elles tombent, Et je ne suis pas seule Avec moi, elles sont tombées D’une grande altitude Comme moi, elles attendent Et ce sera notre habitude La tempête va venir, Mais on ne peut pas se relever Et on ne peut pas courir Alors, il faut rester… Avec la bourrasque violente, Pendant que la pluie tombe, La lumière disparaît lentement Et nous sommes entourés d’ombre Nous attendons l’hiver Et ce qu’il amène pour nous Nous mentons sur la terre, Puisque la fin viendra pour nous Celle-ci s’approche de nous Avec les jours, nous changeons Nous resterons ici ensemble Pour partir avec le temps
Shana Michalek
C’était une vie courte, C’est une tragédie, Qu’il faut dire « adieu » La tristesse de nos vies… -Jefferson Clark
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