you only do this on vacation

As soon as we cross the border, we all change a little. At home in your own familiar city, you know exactly how the world works, but in a far (or not so far) foreign country, that’s a different story. I'm always surprised by what things are suddenly accepted abroad, but that you would never do at home.

Toeristenvalletjes

I live in Amsterdam between the Dam and the Central Station. That’s pretty much the most touristy part of the city and that means: a lot of tourist traps. You know, those super lame little restaurants and cafes with crappy menus that have pictures of the dishes on them. Every time I see people sitting there, I’m amazed that they choose such a stupid place, while the city has so much more to offer. But then, I find myself abroad and sometimes I also give in to such a place. They are always in convenient locations, you don’t have to think, and actually, I care very little after a long day wandering through a strange city.

buying ugly souvenirs

May calls me “the most bipolar woman ever” and what I’m about to tell you contributes to that. My house is almost always a huge mess because I find it very difficult to throw things away and I have a certain memory attached to everything and want to keep it for that reason. But every once in a while, it all becomes too much for me and I have a huge throwing-out attack. EVERYTHING must then make way. Well, in connection with this, I have a strict no-junk-in-my-house rule when it comes to gifts. I already bring in enough junk myself. But during such a cleaning session, I come across a lot of crap. Ugly figurines from a thousand years ago, pillowcases from China that are literally falling apart, a rather smelly leather keychain from Mongolia, and from New Zealand, I dragged along monstrously ugly earrings that I will never wear. “That’s nice for later,” I thought back then, but now I wonder what on earth was going through my mind. This often happens abroad, where you think “oooh YES this is nice” but once you’re home, when you’re back to your senses, you think very differently about it.

taking a thousand photos

Here I am a star. Abroad, I find every sidewalk tile and every passing bus worth a photo. I’m also that sucker who likes to take pictures of my food, and all together, after a 3-day trip, I suddenly have 500 photos on my iPhone that then all need to be deleted.

doing weird sports

In Canada, I had endless fun with a paddle in a canoe, in New Zealand I suddenly found rafting fun, in China I discovered tobogganing, and during our upcoming trip to New York I will be doing sports with Jet. I would never do all this at home, but abroad I find it quite fun.

eating or drinking random things

As soon as Jet is in New York, she must and will walk around all the time with a big cup from Starbucks in her hands, “just like in the series.” In the Netherlands, Starbucks is also sometimes drunk, but walking around with a cup in hand always feels just a bit nicer in the Big Apple. I have a bit of that too, by the way. As you know, I don’t drink coffee but the frappuccino cream chocolate is really my favorite, but only abroad.