things you’ll only do when you’re abroad

As soon as we cross the border, it’s as though a switch has been flipped and we turn into different people. Maybe it’s because we are no longer home on our own familiar turf, but when you’re abroad (even just across the border), it’s as though your open to and up for just about anything. I’m always surprised at how certain things I will never ever do at home, are things I am very open to doing abroad.

Tourist traps

I live in the most touristy area of Amsterdam, in-between the Dam and the central station. It doesn’t get more touristy than this, which means: tourist trap galore. You know what I mean, those lousy restaurants and cafes with crappy menus with pictures of all the meals you can order. The only thing I can think of is why on Earth would you pick such a bogus place to dine at when this city has so many great places to offer. But then again, I’m guilty of going to these types of places too when I’m abroad. Location wise, they are ideal. They’re accessible and honestly I could care less after having trekked through an unfamiliar city all day.

buying ugly souvenirs

May-Britt sometimes refers to me as the “most bipolar woman ever” and what I’m about to tell you only reiterates that point. My house is pretty much always a pigsty since I have a hard time throwing things out because everything has a specific memory that I want to keep. Yet every now and then everything becomes too cluttered I have an intense extermination raid. EVERYTHING needs to be thrown out. So, along with this I also have a very specific house rule when it comes to presents: no-crap-in-my-house. But somehow anytime I’m having one of my insane uncluttering moments, I always come across a whole lot of junk. Revolting little figurines from centuries ago, pillowcases from China that are barely hanging on their last threads, a rather foul-smelling leather keychain from Mongolia and from New Zealand I brought along a pair of the most atrocious earrings ever that you’ll never ever see me wearing. “It’ll be so cute for later” is what I was thinking back then, and I wonder what on Earth was wrong with me. This happens so often in a foreign country, you think, “oh my this is so cool” but as soon as you step foot on your own turf you think, “what the hell.”

taking a dozen photos

If there were an award for taking the most amount of pictures, I would win hands down. Even the sidewalks are more photogenic abroad, as is every single bus that drives by. I’m also guilty of being one of those geeks who takes a picture of every single meal I eat and all in all I can come home from a three day trip with over 500 pictures on my iPhone. All which are deleted shortly thereafter.

participating in weird sports

When I was in Canada I could spend hours on end paddling away in a canoe and when I was in New Zealand I suddenly enjoyed rafting. In China I discovered sledding and next week when I head over to New York, I even plan on scheduling in a couple of workouts. Something I would never ever do at home. It’s just so much more appealing doing it in a different country.

eat or drink random things

You know how in New York you see everyone wandering the streets with Starbucks cups (or at least that’s what they do in the movies and on TV), so clearly we all have to imitate this look. Now I know that they have Starbucks here in the Netherlands too, but it’s just a tad bit cooler to do it in the big apple. And something you might not know about me is that I don’t drink coffee but the cream chocolate Frappuccino is definitely my favorite when I’m abroad, and by that I really mean abroad. You’ll never catch me ordering it back home.